Testing Begins!

Xu Mengyao was wondering whether she should go over to Xia Lin and introduce herself.

Then she saw Li Ziyu sitting not far from Xia Lin, and her brows immediately furrowed.

"How can I run into him everywhere?"

Disgust and disdain flashed through Xu Mengyao's eyes.

She had run into Li Ziyu the last time she went to Hongsu Martial Arts Hall for a Qi-Blood test. This time, she had come for Martial Artist Certification, and Li Ziyu was here again.

The situation was obvious at a glance!

Li Ziyu had definitely followed her here!

He had done it deliberately!

The more Xu Mengyao thought about it, the more annoyed she became.

Without the slightest hesitation, she walked up to Li Ziyu, planted her hands on her hips, and looked down at him coldly.

"Li Ziyu! That's enough!"

"Didn't I already say that we broke up? Why are you still clinging to me and refusing to let go?!"

"I ran into you at Hongsu Martial Arts Hall last time, and now I've come with Young Master Bai for Martial Artist Certification and still run into you. You followed me here on purpose, didn't you?!"

"I already told you that we're people from two different worlds. How can you be so naive?!"

"Have you even looked at yourself? You're trash who couldn't even reach 0.8 in the Qi-Blood test. Do you really think you and I are possible?"

"Since we're classmates, I'll warn you one last time. Stop pestering me!!"

"Now! Immediately! Disappear from in front of me!!!"

Xu Mengyao loudly berated Li Ziyu, her voice cold and her expression full of disdain.

Her voice, thick with disgust, echoed through the testing hall.

She felt that her patience had truly reached its limit.

The last time they had met at the martial arts hall for testing, Li Ziyu could still claim that he had come for the test as well, and that it had merely been a coincidence.

But now that they were at a Level 1 Martial Artist Certification, Li Ziyu could hardly claim that he had also come to certify as a Level 1 Martial Artist, could he?

Was that even possible?

"Get lost."

Li Ziyu cast Xu Mengyao a cold glance. Without bothering to engage with her, he merely spat out the two words coldly.

He was also somewhat speechless. Xu Mengyao really was like a lingering ghost, turning up everywhere he went.

If so many people had not been watching, Li Ziyu really would have liked to slap Xu Mengyao flying.

What kind of person was she?

She was truly a woman with sky-high confidence and no self-awareness!

"You!"

Xu Mengyao's face immediately flushed red. Her chest heaved violently as she prepared to lose her temper.

However, at that moment—

Several people dressed in the Martial Arts Association's standard uniforms walked in through the main entrance.

After seeing Xu Mengyao and Li Ziyu, they asked someone nearby a few questions. In an instant, they understood what had happened.

One of them was a middle-aged man wearing a white combat uniform, with a beard on his chin. He frowned and immediately coldly reprimanded Xu Mengyao.

"Are you here to participate in Martial Artist Certification?"

"If not, get up at once. Don't interfere with our normal testing!"

Xu Mengyao froze. Her pretty face grew even redder, and she opened her mouth, ready to lose her temper.

But when she saw the gleaming bronze medal on the middle-aged man's chest, she immediately swallowed her anger.

The bronze medal was issued uniformly by the Martial Artist Association and represented a martial artist's identity.

Bronze meant a Level 1 Martial Artist.

This middle-aged man was a Level 1 Martial Artist.

Although Xu Mengyao was about to take the Martial Arts Exam and could be considered half a martial artist, there was still a difference between a half-martial artist and an officially certified martial artist.

If an ordinary person deliberately provoked an official martial artist, they would have nowhere to seek justice even if they were beaten.

Xu Mengyao glared viciously at Li Ziyu before retreating dejectedly to the corner.

"Hmph! You want to attract my attention by trying to pass the Level 1 Martial Artist Certification? All I can say is that your idea is incredibly stupid. I'll just wait and see how you embarrass yourself later!"

After retreating to Bai Haoran's side, Xu Mengyao replaced her expression with one of pitiful grievance.

Bai Haoran's expression was stern. He cast Li Ziyu a cold glance before turning to comfort Xu Mengyao.

"Don't worry. You suffered at Li Ziyu's hands. Once I finish the test, I'll help you vent your anger!"

"After all, challenges are allowed in the school!"

Xu Mengyao was merely a minor interlude. Li Ziyu ignored her and turned his attention to the center of the platform.

At that moment, the middle-aged man in the white combat uniform, with a beard on his chin, was explaining the testing rules.

It was much the same as when Li Ziyu had been at Hongsu Martial Arts Hall. They would first conduct a Qi-Blood test.

Then they would perform a Combat Power Test against the target.

Once one's Qi-Blood reached 1.5 and one's Combat Power reached 180, one could become a Level 1 Beginner Martial Artist recognized by the Martial Artist Association.

A Level 1 Martial Artist would be issued a bronze medal and could receive a monthly subsidy of five thousand yuan from the Martial Artist Association.

It was said that above the bronze medal were silver, gold, and diamond medals.

They corresponded to Level 1 Martial Artists, Level 2 Martial Artists, Level 3 Martial Artists, and Level Four Martial Artists respectively.

The allowances received at each level differed as well, depending on the martial artist's strength.

As for what medals ranked even higher, Li Ziyu did not know.

Some things could not be encountered before one reached that level.

As Li Ziyu was thinking, the testing began immediately.

"Su Nantian, Qi-Blood value: 1.53."

The first person to step onto the platform was a young man who looked around twenty-five or twenty-six, with short hair.

As he lay on the Qi-Blood Tester, the middle-aged Martial Artist Association staff member announced a number.

"Great! I've certified three times, and my Qi-Blood has finally met the standard this time! I have a chance of passing the certification this time!!"

Upon hearing the number, the short-haired young man instantly let out a sigh of relief. He clenched his fists tightly, his face shining with irrepressible delight.

Next came the Combat Power Test.

The short-haired young man walked up to the Test Target, drew a deep breath, and wore a solemn expression.

Then he drew the long saber from his waist and slashed it viciously at the target.

Li Ziyu's gaze followed the point where the young man's blade light fell.

At the center of the Combat Power Test target, a number representing the young man's Combat Power appeared.

"169."

The tester announced the value expressionlessly.

The young man froze when he heard the number. Then he looked up at the Test Target, and when he saw the value clearly, his expression immediately became unspeakably ugly.

"Damn! I'm short by just a little again!"

"You have three testing opportunities in total. Do you want to test two more times?"

The staff member spoke expressionlessly.

The short-haired young man paused, then waved his hand and replied, his spirits low.

"Forget it. I haven't cultivated the Body Tempering Method, and my saber technique is only at the beginner level."

"Even if I keep testing, my Combat Power probably won't fluctuate much from what it is now. I'll come back after I cultivate my saber technique to the intermediate level."

After saying that, the short-haired young man did not leave the testing area immediately. Instead, he found a chair and sat down to watch the others' tests.

After failing the test, his expression actually relaxed. When he saw Li Ziyu looking at him, he even grinned and returned a smile.

"Not a bad mentality."

Li Ziyu nodded in response while pondering inwardly.

It seemed that although Qi-Blood was extremely important, merely piling up Qi-Blood without keeping one's martial techniques and Body Tempering Method in step had little meaning.

Just like that short-haired young man.

His Qi-Blood value was 1.53, but because he had not cultivated a Body Tempering Method and his martial technique was only at the beginner level, his Combat Power was not high. It was only about ten percent above the normal standard.

If it were another person with the same Qi-Blood value of 1.53 but with an intermediate-level martial technique—or even an advanced martial technique or a combat skill—their Combat Power would absolutely crush his.

"It seems that I can't simply increase my Qi-Blood. Raising my attack speed and defense at the same time is the true path!"

While Li Ziyu was thinking, several more rounds of testing took place.

Without exception, their Qi-Blood values met the standard, but their Combat Power fell just short.

Li Ziyu understood this as well. After all, Qi-Blood could be increased by taking heavenly treasures or medicines that enhanced Qi-Blood.

Martial techniques, however, could only be improved through solid personal training—or talent.

The difficulty of cultivation was several levels higher than simply increasing Qi-Blood.

Just then—

The voice of the Martial Artist Association staff member suddenly rang out from the testing area, carrying a trace of surprise.

"Wang Donglang, Qi-Blood value: 3.1!"

"Combat Power: 360!"