Full Testing

Chengping Year 2, the fourth day of the second month, morning

All the apprentices had arrived early and were waiting in Apprentice Plaza.

Master Ma came to Apprentice Plaza with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked slow, but was actually moving fast.

Jiang Liu's eyes narrowed slightly. In the month since he had last seen Master Ma, his Wandering Steps had clearly reached great mastery.

"Today is the day of the assessment. This assessment won't be like the previous ones. This time, we need detailed data. So all of you will go to the testing room for the examination."

After Master Ma finished speaking, he turned to Xiao Qing and asked, "Xiao Qing, has everything been arranged with Feng Buping?"

"Everything has been arranged. We can head over directly," Xiao Qing replied respectfully.

"Good! Take them to the testing room and record the data in detail. I'll get it from Feng Buping later," Master Ma said.

"Yes!" Xiao Qing replied with a cupped-fist salute.

"Once everyone's assembled, follow me!" Xiao Qing said, then led the way toward the testing room.

Upon entering the first testing room, Xiao Qing immediately ran over to Feng Buping and said respectfully, "Uncle Feng, they're here!"

"Mm! I've almost finished arranging the equipment. Have them take their positions. We'll begin shortly," Feng Buping said without raising his head.

Since they were only testing their physical qi and blood, as well as their current realm, this was different from the entrance assessment. The equipment needed to be rearranged, so Feng Buping had been busy the entire time.

"Lin Feiyu, you're first. Zhuang Li, you're second. The rest of you, line up on your own. No talking!" Xiao Qing said with a stern expression.

Hearing this, all the apprentices obediently formed a line and waited for the test.

The entire test took less than two hours to complete.

Xiao Qing led the apprentices back to Apprentice Plaza to wait for Master Ma.

They waited nearly a quarter of an hour before Master Ma finally appeared in Apprentice Plaza. He held a stack of papers in his hand, which should have been the test results.

Master Ma came before the apprentices, raised the papers, and said, "Unfortunately! Not everyone passed this test."

"Pei Ling, Han Ji'an, Zhao Dongfan, Gan Tianfang, Cheng Yu, go report to Miscellaneous Affairs Hall now. They'll arrange a place for you." With that, he waved his hand, and Xiao Qing immediately led someone forward to take the five away.

All five wore dejected expressions as they left with their heads hanging low. With the precedent set before them, making a fuss would be useless. It would only make it harder for them to gain a foothold in the Fallen Blossom Gang.

"All right! This test ends here. Starting next month, there won't be any more tests. If you have any problems, come to my place and find me."

"You've been in the Fallen Blossom Gang for more than four months now, and there aren't many months left until your one-year term is complete."

"I believe you all understand that anyone who reaches Entry Grade before turning twenty will be vigorously cultivated by the gang. You still have three or four years, so work hard!"

"Stay away from those rotten, troublesome affairs! They'll only waste your time!" Master Ma rarely offered them such a warning before turning around and leaving in a flourish.

Jiang Liu watched Master Ma's departing back and thought, Although Master Ma looks cold, he's cold on the outside but soft-hearted inside.

After Master Ma left, the apprentices in the plaza began cultivating even harder. After all, who wouldn't want to reach Entry Grade before turning twenty?

Putting the matter of treatment aside, reaching Entry Grade before turning twenty meant that a martial artist's future path would be longer and smoother. That temptation alone was already enormous.

Moreover, if they received vigorous cultivation from the gang, they could reach a higher grade. One had to know that the higher a martial artist's grade, the longer their lifespan. There were even legends of grandmasters who had lived for more than three hundred years.

Thus, everyone cultivated desperately for that slim chance.

Jiang Liu looked at the apprentices throughout the plaza who were enduring their pain and forcing themselves to cultivate. A wave of relief washed over him. Fortunately, he had the Auxiliary System. Otherwise, could he have endured such pain?

Jiang Liu truly couldn't bear watching them struggle through cultivation in agony, so he decided that what he couldn't see couldn't trouble him. He returned alone to the small courtyard where he lived to cultivate, not even daring to call Wang Zhuang. After all, making them share the hardship was what was best for him.

Jiang Liu returned to the small courtyard. With a thought, a deep-blue light screen appeared.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Bone Tempering 75.2/206)

Alchemy (Beginner 37/100)

Five Elements Fist (Great Mastery 417/600)

Wandering Steps (Minor Mastery 342/800)

After checking the system, Jiang Liu began his daily cultivation routine. He had already wasted two hours. He had to make up for today's training.

While all the apprentices were cultivating hard, Xiao Qing arrived at Master Ma's residence.

"Master Ma!" Xiao Qing bowed to Master Ma.

"Sit! How are the apprentices doing?" Master Ma waved his hand.

"Nothing much. They're the same as during the previous two tests, except they're working harder," Xiao Qing said as he sat down.

"I was afraid they'd slack off after beginning Bone Tempering, so I arranged this full test. As for those five, tell Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to do their best to arrange something decent for them," Master Ma said with a sigh.

"Yes! I will!" Xiao Qing replied.

Master Ma waved his hand, and Xiao Qing bowed before leaving.