Hearing this, Lin Jun became anxious and quickly said: "Steward Jiǎ, please be lenient. I am an Outer Disciple who just joined this year and have already registered. This friend of mine has come specifically to participate in the Outer Disciple free entry test. He is an orphan from a poor family and cannot wait until next year."
Jia Qingfeng gave him a sideways glance and looked at Zhang Yang, who was half a head taller than Lin Jun: "Are you almost eighteen this year?"
Zhang Yang bowed and said, "I am sixteen this year."
Jia Qingfeng waved his hand at him: "Then go back and come again next year. Perhaps your chances of passing the test will be greater."
Zhang Yang turned his head and looked at Lin Jun helplessly.
Lin Jun stepped forward and bowed: "Steward Jiǎ, you are also from Qingzhou City, aren't you? My father, Lin Jiacheng, often mentions you, saying that although you came from a humble background, you became a steward of the Qingyun Sect through your own talent and diligence..."
"Which Lin Jiacheng?" Jia Qingfeng interrupted him.
"Lin Jiacheng of the Lin Corporation," Lin Jun said respectfully.
"Oh, if you are the son of Qingzhou's richest man, then why..." He looked Lin Jun up and down, his gaze landing on the blue linen robe Lin Jun was wearing.
Lin Jun quickly said, "To tell you the truth, Steward Jiǎ, I had a little accident on my way to register at the Qingyun Sect."
Jia Qingfeng looked at Zhang Yang again and understood about seventy to eighty percent. He smiled and said, "I'll say it again, go back this year. Perhaps next year your chances of passing the test will be greater."
Lin Jun was truly anxious. He took out ten gold coins from his Spatial Ring and pressed them into Jia Qingfeng's hand: "Steward Jiǎ, please be lenient and give my friend a chance to participate in the test. Take this money for a cup of tea."
Jia Qingfeng smiled and put the ten gold coins into his Spatial Ring: "Alright, since Young Master Lin has so much confidence in his friend, I will give him a chance. However, if he fails the test, don't come back to me."
He picked up his brush, then fumbled under the table for a wooden plaque. He asked Zhang Yang, "Name? Age? Origin?"
Zhang Yang answered one by one.
Jia Qingfeng wrote the information on the wooden plaque and handed it to Zhang Yang: "The test should not be over yet. Take this wooden plaque to the Body Tempering Tower in the plaza and participate in the test."
Zhang Yang and Lin Jun thanked Jia Qingfeng and left, heading straight for the plaza.
One to two thousand people had gathered in the plaza.
Besides those participating in the Outer Disciple free entry test, most were there to watch the excitement. Not only Outer Disciples were present, but also some Inner Disciples wearing white robes.
A hexagonal iron tower stood in the center of the plaza. It was nine stories high, entirely black, with eight exits on each floor.
When Zhang Yang and Lin Jun arrived at the plaza, they saw two sixteen or seventeen-year-old youths in ordinary clothes being thrown out from two exits on the fifth floor.
Before they even hit the ground, they spat out a mouthful of blood.
After landing, their faces were pale, and they collapsed on the ground. Their expressions were a mix of frustration and confusion.
They had clearly reached the Body Tempering Seventh Layer cultivation, so why couldn't they withstand it on the fifth floor of the Body Tempering Tower and were thrown out?
Could their usual cultivation tests have been inaccurate?
A commotion erupted from the crowd, with some expressing pity and others mocking.
The two youths got up and sheepishly retreated to a group of people.
This group numbered nearly three hundred, most of them dressed in plain cloth. They all looked dejected, clearly having failed the test.
At the entrance of the first floor of the iron tower, more than twenty youths were still lining up with wooden plaques, waiting to enter.
On either side of the entrance stood two Inner Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, wearing white robes. They were responsible for maintaining order and recording test results.
Lin Jun recognized one of them. He was the eldest son of Qingzhou Governor Wáng Tiāndé, named Wáng Yuè. He had entered the Inner Sect of the Qingyun Sect directly at the age of fifteen, his cultivation progressing rapidly. At only twenty years old this year, he was already at the Late Stage of Qi Refining Realm and was considered one of the geniuses of the Qingyun Sect. Two years ago, he was even accepted as a Personal Disciple by Yunsōngzi, the Acting Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect.
Lin Jun found it a bit strange. An elder's Personal Disciple with such a high status would not normally be assigned to do odd jobs in the Outer Sect.
Zhang Yang quietly asked Lin Jun, "Is this iron tower the Body Tempering Tower?"
Lin Jun nodded: "Those participating in the test enter the iron tower. The floor from which they emerge indicates their cultivation level in the Body Tempering Realm. According to the Qingyun Sect's regulations, one must reach the seventh layer or above to become a free Outer Disciple. Fortunately, the test is not over yet. Hurry and join the queue. I believe you will definitely pass!"
Zhang Yang nodded confidently and walked over with his wooden plaque.
Another Inner Disciple responsible for maintaining order, named Yang Li, saw him and quickly walked over, asking displeasedly, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take the test," Zhang Yang replied, handing over the wooden plaque in his hand.
The plaque had Zhang Yang's name, age, and birthplace written on it.
When Yang Li saw that it was personally written by Jia Qingfeng, his expression softened. He still asked with some dissatisfaction, "Why are you so late? The test is almost over!"
Zhang Yang bowed: "I apologize, something delayed me."
Yang Li waved his hand at him: "Go join the queue!"
Zhang Yang walked over and stood behind the remaining twenty-odd youths.
Lin Jun stood among the onlookers, a relaxed smile on his face. He had witnessed Zhang Yang's strength firsthand; it was definitely above the Body Tempering Seventh Layer, so he would definitely pass the test!
"Hey, isn't this the trash young master of the Lin family?" A familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Lin Jun turned his head, and the smile on his face instantly vanished.
A young man of the same age as him had appeared by his side at some point. He was wearing the blue robe worn by Outer Disciples of the Qingyun Sect and was looking at him with a mocking expression.
This young man was named Chén Píng. He was the same age as Lin Jun and was the young master of the Qingzhou Chen Corporation.
The Lin Corporation and the Chen Corporation were fierce rivals within Qingzhou, and sworn enemies.
In the past, the Lin Corporation had always had the upper hand over the Chen Corporation. However, in recent years, the Chen Corporation had grown closer to the Qingzhou Governor Wáng Tiāndé, and from time to time, they managed to suppress the Lin Corporation.
Beside him was another person, slightly older, with his hands clasped behind his back, an arrogant expression on his face. He was wearing the white robe of an Inner Disciple of the Qingyun Sect. He was the younger son of the Qingzhou Governor Wáng Tiāndé, named Wáng Fēng. He was eighteen this year and already had a cultivation at the Qi Refining Realm Early Stage.
Lin Jun quickly turned around and cupped his hands towards him, saying, "Young Master Wang, Lin Jun pays his respects!"
Wáng Fēng, with his hands clasped behind his back, nodded at him casually.
Lin Jun then turned to Chén Píng and said with annoyance, "Chén Píng, who were you calling trash just now?"
Chén Píng sneered, "Don't you know in your heart who the trash is? Last year, when several stewards from the Qingyun Sect went to Qingzhou City to select Outer Disciples, the gifts your father offered were not insignificant, yet you were still not selected. If you're not trash, what are you?"