Today was the day of the grand competition marking three months since enrollment at Tianyang Martial Dao Academy.
It counted as a periodic assessment.
Some nearby businesses, wealthy merchants, escort agencies, and martial arts schools would attend, along with the chief constable of Yu Province's Six Doors, the thousand-household commander of Yu Province's Brocade Guard, and the city lord of Phoenix Cry City.
The most prestigious among them was, of course, the thousand-household commander of Yu Province's Brocade Guard.
The Great Zhou dynasty's Brocade Guard was similar to the Ming dynasty's Brocade Guard from Zhang Qingyuan's previous life, but there were differences.
Great Zhou's Brocade Guard was also divided into the Southern and Northern Pacification Offices.
The Southern Pacification Office oversaw the supervision of officials, while the Northern Pacification Office monitored the martial world.
Six Doors primarily apprehended notorious bandits and maintained close contact with martial circles.
The Brocade Guard investigated intelligence in the martial world and eliminated criminal organizations and forces.
The thousand-household commander of Yu Province's Brocade Guard had long since reported something as important as Tianyang Martial Dao Academy to the commander of the Brocade Guard in the capital.
Of course, they had also reached an agreement to cooperate.
When the time came, someone would handle graduates who wished to join the Brocade Guard.
The thousand-household commander was named Zhang Tianlu, and his cultivation was at the peak fourth rank. Every city had a hundred-household office, with hundred-household commanders ranging between the fourth and fifth ranks.
A periodic assessment after three months had not originally been anything grand.
But Zhang Qingyuan felt that, since this was their first year and their first intake of students, they ought to show the outside world their strength and the results of their teaching.
After three days of competition among two thousand students, the top hundred had been decided.
They largely matched the lists of geniuses submitted by the class teachers, with only a few slight discrepancies.
"Qingyuan, that Xiao Yan you had your eye on doesn't seem to have made the top hundred, eh?"
Old Second had appeared beside Zhang Qingyuan at some point. Looking at the top hundred students below, he muttered under his breath.
Zhang Qingyuan smiled. "No rush. Give it time."
Protagonist-level talent-there were different kinds of protagonists, too. Some developed quickly, others slowly; some enjoyed smooth sailing early on, others suffered indignities; some needed fortuitous opportunities. They were all different.
But he had confidence in Xiao Yan. Protagonist-level talent-he had to be the one.
That morning, distinguished figures gathered at Tianyang Martial Dao Academy.
Banners fluttered over the training grounds that day, and voices roared like a boiling cauldron.
On the specially constructed viewing platform, seats stood in orderly rows, and quite a few figures were already seated.
Below the platform, the students who had made the top hundred stood in neat ranks, heads high and chests out, their faces brimming with excitement and pride as they awaited the glorious moment about to begin.
Every class was represented, though Class Three had a few more students.
But in terms of strength, Classes One, Three, and Ten were still the strongest.
Class Three had many geniuses, but even geniuses differed in ability.
Liu Sidao, Ma Shou, and the others were still the best.
The students held their heads high and puffed out their chests, full of confidence.
Dressed in a simple, elegant robe, Zhang Qingyuan stood at the entrance to the training grounds with a composed smile, personally welcoming the prominent figures who had come to watch. Several of his senior brothers stood beside him, handling introductions and showing guests the way.
The first to arrive was Li Wenyuan, the city lord of Phoenix Cry City. Dressed in casual clothes and accompanied by several scholarly attendants, he looked quite approachable.
"Sect Master Zhang, congratulations! Your academy has only just been established, yet it has already achieved such momentum. This truly is a blessing for Phoenix Cry City!" Zhao Wenyuan said with a smile, cupping his hands and giving him ample face with his words.
City lords were different from county magistrates. This was a feature unique to the Great Zhou dynasty, or rather, to this world.
A city lord was a city lord. The position could be inherited in perpetuity, making it a lineage-run enterprise.
In some cities, the city lord's lineage had endured for over a thousand years.
Although they were Great Zhou officials, they also somewhat resembled local warlords.
County magistrates handled the people's livelihoods, while city lords handled city defenses.
By now, though, they were actually more like figureheads.
Zhang Qingyuan returned the greeting. "Your presence honors our humble academy, City Lord Zhao."
After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, Old Fifth smiled and escorted City Lord Zhao to a seat on the viewing platform.
Next came Yang Lianhe, chief constable of Yu Province's Six Doors, striding forward like a dragon or tiger with several capable constables in tow.
Yang Lianhe was also a fourth-rank expert. He approached with long strides. "Brother Zhang, ever since you took over the Tianyang Sect, things have truly been rising like steam with each passing day."
Zhang Qingyuan cupped his fists and smiled. "You flatter us, Chief Constable Yang. The children still need polishing. If any of them wish to enter public service and rid the people of scourges in the future, I hope you'll give them your support."
"Of course, of course." Yang Lianhe laughed heartily as Old Eldest led him inside.
"Sect Master Zhang."
"Sword Lord Lin!"
Lin Junfeng, head of the Lin Lineage Sword Fortress north of the city, arrived with disciples under his command.
After they exchanged greetings, Lin Junfeng asked, "That boy of mine hasn't been causing you trouble, has he?"
"Of course not. Student Lin Pingzhi works very hard. He made the list of the top hundred in the preliminary stage."
Lin Junfeng smiled along, sighing inwardly.
When Zhang Jing'an died, he had thought he could take over the Tianyang Sect.
Who would have thought that, in a moment's inattention, they would grow this big?
He had sent Lin Pingzhi here to study because he actually wanted his son to infiltrate their ranks.
But now it seemed that infiltrating their ranks was not much use either.
They had wiped out even the East Sea Sect. What could they do?
After understanding the relationship between Tianyang Martial Dao Academy and the Tianyang Sect, he was even more speechless.
He figured his son might as well learn whatever he could, preferably the Tianyang Sect's sophisticated sword techniques, and incorporate them into the Lin lineage's swordsmanship in the future.
After all, Tianyang Martial Dao Academy did not stop its disciples from learning the Tianyang Sect's martial arts. They might as well shear off as much wool as they could.
Afterward, the chief escorts of several major local escort agencies, the masters of well-known martial arts schools, and wealthy merchants and gentry interested in recruiting guards arrived one after another. Zhang Qingyuan received each of them, speaking appropriately, neither servile nor overbearing, while fully expressing his willingness to cooperate. The atmosphere was harmonious.
Just then, a slight commotion arose outside the grounds. A squad of Brocade Guard cavalrymen in flying-fish robes, embroidered spring sabers at their waists and their bearing fierce and cold, escorted a stern-faced middle-aged man who commanded respect without anger as he approached at an unhurried pace.
He wore no official uniform, only a brocade robe with subtle patterns, but the presence of someone long accustomed to high office and wielding power over life and death instantly subdued the surrounding clamor.
It was none other than Zhang Tianlu, thousand-household commander of Yu Province's Brocade Guard!
Seeing him, Zhang Qingyuan stepped forward to meet him and cupped his hands. "Commander Zhang, Tianyang Martial Dao Academy is deeply honored that you could spare time from your busy schedule to attend."
Zhang Tianlu's sharp gaze swept over Zhang Qingyuan, as though trying to discern something, but a faint, perfunctory smile appeared on his face. "You're too kind, Headmaster Zhang. Tianyang Martial Dao Academy is now the biggest topic of conversation in Yu Province. Even the commander in the capital has issued instructions, so naturally, I had to come in person to see the results."
His words were brief, but revealed a tremendous amount of information. Even the head of the Brocade Guard knew about Tianyang Martial Dao Academy and attached great importance to it.
Zhang Qingyuan understood, his smile unchanged. "With His Majesty's heavenly grace and the commander's generous regard, I and all the academy's teachers and students will certainly spare no effort to cultivate useful talent for our Great Zhou."
He turned sideways and gestured invitingly. "Commander Zhang, please take the seat of honor."
"Of course, of course." Zhang Tianlu smiled with narrowed eyes.
The Brocade Guard monitored the martial world, so Zhang Qingyuan was not surprised that they knew about Tianyang Martial Dao Academy. Besides, they had already agreed to cooperate.
It was just that Zhang Qingyuan feared the emperor might find out in the future.
There was nothing wrong with the emperor finding out. He only feared the emperor might be petty...
"This way, my lord!"
Zhang Tianlu nodded slightly and, personally accompanied by Zhang Qingyuan, walked toward the central seat on the viewing platform, which offered the best view. Wherever he passed, the city lord, chief constable, and other gentry who had arrived earlier all rose to pay their respects, showing the Brocade Guard's might and influence.
Once all the guests were seated, Zhang Qingyuan walked to the front of the viewing platform and faced the students below and the assembled guests. Circulating a trace of True Qi, he sent his voice clearly across the entire training grounds:
"Distinguished guests, fellow practitioners, and all the teachers and students of Tianyang Martial Dao Academy! Today marks the three-month assessment for our academy's first intake of students. On behalf of the Tianyang Sect and Tianyang Martial Dao Academy, I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you for honoring us with your presence!"
He surveyed the grounds, his gaze lingering briefly on the hundred students who had distinguished themselves below the platform, then continued, "Cultivating the Martial Dao is like rowing upstream: if you do not advance, you fall back.
These three months of foundational cultivation are merely the starting point of their martial journeys. Today's competition is both a test of their past efforts and a showcase looking toward the future.
I hope every student will compete with character and skill, showing your vigor and potential to all the seniors and friends who care about and support our academy's development!
Now, I declare the ranking matches for the top hundred in Tianyang Martial Dao Academy's first freshman martial competition officially begun!"