Gathering up the flag from the Lei Jian Sect, Tian Yi Zhenren and Chan Master Huixin exchanged a few more words before returning to their previous spots. Both held considerable status within the martial world, and standing about for too long was highly improper. Chatting with Ye Wen for this length of time had already drawn attention; lingering further would only make them more conspicuous.

Once the pair departed, Bei Cheng Yan approached and said only one thing: "I know Headmaster Ye and the Tian Le Gang have long held a grudge! But Headmaster Ye can rest assured, though Pei Wei is a disciple of my Bei Jian Sect, now that he has joined the Tian Le Gang as an Elder, he belongs to the Tian Le Gang. My Bei Jian Sect will not make things difficult for Headmaster Ye because of this!"

With that, she cupped her hands in a salute and turned to leave, acting with such crisp finality that one wouldn't take her for a woman.

Ye Wen, however, paid little heed to her demeanor; what mattered was that assurance. With Bei Cheng Yan's words today, if he ever truly went to war with the Tian Le Gang, he wouldn't have to hold back his hands for fear of entanglement with the Bei Jian Sect.

"The Bei Jian Sect is no longer a worry; it’s the stance of the Buddhist Sect that remains unknown! However, judging by Chan Master Huixin's attitude just now, it seems as long as my side can stand on solid reasoning, even killing Guo Nu would be inconsequential.

Everyone knows Guo Nu's mastery of Zen martial arts. Although I don't know which high master of the Buddhist Sect he studies under, his connection to the sect is evident at a glance.

Never mind the Tathagata Vajra Fist; even the Golden Bell Shield he displayed a few days ago is a supreme Zen martial art, certainly not something an ordinary disciple could learn.

Though the strength of Ye Wen's Shu Mountain Sect has grown immensely, he still dared not easily fall out with the Tian Le Gang, precisely because of the complex web of connections woven throughout that faction.

These two Elders alone implicate major sects in the Jianghu. If the stance of those two factions cannot be ascertained, rashly engaging in war could easily invite disaster upon oneself.

Furthermore, among the Four Great Elders, there is Hua Yi, and another, Xiao Ming, whom he has never even met and who remains quite mysterious in the martial world. He has met Hua Yi's master—that woman’s strange martial arts were unfathomably deep, especially the method she used to draw upon the true qi within his body, which made him wary.

He had no idea what other forces lay behind this woman. If she hailed from some great sect—given her cultivation—she must be an important figure. Unless he could clarify that matter first...

Sitting back in his own seat, Ye Wen’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter; he even lost the mood to watch the fights on the arena stage.

However, ever since the matter concerning his Shu Mountain Sect had settled, the Martial Arts Assembly seemed to be continually declining from its peak. Although the people stepping onto the stage later still had some renown, most were only famous within localized regions. They came to the Jianghu either to show off some skill, casually challenge someone, or to settle some existing grievances. During these proceedings, countless farces erupted where both sides argued endlessly, requiring the judgment of Bei Cheng Xuan of the Bei Jian Sect.

This is why the host of the Martial Arts Assembly must be a sect with immense prestige in the Jianghu: they are invariably required to act as notary and, at times, judge. Those of low standing would struggle to command respect.

If disputes arose on the stage during this assembly hosted by the Bei Jian Sect, they would need to dispatch someone to investigate thoroughly and issue a ruling. This ruling had to be one that the populace would accept, otherwise, instead of gaining prestige, they would severely tarnish their reputation. For years afterward, they might never shake off the title of being unfair in their dealings.

At this moment, Bei Cheng Xuan was indeed resolving several disputes on stage with flair, displaying the decisiveness of a county magistrate handling cases. His words were well-reasoned and convincing, drawing cheers from the crowd below, all hailing Bei Cheng Xuan’s competence.

As Bei Cheng Yan's nephew and the Headmaster’s senior disciple, Bei Cheng Xuan possessed formidable cultivation and already held some renown in the Jianghu. But it was only today that he truly became a figure celebrated by heroes everywhere, remembered for himself rather than merely for his status as the Chief Disciple of the Bei Jian Sect Headmaster.

"The Bei Jian Sect truly lives up to its status as a first-rate faction in the Jianghu. Judging by Bei Cheng Xuan's conduct and composed demeanor, he is a true talent of this era! A great sect must continually produce such outstanding disciples if it is to pass down its legacy through the generations..."

Ye Wen pondered how rapidly his Shu Mountain Sect had expanded. Although many disciples had been recruited, its foundation remained unstable. For now, the sect relied entirely on himself and his martial siblings to prop it up. If he could not cultivate disciples capable of standing on their own, it would remain a castle in the air, destined to collapse into dust sooner or later!

Currently, Xu Ping and Li Sen were making rapid progress, but this was based on the fact that they already possessed a foundation in martial arts. They had started learning profound martial arts too late, and their foundational training was merely adequate. They had wasted the golden years of martial practice without truly mastering anything valuable, so their future achievements would likely be limited. He feared their progress would slow increasingly, hitting a bottleneck at a certain level, beyond which they could hardly advance.

In contrast, Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo had the most solid foundations, suggesting they might achieve the best results in the long run. However, this required long accumulation, and they couldn't be relied upon in the short term.

Yue Ning was now fifteen, and Zhou Zhiruo was rapidly approaching eleven. Ye Wen figured in another five years, they could be sent out for experience, to roam for a few years, and then they should be capable of holding their own.

"Ten years?" Ye Wen rubbed his smooth chin, calculating inwardly. "In ten years, I'll be an uncle, right?"

Men in this era generally favored growing beards, but Ye Wen retained his old habit of disliking facial hair.

Ning Ruxue had once suggested he grow a beard to appear more imposing and possess the air of a Headmaster.

Ye Wen had retorted: "Whether I’m a Headmaster isn't determined by whether I have a beard! Why grow one? It's a bother to manage every day!" Since transmigrating, his long hair alone was enough hassle; growing a beard on top of that would mean he’d accomplish nothing in the mornings, spending all his time grooming those two things.

Fortunately, growing a beard wasn't mandatory in this world, and those who preferred it were mostly men past middle age. Thus, Ye Wen’s lack of a beard didn't draw much notice.

Coupled with his formidable martial arts, no one dared utter clichés like, "A man without whiskers is unreliable," in his presence! He glanced back at Guo Jing—this youngest disciple was still standing nearby, carrying his heavy sword on his back, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the stage.

It was hard to judge the aptitude of this disciple who joined the latest. Judging by how quickly he had managed to wield the Heavy Sword Forms with some semblance of skill, he shouldn't be considered dull-witted. However, when learning martial arts that emphasized subtle variations, he often failed to grasp the core principles for half a day.

Ye Wen could only sigh that this Guo Jing was decidedly not the Guo Jing he knew; perhaps he only possessed outstanding talent in certain categories of martial arts. To master all disciplines as the original Guo Jing did would likely prove very difficult!

But then again, this young disciple had barely seen the world, had only learned some rudimentary martial arts, and his insight was surely lacking. Perhaps as his experience grew, his mind might finally awaken?

"I hope so!"

As for what level this disciple might reach in the future, it was genuinely hard to predict! For now, Ye Wen would continue to teach him diligently. He summoned Guo Jing to his side and, whenever he saw an exquisite move on stage, would ask, "If you had to counter this move, how would you do it?"

Guo Jing pondered for a moment, then answered uncertainly, "I'd just chop at it with my sword?"

"..."

Ye Wen rubbed his temples. "That’s not wrong! But if the opponent's power is similar to yours, and they attack again after you chop, how would you defend?"

This time, Guo Jing answered readily, blurting out, "Chop at them again with my sword!"

He gave a wry smile, unsure whether to nod or shake his head. If he nodded, his objective of trying to prompt the young disciple—to see if his mind showed any signs of awakening—would be dashed.

But a negative shake wasn't right either, because Guo Jing’s response was precisely the essence of the technique Ye Wen had taught him: not seeking victory through variation, but meeting all changes with one full-force strike, forcing the opponent to block, and making it impossible for them to hold against the blow. Therefore, Guo Jing’s reply was a direct result of Ye Wen's instruction.

After some thought, Ye Wen finally sighed, "Just keep walking down this path firmly... perhaps I can still coach a monster!" He patted the young disciple's shoulder and praised him, "Well countered!"

Subsequently, when Ye Wen saw something exciting, he only asked, "If that move is executed, which stance do you use to respond?"

It was then that Guo Jing revealed he wasn't entirely foolish. Hearing this, he responded variously, "Sweep across with the sword!" or "Strike down with full power!" He wasn't stuck on only saying "Chop at it with my sword!"

This time, Ye Wen was truly satisfied. Though Guo Jing was direct, he wasn't dull. He utilized the few simple moves of the Heavy Sword Forms quite appropriately. That recent exchange, while theoretical, at least showed the disciple had that inherent capability. His interest in teaching surged immediately.

After all, if a master poured effort into teaching only to find the disciple as dense as a stone, never grasping the lessons, the master would suffer a great blow and lose enthusiasm. Seeing his disciple learn what he taught so well, Ye Wen was naturally happy and taught with even greater vigor.

After questioning him about the Heavy Sword Forms, two combatants ascended the stage to exchange blows using only fists and feet. Ye Wen wished to test how well his apprentice had practiced his Iron Palm, so he instructed him to counter with it.

"Swing the palm diagonally to deflect that incoming palm, then follow up with a direct strike to the center!"

"Block with a sweeping arm, then strike out with a palm!"

"Strike out with one palm!"

"Strike out with both palms simultaneously!"

"Strike out with both palms simultaneously!"

"Strike out with one palm..."

Initially, Guo Jing would mention variations, techniques for redirection, and manipulation. But as the answers progressed, they consistently boiled down to simply "Strike out with one palm." Ye Wen couldn't help but ask, "Why are all these countermeasures just 'Strike out with one palm'?"

Guo Jing scratched the back of his head, thinking his master was angry. He mumbled, "Disciple feels that if I strike out with one palm, the opponent's move will naturally collapse. There's no need to worry about parrying..."

Ye Wen was momentarily speechless, then understood Guo Jing's meaning: Since my strength clearly surpasses yours, why bother with your weak and ineffective moves? I’ll execute my move; since one strike from me will put you down, the problem is solved.

Moreover, because Guo Jing had followed Ye Wen's prior instruction to use full force in every strike—deploying ten parts of his power in every move, each one the culmination of his entire internal strength—someone whose power was close to his would genuinely struggle to withstand that palm strike.

As for those whose power was clearly superior to Guo Jing’s... well, it was likely the other party would be the one delivering the single decisive blow, a scenario Ye Wen needn't concern himself with.

After instructing him for a while, Ye Wen sent the disciple off to watch and observe more, though he deliberately withheld the advice to "think deeply." For any other disciple, he would have added that word, but for Guo Jing, it was clearly inappropriate.

Guo Jing's strength lay in his simple, earnest heart: no matter how complex the changes thrown at him, he remained constant—coincidentally aligning with the Dao of meeting all change with constancy. If he were told to overthink things, it would be adding flourishes to a snake's drawing, likely confusing him further, which would be counterproductive. So, letting him continue practicing as he was seemed best.

Waving Guo Jing aside to watch on his own, Ye Wen then called Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo to his side for further guidance. These two disciples had solid foundations and had been learning martial arts a few years longer than Guo Jing. The low-tier techniques on stage now barely registered in their eyes. However, since their master was testing them, they dared not be casual. When Ye Wen inquired, both meticulously broke down and countered using the specific moves they had learned, never mentioning brute force suppression.

Only when he was satisfied with their responses did Ye Wen say, "The reason I test you both this way today is to make you seriously consider the intricacies within the profound arts you have learned. You two have learned much, but you’ve neglected practice, leaving many techniques not fully mastered. If you grasp their subtleties, even when encountering opponents with greater power, victory is not impossible!"

"Of course, if your power is greater than theirs, you two need not be so complicated; just use your full strength to defeat the opponent! In that scenario, thinking too much becomes a hindrance!"

Yue Ning respectfully replied, "Your disciple remembers Master’s teaching!" Zhou Zhiruo, her expression unchanged, gave a curt bow and said coldly, "Thank you, Master, for the instruction!" before departing.

Finally, Xu Ping required the least attention from Ye Wen. However, to demonstrate fairness and impartiality, Ye Wen called him over for a briefing. Naturally, he added, "I called you over last because you are the oldest and most experienced; you don't require much instruction from your teacher! This grand gathering is a huge opportunity; do not miss it!"

Although Xu Ping understood the reason behind Ye Wen's actions, hearing the master explain it personally was vastly different from simply realizing it himself; the former brought significantly more comfort. Xu Ping felt his mood lighten considerably: "Yes, Master!"

Since Xu Xian was absent, Ye Wen also called Li Sen over to instruct him. As the Headmaster of the Shu Mountain Sect, he had a duty to guide all disciples, and he couldn't neglect Li Sen just because he was Xu Xian's disciple.

After personally guiding each of them, Ye Wen turned back to look at the stage. It was already afternoon; in a short while, the assembly would conclude.

Ning Ruxue, who had watched Ye Wen instruct his disciples, hadn't dared interrupt. Now, she leaned close and whispered to him, "Senior Brother is looking more and more like a true Headmaster now!"

Ye Wen secretly glanced at his disciples; seeing them all intently watching the stage, he quietly replied, "Was I not like one before?"

Ning Ruxue gently shook her head. "No!"

"Then what was I like before?"

Hearing Ye Wen ask this, Ning Ruxue recalled the former Ye Wen who used to anger her so much, and she huffed, "Like an ignorant, lazy scholar!"

"Uh..." Ye Wen rubbed his nose, striking a pose like Chu Liuxiang. "Junior Sister is the scholar! How could I be like one?"

Ning Ruxue rolled her eyes. "Junior Brother Xu comes from a scholarly family and is naturally brilliant. He passed the xiucai exam at seventeen and became a gongsheng at nineteen. He’s about to attend the Imperial Examination now—he’s famous throughout Ping Province and the surrounding territories. How could he be a mere scholar? It was only you, Senior Brother, who spent your days clutching books but never managed to pass a single examination. Fortunately, now that you're back on the right path, you are finally..." At this point, her face suddenly flushed red, and she turned away, unwilling to continue: "I won't talk to Senior Brother about it anymore!"

Ye Wen saw Ning Ruxue grow shy. Although he wanted to tease her further, he worried she might explode at him, so he mused to himself, That previous self of mine was quite useless, failing to even pass the scholar examination!

In this Shang Dynasty world, the imperial examination system was broadly similar to the one Ye Wen knew, but with some differences.

A scholar, if confident in their knowledge, could go to the prefectural seat of their current prefecture to take the Xiucai examination. This scholar exam had virtually no restrictions; anyone who wished to try could do so. Moreover, one could attempt it year-round. Each prefectural seat housed an office specifically handling these matters, called the Xuefu (Academy/Examiner's Office).

However, if one failed the application exam, they were prohibited from retaking it for at least half a year. The official reason given was that failure meant insufficient learning, requiring them to go back and study more. In reality, it was to prevent certain people from endlessly reapplying, which would hinder the Xuefu from handling official business properly. Every person taking the Xiucai exam for the first time received a small booklet, which was equivalent to the admission ticket in Ye Wen’s original world. But this booklet served another function: it acted as a scholar's diploma.

If the exam was passed, an examiner would affix a seal on a dedicated page in that booklet, elevating the individual to the rank of Xiucai. This person could then use this credential to participate in the Provincial Examination held every spring in the prefectural seat.

If they failed the exam, a seal would also be applied, but this one marked the failure and the date, and the information was recorded in registers to prevent the person from reapplying a few days later. This booklet was issued in duplicate: one copy for the Xuefu and one for the individual. They had to be cross-referenced during applications, which discouraged scholars from wandering too far. If one moved to a different prefecture, they needed to report to the Xuefu and wait until their copy of the booklet arrived before being eligible to take the exam locally.

As one took further exams, if a person had too many seals in this booklet, their 'impression score' would inevitably drop significantly. If two candidates' answer scripts were of nearly equal quality and the outcome was hard to determine, this booklet might decide the final ranking—though only after establishing whether the script passed or failed, and determining the rough ranking for that session, before checking who wrote which paper, and finally consulting the booklet.

Passing the Provincial Examination led to becoming a Juren (Recommended Man). At this stage, one enjoyed certain benefits granted by the court, such as tax reductions or exemption from corvée labor. In the scholarly world, this conferred status, and their lives would slowly move away from poverty towards prosperity. Many people liked to essentially sell themselves into the households of Juren to avoid paying taxes and performing labor. Xiucai, however, enjoyed no such benefits; despite appearing only one step below, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Attaining the Juren status allowed one to participate in the Metropolitan Examination held every two years in the capital’s examination hall. This gathered the elite talents from across the entire nation. Passing this exam meant not just being registered in the archives, but having one's name entered into the Ministry of Personnel’s records. Even if one couldn't advance further, this secured the potential capital for an official post.

As for the Imperial Examination, held every four years, participants included those who passed the Metropolitan Examination in the preceding four years, along with any scholars who qualified previously but had not yet attended the Imperial Examination.

Each person could only attempt the Imperial Examination once. Success meant ascending to glory; failure meant being barred from this path forever. Nearly everyone who participated secured some minor official position; few failed, and those who did suffered long-term scorn.

The Imperial Examination was essentially the Emperor personally assessing the quality of this new cohort of Gongsheng and establishing their final rankings.

Broadly speaking, this was a contest among the elite of the elite for the highest honor a scholar could attain. Naturally, those who passed the Imperial Examination received at least the title of Tong Jinshi. Those ranked in the top three became the legendary top three officials: the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua—officialdom's divine tiers.

This was the Shang Dynasty's examination system. Recalling that Xu Xian was eligible for the Imperial Examination meant he had long secured Gongsheng status. The fact that he had remained on Shu Mountain for the past two years clearly indicated he had achieved that status even earlier. Moreover, Ning Ruxue had mentioned Xu Xian had already qualified as a Gongsheng. "Why is he only attending the Imperial Examination now?"