Chapter 7: Mirror Lake Taoist Academy Final Selection

Meng Chuan couldn't help but try again. In an instant, his body, mind, and technique merged into one. He moved forward with the blade light, cutting through the air, leaving behind a series of afterimages and stunning flashes of his saber on the training ground.

Fast! Elusive!

These were the hallmarks of the secret technique, "Three Autumn Leaves."

His movement technique was fast and elusive! His saber technique was also fast and elusive!

After performing it more than ten times consecutively, Meng Chuan finally stopped, unable to suppress his excitement: "Three Autumn Leaves, a single leaf falling through three autumns! I've finally comprehended it! I've finally comprehended it!

"I've finally reached the first major realm of saber technique—the Unity Realm!

"I, Meng Chuan, have hope of becoming a Godfiend!"

Meng Chuan was truly thrilled.

He had begun practicing the Falling Leaf Saber at the age of eleven. Four years had passed.

Throughout these four years, he had never slacked off, training desperately because he knew very well that many martial artists excelled in the foundational stages of saber technique; every academy had a few. Across the eight major academies, there were even more. Such outstanding cultivators… 99% would be stuck at the threshold of the 'Unity Realm' for a long time, gradually becoming mediocre, and it would be commendable if they could reach the Flawless Realm in their lifetime.

But this had never been Meng Chuan's goal. He wanted to become a Godfiend! He trained so diligently, researched so deeply, with only one objective in mind—to become a Godfiend!

He couldn't forget that at the age of six, he was tied to his father's back. His father fled while fighting off demons, and at a critical moment, his mother proactively charged forward, delaying the monsters.

It was all so her son could escape!

On his father's back, he distantly saw his mother being engulfed by more demons. At that moment, Meng Chuan cried his heart out, while his father, weeping, desperately fled without looking back. Finally… Meng Chuan survived.

"Cultivation must start as early as possible," Meng Chuan thought to himself. "A mortal body reaches its peak at twenty, then slowly declines." He mused, "The current top genius in Dongning Prefecture, Mei Yuanzhi, comprehended a secret technique at fifteen. Just a month ago, at the age of twenty, he comprehended 'Ice Intent'. He can even live and cultivate within the Jade Sun Palace."

Mei Yuanzhi originally came from an ordinary family in Dongning Prefecture; his mother was a maidservant, and his father was merely at the Mortal Shedding Realm. However, when Mei Yuanzhi comprehended a secret technique at fifteen, it shocked the academy. The academy immediately invested heavily in his cultivation. Even Godfiend families wanted to marry their direct daughters to him, but Mei Yuanzhi was solely dedicated to cultivation and utterly unmoved by the allure of Godfiend families… Finally, on the twelfth day of the first lunar month this year, Mei Yuanzhi comprehended 'Ice Intent'. He barely managed to comprehend 'Intent' at the age of twenty. Naturally, he now had the chance to contend this year, with some hope of entering the most ancient cultivation ground, 'Yuanchu Mountain'.

According to Yuanchu Mountain's rules, one must not be over twenty years old to participate in the entrance trial. If one hasn't comprehended 'Intent' by the age of twenty, they don't even qualify for the entrance trial!

"Reaching the Unity Realm is just the first step," Meng Chuan murmured, "There are still many thresholds like 'Saber Intent' and 'Core Condensation'. I cannot slack off." He looked around. The training ground was quiet, with only himself present. The trees and plants were already a vibrant green.

"What a coincidence," Meng Chuan realized. "Today is the twenty-seventh of February, and I've broken through just one day before the academy's internal selection for quotas."

Sometimes, things in the world just happen to be so coincidental.

The next day, early morning.

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were eating breakfast.

The entire Meng family was now fully committed to nurturing their younger generations, even hiring Flawless Realm cultivators from outside to spar with Meng Chuan. Meng Dajiang, a Flawless Realm expert who had comprehended Saber Intent, naturally put his skills to use; he had been staying at the ancestral home recently, instructing a large number of the younger clan members. As for Meng Chuan… he had received too many pointers from his father; he was long familiar with his father's methods. However, Qiyue's father, Liu Yebai, was quite mysterious, spending most of the year away.

"A'Chuan, today's our academy's selection for quotas, it's yours too, right?" Liu Qiyue said proudly. "I've already secured my spot."

"I'll secure mine this year too," Meng Chuan smiled.

"So confident?" Liu Qiyue chuckled. "You haven't even perfected the Marrow Cleansing Realm, yet you're sure you can claim a top three spot within the academy?"

"What if I win?" Meng Chuan asked.

Liu Qiyue carefully looked at Meng Chuan, then chuckled mischievously: "If you win, I'll cook dinner for you for a whole month. But if you don't secure a spot, hehehe, you have to give me your 'Galloping Horses' painting! Do you dare to bet?"

Meng Chuan smiled.

His painting skills had long surpassed those of the best painters found in Dongning Prefecture, partly due to the scarcity of painters. The 'Galloping Horses' painting was Meng Chuan's current highest achievement, a long scroll depicting one hundred horses in different poses, which had taken him over a year to complete. Liu Qiyue had been coveting it ever since she saw it once. Even Yun Qingping, after seeing it once, said she was willing to exchange 3,000 taels of silver plus two of her precious jades for it. Meng Chuan couldn't bear to part with it.

"If I lose, I forfeit the 'Galloping Horses' painting, but if I win, you only cook dinner for a month. Isn't that a bit unfair?" Meng Chuan hesitated.

"A whole month! Do you dare or not?" Liu Qiyue stared at Meng Chuan.

"It's hard enough to get you to cook once normally. Fine, I'll take this bet," Meng Chuan gritted his teeth. "Don't regret it if you lose then."

"You won't regret it if *you* lose either!" Liu Qiyue put down her chopsticks, then stood up and left. "I'm off to the academy. Don't be too scared to come back at noon today."

"Don't worry," Meng Chuan said, slowly sipping his porridge. How could he refuse if Sister Qiyue was willing to cook for him for a whole month straight?

After eating for a while, Meng Chuan wiped his mouth and leisurely walked towards the academy.

Mirror Lake Academy.

Upon arriving at the academy, Meng Chuan found many disciples bustling around the arena area.

"Senior Brother Meng will definitely win."

"Senior Brother Meng, you'll surely get into the top three."

Many junior brothers and sisters were very excited. They knew it was the day for quota selection, and the academy also intended for them to watch the matches of the senior brothers and sisters from the Landscape Pavilion. Because he occasionally offered guidance to his juniors, many of them supported Meng Chuan.

"Although I also want Senior Brother Meng Chuan to win, truthfully, in past competitions among the top ten Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples, Senior Brother Meng hasn't had an advantage. His chances of securing a top three spot aren't very high."

"Senior Brother Wan Mang and Senior Brother Bai Guan have decided first place between them in the last few top ten disciple competitions. They are definitely going to take spots." Many junior brothers and sisters were discussing animatedly, some blindly supportive, others analyzing soberly. But they all had one thing in common—they were all eagerly awaiting the start of the battles.

A ten-zhang perimeter around the arena was cordoned off, and disciples watching were not allowed to approach. Meng Chuan and the others arrived one by one and waited. Instructors also checked their weapons to ensure they were unsharpened.

A small, thin man, reeking of alcohol and clutching a wine jar, walked over.

"Dean."

"Dean."

All the disciples were very respectful, and the twenty-two disciples from the Landscape Pavilion also bowed respectfully. This was Ge Yu, the Dean of Mirror Lake Academy. Ge Yu didn't have a good reputation; he was greedy for money, addicted to alcohol, and acted without scruples.

"Alright, everyone's here," Ge Yu said, his face flushed and reeking of alcohol. Yet, all the disciples were obedient, and even the instructors and assistant instructors dared not murmur. He was the fastest saber user in Dongning Prefecture, a reputation earned through real combat.

"There are only six Mortal Shedding Realm disciples in total, so the selection will be quick," Ge Yu said. "The six of you compete first to decide the top three."

"Reporting to the Dean," a young man bowed respectfully. "Brother Zhang and I have only recently reached the Mortal Shedding Realm; we are still in the early stage. We believe our strength is shallow and thus forfeit this competition."

"Reporting to the Dean, I already challenged last night and lost all three matches," a strong, dark-skinned young man said.

"Oh?" Ge Yu nodded upon hearing this; he was also aware of the disciples' strengths. "Alright, in that case, the ones going to the Jade Sun Palace Demon Slaying Assembly this time will be Wu Qi and the Wei brothers."

"Yes," Wu Qi and the other two Mortal Shedding Realm cultivators replied respectfully.

Wu Qi was at the perfected Mortal Shedding Realm. The Wei brothers were also at the late Mortal Shedding Realm, and their strength advantage was indeed significant.

"There are sixteen Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples in the Landscape Pavilion," Ge Yu said, looking at Meng Chuan and the others one by one. "Each of you can contend for a spot. I'll explain the rules: if you're confident, you can step directly onto the arena! Accept challenges from other fellow disciples, and if you win five matches in a row, you'll secure a quota. Also… if you lose twice, you cannot participate in the competition again."

"Alright, let's begin now," Ge Yu said, taking a big gulp from his wine jar.

The sixteen Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples fell silent.

Step onto the arena and win five consecutive matches for a spot? Then, the first one to step up would be at the biggest disadvantage! If two spots were decided, and two strong opponents were out, then competing for the remaining spots would be much easier.

"Who's going first?" Most of the Marrow Cleansing Realm disciples from the Landscape Pavilion turned their gazes towards two individuals: one was the sturdy, smiling Wan Mang, and the other was the extremely stern Bai Guan. In the top ten disciple competitions, first place was usually decided between these two.

"Are you going up?" Wan Mang asked, smiling as he looked at Bai Guan.

"If you want to, you can go," Bai Guan said coldly.

At that moment— A figure stepped forward and onto the arena. It was Meng Chuan.

Meng Chuan swept his gaze across his somewhat astonished fellow disciples below and declared, "The first spot is mine then."