Volume One: Rising to Prominence Chapter 105: The End

At that moment, the crowd gathered around the arena froze in disbelief upon hearing Zhou Tianlong's words.

"Did I hear that right?"

"He passed after just one strike?"

"Is Senior Zhou going easy on him?"

"Idiot! With Lord Zhou Tianlong's status, how could he possibly go easy on anyone?"

"It seems this Wang Jue is a hidden master of the sword!"

"Sorry, but I really can't see anything special about that swordplay. It looked completely ordinary."

"..."

Sun Da, who already thoroughly disliked Wang Jue, was utterly stunned. He muttered to himself, "Impossible! You've got to be kidding me. Isn't that just the most basic [Basic Sword Technique]? How could he pass with just one strike?"

"Nothing is impossible, and no one is joking."

Wang Bin's voice suddenly drifted over. "Wang Jue has mastered the [Basic Sword Technique] inside out. His comprehension of swordplay is far beyond ours."

"Hmph."

Sun Da's face darkened. He let out a cold snort and turned away, his eyes flickering with calculation as he thought of the [Basic Sword Technique]...

Sure enough.

When it was Sun Da's turn to take the stage, he chose the same [Basic Sword Technique] as Wang Jue.

Full of confidence, Sun Da believed he would easily pass as well.

To his surprise, even after he completed the entire routine, the three examiners showed no expression of shock whatsoever.

This blow was devastating.

Especially when he walked back to Chen You and the others, passing by Wang Jue. Seeing Wang Jue looking at him with a strange expression made Sun Da's face turn even darker.

He had abandoned his carefully prepared martial art at the last minute to use the [Basic Sword Technique], only to fail miserably in his attempt to copy Wang Jue. The disappointment was immense.

Three hours later.

The assessment concluded for everyone.

Zhou Tianlong looked at the crowd. "Is there anyone who does not wish to participate in the bonus assessment?"

No one in the arena responded.

"In that case..."

Zhou Tianlong wasted no more words and waved his hand. "Let the bonus assessment begin!"

Since it was a saber-related test, the bonus assessment offered sword techniques of comparable difficulty to test their adaptability.

Only a third of the candidates had passed the initial test, and they were presented with over a hundred different sword techniques to choose from.

Wang Jue looked through all the sword techniques and casually selected one. Over a hundred other candidates who chose the same technique gathered to watch the demonstration with him.

"You only have three chances to watch the recording. After that, you will have one hour for self-comprehension. During this time, you may request to be assessed whenever you are ready."

Zhou Tianlong then announced the start of the timer, and everyone began to watch the projection with rapt attention. "The bonus assessment is highly difficult. Do not force what is beyond you; just do your best."

As soon as the first playback ended, Wang Jue's expression flickered.

[Nine Breeze Swords (Iron Grade) - Uninitiated. 10,000 experience points required to comprehend.]

"Oh? It takes ten thousand experience points just to initiate? It seems this Iron Grade martial technique is quite something!"

Without showing any emotion outwardly, Wang Jue thought to himself, "A free martial technique is a free martial technique. Might as well learn it. Having one more technique means having one more trump card. What's ten thousand experience points anyway?"

Ten thousand experience points vanished instantly, and a wave of new sword technique insights flooded his mind.

Nine styles, distinct yet harmoniously interconnected, materialized as nine human figures executing the movements repeatedly in Wang Jue's mind.

Wang Jue immersed himself in the mental world of the sword.

[Nine Breeze Swords (Iron Grade) - Beginner. 100,000 experience points required to upgrade to Intermediate.]

"Keep upgrading."

As the technique progressed from Beginner to Intermediate, Wang Jue's understanding of this swordplay deepened once more.

[Nine Breeze Swords (Iron Grade) - Intermediate. 500,000 experience points required to upgrade to Advanced.]

"Upgrade!"

Wang Jue had been feeling rather helpless lately. After the exams, the number of people visiting the Martial Association had dropped by ninety percent, making his daily experience-leeching far less lucrative than hunting Blood Wolves.

He had painstakingly saved up several million experience points, only to find he couldn't even upgrade a single martial technique.

His Three Great Basic Martial Techniques had already reached the Grandmaster level. Although the experience points required for further upgrades were displayed, the plus sign was grayed out. The "Secret Technique: Heaven Severer," which had just reached the Proficient level, could still be upgraded, but his experience points were insufficient.

Now, having obtained a free martial technique, Wang Jue pushed it all the way to Perfection in one go, nearly draining the six million plus experience points he had accumulated over the past month.

...

With each level the martial technique advanced, Wang Jue's comprehension of it became deeper and clearer.

The only thing he lacked now was practical combat experience with the technique.

Once the Nine Breeze Swords reached Perfection, Wang Jue stood up. With an expressionless face, he grabbed his wooden sword and walked away.

"Just trying to get attention. What an embarrassment to our martial arts hall," Sun Da muttered, glancing up as he heard the movement. He cursed inwardly and nervously went back to watching the final playback of the recording.

Since the three examiners were not in the viewing hall, Wang Jue had to walk out to find them.

Soon, he arrived before the examiners.

"You're not watching it anymore?" one of the examiners asked, looking surprised. How long had it even been?!

"No need," Wang Jue replied calmly, shaking his head. "Once was enough."

The other two examiners wore strange expressions. They turned to look at Zhou Tianlong, whose face was also slightly odd, asking for his opinion.

After studying Wang Jue meaningfully for a few seconds, Zhou Tianlong slowly nodded. "Since you are so confident, then begin."

*Whoosh!*

Wang Jue executed a strike right from the start.

"This kid has some real skill."

Zhou Tianlong's eyes lit up, and a faint smile finally returned to his calm face. "I really did underestimate you..."

Three minutes later, Wang Jue finished his demonstration.

The examiner on the right nodded and announced, "That will do. You have passed. The results of the assessment will be sent to your phone tomorrow. Make sure to check it."

"Thank you."

Wang Jue cupped his hands in gratitude, returned the wooden sword, and turned to leave.

Just then, Zhou Tianlong suddenly spoke up. "Wait a moment, young man. Do you have a master?"

"A master?"

Wang Jue was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow. "May I ask, do the instructors at the martial arts hall count?"

"..."

Zhou Tianlong's expression stiffened. He pursed his lips slightly and said no more.

Wang Jue gave him a thoughtful nod, said nothing else, and walked away.

Behind him, the other two examiners began to whisper among themselves, leaving Zhou Tianlong silent.

"This kid is terrifying. I thought he was just fooling around, but he actually comprehended it."

"It's a pity. If it weren't for Chen You, he would probably have taken first place this time."

Suddenly, the examiner who had spoken first gasped in surprise. "Senior Zhou, why did you give him such a high score?"

"That is the maximum score allowed," Zhou Tianlong said, shaking his head with a touch of helplessness.

The other two examiners fell into stunned silence.

...

Wang Jue passed by the projection hall on his way out.

By now, the recording had finished playing. Most of the candidates looked utterly bewildered, though a few seemed to have gained some insights and were practicing the movements.

"Hey, isn't that Wang Jue?" A disciple from the Limitless Martial Arts Hall noticed Wang Jue's retreating figure, instantly drawing the attention of Sun Da and the others.

"Yes, it really is him."

"No way, is he already done with his test?"

"Must be. He rushed to the examiners before the recording even finished playing. He probably just gave up on himself."

"Just trying to get attention."

A cold sneer played on Sun Da's lips. "When the results come out, he'll realize just how foolish he was."

Unlike his fellow disciples, Wang Bin remained silent, staring thoughtfully at Wang Jue's back.

...

Leaving the exam grounds, Wang Jue was oblivious to the gossip of his fellow disciples.

He had originally planned to take a taxi home, but on second thought, he had nothing to do there anyway.

Taking advantage of the fresh memories of the Nine Breeze Swords in his mind, he had no intention of wandering around. He checked into a hotel near the testing center to rest for the night.

Upon entering his room, Wang Jue did not sleep. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes to focus his mind as the newly mastered Nine Breeze Swords kept playing out in his thoughts.

Meanwhile, as Wang Jue immersed himself in his comprehension of the sword technique, the Adventurer Assessment drew to a close.

Sun Da silently followed Chen Liang. He had barely scratched the surface of the [Nine Breeze Swords].

Unfortunately, time was too short, and he hadn't truly gained anything.

Realizing he likely wouldn't get any bonus points, his heart felt incredibly heavy.

The other disciples from the martial arts hall around him were also wearing long faces.

Chen Liang, however, looked as confident as ever, surrounded by the other disciples who acted like his lackeys.

Except for Wang Bin, who lagged behind at the very end, almost everyone else crowded around Chen Liang, endlessly flattering him.

"Young Master Chen must have passed the assessment easily, right?"

"Of course! Our Young Master Chen is a peerless genius. This assessment is nothing to him!"

"I remember the examiners were full of praise too."

"Wait, Lord Zhou didn't seem to say anything..."

"He didn't? He definitely did, you must have remembered wrong!"

"It looks like Young Master Ye is going to take the championship this time!"

"Don't forget the one from the Huang family. The champion will likely be decided between the two of them."

"..."

A massive crowd of candidates streamed out of the exam grounds.

Some left in groups of three or five, while others climbed into vehicles that had been waiting for them.

"Senior Sister Lin!" Luo Shui shouted.

A beautiful woman with a striking figure and a ponytail that reached down to her hips walked out. "Oh, Little Luo, what brings you here?"

"Hehehe," Luo Shui giggled mischievously. "Senior Sister, of course I had to come and see such a major event. That way, I can fill my buddy in on all the details later."

Senior Sister Lin shook her head with a smile. "I really don't know what to do with you, girl."

"By the way, Senior Sister Lin, was the assessment hard?" Luo Shui asked, blinking.

Senior Sister Lin led Luo Shui to her car. As they both got in and she started the engine, she replied casually, "The rest was fine, but the bonus assessment was the real challenge."

"Then tell me all about the bonus assessment, Senior Sister!" Luo Shui's eyes lit up instantly.

...

An hour later.

Senior Sister Lin dropped Luo Shui off at her destination, and the two parted ways.

Luo Shui got out of the car, looking at her phone with a puzzled expression. "Strange. Why can't I get through to Little Jue?"

"It would be such a waste not to share this fresh gossip with him!"

"Come to think of it, I haven't been to his house in ages. Maybe I should just drop by and see if he's home..."

Scratching her head, she turned and headed toward Wang Jue's house.

Soon, Luo Shui arrived at the door of Wang Jue's house.

Wang Xiaoyu opened the door.

Luo Shui immediately threw all thoughts of Wang Jue out of her mind. Beaming with a bright smile, she reached out to pinch Wang Xiaoyu's chubby cheeks. "Xiao Xi, it's you! You've gotten even cuter since I last saw you a few months ago. Although, you look like you've put on quite a bit of weight?"

Wang Xiaoyu's face instantly went dark. With a loud *slam*, she shut the door right in her face.