Passing the Martial Scholar Exam

"Hmm? Who is this youth? He's so young, yet he's here to take the Martial Scholar Examination?"

"Indeed! This kid looks like he's only fourteen or fifteen, doesn't he? He's already at Late Seventh Rank at such a young age? Could he be some clown here just to grandstand?"

"Damn it, whose wastrel brat is this? The registration fee for the Martial Scholar Examination is a full thirty taels of silver! Spending it like this—isn't that just throwing money into the water? If he were my son, I'd beat him to death."

"Exactly! What a prodigal little bastard..."

The moment Lin Yi stepped onto the stage, he immediately drew doubts from nearly everyone present. One after another, they suspected that he had come merely to show off deliberately.

After all, reaching Late Seventh Rank at fourteen was a level of strength that could rank among the top thirty even among students of the same class at Guangling Martial Academy.

And every genius of that caliber had been renowned throughout Guangling Prefecture City since childhood. How could they never even have heard of him?

In the square, just as the crowd was still buzzing with discussion—

Clang!

With the sound of a gong, the first round of the examination officially began once more.

Boom!

Several dozen meters in front of Lin Yi, the towering Bronze Automaton took a single step forward. Its terrifying speed instantly turned it into a cyan afterimage as it charged at Lin Yi at breakneck speed.

The Bronze Long Staff in its hands was like a small mountain, carrying the immense force of several thousand jin as it smashed furiously down at Lin Yi.

Bright Moon Saber Art—Embrace the Moon in the Bosom!

With a thought from Lin Yi, the long saber in his hand spun through the air.

In an instant, as streaks of Saber Light flared up, a bright moon formed entirely of Saber Light rose before Lin Yi.

Clang!

The Bronze Long Staff struck the "bright moon," producing a thunderous clash of metal.

The Bronze Automaton staggered back seven steps with a series of heavy thuds, while Lin Yi remained calm and composed, completely unscathed.

"What! This kid is actually this strong!"

"Isn't that defense too terrifying? He forced back the Bronze Automaton with a single move. Even a true Peak Seventh Rank martial artist would be hard-pressed to do better, wouldn't they?"

"This youth is truly remarkable!"

At this sight, the relatives and friends of the examinees around them all widened their eyes, their gazes filled with disbelief.

The Bright Moon Saber Art had always been a martial art exceptionally adept at defense. Back when Lin Yi fought Wang Kai, even after Wang Kai achieved Great Accomplishment in the Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique on the spot, Lin Yi had still been able to rely on the Bright Moon Saber Art's terrifying defense to hold out for a while.

Now that Lin Yi's Bright Moon Saber Art had reached the Perfection Realm, and his cultivation had also reached Peak Eighth Rank, his defensive power was naturally even more terrifying.

Even among Peak Seventh Rank experts, those who did not specialize in defense would likely fall short of Lin Yi in defensive ability alone.

"This kid's saber technique is somewhat interesting. Is he from Guangling Martial Academy?"

Beneath the Martial Emperor Statue, City Lord Zong Yuanwang revealed a trace of interest in his eyes as he asked an aide beside him.

"In reply to the City Lord, this youth is named Lin Yi. He is indeed a student of the 286th class of Guangling Martial Academy."

As soon as Zong Yuanwang finished speaking, the aide began introducing Lin Yi as though reciting treasures from his own home:

"Though he was born poor, his comprehension is exceptional. His Martial Skill realm is enough to place him securely among the top five of his class at Guangling Martial Academy, and he is fairly well-known within the academy."

"A few days ago, under Vice Principal Li's guidance at Guangling Martial Academy, he fought Wang Kai of the Wang Family and broke through to the Perfection Realm of a Sixth-Rank Martial Art, shaking the entire academy."

"However, I heard that this youth had always possessed extremely poor physical aptitude. During Guangling Martial Academy's midyear examination a little over a month ago, his Martial Cultivation was only at Eighth-Rank Early Stage."

"Yet from the look of things now, he clearly already has Peak Eighth Rank cultivation. I do not know why his cultivation has improved so enormously in just a little over a month."

"Oh? Such a thing happened?"

"Did this little fellow hide his strength back then? Did his talent awaken? Or did he encounter some other opportunity during this time?"

Zong Yuanwang was slightly surprised as he pondered it, but then he smiled and dismissed the matter.

"So what if he encountered another opportunity? On the Nine Provinces Continent, opportunities that can raise one's cultivation by a huge amount in one go are all one-time affairs. Once used, they are gone. Even if he once obtained such an opportunity, it has nothing to do with me now."

"Besides, such a minor opportunity is not enough for me to make a move against a mere little fellow."

"As for hidden strength or a talent awakening? Keep an eye on him for now."

"If, when this little fellow graduates from the academy next year, his cultivation can reach Seventh Grade Mid Stage and his overall strength can reach the Sixth Rank level, then recruit him into my City Lord's Mansion and nurture him properly."

"In that case, perhaps in ten-odd years, another Fifth Rank Expert will be added beneath my command."

"Yes! The City Lord is wise!"

The aide smiled as he flattered him. Then, with a meaningful glance, a nearby servant immediately recorded the matter.

Leaving aside the reactions of those outside the arena, after the Bronze Automaton was knocked back by Lin Yi's strike, a red gleam flashed in its eyes. The next moment, it charged forward again, swinging its long staff.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The long staff in the Bronze Automaton's hands moved like thunder and lightning. Each strike was immensely powerful, and its speed was even more frightening, pouring down upon Lin Yi like an endless tide.

Yet in the face of this surging onslaught, Lin Yi's expression remained calm throughout. He used the Bright Moon Saber Art to form a bright moon around himself, easily blocking the attacks.

One breath!

Two breaths!

Five breaths!

Seven breaths!

In the square, the other examinees were being battered into disarray by the Bronze Automatons' whirling long staffs, staggering from one peril to the next. Some had already been eliminated, while Lin Yi remained calm and composed throughout, fending them off with ease.

At last, ten breaths had passed.

Of the thirty-six examinees present, fewer than twenty were still standing. Every one of them was pale-faced, their eyes filled with the lingering shock of having survived a disaster.

Yet even Lin Yi's breathing had not changed. He remained steady and relaxed, incomparably at ease.

"Good! Yi'er, well done! Just as expected of my, Lin Haichuan's, son!"

Seeing this, Lin Haichuan was beside himself with excitement, waving his fists.

"Yi'er, Mother knew you could do it!"

Ji Xuan's eyes brimmed with tears, but her face was full of smiles.

The family members and friends of the other examinees beside them had also changed from their earlier skepticism to utter envy.

"Brother, sister, is that your son? He's amazing! Far better than that little brat of ours!"

"That's right! Brother, sister, with such an outstanding son, you'll be enjoying the good life from now on."

"Ah, I'm so jealous! Brother, sister, what secret do you have? How did you raise such an exceptional son? Could you share it with us?"

"Yes, share it! Please share it!"

"Haha! What secret could there be?"

Surrounded by the crowd's praise and flattery, Lin Haichuan's face flushed red with excitement as he laughed.

"The two of us really didn't do much. It's all because this child has worked hard and made something of himself."

"Let me tell you, this child was smart and full of ideas from a young age. When he was six..."

Laughing heartily, Lin Haichuan began acting as a "Yi-booster" right there in the square. The other parents listened with rapt attention, and some even took out paper and pen to start making notes, though who knew how they planned to use them to educate their own children once they got home.

Meanwhile, after passing the first stage of the examination, Lin Yi first drew a lot. Having drawn his number for the second stage, he moved to the side and waited for it to begin.

About a quarter of an hour later, all the examinees had finally completed their assessments. Of the four or five hundred people, more than half had been eliminated, leaving only just over two hundred qualified to participate in the second stage.

The second-stage examinees were assessed in groups of two, with ten groups competing each round.

Since Lin Yi had drawn number eighteen this time, he was called up in the very first round of the second-stage examination.

Soon after, under the exam officials' arrangements, Lin Yi stepped onto the arena.

His opponent was a young man in red wielding a pair of twin blades.

"Lin Yi, it's you!"

Seeing that his opponent was Lin Yi, who had performed best in the first stage, the red-clad young man's expression changed, and panic rose in his heart.

But seeing his family around the arena looking even more nervous than he was, the young man in red tightened his grip on his twin blades. Then, with a solemn expression, he said, "Lin Yi, you're very strong! I saw your performance in the first-stage battle. I admit that I'm no match for you."

"But don't think I'll give up so easily. Let's fight!"

"Mm, let's fight! Let's both do our best!"

Lin Yi smiled and nodded at those words. Then his long blade moved as he took the initiative to attack.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A burst of clashing weapons immediately rang out across the arena. Lin Yi moved with his blade, every strike and stance as wondrous and flawless as an antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace to follow. From the moment he made his move, he battered the young man in red until he had no power to fight back.

In the end, after merely sixteen breaths, Lin Yi found an opening in the red-clad young man's twin-blade technique.

With a single slash, he instantly knocked both blades flying. Then he extended his snow-white long blade and rested it against the other's throat.

"Second stage, Number 18 wins!"

A booming voice rang through the square.

And as those words fell, they announced that, in this 3621st Session Martial Scholar Examination, Examinee Lin Yi had become the first to pass the Martial Scholar Examination, becoming the first examinee of this session to earn the Martial Scholar title!