Martial Saint with Passives

Xu Zhouzi slowly took a step forward. His gaze swept over the dense crowd below. His voice, laced with True Qi, rang out:

”Everyone!”

”Today, an envoy from the Court has personally arrived! His Majesty’s imperial edict is here!”

At these words, all the disciples craned their necks and pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single word.

Xu Zhouzi turned to the Civil Official beside him and made a respectful ”please” gesture.

The Civil Official nodded expressionlessly, took a step forward, and drew a scroll from his sleeve. It was made of bright yellow brocade, its ends capped with Red Gold Dragon Heads.

He slowly unfurled the scroll, cleared his throat, and began to read aloud:

”By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:”

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly to every corner of the plaza.

’This man is clearly an expert!’

”Rebels stir chaos in the north, and barbarians from the Western Realm knock at our gates. The state is in peril, the empire unstable! We are gravely concerned!”

”To restore order and defend against foreign threats, We hereby establish the Celestial Strategy Guard. We shall select the finest talents from across the land to undergo advanced training in the Three Top Sects, that they may become pillars of the nation!”

”All those within the Forty-Three Prefectures of Our Great Chu Dynasty, with a bone age under forty and a cultivation that has reached the Refining Organ Realm—be they from Sects, Noble Families, or Independent Cultivators—must travel to the Capital City one month hence to participate in the selection! Those who absent themselves without cause will be charged with defying the imperial will, exiled to the borderlands, and shall never be permitted to return!”

The moment these words were spoken, a commotion erupted in the plaza.

’Mandatory participation?!’

’And those who refuse... are exiled to the borderlands?!’

’It seems...’

’The situation at the border is far more severe than they imagined!’

’His Majesty is truly desperate!’

’He’s trying to round up the entire younger generation of the Great Chu Dynasty’s martial arts elite, sparing no one!’

The Civil Official frowned, displeased by the clamor in the plaza.

Xu Zhouzi quickly coughed, and a wave of pressure swept across the plaza.

Only then did the commotion in the plaza gradually subside.

The Civil Official nodded at Xu Zhouzi and continued reading.

”The selection will be based on martial prowess! The final top ninety-nine participants will become reservists for the Celestial Strategy Guard!”

”These ninety-nine individuals, in order of their final ranking, may choose to join one of the Three Sects—the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, the Haotian Sword Sect, or the Prajna Zen Sect—to train as Inner Sect disciples! Each sect will accept thirty-three disciples, until their quotas are filled!”

”The Sects or families of those selected will receive a one-time grant of massive resources from the Court and... be exempt from ten years of tribute!”

”As for those who are not selected, there is no need for despair! The Three Top Sects will hold separate examinations. Anyone with sufficient aptitude and Temperament may join as an Outer Sect disciple! Should they perform exceptionally in the future, they too may have the chance to be promoted to the Inner Sect!”

”To ensure fairness and prevent omissions, We have dispatched Inspectors from the Celestial Patrol Department to every state to verify the Name Lists. Anyone found concealing or failing to report eligible individuals will be punished equally!”

”Thus, it is decreed!”

As the last word fell, the Civil Official slowly rolled up the imperial edict.

Then, he clasped his hands in a salute to Xu Zhouzi. ”Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, the imperial will has been delivered. I must now hurry to the next Sect. I shall take my leave.”

”Safe travels, my lord. Allow me to see you out!” Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi quickly bowed and personally escorted the envoy, a symbol of imperial authority, all the way to the mountain gate.

On the White Jade Plaza, seeing the Civil Official depart, the crowd, which had been holding back for so long, erupted into discussion.

”Heavens! It’s a mandatory draft!”

”Exiled to the borderlands for not showing up?! Isn’t that too harsh?!”

”Yeah, I heard the fighting at the border is relentless. Won’t we just be cannon fodder if we go?”

But someone else scoffed, ”They’re looking for people under forty in the Refining Organ Realm. You haven’t even reached Bone Forging, so what are you worrying about?”

”Oh, right...”

Meanwhile, a few disciples in the Refining Organ Realm weren’t worried at all. In fact, their faces were alight with excitement!

”Gods! It’s actually real! We... we really have a chance to join the legendary Three Top Sects!”

”This is great! Even if we don’t get one of the official spots, just getting into the Outer Sect is enough to bring honor to our ancestors!”

”Exactly! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leap the dragon gate!”

They weren’t considered particularly strong among the Refining Organ Realm disciples.

Originally, they had given up hope for themselves.

But now, learning that even those not chosen could take the Outer Sect examination, the flames in their hearts were instantly rekindled!

As the announcement spread, the entire Martial World of Cangzhou Prefecture was soon buzzing with discussion.

The most heated topic was which of the top-tier sects one should choose.

「In the Cangyun Sect’s dining hall.」

”Is there even a question? You have to pick the Prajna Zen Sect! They’re the strongest of the Three Top Sects right now!”

A disciple who seemed well-informed analyzed for his peers.

”Exactly! I heard that the Prajna Zen Sect’s Divine Skill, the *Great Sun Glaze Scripture*, is unbelievably powerful, and its cultivation speed is lightning-fast! In the last few decades, eight out of ten of the young experts who’ve made a name for themselves in the Jianghu came from their sect!”

”Really? But I don’t want to be a monk!”

”You don’t have to worry about that. Even though their name has ’Zen’ in it, they don’t actually make you shave your head and become a monk! It’s just that their founding ancestor had some connection to the Buddhist Sect!”

”What about the Haotian Sword Sect? I heard they’re not bad either!”

”Not bad is an understatement; they’re solidly in second place! Their *Vast Heaven Sword Manual* is incredibly sharp and unrivaled in destructive power! They love talented swordsmen. I bet Chief Gu will definitely be chosen!”

”Then... what about the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect? I thought I heard they used to be the strongest?”

”Hah, that’s ancient history!” The disciple curled his lip in disdain. ”The Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect is just coasting on its reputation as the oldest of the Three Major Sects, with a deeper foundation. I heard their core Cultivation Technique, the *Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao*, is incredibly profound and extremely difficult to practice. In theory, it’s the strongest once you master it. But in the last hundred years, they haven’t produced a single decent expert! Nobody can master it! They’ve been in decline for ages! Now... they’re just bringing up the rear!”

”I see...”

Just as their conversation was heating up, someone in the corner finished their meal, stood up, and happened to walk past their table on the way out.

The expressions on the disciples’ faces froze instantly. They shot up from their seats and bowed respectfully to the figure.

”Greetings, Chief Jiang!”

Jiang Che gave them a calm nod without a word and walked straight out the door.

Only after Jiang Che’s figure had completely disappeared did the disciples let out a sigh of relief and sit back down.

”Phew... Why do I feel like Chief Jiang’s aura is even more terrifying now? It’s almost on par with our Dean’s! Could it be... he broke through to the True Master Realm?!”

”No way! Chief Jiang only started Refining his Spirit not long ago. No matter how gifted his Talent is, there hasn’t been enough time!”

”That’s true... Oh, right, do you guys think... will Chief Jiang be chosen this time?”

”Nonsense! Of course he’ll be chosen!” A disciple who looked like a die-hard Jiang Che fan immediately straightened his back, his face beaming with vicarious pride. ”Our Chief Jiang is number one on the Cangzhou Prefecture’s Hidden Dragon List! If he can’t get in, who can?!”

”Then... which sect do you think he’ll choose?” another disciple asked curiously.

”Is that even a question? The Prajna Zen Sect, obviously! Only the strongest Sect is worthy of our strongest Chief!”

”I’m not so sure,” a more thoughtful-looking disciple said, shaking his head. ”Although Chief Jiang’s greatest strength is his Fist Technique, I’ve heard his understanding of all kinds of Weapons has reached an unimaginable Realm! Maybe... he’ll choose the Haotian Sword Sect to challenge their pure Sword Dao!”

After leaving the dining hall, Jiang Che walked slowly toward the Chief Courtyard.

Along the way, disciples would frequently stop to bow respectfully.

Jiang Che smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, but inwardly, he was mulling over what those disciples had said.

’*Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao*, huh...’

’The strongest... in theory?’

’But also the hardest to master?’

’Then you’re the one for me!’