Monthly Exam

The day of the Monthly Exam had arrived.

Lin Guanhuo came to the Martial Arts Arena. Dawn had only just broken, and the Demon Suppressing Division apprentices had gathered there.

After a month of brutal selection and self-elimination, the original group of fifty or sixty had now been cut in half.

Those who remained were the gold left behind after the great waves had washed away the sand—or, at the very least, iron grit.

Lin Guanhuo joined the crowd and casually found a spot to stand.

At the very front of the line stood Shen Yifan, the prodigy among this batch of apprentices, proud and aloof.

Today, he wore a dark blue-green long robe, looking utterly high-spirited.

All those days of grueling cultivation had been for the sake of reclaiming his lost ground today!

Lin Guanhuo, your so-called Six Qi Vortex ends here.

Shen Yifan sneered inwardly.

Over the past month, he had trained bitterly day and night.

Just last night, he had finally broken through his bottleneck and stepped into Body Tempering third-grade!

He could hardly wait to see the stunned expression on Lin Guanhuo's face during the test!

"Instructor arriving!"

At the shouted announcement, Instructor Zhou Cang strode into the Martial Arts Arena.

Behind him, four odd-job workers carried in a massive apparatus.

Boom!

The apparatus hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was an enormous iron frame, built entirely from black iron and hard wood.

Set into the center of the frame was a thick black leather striking pad.

Above it hung a huge Bronze Plate covered in markings.

Those familiar with it knew that this was called a Force Measuring Pillar.

They were common in major martial arts schools and sects.

With Zhou Cang's arrival, the entire Martial Arts Arena instantly fell a little quieter.

"Today is the first Monthly Exam."

Standing beside the Force Measuring Pillar, Zhou Cang swept his gaze across the crowd, his voice hard and cold. "The rules are simple. We won't test flashy tricks—only strength."

"On the Martial Path, strength is the foundation. One force can crush ten techniques; without strength, no matter how fancy your moves are, you're nothing but an embroidered pillow."

"Those who pass the first Monthly Exam will prove themselves exceptionally talented. The Demon Suppressing Division will focus on nurturing them and direct resources their way!"

The moment those words fell, many people began breathing faster.

To pass the assessment first and become a Division Servant meant staying one step ahead of others at every turn.

On the Martial Path, one slow step meant every step thereafter would be slow.

If they failed this assessment, they feared they would be suppressed by others from then on, unable to rise again.

"The passing line is 750 jin of force!"

Zhou Cang's voice rang out loudly. "Those below that number, come back next month."

750 jin!

An ordinary strongman, even one trained in martial arts, could only muster two or three hundred jin of force.

A Martial Artist who had just entered the First Rank Body Tempering Realm generally possessed between 600 and 700 jin of force.

A Second Rank Martial Artist, meanwhile, possessed over 800 jin.

750 jin was already brushing against the threshold of a Second Rank Martial Artist.

"Let's begin. Step forward when your name is called."

Zhou Cang picked up the roster and wasted no words. "First, Liu Dali."

A sturdily built young man in his early twenties stepped out from the crowd.

Liu Dali was not old, but he had always trained diligently.

Under everyone's gaze, Liu Dali walked up to the Force Measuring Pillar and drew a deep breath!

"Ha!"

With a thunderous shout, he drove his fist heavily into the black striking pad.

Bang!!

A dull thud rang out.

The pointer on the Bronze Plate suddenly jumped, then slowly came to a stop.

Zhou Cang glanced at it and announced expressionlessly, "670 jin. Failed."

"Ah... I knew it."

Liu Dali's face instantly fell, disappointment written all over it.

In the end, he could only trudge back into the crowd with his head hanging.

He had missed it by just 80 jin, but that was Martial Dao. A hair's breadth of difference became a heavenly chasm.

At once, the atmosphere at the scene turned oppressive.

Liu Dali's failure was like a bucket of cold water thrown over everyone.

"Next, Li Miaomiao."

Zhou Cang called out.

Li Miaomiao stepped out from the crowd, still dressed in that light green, form-fitting qipao.

It allowed easy movement while outlining the lovely figure of a young girl.

Quite a few male apprentices at the scene began cheering her on. "Go, Miaomiao!"

"Miss Li will definitely make it!"

"Miss Li, go!"

Hearing the voices around her, even Shen Yifan smiled and nodded.

Li Miaomiao walked up to the Force Measuring Pillar without shouting and yelling like Liu Dali had.

She took a deep breath and adjusted her breathing.

"Ha!"

With a delicate cry, the girl slammed her jade-like palm fiercely against the punching pad.

In that instant, it was as though tremendous force erupted!!

A crisp crack rang out.

"Pa!"

The pointer on the Bronze Plate spun rapidly.

At last, it stopped...

Zhou Cang looked at the number on the pointer, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. He nodded. "760 jin. Passed."

A wave of uproar broke out from the crowd.

This girl who looked so delicate was actually stronger than Liu Dali!

Instructor Zhou Cang said, "Miaomiao, congratulations."

"From today onward, you are an official member of the Demon Suppressing Division, a registered Class D Division Servant. Your monthly salary will be ten taels."

Hearing this, Li Miaomiao's little face flushed red with excitement. "Thank you, Instructor!"

So-called Class D Division Servants were the lowest rank among the Demon Suppressing Division's Division Servants.

The Demon Suppressing Division maintained strict ranks. Division Servants were divided into four classes: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding.

First Rank Martial Artists corresponded to Class D.

Second Rank Martial Artists to Class C.

Third Rank Martial Artists to Class B.

Fourth Rank Martial Artists to Class A.

Above Class A were the listed officials, whose minimum requirement was Fifth Rank Martial Artist.

Just like Chen Jianxing, whom Lin Guanhuo knew well.

And now, with Li Miaomiao passing the test, the enthusiasm at the scene was completely ignited.

Many apprentices were eager to try, while others watched with expectant expressions.

"Next!" Zhou Cang continued reading from the list.

"Wang Luo."

As Zhou Cang's voice fell, a young man in his twenties stepped out of the crowd, his expression somewhat sinister.

He walked up to the Force Measuring Pillar and took a deep breath, seemingly gathering all the strength in his body.

"Ha!"

He threw a punch.

The Bronze Plate's needle trembled.

At last, it stopped at 770 pounds.

"Phew..."

Wang Luo let out a long breath, a trace of joy appearing on his face.

He had cleared the passing line of 750 pounds. At least he was safe now.

But before he could rejoice for long—

"Unqualified."

Zhou Cang's cold voice poured over him like a bucket of icy water. "Pack your things and get out of the Demon Suppressing Division."

"What?!"

Wang Luo's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively stumbled back two steps. "Instructor, I... I clearly surpassed 750 pounds! Why are you throwing me out?"

"Why?"

Zhou Cang's gaze was like blazing torches as he stared at Wang Luo.

That gaze had clearly seen through every one of Wang Luo's shady tricks.

Instructor Zhou said coldly, "Your breath is unsteady, your steps are floating. The strength behind that punch of yours came from taking some kind of medicinal pill that boosts strength for a short time, didn't it?"

"You slippery cheat! Do you really think Zhou is blind?"

At those words, Wang Luo's face instantly turned deathly pale.

He had spent a fortune to buy a Strength Amplifying Pill.

He had been counting on it to help him become an official Division Servant and earn a monthly salary...

Who would have thought... he would be found out!

"Ah..."

Wang Luo sighed. In the end, he did not dare argue a single word, and slunk away in disgrace.

The scene fell silent.

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