Observing the martial artists' fascination with these stone carvings, Elder Tren remarked, "Although My Zephyr Blade Sect is a sword sect, but it really includes all kinds of martial arts. I think you have probably seen these stone carvings, I'm assuming. Each stone carving cost my sect a great deal to produce as it contains a martial skill!"
The group of martial artists was all in awe as Elder Tren spoke!
A martial skill was a powerful and mysterious essence to a martial artist. Their desire to join the Zephyr Blade Sect stemmed solely from the Wind Sword's extensive repertoire of martial arts and cultivation methods. They hadn't considered the possibility that they would have already been exposed to martial skills while still in the assessment.
"After the evaluation starts, each of you can choose and consider a suitable stone carving for yourself. You will be given only one hour to ponder. After this hour, you all will display your understanding of the martial skill that you have pondered, and that will be the result of this round's perception assessment."
After stating the rules, Elder Tren glanced around the martial arts community. "Are there any questions? You can start if there are none."
"Elder, may I ask what tier these martial skills are?" A martial artist at the peak of body refining at the fourth level inquired.
"All of the martial skills are in the lower Astral tier." Elder Tren replied.
So they were all at the lower Astral tier, the lowest level of martial proficiency. Sadness crept over the faces of many martial artists upon hearing Elder Tren's statements. They had previously assumed that these would be elite martial skills.
The elders could naturally notice their expressions. One of the elders rose up and stated, "Don't believe that lower Astral tier fighting talents aren't valuable. With your current abilities, you can only understand a lower Astral-tier martial skill. Even if we allowed you to consider a middle Astral tier martial talent, you would be unable to comprehend anything! In just one hour, if you can grasp even a fraction of these martial techniques, then your perception would be truly remarkable."
Franklin glared at the martial artists beside him. They were just a bunch of folks who didn't understand the vastness of heaven and earth. Is a martial skill so simple to learn? He had studied his family's inherited martial skill, the Dragon Seizing Hand, since he was a child. Only after so many years did he attain some level of expertise, and he didn't dare to claim mastery of it.
After being told off by that senior, these martial artists didn't dare to be as ambitious. To them, even a lower Astral tier martial skill could move their hearts, and their eyes showed a hint of expectancy, thinking simply to hurry up and consider it, looking forward to surprising others.
"Since there are no more queries, this examination will begin now. "The results will be tested in one hour." Elder Tren finished speaking and left the stone room, but not before giving Franklin a deep look.
Franklin bowed his head, exuding unwavering confidence through his gaze, as if he had complete mastery over the situation unfolding before him.
Elder Tren walked out, a sense of contentment evident in his expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. This round, he was completely confident that Franklin would win.
After Elder Tren went, the crowd of martial artists grew ecstatic. Each hurried swiftly to choose a stone carving that suited them, hoping to make the most of their time and begin pondering. This was the closest they had gotten to a martial skill since birth. It couldn't possibly go to waste.
"Older brother Leo, what do you think I should try to perceive?" Alden stroked his head, then inquired. He hadn't chosen a weapon yet, and with so many stone carvings, whatever he chose would be roughly the same.
"Um, you can pick anything that suits you the most." Leo did not make many suggestions for Alden. Only oneself could determine which weapon was appropriate for them.
"Then I'll go with the blade; it's powerful!" Alden examined his options and made a decision. He then approached the stone carving with a blade on it. At this point, quite a few martial artists were standing in front of it. Obviously, they were all blade martial artists.
Leo, displaying confidence in his choice, didn't hesitate and walked straight to the sword stone carving. The sword stone carving was selected by the majority of martial artists. Because of the Zephyr Blade Sect's influence, Stellaria City has the most martial artists using the sword.
When Leo walked over, some of the martial artists divided to let him through. Although they hadn't heard of Leo before, his performance in the first two assessments had already earned the crowd's respect. After winning two rounds and defeating Russell and Franklin, he would undoubtedly be in a better position than them once he joined the Zephyr Blade Sect. He shouldn't be easily offended.
And in front of this stone carving, Leo noticed two familiar faces. Of course, one of them was Russell, and he wielded the sword as well. The second was that of the Valdor swordsman. This time, he was lucky, and he made it to the third round. There was a decent possibility he'd pass the final assessment.
Russell stared at Leo and snorted gently before returning his attention to his thoughts. He'd lost both physical and mental strength to Leo. He didn't expect to lose the perception assessment.
Franklin did not move to the front of the claw user's stone sculpture until he saw that each martial artist had promptly located theirs. He exuded confidence, as if he already had victory within his grasp.
This time, Franklin truly had victory in his grasp. He had already considered this for three days!
This is why he and Elder Tren were so confident they'd win the trial - Franklin's extensive preparation and Elder Tren's strategic planning left no room for doubt.
Others had only an hour to ponder, but he pondered for more than ten times longer than any other martial artist. If he couldn't win first place, Franklin didn't have to bother being human any longer.
In truth, Elder Tren was initially prepared to gamble with Ninth Uncle, but he had originally planned to wager about Franklin and Russell. It was eventually changed to Leo, and Elder Train found it easier to win the bet.
To ensure Franklin's victory, Elder Tren risked breaking the rules by secretly bringing Franklin to the stone room three days earlier and allowing him to ponder for an extended period of time. Because Franklin had been staying here for these few days, Harold Whitaker did not have the opportunity to tell him about the situation with Leo.
Franklin didn't believe that someone could win after only an hour of contemplation, despite having three days to do so. This round, he would undoubtedly win first place!
The stone room gradually quieted down, and all of the martial artists reached their meditative states. Leo was the same. He focused entirely on the stone sculpture, his consciousness absorbed in it. It was as if the world had vanished, leaving only the stone carving. He felt a sudden tremor run through him, as if the world around him had shifted. The stone carving in front of him had unexpectedly shifted and seemed to come to life, moving as if it were a living being.
"Thunderlight Sword Skill!"
Unexpectedly, Leo's thoughts flashed these three words.
As Leo pondered, he wondered: Was Thunderlight Sword Skill the name of the martial skill he was witnessing?
Just at this moment, in Leo's sight, the stone carving morphed into a martial artist wielding a long sword and performing mysterious attacks!