Li Chuan froze for a moment, then clasped his hands.
"Thank you, Master."
"Go on. Prepare well for the Martial Exam. There may yet be a glimmer of hope," Liang Hangzhou encouraged him.
Watching Li Chuan's departing figure, he shook his head to himself.
Easy enough to say, but earning the title of Martial Scholar was no simple feat.
The next day, at the training ground.
The sun hung high in the sky, filling the world with vibrant life.
Below the vast training ground, thousands of brawny men stood arranged according to their respective factions.
Every one of them looked fierce and vigorous, their eyes sharp.
Those standing here were all elite disciples from the various Martial Halls and Lineages.
Fifteen examiners sat on the reviewing platform.
All around them, the seats were filled with the leaders of the various factions.
It was plain to see how seriously the people of Anning County regarded the Martial Exam.
A little while later, a breeze stirred the yellow sand.
The chief examiner rose and stepped forward, looking down at the crowd.
"The Martial Exam has two rounds. The first is stone lifting. The stone weights range from one hundred to twelve hundred pounds.
"The heavier the stone you lift, the higher your ranking. Each person gets two attempts!"
"The second round is arena combat. Each person will draw a number, and those with matching numbers will fight one another. The victor advances."
"Your scores from both rounds will be combined. The top fifty will earn the title of Martial Scholar."
The chief examiner swept his gaze over those below, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.
"On this training ground, everyone relies on their own ability and bears responsibility for their own life and death. But anyone caught cheating will be dealt