Chapter 26: Overwhelming Pressure, Talents Everywhere
Early morning, a clear sky stretched for ten thousand li.
At Shiyang Academy, thirty-two Blade-Bearers stood firm and imposing.
The ten Seed candidates likewise stood upon the high platform.
The most eye-catching, naturally, was Young Master Qilin, Zhao Yao.
In just over twenty days, he seemed to have transformed once again—his entire presence radiated power, his bearing heroic and imposing, his aura deep and unbroken.
And ever composed and reserved, Zhu Yuting stood silently behind Young Master Qilin.
This posture alone told everyone present all they needed to know.
Zhu Yuting had already become Young Master Qilin’s follower—to put it bluntly, his lackey.
There was nothing shameful in that.
Countless people wished to become Young Master Qilin’s lapdog and didn’t even have the qualifications.
This position was highly sought after!
Everyone knew that once Young Master Qilin entered service at the Sacred Ground, Zhu Yuting stood an excellent chance of securing a Blade-Bearer position himself!!
Deputy Magistrate Zhao’s face glowed with pride as he cupped his hands and bowed to Magistrate Lu:
“My lord Lu, for this Selection Trial, allow this humble official to lead the delegation. My heart is with my son Yao’er, and I must personally see to his daily discipline.”
Magistrate Lu kept his face stern and said nothing.
By the rules, it should be the Shiyang County Magistrate who led the delegation, with the Deputy Magistrate managing county affairs in his stead.
This was a golden opportunity to shine!
Once Shiyang County had a heaven-blessed talent enter service at a Sacred Ground, the credit would fall to the magistrate.
Yet now, in full public view, his second-in-command was openly overstepping his authority.
And the worst part was—he couldn’t even refute it!
With his own son participating in the Selection Trial, the father would inevitably need to travel to Chuwei Prefecture; it was simply impossible for both the county’s chief and deputy officials to go together.
Magistrate Lu nodded, expressionless.
Once the Selection Trial concluded, he would need to find some excuse to transfer out of Shiyang County—because with the Zhao family holding all the power in one hand, no matter what he did, he’d only feel stifled and constrained.
One family producing two figures of supreme honor—the Zhao ancestral graves must truly be wreathed in auspicious smoke!
The orange-robed Flying-Fish official swept his gaze over the ten candidates, his voice short and forceful:
“Depart!”
Dozens of blood-sweating steeds already stood ready in the plaza. Gu Lin selected a jet-black warhorse and drew tight the reins.
Outside the academy, voices rose in a great clamor, gongs and drums sounded, and firecrackers rang out one after another.
Gu Changchuan had already purchased a carriage; he drove it himself, bringing Zhou Man along toward Chuwei Prefecture.
Unexpectedly, the chubby Wang Mu came along as well, shamelessly declaring he’d be joining them.
Gu Changchuan naturally agreed—in the days when Lin’er had suffered so much scorn and contempt, Wang Mu had been the only one who’d befriended him with true sincerity.
Meanwhile, in the crowd, Shen Xun and his father watched the ten Seed candidates depart.
Shen Xun’s face was full of indignation as he said in a low voice:
“Father, the loan repayment deadline passed a month ago, and Gu Lin shows no intention whatsoever of repaying it. Should we go after him and press for the debt?”
Smack!
His father struck him across the face and shouted angrily:
“Have you grown tired of living? Do you dare stir up trouble in front of a Blade-Bearer?”
“Once the Selection Trial concludes, we’ll bring up the matter of the loan contract again.”
Shen Xun felt somewhat unsatisfied—the contract was on official record with the government; repaying debts was simply a matter of natural justice!
He said cautiously:
“But what if Gu Lin actually becomes a Blade-Bearer…”
His father bellowed:
“If he truly becomes a Blade-Bearer, we’ll tear up the contract ourselves and even offer up silver to him voluntarily.”
“But there’s no ‘if’—Young Master Qilin holds a deep grudge over that willpower test, and given how fiercely he reacted that day, there’s no way he’ll accept Gu Lin.”
Shen Xun let out a breath of relief.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Fisherman’s Guild Leader Li Jisheng stood with several of the guild’s finest fighters.
Ever since the academy’s Selection Trial, the Li family had become an utter laughingstock!
He hadn’t slept a wink through the night, consumed by a rage bordering on madness, swearing he’d make that little beast repay it a hundredfold!
Once the Sacred Ground Selection Trial ended, that little beast would lose the protective talisman of his token—then he’d wash the entire Gu family in blood!!
Inside a carriage, a woman with a graceful, willowy figure lay collapsed upon a soft couch, a veil draped over her head to hide a face densely covered in scars, half of it charred black and carbonized. Every time she looked in a mirror, she would frighten herself into anguished wailing.
Young Master Qilin, out of consideration for old affection, had sent word to her.
That little beast had offended the Zhao family—he was certain to die!
She wanted to witness it with her own eyes. She wanted to carve Gu Lin into a thousand pieces. She wanted to vent her boundless, world-consuming hatred!
Kill!
Kill him!!
***
Five days later, the group galloped hard and arrived successfully at the foot of Chuwei City.
Truly worthy of being called blood-sweating steeds—they needed only a single resupply along the way, tearing through day and night without rest.
Gazing up at the towering, dignified city walls, the group restrained their stirring emotions and followed the Blade-Bearers into the city.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Shiyang Martial Hall in Chuwei’s East City—this would be their lodging.
Every Selection Trial followed this same procedure; Headmaster Yan was already well-acquainted with it, having arranged rooms and cultivation chambers in advance.
Just at that moment.
The sound of steady, measured footsteps came from outside.
A figure stepped into the martial hall.
In an instant, every single Blade-Bearer dropped to their knees with a thud, not daring to lift their heads.
This scene shocked everyone from Shiyang.
Such dignified, domineering Blade-Bearers, now prostrated on the ground in utter humility.
Who was this person?
He wore a black official robe embroidered with the three-legged golden crow, its hem embroidered with a three-headed, three-legged golden crow, a golden waist tablet gleaming brilliantly at his side.
He wore a black crown upon his head, his face as fine as polished jade, a pair of eyes as unfathomable as an abyss.
He simply stood there in silence, his authority pressing down upon all directions, and everything fell utterly still.
He said nothing.
None of the Blade-Bearers dared to lift their heads.
The distinction between noble and lowly, the division of rank—none dared to overstep it!!
That sense of overwhelming pressure, that invisible weight of power and authority, left everyone from Shiyang struggling to breathe.
Headmaster Yan dropped to his knees with a thud, saying with reverence:
“This one pays respects to Lord Zhao.”
Deputy Magistrate Zhao, having heard the news and hurried over, also bowed his head and cupped his hands, utterly deferential.
Public and private matters were to be kept separate, but after all, he was still the father—kneeling could be spared.
The one who had arrived was none other than Zhao Can of the Martial Extremity Palace!
“Rise, all of you.”
Zhao Can’s voice was hoarse and rasping as he swept his gaze across the assembled Blade-Bearers.
He walked step by step toward Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao’s face was full of reverence as he smiled and offered a greeting.
However—
Smack!!
A blow of immense force and weight came crashing down.
Zhao Can swung his arm in nearly a full circle and struck Zhao Yao hard across the face with a slap.
Zhao Yao was sent sprawling to the ground, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth. He didn’t dare utter a single word.
Zhao Can loomed over him, looking down, and said coldly:
“In a tiny place like Shiyang County, a mere willpower assessment—and you actually lost?”
“Mediocre, worthless failure—you’ve thoroughly disgraced me!”
Zhao Yao wiped away the blood and knelt, kowtowing:
“Elder brother, this is your worthless younger brother’s incompetence.”
He wouldn’t dare show even a shred of arrogance—he who dared even talk back to his own father feared no one but his elder brother.
Zhao Can reined in his anger and asked calmly:
“Which one of you is Gu Lin?”
His tone showed no ripple of emotion, yet it carried a pressure that dominated all around him.
Gu Lin stepped forward two paces.
Zhao Can studied him for a long moment, then walked closer step by step.
Gu Lin lowered his head slightly, showing deference to the Martial Extremity Palace. He caught sight of the magnificent, deep-black official robe, the three-headed, three-legged golden crow rendered so lifelike upon it.
“You’re quite impressive.” Zhao Can raised his hand and lightly patted Gu Lin’s shoulder.
In that instant, Gu Lin’s internal organs trembled violently, agonizing pain surging through his entire body, his frame tensing as his shoulder twitched uncontrollably.
Zhao Can turned away, his expression unchanged.
Having probed him slightly, he found nothing unusual about this youth—no trace of the murky, sinister aura left behind by the cultivation of some forbidden art.
Gu Lin watched Zhao Can’s retreating back, a flash of cold intent flickering deep within his eyes.
Amid the deathly silence, Zhao Can slowly spoke:
“Everyone, I’ll be taking Zhao Yao with me. Any objections?”
All the Blade-Bearers answered in unison:
“We obey your command, my lord!”
They understood Lord Zhao intended to give his younger brother special private tutoring, but this was well within the rules.
“Let’s go.”
Zhao Can strode out of the hall.
Zhao Yao scrambled up and followed closely behind, not even sparing Gu Lin a single glance.
Having personally witnessed his elder brother’s magnificent, awe-inspiring power, he now looked down on this Gu fellow from the bottom of his heart as well, treating him just the same as an ant.
“Respectfully seeing off Lord Zhao.”
Only once Zhao Can boarded his magnificent carriage did the Blade-Bearers finally let out a long breath of relief.
Deputy Magistrate Zhao, basking in reflected glory, unconsciously raised his voice and declared loudly:
“With Zhao Yao gone, the best cultivation chamber should go to Zhu Yuting.”
Zhu Yuting was the Zhao family’s follower, one of their own—someone who would go on to run errands and serve at Yao’er’s beck and call in the future.
“Many thanks, my lord Deputy Magistrate!”
Zhu Yuting expressed his gratitude with deference.
The remaining eight Seed candidates said nothing.
Leaving the main hall, Headmaster Yan couldn’t help but glance toward Gu Lin—everyone had witnessed that “shoulder pat” scene, and though everyone sympathized, who could possibly defy Lord Zhao of the Martial Extremity Palace?!
Walking into the cultivation chamber, Gu Lin struggled to calm the turbulent emotions churning within him—anger would accomplish nothing; he had to, absolutely had to, secure a position at a Sacred Ground!
***
Later that evening, the eight of them gathered together.
Liu Suifeng, the weakest among them, had been out gathering information; his expression was grave and heavy as he said:
“Among the twenty-three counties of Chuwei Prefecture, according to rumor, there ought to be nine cultivators at the Cavern Mystery realm!”
Nine?
Everyone felt as though they’d plunged into an ice cellar, a chill unlike any they’d ever known washing over them.
Only six spots were available for the Sacred Grounds.
And there were a full nine people at the Cavern Mystery realm!!
This left them not merely demoralized but breeding within them a genuine sense of inferiority and dread.
Liu Suifeng’s throat tightened, and he said bitterly:
“That’s not even all of it—there’s also someone called Li Zhixu, a Confucian Dao cultivator, whose strength is Confucian Disciple, Energy Cultivation Ninth Stage. He caused a sensation at the Shanyin County Selection Trial, shocking everyone to the core!”
Confucian Disciple Ninth Stage?
The atmosphere grew even more oppressive.
As everyone knew, Confucian Dao cultivators facing martial artists could almost always leap two stages ahead in combat.
This Li Zhixu’s true combat strength was absolutely no less than Cavern Mystery First Level!
“Li Zhixu—’Ritual is the order of Heaven and Earth.'” Yan Shouxu’s face fell into utter dejection.
Both of them shared the character for “order,” yet the gap between them was so vast!
Liu Si couldn’t help but ask:
“Then what are Young Master Qilin’s odds?”
Liu Suifeng took a sip of tea to wet his throat and said unhurriedly:
“The entire Chuwei Prefecture has gone mad with betting. Young Master Qilin’s odds rank fifth. Public opinion generally holds that he’ll secure a spot without much trouble.”
“All because of Lord Zhao of the Martial Extremity Palace! Lord Zhao surely wants his younger brother selected, and will naturally lend his support. Precisely because of this, Young Master Qilin has managed to outrank several Cavern Mystery cultivators and claim fifth place!”
“Fourth is Song Shiwei of Youxi County, third is Young Master Order, Li Zhixu, second is the Tyrant King, Chu Sheng, and first is Yan Xu of the Yan family clan of Chuwei Prefecture!”
Upon hearing this, the group felt thoroughly inadequate. Yan Shouxu asked cautiously:
“And what about my ranking?”
Liu Suifeng sighed:
“Over ninety-something. Zhu Yuting ranks seventy-second. The rest of us didn’t even make the top hundred—Wei Xuan is around one hundred thirty-something, Gu Lin is one hundred twenty-eighth, and I’m the worst, sixth from the bottom…”
“The Qualification Selection Trial assigns spots based on past results. Shiyang County only has ten spots, while Chuwei Prefecture as a whole has a full forty-eight spots, with exactly two hundred fifty-six total participants across the entire prefecture.”
The group fell silent, and the sumptuous feast before them tasted like ash.
Only Gu Lin remained as calm as ever, eating with his head down.
Their spirits low, the group dispersed one by one.
In truth, they had considered following Young Master Qilin, but Young Master Qilin simply refused to accept them—in his eyes, they held no value whatsoever.
Yan Shouxu, owing to the deep friendship between his grandfather Headmaster Yan and Magistrate Lu, naturally wasn’t accepted by the Zhao family either.
Half an incense-stick’s time later, Gu Lin left the Shiyang Martial Hall and found his parents at the inn, with the chubby Wang Mu there as well.
“Jingming, I bet five hundred wen on you—consider it moral support too!!”
Wang Mu spilled everything the moment they met.
Gu Lin glanced at him sidelong:
“How much did you bet on Zhao Yao?”
Wang Mu laughed sheepishly:
“Twenty-five taels.”
Gu Lin sneered:
“If you truly believed in me, you’d bet every last coin you had on me!”
Without another word, he pulled his father into their room.
“Father, how much money do we have at home?”
Gu Changchuan gave a wry smile:
“Only two hundred taels, and even that’s from the congratulatory gifts you received for winning your spot.”
Gu Lin asked again:
“What’s the payout multiplier for betting on me to secure a Sacred Ground spot?”
Though puzzled, Gu Changchuan had heard Wang Mu mention it and answered:
“Fifty-nine times!”
Gu Lin let out a silent laugh, his tone brooking no argument:
“Bet all of it on me!!”
He pulled out seven hundred taels in silver notes and handed them over, then glanced once more at the Frost-Forged Verdant Spear his father so cherished, and said bluntly and without ceremony:
“Pawn it first. Spread a thousand taels across the various betting houses in different locations! Remember to use the major betting houses and draw up proper contracts.”
Gu Changchuan’s face went utterly blank.
But meeting his son’s resolute gaze, he raised no objection and did as his son said.
This… this was betting the entire family fortune on a single throw of the dice…
And besides—where had his son gotten seven hundred taels of silver from?
Gu Lin paid no further mind to his father’s shock and bewilderment, leaving the inn to head back to the martial hall.
Behind him, Wang Mu shouted:
“Jingming, I believe in you!”
“I’m going all in with the betting house—I’ve decided to bet ten taels on you!”
Wang Mu’s heart bled a little, but the moment he thought of supporting his friend, even ten taels going down the drain no longer mattered.
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