That David Carter seemed to have already known that Adam Carter would say this, letting out a cold laugh, his eyes slightly red, perhaps from anger. Looking at William Moore & Ethan Lane, the two of them had rosy complexions and were full of energy—how did they look sick at all?

Adam Carter wanted to make excuses for William Moore & Ethan Lane, and didn’t even bother to come up with a suitable reason. To David Carter, this was the ultimate form of contempt.

“Very well! Even if it’s as senior brother says, and these two requested leave in advance due to illness, what about you, senior brother? Why have you been missing for four days in a row?”

Adam Carter walked toward the inner courtyard, yawning to show his boredom: “Naturally, I was in seclusion practicing my boxing. The three-year grand examination is approaching. Does junior brother David Carter not care at all? I’m extremely nervous and dare not slack off for even a day. Lately, I’ve felt a breakthrough in my boxing, so I went into seclusion to train for a while. Do you have any other questions?”

In fact, it should be said that it was precisely because the three-year grand examination was approaching that today’s scene occurred.

In three months, it would be the day of the grand examination for the Eight Hundred Academies of the Leaving Dust Sect, selecting disciples from academies established in various southern cities. If chosen, one could directly enter the sect’s inner circle and become a true disciple of the Leaving Dust Sect, known to the world as “Ascending the Immortal Gate.”

Don’t be fooled by the Leaving Dust Academy’s poor ranking among the 130 academies in Yue City and its dilapidated state. That doesn’t mean the Leaving Dust Sect itself is lacking—on the contrary, the Leaving Dust Sect is a dominant force in the southeast of the Tianyi nations, a great sect with a history of thirteen thousand years, one of the greatest in the world, with immense prestige.

It’s said that the sect has as many as seven Golden Core cultivators, and the southeastern nations all bow their heads in submission.

To be accepted into this sect is like donning a tiger’s skin—not only does it promise boundless prospects, but wherever you go, you can walk with your head held high. Adam Carter wants to rise above others, and this is the best path.

This is also the great opportunity he cares about most. Yesterday, he was unwilling to waste time on the Great Monument-Smiting Hand and the various external martial arts like Xingyi Liuhe precisely because of this. Merely reaching the peak of Bone Refining is still not enough; at the very least, he must step into the Qi Refining stage and become a true cultivator to have a real chance.

After the grand examination, aside from the academy head, who gets one to three recommendation slots depending on the academy’s ranking, the one to seven strongest students under twenty in the academy, as long as their ranking in the exam is decent, can also directly enter the inner sect.

And as the chief disciple of an academy, it’s said there are extra points. Even after entering the inner sect, after ten years, there’s a chance to become a true core disciple.

David Carter was originally determined to become the chief disciple. However, for the past two years, he had been firmly suppressed by Adam Carter, forced to settle for second place.

So over the years, the two had become mortal enemies.

David Carter came from a wealthy family and had enough pills to support him, but he could never best Adam Carter. He had tried bribing the instructors, but aside from the academy head, who was at the second level of Qi Refining, the rest of the instructors were only at the Bone Refining stage. Though greedy for David Carter’s money, they also feared retaliation from a desperado like Adam Carter, so they didn’t dare go too far.

As for the academy head, Samuel Thompson, he was also powerless. At least on the surface, the rules had to be followed.

Adam Carter had defeated David Carter fair and square in the arena, in front of the supervisor sent by the Wu Capital Leaving Dust Dojo. No matter what tricks the instructors tried, there was nothing they could do.

Moreover, the Leaving Dust Academy needed Adam Carter to maintain its reputation. If the results were too poor and they failed to produce outstanding disciples, Samuel Thompson would have lost his position as academy head long ago.

So, after all this back and forth, Adam Carter’s position as chief disciple was rock solid.

David Carter’s expression grew colder. Just as Adam Carter led William Moore & Ethan Lane past him, he suddenly narrowed his eyes and gripped his sword with his right hand.

Adam Carter had experienced many fights since childhood and was extremely sensitive to killing intent and battle spirit. He immediately stopped and glanced sideways at the group.

“What’s this? Does junior brother Carter want to spar with me in martial arts?”

His gaze was as sharp as a blade, sweeping over the few Bone Refining disciples, making them instinctively shrink back, silent as cicadas in winter.

These people were not like Harold Stone and Edward Lewis. Though called Bone Refining stage, those two had been steeped in martial arts for decades, with rich combat experience and strength that could rival even first-level Qi Refining cultivators. These few were only at the early stage of Bone Refining, and their strength was far inferior. Just Harold Stone alone could take on ten of them without issue.

If they dared to make a move today, Adam Carter could gather his friends tonight and smash up their homes!

After all, they were only bought off with money and might not be willing to risk their lives for David Carter. They also knew how formidable Adam Carter was. One glare from him, and they immediately backed down, their previous momentum gone.

In the end, David Carter’s family was only rich, not noble, still living in the north of the city rather than the east, and hadn’t managed to recruit any real experts. Instead, his wealth was eyed by many powerful figures.

The reason he valued the position of chief disciple so much was that he was eager to find support for his family.