Martial Dao Sects

Wu Yongfeng shook his head. "The Martial Exam Dragon Ascent is an important way for martial dao sects to select disciples. Do you think it's important or not? You all know that someone as ungrateful as Lu Ren can't be trusted. Do you think the Gu Family patriarch is a fool?"

The others fell silent.

Their goal was only Minor Success in Qi Gathering. Those with ambition dared to aim for Major Success in Qi Gathering, while the Gu Family's goal was to enter a martial dao sect. They were on completely different levels, so how could they think alike?

The Gu Family simply didn't care whether Lu Ren would betray them in the future. As long as he could help the Gu Family's eldest young master during the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent, that was enough.

"Do you know anything about martial dao sects?"

Xu Yang asked. So the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent was for entering a martial dao sect.

Wu Yongfeng, Qiu Wenjie, and the others all shook their heads.

"They say the martial arts taught by the martial arts schools in Qingyuan County are all incomplete. At most, they only go as far as Marrow Cleansing. Only by entering a martial dao sect can you obtain a complete cultivation method and pursue the peak of the martial dao. It's a pity I've already been eliminated." Zhang Hong sighed.

With his talent and cultivation resources, it was impossible for him to achieve Major Success in Qi Gathering within two or three years.

That was because, like Xu Yang, he had a Grade C Inferior Bone Structure.

"I'll take part in the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent. I'll go see the sights of the martial dao sects for you all." Zhang Yong clenched his fists.

Wu Yongfeng's eyes lit up at this. "Could it be that Junior Brother Zhang Yong has already reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering?"

Zhang Yong nodded lightly. "I was fortunate enough to break through last night. I've now reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering."

Wu Yongfeng was overjoyed. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang Yong. It looks like one of us is going to become a Martial Scholar."

Qiu Wenjie and Zhang Hong immediately stepped forward to offer their congratulations as well.

Xu Yang also went over to congratulate Zhang Yong. He wasn't particularly surprised that Zhang Yong had reached Minor Success in Qi Gathering.

Of the ten people in their group, Zhang Yong's Bone Root was second only to Lu Ren's. As for cultivation, he and Lu Ren could only be called hardworking, while Zhang Yong's cultivation was nothing short of relentless.

On top of that, after successfully gathering qi, Zhang Yong—unlike Zhang Hong, who had no one to turn to—had been noticed by a small family because of his Grade C Superior Bone Structure. They had arranged a marriage alliance, taken him in as a son-in-law, and provided him with money to support his martial training.

With no shortage of resources, it was only natural that Zhang Yong would reach Minor Success in Qi Gathering just a few days after him. At this rate, he really might achieve Major Success in Qi Gathering before the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent.

"It's a pity you wouldn't bend your back. Otherwise, you and I could have continued competing in the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent." Zhang Yong looked at Xu Yang with some regret.

He had finally surpassed Xu Yang for the first time, but he had done so by bowing to money. He felt no joy in it.

Xu Yang shook his head without explaining.

Seeing this, Zhang Hong changed the subject. "The Huang Family announced today that they'll once again select promising youngsters to train. If any of your relatives are suitable, you can tell them to go to the Huang Family tomorrow for a bone examination..."

Sure enough, the moment he mentioned the Huang Family, everyone's attention shifted. Even some of the surrounding senior and junior brothers gathered around to ask questions.

"This is simply outrageous. If things didn't work out, then so be it. Why resort to such a despicable act?"

Huang Jin came looking for Huang Ling'er as soon as he heard what she had done.

"Fifth Uncle, this is all your fault. I was against it from the start, but you insisted that I marry him to win him over. Now this country bumpkin has rejected me and the Huang Family. If I didn't do this, what would happen to my reputation? What would become of the Huang Family's dignity? People would laugh at us for being rejected by a mere country bumpkin."

Huang Ling'er didn't think she had done anything wrong. She was only saving the Huang Family's reputation.

Huang Jin fell silent. It wasn't that he had insisted on the marriage alliance; Huang Ping had insisted that Xu Yang marry a Huang Family woman before he would provide financial support.

"I really didn't think this through. But only a few of us know about it. If we keep quiet, who would know it ever happened? Now you've made it public knowledge. If Xu Yang tells the truth, the Huang Family will be the ones whose reputation is ruined."

"Fifth Uncle, can you guarantee that Xu Yang won't tell anyone?"

Huang Ling'er sneered. "Let him try explaining himself. We'll see whether people believe the Huang Family or that country bumpkin."

She was certain that even if Xu Yang came forward to set the record straight, no one would believe him.

Huang Jin shook his head. "After bullying him like this, whatever affection remained between us is gone."

Huang Ling'er looked disdainful. "He has a mere Grade C Inferior Bone Structure. What use is his affection to us? After rejecting the Huang Family, he'll be lucky to achieve Major Success in Qi Gathering in his lifetime."

Huang Jin was weary to his core. He had always thought highly of Xu Yang, so even when the marriage alliance fell through, he had done his best to preserve the bond between Xu Yang and the Huang Family. But Huang Ling'er's actions had completely severed it—and might even have made Xu Yang resent them.

The Huang Family was already in this state, and instead of trying to make friends, they were turning them into enemies. He couldn't understand what Huang Ling'er was thinking.

"Enough, Fifth Brother!"

Huang Ping waved a hand. "Don't bring Xu Yang up again. Let's consider this his repayment for the Huang Family's support. How are things going with the selection?"

Huang Jin sighed and clasped his hands. "I've already sent people to spread the word everywhere. We've even sent people to the villages outside the city."

Huang Ping nodded in satisfaction and waved Huang Jin away.

The heavy snow stopped the next day, but the thick drifts had already piled above knee-height. The roofs of several houses in White Stone Ward had collapsed under the weight, though fortunately no one had died.

After getting up, Xu Yang cleared the snow from his roof once more, then went up the mountain to chop firewood.

He used to buy it, but now no one dared go up the mountain, so he had to chop it himself.

He had to blame his excessive focus on martial training; he hadn't prepared in advance.

The snow came up past his knees, and even walking was a struggle for someone like him, a Qi-Gathering Martial Artist.

"This is going to cause trouble," Xu Yang sighed.

He hadn't seen snow this heavy in seven or eight years. If it kept falling for a few more days, people would starve to death even if they didn't freeze.

He had bought rice and grain in the city yesterday, and the prices had already gone up.

People facing a threat to their survival would do anything.

Even the Tri-Union Gang wouldn't dare let everyone starve.

As he carried the firewood back, he spotted a crowd gathered outside his house in the distance. Xu Yang immediately quickened his pace.

Thankfully, nothing had gone wrong, and no one had come to borrow money or food. A group of young people from White Stone Ward had heard about the Huang Family's selection and come to ask him if it was true.

He hadn't expected the Huang Family to make such a big effort this time, sending people all the way to White Stone Ward to spread the word despite the heavy snow.

In the crowd, he spotted Zhang Daniu and He Laosan. Even those two, who hated martial training with a passion, had come.

"Brother Yang, is this really true?"

The speaker was Xu Yang's cousin, Xu Zheng.

Xu Yang nodded. "The news is true. As long as you meet the standard after the bone examination, the Huang Family will send you to a martial arts school to train. That's how I was selected."

Hearing that Xu Yang had become a martial artist this way, the young people flushed with excitement.

Xu Yang had managed to rise above his station this way. Why couldn't they?

"Ayang, then please take them to the Huang Family."

His uncle Xu Daxin said excitedly. He was Xu Zheng's father.

Xu Yang thought for a moment. "I'm heading to the city anyway, so I can show them the way to the Huang Family. But the snow is deep, and it'll be hard to walk. If anyone can't keep going along the way, I won't be responsible for them."

"If they can't even walk to the city, what kind of useless people are they to think they can train in martial arts?" Xu Daxin said.

It was a small favor, and Xu Yang didn't mind helping these youths his own age get a chance to change their fates. He immediately led the group toward the city.