Lifting Heavy as Light

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the bronze gong rang.

Meng Qiang took his leave and returned to his post. Liang Qu went with an Instructor Wei to the front of the Class A Queue.

The entire Martial Arts Field was divided into an outer circle and an inner circle. The inner circle stood five steps, three feet, above the outer one.

Candidates queued outside the circle and underwent selection within it.

Five groups proceeded simultaneously. Each group had two instructors standing side by side, neither ranked above the other, jointly responsible for scoring and inspection. Beyond them sat other high-ranking officials and even Grandmasters, watching from above, responsible for review, judgment, and stamping approval to ensure there was no favoritism or fraud.

The candidates looked up at them, reverence on their faces.

Liang Qu might have been young, but today, he represented an instructor.

Father, teacher, examiner...

Such identities naturally carried authority. Unless they took the initiative to show familiarity, most people would instinctively feel themselves a head shorter, making it exceedingly difficult to interact as equals.

Instructor Wei, assigned to the same group, had a square face, a straight nose, and a broad mouth. Yet his words did not sound stern.

"The ten rules of the Martial Examination—shall Lord Liang explain them, or shall I?"

Liang Qu cupped his hands. "I must trouble Senior Wei. This junior has only just arrived. Though I know much of the matter, I fear making an error."

"Since that is so, Wei will play the villain today."

Instructor Wei wasted no words. He drifted up to stand atop the central Tiger Pillar, his gaze sweeping over the dark and dense mass of candidates.

Wherever his eyes fell, it was as though lightning had struck. Silence reigned.

Once the field had quieted down—

"All