Zhao Luo and Wu Yang were looking at each other’s eyes, both were now sitting on the same level, that is on Zhao Luo’s bed after Zhao Luo offered Wu Yang the spot.

“Zhao Luo, you don’t have to call me brother. Just think of this as a give and take. You are letting me join you guys and I will be guiding you on the secrets of the trainee hall.”

Wu Yang wholeheartedly said to Zhao Luo. 

He wasn’t here to get a higher standing on Zhao Luo just because of what he was providing. But if that standing was based on respect then he wouldn’t have minded it at all.

Unfortunately, they had just met and respect between people doesn’t build instantly like this.

“I guess it was just an illusion of mine that the trainees who had been here for a long time were slackers. It looks like you have a plan in your mind, Wu Yang.”

Zhao Luo said to Wu Yang.

Zhao Luo could see that the guy in front of him wasn’t here to play games.

‘He was only waiting for the right companions and it looks like he has found them.’

Zhao Luo thought as he smiled towards Wu Yang.

“So what do you know about those drums?”

Zhao Luo asked Wu Yang while Feng Mei and Yan also had their full attention on Wu Yang’s answer.

Wu Yang looked at them and closed his eyes as he started to remember the drums in each row and their effects.

“Strength, Weapon, Endurance, and Mental.”

Wu Yang said as he showed them his hand as he folded his thumb while showing them the ‘four fingers’ of his hand.

“What?”

Zhao Luo asked as he couldn’t understand what Wu Yang was trying to tell with the words he had said.

“The Drums of Bellum is a single artifact or consider them as a treasure that tests a person’s control over, his strength, the weapon being used which will be the drum stick, his endurance to face resistance which you failed at miserably, and the mental control…”

Wu Yang pointed some things out and tried to explain them to Zhao Luo as simply as he could. 

Even Wu Yang didn’t know how the drums of the last row affected a person’s mind that is his mental state. So he couldn’t misguide them on this secret that only he knew about.

Zhao Luo who had already faced the Drums of Bellum found Wu Yang’s words very reliable and sound.

“What is the best way to pass each test?”

Zhao Luo asked him because even if he knew what the Drums of Bellum was used to test, that wouldn’t help him much.

Zhao Luo still didn’t know how to clear them without losing his consciousness because of the drum’s attack.

Wu Yang looked at him and smiled before answering Zhao Luo’s question.

“Remember right now in the whole trainee hall, only I can answer your question.”

Wu Yang told Zhao Luo.

Wu Yang was showing him how much help he was providing Zhao Luo.

“Indeed. So….”

Zhao Luo agreed with what Wu Yang had said.

He was getting eager to know the answer.

“There are always two ways to solve everything. First to overpower them completely with your towering strength. Or you can just solve them with your smartness.”

Wu Yang started talking. He looked like their elder as he began to taught them the ways which he knew about.

“You can overpower them by either having a very strong body like unimaginably strong body or either having an unimaginable strength. If your body is really strong then you would be able to clear the fourth stage of Drums which tests your endurance and if you have amazing strength then you can keep on destroying the drums till you reach the fifth row or till the end.”

Wu Yang said to Zhao Luo as he raised both of his hands like showing Zhao Luo that the first way was possible for Zhao Luo no matter which method he chooses.

“The second way is to have strength. That strength has to be controlled enough that you don’t exceed the 3 echo mark or fall behind it every time you beat the drum till the third row.”

Wu Yang said as he closed another finger of his.

“3? I remember that the drums also produced three echoes whenever Mite beat them.”

Zhao Luo said as the memory of Mite’s turn on the Drums appeared in his mind.

“Yes, it’s because of what happens on the fourth row’s first drum. All the echoes are accumulated in the form of a shock attack in that drum till they are released when the drum produces echoes.”

Wu Yang continued his explanation.

“So to keep the power of that accumulated attack to the minimum power, it’s best to keep your strength controlled enough to not exceed the three echo mark. That way only 15 echoes will be accumulated in the first drum. But remember that weights of the drumstick and the pressure changes in the second and third row so you will have to take control of that too.”

Wu Yang said.

Zhao Luo now knew the reason behind Mite, praising him whenever he would strike the drum so hard that the drum would make five or even six echoes.

‘So he knew that I will be facing that absurd attack and was riling me up.’

Zhao Luo looked angry as he had fallen into Mite’s trap so easily just because he wanted to challenge Mite’s strength which turned into him challenging the Drums of Bellum.

“Well about the three echoes, it isn’t a big secret in the trainee hall. But to even get there isn’t possible for the trainees as these disciples don’t even have that much strength and even if some disciples have the strength their control is so bad that they fall on the third or fourth drum of the first row.”

Wu Yang clarified that what he had told them now wasn’t a big secret regarding the First Three Rows of The Drums of Bellum.

“Hmmm.”

Zhao Luo wondered as it was already enough for him. If he could just endure the attack of the drum then he would be fine after that.

‘But what about the other drums in the fourth row?’

Zhao Luo thought the other drums would have an attack similar to the first drum there.

“The other drums function in the same way but the accumulation of the echoes is different. From the fourth row’s first drum, you will have to hit the drum as hard as you can.”

Like Wu Yang could read Zhao Luo’s thought he said to him.

“But why? Wouldn’t that mean, I will be facing that many echoes on the second drum?”

Zhao Luo questioned Wu Yang.

“Well no. That is the difference. The fourth row is enduring while giving out your utmost on every attack. The more you fall behind in your attack, the more you will have to endure. If you get ten echoes you will face no attack on the next drum. But if you get nine echoes on the First drum of the Fourth row, you will have to face just one attack on the next drum.”

Wu Yang said.

This was one of the secrets that not even Mite knew about as Mite would always give up at the First Drum of the Fourth Row.

Zhao Luo was silent. He was planning on how to raise his attack strength such that he could get the drums of the fourth row to produce ten echoes.

‘I can just increase my body’s strength so high the body’s endurance will be able to take those shock attacks easily.’

Zhao Luo thought.

It was either he could raise his attack or become a defense beast and endure all the attacks like a beast.

As Zhao Luo was thinking about what he should go with, Wu Yang who looked as if he had an idea popping up in his mind, slapped his fist on his palm.

“I heard that there were two tests in the exam this time. And the elder awarded points for the second test.”

Wu Yang said.

A rumor about the ‘Second Test’ was going around in the trainee hall.

It all happened when Zhao Luo had fallen unconscious. 

The old disciples gathered around the new disciples and asked them to introduce themselves. 

While the introduction was going on, someone from among the new disciples told them about the second test and how the reward of clearing this test was Sect points.

From there this spread like wildfire. 

In those many hours, almost everyone knew that the new disciples had points.

Zhao Luo didn’t know how to react as he heard Wu Yang.

“Yes, we did get points for clearing the riddles which was the second test.”

Zhao Luo told him.

“Well, then you can go to the Sects Outer Hall’s library and get a manual to increase your strength. Just don’t take the outer disciple test after that and you can clear the Drums of Bellum.”

Wi Yang presented his idea to Zhao Luo.

“Hah, I don’t think there is any need to get a manual, for now. I have other ways, don’t worry about it.”

Zhao Luo told Wu Yang.

‘Why should I waste my points when I can just raise my strength while fighting my apparitions?’

Zhao Luo thought as there was no reason to waste his points.

“Hah, I get it. You didn’t pass the second test or you just didn’t get many points on it.”

Wu Yang speculated as there was no better way to increase strength than through a manual from the library which would cost them points.

“Hmph, Brother Zhao Luo scored 75 points in the second test.”

Feng Mei who had been silent till now corrected Wu Yang.

‘What?’

Wu Yang looked at Zhao Luo like his eyes would pop out of his eyes socket.

“So you are the top scorer from the rumor.”

Wu Yang said while pointing his finger at Zhao Luo.

Zhao Luo only shrugged his shoulder as he showed a calm smile.