Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

’He actually found himself another good dog!’

Xu Yang marveled inwardly. It was as if he was seeing the Luo Dehu of the past.

Lu Ren and Zhao Hui were playing off each other, trying to elevate Lu Ren to the same level as Jiang Ping’s group and get everyone to concede if they ran into him.

Lu Ren wasn’t just kissing up to Jiang Ping and his cronies; he wanted the same treatment for himself.

Of course, this likely wasn’t just Lu Ren’s scheme. Jiang Ping, Zhao Zhifei, and the others had probably participated as well.

Even though the others understood what was happening and knew their intentions, they didn’t dare offend Lu Ren, Jiang Ping, Gu Fang, and their group, so they had no choice but to hold their noses and agree.

As for whether Sun Tao and Lin Wei were involved, Xu Yang couldn’t tell. They hadn’t explicitly said that others didn’t need to concede to them, but neither had they stood up to offer a hypocritical toast like Jiang Ping’s group.

"Zhao Hui, this matter can’t be forced. It must be completely voluntary."

Lu Ren continued, "Perhaps Xu Yang feels he also has a chance at Dragon Ascension. It’s understandable that he’s unwilling. If we’re unfortunate enough to meet, then we’ll each have to rely on our own skills. At worst, we’ll just become a laughingstock—Weiyuan Hall brothers fighting amongst themselves, handing the victory to an outsider."

His words sounded like he was helping Xu Yang out of a jam, but by using the phrase "fighting amongst themselves," the threat was all but spelled out.

’So that’s it, they’re using me as the chicken!’

Xu Yang had a sudden realization. Lu Ren’s group was likely afraid the others would only feign compliance—agreeing on the surface but refusing to concede during the Martial Arts Examination, thus wasting their energy and True Qi.

So they singled out Xu Yang—who wasn’t popular and hadn’t stated his position—to make an example of him, sending a clear message to everyone else: ’If you don’t know what’s good for you and refuse to concede, don’t blame us for being ruthless.’

"With so many people helping all of you seniors, where would I even fit in? With my meager skills, I doubt I’ll even get the chance to run into any of you."

Xu Yang’s tone was placid.

Lu Ren and Zhao Hui didn’t press him further. Their main goal was to warn everyone to be sensible, and since their objective had been met, there was no need to keep harping on it.

With Lin Wei and Sun Tao present, it would be embarrassing for everyone if things turned ugly.

The banquet ended, and everyone went their separate ways.

"Lu Ren and his friends are unbelievable! Forcing others to give up their chance at Dragon Ascension just to clear the way for them. No wonder his Root Bone isn’t bad, yet Father refused to take him as a disciple. His character is just awful."

Walking back with Sun Tao, Lin Wei couldn’t help but scoff.

Still, she ultimately didn’t want to offend Gu Fang, Jiang Ping, and their faction, so she hadn’t voiced her opinion at the banquet.

"For Dragon Ascension in the Martial Arts Examination, it’s seventy percent skill and thirty percent luck. This is the ’thirty percent luck’ part. To be honest, even I’m a little tempted," Sun Tao sighed.

"You’re not confident about Dragon Ascension either?" Lin Wei asked curiously.

Sun Tao shook his head. "The Martial Arts Examination is packed with masters. Very few people would dare claim they have a one-hundred-percent chance at Dragon Ascension."

Every year, a few unknown masters emerge during the examination. Who knows if you’ll run into one of them.

Besides, his own talent was average; it had taken him nearly two years of training to achieve Qi Gathering Great Success.

"Then in your opinion, who from Weiyuan Hall is capable of Dragon Ascension?" Lin Wei asked.

Although she was Lin Cheng’s daughter, she trained at Sunv Hall and wasn’t very familiar with the disciples at Weiyuan Hall.

Sun Tao mulled it over for a moment before replying, "Jiang Ping and Zhao Zhifei should be able to achieve Dragon Ascension. Gu Fang, myself, and Lu Ren also have a very good chance. As for the others... with that thirty percent luck on their side, they have a hope of it too."

Lin Wei paused. "Is Xu Yang one of ’the others’?"

Sun Tao glanced at Lin Wei. "If we’re getting more specific, Xu Yang, Zhang Yong, and Yang Lin’s chances are probably better than the rest of the pack."

Zhang Yong has an Upper C-class Root Bone and achieved Qi Gathering Great Success early on. Yang Lin is a disciple with even more seniority than Sun Tao himself.

Xu Yang’s demonstrated ability puts him above those two, but he’s not on the same level as myself or Lu Ren.

Gu Fang and Lu Ren both learned the Gu Family’s Eighteen Forms of Scattering Hand, and I have my Sun Family Secret Martial Arts. Xu Yang only has the Foundation Establishment Martial Art, Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist. Naturally, he can’t compete with us.

"Senior Brother, if you run into Xu Yang during the Martial Arts Examination, just concede immediately."

Lin Wei instantly realized that Sun Tao must not know about Xu Yang comprehending Wind and Thunder Strength, so she was quick to warn him.

"Why?" Now it was Sun Tao’s turn to be stunned.

’Doesn’t Lin Wei know my Sun Family has Secret Martial Arts? Does she think that just because I lost to Kong Yu the other day, I’m actually weaker than him?’

"Just trust me on this. My father didn’t tell you, so I can’t go around talking about it either."

Sun Tao’s mind raced. He recalled Lin Cheng waiving Xu Yang’s tuition fees and fell into thought.

’Lu Ren and his friends look down on Xu Yang. This will be interesting if they actually run into each other.’

Sun Tao thought to himself, then turned to Lin Wei. "What about you? Are you confident about Dragon Ascension?"

"Somewhat!"

...

At dawn, Xu the Second awoke in the cowshed. He calculated that with one more year of mining, he could finally build his own house and stop sleeping in this foul-smelling shed every day.

As he stepped out of the cowshed, he saw his older brother’s daughter, Xu Lan. She was wearing the floral dress reserved for holidays and had even put on a bit of makeup, her expression alight with excitement.

He asked curiously, "Ah Lan, is your father marrying you off?"

It wasn’t a holiday, and dressed like that, she looked as if she were going to meet a prospective suitor.

Xu Lan shook her head. "No. Second Uncle, you’re just getting up now? It’s the day of the Martial Arts Examination. Aren’t you going to watch?"

’The Martial Arts Examination?’

’So the biennial Martial Arts Examination is here again.’

A wave of melancholy washed over Xu the Second. In previous years, he would have accompanied Zhang Cuiting into the city to watch the Martial Arts Examination.

But today, he was busy with mining; he had no time to waste by going into the city.

’It’s all because of that little bastard, Yang Jun.’

The thought of Zhang Cuiting stoked another surge of hatred for Yang Jun. He had poured his heart and soul into being a stepfather, even neglecting his own son and daughter, only to be kicked out of the house in the end.