Top Three! Impersonation?

"Eh, this test only registers names and doesn't ask about aptitude." A trace of surprise appeared on Chen Huai'an's face.

After hearing that the genius who had opened twenty-eight meridians had finished registering, Chen Huai'an finally let out the breath he had been holding.

If he did not have to report information such as his aptitude, then a piece of trash with mixed spiritual roots like him opening thirty meridians in seven days would certainly not cause too much of a stir.

Very soon, it was Chen Huai'an's turn to step onto the stage for testing.

"Name?"

"Chen Huai'an." Chen Huai'an stood before the testing stone.

"Place your palm on the testing stone and circulate your cultivation technique." The deacon in charge of the test instructed Chen Huai'an.

"Thirty! He actually opened thirty meridians!" Thirty lines lit up on the testing stone, representing the thirty meridians Chen Huai'an had opened. The deacon could not help crying out.

This was the first person this year to open thirty meridians in just seven days. With such cultivation speed, this fellow's talent had to be extremely high. In less than a month, he would be able to open all the meridians in his body and step into the Body Tempering Realm.

"Chen Huai'an, that trash, actually opened thirty meridians. He must still have plenty of Spirit Spring Water." A glint flashed through Zhang Hu's eyes as he looked at Chen Huai'an from within the crowd.

Wang Tong had gone out and still had not returned, yet that trash Chen Huai'an was taking the sect's test. This meant Wang Tong was most likely dead.

Wang Tong's death was not unacceptable. His strength had been weak, so he deserved to die.

But what Zhang Hu found utterly unacceptable was that a piece of trash like Chen Huai'an, who possessed Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root, had actually opened thirty meridians in such a short time.

Without question, Chen Huai'an's cultivation was now ranked first among the many newly recruited servant disciples. He was the first genius to open thirty meridians, and he would certainly have a place among the top three.

After registering, the deacon in charge of testing told Chen Huai'an to step down and await further notice.

As he stepped down, Chen Huai'an sensed a vicious gaze. That gaze made him feel deeply uncomfortable.

"Whatever. Since I've already come this far, I can only take things one step at a time." Chen Huai'an shook his head and cast the sudden discomfort to the back of his mind.

For now, all he needed to do was wait for the sect's arrangements.

As for the source of that discomfort, Chen Huai'an guessed that it had to be connected to Zhang Hu.

If he had performed mediocrely, then as long as Zhang Hu could not find him, the matter would naturally have faded away.

But now that he had stood out in this test, Zhang Hu would absolutely not let the matter rest.

After recognizing Chen Huai'an, Zhang Hu revealed a cold smile. "Kid, you hid for two days. Did you think this matter would just be forgotten? I need a massive amount of cultivation resources to break through to the Body Tempering Realm, Middle Stage. I'm taking that Spirit Spring Water no matter what."

Very soon, Zhang Hu vanished from where he stood.

This time, he was prepared to get serious.

Chen Huai'an also knew that someone had set their sights on him, but he was not in a hurry. As long as he was given a little more time—one month—his cultivation would surely surpass Zhang Hu's. If that fellow dared plot against him, he would definitely kill him.

No, he would not wait for Zhang Hu to plot against him. The moment he found an opportunity, he would definitely kill him.

Only he and Zhang Hu knew the secret of the Spirit Spring Water in the entire sect. To keep the secret buried, even if Zhang Hu did not come looking for trouble, Chen Huai'an would still have to kill him.

Chen Huai'an no longer needed to worry about the following tests. No matter what the final outcome was, he would not care too much.

Because while waiting, he had learned how the sect would assign tasks.

The method was realistic and straightforward. Whoever was stronger, more talented, and cultivated faster would gain priority in choosing. The easier servant tasks with better benefits would be picked by them.

As for those with weak strength and poor talent, the dirtiest, bitterest, and most exhausting tasks in the sect would fall to them.

With the strength Chen Huai'an had displayed, not to mention the top three, securing a place in the top ten would not be a problem. Even if he did not make the top three, finding an easier job at Servant Peak would be no problem.

Chen Huai'an closed his eyes to rest in the plaza, while Zhang Hu went to find the deacon responsible for assigning servant tasks.

"Those whose names are called, follow me into the main hall." Once the test ended, a loud shout rang out through the crowd.

"Guo Gaoquan."

"Chen Huai'an!"

More than a dozen names were called. These people had all opened more than twenty meridians within their bodies.

Those whose names had been called puffed out their chests like victorious roosters, enjoying the worshipful gazes of the servant disciples as they slowly headed toward the Hall of Duties.

Chen Huai'an followed closely at the very back of the group.

The rankings had already been calculated. He was not the best one; he ranked third. Above him were two geniuses who had opened thirty-one meridians.

Being exempted from servant tasks for a month was a minor matter. What had the youths buzzing with excitement as if they had been injected with chicken blood was that the top three could enjoy the treatment of Outer Sect disciples for one month. That meant no menial work for a month, along with a reward of ten Low-grade Body Tempering Pills and ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

"Now, I will announce the top three disciples in this test for newly recruited servant disciples." Chen Huai'an and the other youths had only just settled into place in the main hall when a short, plump old man with a small goatee waved for silence.

"First place, Xu Hui, who opened thirty-one meridians. Second place, Guo Gaoquan, who likewise opened thirty-one meridians. Third place, Zhang Long, who opened thirty meridians. The three of you, step forward. For the next month, you will enjoy the treatment of Outer Sect disciples. You must seize this opportunity to cultivate diligently and break through to a higher realm."

Once the names of the top three were announced, several people in the main hall looked at one another, each staring at the others in confusion.

They clearly remembered that during the test, there had been someone named Chen Huai'an who had opened thirty meridians. Yet now, Chen Huai'an's name was absent from third place.

The others wore puzzled expressions, while Chen Huai'an, as the person involved, was even more bewildered.

Had someone stolen his identity?

After hearing the elder announce the results, Chen Huai'an's face darkened with anger after his brief astonishment.

Why was he not third? Who the hell was this Zhang Long? How had he also opened thirty meridians?

One was called Zhang Long, the other Zhang Hu. Just hearing those names made Chen Huai'an dislike them intensely.

If not for Zhang Hu's schemes, Chen Huai'an would have opened far more than thirty meridians over the past few days. Charging for first place would not have been a problem.

Chen Huai'an had originally wanted to hide his abilities and develop quietly.

But now, the glory that belonged to him had been snatched away.

Chen Huai'an did not care about rankings or resources. He could give up such empty honors.

But they should at least exempt him from a month of servant tasks! He did not want to do servant tasks. He only wanted to cultivate quietly and improve his strength.

Su Wanying was a genius with a Supreme Spiritual Root and the sect master's personal disciple. If he did not cultivate diligently, how could he ever chase after her?

There were some matters, some words, that Chen Huai'an could not pretend had never happened.

Especially during the time he had fallen off the cliff and gone missing—only Su Wanying likely knew what had happened to his mother.

In seven days, he was about to break through to the First Stage of the Body Tempering Realm. If he cultivated with all his strength for a month, breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm, Middle Stage should not be a problem, right?

And now, the glory and benefits that belonged to him had been stolen away. How could he not be furious?