Stone Lock Thousand Jin! Black Clothed Gang Members!

The next day at noon.

The Black Water Gang's Main Hall was located in the most prosperous area south of Nujiang County.

Two enormous stone lions guarded the entrance, and the vermilion gate stood open. Dozens of men in black short tunics, with broadswords at their waists, lined both sides. Each had a face full of muscle and an intimidating aura.

At this moment, over a hundred people had gathered in the square in front of the hall.

Most were coolies from the docks, but there were also some loafers from the city, and even a few individuals who looked like down-and-out martial artists.

Everyone stared at the lucrative post offering two taels of moon silver, their eyes filled with longing.

Lu Chen blended into the crowd, inconspicuous and not drawing attention.

He had deliberately changed into a slightly cleaner hemp cloth outfit today, but his calloused hands and bulging muscles still revealed his identity as a coolie.

"Silence!"

A fierce shout exploded.

A burly middle-aged man in a dark blue jing suit walked onto the high platform.

His gaze swept across the entire area, and the previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent, even their breathing becoming much lighter.

This was a Hall Master of the Black Water Gang, rumored to have the strength of the peak Flesh Refining realm, whose iron fists could kill a mad bull.

"I am Zhao Tieshan, the Hall Master of the Black Water Gang's War Hall."

The man's voice was booming, making people's eardrums buzz. "My Black Water Gang doesn't support the useless! If you want this meal, you have to show real skill!"

He waved his large hand, pointing to a row of stone locks in the center of the square.

These stone locks varied in size, the smallest marked at one hundred jin, and the largest up to three hundred jin.

"The assessment is simple, with two stages."

"The first stage: lifting stone locks. Those who lift two hundred jin pass! Those who cannot, scram early!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of wails erupted from the crowd.

Two hundred jin!

This was an astronomical figure for ordinary people.

Keep in mind, a bag of rice was only one hundred jin. To lift two hundred jin, and to lift it overhead, was impossible without specialized strength training or innate divine strength.

"Begin!"

Following Zhao Tieshan's command, the assessment officially started.

The previous few people went up, their faces turning red with exertion, veins bulging on their necks. But the two-hundred-pound stone lock remained as if rooted, not budging an inch, or it would fall as soon as it was lifted off the ground, nearly crushing their toes.

"Not qualified! Get lost!"

The invigilating gang member, with a cold face, directly sent them away.

After eliminating over a dozen people, the atmosphere at the scene became heavy.

Lu Chen observed silently.

Two hundred pounds was effortless for him.

His current Single Arm Strength, after the breakthrough in Stone Crushing Palm, was at least four to five hundred pounds. With both hands combined, seven to eight hundred pounds would be absolutely no problem.

But he couldn't appear too Astonishing.

Finally, it was Lu Chen's turn.

He walked slowly out of the crowd and approached the row of stone locks.

He didn't look at the three-hundred-pound one, but walked directly towards the two-hundred-pound stone lock.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chen grabbed the handle of the stone lock with one hand.

"Hah!"

He feigned a roar, putting on a show of giving his all, his arm muscles tensing. Trembling, he lifted the stone lock.

Under everyone's gaze, he "with great difficulty" lifted the stone lock over his head, held it for three breaths, and then heavily threw it on the ground.

Dust billowed.

"Pass!"

The invigilating gang member glanced at Lu Chen, nodded slightly, "Good strength, go wait over there."

Lu Chen panted "heavily," wiped away the non-existent sweat from his forehead, and walked to the line of Qualified Persons.

His peripheral vision swept across the high platform, noticing that Hall Master Zhao merely glanced at him indifferently before looking away.

Good, he hadn't attracted unnecessary attention.

The first trial ended. Out of over a hundred people, more than half were eliminated, leaving only thirty-odd.

"Second trial, taking a beating!"

Zhao Tieshan spoke again, a cruel smile appearing on his lips. "Once you join the gang, you must be prepared to take blows. If your skin isn't thick enough, your life won't be long!"

"Each person will take three strikes from my subordinates. Those who remain standing will stay!"

As soon as the words fell, more than a dozen Gang Members holding Water-Fire Cudgels as thick as a child's arm walked out, each glaring at this group of "newbies" with ill intent.

This was not only an assessment of their ability to withstand blows, but also of their courage.

If they didn't even dare to take a beating, how could they dare to fight for their lives in the future?

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The dull thud of cudgels and screams rose and fell in succession.

Many were knocked down by the first blow, writhing on the ground in pain.

Some managed to endure it, but their skin was torn and bleeding profusely.

Lu Chen was in the middle of the line.

When it was his turn, the one administering the punishment was a Pockmarked Gang Member.

"Kid, grit your teeth, don't bite off your tongue!"

The Pockmarked man grinned sinisterly, swung the Water-Fire Cudgel in his hand, and with a whistling sound, smashed it fiercely towards Lu Chen's back.

This blow was definitely without restraint!

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. Instead of dodging, he secretly circulated the power of his Stone Crushing Palm, his back muscles instantly tensing, his skin becoming tough.

A dull thud.

The Water-Fire Cudgel landed squarely on Lu Chen's back.

The Pockmarked man felt as if he had struck a stone wrapped in thick cloth, his hand going slightly numb.

Lu Chen, however, only swayed his body, not taking half a step back.

"Huh?"

The Pockmarked man was somewhat surprised, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, "Got some skill, take another!"

Bang! Bang!

Two more consecutive blows, each fiercer than the last, with the final one even aimed directly at Lu Chen's shoulder.

Lu Chen grunted, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He had deliberately bitten his tongue to cause this.

If he were completely unharmed, it would be too unbelievable.

He pretended to stagger in pain, but still stood firm, his gaze fixed on the Pockmarked man like a wolf.

"Good!"

On the high platform, Zhao Tieshan's eyes lit up, and he shouted in praise.

"This kid is good, he's got guts! What's his name?"

Lu Chen quickly cupped his fists, his voice hoarse, "Reporting to the Hall Master, I am Lu Chen."

"Lu Chen? Good, from now on, you're part of my War Hall!"

Zhao Tieshan waved his hand, directly deciding Lu Chen's affiliation.

The Qualified Persons around cast envious and jealous glances. Being personally selected by the Hall Master meant their future days in the gang would surely be much easier.

Lu Chen rejoiced inwardly but maintained his honest and resolute appearance.

The second trial ended, and more than half of the thirty-odd people were eliminated, leaving only fifteen.

These fifteen were the new blood recruited by the Black Water Gang this time.

Each person received a set of black coarse cloth short tunics, with a red sash tied around their waist, the mark of ordinary gang members.

They also received a standard Broadsword. Though not exquisite, it was sharpened and gleamed coldly.

"From today onwards, you are brothers of the Black Water Gang!"

Zhao Tieshan lectured, "The gang has rules. Betray your brothers, kill! Embezzle property, kill! Flee from battle, kill!"

The three "kill" words were filled with murderous intent, striking awe into their hearts.

Lu Chen lowered his head and responded in unison with the others.

He stroked the black clothes on his body, feeling the weight of the Broadsword at his waist.

This was not just a set of clothes, but a protective charm.

From this moment on, he was no longer the bullied Coolie Lu Chen, but a member of the Black Water Gang's War Hall.

That evening, Lu Chen ate his first "gang meal" in the gang's mess hall.

Large buckets of white rice, enough to fill their stomachs.

And a large pot of stewed, mushy pork and vermicelli. Though not much meat, it was rich in oil.

Lu Chen didn't hold back, eating three large bowls of rice and even using steamed buns to wipe the pot clean and eat the remaining soup.

The newcomers around were much the same, each eating like they'd been starved for a lifetime.

After eating their fill, Lu Chen was assigned to a dormitory with communal beds.

The conditions weren't much better than the slums, still over a dozen people crammed together, but at least the bedding was new and didn't have that musty smell.

Lying on the bed, Lu Chen opened his Panel.

[Name: Lu Chen]
[Identity: Black Water Gang Member]
[Martial Arts: Stone Crushing Palm (2nd Realm: Entry into the Hall, Proficient 3%)]

"I have resources, and I have an identity."

Lu Chen closed his eyes, listening to the occasional sounds of patrols outside the window.

"Next, I need to lie low and develop."

He knew very well that the Black Water Gang was no charity; this was a wolf's den.

To survive and thrive in a wolf's den, brute force alone wouldn't suffice.

He had to be fiercer than the wolves and more cunning than the foxes.

Moreover, he had to constantly guard against that potential threat, the Water Ghost.

Since he had joined the War Hall, he would inevitably have to deal with those things in the water in the future.

Lu Chen's hand, under the covers, tightly gripped the hilt of the broadsword.

This sword would be his tool for survival from now on, and also his trump card for staying alive.

If you can't find the book by its title, you can try searching for the author. Perhaps the title has just been changed!