“What the hell kind of first exam is this!” Both Zhao Chen and Zi Qingyun yelled in unison. They had never heard of such an absurd entrance exam. Getting attacked in the middle of night had already upset them enough, and now they had come to find out it was a test.

The large burly man scoffed.

“You brats, Long Shui academy doesn’t need any silk pants who haven’t seen the world yet. What you thought you’d stroll into the academy, take a written test or two, maybe fight someone and that’ll be it?”

The two youths went silent. Was that not how entrance exams worked? Zhao Chen himself was an ascender, and even though he had reached the upper realm several hundred years ago, and he was from a different mortal plain, martial academies shouldn’t have gone through such a complete change.

“Judging by your expressions, that’s exactly what you thought. Well you’re wrong. The students we raise must all be exceptional warriors. Whether they make it to the Purple Rain sect or not!” The large man had lost all the playfulness he had before, and a strong power was being emitted from his body.

“So what? We just have to fight you and win?” Zhao Chen was still stalling for time. He noticed how much energy Zi Qingyun had used up, and he could tell fighting a 2 vs 1 in his current situation would only result in his defeat.

The two instructors let out a small chortle but regained their composure quickly, before the female instructor spoke.

“We want tough students, but we don’t expect any monster that can jump a major realm to fight and win against their opponent. No, as long as you can leave even the tiniest wounds on either of us, you both pass.”

‘So that's why they were unscathed! I would’ve gone full force if I knew they were Foundational Harmony Realms. Nonetheless I can’t lose here. If I lose now I might as well give up on my revenge!” The sudden reveal of the instructor's strength had shocked Zhao Chen, but he was confident in harming them.

It wasn’t his pride as a once great divine lord that gave him the confidence, but his martial will that didn’t allow him to give up!

“Brother Chen, how about we show these seniors to not be so carefree?” Zi Qingyun was now fully fired up and itching for a battle.

Zhao Chen nodded in approval and got back into his stance.

“Go!”

“Five Great Tigers Roar!”

“Spirit Serpent Divine Fist!”

Once again Zi Qingyung amazed Zhao Chen with his martial prowess. Just what was this guy's background to have such profound moves? As for Zhao Chen's spirit serpent divine fist, it was one of his own moves he used to dominate the martial plains back in the day. His current body couldn’t use the technique to its full potential, but it’s current power shouldn't be too bad.

However Zhao Chen didn’t have any time to stand in awe, as right after Zhao Chen and Zi Qingyun unleashed their moves the two instructors began to move.

The large burly man was Zi Qingyun’s target, and he weaved and dodge four of the five tiger spirits with some kind of movement technique, and was hit directly in the chest by the fifth! But he was only pushed back a few steps.

“Ha ha, you said you’d teach us? Please instruct the junior!” The man goaded Zi Qingyun but he could feel that the kid in front of him would be a serious opponent if he was a few minor steps higher.

As for Zhao Chen's opponent, she completely avoided Zhao Chen's fist and fired out her own palm. She used no technique but Zhao Chen felt a shiver run down his spine. This woman was strong!

‘I knew it! Out of these two instructors, she’s definitely the strongest! This woman will help me test out my current abilities, I just hope she won’t disappoint.’

Zhao Chen retreated a few steps and rolled over on his side in an attempt to dodge the palm, he regretted not learning a movement technique yet. But despite his best efforts the palm hit him full force! And to Zhao Chen's dismay, it was not the same situation as Zi Qingyun landing a move on the male instructor.

Phwark!

Zhao Chen's mouth tasted a sweet liquid as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. It took all his power to stay standing. He quickly grabbed a medicinal pill from his storage pouch and retreated a few steps back.

A few seconds later Zi Qingyun followed suit.

“You two, weren’t you saying something about being carefree? Now what happened to that confidence?” The woman spoke in a cold tone but the burly man roared with laughter.

“Zi Qingyun, these two are far too strong for us to fight individually. I might have a way for us to pass but we could get severely injured.” Zhao Chen stayed in his stance as he circulated the pills' effects. Luckily neither instructor showed signs of making a move.

“What's the chance of your plan succeeding brother Chen?”

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“If my guess is right, I’d say 10 percent.”

Zi Qingyuns mouth curled up into a wide grin.

“As long as it’s not zero, I’ll follow you no matter what brother Chen!”

This statement caused a fluctuation in Zhao Chen's heart. He had barely known this boy for a day and he was willing to risk his life over a 10 percent chance? Maybe being his brother wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Alright, here's what I need you to do.”

Several minutes later, when the two youths had rested up.

“You two done all your secret planning? Just come and fight us, no matter what you try, nothing's going to work!” The large man's words didn’t match his expression. Even the most ordinary of passersby could tell he was itching to fight.

The female instructor raised her palm to indicate her readiness too.

The two youths gave each other a glance and prepared themselves for their final attack.

“Brother Qingyun!”

“Brother Chen!”

“RUN!” The two boys shouted in unison and turned to run through the wall that had been destroyed from Zhao Chen flying through it.

The two instructors stared at each other in awe. Were these boys giving up? There's no way right?

“Instructor Yue they wouldn’t have ran away right?” The burly man was lacking in intelligence but he wasn’t stupid. The two youths had to have been planning something.

“They definitely are, but I have no idea what. Let’s chase after, I have a feeling they might surprise instructor Yang.” The woman's fighting intent was also itching to be released, the two boys were rather interesting.

“Yes!”

Several meters away two youths were running as if their lives were on the line.

“Brother Chen, I don't doubt your plan, but are you sure the instructors will follow? From observing them during the fight, they don’t seem to make a move unless we do first.”

Once again, Zi Qingyuns intelligence shocked Zhao Chen, but maintained his calm expression.

“Don’t worry brother Qingyun, they’ll follow us, I guarantee it!” And just at that moment, as if Zhao Chen's word carried a summoning spell, the two youths felt two auras approaching rapidly, followed by a loud roar.

“You brats! Did your confidence turn into cowardice!? Turn around and face this instructor!” Instructor Yang was the faster one out of the pair, and closed in on Zhao Chen and Zi Qingyun first.

“Shut up you old fart! Keep up with this young master if you dare!” Zi Qingyun replied with a rather rude gesture. This boy really knew how to goad people.

“You bastard!” Instructor Yang raised his palm again and started to circulate his qi again, when all of a sudden Zhao Chen stopped running.

What was even more shocking was Zhao Chen actually turned to bow to the instructor.

Instructor Yang stopped in his tracks, and shortly after Instructor Yue appeared next to him with a confused expression. Why was this idiot bowing?

When Zhao Chen saw that both instructors had arrived, he gave a quick smile before putting on a pleading look.

“Instructors, please forgive this junior! That bastard Zi Qingyun dragged me into this! I’m from a small city in the Azureleaf province, I have no need to join Long Shui Academy if it’s filled with so many hardships. If seniors would allow it, this junior would like to simply leave.” Both instructors were stunned, where did the arrogant young master disappear to?

And where did this mouse come from? Did he really plan on just leaving? However, just at that moment Zi Qingyun exploded with anger.

“I’m the bastard!? Shut up for this young master! This wasn’t part of the plan, you traitor! You said we’d fight to the bitter end! Now you want to turn tail and run! You’ll die a miserable death Zhao Chen!” Even though his cultivation wasn’t high, Zi Qingyun emitted a thick murderous intent.

“Enough! Quell your anger. Zhao Chen, though I had higher hopes for you, if you truly wish to leave you’re more than welcome.” Instructor Yue turned to the side and stretched out her arm, indicating that Zhao Chen was free to walk away.

Instructor Yang watched the scene with a solemn expression. He really wanted to fight that kid!

But Zi Qingyun didn’t stop. In fact he got even angrier as he pounced towards Zhao Chen.

“You’re not going anywhere you traitor! Pay the price of betraying this young master with your head!”

Zi Qingyun unleashed The Five Great Tigers Roar again, this time with an even stronger aura than when he had attacked the instructor.

“No!” Instructor Yue also moved out and attempted to stop Zi Qingyun from attacking. Luckily for her Zi Qingyun did stop, but unluckily he changed his trajectory and aimed for instructor Yang!

“Good, I knew you brats had a plan, come on! This instructor will teach you a real lesson today!” Instructor Yang's previous joy had returned in full force!

Slash! Pssh! Phwark!

The Five Great Tigers Roar had hit Instructor Yang directly in the chest, pushing him back several steps. But who’s blood had just been drawn?

The two instructors turned their heads in shock and Zi Qingyun turned his head to reveal a wide grin on his face.

“Did you get her, brother Chen?”

“Just as planned brother Qingyun!”

Zhao Chen had actually slashed Instructor Yue across the back with… with a rock?

“What the hell? You little brat? How dare you play such an underhanded trick? And with such a crude weapon!” Instructor Yue wanted to strangle Zhao Chen to death that very second.

But Zhao Chen simply dropped the rock and walked over to Zi Qingyuns side.

“Your exact words, Miss instructor, were that Long Shui academy had no place for silk pants who haven’t seen the world. Well, we two brothers have shown us just how cruel the real world is, right?” Zhao Chen observed the two instructors' faces with a soft smile. He knew they had no response.

Finally Instructor Yue spoke up once more.

“How’d you come up with the plan?”

“Oh, I can explain this one!” Zi Qingyun exclaimed, full of enthusiasm.

“When we were fighting earlier, brother Chen noticed that even though Miss instructor was the stronger and smarter one-”

“Hey!” The burly man yelled out.

“Sorry sir. But as I was saying, even though Miss instructor was stronger and smarter, these two led to your downfall. When you noticed neither I nor brother Chen could touch you, you stopped focusing on defense and became more carefree.”

“So when me and brother Zi were resting I came up with a plan to fully divert your attention, so that your guard would be fully down. And as for the rock, I don’t believe there were any rules on weapons, Miss instructor.” Zhao Chen finished.

Instructor Yang shot Instructor Yue a meaningful look, but she just looked down at her feet. Today she had been embarrassed by two juniors because she had been too proud. She felt shame but also reassurance. She said that the academy wasn’t expecting any monsters but they had found two.

“Alright, you two passed the first exam. These are your examinee tokens, show up in front of the academy gates in two hours after you’ve rested up. You’ll get the details of the second exam once you’re there.” Instructor Yue threw the two youths small metal plaques, before grabbing Instructor Yang and turning to walk away.

“Such a fierce battle, and we only get two hours to rest? Don’t you think that's a little unfair Miss?” Zi Qingyun was already very cranky from being woken up to fight.

Instructor Yue turned her head and Zi Qingyun felt like her gaze could pierce his head at any moment.

“I was just joking Miss! Haha, good day instructors.” Zi Qingyun gave an awkward laugh and palmed his fist towards the two in front of him.

Zhao Chen similarly palmed his fists, and watched as the two instructors stared at him for half a second before turning to walk away.

When the two youths saw that the instructors were out of sight they fell onto their bums and let out long sighs of relief.

“I didn’t like how we did it, but at least we did. If all the instructors are that strong, I wonder how strong the Purple Rain sect are.” Zi Qingyun laid flat on his back and allowed for the cool breeze to hit him.

Zhao Chen nodded his head in agreement. He was never the type of man to use underhanded tactics, but he wasn’t the type of man to lose when there was a way to win. Then suddenly Zhao Chen's expression changed.

“You bastard, you’re not that much older than me and your murderous intent is so thick, why is that?” The murderous aura that emitted from Zi Qingyun earlier had almost made Zhao Chen think Zi Qingyun was some assassin in disguise.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me why you know an upper realm martial technique.” Zi Qingyun said lazily as he rolled over to face Zhao Chen.

Zhao Chen sprung up to his feet and got into his fighting stance.

“How do you know that I used an upper realm martial technique?” Zhao Chen almost drowned in confusion. There’s no way anyone should know about his Spirit Serpent Divine fist.

Zi Qingyun just shot him a soft smile and rolled over to his original position.

“My master has a mysterious origin that even I don’t understand. So I know what a divine technique looks like. Look brother Chen, you don’t ask me questions, I don't ask you? How about that?”

Though Zhao Chen wasn’t exactly satisfied with this answer, he didn’t want to expose himself too early on. He nodded his head, but made a mental note to be a little bit more wary of Zi Qingyun in the future. This guy was definitely hiding something serious.

Zhao Chen sat down once again, and the two boys watched as the sun ascended higher and higher into the sky. It was time for the Long Shui Academies second exam!