Final Assessment

"What's going on? We're starting the final assessment already?"

Han Zheng pulled Li Sancheng aside and asked.

Li Sancheng chuckled. "To be precise, it's not 'we,' it's 'you.'

Word is, the master should announce today that you five are starting the final assessment.

The winner will be this class's top disciple, qualified to learn the White Ape Through-Arm Fist."

"Starting the final assessment now? That's a bit fast."

Han Zheng was somewhat surprised.

When they first joined the school, Li Jingzhong had told them the course would last about a year.

As long as they passed the assessments and weren't expelled, they'd officially graduate in a year.

Now, after only half a year, they were already facing the final assessment—faster than previous classes.

"I heard it's because this class is too outstanding, especially you few—almost all of you have a shot at the Innate Realm.

If they dragged it out to a year, you might already have broken through to Innate, and teaching you the White Ape Through-Arm Fist then would be too late. That's why the assessment is being moved up."

Han Zheng nodded in understanding.

Most martial artists might never see the Innate Realm in their lives.

In the past, not every class at Zhenwei Martial Arts School produced someone who broke through to Innate.

But with so many exceptional disciples this time, Li Jingzhong naturally had to adjust the schedule and prepare early.

Innate Martial Skills aren't only learnable after reaching the Innate Realm.

Rather, it's only at the Innate Realm that you can bring out the skill's baseline potential.

So learning it early is still necessary.

After a moment, Li Jingzhong walked out from the inner hall. The disciples immediately fell silent and stood in neat rows.

"You've probably heard the news. The final assessment begins today, but it doesn't concern most of you."

Li Jingzhong's gaze settled on Han Zheng and the others. He said solemnly, "Han Zheng, Chen Zhao, Lin Qing, Song Tianqing, Guo Mingyuan.

The five of you have already far surpassed the other disciples in strength and realm. It's time for the final assessment.

The winner will be this class's top disciple, qualified to inherit the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

To keep things fair and account for your stamina, each of you will fight only one match per day.

There are five of you, so today we'll draw lots, and one will get a bye to advance directly.

Tomorrow, before the matches, we'll draw lots again for another bye. But whoever gets the bye today won't be eligible to draw tomorrow—they must fight."

To determine a single winner from five, Li Jingzhong's method, though a bit cumbersome, was as fair as possible.

The one with the bye had a big advantage—saving stamina and getting to watch the others fight.

But luck itself is part of strength.

When you truly step into the martial world, someone might only have a sliver more luck than you, and that could suppress you for a lifetime.

Just then, Lin Qing suddenly stepped forward and said, "Master, no need to make it so complicated. I'm withdrawing from the assessment.

My father contacted the Cangshan Sword Sect some time ago.

Yesterday, an outer sect steward from Cangshan came to verify my bone structure and aptitude, confirming I can join the sect, with a high chance of entering the Inner Sect.

Once he returns to Cangshan and reports to the Sect, a Transmission Elder from Cangshan Sword Sect will come personally for a re-examination and formally accept me into the Inner Sect."

Lin Qing's tone was calm as he spoke, but there was an undeniable hint of pride.

The other disciples looked at him with envy, barely even jealousy.

If Lin Qing were just the top disciple of Black Stone County's Zhenwei Martial Arts School, they might still be jealous.

But when someone was about to become an Inner Sect disciple of the Cangshan Sword Sect, what was there to be jealous of?

When the gap between people grows wide enough, jealousy simply ceases to exist.

The Cangshan Sword Sect was one of the Five Families Seven Sects of Shannan Dao, famed across the entire region for its swordsmanship.

After graduating, the others could only become Guard Warriors—watchdogs, in essence, bowing and scraping to their masters.

But disciples of the Cangshan Sword Sect, wherever they traveled in the martial world, were treated with courtesy.

The two were on completely different levels.

Han Zheng thought to himself that Lin Qing really was born with a winning hand.

Though born in a county town, he was the son of the Chief Clerk.

The County Magistrate of Black Stone County spent his days in drunken stupor, ignoring affairs, so the real power in the county lay with Chief Clerk Lin—he was the biggest Local Magnate in Black Stone County.

And Lin Qing was born with sword-like brows and starry eyes, strikingly handsome. Word had it that a few years ago, the Song Family wanted to marry a legitimate daughter to him, but he didn't even fancy the Song Family's daughter.

Later, he joined the martial arts school to train, and Li Jingzhong affirmed his bone structure and talent—he was destined for the Innate Realm.

His father, Chief Clerk Lin, wasn't content to let Lin Qing stay stuck in Black Stone County for life. Over the years, he had contacted many major sects, trying to send Lin Qing out of Black Stone County.

I didn't expect he actually pulled it off—and with Cangshan Sword Sect, one of the top major sects in Shannan Dao at that.

Lin Qing had been smooth sailing the whole way, never encountering the slightest setback. It was truly enviable.

Li Jingzhong felt a flicker of surprise when he heard this.

He knew Chief Clerk Lin had wanted to send Lin Qing to an outside major sect, but he hadn't expected him to get in touch with Cangshan Sword Sect.

Still, Lin Qing's withdrawal didn't bother Li Jingzhong.

He was just a teacher at the martial arts school, taking silver to teach martial arts.

Whether a student came with prior training or left to join another sect had little to do with him.

Cangshan Sword Sect's sword path shook Shannan Dao. Their martial arts and sword techniques started at the Innate Realm. It was only natural Lin Qing looked down on White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

After all, a martial artist's time was limited. Lin Qing would be better off spending it cultivating Cangshan Sword Sect's sword techniques than practicing fist arts.

He lightly patted Lin Qing on the shoulder and said with admiration, "Not bad. Cangshan Sword Sect is a top major sect in Shannan Dao. Getting in, especially into the Inner Sect, means your future achievements will be boundless.

The martial path is long. For you, Innate is just the beginning. I wish you a Prosperous Martial Journey after joining Cangshan Sword Sect."

Lin Qing smiled and said, "Thank you for the kind words, Headmaster Cheng. I'll take my leave now."

With that, Lin Qing turned and left without a trace of reluctance.

For him, Zhenwei Martial Arts School was just an unimportant step on his martial path.

Cangshan Sword Sect and the entire Great Zhou martial world were where he would truly soar.

In the crowd, Song Tianqing glanced at Lin Qing and gave a faint, slightly disdainful smile.

"Now there are only four left. Perfect for two-on-two matches. Let's draw lots."

The lot bucket held two Red Slips and two Green Slips. Han Zheng and Guo Mingyuan drew red; Song Tianqing and Chen Zhao drew green.

Seeing his draw, Guo Mingyuan's face lit up with joy.

Among the school's disciples, the only ones Guo Mingyuan considered major threats were Lin Qing and Song Tianqing.

Han Zheng and Chen Zhao were both commoners by birth, never taken seriously by him.

A couple of paupers who couldn't even afford a single medicinal bath—they could only match him in the Houtian Realm.

Once they reached Innate, they'd probably waste away at early Innate for life, while he would soar. They'd only be fit to look up to him.

Now Lin Qing had voluntarily withdrawn, removing one major threat.

And in the first round, he'd drawn Han Zheng. Dealing with him would take no effort.

Then he could watch Song Tianqing fight, probe his weaknesses, and crush him tomorrow!

Guo Mingyuan was brimming with confidence. The moment the lot was drawn, he'd already figured out Han Zheng and Song Tianqing's fates.

Li Jingzhong said in a deep voice, "Han Zheng, Guo Mingyuan, you two go first for the first match.

Although I've taught you weapons, this is a spar between fellow disciples—seeking victory, not life or death. So no weapons. Fist and Foot only."

If Lin Qing were here, this rule would have targeted him somewhat. His sword technique was even better than his fist arts.

But without Lin Qing, none of the four had shown any advantage with weapons, so it was fair.

The school's disciples spread out to both sides, leaving a large open space in the center of the training ground. Han Zheng and Guo Mingyuan stood in the middle.

As for who would win between these two, the disciples still thought Guo Mingyuan had the better odds.

Though they all cursed Guo Mingyuan, they had to admit that his cultivation, built up with medicinal baths, was now the best in the school.

A higher level crushed people with raw power. In most martial artists' eyes, realm determined strength and victory.

"Begin the match."

As Li Jingzhong's words fell, a confident smile curled at the corner of Guo Mingyuan's mouth.

His blood and qi surged and roiled as both fists shot out straight for Han Zheng's chest.

Guo Mingyuan's nine Meridians channeled the power of his Acupoints. From the start, he planned to overwhelm with momentum, crushing Han Zheng with sheer force.

Watching Guo Mingyuan strike, Han Zheng shook his head inwardly.

Medicinal baths were indeed effective for boosting cultivation. Even with the Gluttonous Crucible as his cheat, his realm still fell slightly short of Guo Mingyuan's.

But cultivation could be raised; control over Martial Skills and actual combat couldn't be improved with baths.

Han Zheng's Vajra Fist proficiency had reached perfection, while Guo Mingyuan's was at most fifty percent.

He crossed his fists in front of him, his arm like a thick Vajra Pestle. Twisting his waist and hips, he suddenly lashed out!

Li Jingzhong's eyes lit up.

Han Zheng held no weapon, but this strike carried the essence of one—like a Buddhist Vajra wielding a Vajra Pestle, the twist and slam adding even more power.

Boom!

Guo Mingyuan's fists felt as if they'd slammed into an iron plate, jarring his tiger's mouth with pain.

He had one more Meridian open than Han Zheng—why could the other withstand his strength?

Before Guo Mingyuan could react, Han Zheng's fist came crashing down. The wind howled, fierce and biting. Vajra subdues demons—its momentum unmatched!

Guo Mingyuan raised both hands high as if lifting a cauldron, one of the few defensive stances in Vajra Fist.

But as Han Zheng's fist descended, the Vajra Pestle broke through with a single point. His entire body's meridians and blood qi seethed, power erupting abruptly, smashing Guo Mingyuan's stance to pieces.

He was sent flying by the punch, landing in utter disgrace.