Chapter 19 :

Chapter 19

Act Three: The Grand Martial Path Entrance Examination (12)

The day after all the examinations concluded.

A total of sixty-seven successful applicants stood in the examination ground with a relaxed and excited atmosphere entirely different from the previous day.

Eight of them were ordinary mortals who would become Outer Sect personnel, while the remaining fifty-nine were cultivators who would become Inner Sect disciples.

They had gathered for the initiation ceremony, the final stage of the entrance examination.

The applicants stood in orderly rows, with the five highest-ranked applicants positioned at the very front.

First place, Yise.

Second place, Hae Unchan.

Third place, Hong Wonseo.

Fourth place, Seol Ryeong.

Fifth place, Pi Garam.

Aside from Hong Wonseo, a member of Hong Mihi’s Yeomhwa Chongga, all five had been members of Yise’s team.

It was probably thanks to their conspicuous performances and overwhelming victories during the final examination.

Seol Ryeong’s dramatic rise from eleventh to fourth place was particularly extraordinary.

“I never thought I’d end up standing here with all of you.”

When Hae Unchan jokingly remarked on it, Yise responded with a faint chuckle.

“You poured so many ritual implements into your match that the ritual-implement artisan who made them practically earned your ranking for you.”

“What are you talking about? Handling ritual implements is also a skill. Do you think it’s common to find someone who can use this many ritual implements in the right places at the right times like I can?”

“Hmm. Is it really that impressive...?”

Seol Ryeong grumbled and nudged Pi Garam, demanding that he say something as well.

“I expected to be ranked fourth.”

At Pi Garam’s dry observation, Seol Ryeong pouted dramatically and complained that none of them could be reasoned with.

“We will now begin the initiation ceremony.”

When Kang Yitae and Hong Mihi appeared on the platform, the scattered conversations gradually subsided.

Several procedures resembling formal ceremonies were performed.

A short while later, several cultivators carried in a cauldron as large as a person.

Judging by the auspicious energy filling it, it was a ritual implement—more precisely, an object close to a spirit treasure.

“Come forward one at a time, drip your blood into it, and swear the oath. This is a Soul-Binding Contract that will mark you as members of the Grand Martial Path. The highest-ranked applicant will come forward first.”

Yise walked forward and stood before the cauldron.

He took out his small axe, cut his palm, and allowed droplets of blood to fall into it.

Faint ripples of spiritual energy spread across the cauldron.

There were two vows.

First, they would take no action that betrayed the Grand Martial Path.

Second, they would neither share, record, nor transmit the Grand Martial Path’s secret cultivation methods to another person.

“What happens if we violate the oath?”

Yise was merely asking for confirmation.

Kang Yitae stared directly at him.

“Nothing will happen immediately.”

“.......”

“However, the Grand Martial Path will eventually learn of it and send someone to punish you.”

“What qualifies as betrayal?”

“That depends on your intentions.”

It was an ambiguous answer.

Did that mean an action that ultimately harmed the Grand Martial Path would not violate the oath if it had genuinely been performed for the sect’s sake?

Yise had many more questions, but he stepped back for the sake of those waiting behind him.

Soon, the soul-binding rituals for all the disciples were completed.

The ceremony then proceeded to the distribution of special rewards for the highest-ranked applicants.

The first reward was a private meeting with a Great Cultivator in the Core Formation Realm, granted to the applicants in first and second place.

Without hesitation, Yise chose Hae Il, the Master of the Azure Dragon Hall.

“The Master of the Azure Dragon Hall is always occupied with official duties, so we do not know when the instruction will take place. Do you still choose him?”

“Yes. I will accommodate his schedule whenever he is available.”

“Very well. I will inform him.”

Next came Hae Unchan’s choice.

He also wanted to receive instruction from his ancestor, Great Cultivator Hae Il, but that option was no longer available.

Instead, he decided to receive personal instruction from Asan, the Master of the White Tiger Hall.

“Cultivator Kang, may I speak with the children for a moment?”

Kang Yitae glanced at Hong Mihi, who had unexpectedly stepped forward, and nodded.

She did not normally attend this annual event.

From the moment she appeared at the initiation ceremony, he had suspected that there was something she wanted to do.

She approached the five highest-ranked applicants and questioned them with her characteristically enchanting gaze.

“Why did each of you become a cultivator? Do you have a wish you want to fulfill?”

Standing directly beneath Hong Mihi’s gaze, Yise found himself unable to answer the unexpected question immediately.

Hong Mihi smiled softly and asked again,

“You may answer honestly. There will be neither benefits nor penalties. I’m only asking because I thought I might make each of you a ritual implement suited to your disposition and goals.”

Even then, Yise could not answer.

His greatest objective was revenge.

However, now that he had chosen to walk the path of immortal cultivation, he did not know whether it was acceptable to answer that way.

When Yise’s contemplation continued, Hong Mihi turned to Hae Unchan.

“It appears our highest-ranked applicant has a great deal to consider. You answer first.”

“I want to become a Great Cultivator in the Core Formation Realm and explore the entire continent beyond the Eastern Continent. Ultimately, my dream is to draw a map of the world.”

“A map of the world...”

Hong Mihi nodded with interest at his unreserved answer.

“What about the descendant of my clan?”

Hong Wonseo answered without the slightest hesitation.

“I seek the revival of my clan and ascension to the celestial realm.”

“My. That is quite an ambition.”

His answer was practically a declaration that he intended to become an immortal in the Divine Transformation Realm.

Hong Mihi laughed brightly and fluttered her fan.

Her gaze then turned toward Pi Garam.

“I don’t have one in particular.”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be related to immortal cultivation.”

“If I had to choose, I would say that I want to become stronger and approach the truth.”

“The truth... That is a somewhat dangerous thing to say.”

It was an answer that made one tilt one’s head, but Hong Mihi let it pass.

Seol Ryeong had been fidgeting from the moment Hong Mihi stood before them.

Before Hong Mihi could even ask, she shouted,

“I want to become the greatest shaman, just like you!”

“My, how adorable. Your eyes are exceptionally beautiful. You possess eyes capable of seeing through the heavens.”

“H-How did you know...?”

“Who knows? How could I possibly have known? With your aptitude, you would be perfectly qualified to become the next Master of the Vermilion Bird Hall. Grow up quickly and come to me, all right?”

Seol Ryeong trembled with joy before seemingly dying where she stood.

Smiling at each of their answers, Hong Mihi finally turned back to Yise.

After hearing his companions’ straightforward answers, he also responded without embellishment.

“To tell the truth, my original goal was revenge. However, now that I have entered a cultivation sect and chosen to walk the path of immortal cultivation, I’m unsure whether it is acceptable to live as a cultivator while harboring such a dangerous desire.”

Hong Mihi answered as though she now understood why he had hesitated.

“Walking the Path does not mean that you must abandon the goal with which you began. If that goal does not violate righteousness, it may instead provide suitable motivation.”

Yise contemplated her words briefly before adding,

“I want to become stronger. Revenge is my immediate goal, but that is merely a narrow objective... Ultimately, I desire power that grants me freedom.”

“Power that grants freedom? What kind of power would that be?”

“I want the freedom to lose nothing—whether it is something that belongs to me, someone precious to me, or my convictions.”

It was the first time he had spoken the thought aloud.

However, it had remained in his mind for years, from the moment he lost his family in Subu Village through his battle against the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed.

It was not an altruistic objective of protecting others.

It was closer to a deeply personal determination never to lose anything again.

“That is a good goal.”

Hong Mihi gently waved her fan as she regarded the five applicants with interest.

“I normally provide mass-produced ritual implements as special rewards... But for all of you, I will make a special effort and create objects worthy of being called spirit treasures.”

The faces of the five highest-ranked disciples brightened at her words, while exclamations of envy escaped the other disciples.

Several more rituals followed, and the ceremony approached its conclusion.

Kang Yitae delivered his final remarks.

“You will spend one year training here as novice disciples. You will complete missions, accumulate contribution points, and gather resources. Survive safely, and when you come to the main mountain one year from now, be sure to greet me respectfully.”

Thunderous cheers and applause erupted.

‘At last, I can finally begin cultivating.’

Yise had also eagerly awaited this moment and could not restrain his excitement.

“Lastly, we will conclude the entrance examination by repeating the Ten Commandments of Demon Extermination in unison. Everyone, you have worked hard.”

The applicants’ powerful voices resounded throughout the examination ground.

First: Do not advance toward an enemy you do not understand.

Second: Protect your body before attacking your opponent.

Third: Judge every situation calmly.

Fourth: Learn all available information about your prey, but do not trust it blindly.

Fifth: Begin the hunt only after you have already secured victory.

Sixth: Hunt with all your strength, no matter how weak the demon appears.

Seventh: When an enemy falls, make certain to finish it.

Eighth: Once you believe you have finished it, check again.

Ninth: Never be ashamed of joining forces or retreating.

Tenth: When retreating, abandon everything except your life and run.

---

By the time the ceremony ended, twilight had begun to settle over the land.

A tilted crescent moon hung in the sky as though suspended by a strand of silk.

The assigned dormitory was a private room slightly larger than the one Yise had used as an examination applicant.

There was little difference in size, but even its entrance was unusual.

Yise grasped the doorknob.

The doorknob and his spiritual energy exchanged light as though resonating with each other.

It was a type of barrier that prevented anyone except the room’s designated resident from entering.

Every item provided inside was of high quality.

There was even a safe secured with a lock.

A warning had been attached stating that the safe would be extremely difficult to open again if its key was lost.

While Yise unpacked and inspected the room, someone knocked on the door.

When he opened it, he found a smiling cultivator who appeared to be around his age.

The young man extended a hand and introduced himself.

“My name is Park Gangseo. I entered two years ago. I’ve been assigned the mission of helping you adapt during your first year. Let’s get along.”

“Ah...”

Yise took his hand.

The man before him was an Energy Refinement Realm cultivator whose cultivation realm was not much higher than his own.

He did not appear particularly reliable enough to take responsibility for teaching someone else.

‘Didn’t they say they concentrate their resources on cultivators who successfully survive on their own?’

Yise was once again reminded that the Grand Martial Path considered even the time spent on Energy Refinement Realm cultivators to be wasteful.

He concealed his thoughts and answered politely.

“I look forward to your guidance. What should I call you? Senior? Fellow Daoist Park?”

“Just call me your elder brother or Lord Park Gangseo—whichever is more comfortable. Since we’re both in the Energy Refinement Realm, ‘Senior’ doesn’t feel appropriate, while ‘Fellow Daoist’ feels a little too distant.”

“Yes, Lord Gangseo.”

“That’s right, little brother. For now, my role is to introduce you to life at the training institute and answer any questions you have. I’ll also serve as your supervisor when you depart on formal missions once every half year. I’m sure you have many questions, but I’ll explain everything next time. I need to greet the other novice disciples first.”

He patted Yise’s shoulder.