Free Web NovelChapter 112: Recognition, Unpleasant Memory
Solomon tapped his fingers against the pristine steel hilt of his executioner’s sword. He looked at the ten pavilion masters standing across the shattered cobblestones and offered a casual grin.
"I will try to learn as much as possible from everyone here," Solomon announced, shifting his weight onto his back foot. "I will start my lessons with the Sword Pavilion. The rest of you can just wait your turn."
The surrounding elder and senior instructors completely lost their minds. Dozens of blue-robed cultivators gasped and took several steps backward. A few younger trial instructors frantically grabbed their own hair while staring at the silver-haired boy.
A novice student casually ordering the absolute pinnacle martial artists of the Azure Dragon Sect to form a waiting line broke every single rule of respect, and hierarchy, in their entire world.
The ten pavilion masters simply exchanged knowing glances. They found his absolute lack of fear fascinating rather than offensive.
[LazyCat: bro just told the final bosses to take a ticket and wait in line.]
[User12: the instructors in the background are literally dying right now.]
[Fatal_Beauty: Solo Man treats this entire sect like a buffet.]
[BloodKnight: Supreme confidence. He knows his own worth.]
[GoonLord: PLEASE STOP GIVING THE TEACHERS HEART ATTACKS!]
Master Wu stepped forward and gestured toward the middle-aged man standing directly by his side. "This is Pavilion Leader Jin. He will serve as your primary instructor and oversee your daily training."
Wu crossed his arms over his deep blue robes. "You must diligently learn every technique he teaches you. If you manage to defeat Leader Jin in a formal duel, I will personally take over your training. Only then will I give you the final task required to earn your academy stars."
Solomon nodded and immediately planted his boots into the dirt. He gripped the hilt of Eden’s Penance with both hands and lowered his center of gravity. He locked his eyes onto Leader Jin, fully prepared to initiate the required duel right this second.
Leader Jin raised a hand and let out a booming chuckle. He walked toward Solomon and gently pushed the tip of the S-Rank relic down toward the earth.
"We are not fighting today," Jin said, keeping a wide smile on his face. "You possess incredible talent and flawless body mechanics. While your current execution is brilliant, your actual combat techniques remain far too restricted to defeat me."
Solomon maintained his grip on his weapon and considered the man’s words. He accepted the direct critique without a single argument.
He currently relied entirely on the Eden Imperial Sword Arts. He had spent thousands of days inside a mental void mastering those specific physical forms exclusively for a massive executioner’s sword.
The martial world contained countless different blade types, and every single weapon demanded a unique style to counter it. A lithe rapier, a curved saber, and a dual-wielding stance all possessed distinct advantages and fatal matchups against a giant broadsword.
He needed to expand his arsenal to survive against highly versatile opponents.
Solomon viewed the evaluation as a genuine opportunity for growth. He returned Eden’s Penance to his shoulder and bowed his head slightly toward the gathered experts.
"I appreciate your honesty," Solomon said, looking across the half-circle of grandmasters. "I want to thank all of you for giving me this chance. I look forward to learning your martial arts."
Solomon shifted the massive executioner’s sword on his shoulder and pointed toward the stone staircase in the distance. "I will head to the third trial now."
Master Wu raised a hand to stop him. "You are completely exempt from the remaining evaluations. These trials exist solely for the instructors to gauge the physical capabilities and hidden aptitudes of the incoming students. You have already earned our complete recognition. You are free to do whatever you please until the rest of the disciples finish their exams."
Solomon tightened his grip on his hilt. The sudden offer of special treatment triggered a flood of unpleasant memories.
He awakened exactly on his fifteenth birthday with a world-shaking SSS-rank talent called Convergence. Global guilds, top-tier corporations, and international organizations had immediately swarmed his home.
The government had immediately handed him a massive scholarship to get the best training available. Recruiters bypassed all standard adventurer exams and handed him absolute VIP privileges on a silver platter. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
He enjoyed the initial luxury without explicitly asking for it. Unfortunately, one year passed, and no one could figure out how to activate his power.
When the organizations realized his ability remained dormant despite their endless resources, they instantly turned their backs on him. The public simply called him the ’Strongest Loser’.
The very same guilds that praised his potential filed massive lawsuits for fraud, demanding full reimbursement for every single coin spent on his development. Consequently, his family had taken on massive loans to support his expensive gear and living costs in the city during his training.
The ordeal taught him a permanent lesson, which was that people always harbor ulterior motives behind their generosity. He absolutely refuses to accept free favors from anyone.
Solomon looked directly at Master Wu. "I appreciate the offer. I am going to take the third trial anyway, even if it contributes absolutely nothing to my final score."
[LazyCat: bro literally refuses to skip a test.]
[GamerGuy: Solo Man wants all the smoke.]
[User12: the instructors are so confused right now.]
[BloodKnight has Gifted a Shield worth 1000 points!
Message: A true warrior never walks away from a challenge.]
The pavilion masters exchanged bewildered glances. Offering a student a free pass was a rare honor, making Solomon’s flat rejection entirely unprecedented. Master Wu stroked his beard and nodded in agreement, granting the boy permission to proceed.
"Very well. We told you to do as you please, so do as you please."
"We are curious to see how you perform in the third and the last trial."
"Good luck."
Solomon turned his back on the grandmasters and walked toward the distant stone staircase leading to the third trial area.
