35: Dongshan Martial Arts Academy's assessment

On the training grounds, Wang Kai stopped speaking after being held back by Lin Yi, and the two of them stood to the side to rest.

In this manner, they waited for about an hour.

Suddenly—

"Vice Dean Zhao Haihong and Dean Zhao Haishan of Guangling Martial Academy have arrived!"

A sonorous voice rang out across the training grounds. Then, a White-Haired Elder wearing white robes with a smile on his face appeared at the entrance. He was flanked by Dean Zhao Haishan, several martial arts teachers from Guangling Martial Academy who had accompanied the group, and about a dozen teachers from the Prefecture City Martial Academy as they made their way onto the grounds.

Among them, Dean Zhao Haishan walked just half a step behind the White-Haired Elder, laughing and talking with him in high spirits.

The status of the other martial arts teachers was much lower; they mostly stood at the very back of the crowd.

Seeing this, the many Disciples on the training grounds, including Lin Yi and Wang Kai, did not dare to be negligent and immediately bowed with their hands clasped, saying:

"We pay our respects to Dean Haihong and Dean Haishan!"

"There is no need for such formalities."

The White-Haired Elder waved his hand upon hearing this and said:

"Most of you probably already know the purpose of my visit today."

"Dean Haishan of Guangling Martial Academy sent me a letter a few days ago, saying that two rare martial arts prodigies had appeared in their academy. He asked me to give them a chance to enter our Dongshan Martial Academy to cultivate."

"I have reviewed their files and found that the talent of these two is indeed quite good."

"Therefore, after much consideration and with the intention of nurturing talent for the Sect, I have decided to set a simple assessment for them today. As long as they pass the assessment, they will be allowed to join our Dongshan Martial Academy to cultivate."

"As for the specific content of the assessment? Teacher Sun, please announce it!"

The White-Haired Elder, Zhao Haihong, gave instructions to a teacher dressed like a scholar beside him.

"Yes, Dean!"

The scholar nodded respectfully, then turned to the crowd of Disciples and teachers on the training grounds and said loudly:

"Everyone, I am Sun Wenfang, a teacher at Dongshan Martial Academy. On behalf of Dean Haihong, I will preside over the admission assessment for these two Disciples from Guangling Martial Academy."

"The content of this assessment is very simple: it will be conducted in the form of one-on-one duels."

"Before the duels, our Dongshan Martial Academy will use a lottery to select a Disciple from among those who ranked in the top two hundred during the last academy competition."

"Then, this Dongshan Martial Academy Disciple will battle the first Disciple who has come from afar from Guangling Martial Academy."

"As long as that Disciple from Guangling Martial Academy wins, they will be considered to have passed the assessment and can enter our Dongshan Martial Academy to cultivate."

"If they do not win, it only proves that the Disciple has no destiny with our Dongshan Martial Academy, and we cannot accept them."

"The same principle applies to the other Disciple from Guangling Martial Academy; it will also involve a lottery, a battle, and then we will see the result."

"Alright! The rules have been explained. All Dongshan Martial Academy Disciples ranked in the top two hundred, step forward and prepare for the lottery."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Hearing this, many Disciples present immediately became excited.

Being the opponent of these two country bumpkins in front of everyone and then ruthlessly defeating them was a great opportunity to gain prestige.

The Geniuses present were all young and full of spirit; who among them didn't want to show off like this?

Moreover, after defeating these two country bumpkins, it would be the perfect chance to show these geniuses from small places exactly how large the gap was between them and true young heroes like themselves!

"Pick me! Pick me! You have to pick me!"

"Haha! It should be me! This Pear Blossom Mountain-Opening Axe in my hand, Pan Rong, has long been thirsting for battle. With me taking action, I'll make sure these two country bumpkins have no way back!"

"Haha! Old Pan has a point, but my, Yuan Feng's, sword is no less sharp! You'd better step back!"

...One by one, the young men and women stepped forward excitedly. After about twenty breaths of time, a sturdy youth holding a twelve-foot iron spear raised a red-lacquered wooden slip and laughed loudly:

"Haha! I was picked! I was picked for the first round! I'll be the one to fight this first match."

"Hey! You two from the countryside, which of you will come first to fight this first match with me?"

"I will fight you!"

Seeing the sturdy youth's arrogant appearance, Wang Kai, who had been suppressing his anger for a long time, could no longer hold back. He stepped forward directly with his great sword.

However, out of upbringing, he still suppressed his rage and performed a customary Jianghu salute to the sturdy youth before saying:

"I am Wang... of the Wang family of Guangling Prefecture City..."

"Alright! No need to announce your name!"

Seeing this, the sturdy youth waved his hand dismissively:

"I have no interest in knowing your name. Regardless, it's impossible for us to have any further interaction in the future, so stop wasting words and make your move!"

"You... are looking for death!"

Hearing this, the anger in Wang Kai's heart could no longer be suppressed. He immediately raised his great sword high above his head, as if an ancient Divine Being were splitting heaven and earth, and slashed directly at the sturdy youth with the spear.

It was precisely the first move of the Fifth-Grade Martial Art, Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique—One Sword Opens the Mountain!

"Boom!"

Immense power exploded through the air, causing rings of clouds to burst forth in the Void Realm.

As Wang Kai struck with his sword, he carried the momentum of a sixth-rank Martial Artist. His prowess was indeed quite extraordinary, possessing a hint of the power to split mountains and crack stones.

"Eh? This kid's strength is actually a bit stronger than we previously imagined."

Seeing this scene, a frail youth on the training grounds said with some surprise:

"Judging by the power of this sword strike, if he has good luck, he might actually have a chance to enter the top two hundred of our Dongshan Martial Academy. He truly has some talent."

"Heh! So what if he has some talent?"

Just as the frail youth finished speaking, a girl with a somewhat harsh expression sneered immediately:

"Coming from a small place is coming from a small place. Even if he has some talent, he can't fully realize it."

"With his level of strength, at most he would rank at the very tail end of our Dongshan Martial Academy's top two hundred."

"And Zhou Shan was ranked 158th in the academy competition half a month ago. He is much stronger than him. I don't believe he can defeat Zhou Shan this time, pass the assessment, and enter our Dongshan Martial Academy to cultivate."

"Indeed! This kid can only blame his own bad luck for drawing Zhou Shan!"

"With Zhou Shan's strength, let alone winning, I'd say this kid won't even last a hundred breaths. We just need to wait and watch the show."

"Hehe! People from the countryside are just people from the countryside. Still wanting to enter our Dongshan Martial Academy? Hmph! Keep dreaming!"

...One by one, the young men and women mocked them heartlessly.

And on the battlefield...