The plus sign finally appeared?

A flicker of surprise flashed through Commander Li's eyes.

"His skeletal structure is fairly sound, and his meridians are reasonably clear..."

The wisp of Force Energy he sent through Mo Yun's body did not immediately dissipate as it would upon encountering rotten wood.

This reaction meant that his body had a decent affinity for Force Energy.

Yet only a moment later, Commander Li withdrew his palm, and that hint of surprise turned to regret.

"What a pity."

As far as he could sense, Mo Yun's Bone Root barely reached the lower-middle grade. His sensitivity to Force Energy was even comparable to that of the scholarly-looking youth from earlier. By all rights, he met the requirements.

However, his body seemed severely depleted.

Long-term hunger and overwork had left him this way, like a sapling that had grown straight, only for its core to turn hollow and rotten.

"With a body like this, if he forces himself to practice martial arts, he'll probably ruin himself before he achieves anything."

"Only a period of nourishment with potent medicinal herbs could make up for it. But obviously, the Mountain Manor won't invest such resources in a menial servant."

Commander Li reached his conclusion.

"You..." Looking into Mo Yun's expectant eyes, Commander Li paused, his tone softening slightly.

"Your Bone Root is passable, but your constitution is rather frail. Stand aside for now."

Commander Li neither declared him unqualified nor told Mo Yun to join the provisionally selected group. Instead, he gave an ambiguous answer.

Regardless, the youth before him had passed the Bone Root test.

"A frail constitution..." Mo Yun looked thoughtful as he focused on the Black-and-White Seal on his wrist.

Although he had replenished most of his body's deficits over the past month or so, it had still been too little time. Moreover, the food he received as a menial servant after arriving at the Crouching Tiger Manor was considerably worse than what he had eaten the previous month, leaving some of his physical problems unresolved.

The panel awakened a little too late. Now I can only hope to stand out in the comprehension test...

With that thought, he quietly walked over to the provisionally selected group, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Commander Li gave Mo Yun a slightly surprised glance at this, but said nothing more.

About an hour later, everyone's Bone Root test was finished.

Besides those first few youths, they had found another with a middle-grade Bone Root and four with lower-middle-grade Bone Roots.

Of nearly two hundred people, fewer than ten had passed the Bone Root test and been provisionally placed on the candidate list.

Commander Li stood with his hands behind his back, surveying their varied expressions, and announced:

"The Bone Root test is over. You all know where you stand. Those whose names weren't called needn't lose heart. On the path of martial arts, Bone Root matters, but it isn't everything."

At this point, he changed tack:

"Next comes the comprehension test. Throughout history, there have been martial arts grandmasters with ordinary Bone Roots who, through extraordinary comprehension, brought rudimentary martial arts to the Transformation Realm, defying heaven and changing their fate!"

"Outstanding comprehension can compensate for a poorer Bone Root. If any of you are geniuses who grasp everything with a single hint, Crouching Tiger Manor certainly won't let your talents go to waste!"

His words rekindled the light in the eyes of the many servants who had already lost hope.

Who didn't want to be the protagonist who defied heaven and changed his fate? Who didn't think he might be that one-in-ten-thousand genius of comprehension?

Commander Li nodded inwardly. This spirit and vigor were exactly what he wanted.

Though he knew full well that comprehension was even more elusive than Bone Root, what genius of comprehension could emerge from this bunch of impoverished youths who could barely read?

The promising seedlings with good Bone Roots were still the ones he truly valued.

Besides, the Mountain Manor generally wouldn't teach these servants any profound martial arts. As long as they weren't particularly stupid, ordinary intelligence would suffice.

"Now, I'll demonstrate a fist technique before you."

Commander Li walked to the center of the training ground and took his stance. "This fist technique has no name. Our venerable Village Master casually created it yesterday for this selection. It has few moves and isn't particularly profound."

"I'll demonstrate it three times and explain its essential principles. Afterward, you'll have two hours to comprehend it. Once those two hours are up, you'll be assessed according to your progress!"

No sooner had his words fallen than Commander Li moved.

"Watch closely! First form: Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!"

With a low shout, Commander Li's motionless body suddenly sprang into action.

He stepped into the centerline, drove power through his waist and abdomen, and became like a fully drawn bow as his right fist blasted forward!

Bang!

A faint explosive crack actually rang through the air.

There was nothing flashy about the punch, yet it carried a fierce, unrelenting momentum, as though even a wild bull before him would be shattered by that single blow.

"The key to this form is momentum! Power begins in the heels, is governed by the waist, and is released through the fist!"

Commander Li explained loudly as he demonstrated.

"Second form: Black Bear Shakes the Tree!"

He turned, his arms curving as though embracing a log. Every muscle tightened before he slammed sideways, the sheer weight of the movement leaving no doubt that he could snap a tree in two.

"This form is still as a mountain, yet moves like thunder!"

"Third form-"

"..."

After completing the entire routine, Commander Li settled back into his stance, his breathing wholly undisturbed.

"That was the first demonstration, and also the fastest. Next, I'll slow down and demonstrate it twice more, while explaining the breathing rhythm that accompanies it."

Over the following stretch of time, Commander Li slowed his movements, clearly breaking down every point of exertion, every change in footwork, and even how to breathe at each stage.

The servants around him stared with wide eyes, holding even their breath for fear of missing a single detail.

Some had already begun secretly mimicking his movements, though most tried to paint a tiger and produced a dog instead, their motions comically awkward.

Mo Yun stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Commander Li's every movement without blinking, his mind racing as he gathered the key points.

The first form needs explosive power and a low center of gravity...

The second form needs stability. It relies on the impact of the whole body...

The third form needs agility. Changes in footwork are the key...

The timing of each breath, the center of gravity when exerting force...

As he watched, he silently repeated these points to himself, his fingers unconsciously tracing gentle movements beside his leg.

When Commander Li finished his third demonstration, Mo Yun felt a faint stabbing pain in his head-the fatigue of intense concentration.

Yet just then-

"Hum-"

A faint hum that only he could hear sounded deep within his mind.

Immediately afterward, the pale blue virtual panel automatically appeared in his mind without warning, as though floating before his retinas, its light flickering faintly.

Mo Yun instinctively glanced at it. His body stiffened, and he froze on the spot.

[Constitution 3, life 2, defense 2, spiritual power 0]

[Martial arts: Nameless Fist Technique (uninitiated) (+)]

[Special abilities: None]

[Available points: Black 1, white 0]

Clearly, a martial arts section had appeared on the panel, listing a Nameless Fist Technique.

Barring any surprises, this Nameless Fist Technique was most likely the one Commander Li had just demonstrated.

Of course, that wasn't the important part.

The important part was the plus sign after the Nameless Fist Technique!

Hah, the plus sign finally appeared?!