Hidden Scripture Pavilion Enlightenment, Improving the Cultivation Method

The Great Examination was approaching.

More and more disciples gathered at the Martial Arts Arena of the Qinghe Branch; occasionally, even Hall Masters and stewards could be seen.

This examination concerned the division of benefits. Everyone wanted to secure a good ranking.

"Let's see who can stop me this time."

Zhao Wei stared at the pill in his hand, the corners of his mouth rising despite himself.

Kong Xiannian had sent this pill from the Huaqing Sect.

Zhao Wei had helped Kong Xiannian quite a bit in dealing with Xu Hua. Kong Xiannian returned the peach with a plum; after completing his task, he had specifically returned to the sect to search for this spiritual pill and sent it to Zhao Wei.

This pill was called the Vajra Pill.

It was said to have been refined by some eminent Buddhist master. It was greatly beneficial to Eighth Rank Copper Bone Realm martial artists, no worse than certain Seventh Rank pills.

Though Zhao Wei had paid the silver himself, he was still quite pleased to have gotten his hands on the Vajra Pill.

"The Huaqing Sect truly is a fine place."

Even with money, one could not buy a pill like the Vajra Pill in Clear River.

In the campaign against the Ghost Underworld Sect, Zhao Wei's men had suffered the most deaths. Even Eagle Six, the Deputy Hall Master, had fallen, forcing Heaven One Hall's plans to be temporarily shelved.

But none of that mattered.

With this Vajra Pill, he might be able to bring his Copper Bone Realm to completion and gain the strength to challenge the Branch Master.

When that time came, he truly would not think much of a mere Heaven One Hall.

He was determined to win this examination!

The Heaven and Earth Alliance had risen so swiftly not only because its three Alliance Masters worked together as one, but also because of its aggressive examination system.

In Li Rui's words from his previous life, the promotion path was unobstructed, so naturally those below had plenty of drive.

Each branch would first hold its own examination. Rankings were determined by martial strength and contributions to the branch, ultimately reflected in the numbers on their Waist Tags.

Deputy Branch Masters, Hall Masters, stewards, and ordinary disciples all had to participate. It could be called a great reshuffling.

The highest-ranking Deputy Branch Masters and Branch Masters could continue on to the Main Branch's subsequent examination.

The very best could even become the fourth Alliance Master.

Put another way, they could go from hired hands to partners.

Zhao Wei glanced at the Waist Tag marked with the number "4."

"Word is that Clear River has one quota to enter the Huaqing Sect this time. The Branch Master is too old and has no chance. As long as I can take second place, I'll have the opportunity to receive a recommendation."

If one could go to the Huaqing Sect, naturally no one would be willing to make a training ground inside the snail shell of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

A great sect like the Huaqing Sect valued talent more than anything. If one could not enter while young, there would be no hope for the rest of one's life.

Zhao Wei had come from the mud and begun practicing martial arts only in his thirties. Naturally, he had never had any chance of entering the Huaqing Sect.

Now that such an opportunity had finally come, he naturally had to seize it.

He tipped back his head and swallowed the Vajra Pill.

"The Huaqing Sect people have come again. Could it be that the Ghost Underworld Sect affair still hasn't been settled?"

Li Rui frowned as he pondered.

After seeing Zhu Yue and the other two that day, he had specifically sought out Wang Zhao and Yang Yong.

Sure enough.

The three had not only come to Clear River and taken up residence with the Zhu Family, but had also visited the Heaven and Earth Alliance and the Blood Tiger Gang, Clear River's two foremost forces, in one go.

As for the details of their discussions, no one knew.

They must have promised the Heaven and Earth Alliance and the Blood Tiger Gang some benefits. Otherwise, after what happened last time, no one would be willing to play the fool and pay the bill.

"Forget it. Relying on myself is the foundation."

He could not control the storms outside. Only by strengthening himself within could he stand firm amid wind and rain.

As for the approaching examination—

He truly did not take it to heart.

He had bones, comprehension, and Cultivation Methods. He truly had no interest in joining the blood-soaked struggle of the Great Examination.

Zhang Yang's promise was tempting.

But the risks were high as well.

Li Rui had lived for so many years by relying on one word: steadiness.

The position of Great Offering of the Civil and Martial Hall was enticing, but the risks it brought were great, and countless trivial affairs would bind him down. It was less carefree than Heaven One Hall.

As long as he secured some passable ranking in the examination, he would neither offend Zhang Yang nor stand out too much and invite others' covetous eyes.

He picked up the Taoist scripture again.

"This old man only wants to cultivate immortality. Let no worldly affairs come trouble me."

Elsewhere.

The Zhu Family.

The three from the Huaqing Sect had gathered in the Zhu Family's main hall.

Han Qin spoke first. "The men have already been sent out. There should be news soon."

Without drawing attention to it, he glanced at Junior Sister Jiang standing to one side.

If Jiang Yan had not acted so forcefully this time, they could never have persuaded two forces to join hands in just one day.

She's fierce as hell.

That was Han Qin's assessment.

He had not interacted much with Jiang Yan before. Other than knowing that she was Elder Jiang's daughter, he knew nothing else about her.

Now, it seemed that a tiger father truly had no dog daughter.

When they had last met, Jiang Yan had still been Ninth Rank. Yet the Void Strike Palm she had displayed at the Heaven and Earth Alliance clearly showed that, like him, she had already become a Copper Bone Realm martial artist.

Such advancement speed was truly terrifying.

Perhaps many years from now, he would feel honored to have carried out a mission alongside Jiang Yan.

At the thought, Han Qin inexplicably let out a few soft chuckles.

"Ahem. Junior Brother Zhu, you grew up in Clear River and know the area well. Rather than sit idle, let's go look for clues nearby."

Zhu Yue nodded. "That will be easy enough."

At that moment, Jiang Yan interjected, "Senior Brother Zhu, what exactly is the situation with that old Groom from before?"

Zhu Yue was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Jiang Yan, placid as still water, to care so much about an old Groom.

If Li Rui had not already been seventy or eighty years old, Zhu Yue would certainly have regarded him as a romantic rival and quietly eliminated him.

"I asked around. He really was once a Groom for my family. After redeeming himself, no one knows how he somehow entered the ranks. He is now a Hall Master of the Heaven and Earth Alliance's Qinghe Branch."

Han Qin was rather surprised.

Such a bizarre life story was indeed uncommon.

But he did not pay it much mind. A septuagenarian Entering Rank Martial Artist was hardly worth his attention.

Jiang Yan nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

"What is his name?"

"I think it's Li Rui."

Li Rui slowly closed the Nanhua True Explanation.

"Excessive hardness is easily broken; hardness and softness must complement each other."

The forebear who created the White Ape Mantle Blade had held a pure intent, following the path where brute force could make bricks fly. The blade technique was fierce and domineering, broad and sweeping, using violent Blade Momentum to engulf the opponent. Its power was immense.

Yet perhaps because it had been comprehended within a Taoist Temple, it also concealed a trace of yielding softness.

Only after extensively reading Taoist scriptures had Li Rui begun to discern its flavor.

Naturally, this was also inseparable from his improved comprehension.

"When extremes meet, fortune turns. Extreme yin becomes extreme yang; extreme yang becomes extreme yin. When yin and yang commune, divine skill is achieved."

A flash of understanding passed through his heart.

All Cultivation Methods beneath heaven were created by others. No matter how well they suited one's body, there would always be points of mismatch.

A thousand people, a thousand methods.

The circumstances of the forebear who created the White Ape Mantle Blade were certainly vastly different from Li Rui's.

Compared to him, Li Rui was more steady by nature.

Rather than pursue excessive fierceness and overdo things, it was better to take a step back and follow the path of balance and harmony.

Others sought wealth, power, and martial arts. He sought longevity.