The Strongest Grade D-Upper

Time slipped by quietly. Before they knew it, more and more people had arrived, and nearly a hundred stood crowded in the once-empty front courtyard.

Chen Yuan looked around but did not see Zhang Tieniu.

That was not surprising. Yesterday, when he had mentioned it, Tieniu had shown no interest and had instead urged him to think carefully.

But Chen Yuan had no way back.

Soon, several people emerged from the Gu Family's rear courtyard. Leading them was a square-faced middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back, clearly the man in charge.

To his left stood an elderly scholar in a long robe, holding a brush and ledger. He was likely there to record the selection results.

To his right stood a sturdy man in training clothes. His exposed wrists were thick and powerful; he was undoubtedly a martial artist.

As they appeared, everyone who had been crouching or sitting throughout the vast courtyard rose to their feet and watched the square-faced middle-aged man take his place before the prepared wooden platform.

He called out in a clear voice, "I am Gu Ye, the overseer of this selection. Line up now. Come forward one by one for bone examination. Those with Grade D-Upper aptitude or above may remain. The rest may leave on their own."

The moment he said this, discussion erupted.

"The requirements are really high. Only Grade D-Upper aptitude can stay. Looks like this trip was probably for nothing."

"We should have known. How could there be such a good thing..."

Quite a few people lowered their heads in disappointment.

Those who had come here all knew something about bone structure and understood how difficult it was to possess Grade D-Upper aptitude.

Of the nearly hundred people present, probably fewer than ten would be able to stay.

"Whoever makes another racket can get the hell out right now!" The sturdy man shouted in a deep voice. The whispers instantly died away, everyone cowed by his imposing presence.

At the shouts of several servants, a long bow-shaped line formed in the courtyard. Chen Yuan stood in the middle of it, observing the selection ahead.

One youth after another stepped forward, allowing the sturdy man to press and inspect their wrist bones, hip bones, shoulders, spine, and other areas.

Then, in a low voice, he announced the harsh and merciless results:

"No bone structure. Next."

"Lower D-Grade Bone Structure. Next."

"No bone structure. Next."

After examining the bone structures of ten consecutive people, not a single one had passed the selection.

All of them were led away in low spirits.

Gu Ye, the square-faced middle-aged man, furrowed his brows as well. This was an unlucky start.

Fortunately, the eleventh candidate—a slightly thin youth with freckles across his face—passed the test.

"Grade D-Upper Bone Structure. Wait to the side and state your name."

The freckled youth went from trembling slightly in both hands and feet to beaming with joy. He could hardly believe it.

Only when the elderly scholar asked for his name did he hurriedly answer.

Gu Ye also gave him a slight nod.

Many people looked at him enviously. With Grade D-Upper Bone Structure, he at least had a chance to change his fate.

The selection continued. It was soon more than halfway through, and two more people passed: one Grade D-Upper and one C-Grade Lower.

For now, the best result was only C-Grade Lower.

After the person ahead of him was eliminated for having no bone structure, Chen Yuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and held out his hands.

The sturdy man began with his wrist bones as before, then moved on to his shoulders, hips, and spine.

Chen Yuan only felt the man's force penetrate through his skin and into his bones, leaving them intensely numb and tingly.

After finishing, the man frowned, then felt him over once more from top to bottom before saying thoughtfully, "Your bone structure is decent. You can barely touch the threshold of C-Grade Lower. You are considered very good among Grade D-Upper. Go register."

"Thank you, Master," Chen Yuan said excitedly.

When the man had frowned and examined him a second time, Chen Yuan had thought there was something wrong with his body. So he had merely been uncertain whether Chen Yuan was Grade D-Upper or C-Grade Lower.

In that case, once his bone structure rose to 30, it should become C-Grade Lower Bone Structure... What a pity.

Still, overall, this was good news!

He finally had a chance to practice martial arts. Chen Yuan clenched his fists and let out a long breath.

"Name? Where are you from?" the elderly scholar asked without raising his head.

"Chen Yuan, Hundred Herb Lane," Chen Yuan answered after a brief thought.

Then he bowed to Gu Ye. "Overseer Gu."

Gu Ye gave a faint grunt and looked Chen Yuan over twice, committing the appearance of this Grade D-Upper youth to memory.

Yet he still could not bring himself to feel happy.

Even the strongest Grade D-Upper was still inferior to C-Grade Lower. Even if cultivated properly, he would only become an ordinary guard. What Gu Ye needed was talent of Grade B or even Grade A.

Only that was worth focusing resources on.

Soon, a dark-skinned youth with a somewhat timid gaze stepped up. After examining his bones, the sturdy man's expression changed. He carefully examined him once again before declaring loudly:

"Not bad. B-Grade Lower Bone Structure!"

As he spoke, he nodded toward Gu Ye.

The overseer, who was usually unsmiling, looked at the dark-skinned youth and revealed a rare smile, as though he were looking upon an uncut jade.

Chen Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement as well.

This person's bone structure was far better than his. Thirty points only reached C-Grade Lower, while B-Grade Lower required at least 50.

The road to improving his bone structure was long and arduous.

Everyone else also looked over enviously. Even with their limited knowledge, they knew this youth had turned from salted fish into a dragon.

As the rising sun climbed high and noon approached, everyone had finished their bone examination.

Of nearly a hundred youths, only eight were ultimately accepted.

One was B-Grade Lower, two were C-Grade Lower, and five were Grade D-Upper.

Among the two C-Grade Lower candidates was a girl with a stubborn expression. That was rare. What poor family would support their daughter in learning martial arts?

Only daughters of great families had such opportunities.

The other was Sun Chengjie, who had also passed the selection and remained with Grade D-Upper Bone Structure.

Gu Ye glanced at the roster, then swept his eyes over the eight of them and slowly said:

"First, congratulations on passing the selection. All of you have the potential to become martial artists. However, let me lay the ugly words out first: my Gu Family does not support talent without conditions, nor will we support you indefinitely."

He then laid out the terms in detail:

"First, the level of support depends on your bone structure. The better your bone structure, the better the resources. I believe you understand.

Second, my Gu Family will assess your performance every month. If you fail to meet the standard, support will be terminated immediately. Correspondingly, if you perform exceptionally, the level of support will also be raised.

Third, if you successfully pass the threshold, you must serve the Gu Family. Of course, if you are eliminated midway, there will be no need to consider this condition.

Those are the three points for now. Do any of you object?"

Not one person objected. Clearly, these terms were already quite generous.

Even if they failed the assessment and were eliminated, they would not lose anything.

The third condition, serving the Gu Family, was understandable as well. Who could accept a martial artist they had painstakingly raised going over to a rival household? Besides, it was not as though they would receive no monthly allowance. Even if it was a little less, that did not matter.

Seeing the determined light in the eyes of the young men and women, Gu Ye nodded in satisfaction.

"Since that is the case, I will explain the specific arrangements to you."

They mainly concerned the choice of Martial Hall and the division of support.

Overall, the three with B-Grade Lower and C-Grade Lower Bone Structure were placed in the same tier and could enter Changhong Martial Hall to train.

Among them, Yu Yan, who had B-Grade Lower Bone Structure, received the greatest support: resources worth seven taels of silver each month. After deducting two taels for tuition, the remaining five taels would be provided in various resources.

For example, blood-rich food essential for martial training, and higher-end items such as Body Strengthening Soup, Blood-Qi Powder, medicinal baths, and the like.

These could rapidly build up one's blood and qi, accumulating sufficient foundation to pass the threshold.

The two with C-Grade Lower Bone Structure would receive resources worth five taels of silver every month. After deducting two taels for tuition, the rest would likewise be supplied in the form of blood-rich food and medicinal soups.

Though not as good as Yu Yan's, it was enough for beginners.

The remaining five with Grade D-Upper Bone Structure would be sent to Huo Family Martial Academy to train, where tuition cost only one tael of silver each month.

However, they each received only two taels of silver in monthly support. After paying tuition, they would have just one tael remaining. That one tael was only enough to let them eat some meat at every meal.

Their bone structures were inferior, and their resources were inferior too. It was already foreseeable that the gap would widen.

Chen Yuan was an exception. Because the bone-examining man had said he had touched the threshold of C-Grade Upper, Gu Ye raised his support to two taels and five qian.

That extra five qian could be used either to eat more blood-rich food or to buy medicinal soup, so he would not be stretched thin.

However, after Overseer Gu finished explaining this to the five of them, he added:

"In my view, Chen Yuan has greater potential than the rest of you, which is why he receives an extra five qian. But if any of you train better than Chen Yuan this month, those five qian will belong to you next month. And whoever performs best among you, I will add another five qian."

The moment he said this, Chen Yuan instantly felt several sharp gazes fall upon him.