"The people who have reached the peak of the mountain will be considered as passed this time and will be able to enter the organisation but the competition still wouldn't end like this.

After reaching the peak it is almost guaranteed that a ranking competition will be held. The ranking will decide your assignment as well as many other perks;

"So master must try his best to win, for my sake too.”

The seeded combatants this time are,

Xuan Wu, a local practitioner from a nearby city he is famous for his monstrous strength and endurance, it is said that he stumbled upon his body cultivation technique in some powerful master’s inheritance.

Ha Ken, a genuine sword maniac he has challenged and defeated numerous masters, even some above his cultivation level. His skill with the sword is no joke and to make matters worse there are rumours that he has been accepted as the City Lord’s personal disciple.

Su Libai, the son of the grand elder of Immortal Illusion sect. Immortal Illusion sect is the strongest sect in this region. Their cultivation techniques are based on illusions and it is generally very hard to resist their means. He is a famous playboy but underestimating him would be folly.

He Xianru, the daughter of the city lord. She has been called a genius since birth and is the smallest in age among these 5 contenders. She is without a doubt the most talented in pure cultivation.

Gong Sunling, a rogue cultivator that doesn't have any force to speak off. He has been accused off many misdeeds but there wasn't ever substantial proof. He is proficient in sneak attacks and deceptive moves, a scoundrel of the highest order.

These 5 will become master’s greatest opponents, not because they are the strongest but because they will be the strongest candidates who can compete in the direct competition.

I am sure you must have wondered why people like Su Libai would apply to the post of City Guard, even though they have very lofty status in their own factions.

Many scions of big clans apply because the top 5 people of the competition can receive a chance to attend the Free City Academy after they reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

To ensure that only talented people apply, there is an age limit of 18 years for the city level competitions.

Hence, although some people of the 6th level of Qi condensation will inevitably participate. Their age would be greater than 18 which wouldn't allow them to participate in the direct competition.

Among the 5 people I've listed, all of them have the cultivation of 5th level of Qi condensation. Master should take sufficient measures, and fight with caution."

"What do you mean by that there is a chance to join the academy? Is it not certain?"

"The Academy is very prestigious and there is harsh competition, even the chosen few will face many challenges in the coming years.

However, the 5 people from each city will still receive many benefits and resources which are far better than the normal city guards."

Yun Fei mused to himself,

'Reaching the mountain is all it takes to become a normal city guard but it seems like a position like that is much worse compared to the benefits the top 5 people will receive.

I've already turned 16, this is probably my last chance to qualify for this. This seems like a good plan for the future, I can also learn cultivation techniques and methods which would be much harder to acquire without the support of an organisation.

I must get a position in the top 5 this time.'

"You have been very helpful but listening to all this detailed information and realising it's worth alao makes me wonder how you are able to acquire information like this."

"This is nothing much, just some meagre skills. I am very good at snooping around information like this. I've even done some chores in the city lord's office.

I can cook, clean, sneak around. I can do all kinds of tasks for master."

Yun Fei didn't feel like prying further into the matter and voiced out,

"Ok, I must focus on cultivation now to prepare for the examination. So go and do whatever you want to."

"Alright, I'll try to snoop some more specific information about the top contenders. Master can cultivate with peace of mind. There is some food kept in the room at the side, please help yourself to anything in this place."

Saying this, Dewanshu exited the underground abode and walked back towards the direction of the inn.

Yun Fei thought a little about the matters of the exam and then took out the Qi Condensation Manual to look at the meridian structure for the 4th layer of Qi Condensation.

The room sank into darkness as Yun Fei waved off the spirit lights and sat cross-legged, donning the forest kings crown; concentrating on forging the meridians for the 4th layer.

Devanshu reached the inn in some time, after getting an earful for leaving work without notice he got back to work.

As the sun set below the horizon giving way to the orange dusk, Dewanshu set off towards a modest shop in the market with the words ‘Clean Liquor Pavilion’ stencilled in bold but plain letters above it.

This shop, although modest from the outside was very spacious and well-furnished inside; a good ambience and the pleasant smell lingering in the air lent it a dignified aura.

It was one of the best shops for liquor in Sungon city. Normally, someone like Devanshu wouldn't even be allowed to enter this place but since he had worked here before, the guards didn't stop him from entering inside.

"What brings you here Devanshu? Are you in need of some work?" A young man who was working as the receptionist asked.

"No, brother Song, my hands are full with the job at the inn and the talisman shop already. I've come today to buy some liquor."

Replied Dewanshu as he took out 10 golden coins out of his pocket and handed them to the receptionist.

Taking out 10 golden coins made the miser in Devanshu feel like crying but he assured himself that it was a necessary expense and a good investment.

The receptionist made some small talk with Devanshu as he handed him the liquor, but soon was engaged by another customer.

Bidding good-bye to the receptionist, he exited the shop and walked to another part of the city.

Devanshu knew the importance of maintaining good relations with people, so he always focused on what to say and how to act around people.

This led to the people he worked with and the people who he worked for to feel that he was pleasant to be around and made his life easier while also providing some extra opportunities. His relationship with Yun Fei was also very good due to this.

He wasn't like this from the start, but some years on the street can easily erase the innocence of children and harden them up. For any weak person, it was best to not get into conflicts and to get along well with the people around them.

The sooner they realise this, the easier they can live their life. Devanshu was not irritatingly servile or blatant in his flattery.

He had turned it into an art form,

A smile here, a gesture there and a pleasant banter was all one needed to build a rapport with someone. An ever eager ear, the patience to refrain from judgement and a misleadingly innocent face were his tools, a master’s tools.

'It is important to ingratiate myself as much as possible in the eyes of this guy. The gold coins don't matter.

I need to go further and further, I have to take this chance to get stronger.'

Focusing himself as he reached his destination, Devanshu knocked on the door of an unassuming house.

The door opened and a white haired man showed up, he saw Devanshu and smiled warmly.

"Oh Kid, how have you been? It's been some time since you came, I thought you forgot about your uncle. Come on inside. "

This old man was Long Gao, Devanshu knew him from the time he worked at the city lord's office for some days.

Long Gao loved to gossip and was especially weak to flattery, he worked as the help in the city lord's office and immediately took a liking to Dewanshu.

"Hahahaha, how could that be uncle? I can never forget your grace, without you I would've had a hard time in the city lord's office.

I heard that you got promoted so I brought some liquor to congratulate you."

Dewanshu put the wrapped bottles on the table and gingerly extracted them.

Long Gao picked up a bottle to see and cried out in surprise and excitement, "Is this from Clear Liquor Pavilion? It must've been very expensive."

"Uncle Gao, even though it was a little expensive, you don't have to refuse. You can take this as my thanks for your assistance in the city lord's office before.

Let's celebrate your promotion by drinking till the morning."

Long Gao was very happy that Dewanshu came to congratulate him. He brought out the food he had just cooked up and took out 2 glasses.

'This old man has a very loose mouth and loves to gossip. The more he drinks the easier it would be to open his lips.'

"Uncle Gao, let's toast to your promotion."

As the night deepened, Devanshu kept toasting, thoroughly liquoring up the old man, when he figured that Long Gao had drunk enough he skillfully steered the conversation to the information that he wanted to acquire.

"Uncle Gao, have you heard about the city guard examination that is going to happen recently? I've heard that the lord's daughter is also going to participate in it, is that true?"

"Of course that's true, young miss has the greatest talent I've ever heard about. She's only 15 but has already reached the 5th stage of Qi condensation.

I thought that she would be able to win this time but there are even stronger people participating, if she had just waited till she was 18, she would definitely be able to get the first position."

"Ohh, stronger people? Who do you think is stronger than the young miss?"

"Have you heard about Ha Ken the swordsman? The city lord has recently accepted him as a disciple, he's too strong.

He is currently staying in the City lord's mansion so I was able to see him practice with some of the guards there."

"Really? I have often heard of him, what did you see?"

"He has a very strong sword drawing technique, it's like a flash. Many guards didn't take him seriously and were blown away by his technique. The speed of his sword is faster than my eyes.

The young Miss was no match for him and was defeated very soon. I think he is at the boundary of the 6th layer of Qi Condensation."

"I guess that he has the highest chance of getting the first place then."

"I won't be so sure about that, there is also the son of the grand elder of Immortal Illusion sect."

"Uncle Gao really looks at the situation from all perspectives, I wonder if you have heard anything about him."

"Hahahaha, of course I have. Although it's not really known, he has already arrived in the city today. He didn't do any training though but ran straight to the brothels, I've heard that he is known for being lascivious.

Although he is lascivious, his skills should be good. Immortal Illusion sect is a big sect after all."

Putting up a show of hesitating Devanshu asked, "I would really like to witness that sword technique, could uncle arrange something?”

Immediately Devanshu backtracked, "Forget it, I already regret it uncle, it was thoughtless of me. Presumptuous.”

“NONSENSE!!,” guffawed Gao, "Who do you think your uncle is? Come over tomorrow at sunrise, I’ll give you the greatest treat of your life.”

“Are you sure uncle?, I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

“No trouble, no trouble at all. Relax, now drink up.”

Some time passed and as he drank the fragrant spirit, Long Gao grew solemn, he suddenly said,

"Kid, I hope that you can start cultivating as soon as possible. The greatest regret in my life has been that I didn't cultivate when I was young. Now I've gotten old and weary, I've already lost the age to cultivate and will have to pass away of old age without any way to retaliate against my fate.

Cultivators are people who rebel against the heavens, I hope that you can be one of them too."

Saying this Long Gao fell asleep. After Devanshu carried him to his bed and tucked him in, he thought to himself: -

'This Long Gao isn't a bad guy, although he is a little vain and likes flattery, his heart is in the right place '

He exited Long Gao's house, strangely he was not the least bit inebriated as he once again took off to the streets, by this time it was already midnight.

'Aaaaah, Su Libai is in the brothels. I don't really want to do this but it is important. I have to sacrifice things to reach my goals that's just how the world works.'