Chapter 43: This Young Master Arrives At The Exams

Chapter 43: This Young Master Arrives At The Exams

It had been quiet ever since they picked a fight at the Lan familys tavern. Not that things were quiet on the Lan familys end but Lan Fen at least stuck to the manor and prepared herself, advancing to the Sixth-Layer ahead of the Exam.

Chen Haoran continued to train in Harmonization, bits of connection coming in fits and spurts. It was more progress than he had previously made and he was satisfied with it. He was beginning to see why Lan Fen had said higher rank techniques had more to Harmonize with. While he didnt have a technique weak enough to compare, those brief bits of Harmony he achieved with the Canyon Carving Sword revealed something far larger than himself in its essence.

Cultivation wise he saw just as much progress. It wasnt just his low-grade spirit roots slowing him down, it was his cultivation method as well. It was obvious in hindsight but higher quality qi took more effort to create than the qi of a lower rank technique. It explained why his predecessor only had a Profound-rank method despite coming from such a powerful family. If he wanted to advance at a reasonable pace he had to practice a method easier on his spirit roots, not that his predecessor seemed interested in practicing at all.

It had taken stacking enhanced meridians, the qi pools cleansing, and the high-rank elixirs hed been eating to create his previous quick cultivation pace despite the obstacles holding him back. The advantages would wane however as he advanced further and the gaps between layers became wider. Not that Chen Haoran would think of giving up the Yellow Dragon River Refinement. He had benefited too much from it to switch at this point. He had to admit though the thought of advancing quickly, perhaps even to the Liquid Meridian realm, was a tempting one. He had to find more treasures that enhanced cultivation speed, though that was easier said than done. Chen Haoran had to admit that the ones he did have were chanced upon more by luck than anything else.

Lacking results in his Harmonization and cultivation training he focused on combat instead, much to Song Yuelins sadistic delight. While he took inordinate joy in slapping Chen Haoran around the training field he had a killers eye for errors and was quick to correct every flaw.

Xie Jin had also hung around. Chen Haoran took daily trips out of the manor to make sure he was fed and that the Lan family hadnt shanked him and left him dead in a ditch somewhere. It was the least he could do for someone who so readily fought with him and Xie Jin was pleasant, if violently inclined, company to be around.

Xie Jin was a man of simple pleasures, he liked eating and winning and as it turned out could scarcely afford both. It had come as a surprise to Chen Haoran that Xie Jins reputation for losing hadnt been an exaggeration. He had yet to see him win a single bout in the arenas, it was to the point that he was surprised Xie Jin was able to beat Lan Jia at all. He had to have some card up his sleeve at least, for all that he was quick to pick a fight Xie Jin didnt strike him as the reckless type. Or perhaps that impression was from the sheer confidence Xie Jin radiated, even if it was undue.

Chen Haoran wished him luck with the Palace Exams nevertheless.

After all, they wouldnt go as he expected.

The day of the Palace Exams was like any other, sunny and warm, with just a bit of humidity in the air. The exam site was to be held deep within the Clearsprings Mountains, the exact location only being released the day before. It was apparently standard procedure to have the Exams in wilderness areas where examinees would have to stay for up to three days. It sounded more like a survival course than a test to select future government officials but considering what the City Lord was dealing with in Clearsprings City it was perhaps relevant.

They set off early in the morning as a group. Xie Jin had been invited to go with them and Song Yuelin would of course never miss out. With Lan Fen and Song Yuelin around it was guaranteed that nothing bad would happen to them on the way to the exam site. They did have to scare off a few of the braver monsters though. Song Yuelin just had to release his qi for them to take the hint but being the bastard that he was he let the beasts get dangerously close before he drove them off.New novel chapters are published on

To win, you bastard, Xie Jin harrumphed.

Ive yet to see you win once, Chen Haoran replied. Im starting to think beating Lan Jia was a fluke too.

Thats it though! Xie Jin excitedly said. Lan Jia can pass the exam for sure and since I beat her once I just need to beat her again and take her place!

If its that simple then maybe I should join the Exam too, Chen Haoran mused.

Dont even joke about that Young Master Chen, Song Yuelin interrupted with uncharacteristic seriousness.

I was kidding, Im not interested in government work, Chen Haoran laughed. He filed away Song Yuelins reaction in the back of his mind. Speaking of Lan Jia, I dont see the Lan family anywhere.

I am sure they are around, Lan Fen said. She frowned and looked at the pavilion. There seems to be a situation.

Chen Haoran could feel the agitated energy of the crowd as they arrived at the pavilion. A single guard clad in heavy metal armor blocked the steps leading into the structure. He held a long spear in one hand and in the other a scroll. Chen Haoran stretched out his sense, Ninth-Layer.

He serves under the City Lord, Lan Fen informed them, her brows furrowed in thought.

Before the stand-off could develop any further the guard unfurled the scroll and cleared his throat. By decree of the City Lord, all participants in the Palace Exams are to turn back. He raised the scroll high and presented it to the cultivators of Clearsprings City as if it were a warding talisman.

Hear the decree and turn back!