A Difficult Pass

The Yu Clan was poor; he entered the Martial Hall and began learning martial arts.

The students all suddenly began eating meat, but I alone had not.

Zhang Tao laughed at me. "So stingy."

I smiled and forgot about it.

After five whole months, fearing my strength would be insufficient and I would be eliminated.

I gritted my teeth and bought it. Its delicious flavor, and the bitterness in my heart, were things no outsider could understand.

As he took his first proper bite of beef at the Martial Hall, Lin Chen could not describe its taste. At that moment, his emotions drowned out his taste buds.

Even having lived two lives and learned to look lightly upon vanity and dignity, how could he completely let them go?

In the future, he would definitely write an essay about seeking knowledge. A few hundred years later, language teachers of future generations would set reading-comprehension questions: In the article, the author said he had forgotten being mocked by his classmates, so why had he mentioned the name Zhang Tao earlier?

What state of mind did the appearance of the name Zhang Tao reflect in the author?

The first day he ate beef, early in the morning.

The first thing Lin Chen did upon waking was check his System Panel.

Name: Lin Chen

Occupation: Martial Artist

Vitality and Blood: 812/3000

Fate: [When the Water Flows, the Channel is Formed]: Martial Arts First Realm. Persevere, Progress Step by Step, Break Through Like Bamboo, with no bottleneck troubles.

Ten points!

Seeing that his Vitality and Blood had increased by ten points in a single day, Lin Chen's heart skipped half a beat.

This increase was far higher than he had estimated.

"Is it because this is my first day eating it, so I absorbed it better? Will the effect weaken later on?"

Lin Chen took out the booklet covered in Arabic numerals and recorded today's figure. Whether that was the case, he would know in a few days.

The booklet was densely packed with Arabic numerals, all data he had recorded on the strength gains of trainees like Gu Fei after eating meat.

The writing of this world was not much different from the traditional Chinese characters of his previous life, but Arabic numerals did not exist here. Therefore, this booklet Gu Fei called the "Heavenly Book" could only be understood by Lin Chen himself.

Over the next few days, Lin Chen bought a pound of beef every day. The sensation caused by the first day no longer appeared.

Buying a pound of beef was nothing remarkable for a Martial Hall trainee. It was only the contrast with Lin Chen's former stingy image that had caused such a stir.

Now that contrast was gone, naturally no one paid attention anymore.

For five consecutive days, his Vitality and Blood increased by ten points each day. Lin Chen was now certain it was not because he had only just started eating beef.

So his strategy had been correct. The longer he delayed, the less he spent.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The end of the month.

Training Ground.

The three instructors stood together before a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight.

The Martial Hall's biannual assessment had been mandated by the Martial Affairs Department.

Was it cruel?

In Yu Yongnian's view, it was instead a form of protection the Martial Affairs Department offered the common people.

At the beginning of martial training, what one competed in was financial resources. If one could not even reach two hundred pounds of strength in half a year, then with such family circumstances, there was truly no need to continue learning martial arts.

"Trainees whose names are called, step forward."

Instructor Liu spoke and began calling names. Those called stepped forward to lift the Stone Weight.

In truth, most Martial Hall trainees had already crossed this hurdle last month. Across the three classes, only around ten trainees had failed to reach the requirement last month. Those ten or so were the ones under close observation.

"Cheng Ying!"

Instructor Liu called out a name. A tall youth stepped forward, looked at the Stone Weight on the ground with disdain on his face, and directly lifted it to his abdomen with one hand.

"Not bad."

A smile appeared on Instructor Liu's face. Cheng Ying was one of his trainees. Though he could not compare to Lu Yongfeng, he was close behind and could also challenge for Essence Energy within a year.

"Easily lifting a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight with one hand—he must have over four hundred pounds of strength with both hands."

Gu Fei's face was filled with envy. "Can't compare. Completely can't compare. As expected of the young master of the Cheng Family Cloth Shop."

The Cheng Family Cloth Shop was the only shop in town that sold finished clothes and cloth. The clothes Lin Chen wore had been made by his mother after she bought linen from the Cheng Family Cloth Shop and cut it herself at home.

"Being born well is a discipline in itself."

Lin Chen sighed as well. As Cheng Ying lifted the Stone Weight one-handed, the remaining trainees began showing off their strength too.

Though the Stone Weight still weighed two hundred pounds, some lifted it straight to their chests, while others raised it over their heads. But the one that truly caused a stir was Lu Yongfeng, who lifted it above his head with one hand.

The atmosphere instantly exploded.

"Next, Qiu Yuan."

Instructor Liu called the next trainee's name, and Lin Chen watched intently.

Qiu Yuan had possessed one hundred and eighty pounds of strength last month. He had begun eating beef in the third month, buying it every few days, but for some reason, he had stopped buying it during the final month.

"Instructor, I give up."

Qiu Yuan stepped out from the crowd but did not go lift the Stone Weight. In an instant, everyone's gaze fell upon him.

"My... my younger sister fell ill last month. All the money at home went toward treating her. There's no money left at home."

Qiu Yuan's face flushed bright red. Before so many boys his own age, saying the words "no money" required immense courage.

The expressions of Yu Yongnian and the other two instructors did not change. There were too many such cases in the Martial Hall. Every year, several trainees gave up because of family circumstances.

And the further they progressed, the more who gave up.

"Go to the cafeteria later. If there is any uneaten food, have the cafeteria refund you for it."

"Thank you, Instructor."

Qiu Yuan did not remain on the Training Ground. He turned and walked toward the dormitories. At the moment he turned around, however, his right hand rose to wipe at the corner of his eye.

Another youth's dream of learning martial arts had shattered.

"Next, Lin Ze."

Seeing Lin Ze step forward, Lin Chen knew it would soon be his turn.

From the way the trainees around him stepped up one by one, he could tell that the instructors had placed their weakest group at the very end.

At the end-of-month test last month, Lin Ze had lifted a one-hundred-and-eighty-pound Stone Weight.

Though he failed once, Lin Ze still lifted the Stone Weight on his second attempt.

After putting down the Stone Weight, Lin Ze looked at Instructor Liu with a nervous face.

"Passed. Next, Lin Chen."

Hearing the word "passed," Lin Ze let out a breath and walked back to his place with light steps.

"Chenzi, don't be nervous. You'll be fine!" Gu Fei encouraged him in a low voice, with no worry in his eyes.

There were many Stone Weights placed around the Training Ground, and trainees could test themselves in private. He had known since yesterday that Lin Chen could lift the two-hundred-pound Stone Weight.

Lin Chen nodded, then checked his System Panel one last time.

Name: Lin Chen

Occupation: Martial Artist

Vitality and Blood: 1102/3000

Fate: [When the Water Flows, the Channel is Formed]: Martial Arts First Realm. Persevere, Progress Step by Step, Break Through Like Bamboo, with no bottleneck troubles.

Ten days ago, his Vitality and Blood had reached one thousand points, allowing him to lift the two-hundred-pound Stone Weight. Now, he had reached two hundred and twenty pounds of strength.

As Lin Chen stepped forward, discussion broke out once more.

"Here he is, the stingiest fellow in Martial Hall history. Wonder if he can pass."

"That was last month. He's been eating beef every day this month, so he can't be called the stingiest anymore."

"So what? He only started spending money in the last month. It's already too late. I think Lin Chen won't pass."

"I think he probably can. Lin Chen is so stingy—if he weren't confident, he probably wouldn't bear to spend that money."

Instructor Liu naturally noticed the other trainees pointing and whispering. Looking at Lin Chen, he said, "Begin."

Two hundred pounds of strength had always been the minimum requirement and normally would not draw much attention from the trainees. But this trainee was an exception.

With permission granted, Lin Chen gripped the handles of the Stone Weight with both hands. Slowly, the Stone Weight began to rise from the ground, and at that moment, everyone's eyes gathered on Lin Chen's hands.

"I give up. Lin Chen lifting a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight is drawing more attention than us lifting four hundred pounds."

Feeling the mood of the crowd, Cheng Ying was somewhat speechless.

What was there to watch about a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight?

"I think it's normal. Compared to us lifting four-hundred-pound Stone Weights, that was expected. But Lin Chen lifting a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight counts as a comeback, so naturally it draws attention." Zhao Jingchuan watched with great interest. He too was curious whether Lin Chen could pass.

"Since when does lifting a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight count as a comeback?" Xu Botao sneered.

After the assessment, trainees no longer had to remain where they stood. Cheng Ying and the few strongest trainees gathered together, while the others had enough self-awareness not to approach.

Lin Chen did not keep them in suspense, nor did he deliberately slow down. Lifting a two-hundred-pound Stone Weight after six months was not something to be proud of in the first place.

Yet what Lin Chen had not expected was that once he lifted the Stone Weight, a burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Boring." Lu Yongfeng withdrew his gaze and murmured.

"Anyone who didn't know better would think he lifted a five-hundred-pound Stone Weight." Xu Botao also wore an unhappy expression.

"Passed. Next, Wang Hao."

Instructor Liu called the next trainee's name, and Lin Chen hurried down.

"Chenzi, I knew you could do it! Haha!"

Gu Fei excitedly threw an arm around Lin Chen. Lin Chen rolled his eyes. "I recall that half a month ago, someone was comforting me by saying that even if I didn't learn martial arts, I could do other things and still have a future."

"Hehe, wasn't I... wasn't I just preparing for the worst?"

Gu Fei released him. He was genuinely happy for Lin Chen. The two had been close since they were children in the village, the kind who had played by grabbing each other's crotches and fooling around.

"Now that you've passed the assessment, your Grandfather should give you money."

"Mm. I'll go home today and tell my family the good news."

Joy appeared on Lin Chen's face as well. He had finally passed the first great hurdle on the path of martial arts.

Though the goal he had reached only after exhausting all his thoughts was something trainees from wealthy families could accomplish with ease.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the assessment ended. In the end, three trainees had been eliminated. Aside from Qiu Yuan, the other two had spent no less than Lin Chen, but they had begun spending too early and could not keep it up afterward, causing their Vitality and Blood to stagnate.

He had spent four hundred and fifty coins this month, and he did not have much money left. To eat at least a pound of beef at every meal from now on, he needed to make a trip home.