Promotion

"Using skill to overcome strength—excellent swordsmanship!" Leng Shuangyu, watching from outside the arena, saw Li Mu's strike and her eyes lit up. To everyone's surprise, she rose to her feet.

Though she was seated with Myriad Swords Tower, her eyesight was exceptional. She could occasionally glance over at the other arenas and roughly make out what was happening.

Li Mu's match was likely the only victory in today's fifth-floor assessment achieved through skill overcoming strength.

She pondered, "Was it a flash of inspiration, or does he truly have a talent for spotting weaknesses in actual combat? If he truly has such talent, he will certainly go far on the martial path."

There were countless sword practitioners, but those who could glimpse an opening amid life-and-death combat were one in ten thousand.

"This boy is called... Li Mu?"

"That's right." Zhao Meng's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly answered, unable to hide the delight on his face.

He had also seen Li Mu's lightning-fast strike.

"Li Mu is usually quiet and reserved. His talent is merely above average, and his physique is not particularly strong. He normally keeps a low profile. Yet ever since the sparring began, he has improved rapidly. A few days ago, he had already defeated several people in a row."

"If they competed through sheer strength, he would never be Fan Rong's match. Who could have imagined that he would catch that instant of weakness so precisely? With a casual stroke, he sent Fan Rong to defeat!"

As an instructor, Zhao Meng naturally paid close attention to the sparring matches and knew the capabilities of all six men like the back of his hand.

Cao A-Man had firmly held first place, while Fan Rong's sudden rise today had already caught his attention.

Yet he had never expected Li Mu to be the truly hidden dark horse... In a single exchange, he had utterly convinced Fan Rong, who had stunned everyone with his successive victories.

"Li Mu... actually caught the steward's attention?" Cao A-Man's honest smile froze on his face. He had just won six consecutive matches, crushing all opposition, yet Leng Shuangyu had not even raised an eyelid! But now she had risen for Li Mu's one strike?

"Why... does he deserve that?"

Cao A-Man had also been startled by Li Mu's strike. But clearly, such a clever move born from a flash of inspiration would be difficult to reproduce, and his heart soon settled again.

But Leng Shuangyu's reaction left him unable to remain calm.

He looked at Li Mu, his expression turning complicated as a trace of gloom flickered deep in his eyes.

"Wooden Head's swordsmanship really is incredible!"

Below the arena, Hui Zhen's eyes widened as he praised him sincerely.

Seeing Fan Rong's bedraggled defeat, the stifled frustration in his heart was swept away.

"You bald donkey! What are you so pleased about?!" Fan Rong was already burning with shame and rage. Hearing Hui Zhen murmur, the fury in his heart exploded. He abruptly turned and roared, "Can you beat me? Do you think you were the one who beat me?!"

Hui Zhen shuddered at the shout. Before he could speak, a faint voice answered:

"He can. He just lost his composure earlier. Why don't you two have another match?"

The voice was not loud, yet it clearly drowned out the clamor around the arena.

Fan Rong froze and unconsciously followed the voice. He met Li Mu's deep-pool-like eyes, and the terror from before swept over him again. His face instantly turned pale.

A strained sound escaped his throat as he sharply turned away, his chest heaving violently.

How could he not understand by now? Hui Zhen's uncharacteristic attacks on his lower body earlier, which had made him so uncomfortable, must have been Li Mu's instruction given on the spot! If Hui Zhen had not panicked during the match, he might truly have suffered a crushing loss today!

"Li Mu versus Fan Rong—Li Mu wins!

Fan Rong has four wins and two losses, temporarily ranked second!

Li Mu has one win and one loss. The others may challenge him!" Zhao Meng's booming voice rang across the entire grounds.

"I'll go." "My turn." "Li Mu, please go easy on me." "Wooden Head, please enlighten me"...

Li Mu won all four matches that followed.

But against the others, his swordplay was smooth and measured, stopping at the proper point. Each time, only after dismantling more than a dozen moves would he find an opening and lightly flick away his opponent's iron sword, calm and composed throughout.

Fan Rong's expression grew uglier and uglier. His face burned, and the roots of his ears were as hot as branding irons.

Those people had all been defeated by him! Li Mu was practically slapping his face over and over again!

"Li Mu..." Fan Rong clenched his fists.

Li Mu was doing it deliberately, of course.

First, he had long found Fan Rong's arrogance unpleasant.

Second, Fan Rong had defeated Hui Zhen through his own strength. That was simply ability, nothing to criticize.

But everyone had clearly seen that vicious strike on the arena aimed at Hui Zhen's broken hand.

Li Mu wanted to slap Fan Rong's face and vent Hui Zhen's anger for him.

"The assessment is over! Cao A-Man won all six matches and ranks first! Li Mu has five wins and one loss, ranking second! Fan Rong has four wins and two losses, ranking third! Hui Zhen has three wins and three losses, ranking fourth..."

With all the assessment sparring concluded, Zhao Meng announced the results.

Although Hui Zhen had lost to Fan Rong, he had gone all out afterward and defeated the others.

Even if he failed to be selected as a household guard, he had already come to terms with it.

He pressed his palms together and silently recited a Buddhist invocation.

"Now, I will announce the list of those selected as household guards." Zhao Meng was all smiles at this moment.

Clearly, Leng Shuangyu was in a good mood, so his credit should be secure.

Suddenly, the maid at Leng Shuangyu's side stepped forward and whispered a few words into his ear.

Zhao Meng was slightly startled. He nodded, then turned around and said:

"By the steward's order, Myriad Swords Tower's quota for this assessment has been increased to four!"

"Therefore, those selected as household guards are—"

"Cao A-Man, Li Mu, Fan Rong, Hui Zhen!"

"The four of you must remember from this day onward the grace of the Manor Lord and the steward in promoting you. Serve our manor with loyal hearts and protect its honor! Do not disappoint them!"

The entire grounds instantly erupted. Waves of envy, amazement, and cheers rolled without end.

Hui Zhen was still immersed in the disappointment of not being selected. Hearing this, he was struck as if by lightning and froze in place!

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Zhao Meng on the platform, then abruptly turned to look at Li Mu.

"I... I... Wooden Head! I made it! I made it!!!"

Overwhelmed by immense joy, Hui Zhen could no longer restrain himself. He grabbed Li Mu's arm, his voice trembling.

The three spots had originally been set, and Hui Zhen had been destined to wait until Frost's Descent next year to take the test again.

Who could have imagined that the situation would suddenly turn around and light would appear at the end of the tunnel!

Leng Shuangyu had actually fought for one more spot and pulled him in!

Feeling the immense force on his arm and seeing Hui Zhen so overjoyed that he was nearly in tears, Li Mu smiled sincerely as well. "Congratulations. From now on, we really can leave the city together."

"Wooden Head! It's all thanks to you. Without you sparring with me every day and pointing out my weaknesses, there's no way I could have won three matches today! And that medicine of yours..."

"We're brothers. Don't get all mushy." Li Mu quickly cut him off. "Tonight's wine and meat are on you!"

"Fine, as much as you want!!"

Hui Zhen readily agreed. Wiping his eyes, he burst into laughter.

Neither of them paid any attention to the resentful gaze Fan Rong cast their way.

Fan Rong had originally thought that although he had lost to Li Mu and been repeatedly humiliated, he had still suppressed Hui Zhen and secured third place.

Thinking of this, he smiled in satisfaction.

Who could have expected another spot to suddenly be added, allowing Hui Zhen to squeeze in!

Fan Rong suddenly felt as though he had swallowed bitter herbs. He was so angry that his head swam.

Why did all the good fortune fall upon those two brothers?!

"Just wait. Today's score will be settled sooner or later..."

Fan Rong gave Li Mu and Hui Zhen a deep look, then walked over to Cao A-Man.

At that moment, Cao A-Man wore an honest smile as he accepted the congratulations and flattery of the others, but there was a faint trace of displeasure in his eyes.

"Brother A-Man, please take care of me in the future." Fan Rong stepped forward and cupped his fists.

Cao A-Man glanced at him and immediately understood something. He grinned honestly. "What are you saying? We're all brothers."

On the other side,

Hui Zhen also noticed something was off and nudged Li Mu.

"Wooden Head, those two..."

Li Mu saw it too. Fan Rong had taken the initiative to approach Cao A-Man, and the two seemed to have suddenly become familiar with each other.

"It's nothing. Let them be." Li Mu shook his head. He had not fully revealed his strength, while every change in their blood and vitality was visible to him. There was nothing to worry about.

No one knew that there was a deeper reason why he did not want to take first place. To guard against unexpected developments, he would occasionally listen for news beneath Zhao Tuo's wall. Two days ago, he had overheard that after being promoted to household guards, the top-ranked newcomer would be sent out first to escort swords and gain experience, speeding up their growth.

Zhao Tuo had called it an excellent assignment, but Zhao Meng had shaken his head during a conversation and said that might not be so. On the previous two sword-escort trips, he had seen scouts from the bandit Mountain-Holding Vulture. Some foolish ones had been shot dead on the spot, while others had cleverly escaped. Their strength was uncertain...

The top-ranked newcomer is sent out first to escort swords... What if I take first and run into the worst possible situation?

Li Mu would not gamble his life. Time was pressing, and it was better to believe it than not. The reward for second place was not bad either.

As for Steward Leng's attention today, that had truly been unexpected... Li Mu was speechless. He had underestimated an expert's sharp eye.

Seeing Li Mu so calm, Hui Zhen's heart settled as well.

After spending so much time together, Li Mu had become someone deeply trustworthy in Hui Zhen's eyes.

Though he increasingly felt that he could not see through Li Mu, he would not pry into the matter.

After allowing everyone to celebrate for a while, the household guards began clearing the grounds.

"Come collect your rewards. Afterward, go to the central courtyard to collect a set of clothes, then follow me to the inner courtyard to meet the Third Manor Lord."

Zhao Meng summoned the four of them and distributed the promised silver rewards.

Weighing the warm three taels of silver in his palm, Li Mu felt an indescribable sense of security rise in his heart. He let out a long breath and smiled.

Three months of tireless effort, day and night, had finally reached its conclusion at this moment.

He glanced at the Sword Register.

[Blood and Vitality: 9.2↑]

[Dripping Water Swordsmanship: 1881/2000 (Minor Mastery)]

No matter how much my proficiency rises, my blood and vitality barely increase anymore...

With good food and drink, plus Blood-Nourishing Powder, it should change somewhat.

Li Mu secretly looked forward to it.

The major mastery of Dripping Water Swordsmanship was close at hand.

The long-awaited unlocking of Derivation Three, as well as the blood and vitality threshold, were not far away either!