Every year, with the onset of autumn and the first whispers of spring, the Seven Profound Martial House conducted their rigorous evaluations for potential recruits.
For the young aspirants of Starlight Haven Kingdom, deeply entrenched in the cultivation of martial arts, this day held unparalleled significance.
To them, the Seven Profound Martial House stood as the ultimate pinnacle. A gateway, once breached, would elevate them to the stature of dragons soaring amidst the boundless skies.
These sacred halls held not just precious riches, but also the prized inheritance of ancient skill manuals.
These scrolls, which had been passed down through the decades, contained the combined wisdom of generations of martial seniors. Attempts to master martial arts without a source of experience would be equivalent to a fool's wandering in the streets.
While other skill manuals were sought after and relied upon, the truest gems, the ones of peerless quality, could only be found and inherited within the sects.
The sects fought hard to keep this inheritance method sacred.
The slightest suggestion of a pupil revealing the secrets contained inside their skill manuals would result in punishments ranging from the destruction of their cultivation to instant execution.
The transcribing and replication of these skill manuals was a monumental undertaking.
The path of martial arts was shrouded in profound mystique. The ebb and flow of essence, the ethereal dance of sentiment—these quintessential skills defied verbal elucidation.
Consequently, the most exceptional skill manuals remained unmarked on parchment, forever beyond the grasp of transcription.
Instead, these invaluable repositories resided on jade slips.
Each unassuming token held within its confines a treasure trove of arcane knowledge.
Even then, a mere manual could offer but a glimpse of the depth of wisdom it contained.
To inscribe these mysteries onto a jade slip demanded an intimate understanding of the skill manual—a feat that was notoriously difficult, requiring substantial investments of both time and energy.
Yet, comprehension of these skill manuals was not universal.
Possession of a jade slip did not guarantee mastery of its contents. Much like a banknote crafted from gold, its value was lost on those who lacked the understanding.
Hence, the jade slips bearing these ancient manuals were exceedingly rare, beyond acquisition regardless of the price one might be willing to pay.
This scarcity was the catalyst for the fervor that gripped aspiring martial artists, compelling them to vie for entry into the Seven Profound Martial House.
Still, the stringent selection process inevitably left a multitude of hopefuls disappointed each year.
Sam, however, possessed the Body Transformation skill manuals—the ' Infinite Chaos Battle Forms'.
Thus, the allure of the Seven Profound Martial House's inheritance and legacy held no sway over him.
His determination to enter stemmed not from thoughts of Lily; he had long resolved to dedicate his life to scaling the summits of martial arts.
Sam's ambition to gain entry into the Seven Profound Martial House was spurred by his need for practice resources.
These resources extended beyond mere herbs and medicines, encompassing specialized training grounds.
These areas, some orchestrated through intricate arrays, others sculpted by accomplished Xiantian practitioners, offered accelerated cultivation, yielding twice the result for half the effort.
Yet, above all, martial skills reigned supreme. They were the linchpin of a martial artist's combat prowess.
Sam had absorbed a handful of martial skills from the fragments of the elder's memories.
Among them, three or four stood incomplete, yet even in their fragmented state, they outshone all within the Realm of the Gods.
Regrettably, their execution eluded Sam's current capabilities.
To even contemplate their practice, he would need to ascend to the Xiantian stage. The weakest among them, as per his memories, could cleave mountains with a single stroke.
Their potential for destruction dwarfed even the prospect of leveling entire cities.
For Sam, these skills were similar to an enigmatic foreign language.
Hence, Sam's pursuit of the entrance exam was twofold—to secure precious resources and to achieve a commendable ranking.
Each year, the top performers were handsomely rewarded, be it with rare medicines or coveted treasures that could not be purchased even by the wealthiest in Starlight Haven City.
Even the scions of noble houses coveted these prizes. Sam was no exception.
Previously, shackled by his modest strength, he harbored modest expectations. Now, circumstances had altered, fanning the flames of his aspirations.
On the first day of autumn, the Seven Profound Martial House's square teemed with a sea of candidates. Such was their number that the assessments commenced at sunrise, spanning the entire day.
Sam and Alex had yet to step into the square, lingering on the bustling thoroughfare beyond.
Despite the relatively sparse crowd, the hum of conversations seemed to echo in Sam's ears.
"They say this time there are several top-tier prodigies among the contenders, including the unparalleled David. Fifteen years old, fourth-grade talent, and already treading the Third Stage of Body Transformation. Truly a force to be reckoned with."
"Isn't it curious? Why did he delay his entry into the Seven Profound Martial House? Why not participate in the spring exams?"
"I speculate his sights are set on the Heavenly Abode. The moment he steps into the Seven Profound Martial House, he plans to make a beeline for it. Bold move, that!"
"Hm, the Heavenly Abode is a lofty goal. Only Hen Portia managed it in recent years. To even qualify, one must be at the peak of the Third Stage of Body Transformation, and typically, it's frequented by those at the Fourth Stage. David doesn't possess the credentials. I reckon he bided his time for the top prize of the entrance exam."
Heavenly Abode...
Sam mused inwardly.
Half a year ago, Max had breached its gates, leveraging his Third Stage of Body Transformation.
Undoubtedly, Max's prowess was remarkable even among peers of similar cultivation. He stood leagues apart from lacklustre contenders like David.
As Sam mulled, he felt a pair of eyes fixated upon him. Was someone observing him?
In the vast crowd, numerous gazes flitted about, but the average individual did not discern such scrutiny or its intent.
Sam was well-versed in the 'True Primal Chaos Formula' and possessed acute perception. In the midst of the crowd, he saw a cold look.
He turned, faking nonchalance, and found a cerulean carriage from which the gaze originated. He felt strange anxiety as his eyes met the curtain's descent.
Sam sighed. The entrance exam had yet to commence, yet unseen adversaries lurked in the shadows.
A youth in silk robes and a brooding companion sat within the azure carriage. They were none other than David and Max.
"He... he won't notice us," David stammered, still haunted by his previous encounter with Sam.
Despite his public declarations of justice, fear clouded his resolve. Those three moves that had sealed his defeat had left a permanent scar on his self-esteem.
Max, coolly impassive, admonished, "Cease your fretting and paranoia. The crowd is dense, and he lacks eyes on the back of his head. This fellow managed to ascend to the Second Stage of Body Transformation!"
The chasm between the First and Second Stages of Body Transformation was substantial.
Achieving this at fifteen was extraordinary, particularly considering Sam's humble lineage and a mere third-grade talent.
"I believe he must've trained like a madman. There's no other explanation. I only reached the Second Stage when I was sixteen. Perhaps he pushed himself to the brink and sustained internal injuries. Such an imbecile. In a few years, he'll be a vegetable."
David's bitterness oozed as he cursed vehemently.
Max stayed poised despite his hidden disdain for this fanboy.
Despite an arsenal of rare medicines, David had barely attained the Second Stage at sixteen.
His combat prowess, meanwhile, bordered on pitiful. Max would have dismissed him entirely if not for his father's position as a major in Starlight Haven City's martial arts.
Max quipped, "Common sense dictates that this feat is nigh impossible. Exhausting one's body to the point of internal injuries usually leads to irreversible damage. Yet, when propped up with a thousand gold, the outcome becomes less predictable."
Max's comment ignited a flush of crimson across David's visage. He had assumed his gambling escapade remained hidden, but clearly, Max was privy to it. It seemed everyone knew!
Damn it all! He had brought disgrace upon his family!
Max paid David no further mind. His expression was sombre.
Typically, a sixteen-year-old cultivating to a stage beyond the Third Stage of Body Transformation would warrant entry into the Seven Profound Martial House.
Many from influential families followed this trajectory, their progress buoyed by rare medicinal herbs.
Unlike other sects, the Seven Profound Martial House did not balk at family assistance.
To them, family support was an integral facet of a martial artist's strength.
Whether through innate talent or the bolstering effects of medicine, these martial practitioners enriched the influence and might of the Seven Profound Martial House.
Though those who relied on medicinal aid shared aspirations of entering the Seven Profound Martial House, Sam stood a better chance with his superior combat capabilities than most.
Max, however, harboured reservations about Sam's entry.
He had no qualms about Sam surpassing him; he was merely a third-grade talent.
Max exuded confidence in his abilities, confident that even a leap in cultivation or a triumph over David posed no real threat.
However, he cherished Lily not only for her endearing personality and radiant beauty but also because he cherished all things of value. He couldn't bear the thought of another man claiming a place in Lily's heart.
Given his family connections and ties to the Royal Family, Max held some sway within the Seven Profound Martial House.
Unfortunately, the House's admission process was transparent, and blocking Sam's entry proved infeasible. Thus, Max's sole recourse was to prevent Sam from participating in the entrance examination.