Chapter Twenty: The Sect Examination (Part One)

"Are you all right? I'll keep watch for you. Take a moment to restore your energy," Chen Mu glanced around and spoke to Lü Shi.

Upon hearing this, Lü Shi immediately sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state to regulate his breath.

A short while later, Lü Shi asked, "Senior brother, did you come here because of a mission as well?"

"Yes."

Chen Mu silently dissected the corpse of the murderous demon bear, collecting the useful parts into his pack, disposing of the remaining bones with little ceremony before sitting cross-legged to guard Lü Shi as he recovered.

When Lü Shi was almost fully restored, Chen Mu finally stood and departed.

After walking for a bit, Chen Mu stopped and said, "Why are you following me?"

Ever since the demon bear was slain, Lü Shi had been trailing Chen Mu, going wherever he went.

Lü Shi scratched his head sheepishly, "Senior brother, you saved my life and I still don't know your name. Besides, maybe I can be of help if I tag along..."

Chen Mu was silent for a moment before replying, "I'm looking for moss-capped mushrooms and materials for these tasks. Do you have any?"

"I do, I happened to find some," Lü Shi was taken aback, glanced at the task list, then rummaged through his pack.

Chen Mu took the materials from Lü Shi expressionlessly and finally said, "My name is Chen Mu. Just call me by my name from now on."

"Then I'll call you Senior Brother Chen. Huh? That name sounds familiar. Are you the one they say is...?" He didn't finish the word "useless," for he had already seen Chen Mu's face darken like the bottom of a pot. Lü Shi quickly added, "Those idiots in the sect love to spread baseless rumors. How could someone as capable as Senior Brother Chen be useless? It's all jealousy, pure jealousy!"

He felt a twinge of guilt; when he'd first joined the sect, he too had looked down on Chen Mu, wondering why such a talentless person was allowed to remain. Seeing Chen Mu look away, he wiped cold sweat from his brow and said, "Senior Brother Chen, when we're back in the sect, let's teach those turtles a lesson so they won't dare spread nonsense again."

"Enough, it is what it is. I'm heading to submit my tasks. What about you?" Chen Mu replied indifferently.

Lü Shi thought for a moment, then pleaded, "I'm exhausted. If I wander around and run into fierce beasts, it'll be dangerous. I'd better go back with Senior Brother Chen."

And so the two returned together to Starwatch Valley.

After delivering their tasks, Chen Mu bid Lü Shi farewell. This mission had earned him a considerable number of contribution points, especially the purple spirit fruit, which was worth two thousand points. With the task rewards, he now had over two thousand one hundred points. It was finally time to exchange them for a sword technique manual.

Arriving at the Technique Pavilion, Chen Mu surveyed the shelves lined with various manuals and treatises. With his newfound contribution points, he could now afford to learn a proper sword technique.

Venturing deeper where the manuals grew fewer, he spotted a scroll displayed on a rack. Beside it was a plaque bearing the words "Brahma Star Sword Manual."

"Brahma Star Sword Manual?" Chen Mu murmured curiously as he gazed at the scroll placed alone.

"Oh? You've taken an interest in that? It's the sword technique the Valley Master brought when he founded Starwatch Valley in Da Xia. This is a copy, containing only the first three forms. The full manual has twelve forms: you can learn up to the ninth in the inner sect, and only the sect master knows the last three," the previously silent Technique Pavilion steward suddenly spoke.

"May I ask, senior, is there anything special about the Brahma Star Sword Manual? Why is it placed here alone?" Chen Mu asked with curiosity.

"I'm not sure about its uniqueness. The Valley Master said it's a yearning—a longing for home. He hopes those who learn this sword may one day return to his homeland on his behalf," the steward sighed.

"Homeland? Where is the Valley Master's homeland?"

"I don't know."

Receiving such an answer, Chen Mu was not annoyed. He picked up the Brahma Star Sword Manual and said, "I'd like to exchange for this sword manual. How many contribution points does it require?"

"One thousand five hundred."

Chen Mu promptly paid the points, thanked the steward, and left the Technique Pavilion.

With his business settled, he found a spacious place to practice his new sword technique.

With the Blackgold Sword in hand, Chen Mu swung it form by form. The sword light, which ought to be silvery white, glowed golden under the influence of the Great Sun Ancient Scripture. He practiced tirelessly, repeating the three forms again and again.

Golden starlight sliced through the air, creating a marvelous spectacle—not graceful, but solemn and sacred.

He practiced until dusk, and now his grasp of the sword was growing more assured.

In the days that followed, Chen Mu either practiced swordsmanship or refined medicinal herbs for his alchemy, living a fulfilling life.

Finally, the day of the sect examination arrived.

On this day, Chen Mu, like everyone else, rose early and went to the sect plaza, answering the call of the morning bell.

On the plaza, the disciples lined up neatly, listening to the elders explain the details and precautions of the exam. Among them was a reminder: hindering opponents was allowed, but taking their lives was not. The whole process would be monitored by outer sect elders at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.

After the elders finished, came the preparation phase for the first trial. Everyone followed the elders to the foot of Cloudbreaker Peak, the highest summit on the outskirts of the Star Ridge Mountains, awaiting the start of the exam.

At the signal, the disciples surged forward, racing up the mountain. Chen Mu was among them, keeping pace with the group. Just then, a figure drew near and greeted him, "Senior Brother Chen, long time no see."

It was none other than Lü Shi, whom Chen Mu had met in the Star Ridge forest some days ago.

"You are... Lü Shi?" Chen Mu responded.

"That's right, a few days ago in the Star Ridge forest. Surely you haven't forgotten so soon?"

"No, no..." Chen Mu replied with an awkward smile.

"Let's team up, shall we? It'd be good to have someone to watch our backs."

"Alright, let's do that." Chen Mu agreed, and together they formed a partnership.

Wanting to avoid conflict, they took an alternate path up the mountain. Chen Mu periodically used his spiritual sense to survey their surroundings. Since they were forging their own way, there was little worry about disputes with others; better to battle beasts or search for rare fruits and herbs.

Suddenly, a ghost-faced ape leapt from the trees, launching a punch at Chen Mu's head. Chen Mu, ever vigilant, was not caught unawares. He responded with a golden punch, the two fists colliding, shattering the ape's arm with a piercing scream. The ghost-faced ape glared at Chen Mu with venomous hatred.

Lü Shi was startled; he hadn't expected a beast to ambush them so quickly, and Chen Mu's counterattack had been so fierce, demolishing its arm with a single blow.

Once the ghost-faced ape retreated, Lü Shi came forward and asked, "Are you alright, Senior Brother Chen? Why didn't you finish off the ape?"

"It's fine. We've likely intruded into its territory. Letting it go is a way to find its lair. Since we still have time, let's scour the mountain for treasures."

They concealed themselves and followed the ape, arriving at a natural cave hidden among the trees, perched atop a cliff. The ghost-faced ape entered.

Climbing along the tree trunks, they entered the cave, where a strange fragrance of wine wafted out, accompanied by a rush of primal energy. It could only be the legendary monkey brew made from precious spirit fruits.

As they entered, the ghost-faced ape sensed their arrival and flew into a rage, screeching and hopping madly. With nowhere to run and unable to win a fight, it knelt on one knee, making a gesture of submission to Chen Mu. Seeing this, Chen Mu decided not to end its life, simply bypassing it and heading deeper into the cave.