Book 2: Chapter 14: Handing Out Rifles

Vol 2 Chapter 14: Handing Out Rifles “Have you heard of Wang Xiao of the Wang family? He possesses the Heavenly God Physique, ranked 93rd on the Physique Rankings! The Heavenly God Physique allows one to command the forces of the sun, moon, and stars, summoning storms and lightning as if a celestial being descended to earth—unstoppable!” “Who in the Ancient Domain hasn’t heard of this Wang family prodigy? It’s almost certain the Wang family will produce another Spirit Transformation expert in a few hundred years.” Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “I heard Wang Xiao arrived in Qianlong City yesterday, traveling alone. He was seen roaming the mountains, roasting all kinds of Foundation Establishment demonic beasts!” Four months later, Qianlong City was bustling with activity in every teahouse and restaurant. Time flew by, and Lin Jing had now spent four months in Qianlong City. During this time, he focused on training while relying on the auctions of his Mechanized Bamboo Rifles to maintain and spread his reputation. Fame, however, required time to settle. If he kept stirring things up too often, people might grow desensitized. A name heard too frequently risks becoming mundane. Initially, his name only circulated within Qianlong City. But as the Lotus Pavilion branches in other cities auctioned the Mechanized Bamboo Rifles and promoted them, Lin Jing began gaining recognition in other parts of the Ancient Domain. Cultivators in various regions were now aware of a talented disciple from the Beast Taming Sect, who had defeated numerous opponents in a Cavern Heaven and famously battled Foundation Establishment cultivators as a Qi Refinement stage disciple in Qianlong City. Combined with the buzz surrounding the Beast Taming Sect’s sealed status, many were curious whether the sect could revive in a century. Meanwhile, Lin Jing made steady progress with his Hidden Dragon Arts, advancing faster than most. His relatively low cultivation level meant that even while delving into mechanized arts and pill refinement, his consumption of Hidden Dragon Fortune remained modest. Four months of secluded cultivation created a delicate balance in the accumulation and expenditure of his Hidden Dragon Fortune. However, Lin Jing noticed his progress with the Hidden Dragon Arts had slowed recently. Qianlong City, a gathering place for prodigies and major events, brimmed with fresh topics daily. As the academy’s admissions neared, the names of talented individuals from various domains, sects, and clans spread across the city, overshadowing other news. At the same time, the academy opened its grounds to applicants and their accompanying elders. Admission wasn’t open to just any cultivator—typically, only young disciples personally recommended by Nascent Soul-level cultivators were eligible. Thus, the applicants were nearly all heirs of influential factions or true disciples of major sects. “Time to replenish some Hidden Dragon Fortune,” Lin Jing muttered, looking at the fading blue Hidden Dragon Mark on his hand. The geniuses flocking to the academy would be the stepping stones for his next rise in fame. He had been preparing for this opportunity for months. Just as he planned his next move, a message rang out through a spatial transmission: “Come to the Tranquil Spirit Court.” The Tranquil Spirit Court, a serene courtyard within the academy, was surrounded by wisps of immortal mist. Under the golden morning sunlight, a rough bamboo pavilion stood at the end of the stone path. Inside, an ancient tea set sat on a stone table, with its fragrance wafting through the air. Lin Jing arrived to find himself among familiar faces: Xu Zhizhi, the silent Young Hero Yuan Jing, and the alchemist Ziling’er. They were all seated around the table. Upon Lin Jing’s arrival, Xu Zhizhi greeted him with a smile, but Yuan Jing remained expressionless, and Ziling’er pouted, still harboring grievances. When all four were present, Cao Ziwei stepped forward with a grin. “Tomorrow is the academy’s assessment. You four will serve as proctors, with the first test being a combat evaluation. “There are over a hundred candidates this year, all at the Qi Refinement stage. Yuan Jing, Ziling’er, you’re both early Foundation Establishment. Xu Zhizhi and Lin Jing... One of you is at Qi Refinement Stage 9, and... Lin Jing, you’re still at Stage 7?” Cao Ziwei blinked in disbelief. “You’ve spent four months in a premium cave dwelling, and you haven’t even advanced a single stage?” The others glanced at Lin Jing, who coughed awkwardly. “Soon! I have a feeling I’ll reach Stage 8 within a month. These past months, I’ve admittedly neglected my cultivation. And, as you know, Beast Taming Sect disciples tend to progress slower.” The truth was that Lin Jing’s Pine Leaf Mouse, already at Stage 9, could no longer provide much feedback to boost his cultivation. Moreover, advancing during the later stages of Qi Refinement was significantly harder. Cao Ziwei sighed. “No matter. Your pet at Stage 9 is good enough. The academy will provide you all with the best pills for recovery and healing during the tests.” “The candidates will choose one of you to duel. I’ll grade the results, so be prepared.” Turning to Yuan Jing and Ziling’er, Cao Ziwei added, “As Foundation Establishment cultivators, don’t let yourselves be bested by lower-stage candidates. The academy won’t mind, but it would hinder your progress in the Hidden Dragon Arts.” “Yes!” Yuan Jing and Ziling’er replied in unison. “Good. Be at Flying Dragon Mountain at sunrise tomorrow. I’ll oversee the first assessment.” With that, Cao Ziwei disappeared, leaving the four proctors behind. The pavilion fell silent. Just as Yuan Jing was about to leave, Lin Jing spoke up. “Tomorrow’s the big day. I wish you all the best and have prepared some gifts. They might not be necessary for you, but an extra trump card never hurts.” He then placed three Mechanized Bamboo Rifles on the table. “Haha, I’ve wanted to try one of these for ages!” Xu Zhizhi exclaimed, picking up a rifle and inspecting it. “The auction prices were too steep, and I didn’t want to ask you directly. “Against regular candidates, a few shots should suffice to gauge their level! This handles much better than an ink brush—it’s refreshing!” “You’re not giving gifts—you’re just trying to promote your inventions!” Ziling’er scoffed, though she still picked up a rifle. “It’s not like I really want it, but since you insist, I’ll take it.” Grinning, she added, “Hey, Lin Jing, can I load it with poison pills or illusion powder and fire them alongside the beans for an explosive effect?” Xu Zhizhi blinked. “Wait, you can do that?” “You should test it,” Lin Jing replied, amused. “I don’t need this. A sword is enough for me.” Yuan Jing hesitated briefly before grabbing a rifle. “Though, for most Qi Refinement cultivators, it would be overkill for me to draw my sword.” Having been chased by the Pine Leaf Mouse wielding a rifle, Yuan Jing was curious to try it himself. Lin Jing had anticipated that few could resist the allure of a mechanized weapon. Watching everyone claim a rifle, Xu Zhizhi chuckled. “Brilliant! Using spells to defeat challengers might be effective, but it’s dull and unlikely to generate much discussion. “If we all use Mechanized Bamboo Rifles to beat weaker candidates, then switch to spells for stronger ones, it’ll create quite the buzz. Lin Jing, you’re a genius!” Unbeknownst to them, Cao Ziwei, still nearby, listened from behind a tree and fell deep into thought.