n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After a short while, the special-grade studentsâ tests came to an end. Only Lin Xuan passed successfully, in accordance with the one percent success rate. For a moment, Lin Xuan became the center of attention, and everyone was discussing whether he would go on to the Sword Tower.
âHe will definitely go. Heâs a member of the Lin Family, and his family owns many businesses,â someone said enviously. He was jealous of Lin Xuanâs talent as well as his family background.
Jiang Chen understood these feelings. The academyâs disciples in the Sword God Palace were all running around to accomplish their goals because all they wanted was a place in the world. As for Lin Xuan, he didnât need to work hard; he just needed to wait until he inherited his familyâs businesses. Even so, joining the academy was extremely difficult.
Some people surpassed others from the moment they were born, and it was normal for disciples to envy them. Envy wasnât like jealousy, and the people envying him still hoped that they would one day achieve their goals by working hard. Returning to the main topic, the special-grade studentsâ tests were finished, and it was now the high-grade studentsâ turn. This time, the elimination rate was considerably lower, and six people passed the test. Lin Shuangyue and Shi Xiao were among them.
Lin Shuangyue, who had just become a special-grade student, wasnât too excited because this wasnât her final goal. I will surely join the Sword Tower, Lin Shuangyue thought, looking at Lin Xuan.
After Lin Shuangyue finished her test, she started worrying about Lu Ping.
âLu Ping, are you aware of the Tianyu Swordâs test standards?â she asked.
âArenât they determined according to oneâs grade?â Jiang Chen was quite baffled.
âIt isnât so simple. If someone with transcendence-level Doctrine Power becomes a primary-grade student, doesnât it mean that he can easily reach the intermediate-grade? To ensure that its students are among the bests, the sword pavilion wonât let that happen.â
Noticing that he was oblivious, Lin Shuangyue shook her head. Her expression became solemn.
Lin Shuangyue explained why most people werenât optimistic about Lu Pingâs results, âThe primary-grade studentsâ test is determined according to their achievements when they enter the academy.â
âSince youâve broken many records, your test will be extremely difficult. While your teacher is...â
Lin Shuangyue hesitated and didnât finish speaking. The more outstanding a student was, the better the teacher assigned to him. As long as a student worked hard, he or she could surely pass the test.
However, all of the sword pavilionâs students were aware that Jiang Chen had been assigned to a teacher who was only around to make up numbers. This teacher was Wu Ming, the only teacher in the sword pavilion who did not instruct a single student. Even the other teachers didnât know much about him.
âIs it like that?â
Jiang Chen had not expected the sword pavilion to be so strict. However, he didnât feel anything other than faint surprise; he was already aware that his master was no worse than any other teacher.
At that moment, the high-grade studentsâ tests came to an end, and it was the intermediate-grade studentsâ turn. More people looked at Jiang Chen; it was like they were waiting for a criminal to step up to the gallows. Even many of the teachers smiled mysteriously.
âIt seems like he will be used to judge his master.â
If Jiang Chen were eliminated, then everyone would be sure that Wu Ming was just here to make up numbers. However, there was still someone who had hope in him: the Deputy Pavilion Master. He was the one who had brought Jiang Chen to Wu Ming.
All of a sudden, Shi Xiao came over and said, âDo you plan to go in through the back door?â
For a moment, the students were taken aback. Then, the whole hall roared with laughter.
âDonât go too overboard!â Lin Shuangyue said respectfully.
Such words ridiculed Lu Ping, suggesting that he would leave after being eliminated and that Lu Ping had only managed to join the sword pavilion using the âback doorâ and shady means. Namely, that the great master had forced the sword pavilion to accept Lu Ping. Even someone like Jiang Chen, who had a sharp and glib tongue, couldnât help but praise Shi Xiao. Although, regardless of Shi Xiaoâs eloquent words, what he said still had to be based on real facts.
If the outcome didnât conform to what Shi Xiao had said, then it wouldnât matter how eloquently and persuasively he spoke. There were many intermediate-grade students, and they wasted a lot of time. After they waited until the end of their test with great difficulty, all of the primary-grade students moved back tacitly, and Jiang Chen ended up at the front.
Everyoneâs gaze concentrated on Jiang Chen, and his reaction revealed a character befitting Lu Pingâan apathetic expression and ice-cold gaze.
âWork hard!â Lin Shuangyue encouraged in a low voice.
âShuangyue, are you standing by his side?â Shi Xiao asked. He was quite upset!
âItâs none of your business!â Lin Shuangyue didnât waste her breath on him.
âFine!â Hu Xiao blamed this matter on Lu Ping, and he would wait until he was eliminated before attacking him.
When Lu Ping walked up to the Tianyu Sword, the middle-aged woman said suddenly, âIt really is a pity!â She was a teacher, and it was unusual for her to say such things, which encouraged the students to mock Lu Ping even more. The Deputy Pavilion Master looked at her and furrowed his brow. He didnât blame her. If Wu Ming hadnât been there, Lu Ping, who had broken the records, would have been assigned to the middle-aged woman.
Since the middle-aged woman could become the teacher responsible Lin Xuan, her skill was apparent and undeniable. The Tianyu Sword started shining brightly, right in front of everyoneâs eyes. As they went through the tests from the special-grade to the primary-grade, the swordâs light was dimmed, and its radiance obviously demonstrated its power. When it was Lu Pingâs turn, however, the Tianyu Swordâs radiance almost reached the high-grade studentsâ level, clearly demonstrating that the testâs standards were determined just like Lin Shuangyue had explained.
âA student who has broken the record will be eliminated on the first test. Itâs really splendid!â Lin Xuan said in a soft voice.
Hearing him, the students laughed again. The teachers were displeased because this matter related to the sword pavilionâs prestige and reputation. However, since Lin Xuan was the only student whoâd managed to graduate so far that day, they didnât say anything.
âHis teacher isnât even present on such a big day. Heâs really...â
The middle-aged woman glanced at her surroundings. She was quite discontented! As a matter of fact, all of the teachers were present. Only Wu Ming hadnât shown up.
âItâs because my master knows that I will definitely pass,â Jiang Chen, who was now âLu Ping,â replied coldly.
âIf you hadnât taken him as your master, I might have made an exception and accepted you,â the middle-aged woman said.
âI donât need it,â Jiang Chen answered.
âYou arenât willing to admit it,â snorted the middle-aged woman. She didnât say anything more.
Meanwhile, the Tianyu Sword began to move, and fifteen minutes started on the clock. Swords that werenât controlled by anyone were usually more dangerous since they could move around without rhythm. An opponent had to depend on his ability to react. As the Tianyu Sword attacked, it defied common custom, flying near the ground and passing beside Jiang Chenâs feet before launching at his back.
When Jiang Chen turned around, the blade soared high in the air before diving downward. Many people were startled because theyâd assumed that the Tianyu Sword wasnât planning to spare Jiang Chenâs life.
Jiang Chen squinted, and his spirit sword, which he had unsheathed long ago, streaked a crescent arc in the sky. A tingling sound could be heard as the Tianyu Sword was deflected.
âDid he block it?â
Everyone was surprised. If Jiang Chen had tumbled to the ground, barely dodging it, they wouldnât have been shocked. The eyes of all the teachers lit up to witness such an efficient block and graceful attack.
âThis is just the start.â
Lin Xuan was still unimpressed; he looked down on such a sword move. However, when he witnessed the Tianyu Swordâs next attack, Lin Xuanâs expression changed drastically. The sword flew around leaving many afterimages, making it seem like more than ten thousand swords had appeared.
This was a sight that hadnât appeared during previous tests.