The Painting and the Assessment Begins

"The Great Zhou Kingdom is an inland country; people living here will never see the sea in their lifetime."

"To advance my Mad Saber Three Stacks Wave from proficient to master, I must go to the seaside."

"If I have the scholar draw a Sea Wave Painting, and then I practice my saber techniques with the painting, I wonder if it will work."

Zhao Han felt this idea was feasible. The system only said to observe the waves, not whether they were waves in a painting or real waves.

As long as they were waves, it was fine.

Since that was the case, he wouldn't be polite.

However, Zhao Han still didn't disturb the scholar while he was painting. Seeing that the beautiful young lady's painting was almost finished, there was no rush.

The person waiting in front of Zhao Han was a butler-like figure. He was dressed luxuriously and was of medium build. He looked like someone of wealth and status at first glance.

"It's done!"

A quarter of an hour later, the scholar twisted his sore wrist and let out a sigh of relief.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on the person in the painting. This beautiful young lady had commissioned him to paint a while ago.

The moment he saw the beautiful young lady, the scholar felt that his life was complete.

This butler was the steward of the Liu Family, the foremost family in Blackwater County, which showed the young lady's extraordinary status.

"Here are two taels of silver for the painting. Scholar Liu, please take it." The butler handed over two taels of silver.

"No need. To be able to paint for Miss Liu's peerless beauty is already my life's fortune. How could I accept money?" The scholar waved his hand, showing great magnanimity.

The scholar clearly understood the difference between a mere two taels of silver and gaining Miss Liu's favor.

"Heh heh, just accept it. Otherwise, I, a mere servant, will be seen as incompetent when I report back."

The butler chuckled, placed the two taels of silver on the table, then picked up the painting, rolled it up, and turned to leave with brisk strides after glancing at Zhao Han.

"Alas..." With a sigh, the scholar felt a bit vexed.

Zhao Han took a deep look at the butler, surprised that even a butler was a Muscle Refining Realm expert.

The Liu Family must be extraordinary.

He then turned and pointed at the Nautical Chart, asking, "Boss, how much is this Nautical Chart?"

"One tael of silver."

"Here." Zhao Han put down the money, took the Nautical Chart, and left.

"Alas, Miss Liu, when will I have the honor of painting another portrait for you? It would be worth dying for..."

In an alley, Zhao Han hung the painting on the wall, then drew his steel saber and began practicing the Mad Saber Three Stacks Wave.

"Hah, first wave!"

"Second wave!"

"Third wave!"

After completing the set, Zhao Han looked at his panel and was pleasantly surprised to find that his proficiency had indeed increased by one point.

Mad Saber Three Stacks Wave [Simplified, Entry-level, Proficiency 1/100, Observe waves and practice saber technique 100 times]

"Since that's the case, let's go again!"

After practicing ten times in a row, Zhao Han stopped after finishing the eleventh practice.

Because the proficiency was no longer increasing.

"Perhaps it's because the painting's effect is gone, I need to buy another one."

Putting away the painting, although it was useless now, it could still be given as a gift later.

Returning to the scholar's stall, Zhao Han saw that the scholar was idle and seemed to be lost in thought. He smiled and said:

"Boss, I need nine more Sea Wave Paintings. There's only one requirement: all nine waves must be different. Can you draw them for me?"

The scholar looked at Zhao Han in surprise, thinking this person was quite strange, needing nine paintings when one wasn't enough?

There seemed to be no other requirements, just that the waves had to be different.

"Yes, it will be nine taels of silver in total, but I'll need three taels of silver as a deposit. You can come to my stall to pick them up the morning after tomorrow." The scholar accepted the job.

"No problem!"

Zhao Han paid the three taels of silver and strode away.

It was almost noon, and the assessment at the Mad Saber Martial Arts School was about to begin.

Returning to the martial arts school, Zhao Han had a simple meal and rested for a bit. Senior Brother Han found Zhao Han, and they immediately went to the training ground.

On the training ground, they were paired up, two by two. Zhao Han's other two roommates were also among them.

Normally, Zhao Han only saw about thirty-odd apprentices. During morning practice, he could see about fifty people. At this moment, he could see seventy people.

This showed that quite a few apprentices only registered and paid the fees, not truly dedicated to practicing martial arts.

Registering at the martial arts school might just be a way to get acquainted with potential apprentices or disciples.

After waiting for a while, the Master Yang Wuji walked out leisurely, followed by nine martial arts school disciples who had reached the Skin Refining Realm.

Among them were Liang Feng and Yu Qiuyue.

Her facial injury had likely not healed yet, so she wore a veil and followed behind a young woman in tight purple clothes.

Seeing the purple-clothed woman, Zhao Han couldn't help but freeze. Wasn't this the woman he met earlier at the Jinshi Weapon Shop? She was actually a disciple of the martial arts school.

The purple-clothed woman also noticed someone looking at her. When her eyes met his, she saw the arrogant youth she had met at the weapon shop earlier and couldn't help but freeze.

This person was actually a martial arts school apprentice.

He probably hadn't even mastered his saber techniques, yet he wanted to practice archery?

"Cough cough!"

"All apprentices, the monthly assessment begins..."

Yang Wuji was a middle-aged man with a strong voice. Without any further ado, after finishing his opening remarks and precautions, he let the apprentices begin their matches.

The purpose of holding this assessment was not only to identify those with good potential and to motivate the apprentices, but also to retain them.

Before the matches, they had to draw lots. Those who drew the same number would compete against each other.

After drawing lots, the matches began.

Only wooden sabers could be used in the matches, and only the Mad Saber Nine Forms were allowed. No other martial arts were permitted.

Zhao Han and Senior Brother Han "unfortunately" drew the same numbers as two old apprentices. They looked confident, mainly because they thought Zhao Han, being new, would be easy to bully.

"Junior Brother Zhao, it seems we are in trouble!" Senior Brother Han said with a wry smile.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Han. I have my trump card. We've got this. They might not necessarily win against us."

"Let's hope so!" Senior Brother Han didn't believe him at all.

Then, the assessment began.

The referee was the Third Senior Brother, whom Zhao Han did not recognize.

Zhao Han found the entire competition so boring he was almost falling asleep. A bunch of weaklings, and they were using wooden sabers. Zhao Han really couldn't muster any interest.

"Zhao Yan and Han Yang will fight Wang Qiang and Yao Gang respectively!"

When it was Zhao Han's turn, he finally perked up. He took out a wooden saber and stood on the open ground.

He was the first match, and he needed to set the tone.

"Begin!"

The two sides began to fight. Wang Qiang on the opposite side looked serious, not underestimating his opponent at all. He charged forward, wanting to end the battle quickly.

"Hah, Mad Saber Nine Forms!"

Zhao Han did not dodge or retreat. He actively swung his Wooden Saber and chopped forward.

Wang Qiang, facing Zhao Han directly, was stunned. He hadn't expected Zhao Han to not only not retreat but to actively attack.

Since that's the case, let me decide the victor with a single blow.

"He truly doesn't know the meaning of death. Doesn't he know that Wang Qiang is already extremely close to the Skin Refining Realm?"

"This new Mad Saber Nine Forms clearly hasn't been practiced well. He's just fighting with Brute Force!"

"Even I couldn't win against Wang Qiang. This kid is just asking for death."

"Heh heh, I think this new Starving Ghost just wants to finish quickly and get off work."

Many apprentices below were sneering.

Newcomers are just newcomers. They can't compare to them.