Assessment

Zhang Yuan was tempted as well.

Over the past few years, he had visited the County Town many times, but this was only the second time he had seen a notice from the county yamen recruiting personnel.

It was just like the civil service examinations in Zhang Yuan's previous life—there were bound to be plenty of applicants.

He had no interest in becoming a yamen runner or a post chief.

What he had his eye on was the position of patrol enforcer!

The reason was simple: the benefits for joining the yamen as a constable were quite good, and most importantly, one could learn Martial Skills!

After making repeated inquiries and spending some silver, Zhang Yuan had learned that ordinary people had four possible paths if they wanted to learn genuine martial arts.

The military, the yamen, gangs, and martial arts schools!

There were martial arts schools in Linhe County, and more than one at that.

But Zhang Yuan had learned that a martial artist like himself, who had already reached the Entry-Level, needed to sign a contract with a martial arts school and serve it for three years before receiving personal instruction from its master.

If he did not wish to sign a contract, he would have to pay a hefty sum of Tuition Silver outright.

Zhang Yuan had asked at three martial arts schools, and their terms were basically no different.

And he simply could not afford that Tuition Silver!

Only then did Zhang Yuan finally understand why, even after working for Hunter Gao for three years, he had been unable to warm the latter's heart.

Because in Hunter Gao's eyes, the work Zhang Yuan had done was not worth that Tuition Silver at all.

How could he possibly accept Zhang Yuan as a disciple?

The martial arts school path was blocked. Zhang Yuan had no plans to enlist in the military either, leaving only the yamen and gangs.

The yamen was certainly better than a gang!

Now that such an opportunity had suddenly appeared, Zhang Yuan naturally could not let it slip by.

So, following the notice's instructions, he immediately rushed to the county yamen compound to register.

The county yamen compound was already packed shoulder to shoulder. It seemed the allure of civil service examinations was about the same in every world.

An iron rice bowl really was irresistible!

After paying a registration fee of one tael of silver, Zhang Yuan successfully signed up for the Patrol Enforcer Examination and received a numbered bronze token identifying him as a candidate.

The process was remarkably formal.

Compared to the lowest-ranking yamen runners, the requirements for patrol enforcers were far higher—they had to be Entry-Level Martial Artists.

Zhang Yuan had originally thought there would not be many people who met the criteria.

But upon arriving, he discovered that idea had been far too optimistic!

The Patrol Enforcer Examination was divided into three rounds: a strength test, an interview, and a martial test.

The first two rounds were scheduled for five days later.

After registering, Zhang Yuan returned home and devoted himself wholeheartedly to preparing for the examination.

Since they required martial artists, there was bound to be a martial test.

Zhang Yuan's current cultivation and strength were not a problem, but he did not know any Martial Skills. If he had to fight someone to determine victory or defeat, that would be his greatest weakness.

To make up for it, Zhang Yuan practiced the Boulder Foundation Skill even more diligently over the next few days. He also spared no expense in soaking in Medicinal Soup every day, doing everything he could to raise the limit of his qi and blood.

His greatest reliance was the Divine Nest host body. The higher his qi and blood value, the longer he could sustain his empowered extraordinary abilities.

Thus, day after day passed, and five days soon went by.

On the appointed day, Zhang Yuan deliberately changed into a new set of clothes and headed to the county yamen compound for the examination.

Quite a few martial artists taking the examination had already gathered in the county yamen compound. Four Thunder Stones stood in the middle.

Thunder Stones were weapons used to defend city walls. When enemies approached, they were hurled down from above.

Ordinary martial artists could not withstand even a single blow from a Thunder Stone.

The four Thunder Stones differed in size, and signboards behind them stated their weights.

They weighed three hundred jin, five hundred jin, seven hundred jin, and one thousand jin respectively!

Three hundred jin was the starting standard for a strength test?

Zhang Yuan was somewhat puzzled.

But that did not stop him from waiting patiently in line.

As soon as the time arrived, the county yamen gates closed, formally marking the start of the first round of the Patrol Enforcer Examination.

"Number One, Wang Xinming!"

As the chief examiner called out names one after another, martial artists stepped forward in turn to undergo the first strength test.

Strength was the most fundamental standard for measuring a martial artist's worth.

The examinees could challenge the stones progressively, so most started with the lowest weight of three hundred jin, then attempted five hundred, seven hundred, and even one thousand jin after passing.

But some who were highly confident in their own strength began directly with five hundred jin!

"Number Twenty-Seven, Zhang Yuan!"

When it was Zhang Yuan's turn, he too chose five hundred jin as his starting point.

Following the examination requirements, Zhang Yuan lowered himself into a horse stance, spread his arms, and wrapped them around the Thunder Stone before him.

The next moment, he exerted himself fiercely, forcibly lifting the five-hundred-jin Thunder Stone and holding it for ten breaths.

Clang!

The bronze gong sounded, signifying that Zhang Yuan had passed the first stage of the strength test.

Since becoming an Entry-Level Martial Artist, Zhang Yuan had diligently practiced the Boulder Foundation Skill every day and persisted in bathing his body with Medicinal Soup to strengthen his physique and qi and blood.

Over this period, the results had been quite remarkable.

At present, even without relying on the Divine Nest, Zhang Yuan could still unleash strength exceeding five hundred jin.

So this round was not difficult for him.

He brushed the stone dust from his hands and moved to stand before the second Thunder Stone, which weighed seven hundred jin.

This time, Zhang Yuan quietly activated his host body, bestowing himself with double Black Giant Ant Power.

His strength instantly surged beyond one thousand jin.

The seven-hundred-jin Thunder Stone was easily conquered!

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhang Yuan struck while the iron was hot and immediately challenged the one-thousand-jin Thunder Stone.

Everyone in the county yamen compound focused their attention on him.

"Up!"

Hugging the largest Thunder Stone tightly, Zhang Yuan suddenly exhaled with a shout. The muscles in both his arms swelled at once.

The one-thousand-jin Thunder Stone rose three feet off the ground!

The crowd erupted.

"Impressive!"

"A hero truly rises in his youth! Which family does he belong to?"

"One thousand jin of strength—Hidden Strength Peak!"

"I don't think he has Hidden Strength cultivation. He's probably born with divine strength."

"That's still incredible!"

The martial artists present discussed animatedly, some huddling together to whisper.

Shock, bewilderment, envy, jealousy...

The looks they gave Zhang Yuan were all complicated, and some of those gazes were distinctly hostile.

Without question, Zhang Yuan was one of the strongest among everyone taking the Patrol Enforcer Examination!

When the time was up, Zhang Yuan set down the one-thousand-jin Thunder Stone.

He then received a slip stamped with an "A Grade" evaluation and headed to one of the side rooms beside the compound.

There, he underwent the second-round interview.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhang Yuan, who had entered brimming with confidence, walked out of the side room looking utterly bewildered.

The second-round interview had been conducted by three examiners, who took turns asking Zhang Yuan many questions.

They included his date of birth, hometown address, family circumstances, and more.

Their questions had been extremely detailed.

In the end, one examiner gave him a "C Grade" evaluation, while the other two gave him the worst possible "D Grade."

Combined, the result was "D Grade." Zhang Yuan was eliminated on the spot, not even qualified to take the final martial test.

Even though he had earned an "A Grade" in the first round!

One of the examiners seemed unable to bear it and said that, if Zhang Yuan was willing, the county yamen could directly recruit him as a yamen runner.

If an opportunity arose in the future, he could still be promoted to patrol enforcer.

The other two examiners voiced their agreement, wearing the smug expressions of people bestowing a favor upon Zhang Yuan.

Honestly, Zhang Yuan had the urge to unleash Fourfold Strength and slap these hypocritical bastards to death on the spot!

But that impulse would solve nothing. It would only plunge him into a bottomless abyss.

So Zhang Yuan forcibly swallowed his anger and politely declined their seemingly kind proposal.

He left the county yamen filled with frustration.

But just as he stepped through the gates, a voice called out from behind him, "Brother, please wait!"