Eternal Beyond

"Oh, right."

Jiu Wu realized it a beat late. He had forgotten about that.

"Boss, you're the Dark Monarch."

"And I'm the Dark Monarch."

Jiu Wu nodded, thoroughly convinced.

Early April, Year 06 of the Eternal Night New Calendar.

The Mortal Domain's First Spring Examination had recently ended, and the Retirement Clan had officially advanced to a Level-Four Strange Entity Clan. Once they wrapped up a few remaining matters, they could set out for the Resource Coordinates left by the Heaven-Evading Strange Entity.

Nameless Mountain.

Wang Kui was reporting to Chen Fan on this year's Spring Examination.

"Something happened during this year's examination. Quite a few candidates said it was unfair and demanded a retake."

"Oh?"

Chen Fan looked up from the draft on his desk and turned to Wang Kui, curious. "What was unfair? Were the questions leaked? Or did someone use family connections to get in through the back door?"

"Neither."

Wang Kui shook his head, looking hesitant.

"One of the subjects is Blades and Swords. It's mainly used to select talent for the War Pavilion, and in previous years, those chosen through the examination usually joined it. But something unexpected happened this year."

"Originally, the strongest candidate in Blades and Swords was a level-19 Cultivator."

"The continent's high-level Cultivators already work for the Mortal Domain."

"For an unaffiliated level-19 Cultivator to emerge is impressive. It means this candidate reached that level with almost no support from the Mortal Domain's resources or large quantities of eerie stones. He merely spent some time in a Private School with the effects of the Spirit-Nurturing Pavilion."

"He's a natural-born Cultivator."

"Once he joins the War Pavilion and gains access to its resources, his cultivation will rise rapidly again."

"Mm."

Chen Fan nodded, puzzled. "So what's the problem?"

He knew about