Chapter 6

In the martial arts training ground of Luyang Prefecture, five chief examiners and dozens of assistant examiners were jointly supervising the exams. They would personally evaluate each candidate's martial arts abilities, including their cultivation and martial skills.

There were five groups of candidates taking the exam simultaneously, so the pace of the assessment was not slow.

The assessment teams continued to move forward, and it was almost time for Ye Fan and Zhao Xing and their group.

Zhao Xing's eyes flickered with cunning, and he said with a grin, "Ye Fan, this exam is too boring. Why don't we make it a bit more interesting? How about we bet on something?"

"Oh, how do we bet?"

Ye Fan frowned.

He originally didn't want to pay attention to Zhao Xing, but Zhao Xing, like a fly, kept buzzing around, and he wished he could slap Zhao Xing away.

"Let's bet on who gets a higher martial arts score from the examiners! The loser will bark like a dog in front of everyone! Of course, if you consider yourself a coward and don't want to bet, I won't force you. Everyone, say if that's fair!"

Zhao Xing's lips curled into a mocking smile, and he winked at the few followers around him.

"That's right!"

"Ye Fan, you were so impressive in class yesterday. You won't suddenly turn into a coward now, will you!"

"Just compete with Brother Xing, let us see your 'superb' basic martial skills."

The surrounding followers of Zhao Xing cheered excitedly, hoping Ye Fan would agree to the bet.

Ye Fan hesitated for a moment and asked the ancient book "Shang" in his mind, 'Shang, should I bet with him?'

'Bet! You'll activate "Wushen Yanwu" later. How could you lose to a mere Second Rank Warrior? Just perform the "Basic Three" martial skills and crush him!'

Shang said disdainfully, clearly not taking Zhao Xing seriously.

"Alright!"

Ye Fan responded solemnly.

He wasn't entirely confident, unsure of the effectiveness of "Shang's" "Wushen Yanwu."

But since Shang was so confident, he decided to take the bet.

"Silence—! It's your turn, get ready for the assessment!"

At the front of the queue, several examiners were seated at a table, and one of them glared over.

The group of young martial students immediately fell silent, not daring to speak out of turn.

"Zhao Xing! It's your turn to step up."

"Here!"

"I'll show everyone today what it means to have exquisite mid-rank sword skills!"

Zhao Xing laughed loudly at the other martial students.

He held his long sword and proudly stepped into the assessment area, bowing to the five chief and assistant examiners, and said confidently, "Student Zhao Xing of Nanchen Martial Academy, greetings to the examiners!"

The five examiners nodded in satisfaction.

Zhao Xing, a Second Rank Warrior, was tall and well-built, with strong bones and abundant vitality, a promising martial arts talent. His hands were calloused from diligent practice, and his sword skills were likely quite good.

The chief examiner, Zhao Yiming, even smiled kindly.

How could he not recognize a disciple from a collateral branch of the Zhao family in Luyang Prefecture?

He would certainly give Zhao Xing a few extra points.

After a brief self-introduction, Zhao Xing first split a six-inch thick hardwood post with one hand, then began to demonstrate his martial skills.

"Mid-rank sword technique, 'Thirteen Slanting Moon Swords'!"

Zhao Xing stood firm, shouted, and his entire aura suddenly changed. He seemed like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a piercing and intimidating presence.

The surrounding young martial students were startled, feeling a cold sword edge approaching, and they all took a few steps back to avoid being injured by the sharp aura.

"First move, Dragon Gazing at the Moon!"

Zhao Xing gripped the sword with both hands and suddenly thrust the tip upward.

The sword thrust out, the move resembling a dragon emerging from the water, raising its head to gaze at the moon in the sky.

A cold light shimmered at the tip of the sword, the sharp aura almost piercing through the blade.

"Hmm, not bad!"

Many examiners exchanged glances, nodding in approval.

Zhao Xing's move had reached a level of mastery, which was quite impressive.

"Brother Xing's sword skills are excellent!"

"This mid-rank sword technique is indeed powerful, not only full of fighting spirit but also with cunning and ruthless moves that catch the enemy off guard."

"Zhao Xing, being from the Zhao family of Luyang Prefecture, even from a collateral branch, is not to be underestimated!"

The surrounding dozens of young martial students were amazed and envious.

In a primary martial academy, young martial students generally only learn basic and primary martial skills.

Only a few students from wealthy and powerful families can afford to buy mid- and high-rank martial skill runes and learn mid- and high-rank martial skills.

In terms of power, mid-rank martial skills are naturally far superior to primary and basic martial skills.

Zhao Xing, encouraged by the surrounding cheers and admiration, felt greatly invigorated. His strength among the young martial students was indeed outstanding, and he had no reason to feel inferior.

A series of exquisite sword moves flowed out, each move dazzling and sharp.

This set of sword techniques attracted even more attention from the surrounding martial students, who watched the demonstration with great interest.

When he reached the seventh move, "Cold Star Chasing the Moon," Zhao Xing had already pushed his strength to its limits. He thrust the sword with all his might but couldn't control it, almost losing his grip.

Many of Zhao Xing's classmates who saw this were secretly surprised. It seemed that Ye Fan was right; there was indeed a problem with Zhao Xing's sword skills.

"Pity!"

The chief examiner, Zhao Yiming, sighed and shook his head.

Zhao Xing, slightly flushed and out of breath, sheathed his sword, calmed down the almost boiling energy in his body, and stopped.

The examiners discussed in low voices for a while and then announced the scores: "Nanchen Martial Academy, Zhao Xing, scores as follows: cultivation 200 points, sword skills 69 points. Total score for the martial arts assessment: 269 points!"

"Brother Xing is amazing!"

"Congratulations, Brother Xing! With such sword skills, getting into the martial arts department of the prefectural academy will be a piece of cake!"

"The martial skills score is as high as 69 points! If my martial skills could reach 60 points, I would be grateful."

The surrounding martial students cheered loudly, extremely excited, and clapped and cheered.

The martial arts assessment of the Luyang Prefecture Academy was simple. The total score was the sum of cultivation points and martial skills points.

To judge a martial artist's cultivation, they directly looked at the ability to split wooden posts.

A First Rank Warrior, with a strength of about 100 pounds, can split a three-inch thick hardwood post with one hand. A Second Rank Warrior, with a strength of about 200 pounds, can split a six-inch thick hardwood post with one hand. This pattern continues, with a Ninth Rank Warrior having a terrifying strength of 900 pounds, capable of splitting a 27-inch thick hardwood post with one hand, enough to kill a fierce tiger or a wild ox.

A First Rank Warrior's cultivation is 100 points, and each higher rank adds 100 points.

Zhao Xing, with a strength of 200 pounds, reached the Second Rank, so his cultivation score was 200 points.

The scoring of martial skills is more complex, mainly based on the level of cultivation, divided into ten levels.

Any martial skill can be used, and the scores can be cumulative.

However, each skill must reach the sixth level, 60 points or higher, to be counted in the cumulative martial skills score.

Getting a score of 60 or higher in any martial skill is extremely difficult.

Most candidates can only cultivate one martial skill.

A few geniuses can cultivate two. How to maximize the score is up to the candidates to weigh the pros and cons.

Zhao Xing's 69 points in sword skills were not low.

"Thank you, examiners!"

Zhao Xing's face was rosy, and he felt refreshed.

He was very satisfied with this score.

He did not perform poorly due to nervousness today but instead steadily demonstrated his strength. Unfortunately, he couldn't control the seventh move, which lowered his score.

However, a total score of 269 points in the martial arts department was enough for him to be admitted to the Luyang Prefecture Academy.

"Ye Fan, it's your turn to take the exam!"

Zhao Xing, feeling smug, turned to look at Ye Fan mockingly and then lowered his voice to sneer, "Remember our bet. If your score isn't as high as mine, you'll have to bark like a dog in front of everyone!"

"Brother Xing, Ye Fan is only a First Rank Warrior, so his cultivation score is 100 points less than yours. His martial skills score can't even reach 60 points. Why bother? Just bark like a dog!"

Zhao Xing's followers laughed loudly, starting to mock Ye Fan.

Ye Fan, of course, knew he was only a First Rank Warrior, and his total score was already 100 points lower than Zhao Xing's, so his face was not good.

He had to face this joint assessment of the top ten martial academies.

Success would mean a leap forward, continuing his journey to the peak of martial arts.

Failure would mean sinking into obscurity, becoming an ordinary citizen of Luyang Prefecture.

Ye Fan straightened his clothes and walked into the assessment area empty-handed, looking at the five examiners, ready to face his destiny.

The five middle-aged examiners from the prefectural academy sat in a row, no longer showing the warm smiles they had for Zhao Xing, a student from a powerful family.

They were expressionless, stern, and severe.

Holding their assessment pens, they scrutinized Ye Fan with a critical eye, trying to find every minor flaw and mercilessly deduct points—selecting the top 500 from thousands of candidates required extremely strict standards.

They were like five towering mountains, blocking Ye Fan's path to advancing in martial arts.

At this moment, Ye Fan felt an unprecedented pressure, making it hard to breathe.

He finally understood why so many young martial students trembled and performed poorly in front of the examiners.

Countless young martial students rushed to conquer these five mountains, but all fell before them.

Only by conquering the critical and picky gazes of these five examiners could one enter the Luyang Prefecture Academy and a broader world.

Ye Fan had never dared to hope he could overcome this huge obstacle.

But today, he would give it a try.

Ye Fan took a deep breath, calmed down, and bowed to the examiners, saying, "Student, Ye Fan from Nanchen Martial Academy, First Rank Warrior..."

In the top ten primary martial academies of Luyang Prefecture, one must reach the First Rank to be eligible for the exam.

"Alright! Since you're only a First Rank Warrior, you don't need to split the wooden post. Start demonstrating your martial skills directly."

One of the examiners, not interested in Ye Fan's introduction, interrupted and asked, "What martial skills will you demonstrate?"

"The 'Basic Three'!"

Ye Fan immediately replied.

The Basic Three refers to the "Basic Fist Technique," "Basic Leg Technique," and "Basic Step Technique," a total of three basic martial skills.

Since these three are the essential entry-level martial skills that all martial students must learn, they are often cultivated simultaneously and are collectively known as the Basic Three.

"Basic Three martial skills? Can't you demonstrate a primary martial skill?"

The examiner immediately frowned.

Theoretically, candidates can use any martial skill, but the Basic Three are entry-level skills that martial students usually stop cultivating after one or two years.

For the primary martial academies of Luyang Prefecture, using such skills is acceptable. However, for the advanced Luyang Prefecture Academy, using entry-level skills is clearly inappropriate and lacks the value to judge martial skill levels.

"But, I only know the basic martial skills!"

Ye Fan's face turned slightly red, feeling somewhat ashamed.

In three years at Nanchen Martial Academy, he had only cultivated basic martial skills. His foundation was not solid, and trying to cultivate more advanced primary martial skills would be like drawing a tiger and ending up with a dog. He understood this principle.

"What? Only basic martial skills? Why are you even here to take the exam?"

"A student from the prestigious Nanchen Martial Academy, one of the top ten martial academies in Luyang Prefecture, only knows entry-level basic martial skills. How embarrassing."

The surrounding young martial students burst into laughter, looking at Ye Fan as if he were a fool.

Zhao Xing, Jiang Weiyun, and their group looked at Ye Fan with mocking expressions.

The five examiners were also disappointed.

"Then start!"

"No wonder Nanchen Martial Academy has been getting weaker in recent years. A student as poor as this even has the nerve to take the exam, wasting everyone's time!"

"Chief Examiner Zhao, it will be my nephew Jiang Weiyun's turn soon. Please give him some extra attention."

"Of course! I am always fair and impartial. I won't miss any promising talent."

They became lazy, sipping tea to moisten their throats, chatting idly, and no longer paying attention to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan was very angry, his hands tightly clenched, and his whole body trembling slightly.

Even if he was weak, they shouldn't look down on him like this!

The young martial students and the examiners were all the same.

"What's the matter, are you not going to take the exam?"

The chief examiner, Zhao Yiming, said impatiently.

'Shang, activate "Yanwu"! The Basic Three!'

Ye Fan suppressed his anger and took a step forward.

Since they looked down on him, he would show them what true Basic Three martial skills at a superior level looked like.

The moment he took that step.

Ye Fan's entire aura completely changed.

He became incredibly calm, like a statue that had stood for a thousand years, unyielding and unshakable.

His gaze became deep, ethereal, and distant, as if he were standing alone on a mountain peak, gazing at the distant sky.

The distant sky also changed, and all the light gathered on Ye Fan.

In this vast training ground, only his figure was visible, only he was performing martial skills.

No one else could steal even a fraction of his glory!

With this step.

In an instant, the weather changed.

All the young martial students in the different groups and the examiners were stunned, their bodies rigid, unable to turn their heads.

Those who saw Ye Fan take that step were dumbfounded.

The martial skills had just begun, but the intense aura already affected the entire examination ground!