After a full half hour, Li Qingxian entered through the gates, listening to the horn-shaped artifact at the side continuously announce the rules.
"First round: puppet battle."
"Defeat the puppet within fifty breaths, and receive Grade A. Defeat it within a hundred breaths, and receive Grade B. Hold out undefeated for two hundred breaths, and receive Grade C. Those defeated or forced out of the ring fail. Those who receive Grades A, B, or C may enter the second round."
"In the first round, apart from the issued military weapons, no external objects may be used. No other weapons may be used. No talisman arts, magical artifacts, or treasures may be used..."
Li Qingxian and the others entered the gates. As they listened to the artifact's announcement, they selected weapons from the racks before being led by examiners to their respective puppets.
The brilliant morning light illuminated the broad grasslands at the foot of the mountain, the emerald-green lawn divided into large circles.
Each large circle appeared to have been drawn by Sword Qi, roughly five zhang in diameter, with a puppet standing in its center.
The puppet was wrapped head to toe in rusty steel. Through the gaps in its armor, numerous talisman papers could vaguely be seen pasted inside.
The examiner held a sheet of Projection Paper. Li Qingxian's name on it had been obscured, leaving only his candidate number and basic information visible.
Li Qingxian removed the wooden examination token from his waist. After inspecting it, the examiner nodded.
Standing outside the circle, the examiner asked loudly, "Do you understand all the rules?"
"This student understands," Li Qingxian said.
The examiner nodded. "Upon entering, a Spell Cultivator may cast three spells first. The puppet will only evade and not fight. Once the three spells have been cast,