Two Masters

Thinking this, Zhang Wan made up his mind. He had to do this exam paper properly.

He picked up his brush and began answering the questions.

He read and answered them in one smooth flow, with hardly any pauses.

Some of the questions on the exam were difficult, but they posed no challenge to Zhang Wan. Relying on his experience and diligent cultivation, he had attained considerable skill in both martial arts and spirit planting.

He could not compare with veteran Spirit Planters and some veteran Postnatal martial artists, but among martial artists of the same level, there were not many who could defeat him.

Even so, Zhang Wan still held back a little, deliberately answering some questions incorrectly.

He was a professional at controlling his score!

He only wanted to find himself a backer. He had no interest in being too talented or standing out too much and attracting trouble.

After finishing the exam, he handed it to Xu Mao. Xu Mao told Zhang Wan to go back first and said he would notify him once there was a result.

Zhang Wan then returned to his small courtyard from the Dust Bone Fourth Branch.

The exam was done. Now, all that remained was to see what exactly the branch intended to do.

After all, the idea that the branch wanted to cultivate him was only his guess.

It was also possible that they had some task for him and wanted to see what he was capable of first.

Either was possible.

After Zhang Wan left, Xu Mao took the exam paper to the two vice directors.

After Wang Yue and Li Guannian finished marking it, they admired Zhang Wan even more.

"Although there are still some shortcomings, it is truly remarkable for someone of his age to have such insight into both martial arts and spirit planting."

"Exactly. So, Old Li, I've decided to take this disciple!"

"Old Wang, do you think I'll give up?"

The two vice directors of the Dust Bone Fourth Branch, Wang Yue and Li Guannian, faced each other like needle against wheat, neither willing to yield.

Their situations were similar. Both were Ninth Level Postnatal martial artists with a large number of disciples and descendants, but they were already old and did not have many years left to live.

Yet among their disciples and descendants, there was not a single person capable of taking over.

Even their most outstanding disciples had only reached the Seventh Level Postnatal. Reaching the Eighth Level Postnatal was difficult for them, let alone the Ninth Level Postnatal.

But without Ninth Level Postnatal cultivation, they could not take over their positions.

Once they died, their large number of disciples and descendants would lose their backing, and their standing within the sect would immediately plummet.

Their future days would not be easy.

This was especially true of their blood descendants.

Compared with their disciples, among whom there were at least a few outstanding individuals, their blood descendants were far more mediocre.

Once they died, their disciples would also lose their backing and have to devote more energy to consolidating their own positions. Even if those disciples still lent their blood descendants a hand, they would be unable to provide much help.

Their descendants would probably sink all the way down, eventually becoming ordinary mortals without anyone knowing when, or dying to the last in the sect's bloody struggles.

Wang Yue and Li Guannian knew all too well that becoming vice directors of the Dust Bone Fourth Branch had required defeating countless talented competitors. They had many enemies within the sect.

Once they died, those fellow disciples who bore grudges against them, as well as those coveting the vice-director positions and the benefits controlled by their disciples and descendants, would definitely move against their disciples and descendants.

Without someone of the Ninth Level Postnatal to protect them, the best outcome would be for them to become ordinary sect disciples. With a worse outcome, many of them would lose their lives because of it.

Although direct killings were rare in the sect's internal struggles, that only meant there were few who struck directly. There was no shortage of people who used other methods to send their opponents to their deaths.

The bloodshed and cruelty were in no way inferior to open combat.

Now that an outer sect disciple with martial arts talent had appeared—someone very likely capable of cultivating to the Ninth Level Postnatal and skilled at nurturing spirit plants, who could perfectly take over their positions once he matured—neither man wanted to let him slip away.

For the sake of their disciples and clansmen's future, they had to take this person under their wing!

Wang Yue and Li Guannian could not convince each other, but there was no need to fight over it.

Their relationship was deep, and their circumstances were identical. There was no need to fight to the death.

After some wrangling, they finally reached an agreement.

Since neither was willing to let go, they would join forces to cultivate him! With the strength of both men combined, they would have an even better chance of cultivating a Ninth Level Postnatal martial artist!

As long as their faction had a Ninth Level Postnatal martial artist holding down the fort, then even if their blood descendants remained useless, at least they would not have to worry about them suddenly being secretly killed by someone at an unknown time.

Even if this generation was ruined, with connections in the sect, the next generation would still have a chance to rise again.

"However, the two of us joining forces to cultivate him clearly means we're raising him as our successor. Those people in the sect won't let him grow up so easily."

"Even among your disciples and descendants, as well as mine, there are some who aren't thinking clearly. They may target him."

"So what? You and I aren't trying to raise a sheep."

"If he still gets knocked down with the two of us backing him, then let him be knocked down!"

"Only a successor who can withstand wind and rain and grow stronger is someone we need. Otherwise, he'll still be effortlessly eliminated by the cruel competition in the future!"

The next day, Xu Mao went to find Zhang Wan.

On the way, Xu Mao congratulated Zhang Wan and told him that the previous day's exam had been arranged for him by the director of the Dust Bone Fourth Branch. Now, the director intended to take him as a disciple.

This took Zhang Wan by surprise. He had guessed there would be benefits, but he had not expected benefits like these.

The branch director's disciple? That was not unacceptable.

Although Zhang Wan did not need a master, having one would not cause any problems.

Besides, if used well, the identity of the branch director's disciple could bring him plenty of benefits.

Zhang Wan prepared himself to become a disciple.

But when he arrived and took a look, he discovered that the ones taking him as a disciple were not one person, but two!

In an instant, Zhang Wan felt miserable.

He could accept one master. It fit his needs perfectly: not excessively high-profile, and not someone who would casually treat him like a pig and try to bully him.

Two masters? And both were vice directors!

Now that was troublesome!

Far too high-profile!

Anyone who was not a fool would know at a glance that someone favored by two vice directors at the same time was no ordinary person. Although this meant that random people would not casually try to bully him, he would be far too conspicuous!

Conspicuous enough to attract endless curiosity, jealousy, and probing.

Countless people would immediately realize his potential and the threat he posed, and innumerable fellow disciples struggling to climb upward would treat him as an imaginary enemy!

Even the martial forces that had conflicts with the Jade Bone Sect would want to eliminate a promising Jade Bone Sect disciple like him as early as possible.

The number of martial artists wanting to kill him would increase explosively!

This represented endless trouble!

Zhang Wan's scalp felt as if it were about to split open!

What the hell are these two trying to do? They actually want to take me as their disciple together?

What exactly did you see in me? I'll change it, all right?

Zhang Wan's heart was full of curses, but he still kowtowed and became their disciple on the spot.

Things had already reached this point. Refusing was useless.

Refusing outright would immediately offend these two Ninth Level Postnatal vice directors, which would be no different from taking both of them as masters and attracting a storm of trouble.

But by now, Zhang Wan was already dissatisfied with the two men. Harmony between master and disciple in the future? Zhang Wan sneered inwardly. If these two don't produce some truly good stuff for me, I won't be able to swallow this grievance!