Chapter 95: Chapter 95: The Exam Begins

The six bowls of medicinal tea were concocted from precious herbs. Only with Master Yan’s profound resources and the favorable conditions in South City could Guo Wei have brewed such an invaluable concoction for Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu could both feel the change in their Qi Power.

But Master Yan’s home had no Stone Locks to test their Qi Power. With the Martial Arts Examination fast approaching, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were both conserving their strength. After drinking the six bowls of tea, they knew their Qi Power had increased, but they had no idea by how much.

’I bet my Qi Power is over 450 pounds now,’ Chu Lingguang thought.

Since he had achieved Perfection in the Tidal Breathing Technique, he could absorb the tea’s potency completely. The six bowls had a far greater effect on him than on Hei Hu.

Time flew by.

「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Early in the morning, Guo Wei brought Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu to the site of the Martial Arts Examination. Master Yan had spent some silver taels to secure seats near the front for himself and Guo Wei.

Meanwhile, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were directed by officials to line up with the other candidates, waiting for the first test of the Daoist Examination: the Qiao Pass.

The Qiao Pass tested Qi Power.

Qi Power was an indispensable foundation.

For a martial artist, without sufficient Qi Power, any amount of training in Kung Fu would result in nothing more than flashy, impractical techniques.

That was why the Qiao Pass was the first test.

It was also the most important test. A poor performance here could lead to disqualification from the subsequent events.

“Junior Brother, Da Wang and Xiao Wang are over there.”

Hei Hu nudged Chu Lingguang with his elbow and jerked his chin toward the back.

Chu Lingguang looked back and saw Leader Ma standing with Da Wang and Xiao Wang. Da Wu and Xiao Wu were there too. After giving Da Wang and Xiao Wang a few words of advice, Leader Ma sent them into the candidate area.

Once inside, they quickly spotted Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu. They didn’t approach, but simply gave the two a slight nod.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu nodded back.

Da Wang and Xiao Wang had failed the previous Daoist Examination, stumbling on the Mounted Archery and Lance sections. Now, having received personal instruction from Guo Wei in these two skills, they had both mastered the Hundred-step Piercing Willow technique. For them, simply passing the exam was no longer a challenge.

Both of them were aiming for the top ten.

However, Noble Family Disciples were participating in this year’s Daoist Examination in South City. News of Yan Chengdu’s 450-pound Qi Power had already spread, and many of the Lower-class Youths looked grim.

Da Wang and Xiao Wang also realized that the standards for this year’s examination would likely be much tougher than before.

Getting into the top ten wouldn’t be so easy.

“Get out of the way!”

Just then, three youths in brocade robes entered the candidate area after completing their registration. The two in the lead began to rudely shove the other candidates aside.

They were clearing a spacious spot for the distinguished-looking youth behind them to sit.

The onlookers merely frowned at the scene. The distinguished youth wore a precious jade pendant at his waist, engraved with the word “Ji.”

He was a direct-line disciple of the Ji Family from the Governor’s Mansion.

He had access to abundant training resources, an Advanced Breathing Method, and guidance from famous masters. His Qi Power far surpassed that of the others. Combined with his privileged birth, he was the very definition of a nobleman in the eyes of the Lower-class Youths. No one wanted to risk offending him, so they let him act as arrogantly as he pleased.

But not all Noble Family Disciples were so arrogant.

The next three or four groups of Noble Family Disciples to arrive, while confident and composed, kept their arrogance in check. One group even nodded to everyone nearby or clasped their fists in greeting as they entered. If anyone approached them to talk, they would quickly rise and listen intently, conversing warmly as if they were old friends.

“The Yan Family truly lives up to its name as a major Noble Family. Their young master is not only refined and gentle but also approachable. I heard that’s Yan Chengdu. They say his Qi Power exceeds 450 pounds. He’s determined to take first place this time.”

“The Yan Family’s resources run deep. How can people like us possibly compete with them?”

“I’m not even dreaming of the top spot. I just hope I don’t get eliminated.”

“If I had the Yan Family’s backing, I wouldn’t be training from dawn to dusk. I’d just be a rich young master, marry a few wives, and spend my days drinking and womanizing. What could be better?”

“The power struggles among the Noble Families are even more terrifying than the squabbles between us commoners. Even if you don’t want to train, someone will force you.”

People whispered among themselves.

With his Breathing Technique at Perfection, Chu Lingguang’s senses were sharp, and he caught bits and pieces of their conversations.

He wasn’t interested in their gossip about the Noble Family scions.

When he learned that the polite youth mingling with the crowd was Yan Chengdu, Chu Lingguang took a careful look at him.

As if sensing his gaze, Yan Chengdu looked over at Chu Lingguang from dozens of feet away, offering a smile and a nod.

Chu Lingguang stiffened for a moment. Yan Chengdu’s confident, easygoing manner made him feel inadequate by comparison. He quickly smiled and nodded back.

Yan Chengdu gave Chu Lingguang a brief glance before turning back to chat with the Lower-class candidates beside him.

“What a hypocrite,”

Hei Hu muttered.

The moment Yan Chengdu entered, he became the center of attention, hailed as if he’d already secured first place. This annoyed Hei Hu and many others.

After a short wait, with all the candidates gathered, the examiner’s voice boomed across the entire field.

“The first round of the Qiao Pass will now begin!”

“Candidates Hei Hu, Niu Bu’Er, Taiyan Lake, Zhang Jin, and Wu Zhilong—your test begins now!”

Hei Hu jolted, surprised to be in the first group. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and walked with the other called candidates to the sandy patch of ground where Qi Power would be tested.

On that sandy patch of ground were several Stone Locks, ranging from 260 pounds to 520 pounds.

The Qiao Pass consisted of three rounds, each more difficult than the last.

Five candidates were tested at a time.

“For the three rounds of the Qiao Pass, a Qi Power of 280 pounds earns a Grade C Lower Grade. 330 pounds earns a Grade B Lower Grade, and 380 pounds earns a Grade A Lower Grade,” the examiner announced.

The announcement sent a wave of shock through the crowd.

“The requirement for Grade A is 30 pounds higher than last time,”

Da Wang said grimly.

“Just as I thought. The involvement of the Noble Family Disciples has raised the standards for this year’s examination by several tiers,”

Xiao Wang sighed.

The two brothers were both aiming for the top ten.

With the new standards, 380 pounds of Qi Power was only enough for a Grade A Lower Grade. That meant a Grade A Middle Grade would require 410 pounds, and a Grade A+ Upper Grade would require 440 pounds.

Both brothers had a Qi Power of 400 pounds. They had originally thought they could achieve a Grade A+ Upper Grade in the Qiao Pass, but now it seemed they could at best hope for a Grade A Middle Grade.

With that level of foundational Qi Power, their chances of breaking into the top ten were slim.

“You five may begin!” the examiner declared, facing Hei Hu and the other four.

At his word, the five candidates walked toward the Stone Locks. Hei Hu took a deep breath and went straight for the one weighing 380 pounds.

Even before drinking the six bowls of medicinal tea, Hei Hu’s Qi Power had been close to 380 pounds. Now, he wanted to see if he could lift it.

Watching from the sidelines, Guo Wei couldn’t help but clench his fists. ’That Hei Hu just can’t resist showing off.’ For the Qiao Pass’s three rounds, one only needed a Grade C+ Upper Grade in the first round to advance. By being so hasty, if Hei Hu couldn’t lift different Stone Locks in the next two rounds, he would become a laughingstock. Besides, only the result from the final round determined the final score.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep