One Month Later...

Life became simple and regular...

Old Gu shouldered the responsibility of transportation and often came with a medicine chest, delivering Blood Activating Secret Soup into the young master's hands.

With Miss Song accompanying Qi Yu in his cultivation, his speed of comprehending killing techniques had more than doubled...

The provincial martial examination was an assessment for Eighth Rank martial artists. To prevent casualties and the loss of talent, weapon combat was not included in the examination.

Thus, Qi Yu did not learn spear techniques. Instead, he painstakingly cultivated those two killing techniques.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, it was already the eve of the martial examination.

Qi Yu stood where he was.

He glanced over the panel.

[Qi Yu]

[Realm: Eighth Rank, Blood Explosion]

[Combat Power: 31~52]

[Skill Points: 18]

[Techniques]

[Hunyuan Contending Force (18/36)]

[Spirit Serpent Skill, Great Accomplishment (12/16)]

[Two Forms of the Spirit Serpent Killing Technique (6/16)]

In other words, the progress of "[Spirit Serpent Skill]" had risen from "(6/16)" to "(12/16)," while [Two Forms of the Spirit Serpent Killing Technique] had reached "(6/16)." At the same time, his skill points had risen from the original "6" to "18."

His combat power had also risen from "27~42" to "31~52."

Qi Yu did the math. His increased combat power seemed impressive, but without [Hunyuan Contending Force], even if he had forged his foundation to perfection, his combat power should have been only "26~42." Compared to the "24~47" of Han Yan, the genius of Black Bear Martial Hall, he would actually still fall considerably short.

And this was only after Miss Song had instructed him day and night and accompanied him in intensive practice.

His comprehension and innate constitution truly were not very good.

At this moment, he glanced over those "18 skill points."

Since techniques became increasingly difficult to cultivate the further one progressed, yet skill points were added normally regardless of how difficult a technique was to practice,

after weighing it repeatedly, he leaned toward temporarily keeping the skill points, so that he could use them in the following three ways:

First, adding a point to break through directly when he encountered a "cultivation bottleneck";

Second, adding a point while cultivating a technique with the freakish difficulty of Hunyuan Contending Force, directly skipping over the obstacle;

Third, adding a point temporarily whenever he sensed danger, directly gaining a few more shreds of security.

Just then, the door to the Skill Transmission Chamber opened.

Footsteps came through the moonlight and the warm spring night breeze.

A figure stood beneath the eaves.

It was Chu Xiao!

Qi Yu took one look and saw that Chu Xiao's combat power was "27~50."

He glanced back at his own "31~52" and suddenly felt a thread of danger rising in his heart.

After a brief moment of thought, he decided to add the points to [Spirit Serpent Skill].

After all, [Spirit Serpent Skill] had already reached its final steps—the hardest steps, the ones that required the most bitter endurance. The returns should be greatest.

With that thought, he looked at the "+" after "[Spirit Serpent Skill, Great Accomplishment (12/16)]" and tapped it four times in succession.

A dense, vigorous force surged into his body.

All four limbs and his hundred bones felt incomparably comfortable, and the heat within his body that he could draw upon increased considerably.

He checked his combat power.

"35~56."

Qi Yu stared at his own "35," then looked toward Chu Xiao's "50." The sense of danger in his heart remained intense.

That was a full difference of fifteen.

Chu Xiao was already this strong. What about Han Yan, who had defeated him?

Moreover, this martial examination was not aimed only at the Eastern District, but at the entirety of Mount Wei City.

Most of these martial artists had emerged during the past three years, while some were from even earlier... Those people had accumulated strength over time before finally bursting forth, and were not weak either.

He also knew the situation at home.

To suppress the second branch, the first and third branches would inevitably push him forward to contend with his cousins.

The better he performed, the more support he would be able to obtain from the Qi Family.

The more Qi Yu looked at the combat power of both sides, the more dangerous he felt.

After pondering briefly, he looked at the "+" after "[Hunyuan Contending Force (18/36)]" and tapped it again and again.

With every tap, another Gods and Devils stance was "unlocked" in his mind and fused into his body. It not only strengthened the circulation of his power, but also granted him some strange techniques and greater bodily flexibility.

For example, during the battle between him and Green Bamboo a month earlier, he had subconsciously used one of the movements from the Thirty-Six Hunyuan Stances. Only then had he avoided the hand-blade that would have sliced him in half at the waist from Returning Wind Willow Dance.

His combat power gradually rose...

As his points were depleted, his combat power finally settled at "38.8~63.5."

This was already his limit at present.

Qi Yu glanced once more at Chu Xiao's combat power of "27~50" and sighed inwardly: I can only be more cautious during the martial examination battles...

After Chu Xiao emerged from seclusion, his expression had become much calmer. His steps were steady, his aura condensed, yet between his brows there faintly shone the sharpness of someone who had undergone a complete transformation.

When he saw Qi Yu from afar, he did not come forward and call him "Brother Qi." He merely nodded indifferently, his eyes carrying a trace of aloof arrogance.

When his gaze swept over Song Xue standing beside Qi Yu, it remained calm and unruffled, as if he had merely seen an unrelated stranger.

He raised his head slightly and looked past the two of them into the distance, his heart clear and bright.

Teacher Song had said that he was a genius.

He himself knew this very well.

This time, he would wash away his former humiliation.

From now on, he would soar straight to the heavens.

As for Song Xue, he admitted that she was a fine woman. But since she had willingly fallen and chosen to stand with Qi Yu, she was no longer worth mentioning in his eyes.

In this world, the only people who deserved to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, Chu Xiao, were true favored sons of Heaven.

Qi Yu also cupped his hands, returning the courtesy.

A trace of tension still knitted Song Qinghong's brows. He had placed his greatest hopes in Chu Xiao, and at this moment, he reached out and patted the boy's shoulder, saying gently, "Xiao'er, go rest for now. The inner-city martial examination is at the hour of Chen tomorrow. You'll have to rise at the hour of Yin to prepare, then set out fully equipped at the hour of Mao."

Chu Xiao bowed solemnly. "This disciple understands."

With that, he did not look at anyone again and turned to leave.

Song Qinghong looked toward Qi Yu and Song Xue. Seeing that the former's eyes were bright and his blood and qi vigorous, he nodded as well and said, "Nephew, your progress this month has not been small either. At tomorrow's martial examination, you will surely contend for honors."

His tone paused, and he sighed softly. "Still, these days, this old man has been somewhat neglectful..."

Qi Yu hurriedly said, "Uncle Song, please don't say that. This month, I've benefited greatly from Miss Song's care and gained a great deal."

Song Qinghong's gaze shifted between the two of them for a moment before he suddenly laughed heartily. "All right! You two chat a little longer, then return and rest early. Rise at the end of Yin tomorrow, eat at Mao, and set out in the middle of Mao."

The Qi Family's third branch had been declining day by day. As the master of Spirit Serpent Martial Hall, how could he not know?

Times had changed, and the present truly was not a good moment to push through a marriage alliance.

However... if these two children had feelings for each other, then even if the Qi Family's third branch completely declined, he would have no objection.

Song Qinghong had never been the sort to curry favor with the powerful or follow the tide.

During these days, Song Xue had spent her days and nights with Qi Yu, and with their frequent exchanges, she had long since changed her impression of this wastrel.

At the beginning of last winter, she had merely thought he was "putting on an act";

After hearing that his family had undergone a change, she had thought he was "forced by his family circumstances to train hard";

But now, it had become a kind of trust—I believe my childhood friend absolutely won't lose to anyone. At tomorrow's martial examination, he will surely make a name for himself.

After sensing Qi Yu's growing strength and progress, the maidenly feelings deep in her heart were suddenly "activated." For a moment, she abruptly no longer knew how to conduct herself.

Thus, Song Xue thumped Qi Yu heavily on the shoulder like one of the boys. With the air of an older sister, she tilted her head away without looking at him and said brightly, "This month hasn't been wasted, at least. I'm leaving!"

Immediately afterward, she waved her hand and left in carefree fashion without sparing Qi Yu another glance.

Qi Yu was somewhat dumbfounded. He thought inwardly, Did I offend Miss Song somehow?

But with the martial examination imminent, he also needed to conserve his energy. He could only suppress his doubts and walk alone toward the small courtyard.

Along the way, quite a few people were still discussing tomorrow's martial examination.

The martial examination was divided into three rounds.

First round: drawing a heavy bow and lifting stone locks.

The bows were divided into eight, ten, and twelve li of draw strength.

The stones were five hundred, six hundred, and seven hundred jin.

Participants could choose one as their main event and one as their auxiliary event:

Main event: Grade A, B, or C.

Auxiliary event: Upper, Middle, or Lower.

Once chosen, there was no regret.

After the results of both events were tallied, anyone achieving Second Class, Middle Grade or above would enter the second round.

Second round: Wood Man Formation and Iron Man Formation.

The former tested movement techniques. Participants wore lacquer-colored clothing and moved through the formation, avoiding the wooden men's striking arms so they would not be hit in the body. The rankings were based on being struck once, three times, or five times.

The latter tested strength. Participants wore porcelain armor and moved through the formation, blocking the iron men so the porcelain armor would not be damaged. The rankings were based on breaking one, three, or five porcelain plates.

This used the same grading system as the first round.

After the results of both events were tallied, achieving Second Class, Middle Grade counted as passing the martial examination and earned one the title of Martial Scholar. Names would then be posted on the list.

If one reached Grade A, Middle after the combined results of the two rounds, one could participate in the ranking battles.

The names of the Top Three would be recorded in the official registers. When the authorities appointed personnel in the future, they would receive priority consideration. Besides that... it would also bring martial artists considerable fame. If managed properly, that fame could be converted into all sorts of benefits.