Strength Test, Deception in the Dark

Chu He withdrew his gaze, surprise in his eyes.

He had thought that blacksmithing and artifact forging were men's work. Who would have imagined there were actually women in the Armor Forging Hall?

But on closer inspection, aside from the chief examiner, there were indeed several women in the courtyard taking the test.

As Chu He quietly swept his gaze around, his expression turned strange. He suddenly realized these women were quite easy to pick out. Mainly because, unlike the chief examiner's graceful figure, they were somewhat... burly?

White clouds drifted by, and half an hour passed.

Clang!

Suddenly, a crisp clash of steel came from the main gate.

"Alright, everyone, the second round of screening begins now."

The woman in blue stepped forward, looking at the crowd with a soft, sweet voice.

"As everyone knows, artifact forging is largely a contest of strength and endurance. This second test is simple: it will test your strength and endurance."

With that, the woman in blue twisted her waist and motioned for everyone to look at the sculpture behind her.

"Whoever can lift this stone hammer sculpture and hold it for five seconds will pass the test."

Having explained the rules, the female examiner smiled faintly and stepped aside to watch the crowd perform.

Of the several hundred people who had registered for the test, only nearly eighty remained. About half were in the Blood Condensation Realm, while the rest had blood and qi that were nearly at the threshold of Blood Condensation.

The crowd looked at one another, all waiting for the first person to test the stone hammer's weight.

This was an Armor Forging Hall test, after all. No one dared underestimate it. Nobody could tell how heavy the stone hammer was, and everyone feared being the first to suffer a loss.

"Heh..."

Someone in the crowd suddenly let out a scornful laugh. As everyone turned to look, a broad-shouldered, dark-skinned man strode forward.

"Since none of you dare take the lead, let Li do it." He swept the crowd with a disdainful glance. "If Li accidentally snatches your spots, then you'll have to forgive me."

"Who is this guy? Why's he so arrogant?"

Someone who disliked the man's manner could not help asking those nearby.

"Him? His name is Li He. His old man is an expert in the Martial Tower. I heard he's been strong since childhood. He must have run into his specialty, which is why he's acting so cocky." Those who knew his background could not help sounding sour.

There were martial arts that specialized in strength, but compared with other martial arts of the same level, many people would choose something else.

Brute strength alone put one at a great disadvantage against enemies.

Li He happened to possess great natural strength and also specialized in strength-based martial arts. This strength test was simply a heaven-sent opportunity for him.

Li He stepped forward and bowed to the woman in blue.

Then Li He sank his qi into his dantian, bent his knees slightly, and rooted himself like an ancient tree. The muscles on his arms gleamed like red jade, rippling with crimson light.

He seized the stone hammer's handle, then suddenly exerted force through his waist and arms!

Hah!

He exhaled like an ox. The muscles across his body swelled like rocks, the blue bricks beneath his feet abruptly shattered, and his trousers tore apart as his leg muscles burst through them.

The crowd looked sideways, staring fixedly as Li He strained.

He could not lift it!

Li He's expression changed slightly, and he nearly lost his strength.

No matter how hard he exerted his arms, the stone hammer before him seemed welded to the ground. There was not the slightest sign of it rising from the earth.

Seeing everyone's eyes gathered on him, and recalling the boastful words he had just spoken, a fierce glint flashed through Li He's eyes.

"Get up!"

With an enraged roar, the red glow around his jade-like arms flared brilliantly. His waist, abdomen, and spine surged like dragons and serpents rising from the land as he poured out all his strength and fiercely lifted the hammer.

"It moved! The stone hammer moved!"

Suddenly, cries of alarm rang out beside him.

Amid crackling sounds, Li He finally lifted the stone hammer several inches off the ground, drawing gasps from the crowd. He only needed to hold on for another five seconds to enter the third round.

Chu He swept his gaze over the scene, then lowered his head and stopped paying attention.

The next moment, Li He's face flushed crimson and his entire body suddenly trembled. The muscles in his arms twisted unnaturally, while threads of blood seeped from his pores.

As the stone hammer gradually sank, panic filled Li He's face.

Three more seconds! Just three more seconds and...

Crack!

His arm could no longer bear the stone hammer's force, and a splintering sound rang out.

The stone hammer suddenly dropped. Its tremendous force dragged Li He's body forward, and just as he was about to fall, a jade hand caught his shoulder from behind and held his collapsing body fast.

"You did very well, but unfortunately, you did not pass the test."

The woman in blue spoke gently.

Li He's face was pale. He wanted to ask for another chance, but when he saw the woman smiling at him with narrowed eyes, an inexplicable chill rose in his heart.

"Those who failed the test may leave through that door."

The woman pointed toward a side gate beside the garden on the left.

Li He looked dejected as he clutched his broken arm and left with his head lowered. Several others who had given up followed him out.

They believed their strength could not compare to Li He's. If even Li He had no chance, staying here any longer would be nothing but a waste of time.

With that departure, one-third of the people were gone.

No one laughed at Li He. Their faces held only solemnity.

"Who else?"

The woman in blue asked.

"I'll go. I'd like to see just how heavy this stone hammer is."

With Li He's failure as a warning, there were still those unwilling to accept it who stepped forward to test themselves. Yet without exception, every attempt ended in failure.

Either they could not lift it, or they could only hold it for a second or two. In the end, Li He's initial result remained the best.

"Lift it! Lift it! She's going to make it!"

"She made it! She actually succeeded!"

"Damn, what did this woman eat growing up?"

"Ah, who will dare say women are inferior to men from now on?"

Li He's record was suddenly broken, and the first person to break it and successfully pass the test was actually a girl.

Chu He raised his eyes and looked toward the center of attention.

She stood six feet tall, with two plain braids and faint freckles across her face. Her body was even broader than an ordinary woman's hips, making her look as sturdy as a man.

She seemed poor at communicating. Under so many burning gazes, she could only lower her head silently, her face full of awkward unease.

"Come, child. You have passed the test."

Aunt Lan's gentle voice rang out.

It blew away her unease.

She raised her head slightly and unconsciously took the fair hand Aunt Lan offered her.

"Call me Aunt Lan from now on. I'll take you to the main hall."

Aunt Lan smiled sweetly and led the girl away.

The crowd was instantly filled with envy. This attitude plainly showed that Aunt Lan had already regarded her as one of the two candidate spots.

Clearly, the second round was the real test for filtering people out.

Chu He rose from beside the flower bed and spat out the blade of grass in his mouth.

"It's about time."

With that, Chu He took a single stride over the crowd and arrived before the giant hammer sculpture. He lightly brushed the handle, then gripped it and exerted force.

Hm?

Three thousand jin...

The instant he lifted it, Chu He estimated its weight.

Neither more nor less—it was exactly the limit of Blood Condensation strength.

Crack—

Chu He casually raised the stone hammer.

There was no elaborate preparation and no thunderous roar as he lifted it. He simply held the hammer calmly and counted the time in silence.

One second...

Two seconds...

Four seconds...

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a stone shot out from the crowd, striking straight at Chu He's waist and abdomen!