Testing, Rankings

When Fang Chang appeared, Lu Yuan smiled and nodded.

It wasn't convenient to go over and talk to him just yet. There was no rush; he could ask him about it after the testing was over.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with another burly youth, Fang Chang also smiled and nodded at Lu Yuan.

"Brother Hong, Chen Pi said that whoever places in the top three in today's strength test will get a portion of meat every day. Is that true?"

Someone couldn't help asking the burly youth.

"Of course it's true. Master said so himself!"

Hong Lei smiled and nodded.

"Yeah... that's great!"

"Master Song is mighty! Brother Hong is mighty!"

At this, everyone couldn't help cheering, their faces alight with excitement. They even rubbed their hands together, impatient to begin the strength test and fight for a place in the top three.

Although they were all Outer Courtyard martial apprentices with fairly ordinary natural talent, unable to become Master Song's personal disciples or call him their master, getting a free portion of meat every day would still be wonderful.

Lu Yuan was naturally looking forward to it as well. Having this free meat every day would not only help his body grow stronger faster, but also help him nourish and temper his qi and blood more quickly. His progress in training the Five Animals Fist would surely speed up, too.

However, he also noticed that while everyone was shouting that Brother Hong was mighty, Fang Chang's expression had turned faintly unpleasant, and his fists had tightened slightly.

Fang Chang had only just entered the Inner Courtyard and become Master Song's personal disciple a few days ago. His standing was naturally nowhere near Hong Lei's, who had been in the sect for much longer.

So in the hearts of these Outer Courtyard martial apprentices, it was only natural that they would support Hong Lei more.

"These stone locks vary in weight by about ten pounds each. The lightest is one hundred pounds, and the heaviest is two hundred. All you have to do is lift one over your head and hold it there for three breaths. Remember, don't overestimate your strength!"

Hong Lei then addressed the crowd with a smile. "Who wants to go first?"

"Brother Hong, I'll give it a try!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Pi stepped out of the crowd and went straight to the two-hundred-pound stone lock.

Without the slightest hesitation, he bent down and gripped it tightly with both hands.

After taking a deep breath, Chen Pi heaved with all his might. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his face twisted into a grimace. Clearly, he was giving it everything he had.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he strained, the stone lock on the ground remained completely motionless.

Clearly, he wasn't strong enough to budge the two-hundred-pound stone lock in the slightest.

"Chen Pi, I told you not to overestimate your strength!"

Seeing Chen Pi's face flushed red and his whole body trembling, yet still unwilling to give up, Hong Lei could only furrow his brow and say sternly, "If anyone else does that, they'll be disqualified from receiving meat!"

At this, Chen Pi immediately let go, panting heavily.

After resting for a while, he tried the one-hundred-and-ninety- and one-hundred-and-eighty-pound stone locks in turn. He managed to move them a little, but couldn't lift either one over his head.

In the end, he could only just manage to lift the one-hundred-and-seventy-pound stone lock over his head and hold it there for three breaths.

"Fang Chang, write this down: Chen Pi, one hundred and seventy pounds!"

After Chen Pi set the stone lock down, Hong Lei turned to Fang Chang beside him and said with a smile.

Fang Chang's fists tightened a little more at this, but he quickly relaxed them and smiled as he nodded.

He promptly fetched paper and brush and wrote down Chen Pi's results.

"Who's next?"

Hong Lei nodded slightly, then called out to the crowd again.

"I'll go!"

Soon, another youth stepped out of the crowd.

After several attempts, he eventually lifted the one-hundred-and-sixty-pound stone lock.

"Record it: Zhang San, one hundred and sixty pounds!"

And so, one by one, everyone took the test.

"Wang Er, one hundred and fifty pounds!"

"Zhu Ba, one hundred and sixty pounds!"

As time passed, most people completed the test.

It was clear that apart from Chen Pi, who was currently in first place, everyone's strength clustered around one hundred and fifty to one hundred and sixty pounds.

That meant their cultivation progress and rate of growth weren't all that different, either.

"Brother Chen Pi, congratulations!" Lu Yuan said with a quiet smile.

"It's too early to congratulate me. Those two are bound to be nearly as strong as I am!" Chen Pi shook his head, his expression grave as he looked toward two youths in the crowd.

Lu Yuan followed his gaze. After spending the past few days with the others, he had grown close to Chen Pi, but his relationship with most of the Outer Courtyard martial apprentices was no more than a nod in passing. Still, he had managed to remember most of their names.

One of them, wearing a blue hemp jacket and looking more burly, was called Wu Yu.

The other, wearing a tattered gray jacket and appearing somewhat thinner, was called Chen Yong.

Lu Yuan didn't know much about their cultivation progress, but from Chen Pi's expression, he could tell that even if they weren't as strong as Chen Pi, they were probably close.

Sure enough, Wu Yu went straight to the one-hundred-and-seventy-pound stone lock and quickly lifted it over his head.

He seemed to do it more easily than Chen Pi and held it there for longer, too.

"Wu Yu, not bad. I'll record you at one hundred and seventy-five pounds!" Hong Lei said with a smile.

"Thank you, Brother Hong!" Wu Yu hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed to Hong Lei.

"First place or not, it doesn't matter. I just need to stay in the top three!" Chen Pi said, his expression growing even more solemn, as if trying to reassure himself.

In truth, Lu Yuan felt the same way.

He had planned to take the test last so he could control his score.

As long as he made the top three and got his daily portion of free meat, that was enough. There was no need to fight for first place.

In times like these, it was important to keep a low profile and play it safe.

Of course, when the time came to show his strength, he would reveal an appropriate amount.

After a few more people were tested, Chen Yong stepped out of the crowd.

He was also aiming for the one-hundred-and-seventy-pound stone lock.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Liu Yong managed to lift the stone lock, but seemed to struggle quite a bit. In the end, he held it for just two breaths before losing control and dropping it heavily to the ground.

"Chen Yong, I'll record you at one hundred and sixty-five pounds," Hong Lei said.

Chen Yong didn't say much. He cupped his fists slightly to Hong Lei, then turned and returned to the crowd.

The dozen or so people tested after him were, like most of the others, between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and sixty pounds in strength.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Wu Yu should take first place in this strength test, Chen Pi second, and Liu Yong third. Too bad I'm still a little short on strength. Otherwise, I could've fought for third!"

"I didn't make the top three this time. It'll be even harder next time. Once those three start getting meat every day, their progress is sure to far outstrip ours. One step behind, and you're behind at every step!"

Quite a few people couldn't help hanging their heads in disappointment.

"Y-Yuan... Ah Yuan, you're the only one left now!" Fang Chang suddenly called out to Lu Yuan.