Dragon Canon

Chapter 9: Breaking Through

Moments later, Zhang Sheng finally looked up and asked, “Isn’t there an internal revaluation? What is the leeway this time?”

Sun Yu answered, “The internal revaluation only considers the unified exam scores, and I heard that the leeway is five points. There is room for discussion within five points, and nothing beyond that.”

Zhang Sheng said, “So, Yuan’er will have a spot as long as he is five points ahead of the fourth place.”

“More or less.”

The scholar gently tapped the armrest as the rules and regulations, the candidates’ names and backgrounds, Wei Yuan’s qualities and advantages, and more flashed through his mind. His thoughts briefly paused at Wei Yuan’s fortune, but he immediately shook his head afterward.

Innumerable fortunes existed in this world. Every member of an aristocratic family possessed at least some fortune. Otherwise, one could not explain why they were the ones who got to be born in aristocratic families, not Wei Yuan. Even if they were born without one, someone would automatically take another person’s fortune and apply it to them.

This was why people said that being born in the right womb was one of the greatest fortunes a person could obtain.

Some time later, Zhang Sheng came up with a plan. He said slowly, “Yuan’er is my disciple. For three years, I did not cultivate or explore. I focused on teaching him and him only! Therefore, no one should be a match for him in the literary test. The aptitude test should be a given considering Yuan’er’s foundation and fortune as well. So, the key lies in the martial test.”

He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down a mnemonic chant. He then handed it to Sun Yu and said, “Please give this to Yuan’er, Senior Brother.”

Sun Yu accepted the paper and took a look. He exclaimed in surprise, “The Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret? Is this the Skyblue Hall’s secret technique of fortune?”

Zhang Sheng replied, “Those aristocratic children all possess fortunes. Naturally, they must know a secret technique of fortune or two. It is true that the Skyblue Hall’s secret technique of fortune is inferior to the Four Sages Academies’ Chapter of Departure, much less the Bao Clan’s Those Forgotten Years, but neither of them are aiming to enter the Palace of Absolute Beginning either. It should be sufficient to deal with the other five clans.”

Candidates were strictly forbidden from cultivating before they participated in the unified exam. This was to avoid polluting their foundation. However, the aristocratic families naturally had ways to circumvent this issue, and a secret technique of fortune was one of them. A secret technique of fortune allowed one to extract their own fortune and empower themselves with it. It could also be transformed into all kinds of abilities. Although the effects were mild since they weren’t cultivators, the difference between a candidate with a secret technique and without in the martial test was the difference between a cultivator and an ordinary person.

Zhang Sheng was an exceptional individual. He instantly saw through the aristocratic families’ ploy and promptly addressed Wei Yuan’s critical weakness.

Holding the Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret, Sun Yu said slowly, “When I first joined the sect, I had suffered quite a lot of abuse from the aristocratic children. Unfortunately, I was too timid to fight back. It was a time that filled me with regret every time I recalled the memory. But this time? I will shoulder the blame with you, Junior Brother! If they can do it, then we can too!”

Zhang Sheng nodded. “Then I entrust Yuan’er to you, Senior Brother. I’m going to enter secluded cultivation right now. I will regain my powers before the martial test is over.”

Sun Yu exclaimed in shock, “That is not acceptable! The medicinal effects of the Li Spring Powder is very intense. You must enter secluded cultivation for three whole days upon consuming it! Otherwise, there is a chance it may damage your Dao Foundation!”

Zhang Sheng replied indifferently, “These people always assume that anything that catches their eyes is rightfully theirs. If Yuan’er manages to overcome this quandary, we’ll merely be reclaiming what is originally ours. But to them, they’ll see it as Yuan’er snatching their food. There is no way they would let it drop given their nature, so they’ll likely want to have a proper ‘debate’ with him once the exam is over. As his master, that responsibility naturally falls on my shoulders.”

Inside his room, Wei Yuan had set aside the rulebook and sat at the table. He was recalling everything he had ever learned from the beginning.

A couple more groups of people had paid him a visit after Lee Zhi. They were all proposing more or less the same thing, but their bearing or presence were far inferior to the boy’s. Naturally, he had rejected all of them.

In fact, he had understood his predicament as soon as he had finished listening to Lee Zhi. The boy had made his offer sound oh-so-sweet, but despite being lacking in the ways of military strategy, Wei Yuan knew his history well enough to recite backward. A person who was incorporated into a military system was no longer in control of their own destiny. If Lee Zhi commanded him to charge, he would have to obey. If Lee Zhi commanded him to die, he would have to obey as well.

Just the same, vanguard commander was a nice-sounding title, but it simply meant that he was the first fodder the enemy had to chew through when the two armies clashed against one another.

There was no point in thinking about the martial test. All he needed was to adapt to the situation and take down as many enemies as he could. Thus, Wei Yuan was reciting A History of Tang in his head and recalling his master’s lessons.

The sky outside darkened in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, the door opened without a sound. Wei Yuan sensed it and immediately turned around to look.

At the entrance, Sun Yu had to hide a bit of astonishment. What sharp spiritual senses!

Wei Yuan recognized the Daoist and knew he was a close friend of his master. So, he hurriedly rose to his feet and bowed in greeting.

Sun Yu handed him a piece of paper and said, “Your master wanted me to give this to you. Memorize it thoroughly and feel free to ask if you have any questions. I can stay for a little while longer.”

Wei Yuan accepted it. The title of the technique was “Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret”, followed by a couple hundred words of text. This was only a portion of the full technique. It was specifically made for someone who hadn’t yet begun to cultivate. Thus, it was incredibly simple. It took him just one look to grasp it more or less, and he asked Sun Yu for guidance when he found something that he didn’t understand. Just like that, he had learned the technique.

Seeing that Wei Yuan had grasped the technique, the Daoist offered a few more pointers on how to use a secret technique of fortune. He slipped away without a sound after that.

Wei Yuan began cultivating as soon as Sun Yu took his leave. The Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret was a secret technique of the Skyblue Hall. Its advantage lay in its balanced performance and lack of an obvious weakness. When the secret technique took effect, he felt something intangible inside his body being transformed into streams of warmth that spread across his whole body.

The next moment, the room gradually brightened, and tremendous strength surged out from inside his body. He decided to test it out by lifting his study table. He succeeded. Considering that it weighed several hundred catties, it was incredible.

Next, Wei Yuan put down the table and took one step forward. He instantly appeared on the opposite side of the room. He would test out his movements a little longer before canceling the secret technique.

All secret techniques of fortune used one’s fortune as the source of one’s abilities. The instructions also stated clearly that it couldn’t be used for an extended period of time. That was why he cut the secret technique short after testing out its effects. Something felt strange though. He could be mistaken, but it didn’t feel like the intangible thing that fueled the secret technique had decreased in the slightest.

Wei Yuan sat cross-legged and carefully recalled what he felt when he was empowered by the Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret. It had enhanced all of his bodily functions and more or less doubled his speed and strength. Wei Yuan was already extraordinarily strong from a young age, and this secret technique made him even stronger.

Wei Yuan stopped reciting the history books inside his head and concentrated fully on studying the Southern Vermillion Bird’s Unveiled Secret. He knew very well that it was the key to the martial test.

There was no sun or moon in the immortal mountain. Before he knew it, the next day had arrived.

Wei Yuan and the other candidates were told to assemble at a public square first thing in the morning. There, they received their breakfast. They called it breakfast, but it was really just a cup of water. However, the cup of water instantly replenished their spirits and swept away any sense of fatigue and hunger.

After that, a few cultivators led them out of the dormitories and onto another square. At the end of the square lay a large hall with twenty jade-colored praying mats in it. Each praying mat had a censer placed on each side, and faint smoke could be seen rising from them.

An older Daoist stepped out of the hall while carrying a stack of papers. He flicked his sleeves once, and every candidate suddenly found themselves holding a piece of paper. A technique materialized on the papers as soon as it touched their palms.

The older Daoist said seriously, “This is the technique you will be using during the exam. Take your time to study them thoroughly. When your assigned number is called, you will enter the hall and practice the technique on the designated praying mat. The technique will manifest your fortune and talent, and it is the crux of this aptitude test. Do not let your mind wander. When the bell rings, you will cease your practice and leave the hall immediately. Is that understood?”

“Understood!” The candidates replied in unison.

The older Daoist nodded and dragged out his voice. He declared loudly, “Let the aptitude test begin!”

His voice echoed in the clouds like a crane’s cry.