Hao Ren finished his breakthrough and when he stood up from the ground after dealing with the tribulation, it was already close to the time when the contest would be inaugurated. He sighed and shook his head as he waved his hand and opened a portal directly behind the two grandmasters. His command over the spatial laws have improved greatly and he was now capable of moving undetected. This was the perk of World Overlord realm.

He smiled as he looked at the people standing ahead of him before he said, "Grandmaster Flaming Hammer, Grandmaster Serene Storme, you both look quite nervous."

The two people turned around to look at the speaker, and were shocked before they were relieved as the latter said, "You sure know how to stress us all. Go ahead and stand over there. This is your identification badge."

That said, the old man shoved a jade plate in Hao Ren's hand. He walked out of the crowd and joined the crowd that were waiting for the contest to start. Hao Ren looked over and then found a few people standing in the void. In the center of this group stood a middle-aged man wearing a white robe. He was different from the rest.

Among these people, Hao Ren locked gaze with Amira. The latter caught his gaze and used spiritual communication, "So, you have finally come."

Hao Ren smiled faintly and replied, "I was finishing up something important. Is this guy in white, Tian Teicong?"

Amira affirmed and said, "Listen to the rules of the following rounds clearly. This guy can find loopholes very easily."

Hao Ren nodded and agreed. He saw Tian Teicong speak, "Thank you all for coming and participating in the Heavenly Hammer Contest."

The people below smiled and clapped their hands. Tian Teicong smiled and then replied, "So, the participants with jade plate, step forward as we will start the first round of the contest."

Hao Ren stepped over and he found three hundred more people stood there holding jade plates. Tian Teicong looked at the ground and waved his hand. A set of weapons appeared on the ground. Tian Teicong said, "You all will get one chance to move forward and inspect this set of weapons. Then you will identify the material used to create these weapons, and then write the answers on a paper with your name written behind it."

The people nodded, this was the standard practice. A young man from the council stood beside the set of weapons, and he waved his hand as he said, "The participant with one number on the jade plate, please come forward."

A grandmaster level refiner came forward, and the young man said, "Please inspect the set of weapons."

The man reached out and picked up the weapon one by one to inspect them. The whole thing appeared very stupid, and then he inspected the weapons before writing the names of the metals and placed the paper inside a sealed box.

Many people followed this man before it was Hao Ren's turn. The young man took a deep breath before he appeared before the weapon set. The young man picked up the weapon and unlike everyone else, he didn't use his spiritual sense. He flicked his fingers on the weapon and heard them ring. He took a deep breath before he wrote down a few names. Then he went on to inspect another weapon.

Everyone watched his method and were surprised. Tian Teicong remarked, "This guy, he is interesting, such a method of inspection is not usual."

Amira nodded without changing her expression and after a few moments, Hao Ren finished his inspection and placed the slip of paper inside the box before retreating to the side. After a couple of hours the inspection round finished and the staff members opened the box and then began to read the answers.

The staff members called out the jade plate numbers before they called out, "Plate Number 877, pass."

Hao Ren stepped up and the people recognized them, and they began to talk with each other in hushed tones. Even the higher ups of the council were surprised that Hao Ren passed. At this moment, Grandmaster Amira asked, "Young man could you tell us all how you managed to detect the metals inside the weapons?"

The young man smiled, he knew that Amira was trying to gain him some credit among the fraternity. The young man replied, "The sound created from the resonating weapons, can tell exactly what metal is used inside the weapons all create different sounds. So, I used those sounds to identify the metals."

The people found it very ingenious, and began to compliment him. Hao Ren smiled faintly and accepted all the compliments that came his way. After the results were announced, only one hundred and fifty people managed to make it through the first round.

Tian Teicong said, "Congratulations on passing the first round. The second round would now begin. You will have to take over a weapon provided by the Council and then cast three Dao Runes on them within an hour."

Hao Ren nodded slowly, for now, the script was moving as it was told by the two grandmasters. Soon, tables were arranged and then Hao Ren was pointed to stand next to a table where a few things were placed already.

He looked around and found that there were several spiritual inks and one sword. Tian Teicong said, "The time starts now."

Hao Ren picked up the sword and inspected it for a good moment. He frowned as the quality of this weapon was not very good. He placed the weapon back on the table before he began to inspect the spiritual ink and found that the quality of this object was also mediocre.

…

Many people saw the situation and commented, "Uff, the situation of this young man is not optimal. He got the medicore set."

Someone else replied, "Indeed, last time someone from the Iron Breath Sect also met the same fate."

Another person said, "What can be done, these people from the council are really tricky to handle. They always find a way to hold back talented people."

The person next to him gave him a glare and said, "If you want to be black listed, do it on your own, don't drag us down."

…

Hao Ren caught the sound of what the people said and then he channeled his spiritual flame through the weapon. He used his yin and yang eyes to clean out the impurities from the other various spots in the weapon. Then he did the same with the spiritual ink, but his act of purification left him with only half of the spiritual ink that he had received.

Amira noticed this and remarked, "He is quite brave to purify the ink."

Many people next to her nodded, apart from one, Tian Teicong. The middle-aged man thought Hao Ren was a fool who just wasted his chance by using half the ink. The set appeared to be mediocre, but it was very apt for creating several low level runes on the weapon.

Hao Ren finished purifying the ink and the weapon before he used his spiritual control to cast a rune before he made a few hand seals. Gradually the rune began to take form, after a few minutes a rune was settled on the blade.

…

Hiro was watching from the side and then he asked, "Grandmaster, why did Master purify the blade and the ink?"

Grandmaster Flaming Hammer replied, "He wants to create a high rank Dao Rune, but the condition of the weapon would not tolerate the pressure caused by a high level Dao Runes. This is why he improvised."

Hiro was in awe before he said, "To think that master is so skillful that he can purify the ink and the blade on the spot."

Grandmaster Serene Storme smiled and he patted the teenager's shoulder, and then remarked, "You will learn a lot under his tutelage. Just be humble and learn well."

Hiro nodded forcefully, and then they turned to look at Hao Ren who was creating Dao Runes.

…

Hao Ren created seals one after the other and his hands turned into after images. Someone mumbled, "God damn, look at his seal casting technique. It is simple but his command is impeccable."

The people nodded before one of them said, "Only geniuses can use such a simple techniques and cast Dao Runes at this speed."

…

Hao Ren was still casting the second rune when many people had finished casting it already. However, none of this had any affect on Hao Ren, he was focused only on his movement.

Amira was watching the situation unfold from the void. She remarked, "Such focus and ambition to be displayed in such a high level contest is really remarkable. The young master of the Tyrant Hammer Hall is also very skilled. The first two runes are augmenting the integrity of the weapon. I am looking forward to the third rune he would create."