Contention Among All Sides

To everyone's surprise, the first to speak was the chief examiner—the representative from the military.

He said impatiently, "Liang Bo, your strength is quite impressive. Are you interested in joining the military? I can promise you this: once you enlist, you will immediately receive the title of Commandant, and a general will personally instruct you."

Before his words had even faded, someone rebutted, "The military? If Liang Bo joins the army, he'll have to strictly obey military discipline in everything he does. He won't have the slightest freedom. Liang Bo, surely you wouldn't be able to stand that kind of life, would you? You should come to our Mystic Spirit Sect instead. I can make the decision to have you take one of our Supreme Elders as your master and directly receive the treatment of a direct disciple!"

Another representative shouted, "Liang Bo, come to our Golden Blade Sect! Our Golden Blade Sect is renowned for its blade techniques, and you happen to be a blade user. There's no place more suitable for you than the Golden Blade Sect!"

"Pah! Your Golden Blade Sect may be famous for blade techniques, but our Mystic Origin Sect is no worse! And if you join our Mystic Origin Sect, we'll directly reward you with one million taels of silver!" The Mystic Origin Sect representative immediately led with silver, trying to buy Liang Bo over.

"Enough!" At that moment, the Purple Sun Temple representative spoke. "Stop arguing! Liang Bo, our Purple Sun Temple is the oldest sect in the Great Jin Dynasty, and in terms of overall foundations, we rank first. If you come to Purple Sun Temple, I guarantee that you'll become a direct disciple. It will absolutely be better than joining any other sect!"

The representatives of the Limitless Sword Sect and True Martial Sect also spoke up, doing all they could to promote their own sects.

They had no choice. Liang Bo's performance just now had simply been too outstanding.

In previous years, there had been geniuses capable of defeating fourth-rank demon beasts, but all of them had only slain their opponents after bitter, grueling battles. Liang Bo, however, had claimed victory with a single move. The difference was simply too great.

In particular, the level of blade technique Liang Bo had displayed—man and blade as one—was even more astonishing. One had to know that ordinary people needed decades of arduous training to reach such a level in blade techniques, yet Liang Bo was only sixteen and had already achieved this much. It was enough to show that his comprehension was extraordinary.

A genius like this was naturally worth the three great powers lowering themselves to compete for him.

The young martial artists around them all stared dumbfounded. The sects they could break their heads trying to squeeze into might not even accept them, yet those same sects were now actively begging Liang Bo to join. It completely overturned everything they believed.

Zhao Wu and Zhao Zhao in particular had originally thought Liang Bo was mad for challenging a fourth-rank demon beast. They had never expected his strength to be this formidable.

Yet amid their excitement, they were also utterly confused. "How did Liang Bo's strength suddenly become so powerful?"

Watching the representatives of the various factions argue fiercely at the examiners' seats, Liang Bo gave a bitter laugh inwardly. Had I gone too far showing off?

He let out a soft breath and said loudly, "Seniors, please hear me out!"

As soon as he said this, the representatives of the various factions quickly calmed down and turned their gazes toward Liang Bo. After all, everyone knew that his choice was what truly mattered.

Liang Bo bowed to them and said, "I am deeply grateful for the trust all of you seniors have shown me. However, I am only one person and can choose only one sect. Therefore, to every faction other than Purple Sun Temple, Limitless Sword Sect, and True Martial Sect, I can only offer my apologies!"

The representatives of every faction present other than the three great sects revealed disappointed expressions upon hearing this. Still, they had been mentally prepared for this result. The other sects truly could not compare with these three great powers in overall strength. Although the military could stand shoulder to shoulder with the three great powers, there were simply too many rules in the army, and ordinary geniuses could not endure them. Being rejected was not unusual.

The representatives of the remaining three sects exchanged glances, knowing that the real competition had begun.

The True Martial Sect representative was a white-haired old man. Smiling, he said, "Young friend Liang Bo, you are a blade-wielding martial artist, while the Limitless Sword Sect is a sect of the sword. So I presume you would not join the Limitless Sword Sect, would you?"

The Purple Sun Temple representative immediately understood the tune and caught its elegance. Knowing that True Martial Sect wanted to first squeeze out the Limitless Sword Sect and reduce one competitor, he smiled and said, "Indeed. Every one of those fellows from the Limitless Sword Sect is a sword-crazed lunatic. Even if a blade user like you entered the Limitless Sword Sect, you would still be an outsider!"

The Limitless Sword Sect representative said angrily, "Nonsense! Who told you that everyone in the Limitless Sword Sect must practice sword techniques? Liang Bo, don't listen to their nonsense. Besides sword techniques, our sect also has quite a few experts proficient in blade techniques!"

Liang Bo gave a bitter laugh inwardly. In truth, using a blade or a sword made little difference to him. As long as he transferred his proficiency, he could immediately transform from a blade wielder into a sword wielder. Thus, even joining the Limitless Sword Sect would not have been a big deal.

However, others did not know about this ability. Nor did he want them to know. After all, every additional method was another trump card, and it might prove useful someday.

So after thinking it over, he still bowed to the Limitless Sword Sect representative. "Please forgive me, Senior."

"Forget it, forget it!" The Limitless Sword Sect representative shook his head upon hearing this, knowing that the Limitless Sword Sect had lost this competition. Besides, they had not been particularly enthusiastic about Liang Bo, a blade expert, to begin with. The offer they could make probably could not match those of the other two sects, so their failure was only natural.

With the Limitless Sword Sect eliminated, only True Martial Sect and Purple Sun Temple remained.

The Purple Sun Temple representative smiled. "Liang Bo, come to Purple Sun Temple! Our Purple Sun Temple is the sect with the strongest overall foundation. Once you join us, you can enjoy the treatment of a direct disciple. Our sect will also create a dedicated training plan for you. As long as you cultivate according to that plan, your future achievements will surely know no limits!"

The True Martial Sect representative beside him said, "Young friend Liang Bo, while the foundation of our True Martial Sect may be slightly weaker than Purple Sun Temple's, our True Martial Sect has the number one expert of the Great Jin Dynasty overseeing it. He is also the strongest blade wielder of this age, known as the Blade King! If you come to our True Martial Sect, you will certainly receive the Blade King's guidance. That is far better than fumbling through things on your own. As for training plans, our sect has never engaged in such tricks! Our sect relies entirely on self-discipline to nurture disciples. Deliberately trying to cultivate someone will instead restrict a genius's growth. Therefore, if you join our sect, you will have the greatest freedom!"

Liang Bo's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing the word freedom. It was something he had longed for beyond measure.

There were only three main reasons he wanted to join a prestigious great sect. The first was to obtain top-tier cultivation methods and martial skills. The second was to enjoy more resources. As for the third, it was to find a powerful sect to serve as his backing.

Beyond that, he had no desire to be bound by too many restrictions. After all, the thing he truly relied on to rise was not anything else, but the Skill Modifier, his golden finger. If even his cultivation process had to follow some training plan, that would not be helping him—it would be hindering him.

Thus, his choice was settled. It could only be True Martial Sect.