Chapter 17: The Bronze Man Chamber

Inside the Bronze Man Chamber stood eighteen bronze figures, each accompanied by a disciple capable of matching ten opponents single-handedly. Candidates undergoing the assessment had to endure the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, or defeat all eighteen bronze men within that timeframe. The elimination rate for this trial was as high as eighty percent.

To this day, no one had passed the second stage to successfully earn the status of disciple.

Just over half the incense stick’s duration had passed.

The chamber door swung open from the inside, and Jiang Yu stepped out. His clothes were slightly disheveled, several places torn from grappling, but the exposed skin bore no wounds. He stood tall at the threshold, flaunting, “No challenge at all.”

Zhao An hurried over, praising, “Young Master Jiang, you’re formidable. Your time to clear the Bronze Man Chamber is even shorter than the fastest champion of the past two sessions. You will undoubtedly top this year’s disciple assessment!”

Jiang Yu cast a disdainful glance around the room, savoring the shocked and envious looks of the crowd, and said arrogantly, “It’s just a disciple test. My goal is to reach the master level.”

Zhao An flattered, “With your talent, Young Master Jiang, you will inevitably reach master level before thirty. Cultivating the Foundation and ascending to the Immortal Gate won’t be difficult!”

No one present dared to question Jiang Yu’s arrogance; after all, he had cleared the Bronze Man Chamber in half the usual time, a clear testament to his strength.

At the entrance, an elder nodded approvingly and extended an invitation, “Jiang Yu, your performance is impressive. Facing eighteen bronze men without injury shows your martial prowess. At your age, such skill is rare in Qingzhou Prefecture. Have you considered joining the Mortal Martial Pavilion?”

The Mortal Martial Pavilion!

A collective intake of breath swept through the crowd.

The Mortal Martial Pavilion gathered the prodigies of the Mortal Path Association. Ninety-nine percent of those admitted would become masters, and thirty percent had the chance to establish their Foundation and ascend to the Immortal Gate.

Though a thirty percent chance might seem low, it was remarkably high—after all, among ordinary masters, the odds of establishing a Foundation and ascending were less than one in a thousand.

In the vast Qingzhou Prefecture, fewer than ten had ever entered the Mortal Martial Pavilion, each painstakingly selected. Now, Jiang Yu had just passed the assessment and was offered membership—a tremendous honor.

Had this invitation come from anyone else, the crowd might have doubted it, but Elder Yu Huan, the Patrol Elder stationed in Qingzhou Prefecture for the Mortal Path Association, held the authority to recruit for the Mortal Martial Pavilion.

Jiang Yu was overjoyed and immediately clasped his fists in gratitude, “Thank you, Elder Yu, for your recognition. I gladly accept!”

The Mortal Martial Pavilion was the ultimate aspiration for every disciple; he was no exception.

Yu Huan stroked his beard, nodding with satisfaction, then called out the next candidate.

Jiang Yu stepped aside and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, approached Chen Tiansheng, sneering, “I’ll be waiting for you in the Mortal Martial Pavilion. I believe in you, little rookie.”

Chen Tiansheng smiled, “First, congratulations on entering the Mortal Martial Pavilion. Thank you for your trust. I’ll do my best.”

The crowd chuckled.

So this was a boy too foolish to even catch sarcasm.

At thirteen or fourteen, lacking worldly experience and rhetorical skill, it was understandable.

Rhetoric?

No one present understood rhetoric better than Chen Tiansheng himself!

Jiang Yu laughed heartily, eager to watch Chen Tiansheng’s downfall, and said, “I’ll be waiting here.”

Then he sat on a stone bench by the wall, enjoying the prestige of being first and anticipating Chen Tiansheng’s failure in the Bronze Man Chamber.

Chen Tiansheng quietly queued, unbothered by the contemptuous gazes and mocking words around him.

Next came Zhao An. Skilled in flattery, Zhao An’s martial ability was respectable; he barely endured the incense stick’s time and became a disciple of the Mortal Path Association.

Passing Chen Tiansheng, Zhao An sneered disdainfully, his eyes sharp.

Chen Tiansheng lowered his gaze without a word.

Jiang Yu had mocked him heavily but never showed murderous intent, which was why Chen Tiansheng chose to ignore it.

Zhao An was different—he had harbored lethal intent.

The “Thousand Faces of the Colored Gate” technique could detect if a person’s eyes held murderous intent.

Intent to kill him was an entirely different matter!

Empty hand technique!

Passing beside Zhao An, Chen Tiansheng casually raised his hand, slipped behind Zhao An, and took a money pouch without him noticing. Zhao An meekly went toward Jiang Yu.

Chen Tiansheng weighed the pouch in his hand, flipped it, and slipped it into his Star-Collecting Ring.

The art of stealth and a spatial ring were a perfect match!

This money pouch was a small lesson.

If one day someone dared to truly threaten his life, it wouldn’t be just a stolen pouch.

“Next, Chen Tiansheng!”

After several candidates, it was finally Chen Tiansheng’s turn.

Yu Huan looked at Chen Tiansheng’s frail frame with some displeasure, unconvinced he had the physique of a martial artist. He advised, “Your grade in the Mortal Path arts at this age is rare, but the difficulty of the Bronze Man Chamber is premature for you. If you get injured, it could severely affect your future. I suggest you withdraw, strengthen your body and martial skills, then return.”

Seeing no malice, Chen Tiansheng replied calmly, “Thank you, Elder Yu, for your advice, but my mind is made up. I will try no matter what. If it becomes dangerous, I will surrender.”

Impressed by his resolve, Yu Huan said no more and gestured, “Enter.”

Chen Tiansheng bowed and stepped into the Bronze Man Chamber.

Yu Huan sighed quietly and lit incense at the entrance.

Having served the Mortal Path Association for decades, he had seen many like Chen Tiansheng—young, competent in worldly arts, arrogant and reckless, attempting the trial prematurely. Many were injured by the bronze men, their paths shattered, never to rise again.

Unlike the other seven sects, the Mortal Path required a balance of worldly arts and martial skill; talent in one alone was insufficient.

Clearly, Chen Tiansheng lacked martial training.

This was why Yu Huan, and everyone present, doubted him.

Chen Tiansheng cared little for others’ opinions as he entered the chamber alone.

Inside, eighteen bronze men, coated in copper paint, stood at various positions, their gazes fixed on him.

Seeing Chen Tiansheng’s thin frame and lack of martial aura, the eighteen bronze men exchanged glances and shook their heads, unconvinced he knew martial arts.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

The lead bronze man addressed him, “We will face you one by one. You have the time it takes an incense stick to burn to defeat us individually. If you cannot defeat all, that’s acceptable; as long as you endure the incense stick’s duration, you pass the test. You may concede at any time during the trial; if not, we will fight until you cannot stand.”

Chen Tiansheng nodded knowingly.

Seeing no retreat, the bronze man approached, “I am your first opponent.”

Chen Tiansheng stretched his arms, took a deep breath, and said slowly, “I’d prefer if you all attacked together.”

The lead bronze man laughed heartily, “Ha! That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard!”

Believing Chen Tiansheng had never practiced martial arts, the bronze men dismissed him. The first bronze man approached leisurely, expecting the boy to back down, but Chen Tiansheng stood firm, waiting calmly with a faint smile—a sight that irritated the bronze man, who decided to teach the boy a lesson.

“Prepare yourself!”

The bronze man closed to within three meters, suddenly shouted, then stomped hard, his right fist clenched, charging full force at Chen Tiansheng’s chest.

Chen Tiansheng made no move, appearing stunned to the bronze man.

At such close range, with full power and no defense, the bronze man was confident Chen Tiansheng could not dodge. His fist could shatter stone; a direct hit would surely break Chen’s sternum, rendering him unable to stand.

As expected, Chen Tiansheng seemed dazed, not responding to the frontal attack. The fist struck heavily, the dull thud echoing as it pounded Chen’s chest.

It was over.

The bronze man’s face curled with a contemptuous smile.

Nearby, the other bronze men shook their heads helplessly.

That punch would cost the frail boy half his life; he wouldn’t leave his bed for three months.

The boy should never have smiled so calmly facing his opponent; it only provoked a harsher strike.

Yet just when everyone thought the slender youth would fall, the outcome shocked them beyond expectation.

Despite the heavy blow, the young man remained standing firmly, showing no sign of collapse, and...

And he still smiled!

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