"Ten Cloud Spirit Grasses? I didn't hear wrong, did I? Were there just three in the past years? Why are there so many this year?" Someone asked confusedly.

Cloud Spirit Grass was extremely precious and even Qingyuan School could only give each outer disciple one per year and each inner disciple five. How could they not be crazy about ten Cloud Spirit Grasses?

But for most of the people, they could only look with eager interest because they knew that they had no chance in ranking in the top five. Only those who tried to be the first had an opportunity to win, but what they most valued was the prize of the champion.

One book of superior martial skill of human level was more precious than ten Cloud Spirit Grasses.

Hong Yuan and Long Yu had already itched to have a go. Besides martial skill and Cloud Spirit Grasses, taking a first was an extraordinary honor to them.

As the big elder saw the high-spirits of the disciples, he talked no rubbish with a wave of his hand. There came a rumbling noise from behind and the heavy stone gate slowly opened.

Looking at the disciples who were staring blankly, the big elder said, "What are you waiting for? The exam starts."

As he ended his words, lots of disciples in the hall were like wild horses who got rid of its reins as they all rushed towards the underground palace.

Long Yu looked at Hong Yuan in contempt and laughed, "Do you come for the second place?" Then he turned and hurried to the gate.

Hong Yuan followed quickly with a smile. He waved his folding fan gently and said with confidence, "It's early to say who should be the first. I feel confident enough to take the first this time. Even if I fail, you cannot ignore Zhang Yan. After all, you know his strength."

The haughty man's face darkled when he heard the words. It was a great shame for Long Yu, a proud and arrogant man, to fight with a newcomer to a draw. There were always disciples speaking highly of Zhang Yan these days, which nearly forced him to fight with Zhang Yan right now. How he wished he could tread Zhang Yan under foot and declare that he was the strongest person in outer court.

Long Yu snorted, "He even didn't dare to come. Is it possible for me to fear such a coward?"

"Isn't he here yet? How is it possible?" Hong Yuan shook his head and added, "The exam is important. I think he will come."

"I hope so,"said Long Yu.

Actually, the so-talked Zhang Yan was following most of the people to the first floor of the underground palace which was a deep grotto tunnel.

The grotto tunnel was broad but dark, which meant that the field of vision was extremely low. Zhang Yan and Fatty stopped and looked around rather than rush right away, because they had heard the potential dangers.

There were always some people that cared about money and didn't care about their life. They knew that there was danger but they still went ahead by themselves and didn't even look back. There was even quite a few of people who were like that.

"Go! For the superior martial skill, for the Cloud Spirit Grasses!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

But after the leading disciple went ahead for a few steps, whooshing sounds came in the air and endless amounts of sharp arrows were shot out from the upper wall. They shot towards the crowds as if it was rain.

"Ah"

"Waa"

In an instant, all sorts of cries echoed. The disciples that rushed in front were caught off guard, and some of them were even shot by several arrows and fell to death.

Regardless, people still continued forward and they did not have any traces of retreating. They madly ran deeper into the tunnel.

Zhang Yan found that although the arrow was strong, it wouldn't kill. To the people at the second level of Xiantian Stage, they could dodge it as long as they were careful enough.

Zhang Yan and Fatty advanced freely and came to the end of the stone tunnel, then they walked down the aisle to the second floor.

The second floor was a bright and spacious stone chamber in which stood hundreds of wooden mechanism figures.

Zhang Yan and Fatty didn't wait and they walked into the wooden figures maze directly. As they entered the maze, the surrounding figures all waved their weapons and chopped at them. Zhang Yan dodged the attack flexibly and ran to the end.

Though Fatty was overweight, his motions were very flexible. In fact, he was a genius in speed. He moved quickly to avoid the wooden figures and came to the end of the room in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yan smiled, "I know it is easy for you."

"Of course, I am second to none in speed." Fatty said with his head thrown back.

The third floor was also a bright and spacious stone chamber in which stood mechanism figures. The only difference was that they were made of bronze.

Without a word, Fatty was ready to rush, but Zhang Yan reached out his hand and caught him. Looking at many disciples lying on the ground, Zhang Yan warned, "Be careful. These bronze figures were different from those wooden figures. They looked weird. I have a try first."

As he spoke, he rushed into the maze but the surrounding bronze figures besieged him at once. They were twice as strong as the wooden figures in strength and speed, but they were easy for Zhang Yan to deal with.

Translator YIXiaoLan