Chapter Forty-Two: The Fifth Mountain!

Upon hearing Zhao Xiaobai’s description, Wang Ran’s interest was piqued as well.

The little junior sister spoke up, “Senior Brother Xiaobai, how many spots are there in this recruitment for the Hall of Enforcement?”

With a snap of his folding fan, Zhao Xiaobai raised four fingers. “Four.”

Wang Ran stroked his chin. “When is the selection? What’s the process?”

Zhao Xiaobai smiled faintly. “In three days. The selection will be held at the Hall of Enforcement’s headquarters on the southern shore, at the Fifth Mountain. Only disciples who have reached the second layer of Foundation Establishment or higher may participate. Aside from the martial trial, which requires a certain level of personal strength, there will also be a written exam that tests one’s knowledge of the sect’s rules inside and out. Only the top four in both the written and martial trials among all participants can become disciples of the Hall of Enforcement.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Ran, who was learning these rules for the first time, grew increasingly curious. He hadn’t expected that there would be a written component alongside the martial test. That written exam truly caught him off guard.

But he wasn’t concerned. Before coming to this world, he had been a top scorer in the national entrance exams, a star student at a prestigious school—such a written test would be a trifle for him.

As for the martial trial, he was even more confident. He was certain of his abilities for this selection.

Zhao Xiaobai went on, “The sect currently has over four hundred ordinary inner disciples, but only just over two hundred meet the requirements to participate in the Hall of Enforcement’s selection. Not all of these two hundred want to join, so after excluding some, I estimate that, at most, no more than a hundred and eighty will actually take part.”

“From a hundred and eighty people, picking four isn’t that difficult. The three of us are all prodigies of the sect—taking the top three spots shouldn’t be hard.”

The little junior sister was surprised. “Am I participating as well?”

Zhao Xiaobai smiled. “You’re a seven-star Foundation Establishment prodigy, with a chance to compete for a true disciple’s position. Don’t you want to join?”

Her cheeks flushed suddenly, and she murmured, “If senior brother is going, then I’ll go too. I want to stay by your side!”

Wang Ran laughed, gently ruffling Yan Wanrou’s small head, doting on her. “Good girl, let’s do it together. And your brother Xiaobai as well—when the time comes, the three of us will go to the Hall of Enforcement together.”

As he spoke, a thought struck Wang Ran. “By the way, will Ye Cang and the others be participating?”

Zhao Xiaobai could only give a wry smile. “Ye Cang has long since become a disciple of the Hall of Enforcement, and so has Beiming Lie. Nearly all the inner sect prodigies from earlier on have already joined.”

Wang Ran realized then that Ye Cang, having entered the inner sect earlier and aiming to become a true disciple, would naturally have joined the Hall of Enforcement already.

Zhao Xiaobai continued, “Brother Wang, once we’re in the Hall of Enforcement, we must stick together.”

“Oh?” Wang Ran glanced sideways.

Zhao Xiaobai’s expression grew serious. “Those who make it into the Hall are all the elite of the sect—proud and ambitious. They all aspire to become true disciples, so there’s open and covert rivalry between them. They form factions, dividing the Hall’s resources and territories among themselves.”

“As far as I know, there are dozens of factions within the Hall of Enforcement, but the four most powerful are the Azure Alliance led by Ye Cang, the River Alliance led by Meng Jiang, the Northern Dipper Alliance led by Beiming Lie, and the Chu Alliance commanded by Chu Yingxuan!”

“The Hall of Enforcement is like a nest of tigers, dragons, serpents, and elephants. As newcomers, we’ll struggle to find footing unless we stay united—lenient within, ruthless without—only then can we hold our ground!”

As Zhao Xiaobai spoke, he analyzed the situation for Wang Ran and the little junior sister.

By the end, Wang Ran’s interest in the Hall of Enforcement burned even brighter.

So that was the most thrilling place in the entire Only Me Sect!

Only there could he truly display his potential, only there could he compete with the sect’s very best.

All the sect’s sharpest power was gathered there!

At this, the three exchanged glances, understanding each other’s resolve.

They were determined to claim a spot in the Hall of Enforcement!

At that moment, the adorable little junior sister rested her chin in her hands and raised a key question, “But, senior brother, what do they test in the written exam?”

Zhao Xiaobai smiled, and with a flick of his hand, produced a stack of scrolls. “I’ve prepared everything for you. Here, besides the complete sect regulations, I’ve included a hundred classic poems. Memorize these, and you’ll pass.”

Wang Ran nodded—this would pose no problem.

Given his academic background, these materials would be a breeze. Besides, both Zhao Xiaobai and Yan Wanrou had strong cultural foundations as well; they were hardly uncouth brutes, so the written test would not be too difficult for them.

As for the martial trial, he had already reached the second level of Foundation Establishment before Yao Jianjia’s seclusion. Zhao Xiaobai needed no concern, but the junior sister… Wait, she had just reached Foundation Establishment—was her level up to par…?

At that thought, Wang Ran looked up. “Junior sister, is your cultivation high enough? The selection starts in three days, and you’re only at the first level…”

His little junior sister, who had been idly watching ants on the ground, grinned mischievously. “Don’t worry, senior brother. I have my ways—I’ll break through to the second layer within three days!”

Looking at her innocent expression, Wang Ran paused, then remembered her mysterious background—she was likely supported by a powerful figure within the sect.

If so, there was really nothing to worry about.

Once everything was settled, the three agreed to meet in three days before the Hall of Enforcement on Fifth Mountain. Zhao Xiaobai and the junior sister soon took their leave to prepare for the selection.

After everyone departed, Wang Ran glanced at the thick stack of books on the stone table, smiled wryly, picked one up, and began to read...

Time flew by, and three days passed in a flash.

During these three days, Wang Ran had mastered all the materials for the written exam and felt fully prepared, confident that there was nothing to fear on that front.

Meanwhile, Yao Jianjia remained in seclusion, her whereabouts unknown, and she had not shown herself. The note he had left her had likely gone unread.

Still, since Yao Jianjia was working hard, Wang Ran could not afford to fall behind. Early that morning, he appeared at the foot of the Second Mountain, mounted his sword, and streaked across the sky towards the Fifth Mountain like a rainbow.

The Only Me Sect was vast. For ordinary people, traveling on foot from the Second to the Fifth Mountain would take at least half a day, but for cultivators, it was only a matter of moments.

With a fast enough sword, one could arrive within the time it takes for a cup of tea to cool.

Though Wang Ran had not practiced any speed techniques, his sword flight was not slow. Soon, the Fifth Mountain came into view.

It was an enormous presence among the mountains, standing out like a primordial beast crouching on the earth, exuding an awe-inspiring pressure.

This was the Fifth Mountain!

The largest mountain in the sect—not steep, but jagged with strange rocks and sheer cliffs. Upon those cliffs, magnificent palaces rose and fell in layers, wreathed in drifting clouds and with birds flitting to and fro.

This was the Hall of Enforcement!

From his vantage point in the sky, Wang Ran saw everything clearly and was deeply struck by the grandeur before him. Especially as he drew closer, he noticed that around the main hall of the Hall of Enforcement stood many other palaces, each flying a different banner, fluttering in the wind.

The nearest palace to Wang Ran was many times larger than the outer sect’s task hall, and flying above it was a great banner bearing the character “Chu.” Wang Ran’s heart stirred—this must be the Chu Alliance led by the inner sect prodigy Chu Yingxuan, as Zhao Xiaobai had mentioned.

It was truly imposing and grand. After Wang Ran passed through the Chu Alliance’s domain, it wasn’t long before another banner came into view.

When he saw the character on it, Wang Ran’s eyes narrowed.

Because the character was... Azure!