Before the old man could speak again.

THUD. THUD. THUD. Bai Yuan kowtowed three times with resounding force.

"Disciple Bai Yuan pays his respects to Master!"

The old man in gray robes couldn’t help but laugh, both amused and exasperated by Bai Yuan’s shameless, opportunistic nature.

’This kid is a bit like I was back in the day.’

"How did you recognize me?"

Bai Yuan feigned a puzzled look. "Recognize you? I want to become your disciple to learn how to cook!"

A sinister smile crept onto the gray-robed old man’s lips. "Oh?"

Seeing this, Bai Yuan obediently replied, "This disciple heard that the person who killed the Soul-Chasing Tower expert that night was wearing gray clothes."

"Just based on that?"

The gray-robed old man glanced down at his own gray robes. ’So my clothes gave me away.’

"And your aura is incredibly powerful."

The gray-robed old man nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. The Tiger Form and Crane Style truly does enhance one’s perception. To think, that Cultivation Technique was locked away for fifty years with no one able to master it, only for some kid to learn it after it found its way into the outside world."

A chill ran down Bai Yuan’s spine.

’As expected, I can’t hide the fact that I’ve mastered the Tiger Form and Crane Style from a true expert.’

That’s right. The gray-robed old man before him was none other than the Divine Mansion Sect’s Thousand-Handed Butcher, Dong Wanjun!

"Master, this disciple is willing to accept any punishment."

He gave Dong Wanjun another sincere kowtow.

Dong Wanjun chuckled in exasperation again. "You’re already my disciple. So what if you learned the Tiger Form and Crane Style? Who would dare hold you accountable for it?"

Bai Yuan’s head snapped up, overjoyed.

He never imagined Dong Wanjun would actually accept him as a disciple.

’This protective streak is exactly what I was hoping for!’

’My gamble paid off today.’

But Dong Wanjun’s next words threw a bucket of cold water on him.

"The Divine Mansion Sect has its own rules for accepting disciples. Even if I agree, you still have to go through the proper procedures."

"If I don’t see you in three days, then I’ll have no choice but to handle this officially."

The corner of Bai Yuan’s mouth twitched.

’This master seems very dangerous.’

Dong Wanjun slowly stood up and drifted away, leaving Bai Yuan standing there in a daze.

After a long moment, Liu Qingshan cautiously approached.

"Is he gone?"

Bai Yuan nodded.

Hearing this, Liu Qingshan let out a long sigh of relief. The crisis at the Five Flavors Pavilion was finally over.

"Junior Brother Bai, why do you look a little pale?"

Just now, Dong Wanjun had used an extremely advanced voice transmission technique, so only Bai Yuan could hear him. Everyone else could only see Dong Wanjun’s lips moving.

Bai Yuan said, "The wind’s just a bit chilly. I have some other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving."

Before Liu Qingshan could say anything, he ducked out of the Five Flavors Pavilion and, a short time later, returned to the small courtyard of his martial arts hall.

’Passing the second round and getting into the finals won’t be too difficult for me... as long as I hold back a little.’

"Brother Yuan, why are you so excited?"

Xiao Qiaoniang noticed that Bai Yuan seemed like a different person after going out. His fighting spirit was much stronger.

Although Bai Yuan hadn’t shown any emotion earlier, as the person who shared his bed day and night, she could still sense a hint of his frustration.

But now, Bai Yuan had swept away his previous dejection and was positively glowing.

Though Xiao Qiaoniang didn’t know the reason, she was happy for Bai Yuan from the bottom of her heart.

Bai Yuan asked, "Sister Qiao, do you think Mom and Dad are really watching over us from heaven?"

Xiao Qiaoniang’s beautiful eyes blinked.

As a woman from a farming family, she would burn a stick of incense for her deceased parents-in-law every morning and evening, but she didn’t truly believe the Bai parents could offer protection. It was more of a remembrance.

"Of course."

She broke into a smile. Perhaps her daily, devout prayers were actually working.

Bai Yuan chuckled and took a step closer.

Xiao Qiaoniang let out a soft cry.

"My dear husband, please, let me go~"

"..."

...

「Three days passed, and the second round of tests arrived as scheduled.」

A massive arena, large enough to hold a hundred people, had been set up in front of the County Magistrate’s Office.

The Divine Mansion Sect’s public recruitment this time was a grand affair.

The Qinghe People, who would normally turn gossip about a neighbor’s shapely rear end into after-dinner conversation, certainly weren’t going to miss this spectacle. The arena was surrounded by layer upon layer of people, a cacophony of voices filling the air.

The twenty-seven who had passed the initial test and the eleven who were recommended were already waiting in the courtyard of the County Magistrate’s Office.

Ji Hanming was, of course, among them.

He glanced at Bai Yuan, who stood at the very back of the line, then turned his gaze to the woman from the Divine Mansion Sect standing before the crowd.

"The rules are simple. You will draw lots. Those who draw the same number will go up to the stage to compete. The winner moves on to the next round."

A young man quickly pointed out a flaw.

"But there are thirty-eight of us. What happens in the second round?"

After the first round of competition, there would only be nineteen people left, meaning one person would be without an opponent.

A bye?

Expectation flickered in the eyes of everyone present; they all hoped they would be the one with such heaven-defying luck.

A beautiful curve formed on You Shengnan’s lips. "The odd one out will spar with me. Surviving ten moves will count as a win."

As soon as she said this, a chill went through the crowd.

’Are you kidding me?!’

You Shengnan was a Strong Organ Pass expert! Sparring with her would be incredibly dangerous. Even though it was only ten moves, not even an Yijin Martial Master could be certain of lasting that long.

For a moment, the crowd erupted in discussion.

Another young Martial Artist, who seemed to be from a neighboring county, was unconvinced.

"Upper Envoy, this isn’t fair!"

"It’s not just about the person with the bye having to face you. Even among those who draw numbers, the disparity in strength between opponents could be huge. A Bone Forger Martial Master might get a straight pass to the finals just by being lucky. That’s obviously unreasonable."

The smile on You Shengnan’s lips gradually turned cold.

"Fair?"

"The fact that you’re even standing here is the greatest fairness I’m willing to give you. If your luck is bad, it’s just bad."

The young Martial Artist turned his head aside, not daring to meet You Shengnan’s gaze.

"Alright, any other questions?"

You Shengnan swept her gaze over the crowd.

The thirty-eight people before her were naturally silent. Arguing about reason with an envoy from the Divine Mansion Sect was just asking for trouble.

Reason is always in the hands of the strong. No matter how right the weak may be, their reasoning becomes unreasonable in the face of a fist.

Bai Yuan watched this scene with great interest.

’This woman from the Divine Mansion Sect is rather interesting.’

’Just as she said, luck is a part of strength. As long as you can win, no matter how you do it, that’s strength.’

"If that’s the case, let’s begin."

Seeing that no one had any further objections, You Shengnan announced in a clear voice.

At this time, besides You Shengnan and Xiongshan, the brother-sister pair from the Divine Mansion Sect, the Iron Saber Gang’s Gang Leader Tie Tu, Flying Eagle Castle Lord Ji Chang, Magistrate Zhang, and Old Xue were also present in the County Magistrate’s Office.

Magistrate Zhang was seen taking a specially made square wooden box from one of his subordinates.

There was a round hole on top of the box, just large enough for a hand to fit through.

"Everyone, please draw your lots."

Magistrate Zhang chuckled.

You Shengnan rolled her eyes at Magistrate Zhang’s affable expression. If she recalled correctly, this very same Magistrate Zhang had been hiding far away on the night they were surrounded by the Soul-Chasing Tower’s experts. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Bai Yuan was at the end of the line, so he was the last to draw.

By the time Magistrate Zhang reached him, there was no choice left.

He reached his right hand into the wooden box and picked up the last slip of paper with two fingers.

"7"!