Chapter 43: Inner Sect Grand Examination
“Senior Brother, I’m only at the Skin Refining Realm, how can I help Senior Brother become a True Disciple?”
Although Su Yan was asking, his unspoken meaning was more of an inquiry.
Gao Zheng was the one who brought Su Yan into the sect. He knew Su Yan’s talent was not bad, and that he had the background of Hundred Herbs Hall.
Now, in just one month, it is suspected that he has reached Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining. It is likely that people from Hundred Herbs Hall have helped.
Such a talent naturally needs to be wooed.
“Junior Brother, you may not know.”
Gao Zheng said, “True Disciples are all confidantes of Master Bai, and they are also among those who manage the martial arts school’s resources. Strength and personnel are equally important. Junior Brother, you have the ability of Mountain Hunting and the background of Hundred Herbs Hall. If you are willing to support Senior Brother, this will surpass many others.”
Hearing this, Su Yan understood some things in his heart and thought, ‘The Inner Sect is for the true members of the martial arts school. True Disciples are probably equivalent to stewards or shopkeepers, but more intimate. Senior Brother Gao Zheng feels I have a background and talent, and wants me to help him a bit in the Desolate Mountains.’
With someone to help and having made contributions, if one’s cultivation advances, then there will naturally be an opportunity to become a True Disciple.
Gao Zheng was preparing for himself.
‘I’ll agree to it. There’s no loss, and perhaps I’ll need his help in the Desolate Mountains.’
Su Yan said, “Senior Brother has helped me so much. If there’s any place where I can help, I will do my best to assist Senior Brother Gao.”
Gao Zheng’s face lit up with joy, and he nodded, “Thank you, Junior Brother. When you enter the Inner Sect and the Desolate Mountains, if there’s anything, come find me. You won’t have to fear Zhou Hui causing trouble for you.”
Su Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, “I have something to ask Senior Brother. Although Zhou Hui looks down on Mountain Households and Lake Households, he has never paid much attention to them before. Why did he step forward today?”
Gao Zheng scoffed, “Zhou Hui is on good terms with the Little Mountain Association. I suppose he knows about the conflict between you and the Little Mountain Association, so he’s doing them a favor.”
“Junior Brother, rest assured, the martial arts school is the martial arts school, and individuals are individuals. No matter how friendly he is, he wouldn’t dare to directly break the rules.”
“I understand.”
Gao Zheng gave Su Yan a few more words of advice, all concerning matters within the martial arts school.
It was as the saying goes, wherever there are people, there will be disputes. Although they were all in the same martial arts school, there were never a shortage of people with their own agendas.
Zhou Hui’s close relationship with the Little Mountain Association meant that some matters were intertwined. Over time, their interests became bound together.
Su Yan, in his eyes, was just a young cub to be manipulated at will.
However, how things would ultimately turn out remained to be seen.
For the remaining two days, no one dared to bother Su Yan again.
Even Li Shun and others merely snorted at Su Yan when they saw him, but they didn’t make any further moves.
Firstly, Su Yan’s strength was indeed not weak; ordinary people couldn’t deal with him.
Secondly, although Li Shun wanted to deal with Su Yan, he didn’t want his own assessment to be compromised.
“All Outer Disciples gather, Master Bai is here!”
All the Outer Disciples had been gathered long before. Over a hundred of them stood in the middle courtyard’s large open space, their bodies straight, their eyes eager.
Inner Disciples stood in the front row. There were only about ten of them, not all present.
Leading them was the tall and strong Gao Zheng.
“They’re here.”
Someone softly said, and a few people slowly walked out from the inner courtyard, stepping through the middle courtyard’s gate.
Among them was a man in his early fifties, robust, with deep-set eyes and a profound aura like a mountain.
He had white-streaked hair, wore a white tiger-striped robe, a white jade belt, and dark indigo beast-patterned boots. As he entered the middle courtyard, his gaze swept over everyone, and no one dared to meet his eyes.
‘Such a strong aura.’
Su Yan was also among the crowd. This was the first time he had seen Bai Changlin.
Although he had heard about it, Bai Changlin had built such a foundation in Yun Cang Town with his own iron arms, which showed his considerable skill.
Beside him were two others in light gray robes. One was older, short and thin, a pale-faced, beardless elder with his hands hidden in his large sleeves.
The other was of average build, an elder with a half-shaved beard, his eyes like a tiger’s, and a stern expression.
The martial arts school also had figures of Elder status, contemporaries of Bai Changlin, but not his fellow disciples, yet they had a close relationship.
The remaining two were young. The slightly older one, in his early thirties, with a square face and thick eyebrows, was the senior disciple Li Jinshan, his fists like iron towers.
The other was dressed in white, somewhat slender, resembling Bai Changlin’s attire, and was the second disciple Zhao Tianwen.
Both were True Disciples, and in terms of status, they were not inferior to Elders.
“All of you Junior Brothers know, more or less, that today’s summer assessment is unusual. I won’t beat around the bush. The rules for today’s assessment must change.”
Li Jinshan strode forward, his steady voice causing the expressions of all the Outer Disciples to change slightly.
“Those whose Stance Training or Fist Techniques have not reached Minor Accomplishment, step out. Today’s Cultivation Practice for you will be guided by Junior Brother Gao Zheng and Martial Uncle Li.”
Today was both a day for examination and, more importantly, an assessment for the Inner Sect. With everyone’s minds unsettled, even guidance would be ineffective, so it was better to divide them into two groups.
As these words fell, many disciples’ faces darkened. Although they knew they had no hope, being singled out still caused them to feel a sense of loss.
Those who did not meet the requirements retreated sparsely to the Outer Courtyard to wait, leaving only thirty-seven people on the field.
Out of more than a hundred people, only thirty-seven had Minor Accomplishment in Stance Training or Fist Techniques. This ratio was not high, especially since not everyone among them might have reached Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining.
Li Jinshan’s gaze swept over the remaining people, and he said in a deep voice, “Golden Ape Martial Arts School has been established for thirty years. Since its inception, we have opened our doors to teach martial arts, broadly accepting disciples, and gathering to form power. Although you Junior Brothers have paid money to learn martial arts, you also bear a share of the lineage’s incense.”
Although paying money to learn something was a direct exchange of money for martial arts, over the years, a sense of lineage and camaraderie naturally developed, which could not be shirked.
Even if one left the school, greeting fellow disciples with the title of “Senior Brother” was a form of kinship.
“The martial arts school is not heartless; there are also paths for advancement. Being assessed as an Inner Disciple means a monthly salary of two taels of silver, and the opportunity to work in the martial arts school’s industries. If matters are handled well, there will be other rewards. At the same time, you can study an Auxiliary Skill and a Fist Technique. If your martial arts advance, there will be even greater benefits.”
Li Jinshan spoke plainly, seemingly in line with his personality, “As Inner Disciples, Golden Ape Martial Arts School is your backing, and you are the future of Golden Ape Martial Arts School. Before the assessment begins, I have only one question: are all the Junior Brothers present willing to join Golden Ape Martial Arts School?”
Outer Disciples were merely a transaction, gathering popularity and earning some money by exchanging silver and fostering camaraderie.
Perhaps some disciples would also become personnel within the martial arts school’s industries, but it would be no different from being hired. Only Inner Disciples were different.
Everyone knew this.
After Li Jinshan finished speaking, seeing no wavering in the crowd, he nodded, “Master, shall we begin the Golden Ape Stance Training?”
“Begin the stance.”
Bai Changlin nodded, and Li Jinshan called out loudly, “Stand the Golden Ape Stance!”
As the sound fell, all the disciples, including Su Yan, moved their feet and began the Golden Ape Stance.
Those Outer Disciples who had achieved Minor Accomplishment were naturally familiar with the Golden Ape Stance Training. After standing in the stance, they truly resembled old apes in the mountains.
Li Jinshan and Bai Changlin glanced over them and nodded. No one dared to feign Minor Accomplishment in the Stance Training here; it was acceptable.
Suddenly, the two noticed Su Yan in the corner. He looked like a fierce ape in the mountains, with unified form and spirit. Though it was merely stance training, it was as if a ferocious beast was concealed within him.
“Someone has reached Great Accomplishment in Stance Training!”
