The elder, recovering from the shock, still couldn't calm down.
Under the girl's calm gaze, he stuttered as he announced:
"Mu Zi, seventh level of Body Tempering, grade: average excellence!"
Upon learning Mu Zi's true level, the crowd, still stunned, began to get used to the shocks.
For a girl who had only just started cultivating, was there a big difference between the sixth and seventh levels? Both seemed unimaginable for an ordinary person.
Mu Ye looked at Mu Zi, unable to believe his eyes.
He had considered her an ordinary neighborhood girl whose beauty had captivated him. Although, in his opinion, her appearance wasn't that important—he was attracted by her purity and kindness.
Mu Ye imagined how, after demonstrating his strength, he would win her admiration, begin to talk with her, and day by day, she would gradually fall in love with him.
But he couldn't have imagined that his pride—his talent—meant nothing compared to Mu Zi.
Mu Ye finally came to his senses, and his self-confidence was shattered.
Seeing his crestfallen look, the elder snorted coldly:
"Look at you! One blow, and you're already disheartened. What can you possibly achieve?"
Mu Ye looked up, asking in a daze:
"But what hope do I have now?"
The elder replied unhurriedly:
"I myself didn't expect this girl to have such astonishing talent."
"But her level is still lower than yours. If you shine in the combat test, I, an old woman, will sacrifice my face and arrange your engagement," the elder said.
Mu Ye winced upon hearing this:
"But if she's forced, she'll hate me!"
The elder's eye twitched. She didn't expect this boy to still dream of mutual love.
With a hint of irritation, as if from useless metal, she threw out:
"Hah, she already dislikes you! Lift your head and look!"
Mu Ye looked at Mu Zi. Her eyes, cold and indifferent, had nothing to do with the dazzling smile she had given him before.
The reflection of her distant gaze in his pupils made Mu Ye's heart clench. So, all this time, he had been deluding himself with false hopes.
The elder's raspy voice continued:
"Prove yourself in the combat test—you still have a chance."
Mu Ye lowered his head, lost in thought.
Under the admiring gazes of the crowd, Mu Zi returned to Mu Lingsha and smiled slightly:
"I told you I could do it. Do you believe me now?"
Mu Lingsha clicked her tongue in admiration:
"You truly surprised us all."
But then her tone became more serious:
"And now, isn't it time to explain?"
"Explain what?" Mu Zi maintained an impassive expression, but her thoughts raced.
Mu Lingsha, looking at her composure, frowned:
"Of course, about your cultivation! Five months of practice—and the seventh level of Body Tempering. How did you do it?"
This question made everyone in the main seats perk up and listen.
Mu Zi, without batting an eye, explained:
"I don't know myself how it happened. After Sister gave me those spiritual fruits, I felt my cultivation progress significantly sped up."
"Is it really all because of the yellow earth fruits?" Mu Lingsha was completely bewildered.
Mu Tian asked thoughtfully:
"Clan Head, were those five fruits you rewarded Lingsha with something special?"
Mu Tao, straining his memory, replied uncertainly:
"Doesn't seem like anything special."
The discussion reached a dead end, and everyone gave up on trying to figure it out.
"Maybe Zi has a special physique," Mu Yun suggested. "I've heard that some people are naturally better at absorbing spiritual herbs, many times more effectively than others."
Although it sounded unbelievable, Mu Zi's success was right before their eyes, and everyone accepted this explanation.
Mu Zi, seeing that she had managed to fool everyone, internally sighed in relief.
The test continued—it was time for the combat stage.
The elder waved his hand, and several men brought out an arena. The combat test was to take place on it.
"Who's first?" the elder asked.
Mu Ye and Mu Zi didn't move, but Mu Tian and Mu Jing stepped forward. Compared to those two, their participation was probably just for show.
Exchanging glances, they felt like companions in misfortune.
An examiner at the eighth level of Body Tempering went up to the arena and approached them.
"I won't use Yuan Li and will limit my strength to the fifth level of Body Tempering. Attack together!"
Taking a deep breath, Mu Tian and Mu Jing took their positions and rushed to attack—one from the front, the other from the back.
"Falling Stone Fist!"
"Whirlwind Leg!"
They used their best techniques, surrounding the examiner, and their actions complemented each other surprisingly well.
However, the examiner, being at the eighth level of Body Tempering, even when suppressing his strength, had much greater endurance than them.
He easily parried their attacks, deflecting all their blows with just one palm.
Mu Tian exchanged glances with Mu Jing. She understood his hint and stopped attacking head-on, beginning to distract the examiner.
Seizing the moment, Mu Tian used his strongest technique.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa!"
Mu Zi slightly raised her eyebrow. Who would have thought that Mu Tian's trump card would be the "Five Claps" fist.
Palm met fist, and the examiner took a step back. But by then, both attackers were already out of breath and couldn't continue.
"Is the difference really that big?" Mu Tian asked in despair.
To their surprise, the examiner didn't counter-attack, but only smiled.
"The 'Five Claps' fist is good, very good."
"And Mu Jing performed excellently. The main thing is you know how to work as a team. If I were a real fifth-level master, you would have already defeated me."
"You have passed the combat test."
The elder announced:
"Mu Tian and Mu Jing have received the examiner's approval. The combat test is passed; the grades remain the same."
Hearing the good news, they let out a sigh of relief, cupped their fists in respect to the examiner, and returned to their seats.
From the main seat, Mu Tao commented:
"These two are good, not empty shells."
The examiner remained on the arena and looked at Mu Ye, who was standing behind the elder.
"Next!"
Mu Ye stood up, giving a deep look at the impassive Mu Zi, and leaped onto the arena.
The examiner addressed him:
"Boy, your cultivation talent is impressive. What about your combat mastery?"
Mu Ye, without changing his expression, replied:
"You'll see."
Before he could finish, he lunged at the examiner, enveloped in waves of Yuan Li.
"Eight Desolations Palm!"
Feeling the oncoming vortex, the examiner didn't dare to relax and used his own technique.
"Eight Desolations Palm!"
Both used the same technique. With the hum of air being sliced, their palms met.
"Bam!"
A muffled sound resonated upon impact; a powerful gust of energy swept all the dust from the arena.
Thump-thump!
Upon impact, both slightly trembled and staggered back, finding themselves on equal footing.
The examiner was surprised: the power of Mu Ye's "Eight Desolations Palm" exceeded his expectations.
From the main seat, Mu Tao remarked in admiration:
"Mu Ye's mastery of the 'Eight Desolations Palm' is impressive!"
Although both were at the eighth level of Body Tempering, the examiner had practiced longer. But even he couldn't get the upper hand in the clash of techniques, which spoke of Mu Ye's exceptional talent for martial arts.
"Hah, that's exactly why I value Ye Lan," the elder interjected. "His mastery of martial arts is outstanding; among all those I've taught, he is the first."
The crowd was surprised by her words. In her youth, this elder herself taught martial arts to the clan. Such praise meant that Mu Ye was a true talent.
The fight on the arena continued. As time passed, Mu Ye gained more experience. His attacks, initially a bit clumsy, became more and more refined. Gradually, he began to get the upper hand.
Finally, accelerating his strikes, Mu Ye made the examiner falter, and he fell off the arena.
The crowd gasped. Rarely did a test taker manage to defeat the examiner, especially such a master at the eighth level of Body Tempering.
Even Mu Lingsha at her time only managed a draw.
Below, Mu Tian and Mu Jing gave a bitter smile.
They had given it their all, but they couldn't even force the examiner to use a technique. And Mu Ye defeated him in an open fight.
"Such a huge gap?"
The elder announced:
"Mu Ye has defeated the examiner and passed the test."
"Based on the results of the two stages, Mu Ye receives a grade: average excellence."
Under the crowd's admiring buzz, Mu Ye looked at Mu Zi, but instead of the expected respect, he saw mockery in her eyes.
"Done playing?" she said. "Now it's my turn."
...
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