1,300 Pounds

Meanwhile, the Martial Scholar examination at the County Yamen was in full swing.

On the western side of Xiahe County Town, within a lavish estate.

Dozens of young men and women had gathered there, drinking from winding streams and holding a banquet.

Beneath an octagonal pavilion by the courtyard.

Several lightly made-up young women sat by the railing, stretching lazily. Their fitted martial attire showed off their graceful figures.

"Sister Shu, your father intends to marry you off to some country bumpkin? That can't be true, can it?" One of the young women covered her mouth and giggled as she asked in disbelief.

"That country bumpkin is a toad dreaming of swan meat. Doesn't he know his own station? He must have set his sights on my family's property and fed my father some bewitching soup."

Zhang Shu spoke angrily as well.

Originally, she might not have liked Fang Yue, but she had not loathed him that much either.

But after what happened yesterday, she wanted nothing more than to teach Fang Yue a harsh lesson.

What was even more detestable was that when her father said he wanted to arrange a marriage with him, he had actually hesitated, wearing an unwilling expression. It was utterly disgusting.

"Hehe, if you ask me, you might as well listen to your father," the first young woman teased again.

"You, Wang Han—have you gone lovesick? If you want to marry him, then go ahead. I don't want some country bumpkin," Zhang Shu said, feigning anger.

"Enough fooling around. You said that man is taking the Martial Scholar examination today too. Aren't you afraid he'll pass and you'll regret it later?" Wang Han continued.

Zhang Shu snorted, her face full of indifference.

"If women were allowed to participate, I could earn the title of Martial Scholar myself. Someone with crooked intentions like his will naturally be dealt with. If he gets hurt during the examination, he can only blame himself for lacking skill!"

As she spoke, a flash of embarrassment and cold severity passed through her eyes.

"Numbers eighty through one hundred, fall in!"

Suddenly, the sound of a gong rang out.

The Military Officer overseeing the examination let out a roar. His rough voice was like rolling thunder, making it clear that his strength was no trifling matter.

Hearing this, Fang Yue immediately composed himself, calmed his mind, and followed the martial artists ahead of him into the line.

The Martial Scholar examination lasted only one day, so naturally, multiple people had to undergo each test at once.

With all eyes watching, there was no fear of anyone cheating.

Before long, Fang Yue followed the martial artists ahead of him to a row of Stone Locks.

As expected of the Yamen—as expected of professionals—these Stone Locks were square and neatly made, far more refined than the ones Fang Yue had fashioned in the village.

Eight hundred pounds, nine hundred pounds—each Stone Lock was one hundred pounds heavier than the previous one, all the way up to fifteen hundred pounds.

Twenty people were tested at once, with eight Stone Locks placed before each candidate.

Stone lifting tested one's strength, and candidates for the second test were ranked according to their strength.

Anyone below the top fifty would be eliminated outright.

Fang Yue had watched from the side earlier. To pass safely, one had to lift at least an eleven-hundred-pound Stone Lock.

That was the limit of strength for a martial artist with officially average cultivation aptitude at the second Skin Tempering stage.

Of the eighty martial artists tested before, only around twenty-one or twenty-two had strength exceeding eleven hundred pounds.

By probability, there would be about the same number among the fewer than one hundred people remaining.

But no one could guarantee there would be no surprises.

"A thirteen-hundred-pound Stone Lock!"

Fang Yue fixed his gaze directly on the third Stone Lock from the end.

He stepped before it, focused his mind, sank his qi into his dantian, and assumed a stance.

His palms shifted slightly apart, then both hands exerted force.

Fang Yue's body immediately tightened. Visible to the naked eye, his frame seemed to swell at that very moment.

His muscles were sinewy and powerful, brimming with martial vigor.

The next instant.

Fang Yue heaved upward.

The heavy Stone Lock immediately left the ground, rising steadily and evenly past his abdomen and chest before finally being lifted over his head!

"Hiss—"

At once, the candidates around him widened their eyes at the sight.

How was that possible?

How could a fellow of average build lift such a heavy Stone Lock?

Thirteen hundred pounds! A Stone Lock!

Among all the martial artists present, only eight could lift a Stone Lock that heavy.

By that measure, such strength was more than enough to advance.

Soon, twenty breaths passed, and his result was confirmed.

This was also the ninth person so far today whose strength had exceeded thirteen hundred pounds.

Before long, the Stone Lock hit the ground. The thirteen-hundred-pound weight smashed down hard onto the ground.

"Who is he?"

"Which Martial Arts School is he from?"

"He looks so young. I wonder if he's married yet!"

Across the entire drill ground, whether martial artists who had already tested their strength and been eliminated miserably, or those who had passed the test, everyone's gaze now fell upon Fang Yue. There was amazement, disbelief, and every sort of emotion imaginable.

There were not many second Skin Tempering stage martial artists in all of Xiahe County Town who could reach over a thousand pounds in a pure strength test.

And those people had, for the most part, gone on to pass the Imperial Martial Candidate examination.

Therefore, as long as these people were careful in combat, their chances of passing the examination were extremely high!

Still, this Fang Yue was probably only capable of this much.

Though he had lifted a thirteen-hundred-pound Stone Lock just now, displaying considerable strength, he had seemed to do so with great difficulty, falling somewhat short compared with those ahead of him.

When the matches began, he would likely receive special attention.

Those with great strength might not necessarily hold the advantage in actual combat.

Sometimes, they might even lose to someone weaker than themselves.

"Number ninety-eight, lifting thirteen hundred pounds—valid!"

At this moment, the Military Officer in charge of the examination quickly announced Fang Yue's result.

Fang Yue immediately went to the edge of the drill ground, loosened his body a little, and began to rest.

Thirteen hundred pounds was naturally not his limit. His current maximum strength had already reached fifteen hundred pounds.

But there was no need to reveal it.

Though fifteen hundred pounds would have earned him a better result in the stone-lifting test.

And if he worked hard in actual combat, he might even place among the top few.

But that would expose all his cards.

As the top scorer in the Martial Scholar examination, he would certainly attract even more attention.

That ran counter to his principle of concealing his strength and developing quietly.

The next round of practical combat would begin half an hour after the stone lifting ended. Fifty candidates who had passed would be selected according to their rankings for the matches.

For the practical combat, rankings would be shuffled and candidates paired off to fight, until the final rankings were decided and the top thirty were chosen as Martial Scholars who had passed the examination.

I didn't expect this fellow to have some real ability. His strength is even a bit greater than mine. Still, he's no match for me.

At this moment, a man in gray fitted martial attire watched Fang Yue from within the crowd.