Treasure Unsealed

The slovenly Taoist's eyes lit up. "At sixteen, he had already trained his blade techniques to the level of man and blade as one, while his fist-and-kick techniques and movement skill had both reached basic-level perfection?"

The white-robed middle-aged man said excitedly, "Wine Maniac, this youngster was able to deduce incomplete martial techniques to completion the moment he entered the sect, and his blade techniques have also reached the level of man and blade as one. He is a rare genius! Wine Maniac, will you consider taking him as your disciple? If you will not, then I will."

Wine Venerable rolled his eyes. "What are you in such a hurry for?"

He raised his wine gourd and took a fierce swig, then said with some hesitation, "This youngster's comprehension is decent enough. This old Taoist has never taken a disciple before, so taking him as one would not be bad. But this youngster practices the blade, while this old Taoist practices the sword. That is rather regrettable. Besides, who knows whether this youngster can drink?"

The white-robed middle-aged man said, "What does that matter? What our True Martial Sect values is the true meaning of martial arts. What difference does it make whether one practices the blade or the sword? Look at Senior Brother Blade King. He is famous for his blade techniques, yet among his disciples, some practice the blade, some practice the sword, and there are even those who neglect their proper pursuits and use axes. As for whether he can drink, tell me, Wine Maniac, are you taking a disciple to pass on your legacy, or looking for a little drunkard to drink with you?"

"That is true!" Wine Venerable stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Sword Venerable said, "Enough nonsense. Are you taking a disciple or not? It is just one sentence—do not waste time! If you do not want him, I will take him as my disciple! Speaking of which, although I have taken several disciples over the years, not one has amounted to anything. If this Liang Bo enters my school, perhaps he will bring me glory in the future!"

Wine Venerable pondered for a moment. "I should still take him, but as for the timing, I need to observe him a while longer. After all, he would be my first disciple. I cannot make such a decision rashly!"

Sword Venerable said angrily, "Observe him longer? If you keep observing, someone else will snatch him away! Think about it. This youngster has only just entered the sect, and in a few days the disciple-taking ceremony will be held. With his aptitude and comprehension, coupled with the fact that he solved the question you left behind today, word of this will definitely spread. At that time, countless people will want to take him as a disciple. If you do not act quickly, be careful that someone takes him first!"

Wine Venerable said dismissively, "What is there to fear? I only need to spread word that I intend to take this youngster as my disciple and am currently examining him. Those old fellows all have plenty of disciples already. Would they really compete with someone like me, who does not even have half a disciple? As for those Earth Origin Realm fellows, do they have the nerve to compete with me for a disciple? Whoever refuses to accept it can come spar with me!"

Sword Venerable did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Fine, do as you please! But if you do not intend to take him as your disciple at the disciple-taking ceremony, yet forbid anyone else from doing so, I fear this youngster may start letting his imagination run wild. He may even suffer such a blow that he never recovers."

"Hmph. If he cannot even withstand such a trivial matter, then he should forget about achieving anything great in the future."

Wine Venerable looked at Ji Xin. "Do not tell anyone else that Sword Venerable and I came here. All right, go attend to your work!"

"Yes!"

Wine Venerable and Sword Venerable nodded slightly. Without entering the hall, they drifted away.

Inside the great hall, many young martial artists either wandered before the stone steles or solved questions within the side halls.

Just then, the stone stele before Side Hall Number Seven suddenly burst forth with dazzling seven-colored light. At the same time, the written question upon it rapidly vanished. This scene immediately drew the attention of every martial artist in the hall.

"A treasure! A treasure is about to be unsealed!"

"A treasure has been unsealed—it is Hall Number Seven!"

"Who is inside Hall Number Seven?"

All the martial artists in the great hall rushed toward Side Hall Number Seven. Before long, the area outside it was packed with people. They eagerly questioned one another, wanting to know who had opened Side Hall Number Seven and obtained the treasure within.

Du Chi was also waiting outside Side Hall Number Seven. Upon seeing this, his eyes widened into circles.

"How is that possible?" Others did not know who was inside Side Hall Number Seven, but he knew very well. It was Liang Bo.

"This is Side Hall Number Seven, and its question was the highly difficult task of completing an incomplete martial technique. Worse still, there was a time limit of one hour. Even Human Origin Realm martial artists would likely find it difficult to solve such a question. Liang Bo has only just entered the sect, and his strength is merely at the fourth rank of martial arts. How could he possibly solve it?" Du Chi found it utterly unbelievable.

Yet whether he believed it or not, the seven-colored light on the stele before Side Hall Number Seven and the vanished writing upon it clearly showed that the question in this side hall had been solved!

The many martial artists in the great hall discussed the matter heatedly. Some asked who had obtained the treasure, some discussed what the original question in Side Hall Number Seven had been, while others guessed what kind of treasure lay within.

At that moment, a tall, lean youth suddenly said, "I know who is inside. He is Liang Bo, a direct disciple who entered the sect this year from Nanyang Prefecture. We came to the sect on the same flying beast as him."

"Liang Bo? I have never heard that name! But if he became a direct disciple the moment he entered the sect, his strength must be formidable," someone said quietly.

"Very formidable. Our True Martial Sect is extremely strict about the number of direct disciples. Every year, so many disciples enter the sect from all over the country, yet usually no more than three receive the status of direct disciple. Some years, there is not even one. This Liang Bo entered as a direct disciple and even solved the question in Side Hall Number Seven. He truly has some skill!"

"The lower the side hall's number, the more valuable the treasure inside. I wonder what treasure Liang Bo obtained."

Someone said, "Two years ago, someone opened the treasure in Hall Number Fifteen. There was a high-grade Human-rank treasure inside. The treasure in Hall Number Seven should be of an even higher grade—perhaps an Earth-rank treasure."

"Look, he is coming out!"

At that moment, the side hall's doors opened, and a handsome young martial artist with joy written all over his face strode out. It was Liang Bo.

"Liang Bo!" Du Chi stepped forward.

"Du Chi!" Liang Bo nodded with a smile, clearly in excellent spirits.

"Liang Bo, what treasure did you obtain?" Du Chi asked curiously.

The other martial artists around them were also filled with curiosity, all turning their gazes toward Liang Bo.

Liang Bo thought for a moment. "A suit of armor."

"Armor? What grade is it?"

"Probably mid-grade Earth-rank?" Liang Bo said uncertainly.

"Hiss!" The crowd sucked in a cold breath, then looked at Liang Bo with envy. "It is actually mid-grade Earth-rank armor!"