Who Let Him Cultivate?!

“Who’s practicing Mantis Fist like that?!” The vice-master goggled, familiar with the Mantis Fist—a boxing style emulating the praying mantis.

It was meant to imitate a mantis, not turn into one!

He had scrutinized the standards of this test multiple times, even asking a few clever higher-ups in the sect to confirm that there could be no other solution besides the answer he had provided.

Yet now, two answers outside the standard had appeared. He couldn’t accept this!

The Master, however, seemed more receptive, “Think of it this way. He only observed a mantis for a while before gaining insight into the Mantis Fist. Even historical generals from Jin State didn’t possess such martial talent. This speaks volumes about Lu Yang’s exceptional martial talent. He eventually reached the advanced realm of entering the Dao through martial skills, turning his martial arts into a magic skill. He’s a talent that is hard to come by!”

The vice-master paused, then turned to the earnest-looking master and asked,

“Are you serious?”

In his heart, the Master thought that he was just making stuff up. In fact, he also didn’t understand how Lu Yang had transformed from a human into a mantis. But as the Master, he couldn’t show ignorance in front of his

subordinates.

Nodding, he reaffirmed, “Of course, I am serious.”

After the Master’s explanation, the vice-master felt a little better. Since the participants were rare talents, it made sense that they would fortuitously discover alternative solutions.

He could accept that begrudgingly.

“All who passed have done so. Let’s bring the first test to an end.” said the vice-master. Tens of thousands of images on the water screen recorded

everyone’s performance.

Only a few people gained perseverance from the spiders and even fewer derived strategy from the mantis. Most were depressed in the cave, becoming deserters, killed in tumults by soldiers from Liang Kingdom. They died nameless and unknown, with the soldiers unaware they had once been ambitious.

“Begin the second test.”

“The second test requires you to convince the examiner to genuinely want to

keep you.”

Everyone had these words embedded in their minds. They forgot everything else, focusing only on thinking of ways to pass the second test.

Yan Wangsun felt a little dizzy. He had no recollection of the previous events. All he vaguely remembered was a somewhat familiar person asking him where he is from. He told them he is from Huangyue City.

“I’m Yan Wangsun. I’m applying for a position at the Land Money Trade Association which requires passing an interview. The rules of the interview forbid disclosing the questions to others.” Yan Wangsun gathered up all the facts he knew.

Even without the rules, Yan Wangsun wouldn’t disclose the interview questions to anyone else. It only benefits others at his own expense.

Yan Wangsun realized he was sitting in the first position, next to him was a man in scholar’s robes.

“I’m Man Gu, what’s your name?”

Yan Wangsun didn’t answer because the examiner was calling his name. Upon entering the room, Yan Wangsun noticed a piece of paper on the floor. He casually threw it into the trash bin before preparing for his interview.

The examiner was chubby, his clothes straining against his bulk, always wearing a warm smile: “Yan Wangsun, isn’t it? Can you go to the market and see if anyone is selling potatoes?”

Yan Wangsun obediently left. After having a look around the market, he reported back saying there was a shop selling potatoes.

The chubby examiner then asked: “How many potatoes are there?

Left with no other choice, Yan Wangsun made a second trip, reporting back, “There are eighty catties worth of potatoes.”

“What’s the price?”

Yan Wangsun cursed in his heart that the chubby examiner should have asked everything at once. On his third trip, he got the price, “Three Wen per catty.” “How is the quality of the potatoes? Is it worth the price?

Disguising his annoyance, Yan Wangsun went out for the fourth time to examine the potatoes. “The potato quality is average, worth about three to four Wen. It’s not overpriced.”

The chubby examiner cheerily proclaimed, “You’ve been eliminated.” “On what grounds!” Yan Wangsun was furious. He had been led around four times by the chubby examiner, hustling each time. It was half a day’s work of running about. Now he was telling him he had failed?

Was he being toyed with?

The chubby examiner shrugged, “You took four trips for a trivial matter about potatoes. How can I trust you with responsibilities?”

“Well, why didn’t you ask all the questions at once!

The examiner shook his head, “You’re the one who didn’t handle it thoroughly. How can you blame me for not asking all at once? Young man, in work, you need to learn to anticipate your superiors’ intentions.”

“Pah, do you think you are an emperor, asking for anticipation? The examiner didn’t get upset, “Even though you failed, you can still stay.” Yan Wangsun looked skeptically at the chubby examiner, afraid he was going to be played with again, “Really?”

“Do you remember the piece of paper you picked up at the entrance? I intentionally left it there to see who would pick it up.”

Yan Wangsun was elated, thinking that this was a test of his responsibility and observational skills.

“We happen to need someone in charge of cleanliness. You can stay and be responsible for cleaning.”

Yan Wangsun: ”?? ”

Yan Wangsun wanted to curse, but he didn’t say anything. Regardless, being able to stay meant he had passed the test, which was a good thing.

“Next!” The chubby examiner shouted.

Man Gu walked into the room. Yan Wangsun watched him with disdain, feeling that the man would definitely be toyed with by the examiner, just like himself.

“Go see if there are any potatoes for sale in the market.” The chubby examiner asked the same question.

Man Gu acknowledged him and left. He returned after over ten minutes.

“There’s an old man pushing a cart in the marketplace, selling potatoes. He has eighty catties of potatoes, priced at three Wen per catty. The quality of the potatoes matches the price. The old man also said that if you buy a lot of potatoes, the price can be reduced by ten percent…”

Man Gu’s answer was incredibly detailed, covering even points the chubby examiner hadn’t considered. Standing to one side, Yan Wangsun was stunned. Despite Man Gu’s bulky size, he was actually rather sensitive and considerate. He excelled in learning from others, especially Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Looking at his current situation, there still seemed to be a long way to go until graduation.

“Congratulations, you have been selected.”

“See, I told you so, Man Gu’s a good seedling.” The vice-master watched Man Gu pass the test again, and felt quite pleased. It proved that his approach to the test had been correct.

Others ran back and forth twice to answer all four questions from the examiner, which barely qualified.

Only Man Gu perfectly aligned with his thought process.

The master nodded, “It seems that the second test is examining thoroughness in carrying out tasks and the ability to consider things from the superior’s perspective.”

Members of the Demon Path have to handle matters meticulously to avoid leaving any loose ends that the Righteous Path can exploit.

Besides, you can only demonstrate your potential for promotion if you can take your superiors’ needs into account. Senior members would then consider promoting you.

These were the considerations the vice-master had in mind when designing the second test.

“This time, there surely won’t be any other solution.” The vice-master pleasedly laughed.

Without uttering a word, the master turned his gaze towards the two individuals who had performed exceptionally in the first round.

His intuition told him there might be another solution.