Scripture of Days Past

Before long, afternoon arrived, and it was time for the martial arts assessment, which consisted of a series of sparring matches.

***

As the trainees prepared for the sparring matches, a group of powerful fiends began scaling Jade Face Mountain from different directions.

"Make sure you stay on your guard," Zhu Dazhuang cautioned as he made his way up the mountain with Qiao Zhi and Zhang Jitian. "The Demon Vanquishing Department has set up a hidden lookout point up ahead. Make sure you don't get caught."

"You go on ahead," Qiao Zhi replied with a nod. "We'll cover you."

With Yi Shuang working with them from the inside, the fiends knew the locations of all the hidden lookout points on Jade Face Mountain like the backs of their hands.

They moved across the mountain like the scythe of the grim reaper, silently killing the guards on the mountain without alerting any members of the Demon Vanquishing Department.

***

The format for the martial arts assessment was identical to that of the previous monthly examinations. A series of one-on-one sparring matches would take place, with each trainee fighting every other trainees once.

It wasn't long before a highly anticipated match took place. It was between Li He and Jiang Longyu, who were widely regarded as the two most formidable martial artists among this batch of trainees.

The head instructor, along with all the other instructors and lecturers, was also present, and they had already formed their opinions on who was going to come out on top.

"Jiang Longyu has been improving rapidly," Zhong Shan'e said. "He suffered a narrow defeat to Li He last time, but I think he has very good chances of redeeming himself today."

"Jiang Longyu's rate of progress really has been astonishing," Yang Ling chimed in. "He's already begun directing his qi and blood into his brain, taking the first steps toward reaching the fifth state. I agree that he has a very good chance of defeating Li He."

"I'm glad we're on the same page, Yang Ling," Zhong Shan'e said with a smile. "You've done a very good job training this batch of trainees over the past few months, and I've already put in a good word for you with His Majesty."

Yang Ling was ecstatic to hear this, but before their conversation could continue, the battle between Jiang Longyu and Li He had already begun.

Everyone was watching the battle with rapt attention, with the exception of Chu Qiguang, who couldn't have cared less about the outcome of a sparring match between two fourth-state martial artists.

Why aren't they here yet? Just how slow are those fiends?

On the platform, Jiang Longyu's entire body had turned bright red from the rapid circulation of his qi and blood. He swung his saber through the air at such incredible speed that it left trails of afterimages in its wake.

Li He struggled to keep up with Jiang Longyu's relentless assault and was completely forced onto the defensive.

How has he improved so quickly? The power of his qi and blood has already surpassed mine! Is this what it means to be one of the Eight Han Resurgence Generals?

Before long, Li He realized that his fate was already sealed. Even so, he continued to put up a valiant resistance before crashing to an inevitable defeat.

Jiang Longyu finally allowed himself a satisfied smile when he saw the fury, indignation, and humiliation on Li He's face.

At long last, he had reaped the fruits of his labor, and it felt as though all the hard work he had put in over the past few months had finally been vindicated.

"Losing to me is perfectly normal, so don't be too disheartened," he gloated condescendingly. "I wish I could experience what it feels like to be surpassed by someone who was once beneath me, but I've never had the chance."

Li He stormed off the platform with a furious expression. Meanwhile Jiang Longyu remained on the platform for a moment longer, basking in everyone's astonishment and admiration before finally stepping down with a satisfied expression.

After watching Jiang Longyu strut around the platform like a proud rooster, Chu Qiguang thought to himself, Why does it feel like he has the same condition as me?

As the sparring matches continued, the atmosphere gradually heated up, and some of the trainees had already begun taking pills.

Zhang Haizhu, Li Chu, and Huang Xiangyu were all holding Bloodbath Pills, ready to take them if they encountered a formidable opponent.

In contrast, Chu Qiguang was still as distracted as ever, with his attention focused elsewhere.

Before long, he noticed Yi Shuang sneak toward the edge of the training ground before slipping away without a word.

If Yi Shuang's leaving, then the fiends should be about to make their move. I should get ready as well. The moment the battle begins, I'm heading straight for the archive building.

All of a sudden, someone nudged him in the arm. He turned to find Zhang Haizhu looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"What're you looking at, Brother Chu? You're up!"

Chu Qiguang nodded absentmindedly before making his way toward the platform, but Huang Xiangyu reached out and grabbed him by the sleeve.

"Just surrender, Brother Chu. Cheng Ming has already reached the fourth state, and he's been dying to get back at you!"

"It's fine," Chu Qiguang said, brushing him off. "I've also reached the fourth state."

Huang Xiangyu, Zhang Haizhu, and Li Chu were completely unconvinced, but before they could say anything else, Chu Qiguang had already stepped onto the platform.

Cheng Ming had been certain that Chu Qiguang would surrender, and he burst into incredulous laughter when the latter stepped forward to face him.

"Have you been kicked in the head by a mule, Chu Qiguang? You're going to fight me when you're only at the third state?"

Chu Qiguang didn't even bother to reply.

Instead, he let his actions do the talking. A burst of intense heat erupted from his body, instantly silencing Cheng Ming's derisive laughter.

How could this be? When did he reach the fourth state?!

"Do you wanna surrender?" Chu Qiguang asked. "It's not too late."

The astonishment on Cheng Ming's face immediately turned to anger, and he yelled, "Don't get cocky, Chu Qiguang! You may have—"

Chu Qiguang had no intention of listening to Cheng Ming's declaration of war. In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Cheng Ming, displaying an incredible burst of speed with the Star Shifting Cloud Piercing Step.

Cheng Ming barely had time to react. All he could do was instinctively let out a loud roar and throw a punch at the approaching Chu Qiguang. Chu Qiguang simply allowed Cheng Ming's fist to strike his chest as he reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

Cheng Ming felt as though a mountain had crashed down upon his shoulder. Despite his best efforts to resist, he was slowly forced to his knees.

He could feel his legs creaking and groaning as he fought with all his might to remain standing, but his efforts proved futile. In the next instant, his knees slammed into the ground with a resounding thump.

The moment his knees struck the ground, Cheng Ming's eyes turned bright red. He was so humiliated that he wanted nothing more than for the earth beneath him to open up and swallow him whole.

Meanwhile, Jiang Longyu watched with astonishment and frustration in his eyes.

Why didn't I think of making Li He kneel before me earlier? How is Chu Qiguang always able to come up with ways to show off that I've never even considered?!