Chapter 48 - Ranking Test

Surprisingly for Tian Longmeng, he took a while to master the Overbearing Fist to the point of being able to utilize it without the posture and long build-up time. A whole month in fact. He had other things he was doing on the side, such as his second hobby of scavenging the first floor of the library for cultivation skills to study.

Tian Longmeng did not need a cultivation skill at the moment since he had help from Elder Canglong, but he was told to observe them as many cultivators in this area more than likely utilize these skills. It would be incredibly useful to know how they move and cultivate to have a better idea of how to combat them.

Plus, if Tian Longmeng was actually in need of a cultivation skill, he would have entered the second floor.

The library is the second biggest structure in Tang Fei Martial Academy, comprising five floors filled with ailes of books and scrolls ranging from cultivation skills to movement arts and auxiliary techniques.

What floors you have access to depends on your rank and status. While the first floor is open to everybody, the second is barred to people who are ranked 200 and lower, and the third floor is only for core disciples and higher status. The fourth is for Instructors and Elders; however, rumours have it that the fifth floor is a forbidden zone, even for elders.

Tian Longmeng's curiously piqued slightly but he ultimately chose to ignore it. After all, it had nothing to do with him. On the other hand, he was busy scanning through other fist techniques with a smirk on his face.

"The Ark Elder was right about the Overbearing Fist, nothing here can come close. Not from the skills on the first or second floor." Tian Longmeng inwardly said as he returned the books to their places and headed for home.

On the way, he overheard the discussions about the upcoming ranking tournament that will happen in a week's time. It seems like it happens twice every year. The first one is always a month after the opening examinations so that they can validate where the first years would fall within the academy rankings. You cannot truly be considered apart of the academy without this.

In Tian Longmeng's case, he does not need to enter the ranking tournament this time since his rank was already established in the examination. However, he could still enter if he so wishes.

Tian Longmeng thought about it on his way home. "I am approaching the Late Organ Mending Stage and it won't hurt to test the Overbearing Fist on those projections." If the tournament was like the pagoda test then it would serve him good to test what he had learnt within the pagoda.

With that, Tian Longmeng spent the week breaking through the Late Organ Mending Stage for the ranking tournament.

.....

A week has passed and the area around the Desolate Fang Pagoda was bustling with energy. With the different people who were either talking with peers, scoping out competition, or busy getting in some last minute cultivation, the place became very chaotic.

This was only natural, as your rank determined everything for you in Tang Fei Martial Academy. If you wanted to experience support or resources such as medicines, cultivation skills, or mentorship, it all boiled down whether you were a high enough rank.

On the other hand, those without ranks received horrible treatment, both with resources and connections. No one was willing to entertain a person with a low rank except another low-ranker; and in Tang Fei Martial Academy, connections are one of the key things as well.

While Tang Fei does have its Instructors and Elders who direct and instruct, all the things that happen in student life is determined by disciple-ran groups called factions. These factions hold the most power outside of the instructors, and as a result, they have certain privileges to resources.

The regular disciples salivated over the thought of being able to get a share of these resources plus the backing of core disciples, as it would be natural for them to be affiliated with one or the other.

However, Tian Longmeng did not even consider the thought of joining a faction or struggling to do well in the ranking test. He was busy cultivating over a corner seemingly close to the Desolate Fang Pagoda. Reason being that he felt the essence in the wind current and situated himself in a place where it could pass by him.

Thus, he spent his time snatching as much essence as he can from the surroundings, completely unaware and unconcerned about the rising gossips about him.

"Look, there is that new kid. Who would think such a pipsqueak* could be the best of the first years?" A second-year disciple mocked.

Another disciple chimed in. "Yeah, and I heard he has the gall to be skipping classes. We are here struggling to make ends meet but this kid is prancing around like he is better than all of us."

Some people eventually joined the gossip as well, piling their pent-up frustrations haphazardly on Tian Longmeng.

"Yeah, just because he has a little talent does not mean he can just show off in everybody's face. Someone ought to teach him a lesson."

"He just might the the top because all the people in that year are just weak, nothing special about him!"

A noble passing by heard the conversation and briefly coughed to get everyone's attention. All the gossipers spun tail and were quickly stumbling over their words while shaking in their knees.

The noble ignored their cowardice and opened his mouth, speaking ever so righteously. "May I remind you that three prodigies from the great noble families are in that very year. I don't think they are weak, or would you like to try them for yourselves?"

"No sir, we were very stupid and our tongues deserved to be chopped off." They instantly began pleading profusely. They could absolutely not challenge any of the three prodigies. Not to mention their families, their strengths alone could easily crush them, especially that Qin Qingtian who broke the record for the highest talent in the test.

The noble, quite pleased, turned his eyes towards Tian Longmeng's meditating figure and scowled. "Well, to be fair," the noble continued. "I heard that he only won because he ate some treasure, so who knows what may happen today."

The noble chuckled then walked away. The gossipers knew that he was implying that Tian Longmeng truly is nothing special and that he would fall just like everyone else. They hung their heads because they also realize that the noble was similarly treating Tian Longmeng just like them, people with no real chance of catching up to the nobles.

They realized their shortsightedness. Instead of boosting up a fellow commoner, they trampled on him just because he was doing a little better than them. Suddenly, they did not feel right with doing the ranking test this day so they left.

On the other hand, Tian Longmeng finally arose when he heard the bell ringing for the ranking test to commence. He found a group of first years and decided to assimilate into their crowd, so he went under a tree not far from them.

He was pleasantly greeted by an amicable voice. "It is nice to see you here. I believe it is the first time meeting each other."

Tian Longmeng looked up to see five people sitting under the tree before him, with the person speaking and currently stretching his arm out to greet being Lu Yan.

Quickly thinking, Tian Longmeng made a smile that was not a smile and tried to excuse himself. "I am sorry. I did not mean to interrupt your wonderful seating. I will find somewhere else to go."

Much to his regret, Lu Yan has been dealing with diplomatic people for as long as he could remember so it was easy for him to corner Tian Longmeng who only grew up in a forest. "Oh nonsense. You are not interrupting anything. Come in and get away from the sun; I am sure no one here would mind, would they now."

He turned to face the others with a black smile. Zhou Wei stared intently at Tian Longmeng and only grunted, signalling his approval. Dong Lin over the other side politely smiled at him, while the other noble, Hua Mei, only timidly nodded her head as she looked at Lu Yan's smile.

Tian Longmeng's last hope resided in Qin Qingtian who was at the center of the group and busy meditating. He hoped that she would kick him out for ruining her meditation but to his and everyone's shock, she actually cracked a smile upon opening her eyes and signalled for him to sit beside her.

Tian Longmeng inwardly sighed at his bad luck and silently gave up.

*The average age of disciples in first year is around 9 or 10, so Tian Longmeng, who is approaching 8, would be a couple inches shorter at 5ft 2inches**.

**Yes, he is very big for his size but it is based on chinese xianxia novel conventions where everything is conflated. For instance, those second-years who were mocking him are actually about 6ft 2inches tall which is the average male height. Average female height is 5ft 11inches.