Beside Song Yu'er stood a few young men, one of whom couldn't take his eyes off her and immediately stepped forward upon hearing her words,
"Yu'er, don't be afraid, I'll protect you."
Shang Yanting's gaze shifted over, and the man quickly lowered his head, "Young Master, I just think Miss Yu'er is a guest of the Shangmou Family and should be treated with courtesy."
"This is an entrance examination that concerns future prospects. It should be fair, and the capable should take their place."
Shang Yanting's words garnered silent agreement from many of the onlookers.
An entrance exam is not a dragon's den or a tiger's pit; what protection is needed?
Fair competition, whoever wins is promoted, isn't that how it should be?
The man in the conversation tightened and then loosened the hand he was hiding behind his back, responded softly, and retreated into the crowd, his bowed head hiding his unwillingness.
The capable should take their place?
Was Shang Yanting mocking his lack of power?
——
This time, it was a vice-dean from Holy Capital Academy overseeing the test.
He surveyed the group of young men on the field. Most had reached the late stage Martial Apprentice, with one even having reached the late stage Martial Realm.
The vice-dean showed a satisfied look in his eyes, turned, and asked, "Is that the Young Master of the Shangmou Family, Shang Yanting?"
The Shangmou Family Master nodded with a smile.
Shang Yanting stood by, calm and composed, letting him scrutinize freely.
"A good talent." The vice-dean commented approvingly.
Hearing this, some people's jealousy intensified.
##
The gong rang three times atop the ring.
The miscellaneous crowd evacuated the arena, and the selection competition was about to begin.
There were 27 noble family disciples on the field. By the end of the competition, only 4 could remain on stage.
The admission ratio was 27 to 4, plus one was guaranteed entry.
The atmosphere was tense with a strong scent of gunpowder even before the fight began on the stage.
Thud—
As soon as the drum sounded, the 27 participants immediately engaged in a melee, while Shang Mou Yanting stood on the side, quietly watching them.
The constant talisman-forging Jia Xitong felt the unusual commotion outside and was drawn out to join the excitement.
The suppression of realm level is merciless. Those who hadn't reached the late stage Martial Apprentice were the first to be eliminated.
However, even fifty late stage Martial Apprentices couldn't defeat a late stage Martial Realm. As soon as Shang Yanting made a move, everyone on the field would be knocked out.
"Host, why aren't you going up?"
"The time is not yet ripe."
Though not as powerful as Shang Yanting, those on stage were the young elites of each family. The competition was fierce, and a slight negligence could result in being knocked off the stage.
It wasn't long before more than half the participants had been eliminated from the ring.
Becoming a direct disciple of the vice-deans meant not only an enhancement in martial prowess but also a direct path into the power center of the Shangmou Family.
The remaining participants fought fiercely for those three spots, turning their matches into life-and-death struggles.
It was at this point that Shang Yanting intervened.
He separated a long-weapon-wielding opponent who was about to decapitate a rival, and a dagger-wielder ready to slit a throat with a sneak attack, knocking them out of the ring.
"Within the clan duel, touch and go."
Upon hearing the warning, the participants on stage immediately calmed down considerably.
Where the male lead was supposed to compete, he was acting more like a discipline inspector.
Through Jia Xitong's many days of observation, apart from being aloof, Shang Yanting seemed generous, diligent in his cultivation, and extremely dedicated to his family. It was hard to imagine what he'd encounter later to become the ruthless and resentful, heartlessly obstinate figure depicted in the original novel.
It's a pity the original story hurried over the reason for Shang Mou Yanting's descent into darkness, leaving Jia Xitong unable to forewarn him.
Or should he secretly pass on the news that someone is plotting against him?
Just as Jia Xitong was entertaining this thought, a piercing warning echoed in his mind.
[Warning: The host must not disclose any content from the original book to anyone. Violation leads to extermination!]
[Warning: The host must not disclose any content from the original book to anyone. Violation leads to extermination!]
For emphasis, it was said twice!
Jia Xitong winced at the sharp sound, then suddenly noticed a shadow moving stealthily behind Shang Yanting through the corner of his eye.
"Host, be careful behind you!"
Just as the words fell, Shang Yanting leapt into the air, and in a flash, the would-be assailant was already lying on the ground. Soon after, several more were tossed out of the arena by him.
Upon closer inspection, Jia Xitong realized the assailant was the same man who had been sycophantically attentive to Song Yu'er earlier.
The others were those who had previously followed closely behind this man.
Once they were kicked off, it meant they no longer have access to the power centers of the Eight Great Families.
Moreover, Shang Yanting had struck hard. Those on the ground couldn't even stand up and had to be carried away by doctors.
Whoa... even an uncorrupted male lead is quite ruthless.
——
With a few people suddenly gone, the pressure on the stage lessened significantly.
After the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, the results were out.
Among the three others remaining on stage, two were from the side branches of the Shangmou Family. As for Song Yu'er, Shang Yanting's future fiancée, she received no preferential treatment from him whatsoever.
Song Yu'er, wanting to enroll, would have to participate in the public entrance tests held by Holy Capital Academy before classes began.
The male lead had no sense of tender affection in the early stages; his feelings were quite indifferent, making the Commander sigh.
Thankfully, Tongzi didn't need human emotions; she just needed to be a grindmaster.
In one breath, ten thousand talismans.
After grinding for twelve days, there were only a few hundred talismans left out of the ten thousand sheets. As another successful Solidification Talisman was crafted, the entire "Talismanic Record" book began to glow.
The third page was unlocked!
[Beginner Level—Chapter Two: Healing Talisman]
[Usages - For cultivators, it can heal ordinary external injuries and internal injuries, cannot resurrect the dead, cannot remove heart demons, cannot regenerate bones, cannot replenish True Qi.]
[Making a Healing Talisman requires vermillion paper and ink made from the mixture of Jiu Biying and Yangqi Stone juice]
That's... unlocked?
How was it unlocked?
Jia Xitong stared at the "Talismanic Record" in front of him in silence for two seconds...
Whatever, as long as it's unlocked.
A moment later, Shang Yanting, who was meditating, was interrupted by Jia Xitong's voice in his mind, "Dear Host, your first task is now issued: collect 10,000 sheets of vermillion paper, and 10 taels of ink made from Jiu Biying and Yangqi Stone juice.
Task completion reward: Solidification Talisman *4"
Jiu Biying and Yangqi Stone are two types of herbal medicine, comparable in value to rock ink.
In one go, it's equivalent to a typical family's living expenses for two or three years, which, although not much for Shang Yanting, was being used quite frequently.
"...Have you already finished using the ten thousand sheets of vermillion paper from before?"
Almost, the remaining few hundred sheets won't last two days.
Jia Xitong still used the previous excuse, "There is a considerable chance of failure in the process of synthesizing talismans."
"So, a thousand sheets of paper to draw four talismans, didn't you ever consider it might be your own fault?"
What's there to consider, isn't it just earning some difference on the side?
It's all earned with hard work.
"Due to the system being at a very low level, the success rate is not high right now."
The grindmaster began painting a rosy picture for the male lead, "When the system level increases, it will be able to provide more and more useful artifacts for you, dear Host."
"How can I level you up?"
At this, Jia Xitong's eyes lit up, and he reported sincerely with a subtle hint, "Increase your trust value with the system to reach 100/100, and the system can be upgraded.
Currently, your trust value with the system: 60/100."
Upon hearing this, Shang Yanting's face darkened; could this magic artifact actually read his mind?
If it weren't for the oath both parties took earlier, just for this, he would've considered destroying it.
But in another sense, with the contract binding it not to harm him, and it hadn't hidden this matter, it's still within his tolerance.
More than caution, he was curious about what it would be like after the item was upgraded.
As they say, 'out of ruin comes fortune.'
Jia Xitong kept hearing notifications from the True System, with the male lead's trust value fluctuating up and down, finally settling at 65.
After half a month, the trust value actually increased!