The garden where Little Princess Guan Hongluan resides is called 'Chang Chun Garden'. The artificial hills, scenic ponds, and potted plants all emulate the gentle style of Southern Sect architecture, making the scenery pleasing and the residence calming.

It is said that decades ago, a highly favored royal relative of the Emperor visited the borders here. The local County Magistrate invested immense sums of money and took more than a year to construct this enormous garden.

Within the garden, there are dozens of pavilions and towers. Even from afar, an ordinary person would feel a sense of fear and reverence just by looking at it.

Only a commandery princess like Guan Hongluan, living here, wouldn't provoke any criticism.

"Ling'er, where on earth did you go this time?"

After practicing martial arts, Guan Hongluan, sweating, did not bathe first. Instead, she gazed at the peacock, which had been fed with a pill on her wrist, and asked with a frown of concern:

"Is the vermin in Snake Fish Town really so delicious that you could forget home?"

The five-colored peacock squawked and blinked its eyes.

"Alright then, as long as you're back. However, you made me suffer this time. You'll be grounded in the garden for a month. As for those venomous insects, I'll have people catch some for you in the garden, so you can hunt them at will."

After saying this, Guan Hongluan handed the five-colored peacock to a maid and said:

"I'm going to take a bath. In the meantime, send someone to find Master Tang and tell him that Ling'er has been found. He doesn't need to tire himself further, and tell him to return quickly."

"Yes."

While Guan Hongluan went to bathe, Chen Ku, transformed into a five-colored peacock, began to fly around the garden, carefully observing the layout and the number of experts.

After completing the patrol, he was inwardly startled:

"As expected of the Feudal Marquis Mansion of Han Shou County, truly the 'Master of a County'. The guards responsible for her safety are at least of Fourth Realm Levels, with about ten or so in total, and even three Great Martial Men of the Fifth Realm. This is indeed the household of a royal relative and distinguished nobility. No wonder they casually feed Fourth Realm Pills to spirit pets like candy."

Chen Ku felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, finally witnessing what is meant by 'wealth is not as good as noble'. There are quite a few wealthy people in Baojiao County, but no amount of money can nurture a batch of experts on this level, nor the noble air of someone like Guan Hongluan.

"Especially her bladesmanship just now, it truly is a World-Surpassing martial art. Such a level of martial art cannot be seen in Baojiao County, yet she seems to have practiced a complete version..."

While Chen Ku, in the form of a five-colored peacock, was patrolling the garden.

Suddenly, he felt something and saw outside the white walls and corridors of Chang Chun Garden, a tall, thin figure walking leisurely with hands behind their back, wearing a mask.

With just a glance at those eyes.

A chill ran down his spine as he subconsciously felt an innate pressure and aura.

"An expert! A great expert!"

Chen Ku exclaimed in his heart:

"The feeling this Masked Man gives me is not in the least inferior to that towering elder who can fly, and Grandmaster Qin Yuxian. Could it be... also of the Seventh Realm?"

Instinctively, he distanced himself a bit from the Masked Man.

Unexpectedly, after entering the garden and seeing him, the Masked Man sighed helplessly and said, "You peacock, going out for three days without returning had me searching high and low. At least you're unharmed."

Otherwise, given Princess Hongluan's affection for her, who knows if she would turn Baojiao County upside down.

Just then.

"Master Tang has returned."

A voice as melodious as a phoenix came from the inner courtyard. Chen Ku turned his head to see Guan Hongluan, already bathed and changed, wearing a plain white dress, and draped in a Nine-Colored Dress, feeling astonished:

"Isn't that the Nine-Colored Deer I hunted? It actually became fabric for her dress, what a coincidence."

Guan Hongluan came out, beckoned to the peacock, and Chen Ku, reluctantly, flew over and perched on her shoulder.

Guan Hongluan stroked the feathers of the five-colored peacock and, with an apologetic tone towards the Masked Man, said, "Ling'er troubled Master Tang greatly to search."

"It's no trouble at all. In these three days, besides searching for Ling'er, I also managed to procure a 'Martial Arts Gold Order' for the Princess from the Martial Temple through someone."

The Masked Man said:

"There are only about twenty days until the Martial Arts Exam. Preparing in advance is necessary, for if a breakthrough cannot be achieved by then, the Princess will have to toil her way to the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth."

Guan Hongluan accepted the Martial Arts Gold Order and said, "It can only be so."

Chen Ku, observing the Martial Arts Gold Order in Guan Hongluan's hand, thought to himself, "The Princess also has a Martial Arts Gold Order, but I wonder what kind of regulations the trial in the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth has. Could it be that I'll have to face her?"

Just from observing the Commandery Princess's bladesmanship and cultivation today from afar, it was evident she had reached the Fourth Realm Peak, and simultaneously cultivated a set of world-surpassing bladesmanship martial arts. Moreover, who knows how many protective life-saving artifacts she carries. If one encounters her...under the premise of not killing during the Martial Temple competition, what are the chances of winning?

As Chen Ku pondered this question internally.

The Masked Man pulled out a scroll from his bosom and said, "And this, it contains the defenders and defeat rewards for certain five checkpoints within Qiu Dragon Mansion's Martial Arts Heaven and Earth, along with some compiled attack strategies from those who have entered the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth."

"I've heard about this."

Guan Hongluan took it over, opened the scroll, and said:

"It's said that the defenders inside Martial Arts Heaven and Earth are not fixed, just like the exams in scholarly tests, which Martial True Gods to put on the ring is a secret. Master Tang managed to obtain such information, it must have taken quite an effort."

"This was actually sent by the Marquis."

The Masked Man slowly said:

"Whether it's a civil or martial examination, the rules are meant to restrain ordinary people. Such defender secrets, for ordinary people and common clans, may count as confidential, but for the Marquis, it's just a matter of opening his mouth. Though he may not get all the questions, obtaining some defender information is not difficult."

Chen Ku heard the two of them talk about the exam questions inside Martial Temple as if they were planning an 'open-book exam', and couldn't help but exhale in his heart. With power and influence, they are indeed so domineering?

Indeed, cheating in imperial examinations has been common throughout the ages, especially among high officials and nobles.

Though he thought to himself this way, Peacock Head honestly glanced at the scroll in Guan Hongluan's hand.

"The 'Nine Yang True Pill' that the Commandery Princess needs is with the defender in the Fifth Gate. It's said that the Martial Temple has prepared three Nine Yang True Pills for the Fifth Gate, rewarding the top three. If the Commandery Princess defeats him in advance, there will be an opportunity to obtain it."

The Masked Man explained in detail to Guan Hongluan:

"According to the scroll intelligence, the location of the Fifth Gate is in the northwest direction of the First Layer of the Martial Temple Heaven and Earth, in a deep valley called 'Jingshen Peak'. The defender is named Iron Head Monk, originally a Broken Vow Monk from the Buddhist Holy Land 'Hanging Temple' in You State. He was expelled after secretly learning the first three layers of the Holy Land's world-surpassing martial art [Undying Golden Body], and later wandered the Jianghu, relying on his Vajra Indestructible physique, invincible until he was finally subdued by Master Bu Jue who descended the mountain and teamed up with Qiu Dragon City God. He was then imprisoned in the Martial Temple Heaven and Earth as a defender."

"Undying Golden Body." Guan Hongluan frowned and said, "Not easy to break."

"For ordinary people, it's indeed not easy to break, but Commandery Princess, with Ling'er by your side, you have a chance. At the same time...this scroll also records that due to Iron Head Monk's [Undying Golden Body] only reaching the first three layers, while he can withstand the attacks of Fifth Realm experts, there are still a few flaws, roughly speculated to be under the armpit, below the navel, and the ribs, as per the scroll."

The Masked Man said:

"At that time, the Commandery Princess can use Ling'er for protection and attack his flaws with the Dragon Subduing Demon Refining Saber, there's a seventy percent chance of passing the checkpoint and obtaining the pill."

Chen Ku, hearing the contents of this scroll, couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder internally.

Not only is such detailed exam content leaked, but even the strategy is written out. This is truly bullying other examinees at the same time.

"Fortunately, I've seen it too, so they can't bully me."

Guan Hongluan noticed the Five-colored Peacock peeking curiously and couldn't help but stroke its colorful tail feathers, smiling as she said, "Heard that? I need your big help to obtain the Nine Yang True Pill and breakthrough to the Fifth Realm!"

The Five-colored Peacock blinked its eyes.

Guan Hongluan then continued to look down at the scroll, which contained information on five arena masters and some provided attack strategies. She couldn't help but softly read out their names and locations:

"Endless Valley Pavilion, Little Barbarian King Hu Ha'er, skilled with the 'Wolf Teeth Thousand Nails Stick', possesses foreign alien race lineage, can enter into berserk state, attack requires preparation of Heart Clearing Powder or Awakening God Fragrance, passing can earn a drop of 'Barbarian Mad Blood'..."

"Baihua Valley, Golden-armored Centipede, its two fangs have terrifying poison, impervious to swords and spears, attack requires at least a Fourth Realm Detoxification Pill, passing can earn a Famous Weapon Level 'Golden Armor Bracelet'..."

...

Looking at the five arena positions and defender information and clues on the scroll, Guan Hongluan couldn't help but marvel:

"It's said that the Martial Arts Heaven and Earth was a 'Cave Mansion Realm' ordered by the Emperor of ancient times and opened by the Martial Temple. It's like a dragon's nest, extending from the largest top level of the central Dragon Capital City to the province and state prefectures, with a total of five layers. Each layer has nine arenas, fitting the idea of 'Nine and Five'. Even in the Martial Temple Heaven and Earth of a single county, there are hundreds of thousands of miles in area, which is just like a real 'Small Thousand World', not only having the beasts and demons of reality but also various extraordinary individuals living within. It's extremely vast and expansive, and to explore opportunities in such a large Martial Arts Heaven and Earth, without such crucial clues and paths, even if you have a Martial Arts Gold Order, you might just wander around lost, not even knowing where the hidden arenas are."

Chen Ku, hearing these words, nodded internally in agreement.

The Masked Man chuckled softly, "Martial Arts Heaven and Earth is originally used for testing people. Those who can enter Martial Arts Heaven and Earth are objects of recognition by related persons of the Martial Temple, meant to cultivate future 'Martial Arts Generals'. It does not only assess their strength but also their wisdom, luck, and more. After all, martial arts cultivation, like roaming the Jianghu, cannot be solely reliant on fists to conquer all, but also requires strategy, tactics, and adapting to situations, in order to cultivate a powerful talent for the nation. So those old guys from the Martial Temple, just like the old guys from the Confucian Temple, are always trying their best to present difficulties within the questions, setting hidden checkpoints, testing matters beyond martial skills."

"That's true." Guan Hongluan nodded.

Under the merit and title system of the Daji Dynasty, after a martial artist passes the Martial Arts Scholar, they have a title and become a future reserve officer for the Imperial Court.

Ninth Grade Military Scholar, Eighth Grade Martial Scholar, Seventh Grade Martial Arts Scholar, Sixth Grade Martial Master, Fifth Grade Martial Arts Scholar, Fourth Rank Martial General, Third Rank Marquis, Second Rank Martial King, First Grade Martial Pillar Country.

This is a very long path of promotion through the martial exams.

Before reaching Advanced Scholar, these titles are honorary without real power, although equivalent to Fifth Grade in rank. However, if able to pass the Advanced Scholar exam, it equates to selecting twenty contemporaneous 'Generals of Great Talent' on a national scale through the imperial exams, deemed reliable enough to be granted 'Military Authority', instantly rising to become a 'General' in charge of tens of thousands of troops, and beyond, if capable of territorial expansion, can be granted marquisate.

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