The Most Promising Candidate for a True Disciple

Mo Chen instinctively looked toward the source of the light.

He immediately saw a stone placard standing outside a teahouse, with a large crowd gathered around it.

The fourth-rank weapon was a dark wolf-headed battle axe, carried on the shoulder of a burly, bare-chested man standing nearly eight feet tall.

"Hey, Situ Xin is the most likely to become a true disciple in this Martial Suppression Academy examination, right? He has earth-grade bones!"

"Besides Situ Xin, Hu Shiqi from Peaceful Abundance Commandery also has a shot at becoming a true disciple! I heard Hu Shiqi has earth-grade bones too!"

"Tch! Your information is way too outdated. Yesterday, a merchant from out of town brought news that a heaven-grade prodigy had appeared in Good Mountain Commandery!"

"Holy shit! Heaven-grade bones?! Is that for real?"

"Of course it's real! He really has heaven-grade bones. I heard that genius is named Ruan Tianjing. He's only fifteen, yet he's already reached the initial stage of the Five Elements Realm!"

"My god! That cultivation speed is catching up to Tantai Xiasang!"

"Isn't that right? He's aiming to reach the Mountain Opening Realm before turning twenty!"

"It's here, it's here! Today's latest news on the martial examination candidates is here!"

A waiter emerged from the teahouse. Seeing the gathered crowd, he smilingly pasted a sheet of paper covered in names onto the stone placard outside.

"Everyone, this is the latest news for today. We've opened betting pools inside, and the odds have been set. Please place your bets soon!"

"Great!!!" Cheers erupted, and many of the onlookers' eyes lit up as they shouted their approval.

Every Martial Suppression Academy martial examination, held once every three years, made someone a fortune.

Placing bets for a bit of luck was also a regular event held every three years.

"You can bet on this too?"

Hearing that, Mo Chen became interested and squeezed into the crowd to look at the stone placard.

First place: Ruan Tianjing, heaven-grade bones.

The son of a wealthy merchant from Good Mountain Commandery. At the age of six, he became a disciple of Thousand-Weight Martial Hall and displayed astonishing talent.

Only fifteen years old, he had broken through to the initial stage of the Five Elements Realm. He had hopes of challenging the Mountain Opening Realm before twenty!

True disciple odds: one tael of silver for one hundred copper coins?

"One tael of silver for one hundred copper coins? Isn't that 1:0.1 odds..."

Based on the conversation he had just heard, Mo Chen muttered to himself.

Ruan Tianjing had heaven-grade bones. It was easy to imagine that countless people favored his chances of entering the Martial Suppression Academy and claiming a true disciple position.

That was why his odds were so low.

Second place: Situ Xin, earth-grade bones.

Sixteen years old, at the great completion stage of the Condensing Astra Realm.

True disciple odds: one to one.

With Ruan Tianjing's heaven-grade bones as a comparison, Situ Xin's odds have shot up at once, Mo Chen thought.

Third place: Hu Shiqi, earth-grade bones.

Seventeen years old, late-stage Condensing Astra Realm.

Known only for his inborn divine strength; few had ever seen him in person.

True disciple odds: one to two.

"They're both earth-grade bones, yet the difference in their odds is this huge."

Mo Chen shook his head. Just as he was about to continue reading Hu Shiqi's detailed introduction, his peripheral vision suddenly caught his own name.

A stunned expression appeared on his face.

Sixth place: Mo Chen, bone quality unknown.

Fifteen years old, initial-stage Condensing Astra Realm.

A firewood-room servant in the residence of a certain wealthy man in Yunyi County, who had learned martial arts by chance.

When Tantai Xiasang went to Yunyi County on a case, she encountered this youth and thought highly of him, ordering him to follow at her side all the way to the Prefectural City.

Suspected to possess exceptional martial talent. He defeated an initial-stage Condensing Astra Realm constable in a single move during his only recorded fight.

Has hopes of entering the inner sect; extremely unlikely to become a true disciple.

Odds: one to five!

Mo Chen's eyes lit up. "My own odds are one to five?"

His heart pounded like a drum.

He pulled out his banknotes, eager and restless.

"These odds... If I bet two hundred taels of silver, wouldn't I win back a thousand taels!"

One-to-five odds were simply too tempting!

Mo Chen had never felt that his name was worth so much.

However, after calming down, he put the banknotes away again.

"In the Martial Suppression Academy, only a little over a hundred true disciples have been accepted over the past three hundred years. That means each martial examination accepts an average of only three true disciples."

"If there are no suitable talents, they might even leave the positions vacant and accept no one at all!"

Looking at the names with outstanding bone qualities on the list, Mo Chen felt somewhat insecure.

"My bones are only average. I won't get stuck at the bone-testing stage and fail to pass, will I..."

Along the way, he had asked Su Jinse about plenty of information regarding the martial examination.

He also learned the process of the Martial Suppression Academy's examination.

The martial examination consisted of four stages.

[First Stage: Character Test] Those of poor character may not enter the academy.

[Second Stage: Bone Test] Examine bone quality and determine its grade.

[Third Stage: Comprehension Test] Assess talent and select the best candidates.

As long as one passed the third stage, one could enter the Martial Suppression Academy as an outer disciple.

Those who were especially outstanding could enter the inner sect directly.

[Fourth Stage: Combat Test] Primarily tests courage and endurance. It examines reaction speed and adaptability.

Only by passing the fourth stage would one have a chance of becoming a true disciple!

Among ordinary candidates, some were turned away at the first stage because of poor conduct.

Others reached the second stage, only to leave regretfully because their bone quality was insufficient.

What Mo Chen was considering was whether he might be eliminated at the second stage...

"Average bones should barely be enough to pass the second stage. But if I want to enter the inner sect and strive for true discipleship, my bones won't be impressive enough!"

His "comprehension" was built on silver.

Now that his pockets were empty, he had no silver at all to demonstrate his "comprehension."

Thus, the problem once again came down to making money.

Mo Chen grimaced. "How am I supposed to make money in just half a month?"

His eyes darted about as he surveyed the crowded, flowing mass of people around him.

Then—

His breathing stalled as he thought of an excellent way to make quick money.

"Food!"

Wherever there was a large transient population, food businesses would definitely make money.

And the fastest way to make money was fast food!

With that thought, Mo Chen swiftly turned around and ran back to Tantai Jewelry.

"Manager Liu!"

Behind the counter, Manager Liu was speaking with two richly dressed women. Hearing Mo Chen call out, he looked over. "What can I do for you, Young Hero Mo?"

Mo Chen asked, "Does Senior Sister have a restaurant?"

Manager Liu shook his head. "Miss doesn't own a restaurant..."

Seeing Mo Chen's smile gradually fade and disappointment appear on his face, he had a sudden idea. "However, Miss Su owns an eatery. It's just that it has been poorly managed for a long time, and business isn't very good."

Mo Chen snapped his fingers and grew excited again. "An eatery will do! In that case, arrange for someone to deliver a letter to Senior Sister Su. Tell her I want to work with her."

"Of course, no problem!" Manager Liu nodded without asking further questions. He casually summoned a waiter and had him take Mo Chen's instructions.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Mo Chen finished writing the letter, informing Su Jinse of his idea to partner with her in the food business, then sent the waiter to deliver it.

That afternoon, the waiter returned.

He brought back not only Su Jinse's letter of agreement and token, but also several introductory books about the Martial Suppression Academy.

"It's settled!" Mo Chen was delighted after reading the letter.

In the letter, Su Jinse showed no expectations whatsoever for her eatery and told Mo Chen to do whatever he wanted with it.

She told Mo Chen that even if he made money, he did not need to share any profits with her. He only needed to pay her a portion as rent.

"Senior Sister Su means well, but I need to have principles and boundaries!"

Mo Chen smiled. He had no intention of keeping all the money for himself after making a profit.

The letter said they would split it fifty-fifty, so it would be fifty-fifty.

At once, he packed up and headed for the address written in the letter.