Malicious Obstruction, Examination Hall Turmoil

The morning light broke through the dawn, painting the eastern sky with a pale, fish-belly white.

Lin Fan awoke from his state of "Breathing to Replace Sleep," his eyes opening, his divine light contained within. A night of meditation and breath control had not only restored his Stamina and Vital Energy to their peak but also left his spirit exceptionally full.

He stood and stretched his limbs, feeling a robust and powerful sensation in his muscles. He opened his status panel to check:

[Vital Energy Value: 120/120]

[Basic Fist Technique: Proficient (745/1000)]

[Basic Footwork: Proficient (188/1000)]

[Gale Sword Technique: Skilled (235/500)]

[Stamina: 100%]

"Good state," Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction.

Pushing open the door, his sister Lin Xiaoyu was already up and busy by the stove. Seeing Lin Fan emerge, she flashed a smile, "Brother, you're awake! Breakfast is almost ready."

"Why are you up so early again?" Lin Fan walked over, seeing congee simmering in the pot and two Multigrain Steamed Buns steaming beside it—this was already the best breakfast their family could offer.

"Brother has an exam today, so you need to eat well," Lin Xiaoyu said earnestly. "I added some minced meat to the congee, Grandpa Li gave it to us yesterday."

Lin Fan's heart warmed. He didn't say more, just ruffled his sister's hair, "Thanks, Xiaoyu."

The siblings sat in the courtyard eating breakfast. The Minced Meat Congee was fragrant, and though the Multigrain Steamed Buns were coarse, they had a unique grain sweetness when chewed. Lin Fan ate with focus, knowing he would need a lot of Stamina today, and every bite of food was a source of energy.

"Brother, are you nervous?" Lin Xiaoyu asked softly.

"Not nervous," Lin Fan shook his head, his tone calm. "I've practiced everything I should have. The rest is just about performing."

"But..." Lin Xiaoyu hesitated, wanting to say more.

"But what?"

"Last night, I think I heard people talking outside," Lin Xiaoyu said, a little uneasy. "At the entrance of our alley, for a long time."

Lin Fan's gaze sharpened. He had sensed it last night too—at least four people were lurking nearby, their auras not weak. They were likely sent by Wang Hao to keep watch. However, those people ultimately didn't dare to make a move, perhaps out of fear of something, or because causing trouble on the eve of the exam would be too obvious.

"It's nothing, probably just Neighbors," Lin Fan reassured his sister. "You stay home today, bolt the door, and don't open it for anyone. If I'm not back by noon, heat up some congee to eat yourself."

"Are you going to be gone all day, Brother?"

"Registration, verification, Preliminary Test, it might take until the afternoon," Lin Fan estimated the time. "But don't worry, no matter the result, I'll definitely be back tonight."

"Okay!" Lin Xiaoyu nodded vigorously. "Brother, you can definitely do it!"

After breakfast, Lin Fan helped his sister prepare her medicine and watched her take the first Blood Condensing Pill. The pale red pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, and Lin Xiaoyu's complexion quickly gained a healthy flush, her breathing also becoming much smoother than usual.

"How do you feel?" Lin Fan asked with concern.

"Warm and comfortable," Lin Xiaoyu's eyes sparkled. "Brother, this medicine is really good."

"As long as it's effective," Lin Fan was relieved. "Remember, one pill a day for three days. I'll check when I get back."

"Got it!" Lin Xiaoyu playfully stuck out her tongue.

After tidying up, Lin Fan changed into a washed-out but clean and neat cloth outfit – this was the best clothing he could afford. He slung the old cloth bag left by his father over his shoulder, containing his identification, registration voucher, and that old sword.

"Brother, good luck!" Lin Xiaoyu stood at the doorway, waving vigorously.

"Mm, take care of yourself at home."

Lin Fan turned and strode out of the small courtyard.

Morning light spilled into the narrow alleys of the Slum District, the air filled with a mixture of coal smoke and the smell of breakfast. Early risers were already busy, carrying water, starting fires, heading out to work... Seeing Lin Fan walk by, many neighbors cast complex glances – envy, jealousy, anticipation, and a hint of barely concealed schadenfreude.

It had been many years since anyone from the Slum District had managed to get into a Martial Arts Academy. The last one was five years ago, a boy with decent talent who got into the Regular Class, but he was seriously injured on a mission the following year and dropped out. Now he was just getting by in the City Wall Guard.

"Lin Fan, going for the exam?" Aunt Zhang, who sold breakfast at the alley entrance, called out.

"Mm, good morning, Aunt Zhang," Lin Fan replied politely.

"Do your best, bring honor to our Slum District!" Aunt Zhang's voice was loud, drawing the attention of those around.

"I'll do my best," Lin Fan didn't say more, quickening his pace.

He could feel several gazes following him – not neighbors, but strangers. Hidden in the shadows of the alley, their breathing steady, they were at least trained in martial arts.

"Wang Hao's people..." Lin Fan sneered inwardly. "They really are persistent."

He ignored them and walked straight towards the Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy.

The Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy was located in the eastern district of Jiangnan City, covering a thousand acres, surrounded by high walls, and exuding grandeur. The main entrance was a ten-meter-tall archway, inscribed with the four characters "Jiangnan Martial Arts" in golden calligraphy, with vigorous strokes that seemed to carry the true meaning of martial arts.

Although it was early morning, the area outside the academy was already crowded.

Youngsters of the appropriate age from Jiangnan City and surrounding towns, along with accompanying parents and onlookers, numbered over ten thousand gathered in the square in front of the academy. The noise of chatter, shouts, and discussions mixed together, forming a cacophonous wave of sound.

Lin Fan squeezed through the crowd, looking at the scene before him with emotion.

This was the grandeur of the martial arts world – an academy recruitment could attract so many people. In his previous life on Earth, only the college entrance examination could match this scale.

Following the signs, he found the "New Student Registration Area" – a row of temporary tents set up on the west side of the square, with long queues in front of each tent. The lines snaked like dragons, the youths displaying various expressions: some full of confidence, some nervous, some looking around, some meditating with closed eyes.

Lin Fan chose a queue with relatively fewer people and stood at the end.

In front of him was a short, stout boy dressed in silk clothing, clearly from a wealthy family. He glanced back at Lin Fan, and upon seeing Lin Fan's simple attire, a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes before he turned back.

Lin Fan didn't mind, he just waited quietly while observing his surroundings.

The registration process seemed simple: submit identification and registration voucher, staff verify information, record it, issue exam numbers, and then proceed to the Preliminary Test Area next door for basic screening.

Most people went through smoothly, finishing in a few minutes. Occasionally, those with incomplete documents were asked to provide more, but the staff were reasonably polite.

The line moved slowly.

After half an hour, only three people remained in front of Lin Fan.

Just then, a commotion erupted from a nearby line.

"Why won't you let me register? My documents are all here!" a boy with a loud voice shouted.

"The seal on your identification is blurry and cannot be verified," the staff member, a tall, thin man in his thirties, said with a stern face. "Either go back and get it reissued, or come back next year."

"The seal is blurry? How is that possible! I just got it from the Government Office yesterday!" the boy said anxiously.

"If I say it's blurry, it's blurry," the tall, thin man waved his hand impatiently. "Next!"

The boy tried to argue further but was pushed aside by the people behind him. He could only squeeze out of the crowd with red eyes, muttering curses.

Lin Fan frowned slightly.

He had glanced at the boy's identification. Although the seal was a bit old, it was definitely clear and legible. The staff member was clearly making things difficult on purpose.

"It seems not everyone can register smoothly," Lin Fan's vigilance increased.

Soon, it was the turn of the short, plump boy in front of him.

"Name, Age, Place of Household Registration," the staff member said without looking up.

"Zhao Ritian, 17 years old, from the Zhao Family in Jiangnan City West District," the short, plump boy handed over his documents.

The staff member glanced at them, casually registered them, and issued an exam number: "Zone C Number 27, proceed to the preliminary test over there."

"Thank you, examiner!" Zhao Ritian happily took the badge and didn't forget to glance back at Lin Fan, raising his chin triumphantly.

Lin Fan ignored him and stepped forward, placing his prepared documents on the table.

"Name, Age, Place of Household Registration," the same procedure.

"Lin Fan, 16 years old, from the Slum District of Jiangnan City," Lin Fan replied calmly.

Upon hearing the words "Slum District," the staff member finally looked up, sizing Lin Fan up. His gaze held undisguised scrutiny and contempt.

"Slum District?" The tall, thin man flipped open Lin Fan's identification, looked at it for a few moments, and suddenly frowned. "There's a problem with your certificate."

"What problem?" Lin Fan's heart sank. It had come.

"The seal color is wrong." The tall, thin man pointed to the official seal at the bottom right of the certificate. "The ink pad used by the Jiangnan City Government Office is specially made Vermilion Red. Yours is a bit dark, like a fake."

"This was processed three years ago when they were uniformly reissued. The color was like this then," Lin Fan replied calmly. "If you don't believe me, you can retrieve the government archives for verification."

"Verification?" The tall, thin man sneered. "Who do you think you are? Retrieving archives? If I say there's a problem, there's a problem. Either go back and reapply, or get lost."

His voice wasn't quiet, and the people queuing around him all looked over.

"What's going on?"

"It seems there's a problem with his identification."

"He's from the Slum District, right? Probably forged it."

Discussions erupted, and many gazes fell on Lin Fan, some curious, some mocking, and some gloating.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. He knew this was the first hurdle arranged by Wang Hao—to block him at the registration stage, preventing him from even qualifying for the exam.

"Excuse me, examiner," Lin Fan's tone remained calm. "Article 3 of the Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy Admissions Brochure clearly states: If there are doubts about the identification, the academy may contact the government office for verification and shall not refuse registration arbitrarily. Are you going to violate the regulations?"

The tall, thin man was stunned, not expecting a kid from the Slum District to know the specific clauses of the admissions brochure.

But he quickly recovered and sneered, "Regulations? Here, my word is the regulation! If I say your certificate has a problem, it has a problem! Either get lost, or I'll have the guards throw you out!"

As he spoke, he beckoned to the side.

Two guards in academy uniforms walked over, their auras robust, at least 2nd Grade Martial Artists.

"Director Sun, what's the matter?" one of the guards asked.

"This kid forged his identification and is trying to cause trouble," the tall, thin man pointed at Lin Fan. "Throw him out!"

The guards looked at Lin Fan, their eyes sharp. "Are you leaving on your own, or do we have to use force?"

The situation immediately became tense.

The queuing crowd retreated, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire. Some shook their heads and sighed, some watched coldly, and some showed sympathy—it was too difficult for children from the Slum District to get ahead.

Lin Fan stood his ground, not moving.

He glanced at the name tag on the tall, thin man's chest: Sun De, Registration Office Staff.

"Director Sun," Lin Fan said slowly, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Enough nonsense!" Sun De said impatiently. "Guards, take action!"

The two guards stepped forward, grabbing Lin Fan's shoulders from either side.

Just then--

"Stop!"

A clear shout came from outside the crowd.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young man in a blue long gown, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, walking quickly. He had a refined appearance but sharp eyes.

"Teacher Zhang!" someone who recognized him exclaimed.

The newcomer was Zhang Mingyuan, the homeroom teacher of the Regular Class at Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy.

Sun De's expression changed slightly when he saw Zhang Mingyuan, but he quickly put on a smile. "Teacher Zhang, why are you here? This is just a small matter, you don't need to worry about it."

"A small matter?" Zhang Mingyuan walked closer, glanced at Lin Fan, and then looked at Sun De. "Director Sun, the academy's admissions are a major event. Every step must be fair and open. You just said this student's identification has a problem, what is your basis?"

"This..." Sun De was speechless. "The seal color is wrong..."

"The color is wrong?" Zhang Mingyuan took Lin Fan's identification, examined it carefully, and then took out his teacher's certificate to compare. "The ink pad from the Jiangnan City Government Office does have batch variations. The batch from three years ago, due to cinnabar raw material issues, was indeed darker in color. This is common knowledge, Director Sun doesn't know?"

Sweat beaded on Sun De's forehead. "I... I was momentarily careless..."

"Momentarily careless?" Zhang Mingyuan's tone turned cold. "Or was someone instructing you to deliberately make things difficult for this student?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Sun De quickly denied it. "I just misread it, I misread it..."

Zhang Mingyuan stared at Sun De for a few seconds, making him sweat profusely, before turning back and returning the identification to Lin Fan.

"Student Lin Fan, your documents are fine." Zhang Mingyuan said gently. "Continue with your registration."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang." Lin Fan bowed respectfully.

"You're welcome." Zhang Mingyuan patted Lin Fan's shoulder and lowered his voice, "Test well, I have high hopes for you."

After speaking, he glanced at Sun De and turned to leave.

Sun De stood frozen, his face turning from green to white. The surrounding crowd whispered, looking at him with mockery.

"Are we going to continue or not?" the people queuing behind urged.

Sun De gritted his teeth, quickly registered Lin Fan, and issued him a test number: "Area B Number Thirteen, the preliminary test is over there."

Lin Fan took the plate. It was cool to the touch, made of iron, and engraved with the characters "B Thirteen".

He didn't look at Sun De again and turned to walk towards the preliminary test area.

However, his vigilance increased a few more notches.

Wang Hao's influence was longer than he had imagined. He could even bribe the registration staff, so what about the preliminary test and the formal test? Would there be more hurdles?

"When the soldiers come, block them; when the water comes, cover it." Lin Fan clenched the test number plate. "As long as my strength is strong enough, all schemes and tricks will be futile."

The Preliminary Test Area was set up on the east side of the plaza, divided into four sections by temporary fences: Area A, Area B, Area C, and Area D. Each area had dedicated examiners and testing equipment.

Lin Fan found Area B, where over thirty people were already in line. The test was simple: punch the Strength Testing Monument with enough force to reach 300 jin to pass.

Most of the youths could pass with ease, as those who dared to register at least had some foundation. Occasionally, a few who lacked sufficient strength would leave dejectedly, drawing sighs from the crowd.

Soon, it was Lin Fan's turn.

"Area B Number Thirteen, Lin Fan," the examiner called out his name.

Lin Fan stepped forward and stood before the Strength Testing Monument. It was a black stone tablet about half a person's height, its surface as smooth as a mirror, with a fist-shaped indentation in the center.

"Give it a full-power punch," the examiner, a middle-aged strongman, boomed.

Lin Fan took a deep breath. Without using his vital energy, relying purely on his physical strength, he threw a punch!

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, ripples spread across the surface of the Strength Testing Monument, and a line of white numbers appeared:

[487 jin]

"Pass," the examiner recorded the result, glancing at Lin Fan. "Not bad. Next."

487 jin was above average among those tested, but it didn't attract much attention. After all, several people had already exceeded 500 jin, with the highest reaching 580 jin.

Lin Fan calmly walked to the passing area, awaiting the next test.

The second preliminary test: speed.

The venue was a fifty-meter track, with simple speed-measuring formations on both sides. The requirement was to complete the distance within ten seconds, equivalent to twenty seconds for a hundred meters—a standard not difficult for those who had practiced martial arts.

Lin Fan still didn't use his vital energy, completing the run at a normal pace. His result was eight point seven seconds (equivalent to seventeen point four seconds for a hundred meters), and he passed smoothly.

Having passed both preliminary tests, he received the qualification voucher for the formal examination—a piece of paper stamped with the academy's seal, bearing his test number, name, and the examination time: Zhengshi (9 AM), Third Examination Hall.

It was just past Chen Shi (a little past 7 AM), with over an hour left until the formal examination.

Lin Fan found a secluded corner, sat down cross-legged, and began to regulate his breathing.

He intended to adjust his state to its best to cope with the upcoming challenges.

But the tree desired stillness, yet the wind would not cease.

Shortly after he sat down, several figures surrounded him.

Leading them was Wang Hao.

"Lin Fan, I didn't expect you to actually pass the preliminary test," Wang Hao said, crossing his arms and looking down at Lin Fan. "But that's as far as you'll get. In the formal examination, I'll show you what a real gap is."

Lin Fan opened his eyes and looked calmly at Wang Hao. "Are you done?"

Wang Hao was angered by the indifferent attitude. "Don't get cocky! You were just lucky to get Zhang Mingyuan, that busybody, to help you register. But in the formal examination, he won't be the only examiner!"

"So what?" Lin Fan slowly stood up and met Wang Hao's gaze. "Do you want to fight here, violate the examination hall's rules, and get disqualified?"

Wang Hao's expression changed.

The academy had clear regulations: private fights were strictly forbidden within the examination grounds. Violators would be directly disqualified, and severe cases could even result in a permanent ban from examinations.

The followers behind him also became nervous. They were only there to provide backup; they wouldn't dare to actually fight.

"Hmph, sharp-tongued," Wang Hao suppressed his anger. "We'll settle this in the examination hall. I hope you don't lose too badly then."

With that, he turned and left with his entourage.

Lin Fan sat down again and closed his eyes to rest.

But the string in his heart tightened even further.

Wang Hao's threat was not empty. The formal examination had three stages: strength, speed, and combat. Each stage had examiners, and there was room for manipulation.

What if Wang Hao bribed the examiner for one or even multiple stages...

"I have to prepare for the worst," Lin Fan mused. "For the strength test, the Strength Testing Monument is an inanimate object, so it can't be faked. The 'Gale Formation' for the speed test is a fixed formation, also difficult to tamper with. The most likely stage to be manipulated is combat—the strength of the puppets, the scoring criteria, these all have room for maneuvering."

He opened his eyes and looked towards the distant examination area.

The Third Examination Hall was already open, and candidates were starting to enter. It was a square building constructed of bluestone, with its main doors wide open, revealing shadowy figures moving within.

"No matter what, I have to pass this stage."

Lin Fan stood up, tidied his clothes, and walked towards the Third Examination Hall.

The sunlight was just right, falling on him and casting a long shadow on the bluestone floor.

The young man's steps were firm, his gaze sharp as a knife.

He knew that the real test had only just begun.