As for Guo Aniu, Xu Xian paid him little mind, and Ning Ruxue merely glanced his way. The only ones truly focused on the spar were Huang Rongrong and Ye Wen.

Huang Rongrong paid close attention because she was the one who had brought this person to the Shu Shan Sect. If he performed poorly, it would be a huge embarrassment. In the future, if someone asked, "How did this useless lump even get admitted to the Shu Shan Sect?" and the answer was, "He was brought by Madam Xu (Huang Rongrong's mind running wild)," she would lose face too, wouldn't she? Thus, she hoped Guo Aniu could show some spirit; not necessarily win first place, but just pass the first round would be enough to call it a passing grade. If he could just hover somewhere in the middle, she would be immensely satisfied.

Ye Wen, however, felt that although this fellow was slow-witted, he possessed a simple and honest nature, and was quite straightforward. Such people might not have the best martial arts skills, but they were destined for achievement. This was because when they practice, their focus is absolute, unburdened by excessive scheming. Even if their initial progress is slow, through sheer accumulation, their ultimate achievements will far surpass those of ordinary people.

Just as he was pondering whether Guo Aniu might surprise him, he saw Guo Aniu’s opponent finish the ritual bow and immediately slash down with his saber. Guo Aniu was startled by the sudden attack, but... in that instant, he somehow managed to weave out of the way, then immediately rolled, executing a very common but aesthetically displeasing move known as the 'Wretched Donkey Roll' to evade the blow.

This maneuver took everyone by surprise. Although the Shu Shan Sect did not teach its outer disciples any sophisticated movement techniques, the essence of dodging and weaving was inherent in nearly every martial art practiced during training. However, hardly any genuine martial art form incorporated the 'Wretched Donkey Roll,' and certainly none of the Shu Shan Sect's techniques did. The fundamental reason was that the move was simply too disgraceful; ordinary practitioners would be too embarrassed to use it. After all, a martial artist thrives on reputation, and who has ever heard of a master who frequently employs the Wretched Donkey Roll?

Guo Aniu had used it instinctively out of panic, but because of his simple nature, he never considered how shameful the move was; he only cared that he successfully avoided the saber strike. Even the surrounding disciples, after a moment of stunned silence, burst into laughter, yet he paid them no mind.

Only the disciple sparring with Guo Aniu managed a wry smile and remarked, "Senior Brother Guo, you use that move quite skillfully!" He intended this as mockery, suggesting Guo Aniu often resorted to such embarrassing techniques. But unexpectedly, Guo Aniu chuckled heartily, "Is that so? I just suddenly thought of it, Junior Brother. Please forgive my clumsiness!"

Most outer disciples of the Shu Shan Sect entered around the same time, making it difficult to definitively distinguish between senior and junior brethren based on seniority alone. Therefore, rankings were usually determined by martial skill, unless there was a very clear seniority difference. Although Guo Aniu hadn't joined very early, he wasn't late either, having arrived months before the last fifty new recruits, thus earning him the title of 'Senior Brother.' However, some of these later disciples, accustomed to ranking by combat prowess, felt Guo Aniu's seniority was undeserved, especially those with proud hearts who didn't care about the ranking system. If Guo Aniu had been savvy and referred to himself as a junior, they wouldn't have pressed the issue. But Guo Aniu, clueless about social nuance, simply accepted the title, provoking resentment in the other disciple, whose eyes flashed with malice. He thought to himself, "I'll surely teach this ungrateful blockhead a lesson he won't forget!"

He unleashed his 'Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber' technique, each move fierce and relentless. While he deliberately avoided life-threatening vital points, any blow that landed would surely result in broken limbs or severe injury requiring months of recovery.

Ye Wen observed the saber disciple's exceptionally vicious attacks. Seeing Xu Ping approaching him, Ye Wen first gave him a significant look, signaling him not to interfere, while simultaneously paying close attention to Guo Aniu's evasive movements. He noticed that all these actions were derived entirely from the stances of the Taizu Chang Quan (Grand Ancestor Long Fist), and every dodge and slip was precise, without the slightest deviation. Ye Wen admitted to himself that he couldn't execute the Taizu Chang Quan with such pristine authenticity, especially while engaging in actual combat. Yet, Guo Aniu was defending and evading the opponent's 'Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber' purely through this extremely authentic form of Taizu Chang Quan. Moreover, after adapting to the saber moves, he even had the spare capacity to counterattack.

"Junior Brother, be careful! Senior Brother is attacking now!"

This casual warning caused the expressions of all the surrounding spectators to change drastically. They all knew how vicious the 'Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber' was. If they were in that position, merely managing to block would be their limit; how could they possibly have the leisure to speak? Even more alarming was that Guo Aniu was warning his opponent of his impending counterattack...

"Is he truly an idiot?"

Guo Aniu’s warning was meant kindly, but it terrified his opponent. Seeing that his all-out attacks couldn't subdue this simpleton, who even had time to announce a counterattack, the saber disciple was startled out of his wits. His saber technique immediately fell into disarray, leading to a flurry of wild slashes that looked ferocious but were riddled with openings.

Guo Aniu intended to strike, but upon seeing his junior brother’s technique collapse for unknown reasons, he immediately leaped backward, swiftly jumping clear of the long saber's reach, and then said, "Junior Brother, why are you flustered? I’ll wait for you; let's continue after you calm down..."

Whoosh!

This action was even more devastating. The surrounding disciples murmured incessantly, though the most common sentiment remained: "He really is a stupid ox!" Even Huang Rongrong couldn't stand it. She jumped up and cursed, "Are you an idiot? His technique fell apart just then; why didn't you just beat him down? Why all the nonsense?"

Guo Aniu looked utterly bewildered and turned to ask, "Isn't this a competition? Naturally, we must fight honorably!"

Huang Rongrong’s small face flushed crimson; she desperately wanted to rush up and kick Guo Aniu twice, but he was standing in the ring, and rushing in would be completely inappropriate. Besides, Ye Wen was sitting right there. Having already suffered several reprimands, she dared not act rashly. Furthermore, what Guo Aniu said was perfectly logical, leaving her momentarily speechless.

With this pause, the saber disciple had already regained his composure, discarding any trace of condescension. He bowed to Guo Aniu and said, "Thank you for your restraint, Senior Brother. This time, please make the first move!" The Shu Shan Sect, in this recruitment cycle, prioritized temperament above all else. Those who swaggered immediately upon arriving were swiftly expelled; only those who were modest and polite were admitted into the sect. Thus, although the disciples ranked themselves via sparring, the atmosphere wasn't chaotic like some fictional sects might be. The previous underestimation of Guo Aniu stemmed mostly from youthful arrogance rather than malice; a little guidance would suffice. This was also why Ye Wen did not intervene directly to stop the match: although the disciple attacked fiercely, it was largely due to the nature of the saber technique itself. Moreover, he had deliberately avoided vital areas, showing he maintained some measure of restraint. Ye Wen simply stayed silent, watching intently. Now that he had calmed down and heard Guo Aniu's words, he understood his mistake. This gesture of yielding now served as a slight compensation to Guo Aniu.

Guo Aniu was also straightforward. Hearing this, he offered no more polite resistance, simply nodding, "Alright, I'm coming then, Junior Brother be careful!" The other man raised his long saber and said, "Senior Brother, I await your instruction..."

From this moment on, the spar genuinely transformed into a demonstration of skill within the sect, no longer a venue for vying for fame or engaging in reckless play. The surrounding disciples seemed to gain insight as well; one by one, they stopped their loud clamor, quietly watching the fight. When something exciting happened, they couldn't help but let out an appreciative shout.

They watched as one man danced his saber into a blur of silver light, while the other’s movements—advancing and retreating—were rigidly structured. His punches and blocks were all clear and visible, yet each was delivered with perfect timing, rendering the saber's intricate movements utterly ineffective.

Finally, after twenty exchanges, Guo Aniu seized an opportunity and struck the man squarely in the chest with a punch. A dull thud echoed, and the saber disciple staggered back several steps before managing to steady himself. After catching his breath a few times, he cupped his hands toward Guo Aniu, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for the instruction!" Then, he picked up his saber and descended the stage.

Guo Aniu watched the man leave, only then realizing he had actually won. He scratched the back of his head and grinned foolishly for a while, then called out to Huang Rongrong over there, "I won, you know..." Huang Rongrong rolled her eyes and muttered, "I saw that..." before returning to her seat without another word.

Guo Aniu didn't mind, just smiling differently. Though simple in temperament, he was not foolish. Natural understanding did not equate to low intelligence. He was well aware of how his junior brethren usually viewed him, but he simply chose not to bicker. Furthermore, since he hadn't mastered any of his forms well—while the junior disciples were already learning their second sets—they likely considered him truly dense, which made him even less inclined to argue. Now, in the sect competition, he had managed to defeat a junior brother who usually looked down on him. How could he not be pleased? In his excitement, he forgot he was still standing on the stage! Coupled with his inability to hide his inner feelings, even a blind man could tell the young man was overjoyed.

Finally, Xu Ping came over and said, "You should step down now; others are waiting to spar!" Guo Aniu snapped back to reality, stammering apologies several times as he hurriedly ran off the competition area, allowing the grand competition to proceed normally.

Observing this, Ye Wen had formed a plan. He turned to Xu Xian and asked, "What do you think of this Guo Aniu?"

Xu Xian had already guessed what Ye Wen was about to say and nodded, "His temperament is sincere and pure; he is quite good! And seeing how perfectly he executes the Taizu Chang Quan, his comprehension of martial arts is likely not poor... However, someone so simple-minded might not fit the path of myself or Senior Sister. It seems Senior Brother will have to teach him personally!" Ye Wen nodded and said no more. For the subsequent matches, he paid even closer attention to Guo Aniu’s performance. Indeed, Guo Aniu executed the Taizu Chang Quan with rigid formality, yet always with perfect timing—delivering the most appropriate move at the most crucial moment. The boxing form was the same, but because the practitioner was different, the power manifested differently.

Ye Wen finally witnessed the truth of this statement: given Guo Aniu’s disposition, he was most suited to learn direct, overwhelmingly powerful martial arts. Thinking it over, Guo Aniu truly bore some resemblance to that Guo Jing. If he were to teach martial arts, he might need to reference that Great Hero Guo.

"Am I supposed to teach him the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms? I don't even know them myself!" At the same time, he remembered that Zhang Wuji once used the alias Zeng Aniu. This Guo Aniu somehow inherited the glory of two major protagonists, yet his temperament bore no resemblance to that Great Cultivator Zhang Wuji. "Besides... I don't know Zhang Wuji's Nine Yang Divine Art or the Heaven and Earth Great Shift either!" While no one was paying attention, Ye Wen scratched his head, realizing that the most straightforward technique he possessed was his Purple Cloud Dragon Qi Sword, but that was his ultimate secret art and could not be passed on lightly. Even if he were to teach it, he would teach Yue Ning first. Even if he wanted to pass on his current skill level to Guo Aniu, the latter couldn't learn it yet.

While he was scratching his head, Guo Aniu on the stage was oblivious to the Sect Leader worrying about how to mold this raw jade in the future. He continued steadily, match after match, executing one move after another. As the competition wore on, the other disciples grew weary, but Guo Aniu remained spirited and full of energy. Every punch he threw carried maximum force, making it extremely difficult for his opponents to defend. They could only dodge left and right, which rapidly depleted their stamina. In the end, they inevitably left an opening for Guo Aniu to land a decisive punch to the chest. After several consecutive bouts, every opponent Guo Aniu faced was defeated by a punch to the chest, leading the other disciples to assume their Senior Brother was doing it intentionally, filling them with dread.

The others were unaware, but Ye Wen understood: this straight punch to the chest, while the simplest move in the Taizu Chang Quan, was also its most powerful one. This punch demanded absolute, forward momentum; one had to exert twelve parts of force when intending ten. Ye Wen, caught up in his complex thoughts, found himself unable to execute its subtlety. Guo Aniu, when learning this set of boxing forms, first studied this move, practiced it the most diligently, and was most familiar with it. Since it was also the most practical move, he ended up defeating opponents by striking them in the chest. When attacking the chest, there weren't many other suitable targets, though in direct combat, the face was also an option. But Ye Wen knew the key, and there was no need to explain it to the crowd. Thus, the Shu Shan Sect's first Outer Disciple Competition became Guo Aniu's stage to shine.

Guo Aniu stepped up, seemingly following the basic routine of the sect's most fundamental Taizu Chang Quan, yet he defeated numerous skilled outer disciples one by one with a single punch, progressing unimpeded all the way to secure first place.

"Good heavens, that's terrifyingly brutal!" Although the disciples wouldn't voice it this way, they couldn't help but emit similar internal shouts. This "stupid ox," scorned by everyone, was actually the top expert among the Shu Shan Sect’s outer disciples. Zhou Ding did not participate; as an outer deacon now, he no longer counted as a disciple, and his seniority ranked alongside Xu Ping. Even on the second day after the competition concluded, many disciples still harbored disbelief, thinking they had experienced an incredible dream.

"Do you know what I dreamed about?" "What?" "I dreamed that the stupid ox actually became the absolute top master among the outer disciples of our sect!" "Ah? Are you delirious? That wasn't a dream!" "I guess I’m still not awake..."

But Guo Aniu heard none of these comments. As soon as the competition ended, Ye Wen summoned him. The simple-minded Guo Aniu had no idea why the Sect Leader wanted to see him; he simply assumed the Sect Leader was going to keep his earlier promise and teach him some superior martial arts. This thought made him doubt whether he could learn those subtle techniques. Even though he had won first place among the outer disciples, he still didn't consider himself particularly clever; he just thought his junior brothers hadn't practiced enough, since he only knew the ordinary Taizu Chang Quan. He believed his smooth run to victory was purely due to his familiarity with the form.

However, when he arrived at a grand hall in the inner sect area, he saw Ye Wen, Xu Xian, Ning Ruxue, and the other elders of the Shu Shan Sect all seated there. Huang Rongrong was on the side, making expressive faces at him, which only confused him further until he gave her a look of utter bewilderment. This caused Huang Rongrong to curse under her breath, "Idiot! I was giving you a signal! This is good fortune, seize the moment!" But even as she blinked furiously, she couldn't convey the meaning to Guo Aniu, so she finally gave up.

Ye Wen sipped his tea, observing this most outstanding outer disciple, unsure whether to be pleased or frustrated. "He is a good disciple, but teaching him well will certainly test my ability to instruct students!" Like that Guo Great Hero, who remained a stubborn blockhead after studying under the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, rendering him useless for important tasks initially. Yet later it proved that the issue wasn't the Great Hero's aptitude, but the terribly low skill level of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, especially their ability to teach.

Presently, Ye Wen was preoccupied with another matter. He had already discussed with Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian that they would bring Guo Aniu into the inner sect. If they accepted him, they couldn't keep calling him by the familiar nickname 'Aniu.' According to Guo Aniu’s earlier explanation, 'Aniu' was his childhood name, and he had never been given a formal name for various reasons. Now that Ye Wen was taking him as a disciple, as his master, he had the right to bestow a proper name.

"Guo Aniu, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Aniu immediately replied, "It is just that this disciple is too dull; the Sect Leader might not approve..."

Huang Rongrong covered her face, Xu Xian nearly choked on his tea, and Ning Ruxue shook her head repeatedly. Ye Wen smiled and said, "Whether you are dull or not, this Sect Leader does not care. Right now, I only ask if you are willing or not?"

Guo Aniu was simple, but not stupid. He immediately nodded vigorously, "Of course, I am most willing!"

Ye Wen nodded, "Then proceed with the discipleship ceremony!"

Guo Aniu immediately knelt and kowtowed, his movements swift enough to make even Huang Rongrong marvel, "He’s not acting foolish when it matters!" Someone nearby had already prepared the tea. Guo Aniu took it and offered it to Ye Wen. Ye Wen took a small sip, completing the initial rite. However, there would be more formalities later. Ye Wen said simply, "Later, you will accompany me to pay respects to all our Ancestors, and then you will officially become the eighth-generation disciple of our Shu Shan Sect!" He then looked at Guo Aniu, "As for now! Let me ask you, have you thought of a formal name?"

"Of course, I have thought of one!" Guo Aniu immediately recalled that the old neighbor had told him: when taking a master, one could request a name from the teacher. He quickly said, "I trouble my Master to bestow a formal name upon this disciple!"

Everyone immediately turned their gaze to Ye Wen, who appeared poised and confident. He asked, "Your Master actually has several excellent names in mind right now, but I wonder which one you prefer?"

Guo Aniu remained silent, looking at Ye Wen expectantly. Xu Xian curiously asked, "What names are there?"

Ye Wen’s lips curved slightly, feeling a surge of pleasure internally, yet managing to suppress a full laugh. He then listed several names: "Guo Sheng, Guo Jing, Guo Si, Guo Wuji, Guo Ziyi, Guo Xiaotian, Guo Fucheng, Guo Degang!"................

PS: Oh dear, so many names... I actually remembered this many...