After the Qingming Festival, the landscape everywhere turned lush and green.
Tianqing Martial Hall.
Chen Mo had just finished practicing the first four forms of Fuhu Fist. His gaze sharpened as the progress of his comprehension appeared in his mind:
[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation]
[Fuhu Fist: The fist holds a tiger's roar, its power hidden within]
[Comprehension: 53/100 (Minor Achievement)]
So far, Stone-Crushing Strike and Wave-Intercepting Style were nearing mastery, Sand-Raising Style had made some progress, and he had only just begun to grasp the fourth form, Flowing Cloud Attack.
Unlike the first three forms, Flowing Cloud Attack focused more on combining footwork with fist techniques, making the practitioner more agile and graceful in battle.
Ever since Chen Mo had learned Flowing Cloud Attack, Ji Chang hadn't managed to get the better of him.
As Ji Chang put it, Chen Mo's comprehension was practically demonic!
That day, the two finished their sparring session.
Ji Chang glanced at Master Yin, who sat in the main hall with a solemn expression, then murmured, "Junior Brother, look. Master's worried about this year's Martial Examination."
Chen Mo looked over at Yin Tianqing. "Master isn't taking the Martial Examination himself. What's there to worry about?"
Ji Chang shook his head. "I guess something's gone awry with the examination."
Seeing that Chen Mo didn't know much about the Martial Examination, he explained, "Every year, martial artists at Ming Jin or above can take the county's Martial Examination. By my count, it's coming up in about a month and a half. Master will take a few disciples with him when the time comes."
The imperial examinations were stepping stones in the world of martial artists. That was no exaggeration.
Passing the Martial Examination earned one the title of Martial Scholar. One's name was entered into the official register and recognized by the authorities, securing a worry-free life for years to come.
For that reason, the days when the Martial Examination was held each year were the most important ones for martial artists at Ming Jin and Dark Jin.
"Look." Ji Chang gestured with his eyes. "Master's called Senior Brother Yue Lun in for a private talk. He's probably going over matters related to the examination."
Ever since Zhang Chong had taken up an "honorary position" with the Zhao Family, rumors had begun to circulate, and he'd been coming to the martial hall less often.
Aside from Zhang Chong, the most senior and strongest disciple was Yue Lun, who was at the early stage of Dark Jin.
A short while later, Yue Lun returned, looking as casual and relaxed as ever.
After him, several more disciples were called in one by one for private talks, including Ji Chang.
When Ji Chang came out, his expression was slightly troubled, and he was more distracted than usual during the next training session.
Next, Yin Shanshan was called in. She spoke with Yin Tianqing for a long time, and at one point, sobs could even be heard. Chen Mo noticed her quietly wiping her eyes as she came out, her eyes red.
The Ming Jin disciples were called in one after another. After Luo Heng came out with a dark expression, Chen Mo was the last to be summoned.
When he entered, he saw Yin Tianqing standing with one hand on a stake, worry written across his face.
Yin Tianqing first asked, "Chen Mo, how have your Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique and Fuhu Fist been coming along lately?"
It sounded like a casual question.
Chen Mo shared four or five tenths of what he had realized, keeping the remaining five or six tenths to himself.
Yin Tianqing listened, nodding repeatedly, and occasionally looking enlightened.
At last, Yin Tianqing sighed. "Everything you've said is absolutely right. In all of Anyang County, no more than three people could understand Fuhu Fist as well as you do. But the martial path places the greatest importance on natural aptitude. You entered Ming Jin with remarkable ease, but I'm afraid your chances of breaking through to Dark Jin aren't good..."
Chen Mo felt not the slightest despondency. With Mountain and Water Cultivation, breaking through to Dark Jin would come naturally to him.
Yin Tianqing didn't notice Chen Mo's reaction. Instead, he moved on to the main topic. "The rules for this year's Martial Examination have changed..."
Chen Mo focused intently, not daring to miss a single detail.
Yin Tianqing continued, "In previous years, there were no limits on registration for the Martial Examination. But this year, the higher-ups have imposed verbal restrictions on the number of slots for smaller powers, to make things easier for certain great families. As for our Tianqing Martial Hall... we've only been given three slots."
Chen Mo frowned. "Three slots... So Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother must have claimed two of them."
Yin Tianqing shook his head. "Zhang Chong is using the Zhao Family's slot."
Chen Mo froze. At last, he understood what was worrying Yin Tianqing.
Zhang Chong had a very good chance of becoming a Martial Scholar, but now that he'd joined the Zhao Family, Tianqing Martial Hall might end up with nothing to show for its efforts.
"Then how will the three slots be decided?" Chen Mo asked, getting straight to what concerned him most.
"Yue Lun gets one." Yin Tianqing paused. "The rest of you Ming Jin brothers will compete for the remaining slots. I'll tell you how once I've figured it out."
Chen Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
But from Yin Tianqing's assessment of his aptitude just now, he knew that his master didn't think highly of him.
Or perhaps Master Yin already had someone in mind.
Chen Mo made up his mind. He was determined to claim a slot for the Martial Examination!
Yin Tianqing's worry eased slightly. "Now that you've entered Ming Jin, I should be personally guiding you. But these past few days, I've been... caught up in some troublesome matters. I'll check on your training in a few days."
"Thank you for your concern, Master. When I have questions, I'll discuss them with my senior brothers. I haven't run into any difficulties so far."
Yin Tianqing nodded and said meaningfully, "You certainly haven't given me much to worry about."
The master and disciple exchanged a few more polite words, and then Chen Mo pushed open the door and left.
Chen Mo walked over to Ji Chang. The latter gave him a look and asked quietly, "How did it go?"
Chen Mo held up two fingers, indicating two slots.
Ji Chang nodded, then shook his head.
Tianqing Martial Hall had nine Ming Jin disciples, two at the peak of Ming Jin and three in the late stages.
Ji Chang, at the middle stage of Ming Jin, ranked outside the top five. Competing for the two slots was nearly out of the question!
Chen Mo's expression was as calm as ever, but beneath the still surface of the lake, hidden currents stirred.
He stepped aside and began practicing the stake technique.
Before the Martial Examination began, he needed to reach Dark Jin if he wanted any hope of passing.
And to reach Dark Jin, his comprehension of Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique would have to reach minor achievement.
But he hadn't practiced for long before a commotion broke out in the hall.
Two figures came toward them, radiating a fierce "killing intent."
Ji Chang stopped training and looked at the two approaching men.
One was Luo Heng; the other was Zhou Pi, a mid-stage Ming Jin disciple and Luo Heng's only friend in the martial hall. Birds of a feather flocked together; they shared the same foul disposition.
Luo Heng gave a gloomy smile. "Senior Brother Ji, I'm sure you've heard the rules for this year's Martial Examination. Since we're openly competing for the slots, why don't we warm up?"
"I'm busy," Ji Chang replied bluntly.
Luo Heng didn't give up. Instead, he taunted, "If you don't even dare face me, how can you face the competitors in the Martial Examination?"
The accusation wasn't entirely wrong.
And because it wasn't, Ji Chang felt a flicker of unrest.
A few breaths later, he asked, "How do you want to warm up?"
Only then did Luo Heng look satisfied. "Two to a side. Zhou Pi and I against you and Chen Mo."
At those words, Chen Mo abruptly stopped practicing.
Ji Chang turned to ask his opinion, and Chen Mo gave a rare nod.
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