The sun shines dappledly on the ancient Xiuzhen Square, reflecting every piece of white marble that has been tempered by history. Among the majestic Liuyun Mountain, Zhang Mo sat quietly in a quiet corner, but the waves in his heart were no less than those of the majestic stone walls in front of him. His cultivation is only at the seventh level of foundation building, but every time at the second hour of the meridian, the 'alien energy' in his body is like a wild horse driven by the devil, galloping and raging in his body. If he does not meditate and adjust his breath, he will be torn apart by it. Covered with bruises.
And Shouhou, this classmate, is feeling anxious about the challenges he faces. Although the previous battle was impressive, the stone wall over three feet high in front of them was still an insurmountable obstacle. The thin monkey lay down for a while, but the turbulence in his heart had not subsided, so he had to sit up, concentrate on breathing evenly, and let the airflow flowing in the body gradually return to normal.
In front of the stone wall, the figure of the thin monkey looks small and determined. He took a deep breath, and the pride in his heart was gone. Whether it was the previous victory or this morning's uneasiness, they all dissipated without a trace at this moment. There was only the high wall in front of him. It was like a stern examiner, looking down at every jump he made.
The thin monkey took some measurements and was convinced that his starting point was flawless. "One, two, three!" He muttered silently in his heart, condensing all the power in his body. The world around him seemed to be frozen, and his feet were ready to go. In an instant, the thin monkey was like an arrow from a string, piercing the tranquility and leaping towards the end of the stone wall that seemed to lead to the clouds. The fear and uneasiness in his heart turned into a powerful force with this leap, pushing him upwards.
In the air, he rolled and tried to climb over the top of the wall, but with a "pop", he fell into the ruthless embrace of the high wall.
After the thin monkey's body had no choice but to come into close contact with the stone wall, it was ruthlessly bounced back. Fortunately, he was agile and could flip around in the air to adjust his posture. However, when he landed, he was still caught off guard and had to do an inelegant butt squat. Sitting on the ground, looking a little embarrassed in the flying dust.
The laughter all around was like an echo in the mountains, and all kinds of ridicule was like an unexpected cold wind, sweeping across the square mercilessly.
"Haha, professional, professional monkey flip" a joking voice broke out in the crowd, causing a burst of laughter.
Ouyang Jiannan barely suppressed his laughter, but still revealed a hint of joking. Dongfang Xu's smile was mixed with a bit of disdain. As he shook his head, there seemed to be a hint of "I knew it would be like this" in his eyes.
Even Teacher Liu, who is usually serious, couldn't help but smile. He knew that Slender Monkey had only just established the foundation for a long time, and his control over power was still immature. A slight difference would make him smile a thousand miles away.
Although the atmosphere in the venue was filled with comedy, the fire in Shouhou's heart was not extinguished. He shook his head and patted the dust on his butt. His unwillingness to admit defeat only became more intense in the face of adversity. After all, on the path of cultivation, is there any precedent that has not failed? But I didn't expect that today he would perform an unwilling "monkey show" in front of everyone.
Zhang Mo had already finished his work at the side. When he saw the thin monkey looking embarrassed, he couldn't help but frown, but he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He quickly passed through the crowd and came to Shouhou. While helping him up, he asked Teacher Liu not far away loudly: "Teacher Liu, can you lend some strength to this wall?"
Teacher Liu glanced sideways at Zhang Mo and saw the expectant look on his face. He nodded and smiled and said, "This test is based on your ability to fly. How about using strength? Ha, as long as you don't use ropes and hooks, you can use strength."
Hearing this, Zhang Mo cheered up and said to the thin monkey: "It seems that God is helping you! You go to the wall and tap lightly, and you will pass easily. I will wait for you on the opposite side, you can do it!"
After hearing this, the stone in Shouhou's heart seemed to fall to the ground, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. This time, he was no longer so nervous and his mentality was much more relaxed.
He took a few steps back, like a bow and arrow leaving the string, and jumped quickly. The vitality gathered in his body into a stream of clear water, making his figure much lighter. The moment he approached the stone wall, he stretched out his hand and cleverly used his strength to cross the wall like a monkey. However, the force was still too strong when falling.
"Get out of the way!" He shouted, but Zhang Mo couldn't dodge. The two of them collided into a ball and rolled down the grass, just like two rocks rolling down, flattening the grass along the way.
The students in the audience couldn't help but laugh loudly. One of the fat students even doubled over with laughter and couldn't breathe. He waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, I'm laughing like crazy." This was supposed to be a tense scene. The assessment, however, became relaxed and happy in the farce between these two people.
Even the usually stern Dongfang Xu couldn't suppress the smile on his lips. He originally wanted to maintain his usual indifference, but in this wanton laughter, his face finally relaxed.
"Successful!" Zhang Mo and Skinny Monkey climbed up from the grass regardless of appearance, brushed off the greenery on their bodies, looked at each other, smiled, and high-fived in celebration. Their laughter was filled with a sense of relief and accomplishment, as if they had broken an invisible boundary with power.
Teacher Liu cleared his throat, hoping to restore some seriousness to the scene, but everyone could no longer suppress the joy in their hearts. Seeing the embarrassed looks of the two people, they burst into laughter again.
In the midst of this relaxation and excitement, Ji Xiaoyu stood quietly in the crowd, covering her mouth and smiling softly. Her smile was like the warm spring sun, and the few strands of flying hair added a bit of playfulness and tenderness.
Because of her laughter, even the air seemed to be dyed with a bit of brightness, and the men around her unconsciously peeked a few times, but Zhang Mo was the only one who had no scruples, staring straight at her like a torch, his face Full of intoxication and confusion.
Ji Xiaoyu felt the burning gaze, her pretty face was cold, and her heart was sullen, but she burst into laughter when she saw the grass clippings on his head.
Teacher Liu couldn't help laughing and said with a smile: "Okay, don't laugh anymore. Passed. Passed. Very good. Which course are you going to apply for?"
The thin monkey hurried forward and said excitedly: "Teacher Liu, I want to learn the sword technique."
Teacher Liu picked up the book, flipped through a few pages, and filled in the name of Shouhou: "The Sword Art Sect is stationed at Taibai Peak. I will report there the day after tomorrow." Then he looked up at Zhang Mo and said, "Don't you want to take the exam? I think your qualifications are pretty good.”
Zhang Mo's face turned red all of a sudden, unable to hide the turmoil in his heart. He turned to Teacher Liu, with a hint of child-like expectation, and his voice was trembling: "Teacher, can you give me a chance? Although I am only at the seventh level of foundation building, .”
Upon hearing this, Teacher Liu's expression seemed to become indifferent at this moment, but he was still playful. He pointed to the side lightly: "Of course there is no chance here, but you can try there, maybe there is a chance." He His finger pointed to a corner, where a sign stood saying "Liuyunshan Auxiliary Sect Recruiting Disciples".
"Auxiliary door?" A flash of doubt flashed in Zhang Mo's mind, "Which door is this? I have never heard of it."
Shouhou also looked confused and asked hurriedly: "We are familiar with the martial arts and Taoist sects. Where does this auxiliary sect come from? Is it also under the Liuyun Mountain Cultivation Holy Ground?"
Children in the countryside have little information, Teacher Liu thought to himself, with a cynical smile on his face: "If it's true, go and ask, anything is possible."
Not to be outdone, Zhang Mo asked Dongfang Xu loudly: "The recruitment of the auxiliary sect counts, right?"
Dongfang Xu snorted coldly and replied briefly but forcefully: "Forget it!"
At this time, Ouyang Jiannan seemed a little impatient, "Does the auxiliary sect also count? Although we didn't elaborate on it when we made the bet, it usually refers to warriors and Taoists. The auxiliary sect doesn't pick anyone and accepts anyone. Wouldn't we suffer a loss? "
Dongfang Xu seemed to have expected it, with a mysterious smile on his face, but didn't say much.
For Zhang Mo, all he had to do was count. His heart was filled with joy, and his face showed uncontrollable excitement.
Next to the sign "Liuyun Mountain Auxiliary Sect Recruiting Disciples", there was only an old man with gray hair, with a pale appearance and a very dignified appearance. When Zhang Mo and the two passed by, the old man seemed to be awake and asleep.
"Hello, Master! Are you still recruiting disciples?" Zhang Mo asked cautiously.
"Hit!" When the old man looked at the person, he opened his half-closed eyes, which were bright and bright. A total of 50 disciples have been recruited this year, but it is already the last day, and it is past noon. Only ten people have been recruited, and they are all from the martial arts and Taoist circles. It seems that this year is another lean year.
"What do you call me, sir?" Zhang Mo smiled brightly.
The old man picked up the pen and said with a smile: "Just call me Teacher Ji. What is your name, place of origin, and how high is your foundation building now?"
Zhang Mo said: "Zhang Mo, Qinglian Academy, building the foundation, that, the seventh level of foundation building."
The old man was about to pick up his pen to write. When he heard the seventh level of foundation building, he was immediately choked up. He slowly put down his pen and started to recruit new assistants. It was just that the basic level was enough for level 9. There was no need to test the wooden man alley and stone wall, because that was it. Even if it is loose, there will still be a serious shortage of students.
Therefore, 5 special quotas were specially approved this year. The conditions are very simple. "The basic level assessment is appropriately relaxed, the basic skills are good, and the potential is good." This condition is equivalent to no conditions. What does it mean to have good basic skills and good potential? The teacher who admitted the new students had the final say, but just like that, there was no use for even one spot, because no one came to take the exam at all!
In the Liuyun Mountain lineage, the auxiliary sect is declining, and the talents are withering. The more this happens, the fewer the students are, and a vicious cycle has been formed for hundreds of years.
"But the source of students is small, do we have to compromise? Is it better to be lacking than to be inundated, or to be in abundance rather than lacking?" The old man looked at Zhang Mo, and then looked at the sun that was moving westward. The auxiliary sect was also glorious back then, but now it is in such decline!
Many students who come to the auxiliary gate to take the exam may not know the existence of the auxiliary gate if they were not recommended here after failing. Unexpectedly, now even a student with mediocre qualifications and a clown-like appearance at the seventh level of foundation building would be considered?
Such a decline!
It’s better to lack than to overdo it!
What's the point of special recruitment? It's just to gather people. What's the use of really recruiting people?
The old man made up his mind: "Young man, I have several special recruitment quotas here. You don't have to look at the basic level. In this way, as long as you pass the Wooden Man Lane, you will pass. Flying over the stone wall, because you are not at the ninth level and cannot fly, you will not be able to fly." Passed the exam."
Dongfang Xu whispered in Ouyang Jiannan's ear: "Although the auxiliary sect has declined, Teacher Ji is extremely proud. He will not recruit any special disciples this year, so don't worry."
Ouyang Jiannan suddenly realized.
Teacher Liu from the martial arts department heard what the old man surnamed Ji said and said with a smile: "Master Ji, this is the last dignity of the auxiliary sect. I know you don't want it. Since you don't want it, let this little guy go through that tree." What are you doing in the human alley? The seventh level of foundation building is to cross the wooden man alley. Isn't this the most ridiculous thing in the world? Can you pass it when you are at the seventh level of foundation building?"
Another rich teacher heard the words and smiled and said: "Old Ji, your auxiliary sect means assisting. At least there are people who can help, right? The disciples in my sect always complain that when they go out to practice, they can't even support the sect." I can’t even find any human hair. How many have you recruited this year? Is it enough for ten?”
He knew very well that Ji Chen, a leader in the same class as him, had extremely high cultivation and was known as a genius who came up with the art of scripture and warfare once in a thousand years. Unfortunately, all of his disciples were mediocre. The auxiliary sect's scripture lineage he commanded was in decline. The existence of the auxiliary sect is even worse.
Ji Chen was stubborn and arrogant. He didn't know how to publicize or win over students. He came to recruit disciples, but he was able to recruit talented people. Teacher Futai complained endlessly.
"So what if I recruit them? Can I go to the battlefield? Can I participate in the battle? The disciples of the auxiliary sect will die if they go up there, so it's good to have self-awareness. At least they won't lose their lives. It's better to be lacking than to be in vain. I think that's right." A dark-faced, fat man The teacher chuckled.
Ji Chen looked sideways at the two of them and said, "Liu Jun, Luo Heipang, my sect is recruiting disciples, what do you care about?
Eat carrots and worry less! "The man named Luo Heipang is named Luo Kuan, and he is the deacon of the Taoist Water Movement.
"It's not that we worry about it blindly. Master Ji, this auxiliary disciple is in urgent need now. You can put down your last bit of pride and dignity. I don't think this little guy is a waste. He can always be recruited to do odd jobs. "Yeah," Luo Kuan said dissatisfied.
It's okay if he didn't say this. When Ji Chen said this, his temper got angry, he slammed the table and shouted: "If you're not a waste, then why don't you recruit me?"
Then he stood up and shouted: "Below the ninth level today, even if I am here, I have to go through the Wooden Man Alley. You warriors and people who have fallen behind in Taoism are all here. The auxiliary door is not a fucking clutter." , I have been picking up trash for two days, so I will be tougher today."
Pointing his finger at Zhang Mo, he said: "Boy, do you dare to cross Wooden Man Lane?"
