Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Yi Division Exam
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The C Martial Division exam had come to an end.
After a long meeting among the instructors, Cheongu finally earned a chance to take the Yi Division exam.
Thanks to Han Taeseok unleashing his full power without any mercy in his anger, Zhuge Sansan barely secured the red cord after enduring the ordeal of her hair becoming a total mess.
The only one who passed without a hitch was Cheongsang.
Of course, because of those three, the exam's difficulty had spiked, resulting in fewer than thirty passers.
It was far short of the original plan, leading to a re-exam and various other complications.
After passing the C Martial Division exam, they now had some time to rest. The group was spending it at an inn located within the Righteous Martial Alliance grounds.
Crunch, munch.
"......"
Zhuge Sansan stared blankly at Cheongu.
He really eats well. How does all that food even fit inside him?
"It's impressive every time I see it."
Cheongsang smiled sheepishly at Zhuge Sansan's admiration.
"Anyway, now it's the Yi Division exam."
"Yes. Unlike the other exams, it's set to exactly eight passers, so the competition will be fierce."
"Do you know what the exam entails?"
"No. Nothing has been announced about that yet."
"Hmm."
Even Zhuge Sansan, with her exceptional information network, knew nothing about the Yi Division exam content.
"One thing that's known is that the chief supervisor for this exam is none other than Yang Sobang the Unfurling Wind."
"What? Yang the Great Hero?"
"Come to think of it, you two already have a connection, right?"
"Ah, no. The one who forged ties with Yang the Great Hero is my martial uncle."
"I see. Either way, it's already exciting. An exam overseen personally by Yang the Great Hero, one of the Righteous Martial Seven Stars."
"By the way, classes start right away from tomorrow, don't they?"
"Yes."
"Classes, huh. So the exam might happen during classes?"
"Yes. That's my guess too. They'll probably conduct multifaceted evaluations. That should greatly influence the Yi Division exam results."
Instead of Cheongu, who was too busy stuffing his face with meat, Cheongsang nodded at Zhuge Sansan's words.
There were eighty who had passed the C Martial Division exam. The passers, now recognized as Yi Division recruits, unpacked their belongings in the dormitories assigned at the academy while awaiting the still-absent Yang Sobang.
The exam schedule hadn't been precisely announced, but as Zhuge Sansan said, they couldn't afford to let their guard down.
Unlike Cheongu, Cheongsang was determined to make it into the A Division no matter what.
His respected martial uncle.
His skills were still far too lacking to stand by his side.
When they left Wudang, no one had given them a specific goal, like what they must achieve.
They had simply been told to come back safely, stay healthy, and do well.
No one had burdened them with heavy words like raising Wudang's name high.
But Cheongsang knew they were Wudang's face to the world.
In the current Righteous Martial Alliance, the only ones bearing Wudang's name were him and Cheongu.
They represented Wudang. Their achievements at the Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion would undoubtedly elevate Wudang's prestige.
'Martial Uncle is already approaching the Righteous Martial Seven Stars.'
His connection with Yang Sobang, and the spar where he matched the Sword Saint Cheol Jiryang evenly.
Those two feats alone would bring immense renown.
As Wudang's Sword, his fame already rivaled theirs, and now he was matching their martial prowess as well.
It was time for them to step forward.
Without anyone's help, they had to rise on their own.
As disciples of Wudang and warriors representing the Five Dragon Palace, as the martial nephew of Jinmu, Wudang's Sword, they could not bring shame.
They had to raise Wudang's name high.
Cheongsang unconsciously clenched his fist tightly.
"Cheongu."
"......Yes?"
At Cheongsang's call, Cheongu looked up with his cheeks puffed full of meat.
His junior, exceptional in martial arts but simple-minded, steadfast yet a bit slow.
"Starting tomorrow, it's the real beginning. And as Wudang Taoists, we must give our all."
"......Yes?"
"Both of us must make it into the A Division."
"Only eight spots, and me too? I get it for you, senior brother, or even Young Lady Zhuge, but me...... I'm not confident...... I'd rather just stay in the Yi Division."
Cheongu scratched his head with an awkward laugh.
But Cheongsang's expression was too resolute.
"Hmm, if Martial Uncle heard that, he might not let it slide."
"......Yes?"
"You know he hates losing, right?"
"......"
"You'd probably get beaten half to death?"
Cheongu set down the meat in his hand at Cheongsang's mutter, like talking to himself.
His appetite vanished in an instant.
"You'll definitely get beaten. No doubt."
Seeing Cheongsang shake his head gravely, Cheongu blinked his wide-open eyes nonstop.
"Y-you think so?"
"I'm certain."
"......"
There was something persuasively convincing about it. Cheongu's mind filled with the thought that Jinmu would absolutely do that.
Thwack! Thud! Crack! Boom!
He could almost hear the phantom sounds.
The hellish experiences of being beaten by Jinmu flashed before his eyes like a lantern show.
And Cheongsang's face overlapped with Jinmu's wicked grin.
Gulp.
Even though it was just an illusion and hallucination, saliva rose involuntarily, and his old bruises began to throb.
"Let's do our best."
"......Y-yes!"
Time sometimes flows quickly. That was the case for the Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion recruits.
Divided into Righteous, C, and Yi Martial Divisions based on exam results, the warriors were spending extremely busy days receiving lessons from their pre-assigned instructors.
The curriculum was incredibly diverse, from foundational martial knowledge to formations of numerous sects and survival methods in the wild—absorbing a massive volume of knowledge without exception.
Evaluations were conducted after every lesson, with comprehensive assessments every ten days.
However, once the packed schedule ended, personal free time was strictly guaranteed—for both instructors and recruits alike.
But Cheongu was the sole exception; it wasn't allowed for him.
Twenty days after the entrance exam concluded.
"Now, memorize this."
"......"
Zhuge Sansan, wearing the training uniform embroidered with a phoenix marking her as a Yi Division recruit, spread open a book and prodded Cheongu.
"Do I have to memorize this too?"
"......"
Too? This is all there is.
"Of course. Do you know how many times you've failed already?"
Cheongu's face fell as Zhuge Sansan's brows furrowed slightly.
"Didn't you hear the instructor? One more failure, and you might drop to the C Division."
"......"
That was why Zhuge Sansan was even sacrificing her own time for supplementary lessons.
Two comprehensive exams taken as a Yi Division recruit, once every ten days.
Cheongu excelled in martial arts. His skills placed him among the top ten in the Yi Division.
But in foundational knowledge, he was the worst out of eighty.
It wasn't even that difficult. It was the bare minimum required.
Warriors weren't expected to know much anyway. They weren't scholars studying history—why pursue advanced learning?
But knowledge of formations and mechanisms had to be memorized and mastered without fail.
And it wasn't even advanced. Compared to the Zhuge family, it was basic stuff even five-year-olds learned.
But Cheongu wasn't just barely failing—he was outright bombing.
Zero points, blank answers, doodles. It was a wonder how he had even learned martial arts.
"Alright, let me explain again. The Six Harmonies refer to heaven and earth plus the four cardinal directions—east, west, south, north—and the Yin-Yang School......"
Zhuge Sansan's explanation continued, while Cheongu's expression grew increasingly dazed and vacant.
"Focus! Focus!"
Cheongu snapped to attention at Zhuge Sansan's sharp shout.
"Now, recite it back."
"Uh, the Six Harmonies are heaven and earth and east-west-south-north...... east-west-south-north...... east-west-south-north......"
Not even a parrot, just repeating the same thing.
Spelled out like that, it was barely fifty characters. Zhuge Sansan couldn't comprehend why he couldn't memorize something this simple and let out a deep sigh.
Cheongu's progress in martial arts was truly phenomenal. During martial lessons, "flying through them" was an apt description, astonishing not just the recruits but the instructors too.
That was for physical classes.
For classes requiring brainpower......
"Haa."
If not for Cheongsang's earnest plea, she would have given up long ago.
At first, she had approached it with enthusiasm and sincerity, thinking she was shaping a person.
But how could teaching one thing make him forget two? Was there ever such a blockhead?
He could perform the Six Harmonies Fist but didn't know what Six Harmonies meant? Did that even make sense?
It was truly baffling. How could senior and junior brothers be so different?
Compared to the steadfast Cheongsang, who was the epitome of a Taoist priest, this one was...
As Zhuge Sansan sighed repeatedly, Cheongu smiled sheepishly and scratched his head.
"You'll definitely die. To Martial Uncle......"
"......"
"No doubt. You're as good as dead."
Cheongsang muttered limply like a ghost passing behind him.
A chill ran down Cheongu's spine.
Just thinking of Jinmu ignited forced motivation.
"Um, Young Lady Zhuge?"
"What?"
"Please, one more time."
"......"
Zhuge Sansan stared steadily at Cheongu.
"Haa, fine. Please focus and listen carefully. Don't try to understand—just memorize. Got it?"
"......Yes."
"The Six Harmonies......"
Zhuge Sansan's words continued as Cheongu diligently took notes character by character, repeating after her earnestly.
Whenever his focus waned, Cheongsang would ghost by behind him.
"You'll die. Definitely......"
"......"
The Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion was steadily establishing itself as a training hall and academy for late-generation talents, right on target.
Exactly twenty-five days after education began.
"Ha ha, welcome."
Pavilion Lord Dang Yeopyeong, Zhuge Hyeopjin, and the chief instructors of each division welcomed the honored guest.
"Your complexion looks much brighter."
"Does it?"
Dang Yeopyeong beamed and offered a seat at the guest's words.
"So, you've settled in well?"
"Yes. Several promising talents are already standing out."
"You've worked hard."
"It's all thanks to the instructors. Their dedication leaves me in awe."
Dang Yeopyeong credited everything to the instructors and shrugged humbly.
"Well then, is it time to begin the Yi Division exam?"
"Yes. Everyone's been waiting."
The visitor was none other than Yang Sobang the Unfurling Wind.
"Preparations?"
"There were minor issues, but we've already divided the Yi Division recruits into eight groups through various evaluations."
"Good work. Must not have been easy."
"Thanks to the Grand Strategist's solid plan."
At Dang Yeopyeong's words, Yang Sobang glanced at Zhuge Hyeopjin, who smiled and bowed his head.
"More importantly, have you decided where to send the kids?"
"That's why I was late."
Yang Sobang took a map from his attendant and spread it on the table.
"Eight sites to investigate in total."
"Hmm, is this the place connected to those 'Palace' folks?"
"Indeed."
"Could be dangerous."
Worry creased Dang Yeopyeong's face; he had heard about the 'Palace' from Zhuge Hyeopjin.
"That's why each group will have one Yi Division instructor and two elite Secret Line Unit warriors attached. We need to evaluate the recruits anyway."
The eight Yi Division instructors were all renowned warriors at the pinnacle of their prowess, and the Secret Line Unit was the Righteous Martial Alliance's hidden intelligence organization led by Yang Sobang.
Tasked with monitoring Evil Hegemony Heaven and the Sun Moon Demonic Cult, their skills were beyond reproach.
"That should suffice."
"Yes. The recruits, divided into eight groups, will perform their assigned missions, allowing multifaceted evaluations of leadership, adaptability, crisis response, and growth potential."
"Then select the top one from each group to form the A Division?"
"Exactly. That's the very purpose of creating this Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion."
Dang Yeopyeong nodded at Yang Sobang's words.
The Righteous Martial Alliance had six martial units under it, but they were swayed by the influences of the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Clans, and regional minor factions.
In other words, they weren't forces the Alliance Lord could fully command. Especially since the unit leaders were Alliance elders.
This lack of centralized power led to defeats in conflicts with Evil Hegemony Heaven and the Sun Moon Demonic Cult.
That was why the Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion was created.
On the surface, it appeared as an academy gathering and training promising warriors from various sects.
But it had a hidden purpose.
First, to prepare against Evil Hegemony Heaven, Sun Moon Demonic Cult—which divide the Central Plains martial world into three—and the mysterious 'Palace' force.
Second, to select eight representatives for the A Division and cultivate them as the Alliance's core strength.
The eight A Division warriors would lead the Pavilion's forces in emergencies.
That was why Dang Yeopyeong, who held no factional ties in the martial world, was made Pavilion Lord.
This had been explained to him, and the instructors knew as well.
The ultimate goal was to place them directly under the Alliance Lord, creating a powerful force controlled solely by him.
To that end, recruits were selected from second-generation disciples of various sects, second sons sidelined from succession in clans, and youths from minor factions overshadowed by the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans.
All this stemmed from Zhuge Hyeopjin's plan, fleshed out through discussions with Cheol Jiryang and Yang Sobang, who cherished the righteous factions, and the four chief instructors.
"This exam will complete the Pavilion's system and advance our investigation into these 'Palace' people."
"Just as we hoped."
As Yang Sobang nodded, everyone exchanged looks of firm resolve.
"Then, when shall we set the exam date?"
"When? If you've set your mind to it, start immediately. Gather the Yi Division recruits in the grand training hall right now."
"Now?"
"Of course. What's there to dawdle about?"
When it came to acting on resolve, there was no hesitation. It was just like Yang Sobang.
"Understood. We'll do that."
Dang Yeopyeong chuckled and turned to the Yi Division chief instructor, Baek Cheonseong of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sword.
"Begin."
"Yes, Pavilion Lord!"