Chu Nan frowned and questioned, "What proof do you have to say I've been expelled?"
He suspected Chu Miao might be deceiving him, given that this guy was capable of such things.
In the face of doubt, Chu Miao confidently said, "You'll know soon enough whether it's true."
Chu Miao left and soon returned, accompanied by a handsome man carrying a longsword on his back.
The man's aura was incredibly strong, and with just one glance, Chu Nan could feel immense pressure.
This was beyond what any other martial artist present could compare to, and Chu Nan immediately realized this was a Spirit Pill Realm Martial Artist.
Chu Miao brought this person before Chu Nan and said, "Senior Brother Li Jianfei, please tell us if Chu Nan has indeed been expelled!"
Chu Miao looked at Chu Nan, his expression full of pride.
Being on good terms with Li Jianfei at the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, Chu Miao was confident that with his testimony, Chu Nan would retreat in difficulty and leave the sect.
Li Jianfei, with an arrogant expression, glanced at Chu Nan and said disdainfully, "The elder responsible for the sect disciples' roster is my teacher. As far as I know, you disappeared a year ago without reason, violating sect rules, and were expelled ten days ago."
Having received confirmation, Chu Miao laughed and said, "Chu Nan, do you have anything to say!"
"But you needn't regret. You were merely a lucky fool who managed to join the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, and now you're just returned to your original state."
Chu Nan felt aggrieved. The reason for his unaccounted disappearance a year ago was well known to Chu Miao.
But even if this matter were explained, no one would believe it, simply becoming a laughing stock.
He coldly glanced at Chu Miao, then turned and left.
Seeing this, Chu Miao felt even more complacent and was about to taunt Chu Nan when suddenly, he saw Chu Nan standing at the end of the queue awaiting examination.
Witnessing this, Chu Miao quickly approached Chu Nan and said, "Chu Nan, what are you doing!"
Chu Nan replied indifferently, "Preparing for the examination."
"You've been expelled, why are you taking the examination?" Chu Miao exclaimed.
Chu Nan calmly replied, "Are you stupid? It's precisely because I've been expelled that I need to retake the examination to join the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect."
"No way!" At this, Chu Miao furiously retorted, "You're expelled, you have no right to take the examination."
"Leave immediately or I'll deal with you using sect rules!"
But Chu Nan calmly said, "Chu Miao, whether I have the right isn't for you to decide; it requires a decision from an elder."
"Unless an elder comes to prohibit me from taking the examination, I won't leave."
"You're merely an outer sect disciple; what right do you have to determine whether I, Chu Nan, stay or go!"
Having said this, Chu Nan crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away from Chu Miao.
Though outwardly calm, Chu Nan internally vowed to find a chance to teach Chu Miao a lesson, so he wouldn't dare to be arrogant in front of him!
Chu Miao's face twisted, about to speak further when Li Jianfei approached and said, "Junior Brother Chu Miao, why get angry at a worthless person? Let him take the examination if he wants to."
"With me here, can Chu Nan pass the test?"
Li Jianfei wasn't from a dignified background and tried to build connections within the sect, thus maintaining a good rapport with Chu Miao despite him being merely an outer sect disciple.
Chu Miao calmed down, then sneered and said, "Chu Nan, do you wish to return to the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect? Let me tell you clearly, as long as I, Chu Miao, am here, there's no chance!"
After saying this, Chu Miao flicked his sleeves and left, surrounded by martial artists in the queue looking at Chu Nan with sympathy, but mostly scorn and ridicule.
"A thief who stole family treasures, dare he join the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect?"
"Gone for a year without a word, yet has the face to return!"
"I doubt he can rejoin the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect this time."
Despite the gossip around him, Chu Nan remained unaffected, indifferent to the babbling voices surrounding him.
Before he knew it, half an hour had passed, and hundreds of martial artists had taken the examination, but most outcomes were less than favorable.
The Cyan Mountain Sword Sect's recruitment standards were very strict; while there was no cultivation requirement, age and talent were strictly monitored.
Firstly, anyone over eighteen needn't bother; being too old means the bone structure has set, making future achievements within the sect unlikely.
Secondly, the Martial Vein level must reach at least Profound Level.
Martial Vein levels, like cultivation realms, are graded rigorously; from low to high, the levels are Mortal, Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, King, Emperor, Saint, Immortal, and God.
Mortal Level can barely cultivate, and considering a life reaching the fifth Martial Dao is considered fortunate.
Yellow Level is barely better than Mortal, yet no more attractive to the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect.
Only those with Profound Level can qualify to enter the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, yet still at the most basic level.
Chu Nan had initially joined the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect with a Profound Level talent, but in the end, remained an outer sect disciple.
"Make way, make way!"
"Take these silver tickets, let me cut in line!"
Smack!
Suddenly someone patted Chu Nan's shoulder, and a voice came from behind, "Friend, please let me cut in line, I'll give you a hundred silver tickets!"
Chu Nan turned and saw someone a head shorter than himself, not particularly burly, and even somewhat thinner compared to other men.
Yet despite this frail-looking body, half his face was covered by a large beard, looking rather incongruous.
The man held up a silver ticket worth a hundred taels and said, "Friend, please let me cut in line, these silver tickets are for you to have a good meal."
Chu Nan shrugged off the man's hand and replied, "No way."
He was in need of money, but didn't care for just a hundred silver tickets.
The man was slightly surprised and pulled out several more tickets, saying, "Five hundred silver tickets, let me cut in line!"
Chu Nan simply ignored him.
The man's expression instantly soured, it was the first time money hadn't worked on someone.
While he considered offering more, Chu Nan said, "Even if you give me a thousand silver tickets, I might let you cut in line, but believe me, following this it will be even harder to cut in than encountering me."
The man was taken aback, noticing the few people ahead of Chu Nan were staring at him greedily.
This sight scared him into quickly pocketing the silver tickets and looked around warily.
Chu Nan paid him no further mind, merely thinking this man seemed foolish yet wealthy, much like himself when he was constantly exploited, so he offered a word of warning.
If this earned him anyone's enmity, he wouldn't care.
The cultivation of those queuing here couldn't be that high, and he had no fear!
Deeply, the man looked at Chu Nan, obediently stood behind him, and gratefully said, "Thank you, friend. I'm Lin An, what's your name?"
Feeling Chu Nan was interesting, the man sought to make his acquaintance.
Chu Nan replied, "Chu Nan."
"Chu Nan..." Lin An pondered briefly before realizing, "You're the infamous Chu Nan, notorious for stealing family treasures, having your cultivation abolished and being cast out!"
Chu Nan's expression changed, he hadn't expected his reputation was so vile, known to even random strangers.
Surely, the Chu family represented by Chu Han had greatly propagated these rumors.
Noticing his misstep, Lin An quickly tried to amend his words, "After meeting you today, I find you clearly honest and upright, definitely not as rumored, there must be a misunderstanding!"
"I've never believed such nonsense, you must believe me, if I'm lying, may my beard fall out!"
Momentarily stunned, Chu Nan shook his head, If this man lost his beard, he might actually look like a dashing young man.
Later, Lin An sporadically chatted with Chu Nan, discovering from their conversation that this man wasn't a martial artist from Mount Cyan Command.
Observing his generous spending, it seemed likely he was a son of some Martial Arts Family venturing out for experience.
However, Chu Nan had no intention of deliberately drawing connections, taking things as they came.
Before he knew it, another two hours had passed and it was finally Chu Nan's turn...