77: 《Sword of Death and Gathering Souls》

Upon hearing what the Grand Confucian said, Tang Tian was stunned.

After all, he had never considered participating in the Imperial Examinations; joining the academy initially was just to see what Tang Yuan's Opportunity was...

Tang Tian asked, astonished:

"What is the Martial Examination?"

The Grand Confucian said:

"It is for absorbing Martial Dao Geniuses. After passing the Martial Examination, Literary Qi will transform into Martial Energy."

Tang Tian asked:

"What are the benefits of that?"

He knew about Literary Qi; the County Magistrate's mandarin duck was incredibly powerful.

The moment the mandarin duck appeared, the sky turned blue-purple.

One could say the County Magistrate lacked morals, but not that he wasn't strong.

The Grand Confucian said:

"There are naturally benefits. After killing too many enemies, you can obtain a Martial Bone.

"Literary Bones can only be obtained through one's own efforts, but Martial Bones can be obtained by killing enemies."

Tang Tian was startled and thought to himself:

"It's this again. What's the use of Literary Bones and Martial Bones?"

The Grand Confucian seemed to see through Tang Tian's confusion and said:

"Literary Bones are primarily for Spell Cultivators, and Martial Bones are primarily for Body Cultivators. Cultivating either of these will grant you the blessing of Great Lin's national Luck.

"They also have a suppressive effect on evil spirits."

Tang Tian said:

"Then, after I Cultivate a Martial Bone, can I still Cultivate a Literary Bone?"

Tang Tian genuinely didn't particularly like Martial Bones; after all, why bother doing it himself when he could kill enemies just by moving a pen...

The Grand Confucian said:

"Naturally, you can. Geniuses who Cultivate both are practically nonexistent."

Tang Tian said:

"Then can I choose not to participate in the Imperial Examination and the Martial Examination? There's no need to force myself to be restricted. For example, joining a Sect is quite good."

The Grand Confucian said:

"Look at the Green Mountain Sect's Sect Master, and the Myriad Imagery Sect's Sect Master; they are both Sixth Rank Civil Officials and Sixth Rank Military Officials of Great Lin."

Tang Tian: ...

Tang Tian said:

"Is Great Lin truly that powerful?"

However, Tang Tian thought to himself:

"Seeing Chi Daizi, Fourth Senior Sister, the County Magistrate, and the various appearances of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the city, I thought Great Lin was in a state of chaotic demons and monsters."

The Grand Confucian said:

"That is natural. Any Cultivator who reaches Foundation Establishment holds an official position, either Seventh Rank or Sixth Rank. If you have an official position and possess Literary Qi or Martial Energy, breaking through to Foundation Establishment will be much easier."

Foundation Establishment was a very distant term; Tang Tian had only collected one foundation establishment grass so far...

The Grand Confucian said:

"As long as you can pass the County Examination, you can obtain Literary Qi recognized by Great Lin. Moreover, the Cultivation Techniques I Cultivate require Disciples to hold official positions.

"The higher their future official positions, the better the Luck feedback they will provide me.

"In the end, Foundation Establishment, from the fourth to ninth level, can be easily passed, and even Golden Core can be reached."

Tang Tian was speechless...

Everything made sense now. No wonder this Grand Confucian, a third-level Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was teaching this group of Disciples.

Tang Tian thought to himself:

"So there's profit to be made. Otherwise, this Cultivation Technique is truly unique, with such a profound theory of Luck."

The Grand Confucian said:

"I won't let you participate in the County Examination for nothing. You can take the Scholar Examination, but there are only three spots among the thousands of Cultivators in Jinque City each year.

"I didn't expect you alone to be able to destroy the Yuanjia Gang. I have a Sword Skill, a Movement Technique, and a Breathing Technique here. Which one do you want?"

The Grand Confucian placed three jade slips on the table and said:

"The Sword Skill, Movement Technique, and Breathing Technique can all be used up to Foundation Establishment. Your four Senior Brothers chose the Literary Qi Breathing Technique. The Sword Skill is primarily for attack, and the Movement Technique is for stealth in the dark night."

Tang Tian was stunned at this moment.

He had no choice left. If he said he wouldn't participate in the Literary Examination or the Martial Examination, then even if the Grand Confucian let him go, he wouldn't dare.

The Grand Confucian had told Tang Tian the secret of his Luck, and it was likely that the four Senior Brothers also knew.

Once Tang Tian refused, he would be hunted by the academy.

Tang Tian sighed in his heart:

"In the Jianghu, one's life is not one's own. This applies to both the Grand Confucian and the Yunshui Pavilions Shopkeeper. Accepting their benefits means being on their side, and their path must also be followed."

Tang Tian said:

"Such a kindness for a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, this Disciple will surely repay it. I choose the Sword Skill."

Tang Tian didn't need a stealth Cultivation Technique for now, so he could only choose the Sword Skill.

Moreover, he truly needed a sword. Whether it was the heavy sword or the White Bone Greatsword, he was just swinging them wildly with his immense strength, feeling like he was wasting a lot of damage.

The Grand Confucian said:

"This Sword Skill was something I obtained in a Secret Realm. It doesn't suit a gentleman and is named 'Life Extinguishing Spirit Gathering Sword'. It focuses on killing. I will now transmit it to you..."

Tang Tian thought to himself:

"He's generous, just like the Yunshui Pavilions Shopkeeper. However, the Grand Confucian gave it, while the Yunshui Pavilions Shopkeeper didn't give anything, just pushed me onto a path I can't stop from."

Tang Tian said:

"Thank you, Revered Master, for bestowing the Cultivation Technique."

The Grand Confucian said:

"Your 'Earthly Fiend Fist' is a Profound Rank Sixth Grade Cultivation Technique, very ordinary. This 'Life Extinguishing Spirit Gathering Sword' is a pseudo-Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, a top-tier Profound Rank Cultivation Technique. It will be no problem even up to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment."

Tang Tian was startled. An Earth Rank Cultivation Technique—he was dumbfounded.

His 'Frost Palm' could be considered a Profound Rank Second Grade, but due to its high difficulty in Cultivation, it could only be considered a Profound Rank Fifth Grade.

He didn't expect this 'Life Extinguishing Spirit Gathering Sword' to actually be a pseudo-Earth Rank Cultivation Technique.

Putting everything else aside, even if the Grand Confucian was making him do things, Tang Tian was still very moved...

Tang Tian said:

"This Disciple will definitely live up to Revered Master's expectations and participate in the Martial Examination!"

This was truly a life-changing favor. It was estimated that Chi Daizi's 'Dai Tian Skill' was also a pseudo-Earth Rank Cultivation Technique.

The Grand Confucian said:

"Don't rush. The Martial Examination requires Qi Training Ninth Level and an age not exceeding twenty. It is held once every thirty years, and the next one will be in one year.

"The Literary Examination is in six months. Your four Senior Brothers will all participate in the Literary Examination."

Tang Tian asked:

"Then does Senior Brother Ye, who only has Literary Qi at the second level, also need to participate?"

The Grand Confucian said:

"Naturally."

Tang Tian was a little worried about Ye Fan's fate. He always felt that Ye Fan was quite good.

It seemed that with only Literary Qi at the second level, participating in the Literary Examination would be a futile effort.

It seemed that at that time, Ye Fan and he would still be studying with the Grand Confucian, so he wouldn't be too lonely...

The Grand Confucian said:

"The Martial Examination one year from now will be your last Opportunity."

Tang Tian asked:

"Holding the Martial Examination once every thirty years, won't that be too late?"

The Grand Confucian said:

"Not long. Ordinary people might still be lingering at the Qi Refining stage, 1st level after thirty years, but for official Families, cultivating a twenty-year-old Genius with Family resources is enough.

"I have thirty years left in my lifespan. I can't wait any longer. In this Literary Examination and Martial Examination, all my Disciples must enter!"

Tang Tian thought to himself:

"So the birth of some great Family's children is arranged by the Martial Examination and Literary Examination."

Tang Tian asked:

"Then how many people are admitted to the Literary Examination?"

The Grand Confucian said:

"The Literary Examination can admit thirty people."

How many Families were there in Qingmu County? The more than one hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators who came initially probably all had children from their respective Families.

Tang Tian said:

"This Disciple will fight with all my might to enter the Martial Examination!"

The Grand Confucian said:

"I gave you the 'Life Extinguishing Spirit Gathering Sword', but it didn't greatly widen the gap between you and those great Family children. However, I was demoted from a Sixth Rank Civil Official of Great Lin to a Seventh Rank Civil Official of Great Lin.

"I have a blood feud with the City Lord's Mansion and cannot leave the academy. The resources for your Cultivation advancement can only rely on yourself..."