Lou Ben opened his mouth and spoke his answer.
"The story is about a minister…"
"He engages in protecting the young king."
"Although this is the main plot, the author tells us that he has fallen deeply in love with the widowed mother of the king."
"Countless schemes are made to remove the minister, but the young king and widowed mother stick to his side."
"He tells us that although the people of the kingdom support him, there is a minority of dao masters that wish to take his head so that the young king is no longer protected."
"The minister plots and plans many protective alliances with nearby kingdoms so that he can protect the noble family."
"The ending tells us that when the king has grown into the crown, he allows the minister to marry his widowed mother. Not only does he bless this marriage, but he truly wishes for not only for his mother to be happy but also for the minister."
"…Unfortunately, things do not go as planned, and the widowed mother chooses to stab the minister in the back. The final sentences are written by another person that tells us how the kings' mother never loved the minister but also tried countless times to have him killed by lurking dao masters."
Lou Ben finished his retelling of the story and gasped for air.
Steward Wen Guoliang's face softened and he stared down at Lou Ben with amazement "Oh, Servant Lou Ben…"
Lou Ben heard these words and his and his heart started to race "Oh, now did I get it wrong? Was I so wrong that even Steward Wen Guoliang is surprised?"
"What did I get wrong?"
Steward Wen Guoliang paused on purpose to see the reactions on Lou Ben, but his face was as blank as a rock.
The only noticeable change was the drip of sweat coming from his forehead.
"Servant Lou Ben, your answer was the most complete and…"
Steward Wen Guoliang paused again.
"It was the most complete and most correct answer here today. If I am not wrong, your innate aptitude must be very high."
"You pass."
Steward Wen Guoliang didn't give Lou Ben time to process his words before closing the soundproof aura around them.
Immediately after those words Steward Wen Guoliang, Lou Ben heard the voices of four hundred contestants.
Steward Wen Guoliang raised his hands and all the contestants closed their mouths.
The contestants didn't close their mouths out of choice, but it was Steward Wen Guoliang showing his might.
"Contestants, the final participant has given his answer. I will now eliminate those who failed."
"I kept you here so that I may give to those who failed, a few words of advice."
"Firstly, the world is unfair. Those who go home today, will also lose their memories of participation."
"Those who passed will move forward and undergo the final test! For those who failed, I will have a plaza servant direct you to your quarters, almost as if this competition never happened."
Steward Wen Guoliang waved his sleeve and bright light engulfed the area. He didn't spend time providing an insightful speech, he was demonstrating his might and letting the contestants who passed feel the difference between dao masters and mortals.
He had a special position to not only find the disciple for Master Xiao but also run the palace, this meant that every single detail from dust to the ambitions of mortals was taken into consideration.
When the light dimmed and everyone regained their sight, only one hundred and twenty-five contestants remained.
The palace of Xiao has the potential to produce one hundred and twenty-five dao masters!
"Good! You have all passed the second test!"
Steward Wen Guoliang had felt his youth rekindled through this competition, it was not often that he directed a friendly and non-life-threatening match to test the youth!
"The last test not only tested your aptitude, innate skills, but also showed me that this world is full of surprises!"
"I only thought that one person would pass this portion."
"The third test was created just in case there was a second or third person who managed to sense the profound feeling of dao!"
Steward Wen Guoliang was extremely happy.
"Next, you will all fight!"
"There is no head-on-head match. You people do not know each other there is no harm in throwing you to the wolves!"
"This is the world of dao masters."
"You may have the luck and skills, but if you cannot find the courage to raise your fists, then you are meaningless!"
The final test was soon to begin.
Steward Wen Guoliang threw one more crystal into the sky.
The crystal was plain, but the green and white aura around it radiated all around the stage.
"Do not worry, not a single person will die. You will only lose the chance at becoming Master Xiao's one and only disciple!"
When the remaining contestants heard this, it shook their hearts.
"Why have I been here for countless hours, if not to be useful to Master Xiao?"
"I can be a dao master, but there is no say that Steward Wen Guoliang will not erase our memories. I must win if I want to change my life!"
"I will fight!"
"I will win!"
Steward Wen Guoliang appeared different than his original refined look, he had a sparkle in his eye.
"Begin the fight!"
The arena shook as those words left Steward Wen Guoliang's mouth.
Strong men ran towards the first contestant they saw. There was so much room between them that only after running towards each other did the space shrink.
When those countless people met their opponent fist flew left and right.
*BAM
*BANG
*BOOM
The uproar of violence filled the air, bodies flew left and right.
A frail and younger person was grabbed and twirled in circles to attack nearby contestants.
Another strong man picked up dust from the floor and threw it at his opponent before landing a decisive blow.
Lou Ben dodged left and right.
He has never been in a fight his entire life, the only reason he was able to survive the battlefield he was in when he reincarnated was because of reflex.
"I have to endure!"
"If I did it once, then I can do it again!"
As Lou Ben was mentally coaching himself, a fist blocked the sun and came rushing towards Lou Ben's face.
*BANG
Lou Ben flew ten feet before landing on the ground.
With a single punch he was almost knocked out.
"Haha! Come boy! I will show you mercy and let you be eliminated by the great Liang Jianjun!"
A young adult approached Lou Ben, he seemed to be the same age as Lou Ben but spoke in an aggressive manner that made him seem as if he was older.
"What is this guy's problem?"
Lou Ben was picking himself off the ground as he met eyes with his opponent.
"Come! I will show you the strength of a jade miner!" Liang Jianjun yelled and approached Lou Ben.
*BANG
Liang Jianjun kicked Lou Ben on the chest as he raised himself from the ground.
Lou Ben gritted his teeth and yelled back "fine come then! I am not afraid of pain nor a simple show of strength!"
The fight was on.
Lou Ben ran towards his opponent and dodged left and right.
Liang Jianjun followed his movements and raised his palm in the direction of Lou Ben.
In a moment of desperation, Lou Ben ducked towards the ground like he dropped something.
He rolled out of the way and put distance between himself and Liang Jianjun.
"This guy is not only strong but very fast! I tried dodging his fists earlier, but he was only slowing down to deceive me!"
"I have to think of something to deal with him."
Liang Jianjun smirked and rubbed his nose "I'm going to finish this now boy!"
He charged towards Lou Ben, creating a whirlpool of dust behind him as he dashed in the direction of Lou Ben.
"This is my chance!" Lou Ben's eyes sparkled with insight.
Liang Jianjun tucked his chin and placed his shoulder in front of him.
He wanted to run Lou Ben over with his ferocious power and speed.
*BANG
But soon after impacting Lou Ben, Liang Jianjun fell to his knees.
"Heh, you can try to block your chin, but you completely missed your head." Lou Ben sneered.
At the moment of impact, Lou Ben raised his palm and twisted his body so that he did not receive the entire blow.
It was Liang Jianjun who hit his head on the impossibly stern palm of Lou Ben and failed to eliminate him.
Lou Ben looked down at his torn arm, it received the entire impact of the charging Liang Jianjun.
In that moment, it was like the collision between a fast-moving vehicle and a tree.
The vehicle was Liang Jianjun, and the tree was Lou Ben's palm.
Although Lou Ben remained and had yet to be eliminated, he had received incredible damage.
"If I get into another fight like this then I'm going to be eliminated." He sneered as he looked around the arena.
The initial dog pit of fights was slowing down, contestants lay on the floor rolling in pain.
It was the sight of complete anarchy.