Martial Examination

Biodata

Examination Structure

Qinghe County examination

• The examination is held once every three years. Bright Energy Realm qualifies a martial artist to enter, but does not guarantee success; candidates risk injury or death 11 60.
• Round one — strength: Candidates draw the Three-Stone, Six-Stone, or Nine-Stone Bow. Drawing the Nine-Stone Bow three times can earn a Grade A-High result 62.
• Round two: Candidates with Grade B or C results are eliminated before the final round; the available account does not specify this round's test 67.
• Round three — combat and rankings: Thirty-six remaining candidates compete, with thirty earning the title of Martial Scholar. The top-ten contest uses ten numbered flags to designate ranking places 67 69 71.

Later examination

• Martial Scholars at the Prefecture Martial Academy must pass another triennial Martial Examination to enter the Ziyang Sect. Successful candidates may instead head to the capital to pursue the Martial Jinshi examination 78 92.
• In the examination Lu Yuan enters, Wu Tong bars candidates below Seventh Rank from Cold Jade Valley, the examination site 106.
• Its second round requires candidates to withstand Wu Tong's Gang Fire for more than ten breaths. Many are eliminated; Lu Yuan, Jiang Ying, and Bai Xiaotang endure it 112.

Titles and Opportunities

Notable Results

• Lu Yuan places fifth in the Qinghe County examination, becoming a Martial Scholar and securing an academy place 71.
• Tang Yu withdraws from an earlier examination despite a first-round result strong enough for the top ten, and therefore does not make the final rankings 81.
• Zhu Xi places second in the previous later examination and subsequently joins the Ziyang Sect 98.