The nine commanderies of Lingshi, apart from Yunwu Commandery and Sifang Commandery, also included seven other commanderies.

  Before nightfall, another seven young warriors from various counties and countries were also led to the Western Courtyard Martial Arena, each with their own camp, and not crowded together.

  Another seven counties and states, like Yunwu County and State, are all lower-ranking counties and states. Some have only a few dozen young warriors, while others have one or two hundred people.

  The number of young martial artists participating in the Imperial Palace Examination also naturally reveals the national strength of each state.

  "The entire Ridge West Nine Prefectures, only the Four Square Prefecture is a medium-sized prefecture, with the strongest national power. Among the young warriors who came to participate in the Imperial Academy examination, the Four Square Prefecture occupies nearly half." said Liu Chengfeng.

  Zhang Ruochen took a look at the number of young warriors in the Western Courtyard Martial Arena, roughly estimating that there were about 1,500 people, all of whom were high-ranking masters of the Xuanji Realm.

  Every single person present is a young genius in their own country, and none of them are weak.

  Zhang Ruochen asked: "Why are there only warriors from the nine counties of Lingxi, but no warriors from the nine counties of Lingshan, Lingdong and Lingbei?"

  Liu Chengfeng smiled and said, "The outer palace of the Wu City Money House is divided into four courtyards: South Courtyard, North Courtyard, East Courtyard, and West Courtyard. Each courtyard recruits separately. Young warriors from our nine counties in Lingxi can only enter the West Courtyard and become outer palace disciples of the West Courtyard."

  "Only when your cultivation breaks through to the Earth Extreme Realm and you become an inner palace disciple can you compete with the inner palace students of the other three institutes."

  Zhang Ruochen nodded and stopped asking questions, sat cross-legged on the ground, and began to meditate.

  His gaze was fixed on the four large sword-engraved characters "Western Courtyard Martial Arts" on the distant cliff wall, feeling the sword intent and aura emanating from the font to comprehend the realm of a clear and enlightened sword heart.

  Tonight, young warriors from the nine major states and countries can only spend the night in the western martial arts arena.

  The vast majority of martial artists sat cross-legged on the ground, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, striving to adjust their state to the best, in preparation for tomorrows Academy exam.

  The next day, when the sky was slightly bright, three deafening bell sounds rang out from the Wu City Academy.

  Those who were cultivating or resting were all startled awake by the tolling of the bell.

  Only in the center of the martial arts arena, on a seven-zhang-high stone platform, stood ten powerful warriors. One old man wore a golden robe, while the other nine wore silver robes.

  Those nine warriors wearing silver robes are the guides who will be going to the nine major states, and they are all Silver Robed Elders of the Martial City Academy.

  Liu Chengfeng said in a low voice, "The internal hierarchy of the Wu City Money House is very strict. People of different ranks wear different clothes. Only when one becomes an elder of the Wu City Money House can they wear silver robes. As for the golden-robed elders, throughout the entire Western Courtyard, only the master of the Western Courtyard can wear a golden robe."

  Xī Yuàn is the master of the Western Courtyard and the Golden Robed Elder of the Wu City Money House.

  As for Xie Changlao, Situ Changlao, and even Liu Chengfengs father, they were all just Silver-robed Elders of the Wu City Money House.

  Zhang Ruochen said: "If we pass the exam and enter Wu City Academy, what color robes will we wear?"

  "Plain white robes." Liu Chengfeng laughed and said.

  At this moment, the master of the Western Temple stood on a seven-zhang high platform, with his long gown emitting dazzling golden light, just like a scorching sun, many warriors couldnt even open their eyes.

  Its obvious that the golden robe on the master of the Western Temple is absolutely more than just a piece of clothing.

  The head of the Western Academy swept his gaze across the crowd, exuding an aura of immense power. "This year, a total of 1,537 young warriors from the nine counties of Lingxi participated in the examination of the Imperial Academy. The exam consists of two rounds: the first round is to hunt and kill barbarian beasts, and the second round is to challenge the Martial Tower. Finally, the top 120 scorers will become outer palace students of the Western Academy of Wushang City. Next, Elder Situ will read out the specific rules of the exam."

  Having said this, the master of the Western Courtyard withdrew.

  Liu Chengfeng let out a breath of relief and smiled: "Fortunately, the exam rules are the same as in previous years."

  Liu Chengfeng was well-prepared in advance and had full confidence in this imperial examination.

  Even if Liu Chengfeng is the son of the Silver Robed Elder of the Wu City Money Exchange, he must go through an examination to enter the Wu City Academy for cultivation.

  Of course, with his identity, he must have known many secrets of the exam in advance and made corresponding preparations, so he has a greater chance of winning than others.

  "Only 1,537 people took the exam, but only 120 passed. Not even one-tenth of them made it. With my current abilities, Im definitely not going to pass." A young martial artist at the early stage of the Mystic Extreme Realm let out a sigh, having already lost confidence in this years Academy exams.

  On the stone stage, Elder Sito bowed to the master of the Western Courtyard and then took a step forward, facing the young martial artist below. "The examination of the Martial City Academy has always been fair and just. We are looking for talented geniuses with exceptional innate abilities, so even if their cultivation is lower, as long as their talent is strong enough, they still have a good chance of passing the exam."

  Those warriors who had lost their confidence earlier immediately rekindled their fighting spirit and looked towards Elder Situ.

  Elder Sito continued, "Half an hour later, everyone will enter the Tianmo Ridge one after another. What youll be entering is only a pre-designated area on the outskirts of the Tianmo Ridge. All three-stage and above ferocious beasts within that designated area have already been cleared out in advance."

  "The first round of the Wushu Academy exam, hunting and killing barbaric beasts. For a martial artist in the early stages of Xuanji Realm, hunting and killing five two-stage lower-class barbaric beasts is considered passing the first round of the exam."

  "A martial artist in the middle stage of Xuanji Realm, having hunted and killed ten second-rate savage beasts, passed the first round of examination."

  "Wudang practitioners in the late stage of Xuanji Realm, hunt and kill twenty second-class inferior savage beasts, pass the first round examination."

  "A warrior of the Small Extreme Realms lower rank, having hunted and killed forty second-rate savage beasts, has passed the first round of examination."

  "If a martial artist of the Mystic Extreme Realms extreme rank appears, they must hunt and kill eighty second-rate savage beasts to pass the first round of the examination."

  "One second-class medium-quality beast is equivalent to five second-class low-quality beasts. One second-class high-quality beast is equivalent to twenty-five second-class low-quality beasts."

  Elder Sito announced the rules of the exam above, and the young martial artists below all started discussing in low voices.

  A woman in the initial stage of Xuanji, with a hint of a smile, said: "Its so easy to just hunt and kill five second-rate savage beasts to pass the first round of exams."

  Another warrior sneered, "You think its too easy. The ferocious beasts in the Tianmo Ridge have been living in harsh environments for years, not only fighting against human warriors but also competing with other ferocious beasts for food. Their strength is at least twice that of those outside. Each second-rate lower-tier ferocious beast has a strength comparable to that of an early-stage Xuanji Realm warrior. Its already difficult to hunt one down, let alone five."

  Zhang Ruochen also nodded, and solemnly said: "In the Tianmo Ridge, there are not only second-rate lower-level savage beasts, but also second-rate middle-level savage beasts, and second-rate upper-level savage beasts. If one encounters a second-rate upper-level savage beast, Im afraid that any of the examinees present would be doomed to die."

  A second-rate superior beast, comparable to a martial artist of the Xuanji Realms Great Perfection. Even if Zhang Ruochen encountered it, he would likely have no choice but to die.

  Everyones face suddenly turned very pale.

  Liu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Everyone doesnt have to worry too much. The area designated by the Wushang Academy is very vast. Unless ones luck is extremely bad, its absolutely impossible to encounter a second-tier superior beast."

  A warrior at the initial stage of Xuanji said dejectedly: "Even if I encounter a second-rate intermediate beast, I will definitely die."

  The recruitment of Wu Shi Xue Gong is so cruel, not only to avoid the powerful barbarians, but also to guard against other warriors, lest they be ambushed.

  Elder Sito continued to read out the rules: "Before entering the Tianmo Ridge, each person will receive a Qilin ball. If you encounter a life-threatening danger, just crush the Qilin ball and the rescue personnel from the Wushi Academy will arrive at the first time. Of course, once you crush the Qilin ball, it also means that you have given up on the academy exam."

  "The exam will last for three days. If you dont hunt down enough savage beasts within those three days, youll be eliminated."

  "Now, I declare, the Imperial Examination, officially begins."

  Everyone gets a fist-sized Qilin ball, which is said to contain Qilin smoke. Once the ball is crushed, the Qilin smoke will rush out of the ball and rise thousands of meters high.

  At this moment, Xie Changlao led ten outer disciples of the Wumeng Academy to stand before sixty-six young examinees from Yunwu Commandery.

  Yunwu County originally had sixty-eight examinees. Chen Li Bing was killed, and Jiang Heng was seriously injured and sent back to the county, leaving only sixty-six people.

  Xie Chang Lao said: "The ten people standing in front of you are the outer palace students of Wu Shi Xue Gong, and they are also your senior brothers and sisters. They will take you to different entrances and enter Tian Mo Ridge."

  "Now, you can choose to enter Tianmo Ridge alone to complete the Academy exam, or you can also choose to form a pair with two people and enter together to complete the exam."

  Whether entering Tianmo Ridge alone or in pairs, there are both advantages and disadvantages.

  Two people form a team to enter the Devils Ridge, when encountering danger, they can indeed share the burden. However, you also need to guard against your teammate, in case he stabs you in the back.

  So, dont form an alliance unless necessary, and once formed, choose someone who is trustworthy.

  However, everyone comes from all over the world, and many didnt know each other before, so who can trust anyone else?

  "I choose to enter Tianmo Ridge alone," said a mid-stage Xuanji Realm martial artist.

  Its obvious he doesnt trust anyone.

  Later, the young warriors of Yunwu County all made their choices. The vast majority chose to enter Tianmo Ridge alone, while only twenty-two people chose to form pairs, including Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qing.

  Under the leadership of those ten outer palace disciples, sixty-six young warriors from Yunwu County headed towards Tianmo Ridge.

  Huo Xing Wangzi gazed at the crowd that had already left Yunwu County, a cold smile escaping his lips. "Listen up, everyone," he said. "Once we enter Tianmo Ridge, if you encounter any warriors from Yunwu County, kill them on sight, no questions asked. For every person you kill, I, the prince, will reward you with a second-grade elixir pill. And if you can manage to kill that Ninth Prince, Ill give you a True Martial Treasure."

  Upon hearing Prince Huo Xings words, the faces of those warriors from the four corners of the country all revealed cold smiles.

  If all those warriors in Ungok Garrison were killed, I reckon the King of Ungok would be furious. Just thinking about it is quite amusing.