Free Web NovelChapter 476: Chapter 210: Provincial Martial Arts Examination, Blown Up with One Punch
"The Fist Force test is judged by how many wooden stakes one can break with a single punch. Three stakes earns a B Class, six an A Class. Each stake can withstand five hundred jin of Qi Power."
Wang Chao explained slowly.
"So, to meet the A Class standard, you’d need at least three thousand jin of strength."
Da Wang said anxiously.
"There’s a trick to Fist Force. Someone might be able to throw a punch with a thousand jin of force, but that doesn’t mean they can lift an object weighing a thousand jin."
Wang Chao said reassuringly.
"Unlike the Daoist Examination, the Provincial Examination emphasizes practical combat strength. So for Fist Technique, Spear Technique, Saber Technique, and Staff Technique, you’ll have to face off against Government Soldiers. They’ll put you in groups of ten, and anyone who can fight their way out of the encirclement within the time limit will earn an A Class."
Wang Chao continued.
Hearing this, Chu Lingguang was reminded of the confrontation during the final round at the academy.
He knew that those Government Soldiers testing their skills were also being assessed. The more candidates a soldier defeated, the better their chances for promotion. Furthermore, all the Government Soldiers were brought in from other regions, and the entire process was supervised by several different departments to prevent collusion and foul play.
"All practical combat events, aside from Fist Technique, include a mounted combat portion. To secure an A Class, it’s not enough to defeat the Government Soldiers on foot. During the charge, you also have to find a way to knock the weapons from their hands. Only then can you be sure of placing on the official list."
Wang Chao added.
He had failed the Provincial Examination three times, eliminated during the mounted combat stage every time.
"As for the Archery event, it’s not enough to hit the target faster than the others in your group. You have to seize the initiative from the Government Soldiers and hit the target first. You’ll be harassed by them throughout the process. You can choose to knock the soldiers down, but if you do, the other people in your group will beat you to it."
"The Provincial Examination is far more rigorous than the Daoist Examination. It’s basically impossible to get through with clever tricks. So everyone must give it their all. And remember: during the assessment, do not trust anyone else in your group."
Wang Chao said in a grave, earnest tone.
Having always been something of a slick operator, he had tricked his fellow candidates many times. On two occasions, his vengeful victims had come looking for him, and it was Guo Wei who had to sort things out.
"After the Archery assessment, there’s a day of rest. During that time, the examiners will select the top ten A Class candidates, and from among them, they will choose the Jie Yuan. The method is even simpler: a ten-person free-for-all. Whoever is left standing at the end is number one."
Wang Chao said.
"I’ve heard the selection process for the Jie Yuan is especially brutal in every region, that it’s not uncommon for people to be killed."
Lin Yuanfu said.
"The top three A Class candidates from each region get to train at the Imperial City Academy until the Imperial Examination begins. Once you enter the Imperial City Academy, you’re essentially a Martial Scholar. That gives you a direct path to the Palace Examination and an audience with the Holy Emperor. Who would want to pass up an opportunity like that?"
Wang Chao analyzed.
’Imperial City Academy.’
Chu Lingguang murmured to himself.
The Imperial City Academy was the heart of the Great Yuan. All the instructors at the various regional academies were graduates of the Imperial City Academy; it was the true Martial Arts Hall. Chu Lingguang had learned as much from Yang Shaorong during a private conversation they’d had previously.
"I’ve heard that those who train at the Imperial City Academy all get to enter the Imperial City Trial Ground eventually. And afterward, every single one of them is appointed to an important position."
Da Wu said with envy.
"The Academy and the Trial Ground are too far out of reach for us. If we can’t make the list this time, but manage to pass next time, or even the time after that, it would still be a blessing of a lifetime for our Weiyuan Escort Agency."
Xiao Wu remarked with a sigh.
"Chu Lingguang, you’ve trained at the Governor’s Mansion Academy and the Northern Territory Trial Ground. What Wang said before was really meant for you alone."
Teng Qingshan said with a sigh.
He, Lin Yuanfu, and the others all knew that the things Wang Chao spoke of were beyond their grasp. Even Hei Hu wouldn’t be able to accomplish them.
"The future isn’t set in stone. We can all be dark horses. Everyone, our lives are just beginning."
Chu Lingguang said, encouraging the group.
"That’s right! Man can triumph over the heavens. Nothing is impossible."
Hei Hu was greatly inspired. For the longest time, outsiders had considered his talent superior to Chu Lingguang’s, yet he had been completely left in the dust. If you were to ask if he had accepted this in his heart, of course, Hei Hu had not.
DANG!
Just then, the sound of a gong rang out.
The entire field fell silent.
"Candidates, take your positions!"
Wu Feihong walked onto the stage and announced in a loud, clear voice.
All the candidates waiting in the preparation area perked up their ears and sat down.
Chu Lingguang swept the area with his Spiritual Sense and discovered there were over a thousand candidates, the majority of whom had taken the Provincial Examination before.
From within the crowd, a pair of eyes landed on him.
Chu Lingguang sensed the gaze and looked toward its source.
The person was none other than Yan Zhen.
He was sitting with Yan Chengdu. The two brothers were dressed plainly, their auras completely retracted, allowing them to blend in with the crowd in an incredibly low-key manner.
Both brothers noticed Chu Lingguang and nodded at him in unison.
Chu Lingguang nodded back at them. Ever since arriving at the Governor’s Mansion, he had tried several times to see Yan Zhen again, but even Yan Chengdu hadn’t known if his brother had returned. He only said that Yan Zhen would appear on the day of the examination, so Chu Lingguang had no choice but to drop it.
Now, seeing Yan Zhen again, intuition told Chu Lingguang that Yan Zhen seemed to have undergone a complete Rebirth; he felt even more formidable than when they had last met at the National Border.
The man wasn’t leaking a single trace of his aura, yet Chu Lingguang felt an immense pressure emanating from him.
’If I hadn’t just probed with my Spiritual Sense, I wouldn’t even have noticed Yan.’
Chu Lingguang thought to himself.
His Sea of Consciousness Power had evolved; the great Qi Vortex had transformed into a small ocean. His perception was so powerful now that he doubted even Yan Zhen could compare.
And yet, in a preparation area no bigger than a small plaza, he had failed to notice Yan Zhen ahead of time.
This meant his intuition was almost certainly correct. Yan Zhen must have had some great breakthrough since they parted at the National Border. Remembering that the other man’s ambition was to become a Triple Champion Scholar, Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.
