Old Man, You Have Chosen the Path to Death!

Old Man, You Have Chosen the Path to Death! Upon the high platform!

County Magistrate Zhang Xuanming wore official robes, his expression imposing yet touched with warmth. He slowly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the thirty academy students before him. His eyes paused briefly on Shen Qinglan and Chen An before he finally spoke.

"I am Zhang Xuanming, County Magistrate of Wurong County. Today, I have had the good fortune to witness this Martial Examination from beginning to end. Seeing you young people brimming with spirit, fighting bravely upon the arena, challenging those above your rank, and risking all to vie for the lead, greatly heartens me."

"The Martial Examination chooses talent; it does not merely select martial cultivation, but also temperament and character."

"You thirty are all the finest among Wurong County's younger generation, the hope of Wurong County's future!"

"However, do not think that gaining places at the prefectural academy means you may now slack off!"

"This time, the imperial dynasty has decreed a Five Prefectures Joint Exam between Chengtian Prefecture, Qingyuan Prefecture, Myriad Peace Prefecture, Changgen Prefecture, and Zhaoming Prefecture!"

"Three days from now, you shall depart with me for the Prefecture City to take part in this grand gathering of the five prefectures."

"When that time comes, the geniuses of the five prefectures will gather, and experts will be as numerous as clouds. It will be both an opportunity and a trial. I hope you cast aside your pride, settle yourselves and cultivate diligently, and bring forth the spirit you displayed in today's arena battles. Show your brilliance in the joint exam and bring glory to Wurong County!"

"Yes! Thank you, County Magistrate! We shall remember it well!!!"

Receiving personal encouragement from Zhang Xuanming, who was both the county's chief official and a Xiantian Realm expert, the students all bowed in unison. Their expressions were solemn and respectful, their eyes filled with admiration and excitement.

Every one of them stood tall, their hearts surging. They had already secretly resolved that they would give their all in the Five Prefectures Joint Exam, live up to the County Magistrate's expectations, and make Wurong County renowned.

Once Zhang Xuanming finished speaking, Instructor Fan Suiyun slowly stepped forward. His plain robe appeared all the more elegant beneath the lingering glow of the setting sun. His gaze passed over the bowing students, and his voice was gentle yet rang like metal striking stone. Every word came from the heart—affirming the fruits of their arduous cultivation, reminding them about the Five Prefectures Joint Exam, and expressing his hopes for their future paths in martial arts.

Immediately afterward, Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Tong stepped out. The aura of a martial arts expert was contained within him as his sharp gaze swept over the students, his tone blunt and forceful.

"This old man will not waste words! There are no shortcuts on the martial path. Only by cultivating tirelessly and facing hardship head-on can one continuously break through one's realm."

"Today, you won the matches and earned qualifications for the prefectural academy. That is something to be proud of, but it is by no means the end. It is a new beginning."

As he spoke, Zhou Tong paused and cast a seemingly casual glance at Chen An, who stood at the front with a calm expression. "Remember this: cultivation is the foundation of the martial path."

"Winning for a moment amounts to nothing. So long as your Martial Bone is superior, and you possess perseverance and resolve, if you calm your heart and temper your foundations, cultivating day and night without rest, then one day you will naturally shatter your shackles, break through the confines of your realm, and ascend to a higher pinnacle of martial arts. Never lose yourself in temporary gains and losses or the hollow fame before your eyes, lest you ruin your own prospects on the Great Dao!"

Hearing Zhou Tong's words, the students were immediately stirred once more.

Yet when those words entered Chen An's ears, they carried a different flavor.

Looks like this old man has quite a problem with me!

Clearly catching the meaningful look Zhou Tong had just given him, carrying a hint of advice and even a touch of warning, Chen An's eyes flickered slightly as understanding dawned upon him.

He suddenly understood why Zhou Shuyan, despite knowing full well that he was no match for him and having no will to fight, had still forced himself to step onto the arena and face him. In the end, he had even deliberately pretended to be injured, falling from the arena in miserable fashion to concede defeat.

If Chen An's guess was correct, Zhou Tong must have secretly instructed Zhou Shuyan beforehand, which was why Zhou Shuyan had been forced to do what he had just done.

It was probably because Chen An had defeated Liu Qingyun earlier and caused him to lose his wager with Zhang Xuanming. He was venting his anger on Chen An.

Old man, you have chosen the path to death!

A sentence suddenly flashed through Chen An's mind.

Of course, he was merely letting his imagination run wild.

Zhou Tong was only venting his anger. At most, he would give Chen An a few pointed reminders. Since he had not relied on his Xiantian Realm cultivation to bully the weak, Chen An would not truly kill him.

After all, Chen An was no bloodthirsty fiend!!!

After the three men had successively finished their words of encouragement, just as the atmosphere reached its height, Academy Elder Wei Linyuan slowly emerged from the high platform. Though aged in appearance, his back was straight, and his bearing calm and extraordinary.

Several academy instructors followed behind him, each carrying an ancient wooden tray in both hands as they walked forward at an unhurried pace.

The students below instinctively looked toward the trays. Once they saw the objects placed upon them, their eyes all brightened slightly, their gazes filling with fervor and longing. They vaguely guessed that these were treasures awarded to the top-ranked students of the Martial Examination.

Wei Linyuan's clouded eyes swept over the students, a trace of gratification flashing through them before his gaze settled on Shen Qinglan at the front. "Shen Qinglan!"

"Greetings, Elder Wei!" Shen Qinglan respectfully stepped out and bowed.

"You are very good!"

Looking at Shen Qinglan's cool, ethereal figure, Wei Linyuan's eyes were full of appreciation. "You claimed first place in this Martial Examination. This is the reward bestowed upon you by the County Magistrate and the county academy: one high-grade Profound-rank martial skill and one bottle of high-grade Profound-rank Blood Essence Pills!"

With that, he gestured for an instructor behind him to step forward and present the wooden tray.

He looked solemnly at Shen Qinglan, his tone full of expectation. "I hope you do not squander your talent. Study the martial skill with devotion, and use the pills to solidify your cultivation. The Five Prefectures Joint Exam is fast approaching. May you hone your edge, advance another step, bring fame to Martial Glory County Academy, and carve out your own path in martial arts!"

"Yes, thank you for the County Magistrate's generous favor, and thank the county academy and Elder for these generous rewards!"

Shen Qinglan stepped forward, her expression calm as she gave a slight bow. She gracefully extended her jade-like hand and accepted the wooden tray holding the high-grade Profound-rank martial skill manual and a bottle of high-grade Profound-rank Blood Essence Pills.

The twenty-odd remaining ranked students behind her all had flickering eyes upon hearing of this reward, unable to suppress the envy on their faces.

Whether it was a high-grade Profound-rank martial skill or high-grade Profound-rank Blood Essence Pills, both were priceless treasures that ordinary cultivators could only dream of obtaining.

Even if an ordinary martial artist family emptied its savings, it might not necessarily be able to buy even one of them.

Yet Shen Qinglan had received two simply for taking first place in the county academy's Martial Examination. How could that not make everyone envious?!

Standing beside Shen Qinglan, Chen An raised his brows slightly upon seeing the rewards she had received.

He had not expected the county academy to be so generous with its reward for first place this time. In previous years, it seemed to have been merely a low-grade Profound-rank cultivation method and a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills.

However, after giving it some thought, Chen An guessed the reason. With the Five Prefectures Joint Exam approaching, the Wurong County government and county academy likely intended to bolster the students' cultivation, which was why they had deliberately raised the standard of this reward.

Of course, another reason was probably Shen Qinglan's cultivation.

Given Shen Qinglan's cultivation, Qi Condensation Pills were clearly no longer suitable for her.

She had long since entered the Houtian Realm. Ordinary Origin Condensation Pills had already become almost ineffective for her and could not help her cultivation at all.

If the government and county academy had continued following past custom and rewarded her with Origin Condensation Pills, it would instead have seemed perfunctory.

After weighing both considerations, they had made an exception and brought out a high-grade Profound-rank martial skill and Blood Essence Pills. Not only did they suit Shen Qinglan's current cultivation needs, but the generous reward also demonstrated their regard for her while setting an example for the other ranked students and encouraging them all.

"Chen An!!!"