However, those who fail still have another chance—there is a losers' bracket afterward. Everyone who has won at least one match can continue to pair up and compete until the most outstanding disciple candidate is determined. But if you lose again here, you'll have to wait another two years for the next martial trial. The Sun and Moon Profound Sect also has a rule: the age of inner sect disciples must not exceed twenty. After this age, if you still wish to become a spiritual master, you can only be an outer sect disciple of the Sun and Moon Profound Sect.

Today, David Bolton is fighting so desperately precisely because this body's age is already at the limit.

In addition, the winners' bracket must also continue to compete. But this is no longer for the quota of trial disciples, but for the rewards provided by the Sun and Moon Profound Sect.

Among them, the top three hundred receive pills bestowed by the sect, the top one hundred receive first-grade magical artifacts, and the very top ten not only get even richer rewards, but also have an independent "spirit residence" for cultivation during the three entrance trials.

But David Bolton immediately felt something odd and turned to glance at Robert Carter: "Senior brother, aren't you leaving?"

"Leave? I still have to escort you down later. The proctor has already instructed me—today, I, Robert Carter, am assigned to look after you."

As Robert Carter spoke, he glanced at the sky: "It'll be soon, David Bolton, you're in the first match."

The corner of David Bolton's mouth twitched. He thought to himself, if he really were David Bolton, he'd probably want to strangle this guy. He couldn't be bothered to pay him any more attention and closed his eyes to rest.

But just a moment later, David Bolton heard a sweet voice beside him ask, "Is that you, Brother Xin?"

David Bolton opened his eyes in surprise and turned toward the source of the voice, only to see a beautiful young girl standing gracefully ten steps away. David Bolton's eyes couldn't help but light up with delight: "Little Emily! You really are here."

But then he noticed that behind Emily Clark stood a handsome, elegant young man in white, as graceful as a jade tree in the wind. David Bolton keenly sensed that when he called out "Little Emily," this young man's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, as if quite displeased.

But David Bolton quickly lost interest in him, because the girl suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. David Bolton could feel the girl's explosively good figure, and the two astonishingly full peaks on her chest. He couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, thinking that the little bean sprout of a girl from before had grown up to be so stunning?

"It really is Brother Xin? Emily missed you so much."

Emily Clark quickly realized it was inappropriate, her pretty face blushing as she stepped back two paces, saying a little shyly, "I guessed it was you just now, but Emily saw that your appearance had changed a lot, and with so many people watching, I didn't dare to recognize you, Brother Xin, please don't blame me."

David Bolton touched his face, thinking that he really had changed a lot in the past two years. To be safe, he had specifically asked "Grace" to alter his appearance, making him resemble another "David Bolton"'s father, the local martial arts hall master.

He hadn't cared much to begin with, and now he smiled broadly: "The one who's changed the most isn't me, it's you, Emily. If I ran into you somewhere else, I probably wouldn't recognize you, and would be completely captivated by you, Emily."

"Brother Xin, you're still the same—always teasing people."

Emily Clark's face turned even redder, her eyes full of concern and worry: "Brother Xin, are you alright? That spiritual master said your soul was injured by an evil spirit and would need at least five years to recover. During this time, you mustn't let your soul be harmed again. Why did you push yourself so hard today? Watching from above, I was so anxious, but couldn't help at all."

—Actually, it wasn't just five years to recover. According to that spiritual master, David Bolton would never achieve anything on the path of a spiritual master in this lifetime.

"I'm fine!"

David Bolton smiled, knowing it was useless to explain, and pointed to Robert Carter beside him: "If you don't believe me, ask this Senior Brother Robert Carter. He's a second-rank spiritual master. He knows my condition best."

"Really?"

Sure enough, Emily Clark looked over at Robert Carter, only to see him staring at her with shining eyes, nodding like a pecking chick: "Don't worry, Brother Bolton's condition is fine. He just overexerted his soul earlier, but wasn't harmed. With me taking care of him, he'll be alright."

"That's good."

Hearing this, Emily Clark let out a long sigh of relief. But just as she was about to continue speaking, she heard a light cough from behind her.

Emily Clark immediately came to her senses and hurried to introduce the white-clad youth behind her: "This is Senior Brother Matthew Cooper from the Spirit Gathering Class, who has taken good care of Emily these past two years."

Then she introduced David Bolton to him: "This is my Brother Xin!"

David Bolton couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, liking this little girl even more. One "Brother Xin," one Senior Brother Matthew Cooper, and then that extra "taken good care of"—the distinction in closeness was immediately clear.

That Matthew Cooper obviously heard it too, his face turning a bit ugly as he cupped his fists toward David Bolton: "I am Matthew Cooper! I cultivate in the Spirit Gathering Class with Emily. My father is an outer sect transmission elder, and I come from the Tianzhu Huangfu family."

David Bolton's expression was calm as he returned the greeting: "I am David Bolton, from Guanglin Mountain."

The so-called "Spirit Gathering Class" is actually a special class set up by the Sun and Moon Profound Sect for the children of its members.