Xu Chunbo scolded fiercely for five minutes, but there was nothing he could do in the end.

  Many coal miners had no other options to survive on. If Saint Xu were to use his influence to close down the mines, even though the owners of the mines would suffer great losses, the laborers would be the first to die of hunger.

  Some people would say that these people could do something else instead of mining coal, but the truth was changing jobs was extremely difficult.

  Putting aside the impact of so many workers gushing into other industries, just their numbers alone would make it hard for the government to handle.

  Stability was more important than anything else!

  Otherwise, what would they do if someone were to call out for the coal miners who had lost their jobs to start a rebellion?

  This was Saint Xu’s helplessness.

  “Uncle, please pick me. Pretty please?” Coal Briquette pleaded. “I eat very little and work a lot. It’s a very worthwhile deal!”

  “Do you know what I want you to do?”

  Sun Mo felt curious.

  “That uncle said that if I’m selected, I’ll be able to eat good food and learn some skills. But I don’t believe that. How could there be such a good thing in this world?”

  n

  Coal Briquette pouted. “Even if there’s such a good thing, I won’t be the one to get it! I’m guessing that you must be looking for someone to do a very important matter that one would have to put their lives on the line for! I’m not scared!”

  Coal Briquette was born and grew up in the mining area and had seen too many accidents including water leaks, mine collapse, and gas… Hence, it was too difficult for coal miners to want to live long lives.

  Even if they didn’t die in the mines, they’d die at a young age from overwork. Their bodies would be plagued with illnesses.

  This time around, a far-distant uncle knew that Coal Briquette was 12 years old and came to look for her mother, asking to let him bring the child here to give it a shot. It didn’t cost any money anyway! If she was selected, her life would be completely changed! Coal Briquette’s thoughts were very simple. Her younger brother was about to reach the age where he’d need to enter the mines too. Hence, she wanted to use her life to exchange for some money so that her mother and younger siblings could leave the mining district.

  “Teacher, why don’t you pick her?”

  Lu Zhiruo interjected. She felt soft-hearted.

  “Don’t spout rubbish!”

  Qin Yaoguang tugged the papaya girl. This wasn’t a time to let their emotions get the better of them.

  “Saint Xu, I’ll pick her!”

  Sun Mo beckoned at Coal Briquette. The young lass immediately ran over with a fawning smile. She had learned this while in the mining area. Her mother said that she had to smile like this when she saw the chief. Otherwise, she’d be whipped or sent to mines where it was more difficult to mine coals from.

  “Sun Mo, you’ll need to think about this carefully!”

  Xu Chunbo frowned. Although this young girl looked very intelligent, she wouldn’t be able to win against that Black Pig. In just three months, her lean and frail body wouldn’t be able to be built up.

  “Although I want to win, before my victory, I’m first a great teacher. My responsibility is to help these children grow!”

  Sun Mo smiled and rubbed Coal Briquette’s head.

  “Don’t, it’s dirty!”

  Coal Briquette dodged, worried that she’d dirty Sun Mo’s hand.

  “Secondary Saint Sun is really everyone’s role model!”

  Li Wanjun sighed. “Regardless of what the results of this round are, I’ll support you for the sect lord position!”

  “Me too!”

  “Count me in!”

  Even though Saint Zhou had become a saint, his ideologies were a far cry from Sun Mo’s. Although these high star-level great teachers would also consider the various connections relating to benefits and interest, they were kindhearted people deep down inside.

  Saint Zhou instantly felt uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly. However, he really couldn’t win in this aspect.

  When Sun Mo had just joined the trade, he had retorted against others for Ying Baiwu’s sake. This matter had long since become an event that was worthy of admiration, being seen as a role model for many.

  After the students for the first round were picked, the ones for the second round were next.

  There were a lot fewer students in this category. Every student who was ranked last in their cohort across all the schools in the entire city —all seven of them, including those without a famous school title—were brought over.

  There were a total of over 300 of them.

  Right now, all of them looked awkward. Their heads were lowered and they didn’t dare to say a word.

  This could be considered a ‘public execution’. After today, everyone would know that they were trash. However, it was impossible for them to not come. Putting aside that this was a saint’s order, they had also yearned to be selected. Wouldn’t their life be able to change then?

  Saint Zhou opened his eyes wide and inspected the group of people. Although they were all trash, he had to at least pick out the best amongst them.

  “Which one of them do you guys think is a bright pearl shrouded in dust?”

  Qin Yaoguang was also searching, trying to find buried talents from amongst them.

  “Who’d know that?”

  Li Ziqi could almost be certain that all of them were trash.

  “Those who don’t come from famous schools, step forward!”

  Saint Zhou instructed.

  Many students walked out.

  “Wow, Saint Zhou is so amazing. Is he going to increase the difficulty for himself?”

  Someone said fawningly.

  Tsk!

  OUS

  Great teachers who knew their stuff felt despise in their hearts. Teachers from famous schools were more capable and thus there were extremely few cases of misjudgments, so trash was just trash. However, things were different in those trashy schools. After all, the teachers there were of lower standards and they might have missed out on a genius.

  “I’ll pick this one!”

  Saint Zhou finally picked a student he was satisfied with.

  “Secondary Saint Sun, it’s your turn next!”

  Li Wanjun urged. (Why aren’t you anxious in the very least?)

  (You can’t be thinking of throwing this round, could you?)

  “I made a set of lots on the spot. You guys can draw lots. I’ll pick the person who draws the red lot!”

  Gu Xiuxun held onto the lot holder, not wanting to go over.

  (Is it a really good idea to let fate decide?)

  (We can also pick like how Saint Zhou did and try out our luck.)

  However, the students were all agitated.

  The great teachers present were first stunned and then started applauding, looking agitated and filled with admiration. Compared to Saint Zhou, Sun Mo’s performance was undoubtedly more magnanimous.

  As the saying went, there should be no discrimination in education. Sun Mo had given all the students a chance while Saint Zhou picked one for himself.

  Very soon, a lucky boy picked the red lot.

  He came before Sun Mo. “I… I…”

  “Don’t be nervous. From today onward, you’re my student!”

  Sun Mo consoled him and activated his Divine Sight to scan his data.

  (Mmm, he isn’t very strong, but he isn’t all that bad either!)

  (Isn’t this going to be a sure win for me?)

  At this moment, the candidates for the third round queued into a long row and started heading up the arena.

  These students came from various schools. Although the fight hadn’t started, the competition already had.

  If they had picked a student of a low cultivation level, it’d be over.

  “How is Teacher supposed to pick?”

  Lu Zhiruo felt troubled.

  “It’s not possible to tell one’s cultivation level, so they can only judge based on one’s height, disposition, gaze, and other aspects. It won’t be wrong to pick one who is tall and has a strong body.”

  Li Ziqi explained.

  Cultivation required physical strength. Low-level cultivators would basically had a strong physique. “It’s also possible to tell from their clothings. Those who dress extravagantly must definitely come from big clans and tend to have better cultivating resources!”

  Mei Ziyu explained in a soft voice.

  Sun Mo assumed a prestigious expression, his gaze looking sharp and domineering as he stared at each student that walked past him.

  Most students were unsettled, not daring to meet him in the eyes, but some wanted to be picked and bravely met Sun Mo’s gaze. However, they’d avert their gaze after being stared at by him for three seconds. Less than 1% of them could meet his gaze without turning away.

  Sun Mo quietly remembered these people’s appearances.

  Saint Zhou clearly knew this technique too. To avoid missing out on students who were more outstanding, he didn’t choose immediately. Instead, he only started to speak after everyone in the queue had passed through.

  “I’ll pick this one!”

  Saint Zhou pointed out. It was an 18-year-old young lady!

  Great teachers who knew their stuff immediately shook their heads, feeling that things were going to be bad for Sun Mo.

  “What’s the matter?”

  Lu Zhiruo felt very nervous at the sight of this scene.

  “Look carefully. That girl walks on her toes and has a unique dance-like rhythm. If my guess is right, she should be from the Gongsun Clan!”

  An Xinhui frowned. This clan had a family-inherited peerless-grade saint-tier sword art and was always able to nurture the most outstanding swordswomen.

  Many families sent their girls to the Gongsun Clan. Even if their children couldn’t pick up the sword art, they’d be able to pick up a set of sword dance, allowing them to perform in various imperial banquets. They wouldn’t have to worry about their livelihood then! “Teacher Sun, it’s your turn!”

  Xu Chunbo urged. “I’ll pick this one!”

  Sun Mo picked a boy. He wasn’t tall and looked very shy and reserved. When Sun Mo said that he picked the boy, the latter didn’t feel great elation but showed a puzzled expression without any confidence instead.

  “Haha!”

  Saint Zhou laughed loudly and left the arena.

  (Sun Mo, it’s over for you this time around!)

  “Teacher Sun, this…”

  Li Wanjun, who was a 7-stars great teacher, couldn’t tell how amazing this boy was.

  “Wait until three months later!”

  Sun Mo smiled. He didn’t use Divine Sight, but his judgment was still there. Moreover, after having touched countless bodies with his ancient massaging technique through the decades, he was now similar to those watermelon farmers who could rely just on their sight to tell if a watermelon was good.

  “Everyone, the selection has ended. Three months later, Secondary Saint Sun and Saint Zhou will go through three rounds of battles. The victor shall be the Saint Gate’s sect lord!”

  Xu Chunbo announced.

  After returning to the manor, Sun Mo first met up with the parents of his three new disciples.

  Out of them, Coal Briquette didn’t have a father. Her mother was also a woman who hadn’t been in important situations before and was worried that she’d offend Sun Mo if she were to show any discourtesy. Therefore, she had Coal Briquette’s far-distant uncle came to meet Sun Mo.

  Even though this uncle could speak well at the mines, now that he met Sun Mo, he just dropped to his knees and couldn’t say a single word.

  This was a secondary saint, a very important figure. “You can get up. From today onward, Coal Briquette will be following me!”

  Sun Mo had checked Coal Briquette with Divine Sight. Her data was very perfect and her potential value was extremely high. The only problem was that she had some ailments from overworking. However, with the ancient massaging technique, any muscle damages or bone deformations wouldn’t be a problem.

  “En!”

  Coal Briquette’s far-distant uncle had only wanted to come to try their luck, but he now felt at a loss that Coal Briquette had successfully been picked. After all, this happiness had come too quickly, catching him unaware.

  “Ziqi, make arrangements for her family’s future lives and help them find some work!”

  Sun Mo instructed.

  “I’ve got it!”

  Li Ziqi answered.

  “Huh?”

  Coal Briquette’s far-distant uncle was stunned. The name ‘Ziqi’ was well-known in every family in the Nine Provinces. The Great Tang’s female emperor was personally going to make work arrangements for them?

  This…

  He wasn’t dreaming, right?

  “Coal Briquette, this is the chance for you to change your fate. It’ll be up to you on whether you can catch hold of it!”

  Sun Mo looked at Coal Briquette and started his first lesson. “No matter how good a teacher is at teaching, it’ll be useless if the student doesn’t put in hard work!”

  “Coal Briquette’s life will be Teacher’s from today onward!”

  Coal Briquette didn’t know anything about hard work. She only knew that she had been sold and if she wanted to have a good life, she’d have to get into Sun Mo’s good books.

  Chapter 1329 In the End, It’s Just Beating Till Convinced!

  The ‘poor-performer’ picked by Sun Mo was called Bai Xiaoquan. He was 15 years old this year and was a weakling at the third level of the body-refinement realm. As his family was rich, he managed to get into a famous school by paying a hefty sponsorship fee.

  Given the Bai Clan’s financial capabilities, they couldn’t afford to feed him heavenly and earthly treasures, but they could let him soak in medicinal baths every day. However, there weren’t any improvements.

  As time passed, Father Bai had given up on his son.

  Bai Xiaoquan was picked by Sun Mo, but Father Bai wasn’t happy at all. It was because his son was too much of a trash and there was a high possibility that he’d be sent back.

  “Don’t worry and just leave him to me!”

  Sun Mo consoled him.

  The third student was called Shang Li. His father was a great teacher by the name Shang Han.

  “I went to find out. That girl is called Gongsun Huiying, a talented junior from the Gongsun Clan. My son is definitely not her match.”

  Shang Han’s voice was very soft and he didn’t even dare to look at Sun Mo. He was trying to give Sun Mo a preventive jab first so that his son wouldn’t be complained about if he were to lose.

  “There’s no need to worry. Just leave your son

  to me!”

  Sun Mo consoled him.

  Seeing how Sun Mo’s temperament was so good, Shang Han was surprised. After all, he was just a 3-stars great teacher and he didn’t have any status compared to a secondary saint like Sun Mo.

  “Although the duel that will be held three months later concerns my reputation, it also concerns your future. After all, it’s a stage that will receive a lot of attention. If you guys were to win, you’d win fame. But if you were to lose, you’d become a mockery!”

  Sun Mo’s tone suddenly became harsh. “Therefore, during this time, buck up and work up to improve yourself.”

  His three new disciples immediately responded with yes.

  The special training started.

  As for Coal Briquette, Sun Mo taught her the peerless-grade saint-tier Undying Mystic Art. Because Coal Briquette was used to seeing life and death, she could pick up this cultivation art very easily. In just two days, she succeeded in refining her body and performed the first level quite well.

  SU

  After correcting Coal Briquette’s minor habitual mistakes, Sun Mo had nothing more to teach her.

  After all, Coal Briquette was just 12 years old and a newbie. Even if he were to teach her a lot, she wouldn’t be able to receive them. However, Coal Briquette was very hardworking

  The hard work she put into her training every day reminded Sun Mo of the iron-headed girl back in the days.

  For Bai Xiaoquan, Sun Mo performed a detailed checkup on him. This further ascertained that his senses and vision were extremely sharp.

  “You’re born to be an amazing archer!”

  Sun Mo praised.

  “Huh?”

  Although Bai Xiaoquan had received Sun Mo’s recognition, he wasn’t happy. It was because what he wanted to be was a sword saint.

  “How can everything in the world go as you wish?” Sun Mo sighed. “You’ll either waste your life away or obtain achievements in archery!”

  “I… I’ll pick archery!”

  Bai Xiaoquan still gave in. Being an archer was still better off than being looked down on.

  “However, even though I have a peerless-grade saint-tier archery art, I won’t teach you that!”

  Sun Mo laughed.

  “Huh?” Bai Xiaoquan was stunned. “Why?”

  “It’s because the times have changed!”

  Sun Mo teased and then started to impart Bai Xiaoquan a new battle technique.

  After Sun Mo came out of the training hall, his personal disciples came up to him.

  “Teacher, will this work?”

  Qin Yaoguang had always been cheeky and would speak whatever was on her mind.

  “Of course it will!”

  Sun Mo was very certain. “Technology is the number one battle prowess!”

  “Teacher, how did you tell that he has talent in archery?”

  Lu Zhiruo took out a small notebook, planning to record her teacher’s experience.

  “Hey hey hey, your junior martial sister is a divine archer. You don’t even know this?”

  Tantai Yutang teased.

  “I noticed that day that Bai Xiaoquan could find his parents in the crowd at a glance. Moreover, he also dug out a piece of dry snot and flicked it out, hitting a fly.”

  Sun Mo explained.

  Sun Mo’s students were all astonished.

  “Teacher, isn’t your observation too fine?”

  Lu Zhiruo felt great despair. This was something that she’d never be able to learn in this lifetime.

  As for Shang Li, even though Sun Mo had many peak-grade cultivation arts, this disciple wouldn’t be able to make many achievements in three months. Therefore, Sun Mo had Shang Li continue to practice his Bodhi Blade Art, corrected his wrong habits, and changed some moves to make the prowess even stronger while optimizing the battle tactic.

  “This stance can be changed?”

  Shang Li saw Sun Mo modifying the cultivation arts that he had been cultivating for over ten years. He first held doubt but quickly realized that the stance’s prowess had increased, and this took him by great surprise.

  “Why not?”

  Sun Mo smiled. “Every cultivation art was invented by our ancestors!”

  Right now, Saint Zhou and Sun Mo went into seclusion to teach their students, not receiving any guests. It was as if they were cut off from the rest of the world, but the outside world was in a great commotion.

  Many people felt that things were going to be bad for Sun Mo this time around.

  For the first round, it was the butcher’s son with a bulky physique. No matter how they looked at it, he looked much stronger than the little coal miner girl. After all, the former had often seen blood and his body was also well nurtured. On the other hand, the latter was clearly malnourished and didn’t have enough to eat. In addition, she had had to do heavy labor and it was good enough that she hadn’t died from fatigue.

  For the second round, both students were weaklings, so the highest possibility was for them to come to a draw.

  For the third round, Gongsun Huiying would definitely be the one to win. Gongsun Clan’s sword dance was an outstanding closing performance. Without this sword dance, the banquets’ standard would drop by a lot.

  As a matter of fact, the student Sun Mo picked also had his background uncovered. Although his father was a 3-stars great teacher and he was a lot stronger than ordinary people, he was nothing compared to Gongsun Huiying.

  wa

  Various underground gambling booths that were set up didn’t think highly of Sun Mo’s victory either.

  Amidst such nervous and busy teaching and cultivating, three months passed by in the blink of an eye.

  The Saint Gate had pulled funds to rebuild the arena for this great battle between a saint and secondary saint. They even added seats around to provide esteemed guests with a better viewing experience.

  Of course, those who wished to get access to those seats would have to pay money!

  The better the seats, the higher the price.

  However, the Saint Gate wasn’t going to keep the money. They would donate it all to fund the poor students.

  As Xu Chunbo’s legs weren’t good, he was unable to host the competition. Therefore, the host changed to the 7-stars great teacher Li Wanjun. After all, his reputation was great enough. The moment Li Wanjun went up to the arena, he revealed this matter.

  “Everyone should thank Secondary Saint Sun! This is his idea!”

  Li Wanjun’s words caused a commotion amongst the audience. Those esteemed guests who had paid high prices to access those seats suddenly felt that they hadn’t been deceived of their money.

  Saint Zhou’s face instantly turned grim. What was this?

  Sun Mo wasn’t the sect lord, but he already had the authority of one?

  Moreover, didn’t this make him appear to be very incapable in comparison?

  “The weather is clear today and it is slightly cool without any wind. What a good day for a duel. There is no time to lose, let the first match begin!”

  Li Wanjun went straight to the point!

  “Can the two participants for the first match please get on the arena!?”

  Black Pig took gallant strides up the arena. After three months of training, his physique appeared even more majestic and he had a hint of one who could butcher ten thousand people single handedly.

  At this moment, he wore training attire and held onto a golden-ringed blade.

  “As this match is a competition of the individual’s capabilities, participants aren’t allowed to wear armor. Their weapons can only be ordinary blades, spears, swords, or halberds!”

  Li Wanjun explained and introduced the two participants.

  Coal Briquette used a dagger. After walking up to the arena, she did a somersault and jumped up, looking as agile as a monkey.

  “Don’t let her get close!”

  Saint Zhou threw a glance at Coal Briquette and reminded Black Pig.

  This was acceptable. According to the rules, personal teachers could give live guidance during the match.

  “Although I butcher pigs, I’m good at killing chicken too!”

  Black Pig laughed. Usually, when he caught chickens at home, he would be able to hit his target just by throwing out his butcher knife.

  Coal Briquette’s lips twitched.

  “Both participants, please give your greetings!”

  Li Wanjun gestured for them to stand 20 meters apart.

  “Duan Zhu, third level of the body-refinement realm. Please give me your guidance!”

  Sssss!

  When everyone heard his cultivation level, they were all astonished. Wasn’t it too amazing for him to rise to the third level in three months?

  “He must have taken some medicine!”

  Some people guessed. Given Saint Zhou’s background, it’d be no problem to get some heavenly and earthly treasures to help nurture the body.

  “Wang Xiaohua, second level of the body-refinement realm. Please give me your guidance!”

  Gasp!

  Hearing Coal Briquette’s introduction, everyone was stunned too. This child wasn’t bad either!

  With Sun Mo’s ancient massaging technique, in addition to all sorts of medicinal packets, speeding up the improvement to the second level of the body-refinement realm was an easy feat. If it wasn’t because Coal Briquette had been overworked too much in her younger days, resulting in her life essence receiving damage, she’d be able to rise to the third level of the body-refinement realm too.

  “That Black Pig must have taken some medicine!”

  Qin Yaoguang said in disdain.

  “Don’t speak rubbish. Saint Zhou has this bit of integrity!”

  Sun Mo activated his Divine Sight and had taken a look at Duan Zhu’s various data. He hadn’t taken any medicine and just had an exceptional aptitude.

  “Teacher, just you watch. I’ll give her an instant defeat!”

  Black Pig bellowed and then charged out like a wild boar, pouncing toward Coal Briquette. His blade was over two meters long and weighed 75 kilograms, but he swung it around as easily as if it was a bean sprout.

  The bigger the weapon, the clumsier it was. It’d give the opponents openings. However, this wasn’t the case for Black Pig. The golden-ringed blade was swung vigorously, sending out layers of blade wind.

  Coal Briquette rolled and immediately dodged.

  Black Pig gave chase.

  Looking at this, Coal Briquette tried to get close to retaliate, but she wasn’t given the chance. Her opponent’s blade force was impenetrable.

  “Then just wait till he gets tired!” Coal Briquette started moving around.

  “Haha!”

  When Saint Zhou saw Coal Briquette starting to dodge, he guessed her battle tactic too and reminded, “It’s useless. His stamina is good and his spirit qi reserve also far surpasses others his age. He won’t get weaker even if he were to swing the blade for half an hour. But you on the other hand, will you be able to last so long?”

  “You’re lying!”

  Coal Briquette shouted.

  When Black Pig heard his teacher’s praise, in addition to Coal Briquette’s contempt, he instantly went all out and attacked even more vigorously.

  Five minutes passed by.

  Although Coal Briquette had been put through dangerous situations a few times, she managed to dodge those attacks.

  Looking at this scene, Saint Zhou’s countenance sank and he couldn’t help but lash out, “If one tactic doesn’t work, can’t you change to another?”

  Sigh!

  Although Black Pig’s physical aptitude was better, he wasn’t that smart.

  “Saint Zhou has given a new instruction again!”

  Li Wanjun played the role of the host.

  His words infuriated Saint Zhou. If he were to keep on giving guidance, wouldn’t that mean that his student wasn’t that good at adapting to the situation?

  Look at Sun Mo! He hadn’t said a word yet!

  Black Pig immediately went onto defense, waiting for a chance to attack. However, he realized that his opponent didn’t attack, and this made him feel at a loss, so he looked toward Saint Zhou.

  “Make the decision by yourself!”

  Saint Zhou didn’t dare to give any further guidance.