Chapter 231 - 114: You’re Quite Good at Stoking the Flames, Aren’t You?

Chapter 231: Chapter 114: You’re Quite Good at Stoking the Flames, Aren’t You?

Zhu Li was even more outrageous. Banking on her status as the overworked and invaluable First Mansion Official, she had simply flopped onto Zhao Ci’s back and fallen asleep, drooling all over him.

Before they knew it,

this Prefecture Examination had raged on from the crack of dawn until the sun dipped below the horizon.

Only then were the final one hundred fifty-eight candidates chosen.

Then came the selection round.

The Ninth Prince’s Mansion, the Tenth Prince’s Mansion, and Prince Ying’s Mansion swiftly selected their candidates, all of whom appeared to have been chosen in advance.

The other Mansions, however, squabbled endlessly. There were only a few top performers, and those candidates had also earned the right to choose a Mansion in return.

Their reasoning was simple: prioritize Prince Lie’s Mansion, and be flexible with the rest.

In less than fifteen minutes,

seven of the Mansions had already filled their ranks.

All except for one...

Feng Kucha grew even more curious. "What do you think this Heir of Prince Qin is up to? I could understand not wanting any Great Clan Mansion Officials, but he’s not even picking the Civilian Mansion Officials? Does he plan to be a general with no army, doing all the work himself?"

Zhao Ci narrowed his eyes, growing increasingly certain that something was off about this person.

He turned to look and saw that Zhao Yong and Zhao Xie were already getting anxious, but the text floating above their heads was still related to the "Grand Ceremony of the Yun Dynasty."

’This...’

A faint idea began to form in his mind.

’The main event of this Prefecture Examination... it must be yet to come!’

"Have all the Mansions made their selections?"

"We have!"

Several people answered one after another. Zhao Wen didn’t respond, but his silence was taken as assent.

Zhao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the Martial Scholars who had passed the Prefecture Examination but hadn’t been chosen, and were now beating their chests and stamping their feet in frustration.

He smiled faintly. "There is no need for you all to be discouraged. The Prefecture Examination has always had a rule: if an unselected Martial Scholar believes a Mansion has been blind to their worth, leaving a hidden gem undiscovered, they may choose one Mansion to challenge. By defeating all of its Mansion Officials, you can forcefully take one of their spots. So... are there any who wish to challenge?"

This was a safeguard mechanism in the talent selection process, because even after passing the Prefecture Examination, there was still a selection round.

It wasn’t based entirely on skill.

Thus, it still left a sliver of an opportunity for those people to turn the tables.

However, in all the years the Prefecture Examination had been held, very few had ever dared to exercise this right to turn the tables.

Defeat all the Mansion Officials...

One had to remember that these Mansion Officials were all geniuses from the Great Clans.

It was a pipe dream.

No one would be so foolish as to overestimate themselves.

So over time, this safeguard mechanism had become nothing more than a formality.

But...

"I will!"

A slender youth raised his hand. He looked to be only about fourteen or fifteen years old. Judging by his clothes and bearing, he was clearly the child of a poor family, but his spirit was remarkably audacious.

Whoa!

The arena erupted in an uproar.

So there really was someone who thought that highly of himself!

Zhao Ci also frowned slightly. He had some recollection of this youth. His swordsmanship fundamentals were solid, but his physical condition was somewhat poor. He should have just broken through to the Body Refining Stage, likely with a Sixth-Grade Flesh Soul, which was utterly unremarkable.

In the earlier Martial Arts Competition, he had barely managed to advance with a record of three wins and two losses.

It was no surprise that no one had chosen him.

’Where did he get the confidence to turn the tables?’

Zhao Yan, however, remained calm. "What is your name?"

"Ying Rui!"

The youth lifted his head and announced brazenly.

Zhao Yan asked again, "Which Mansion do you wish to challenge? And which Mansion Official will you challenge first?"

At these words,

everyone present exchanged strange looks.

’Which Mansion?’

’No matter which Mansion he picks, this Ying Rui is just going to get thrashed!’

Ying Rui, however, swept his gaze across the assembled groups. His eyes finally locked onto the contingent from Prince Lie’s Mansion as he announced in a loud voice, "Prince Lie’s Mansion! Tan Yu!"

Whoa!

The crowd was in an uproar.

Not only did this Ying Rui not pick an easy target, he had gone straight for the number three expert in Prince Lie’s Mansion.

It was utterly bizarre!

Even Zhao Qian was amused. He clapped Tan Yu on the shoulder. "Old Tan! Someone’s looking down on you. Go teach him a lesson; it’ll be the perfect way to shake off yesterday’s gloom. Just remember not to go too hard. Don’t kill the kid!"

"Mm."

Tan Yu was still withdrawn, his expression not improving in the slightest as he slowly walked onto the Martial Arts Arena.

With a flick of his right hand, he summoned his Dwarf Assassin Corpse Puppet.

He only summoned one, a clear sign he didn’t think much of Ying Rui.

Judging by the type of Corpse Puppet, he clearly wanted to end the fight quickly.

Ying Rui seemed displeased. "You have three Corpse Puppets. Aren’t you going to summon all of them?"

"Not necessary."

Tan Yu found the boy irritatingly talkative.

"Suit yourself!"

Ying Rui was also displeased, but he simply nodded toward Zhao Yan on the high platform, signaling that he was ready.

DONG!

The instant the Bronze Bell rang, the dwarf Corpse Puppet shot forward.

Its speed was immense and its Body Technique was bizarrely unpredictable—far beyond what any of these Martial Scholars could hope to match.

However, Ying Rui rapidly retreated, forming a Hand Seal as he did so and shouting, "By the Flourishing Era of Great Yu, lend me your official authority, Dispel!"

As the word "Dispel" left his lips,

his Hand Seal erupted in a brilliant flash of light that shot directly toward the dwarf Corpse Puppet.

And then... the dwarf Corpse Puppet froze completely, its own momentum carrying it right off the Martial Arts Arena to crash heavily onto the ground.

"What!?"

This bizarre technique left everyone completely stunned.

As the one at the center of it all, Tan Yu’s eyes went wide. "W-What just happened?"

In that single instant, he felt the Yin Earth Aura within the dwarf Corpse Puppet suddenly become sealed, completely breaking free from his life-linked control.

’Th-this... what in the world is this Ghost Skill?’

’Great Yu’s Flourishing Era?’

’Lend me your official authority?’

He hadn’t even had time to process it.

The next attack was already on its way.

"By the Flourishing Era of Great Yu, lend me your official authority, Swift!"

The next moment, Ying Rui transformed into a blur, sword in hand, as he charged forward. His speed was so incredible it made everyone’s scalp tingle.

Tan Yu gritted his teeth and immediately swung his two-handed sword down. The blow was heavy and powerful. He knew this person was strange, but his Flesh Soul was weak; he had to pin him down as quickly as possible.