Newcomer Special Offer—First stage of the Hand of Chasing Wind and Pursuing Lightning, enabling one's hand to chase the wind and fingers to pursue lightning, granting hand speed and dexterity twice that of an ordinary person.

The original price required 20 martial arts points for exchange, but now it only costs 4 points.

Henry Owen was astonished. He had exhausted every possible method but still couldn’t figure out how to use this system—so why did it suddenly change today?

Could it be because of something William Harris said in public?

While Henry Owen was still in shock and doubt, he suddenly heard a soft laugh from behind: “Hold on!”

With this voice, a martial artist in a brocade robe, accompanied by a young boy, stepped out from the crowd.

“Master, I have a more suitable candidate here, one who is a hundred times stronger than this boy.”

William Harris turned and saw the man, her expression instantly darkening: “Samuel Grant! I am using the recommendation quota from our Eastern Courtyard. It has nothing to do with your Western Courtyard!”

But Samuel Grant only let out a disdainful chuckle: “The exemption quotas given by the master to each courtyard are meant for you to select talents for Daning, not for you to use for personal gain, bringing in useless good-for-nothings to waste the country’s resources.”

He pointed at Henry Owen: “Instructor Harris, the exemption requirements for our martial arts academy are at least above average in perception and foundation, with special talents, or having mastered at least two of the ten external arts to the introductory level.

Look at this boy, a sickly weakling—can you really say he qualifies for exemption? Or is it that you’ve made a private deal and taken his money?”

Only then did Henry Owen snap out of it. He frowned slightly, a trace of anger appearing in his eyes.

He also felt that this quota was a bit hot to handle, but being called a useless good-for-nothing to his face made him extremely displeased.

Chapter 2: Drawn Blade

“Whether Henry Owen is qualified is not for you, Samuel Grant, to judge.” William Harris didn’t want to argue with Samuel Grant, so she turned and cupped her hands toward the master Brian Reed: “Master, I am willing to vouch for him with my reputation.”

Samuel Grant curled his lips, looking disdainful: “Master, the young man behind me is named Edward Blake, the legitimate son of the Long family from the inner city. He has practiced martial arts since childhood and has a solid foundation. Now, at only thirteen, his martial arts cultivation has already reached the lower ninth rank. If he can be admitted without examination, he will surely bring honor and glory to our academy in the future.”

“Admitted without examination? So he’s not even an outer disciple yet.” William Harris sneered coldly, “If his martial arts cultivation has reached the lower ninth rank, does that mean he’s entering with skills? Let me ask you: Nourishing Energy Technique, Wind-Chasing Blade, Nine Palaces Sword, Light Cloud Step—of the ten external arts of our Wuxiang Divine Sect, which has he learned?”

“He can learn them if he hasn’t.”

Samuel Grant maintained his smile and also cupped his fists toward Brian Reed, who sat in the grand master’s chair: “Master! The head of the Long family has said that if our academy is willing to accept this child, he is willing to donate a ‘Gathering Energy Array’ to our academy.”

William Harris was sharp-minded and noticed a clear look of interest on Brian Reed’s face, making her anxious: “Master, I’m afraid this is against the rules!”

Samuel Grant shook his head and snorted: “How is it against the rules? The inner entrance exam of our academy is meant to select talents for the country. If your Eastern Courtyard can’t recommend a decent candidate, then the inner quota should go to a true talent.

How about this, Instructor Harris, if you really think this Henry Owen is outstanding and has already mastered the Wind-Chasing Blade, then let them compete. If he can last three rounds against Edward Blake, I will not only take back my words, but will personally deliver a ‘Gathering Energy Array’ to the academy as my private donation.”

William Harris’s face turned ashen. She gripped the Wild Goose Feather Blade at her waist, her gaze cold as ice.

Henry Owen’s blade skills were only slightly better than an ordinary outer disciple. The key issue was his frail body and weak strength—how could he possibly be a match for Edward Blake?

He couldn’t compete. If he did, he’d be exposed.

But the master Brian Reed had already waved his hand slightly, his tiger eyes fixed on Henry Owen: “Henry Owen, are you willing to accept the challenge?”

In that instant, the eyes of a thousand people on and off the stage were drawn to Henry Owen.

Henry Owen’s expression remained calm as usual. He glanced at Samuel Grant and the young man behind him, then at the master Brian Reed and William Harris.

Finally, his gaze fell on the illusory screen before him.

Looking at the status column, the words ‘Six Yin Soul-Returning Spell’ appeared.

This inner quota was a matter of life and death for him.

He and his sister had worked day and night for this day, desperately earning money, not daring to eat even a bite of meat for three whole months, finally scraping together eighty taels! He even had to spend extra money on medicine just to stay alive.

So, was he offering money? No, he was offering his life!

Henry Owen was filled with rage. He took a deep breath, his expression resolute as he cupped his fists: “I am willing to accept the challenge.”

William Harris’s hand trembled slightly, her face turning bitter.

※※※※

After a short while, Henry Owen stood at the corner of the stone platform, gazing thoughtfully at the illusory screen before him.

Henry Owen was staring at the ‘Martial Arts’ section.

Somehow, a line of text appeared in his mind.

“Please confirm: do you wish to use 3 martial arts points to upgrade the Wind-Chasing Blade (Incomplete) to the next level?”

Henry Owen definitely didn’t want to. Although he hadn’t yet studied the mechanics of martial arts points in detail, it was obvious that upgrading the Wind-Chasing Blade wasn’t cost-effective.

Since he could train it himself, why waste martial arts points?