Chapter 722: Entry Examination Begins

The content of the books was a mess, disorganized and nonsensical. It was unreadable, like an indecipherable heavenly script, and just glancing at it made one dizzy.

“It seems... I was still too naive.”

Having finished flipping through the books, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly and tossed them onto the ground.

These two books were the most accurate cultivation techniques filtered by the Library. Since no further filtering was possible, their content had completely merged. Although they formed a single book, they were like oil and water, clearly separated and utterly chaotic, making cultivation impossible!

It was like abalone, durian, loquats, watermelon, milk, and black chicken—individually, these things were delicious, but mixed together, you’d want to throw away the pot.

“It seems the Library can only extract a single cultivation technique and cannot merge them...”

He shook his head, feeling a surge of disappointment. A moment later, a look of determination appeared in his eyes: “Since the Library can’t merge them, can I try... to combine these two movement techniques into one?”

The Library could gather the correct content of similar cultivation techniques and merge them, like combining flour particles into dough. However, if the essences were different, it couldn't succeed.

The Heaven’s Path Movement Technique and the Mortal Dust Sky Stride had different essences—one for flying, the other for ground movement. Therefore, the Library couldn't achieve a harmonious blend.

But... just because it couldn't, didn't mean he couldn't!

Both were movement techniques, one for the sky, one for the ground. If handled properly, they might genuinely merge, significantly increasing his flying speed.

As he thought of this, Zhang Xuan’s eyes grew brighter.

“Let me try activating the Heaven’s Path Movement Technique in the air...”

With a surge of excitement, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate. He took a deep breath, and while in mid-air, he multitasked, activating the Heaven’s Path Movement Technique.

*Thud!*

Before he could even finish activating it, the Mortal Dust Sky Stride, which was keeping him airborne, involuntarily ceased. His entire body instantly stiffened, and with a muffled sound, he plummeted to the ground, creating a crater.

“This isn’t right...”

His face covered in dust, Zhang Xuan’s expression darkened.

He had thought it would be simple, but it turned out to be nothing of the sort.

While his current soul power made multitasking easy, the *qi* from both techniques would pass through the same meridians. When the *qi* collided, their forces clashed... and then he fell.

It seemed... merging cultivation techniques wasn't as easy as he had imagined.

That made sense. If it were easy, such techniques would be commonplace, and there wouldn't be so many detailed classifications.

“I’ll try activating the Mortal Dust Sky Stride while using the Heaven’s Path Movement Technique...”

Despite the initial failure, Zhang Xuan wasn't disheartened. His gaze sharpened as he changed his approach.

Earlier, he had used the Heaven’s Path Movement Technique while performing the Mortal Dust Sky Stride. Now, he would try the reverse... perhaps it would succeed.

While he was merging techniques, outside the room, Sun Qiang approached Zheng Yang, who was practicing with his spear, and asked, “Where’s the young master?”

“Teacher is in secluded cultivation; no interruptions allowed!” Zheng Yang stood, retracting his spear, and exhaled a stream of air that stretched like a white ribbon into the distance.

During this period, he hadn't only practiced cultivation techniques but also honed his combat skills. Under Teacher Zhang’s continuous guidance, his understanding of the spear had grown significantly, and his spear techniques had become increasingly formidable.

His cultivation rank was certainly far inferior to Wang Ying’s, but his combat power might not be that much different.

“Secluded cultivation?”

Sun Qiang scratched his head. “Alright. When the young master finishes his seclusion, tell him I’ve found a place to stay; we can move there.”

“You found one?” Zheng Yang’s eyes lit up as he put away his long spear.

This place was full of master teachers. Although Master Hong and the others hadn't said anything, they weren't used to living here and had long wanted to move.

“Don’t get too excited,” Sun Qiang said. “It’s hard to find places near the Master Teacher Academy. I only found a temporary spot—a small courtyard with a few rooms. A grand residence... that’s probably impossible to find. Even if there were one, it would be astronomically expensive!”

The Master Teacher Academy gathered young experts from countless empires, many with impressive family backgrounds. Just as Zhang Xuan needed a place for his students to live, so did they.

It could be said that almost all the rooms in the vicinity were already bought. Even with money, one couldn’t easily acquire a place. And if they could... they would be at exorbitant prices, far beyond what they could afford.

After all... they were still quite poor.

“As long as we can live there for now...” Zheng Yang nodded.

“Exactly. But this isn’t a long-term solution. It’s fine for us, but what if the old master comes? How could a dignified master teacher of eight stars or higher stay in such a small courtyard?”

Sun Qiang shook his head. “I still need to discuss with the young master what we’re going to do next...”

He sighed, just about to continue speaking, when he heard a thud from the room in front of him, as if someone had fallen to the ground.

“Didn’t you say the young master was in secluded cultivation? What was that sound?”

Sun Qiang was startled. Just as he was about to push the door open to see what happened, he heard another groan. Immediately, the wall in front of him swayed, and a head emerged from it, stuck there.

“Teacher!”

“Young Master...”

Recognizing the face, both of them froze. Before they could finish their exclamations, the figure flashed away with a *whoosh*! Their respected young master and teacher flew out again, crashing into the opposite wall and creating another hole.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang!*

Zhang Xuan bounced around the walls like a deflated ball, and the once incredibly sturdy room collapsed with a loud *boom!* after a few impacts.

Witnessing this scene, Sun Qiang and Zheng Yang exchanged glances, their mouths twitching.

Was this not cultivation?

What on earth was with all the bouncing off walls?

What kind of ultimate move required constant wall-bouncing? Look, his head was already swollen...

Just as they were wondering, Zhang Xuan, having collapsed the room, crashed into a large tree in the courtyard. His head became embedded, leaving only his two legs twitching.

“Teacher...”

Zheng Yang reacted quickly, rushing over to pull Zhang Xuan out of the tree. He saw Zhang Xuan’s face was dark and full of frustration: “Teacher... are you alright?”

“Young Master, if it’s just about money, don’t take it too hard...”

Sun Qiang also hurried over, offering kind words of comfort.

“Cough, cough!”

Hearing their comforting words, Zhang Xuan felt a wave of irritation. He waved his hand. “I’m going out! Sun Qiang, ask Master Hong to pay for the damaged property here...”

Ignoring their perplexed expressions, Zhang Xuan leaped into the air. The Heavenly Stalwart Beast heard his call and flew over. Under the cover of night, man and beast flew straight out of the city.

He was living in such a small space; if he continued, he’d probably demolish everything without successfully merging the techniques. It would be better to find a spacious place outside.

Not long after, they arrived at a hillside outside Hongyuan City.

The evening breeze was gentle, the bright moon ascended, and the sounds of insects and birds filled the surroundings, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

“This will do!”

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he first used spirit stones to recover the *qi* he had just consumed, then continued his merging attempts.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang!*

Soon, the sounds of heads hitting trees and rocks echoed through the forest, accompanied by continuous, agonizing screams...

It was as if werewolves roamed on a moonlit night, leaving behind terrifying legends.

The next day.

“Has Teacher Zhang returned?”

Master Hong paced anxiously.

Last night, upon hearing the house collapse, he had rushed over, only to see Teacher Zhang flying away. He assumed Zhang Xuan had gone out to cultivate and would return soon, but an entire night had passed without a trace of him.

Today was the Master Teacher Academy’s assessment day. If Zhang Xuan missed it, entering later would be impossible!

“The young master left last night and hasn’t returned...” Sun Qiang shook his head, equally puzzled.

His young master was usually quite normal. Why was he acting like he was having a fit yesterday, banging his head against walls?

Not only that, but he hadn't returned all night... surely he hadn't gone and done something drastic!

He couldn’t help but look at Zheng Yang and the others nearby: “Did any of you... provoke the young master yesterday?”

“No...”

Zheng Yang and the others were also bewildered. “Teacher said he was going into secluded cultivation. We really don’t know anything else!”

Yesterday, Teacher said he was going into secluded cultivation, and then... he started crashing into walls and trees... As for why, they truly had no idea!

“Then what happened...”

Hearing that no one had provoked him, and seeing the young master’s violent actions, Sun Qiang’s mouth twitched. Just as he was wondering where to look for him, the very young master he was worried about walked over, covered in dust and looking utterly worn out.

He didn’t look like he had been cultivating at all. Instead, he seemed to have rolled on the ground all night, looking even more disheveled than a beggar.

“Young Master, you...”

Sun Qiang hurried forward, his face full of concern.

“I’m fine!” Zhang Xuan shook his head and looked at the elderly man nearby: “Master Hong, let’s go...”

“In this state... can you really take the assessment?”

Seeing his appearance, Master Hong’s mouth also twitched.

Everyone else bathed, changed into neat clothes, and tried to make a good impression on the assessing teachers for the entrance exam. But he... looked like he had spent the whole night begging, utterly disheveled, with bloodshot eyes as if he hadn't slept a wink... Could he really pass the assessment like this?

“No worries!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

He had experimented all night, exhausting his *qi* five times over and being half-dead from all the impacts. The result... still no success.

Merging combat techniques involved too many complexities. Even for him, achieving success wasn't something that could happen overnight.

However, even though he hadn't succeeded, his control over the Mortal Dust Sky Stride had become much more precise, and his speed was faster. Furthermore, his understanding of combat techniques had reached another level, significantly increasing his fighting strength.

Unfortunately, after an entire night of researching technique fusion, he hadn't had time to cultivate the Bridge Heaven Realm technique. His current strength remained at the peak of the Harmonious Spirit Realm.

“Alright then, let’s go...”

Seeing that Zhang Xuan said he was fine, and knowing they couldn’t afford to delay the assessment, Master Hong said no more. The two boarded the academy’s special flying spiritual beast and quickly flew towards Thunderpeak of the Hongyuan Mountains.

Thunderpeak was only about 200 kilometers from Scholar’s Sea. In less than fifteen minutes, they slowly descended.

Almost all the new students scheduled for the assessment had arrived. From a distance, countless people could be seen, a surging throng.

“This year, there are more new students than ever before, a total of 30,000. I heard the academy is only recruiting 20,000, which means... this assessment will eliminate a full 10,000 people!”

Master Hong lowered his voice.

“30,000 new students? Eliminate 10,000?”

Zhang Xuan’s mouth twitched, and his eyes widened. As expected of a Master Teacher Academy from a first-tier empire, it was truly formidable!