Dawn broke, and the eastern horizon turned pale as the belly of a fish.
Lin Fan woke from his "Breathing to Replace Sleep" state. His eyes opened, their light now subdued. A night of meditative breathing had restored his stamina and vital energy to their peak, leaving his mind especially refreshed as well.
He got up and stretched his limbs. His muscles felt full of strength. 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% ]
"Not bad." Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction.
When he opened the door, his younger sister, Lin Xiaoyu, was already up, busy at the stove. Seeing Lin Fan emerge, she beamed. "Brother, you're awake! Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Why are you up so early again?" Lin Fan went over and saw congee cooking in the pot, with two steamed coarse-grain buns beside it. This was the best breakfast their family could afford.
"You have your exam today, so you should eat well," Lin Xiaoyu said earnestly. "I added a little minced meat to the congee. Grandpa Li gave it to us yesterday."
Warmth welled up in Lin Fan's heart. He said nothing more, only ruffled his sister's hair. "Thanks, Xiaoyu."
The siblings sat in the courtyard and ate breakfast. The minced meat congee was fragrant, and though the coarse-grain buns were rough, they had the distinct sweetness of grain when chewed. Lin Fan ate carefully. He knew he would need to expend a lot of energy today, and every bite was a source of strength.
"Brother, are you nervous?" Lin Xiaoyu asked quietly.
"No." Lin Fan shook his head, his tone calm. "I've practiced everything I need to. Now I just have to perform."
"But..." Lin Xiaoyu trailed off.
"But what?"
"Last night, I thought I heard people talking outside," Lin Xiaoyu said uneasily. "They were at the mouth of our alley, talking for a long time."
Lin Fan's gaze sharpened slightly. He had sensed them last night too—at least four people had been loitering nearby. Their auras were not weak, and they were probably there to keep watch for Wang Hao. In the end, they hadn't dared make a move. Perhaps they were wary of something, or thought causing trouble on the eve of the exam would be too obvious.
"It's fine. They were probably neighbors." Lin Fan reassured his sister. "Stay home today and bolt the door. Don't open it for anyone. If I'm not back by noon, heat up some congee for yourself."
"Are you going to be gone all day, Brother?"
"Registration, verification, preliminary tests. It could take until the afternoon." Lin Fan estimated the time. "But don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll be back tonight."
"Mm!" Lin Xiaoyu nodded emphatically. "Brother, you can 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 melted as soon as it entered her mouth. Lin Xiaoyu's face soon took on a healthy flush, and her breathing became much easier than usual.
"How do you feel?" Lin Fan asked with concern.
"Warm, and really comfortable." Lin Xiaoyu's eyes sparkled. "Brother, this medicine is wonderful."
"As long as it works." Lin Fan relaxed. "Remember, one pill a day for three days. I'll check when I get back."
"Got it!" Lin Xiaoyu playfully stuck out her tongue.
Once everything was ready, Lin Fan changed into his cleanest clothes: a set of cloth garments that had been washed until they were pale, but were still neat and tidy. They were the best clothes he had. He slung his father's Old Cloth Bag over his back. Inside were his identification papers, registration receipt, and the old sword.
"Good luck, Brother!" Lin Xiaoyu stood at the doorway and waved hard.
"Mm. Behave yourself at home."
Lin Fan turned and strode out of the courtyard.
Morning light spilled across the narrow alleys of the Slum District. The air was filled with the mingled smells of coal smoke and breakfast. Early risers were already busy: fetching water, lighting fires, heading out to work... As Lin Fan passed, many neighbors looked at him with complicated expressions—envy, jealousy, hope, and a trace of schadenfreude that was hard to detect.
It had been many years since the Slum District had produced a child who could get into a Martial Arts Academy. The last one was five years ago, a talented boy who had made it into the Regular Class. But the next year, he was badly injured on a mission and dropped out. Now he was just scraping by in the City Wall Guard.
"Lin Fan, off to take your exam?" Aunt Zhang called from her breakfast stall at the mouth of the alley.
"Yes. Good morning, Aunt Zhang." Lin Fan replied politely.
"Do your best and bring some glory to our Slum District!" Aunt Zhang's voice was loud enough to draw everyone's attention.
"I'll do my best." Lin Fan said no more and quickened his pace.
He could feel several gazes following him—not the neighbors', but those of strangers. They were concealed in the shadows of the alleys, their breaths steady. They had clearly trained in martial arts.
"Wang Hao's men, I wonder..." Lin Fan sneered inwardly. "They really don't know when to quit."
He ignored them and headed straight for Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy.
Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy was located in Jiangnan City's East District. It covered a thousand mu, was surrounded by high walls, and had a magnificent presence. The main entrance was a ten-meter-tall archway bearing the four gilt characters "Jiangnan Martial Arts." The brushstrokes were vigorous, and an elusive martial intent seemed to flow through them.
Though it was still early morning, a sea of people had already gathered outside the academy.
There were age-eligible teenagers from Jiangnan City and the surrounding towns, parents accompanying them, and onlookers. More than ten thousand people had assembled in the plaza before the academy. The din of conversation, calls, and chatter blended into a noisy swell.
Lin Fan squeezed through the crowd and looked at the scene before him, his heart stirred.
This was the grand spectacle of the martial world. A single academy's admissions could draw such a crowd. Back on Earth in his previous life, only the college entrance examinations had been on this scale.
Following the signs, he found the "New Student Registration Area"—a row of temporary booths erected on the west side of the plaza, each with a long line in front. The queues wound like dragons, and the teenagers wore all sorts of expressions: some full of confidence, others nervous, some looking around, and still others resting with their eyes closed.
Lin Fan chose one of the shorter lines and joined at the end.
The boy in front of him was short and fat, dressed in silk. He was clearly from a wealthy family. He glanced back at Lin Fan, saw his plain clothes, and a trace of contempt flashed through his eyes before he turned away.
Lin Fan didn't mind. He simply waited, quietly observing his surroundings.
The registration process seemed simple: hand over your identification and registration receipt, have the staff verify the details and record them, receive an exam number tag, then go to the Preliminary Test Area nearby for an initial screening.
Most people got through without a problem, finishing in just a few minutes. Occasionally, someone with incomplete documents would be asked to provide more, but the staff were generally polite.
The line crept forward.
Half an hour later, only three people remained ahead of Lin Fan.
Just then, a commotion broke out in the neighboring line.
"Why won't you let me register? My documents are all in order!" a boy shouted in a rough voice.
"The seal on your identification is blurred, so its authenticity can't be verified." The staff member was a thin, tall man in his thirties. He kept a stern expression. "Either go back and get it reissued, or come again next year."
"Blurred? How could that be? I only got it from the Government Office yesterday!" The boy was flustered.
"If I say it's blurred, then it's blurred." The thin, tall man impatiently waved him away. "Next!"
The boy tried to argue, but the people behind him pushed him aside. With reddened eyes, he could only squeeze out of the crowd, cursing under his breath.
Lin Fan frowned slightly.
He had glanced at the boy's identification. The seal was a little old, but it was absolutely clear enough to read. The staff member was obviously making things difficult for him on purpose.
"Looks like not everyone gets to register without trouble." Lin Fan grew wary.
Soon, it was the short, fat boy's turn.
"Name, age, place of residence." The staff member didn't even look up.
"Zhao Ritian, seventeen, Zhao Family, Jiangnan City West District." The short, fat boy handed over his documents.
The staff member glanced over them, recorded the details without a fuss, and handed him an exam number tag. "Zone C Number 27. Go to the Preliminary Test Area over there."
"Thank you, examiner!" Zhao Ritian took the tag gleefully, then turned back and gave Lin Fan a smug lift of his chin.
Lin Fan ignored him and stepped forward, placing his prepared documents on the table.
"Name, age, place of residence." The same routine.
"Lin Fan, sixteen, Slum District, Jiangnan City." Lin Fan answered calmly.
At the words "Slum District," the staff member finally looked up and sized Lin Fan up. His gaze held undisguised scrutiny and contempt.
"Slum District?" The thin, tall man opened Lin Fan's identification and looked it over. He suddenly furrowed his brow. "There's a problem with this."
"What problem?" Lin Fan's heart sank. Here it came.
"The seal's color is wrong." The thin, tall man pointed to the official seal in the lower right corner. "The Jiangnan City Government Office uses specially prepared cinnabar ink. Yours is too dark. It looks counterfeit."
"This was issued three years ago, when they were all replaced. That was the color they used at the time," Lin Fan replied calmly. "If you don't believe me, you can check the Government Office's records."
"Check?" The thin, tall man scoffed. "Who do you think you are, asking me to check the records? If I say there's a problem, there's a problem. Either go back and get it reissued, or get lost."
His voice carried, and everyone in the surrounding lines turned to look.
"What's going on?"
"Sounds like there's a problem with his identification."
"He's from the Slum District, right? Probably a forgery."
Whispers broke out. Many eyes fell on Lin Fan—some curious, some mocking, others eager to see him make a fool of himself.
Lin Fan took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He knew this was Wang Hao's first hurdle: block him at registration so he wouldn't even be allowed to take the exam.
"Examiner," Lin Fan said, still calm, "Article Three of the Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy Admissions Brochure clearly states that if there are questions about someone's identification, the academy may contact the Government Office for verification. No one may arbitrarily refuse an application. Are you planning to violate the rules?"
The thin, tall man froze, surprised that a kid from the Slum District knew the exact wording of the admissions rules.
But he quickly recovered and sneered. "Rules? Here, what I say goes! If I say your papers have a problem, then they have 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 came over, their auras fierce. They were at least 2nd Grade Martial Artists.
"Director Sun, what's the matter?" one guard asked.
"This boy forged his identification and is trying to cause trouble." The thin, tall man pointed at Lin Fan. "Get him out of here!"
The guards looked at Lin Fan, their gazes sharp. "Are you leaving on your own, or do we make you?"
The atmosphere turned tense.
The crowd in line scattered, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. Some shook their heads and sighed, others watched coldly, and a few showed sympathy. It was too hard for a child from the Slum District to rise above his station.
Lin Fan stayed where he was.
He looked at the nameplate on the thin, tall man's chest: Sun De, registration clerk.
"Director Sun," Lin Fan said slowly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Enough nonsense!" Sun De snapped impatiently. "Guards, move!"
The two guards stepped forward, one on either side, and reached for Lin Fan's shoulders.
Just then—
"Stop!"
A clear shout rang out from beyond the crowd.
Everyone turned toward the voice. A young man in a blue-green long robe and Gold-rimmed Glasses strode over. He had a refined face, but his eyes were sharp.
"Teacher Zhang!" someone who recognized him cried out.
The newcomer was none other than Zhang Mingyuan, homeroom teacher of Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy's Regular Class.
When Sun De saw Zhang Mingyuan, his expression shifted, but he quickly forced a smile. "Teacher Zhang, what brings you here? It's a small matter. There's no need to trouble yourself."
"A small matter?" Zhang Mingyuan came closer, glanced at Lin Fan, then looked at Sun De. "Director Sun, academy admissions are important. Every step must be fair and transparent. You just said this student's identification was problematic. What's your basis for that?"
"Th-that..." Sun De stammered. "The seal's color is wrong..."
"The color's wrong?" Zhang Mingyuan took Lin Fan's identification, examined it carefully, then took out his own teacher's credentials for comparison. "The Jiangnan City Government Office's sealing ink does vary between batches. The batch from three years ago was darker because of an issue with the cinnabar. Everyone knows that. Didn't you, Director Sun?"
Sweat broke out on Sun De's forehead. "I... I was careless..."
"Careless?" Zhang Mingyuan's tone turned cold. "Or did someone tell you to deliberately make things difficult for this student?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Sun De hurriedly denied it. "I just misread it. I made a mistake..."
Zhang Mingyuan stared at Sun De for several seconds, long enough to leave him drenched in cold sweat. Then he turned back and returned the identification to Lin Fan.
"Lin Fan, your documents are in order." Zhang Mingyuan spoke gently. "You may continue registering."
"Thank you, Teacher Zhang." Lin Fan bowed respectfully.
"Don't mention it." Zhang Mingyuan patted Lin Fan's shoulder and lowered his voice. "Do well on the exam. I believe in you."
After giving Sun De a look, he turned and left.
Sun De stood frozen in place, his face turning from green to white. People around them whispered, their gazes full of mockery.
"Are you going to process his application or not?" someone in line behind them urged.
Sun De gritted his teeth, quickly registered Lin Fan, and handed him an exam number tag. "Area B Number Thirteen. The preliminary test is over there."
Lin Fan took the tag. It felt cool to the touch; it was made of iron, with the characters "B Thirteen" engraved on it.
He didn't look at Sun De again. Turning away, he headed toward the Preliminary Test Area.
But he grew more wary.
Wang Hao's reach was even longer than he'd imagined. He could even buy off a clerk in the registration area. What about the preliminary tests and the main exam? Would there be more hurdles?
"Soldiers come, I'll block them; floodwaters come, I'll hold them back." Lin Fan gripped the exam number tag. "As long as I'm strong enough, every scheme and trick will be useless."
The Preliminary Test Area was on the east side of the plaza, divided by temporary railings into four zones: A, B, C, and D. Each zone had its own examiner and testing equipment.
Lin Fan found Area B, where more than thirty people were already in line. The test was simple: strike the Strength Testing Monument with one punch. Anyone who could hit with at least three hundred jin of force passed.
Most of the teenagers cleared the test with ease. After all, anyone who had come to register had at least some training. Now and then, a few with insufficient strength left with their heads bowed, drawing a wave of sighs.
Soon, it was Lin Fan's turn.
"Area B Number Thirteen, Lin Fan." The examiner called his name.
Lin Fan stepped forward and stood before the Strength Testing Monument. It was a smooth black stone slab, half a person tall, with a fist-shaped indentation in the center.
"Hit it with all your strength." The examiner was a burly middle-aged man with a booming voice.
Lin Fan drew a deep breath. Without using vital energy, he relied purely on his physical strength and punched!
Bang!
The Strength Testing Monument rippled across its surface. Then a line of white numbers appeared:
[ 487 jin ]
"Pass." The examiner recorded his result and glanced at Lin Fan again. "Not bad. Next."
Among those who had already taken the test, 487 jin ranked in the upper-middle range, but it didn't attract much attention. Several people ahead of him had already exceeded 500 jin, and the strongest had reached 580.
Lin Fan calmly walked over to the passing area and waited for the next test.
The second preliminary test was speed.
The course was a fifty-meter track, with simple speed-measuring arrays on both sides. Candidates had to finish within ten seconds, the equivalent of a hundred meters in twenty seconds. That standard was easy for anyone who had practiced martial arts.
Once again, Lin Fan didn't use vital energy. He ran at his normal pace and finished in 8.7 seconds—equivalent to 17.4 seconds over a hundred meters—and passed with ease.
Having passed both preliminary tests, he received his qualification slip for the main exam: a piece of paper stamped with the academy seal, bearing his exam number, name, and exam time—exactly nine in the morning, at the Third Examination Hall.
It had just passed seven in the morning, the end of the Chen hour. More than an hour remained before the main exam.
Lin Fan found a quiet corner, sat cross-legged, and began regulating his breathing.
He wanted to bring himself into peak condition for the tests ahead.
But the tree longed for stillness, while the wind would not subside.
He had barely sat down when several figures surrounded him.
At their head was Wang Hao.
"Lin Fan, I never thought you'd actually pass the Preliminary Test." Wang Hao folded his arms and looked down at Lin Fan. "But this is where your luck runs out. In the formal exam, I'll show you what a real gap looks like."
Lin Fan opened his eyes and looked at Wang Hao calmly. "Finished?"
Wang Hao was angered by his cool attitude. "Don't get cocky! You were just lucky during registration—you ran into Zhang Mingyuan, that busybody. But he's not the only examiner in the formal exam!"
"So?" Lin Fan slowly stood up and met Wang Hao's gaze. "You planning to start a fight here, break the examination hall rules, and get disqualified?"
Wang Hao's expression changed.
The academy's rules were clear: fighting was strictly forbidden within the examination grounds. Anyone who broke the rules would be disqualified on the spot, and serious offenders could even be barred from taking exams for life.
The few lackeys behind him grew tense, too. They were only there to make a show of support; they wouldn't dare actually fight.
"Hmph. You've got a sharp tongue." Wang Hao tamped down his anger. "We'll settle this in the exam. Just try not to lose too badly."
With that, he turned and left with his men.
Lin Fan sat back down and closed his eyes to rest.
But the thread inside him tightened even further.
Wang Hao's threat wasn't an empty one. The formal exam had three stages: strength, speed, and actual combat. Each stage had an examiner, and each came with room for manipulation.
If Wang Hao bribed the examiner for one stage—or even several...
I need to prepare for the worst, Lin Fan thought. The Strength stage uses the Strength Testing Monument, a dead object that can't be tampered with. The 'Gale Formation' in the Speed stage is fixed, so it'd be hard to sabotage, too. The most likely stage to be tampered with is actual combat. The puppet's strength, the scoring criteria—there's room to manipulate all of that.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the examination grounds in the distance.
The Third Examination Hall had opened, and examinees were beginning to file inside. It was a square building made of bluestone, its doors thrown wide open. Figures could be seen moving faintly within.
No matter what, I have to pass this stage.
Lin Fan rose, straightened his clothes, and headed toward the Third Examination Hall.
The sunlight was bright, spilling over him and casting a long shadow across the bluestone slabs.
The young man strode forward with resolve, his gaze sharp as a blade.
He knew the real test had only just begun.
Try searching by the author's name if you can't find the book title—it might have been renamed!
Before you continue