Wang Ming remained silent, his eyes unfocused, as if deep in thought. He had anticipated this situation, understood the hidden currents at play. The clan leader's intentions were clear.
"The other two have already aligned themselves with the First Elder's faction. That leaves only me," Wang Ming mused, his eyes narrowing. "But openly siding with the clan leader is a dangerous move. It would mean declaring myself against the dominant clan faction."
In the Wang Clan, there was no room for neutrality. One either aligned with the clan leader and his fragile coalition of low-background elders, or submitted to the overwhelming influence of the First Elder's bloodline-centric faction. In his previous life, Wang Ming had chosen the clan leader's side. Given the circumstances, it remained the best option. The First Elder's faction valued bloodline too much and even if he has a good talent he won't get the resources he needed at present, a disadvantage Wang Ming could not ignore.
With these thoughts settled, Wang Ming followed the Sixth Elder alongside the other two candidates. Their footsteps echoed through the stone corridors as they approached a cave entrance, guarded by a squad of peak Rank Two formation apprentices. These guards, fiercely loyal to the clan, stiffened upon seeing the Sixth Elder, saluting him with disciplined precision.
Without a word, the Sixth Elder led them into the cave.
Wang Ming's eyes adjusted to the dim light as he walked through the familiar, unremarkable interior. Jagged rock walls, damp air, and the faint echo of their footsteps the scene was exactly as he remembered from his previous life.
After a short walk, they reached the end of the passage, where a small wooden house stood, seemingly out of place in the cold stone cavern. The structure had only one room, its purpose clear.
The Sixth Elder stopped and turned to face them, his eyes sharp as he spoke,
"You three candidates will enter one by one to choose a formation mark. Remember, you have only ten minutes each. If you linger any longer, I will personally drag you out."
He chuckled lightly, a sound that echoed off the stone walls, but his eyes remained cold. The three candidates simply nodded, their expressions solemn.
"Wang Mei, you first," the Sixth Elder said, gesturing to the house.
Wang Mei bowed respectfully and stepped into the wooden structure. Moments later, she emerged, her face a mixture of excitement and satisfaction.
Next, Wang Shui entered, disappearing behind the wooden door. After a few minutes, he too stepped out, a faint glow in his eyes hinting at the ambition burning within.
Finally, it was Wang Ming's turn.
He entered the room, his steps calm and deliberate. Inside, the dim light of a lone lantern cast long shadows, illuminating a simple wooden table. On it lay seventeen ancient tomes, each marked with a unique formation symbol.
Wang Ming's gaze swept over them, his mind instantly recalling their contents.
"These are the advanced apprentice-level formations, the true treasures of the clan," he thought. "The Wang Clan follows the Sword Dao, and most of these formations reflect that path."
His eyes settled on a particular book, its cover marked with the symbol of three crossed swords. Without hesitation, he reached out, his fingers brushing the raised insignia.
The moment his skin made contact, the book trembled, its pages flipping wildly on their own. A faint, ghostly wind stirred the stagnant air, and a dark, three-sword symbol etched itself into the back of Wang Ming's hand, glowing faintly before fading into his flesh.
A cold smirk spread across his lips. "As expected."
He turned and left the room, his steps unhurried.
Outside, the Sixth Elder's eyes narrowed upon seeing Wang Ming emerge so quickly. His brows furrowed, and a sigh escaped his lips.
"Hmph, this boy... He must have chosen blindly. What a waste," the elder thought, suppressing his disappointment. Yet, his face betrayed none of this as he gestured for them to follow him back to the surface.
Wang Ming said nothing, his gaze distant, his thoughts already turning to the greater game at play.