SAVIOR
Khairul Does Not Approve

With the ability that Asrul showed, the Imam was not surprised if Asrul intended to take the fourth floor exam.

"True Imam, my intention was indeed to take the exam on the fourth floor."

The priest nodded slowly then asked Asrul to wait for a moment, the exam on the fourth floor was a little special so it needed preparation.

About half an hour later the Imam returned and invited Asrul to the fourth floor. There, Asrul found a stranger waiting in the middle of the room of the fourth floor of the multi-storey pagoda.

"Asrul, I didn't think you'd take this exam when it was my turn to guard this floor. Even though we know each other and my relationship with your teacher is close enough, I won't ease this test." Said the middle-aged man.

"Of course junior understands, Imam Airish." Asrul paid his respects to the man.

The man who was in the presence of Asrul was none other than Imam Airish, one of the twenty best Priests in the Kun Billah temple. Imam Airish was also one of the warriors who followed Taimiyah to Mallorca.

Each Imam is a title swordsman, although their abilities vary. Imam Airish ranks seventh among the twenty best Imams. On the other hand Gus Mukhlas had previously occupied the third position but after his internal injuries had fully recovered, Gus Mukhlas was ranked second among the twenty best Imams.

The priest who became the supervisor explaining the exam on the fourth floor of the Stratified Pagoda was to get the recognition of a best Imam. If the best Imam assesses the participants deserve to occupy the position of Imam then they are declared to pass the test.

Asrul nodded slowly, now he understood the reason not all master swordsmen of Kun Billah were able to become Imams because the test they faced on the fourth floor was against the title swordsman.

"Pull your sword, as long as you can show me swordsmanship that satisfies my heart then I will allow you to become the youngest Imam in the history of the Padepokan Kun-Billah, perhaps also in the history of the martial world." Imam Airish laughed loudly.

Imam Airish realized Asrul was not an ordinary young man, besides Gus Mukhlas as his teacher, Taimiyah also paid special attention to him. Imam Airish even heard rumors, Taymiyyah planned to make Asrul as one of the main candidates for the successor position of Imam Padepokan Kun-Billah.

Asrul nodded slowly and drew his sword, "Priest Airish, I won't hesitate."

Without further ado, Asrul came forward and played his sword. Each attack was agile and sharp, making Imam Airish standby.

"Your achievements in swallow swordsmanship have come so far? Fruit does not fall far from the tree, great teachers will not have bad students." The Airish priest smiled widely while dodging every attack Asrul made.

Imam Airish is not very famous as the best Imam but Asrul will not underestimate him. Asrul realized that everyone who was able to become the best Imam had high abilities including the Airish Priest who was often this humble.

"Well, I'll increase my attack speed." Asrul felt the abilities shown were not satisfactory enough for Imam Airish.

When the Airish Priest realized Asrul's attack was getting faster, he did not rely on the science of easing his body to dodge but rather raised his sword to fend off the attack.

"His attack patterns are so diverse and creative, he attacks parts that are difficult to protect and does very well." The Airish Priest was amazed, he realized Asrul's swordplay could usually only be done by those who had decades of experience fighting or through hundreds of life and death battles.

The Imam of Airish and Asrul exchanged attacks for ten minutes, the Imam who oversaw the Asrul examination could only be stunned by the actions of the two.

Imam Airish has so far chosen a defensive position, not trying to strike back. Asrul could read the tactics of Imam Airish who wished Asrul fatigue first. The thought of Imam Airish was not very complicated, although Imam Airish did not underestimate Asrul's ability but he still considered him an ordinary young man. Imam Airish was sure Asrul's body did not have enough stamina to fight for a long time with him.

Asrul smiled as he thought about it, Imam Airish obviously did not know after several years of consuming Ginseng, Asrul has stamina that is beyond human reason. Asrul could do a fight like this all day without feeling tired.

If Imam Airish invites Asrul to fight stamina, then he has made a mistake because Asrul believes he will survive until the end.

Time passed, the tempo of Imam Airish's breath began to change while Asrul's breath was still in order, this is where Imam Airish felt something was wrong. "Oh, this kid set me up." Imam Airish smiled awkwardly before changing his position towards attacking, only that Imam Airish delayed too long.

Asrul and Imam Airish had exchanged hundreds of moves, when Imam Airish did not think too much about it, Asrul on the other hand analyzed the movement patterns of his opponent. The exchange made Asrul well acquainted with the pattern of attacks of Imam Airish.

Imam Airish glared when he felt himself still not superior even though he had started to attack.

After fighting for another ten minutes, the Airish Priest jumped back and sheathed his sword. Asrul also stopped attacking him.

The Airish Priest looked at Asrul for a long time before sighing deeply, "Little brother, you really got me in trouble..."

Imam Airish smiled awkwardly at Asrul before finally announcing that Asrul had successfully completed the fourth floor examination.

"Welcome to join the Imam. I hope you don't forget me when you're at the top." The Airish Priest laughed out loud, he realized with the potential Asrul had, only to wait for the boy before him to surpass his martial ability.

"Don't myself, it seems like ten more years Gus Mukhlas is no match for him." Imam Airish shook his head slowly, he saw Asrul acting ordinary despite having become a Priest as if his achievements were not something that was unexpected.

The news of Asrul successfully completing the fourth floor examination of the Stratified Pagoda spread throughout Padepokan in no time. Many were in disbelief, some were shocked. There is no one in Kun Billah who does not know the name Asrul now.

Taymiyya had expected the success of Asrul so that it felt ordinary but Khairul could not accept it.

"Brother Airish, did you deliberately pass the young man off to create a sensation?" Khairul came to Imam Airish to confirm the truth of the news.

"Vice Chief Khairul, do you think I'm that kind of person?" Imam Airish raised his eyebrows.

Imam Airish is friendly but he also has a tolerance limit, he was aware passing Asrul will trigger doubts on many sides but he had considered it well.