Longzang

Chapter 9 Breaking the situation
After a moment, Zhang Sheng finally looked up and asked, "Isn't there still an internal review within the sect? What will the standards be this time?"

Sun Yu said, "The sect's internal review only looks at the unified examination results. I heard that this year's standard is within five points. Within five points, there is room for maneuver, and beyond five points, it is impartial."

Zhang Sheng said, "In other words, as long as Yuan'er scores five points more than the fourth-place finisher, there will be a spot."

"Basically."

Zhang Sheng lightly tapped the armrest, his mind racing through the procedures, the backgrounds of all the candidates, and Wei Yuan's strengths and characteristics. His thoughts paused on Wei Yuan's fortune, but he shook his head.

In this world, good fortune is as plentiful as hairs on a cow. Those scions of wealthy and powerful families all have some good fortune. Otherwise, how could they have been born into such good families, instead of Wei Yuan? Even if they themselves do not have good fortune, as long as they are born into wealthy families, someone will naturally bring good fortune from others to them.

Therefore, some people have long said that being born into the right family is the greatest fortune.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Sheng made up his mind and said slowly, "Yuan'er is my personal disciple. For three whole years, I have not cultivated Taoism or traveled, but only taught him! He should be unmatched in the literary test. With Yuan'er's foundation and fortune, the Taoist test will be no problem either. The key is the martial test."

Zhang Sheng took a piece of paper, quickly wrote down a mnemonic, handed it to Sun Yu, and said, "Please give this to Yuan'er, senior brother."

Sun Yu took a look and exclaimed in surprise, "The Southern Vermilion Bird's Unknown Technique? Is this the Heavenly Azure Palace's secret technique of fortune?"

Zhang Sheng said, "Those scions of high-ranking families all have good fortune by their side. How could they not know the secret techniques of good fortune? Although the secret techniques of good fortune of my Tianqing Palace are not as good as the 'Xingli Pian' of the Four Saints Academy, let alone the 'Wangliunian' of the Bao family, these two families are not aiming for Taichu Palace this year, so they are enough to deal with those five families."

Before the unified examination, candidates are strictly prohibited from privately cultivating, lest they taint their foundation. However, powerful families have their own ways of dealing with this, and the Qi Luck Secret Technique is one of them. The Qi Luck Secret Technique allows one to draw upon their own Qi to enhance themselves, transforming it into various supernatural abilities, which is not considered cultivation. Although the effect of the secret technique is not significant without cultivation, the presence or absence of the secret technique in the martial arts test is the difference between a cultivator and a mortal.

Zhang Sheng was a man of great talent. He immediately saw through the methods that powerful families would use in the martial arts test and promptly exploited Wei Yuan's fatal weakness.

Holding the Southern Vermilion Bird Unknown Technique, Sun Yu slowly said, "When I first entered the sect, I was often bullied and insulted by the sons of powerful clans. Unfortunately, I was cowardly back then and didn't have the courage to fight back on the spot. Looking back now, I still have many regrets. This time, my junior brother and I will take responsibility for this! Why can they do it, but we can't?"

Zhang Sheng said, "Then I'll leave Yuan'er in your care, Senior Brother. I need to go into seclusion now to recover my Dao power before the martial arts test ends."

Sun Yu was shocked: "This won't do! The Li Quan Powder is extremely potent; after taking it, one must undergo three days of seclusion! If the seclusion time is insufficient, it might damage one's foundation!"

Zhang Sheng said calmly, "No matter what those people take a fancy to, they will naturally feel that it should be theirs. If Yuan'er can break through the encirclement, we will take back what is ours, but those people will only feel that Yuan'er is stealing food from their plate. With their nature, how could they let it go? So after Yuan'er finishes the exam, he will most likely have a good 'discussion' with them. Such matters are naturally left to me, as the teacher."

In his dormitory, Wei Yuan had already put the regulations aside and sat down at his desk, reviewing everything he had learned in the past.

After Li Zhi left, three or four more groups of people knocked on the door, all with similar excuses. However, these people were far inferior to Li Zhi in terms of both manners and demeanor, so Wei Yuan naturally refused them all.

After hearing Li Zhi's words, Wei Yuan understood his predicament. Li Zhi's words sounded good, but while Wei Yuan wasn't particularly skilled in military strategy, he knew history by heart. He understood that once incorporated into the military system, he would be powerless; if he was ordered to charge, he would charge; if he was ordered to die, he would die. The title of vanguard commander sounded impressive, but in actual combat, if he wasn't cannon fodder, who would be?

There's no room for scheming in martial arts testing; it's all about improvisation and taking down whoever you can. So, Wei Yuan silently recited the *History of Tang*, recalling Professor Zhang Sheng's explanations. Suddenly, darkness fell, and the door opened silently. Sensing something, Wei Yuan turned to look.

Sun Yu stood at the door, somewhat surprised: This child has such a keen sense of perception!

Wei Yuan recognized Sun Yu and knew that he was a close friend of his teacher, so he quickly stood up and bowed. Sun Yu then handed him a piece of paper and said, "This is the cultivation manual your master gave you. Memorize it first. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me. I can stay for another half a quarter of an hour."

Wei Yuan took the manual and saw that the title read "Southern Vermilion Bird Unknown Manual," followed by several hundred words of instructions. This was part of the entire secret technique, specifically for use in the stage before cultivation, and therefore quite simple. Wei Yuan understood the basics after reading it once, and only needed to ask Sun Yu about one or two unclear points, until he understood the whole thing.

Seeing that Wei Yuan had grasped the technique, Sun Yu gave him a few more pointers on how to use the Qi Luck Secret Technique, and then quietly left.

As soon as Sun Yu left, Wei Yuan began his cultivation.

The Southern Vermilion Bird Unknown Technique is a secret art of the Azure Sky Palace, its strength lying in its balanced effects, without any obvious weaknesses. After activating the technique, Wei Yuan felt something invisible being stirred within him, transforming into a gentle warmth that spread throughout his body. Then, Wei Yuan felt the room gradually brighten, and a surge of powerful energy welled up within him. He tried to grab the desk and lift it, and the several-hundred-pound desk was actually lifted.

Setting down the table, Wei Yuan took a single step and moved from one side of the room to the other. After demonstrating a few more agility maneuvers, he dispelled the secret technique.

All Qi Luck Secret Techniques draw upon one's own Qi Luck as a source of supernatural power, and the manuals clearly state that they cannot be used for extended periods. Therefore, Wei Yuan stopped using the techniques after trying them. However, after finishing, Wei Yuan felt that the invisible mass within his body had not diminished at all.

Wei Yuan sat cross-legged, carefully savoring the sensations he had just experienced. The Southern Vermilion Bird Unknown Technique, when applied, comprehensively enhanced his physical functions, roughly doubling his strength and speed. Wei Yuan had possessed extraordinary strength since childhood, and this secret technique further amplified his abilities.

Wei Yuan no longer memorized history books, but instead focused all his energy on figuring out the Southern Vermilion Bird's Unknown Technique. He knew very well that this technique was the key to the martial arts test.

The immortal mountain has no sun or moon; between the light and shadow of the mountain, it was already the morning of the second day.

Wei Yuan and the other candidates were called to the square early and given breakfast. The so-called breakfast was actually just a glass of water, which, after drinking it, made them feel refreshed and swept away their drowsiness and hunger.

Several cultivators then led the examinees out of their quarters and onto a plaza. At the end of the plaza stood a grand hall containing twenty jade-colored prayer cushions. Beside each cushion were two incense burners, from which wisps of smoke rose.

An elderly Taoist priest emerged from the hall carrying a stack of white papers. With a flick of his sleeve, each examinee received a sheet of white paper. Upon receiving the paper, a cultivation technique appeared on it.

The elder Taoist priest said in a deep voice, “This is the examination manual. First, memorize it. Then, those who hear their numbers should enter the hall and practice the manual on the designated prayer mat. This manual can stimulate your innate talents and is the key to the Taoist test. You must not be distracted. When you hear the bell, you must immediately stop practicing and leave the hall. Do you all understand?”

"Understood!" all the candidates answered in unison.

The elder Taoist nodded, drew out his voice, and announced loudly, "The Taoist test begins!" His voice was like the cry of a crane, soaring high into the sky.

(End of this chapter)