Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 131 Sharp Edge Revealed, Power Breaking Through a Thousand Pounds

The commotion of the quick pass had not yet subsided when, on the west side of the central training ground, an area that appeared even more somber and heavy had become the new focal point of the Yili Pass assessment.

Ten heavy bases, cast in one piece from refined steel and deeply embedded in the ground, gleam with a cold, hard metallic luster under the sunlight.

Each base is fixed with a massive, ancient-looking iron bow that exudes power.

From the outermost "beginner bow," weighing only 300 jin and with a bow as thick as an average person's arm, to the innermost, awe-inspiring...

It was a colossal object with a body almost as thick as an adult's waist, and its entire body was as black as ink, with the weight increasing progressively.

Beside the last giant bow stood a conspicuous wooden plaque with three large scarlet characters: One Thousand Jin.

There were no arrows beside the bow. The test method was simple yet cruel: draw a specified weight iron bow, pull the steel wire bowstring, which was as thick as a child's arm, to a full moon shape, and hold this position for a full ten breaths.

During this time, the body must not bounce back in the slightest, the arms must not tremble visibly, and the breathing must be as steady as possible.

After ten breaths, the string may be released only after the examiner's confirmation.

The test assesses not only explosive power, but also muscular endurance, core stability, and ultimate control over strength.

"The strength test begins now! The standard is 300 jin (150 kg)! Whoever can pull through passes; the higher the weight, the higher the score! Get ready!"

As the steward's voice fell, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Many martial artists who had performed well in the quick pass also had solemn expressions at this moment, cracking their knuckles and ankles, and a faint tension and oppression permeated the air.

Once again, the top geniuses from the inner city took the stage first, igniting the entire audience.

"No. 1, District A, the Qian family—Qian Rushan!"

Qian Rushan grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. Instead of heading towards the bows weighing five or six hundred jin in the middle, he walked straight to the iron bow marked "Nine Hundred Jin"! This action instantly caused a collective gasp from the entire audience.

"Nine hundred jin?! Qian Rushan wants to challenge himself to weigh nine hundred jin?!"

"The previous record was only 850 pounds! Has he gone mad?"

Ignoring the discussions, Qian Rushan took a deep breath, and his already muscular body seemed to swell even more, with muscles bulging on his bare arms and veins writhing like earthworms.

He let out a low growl, not a roar of anger, but a muffled rumble that burst from his chest as he strained his arms!

"Crunch, crunch!!!"

The chilling sound of metal twisting and scraping pierced the air!

He pulled open that terrifying 900-pound iron bow with a slow but unstoppable force! The bow bent, groaning under the strain, until it bent into a black full moon exuding a dangerous aura!

Qian Rushan's face was flushed, and the veins on his forehead bulged, but he clenched his teeth, stared wide-eyed, and his arms were as solid as iron, not moving an inch!

One breath, two breaths, three breaths — each breath seemed to be stretched out endlessly.

Many people on the sidelines instinctively held their breath.

Ten breaths have passed!

"Mountains of money, nine hundred catties, ten breaths in! First place! Temporarily ranked first!" The officer's voice, filled with shock, resounded throughout the training ground.

After a brief silence, cheers and exclamations erupted like a volcanic eruption!

"Nine hundred pounds! My God!"

"Record broken! It broke the previous record!"

"The Qian Family Tyrant! Unrivaled in Strength!"

Qian Rushan exhaled a heavy breath of bloody turbid air, released his grip, and the giant bow rebounded with a muffled "boom," the sound echoing across the surrounding area. He shook his slightly sore and numb arm, his face filled with an arrogant disdain for the entire scene.

Immediately after, Lei Zhen from the Thunderclap Martial Arts School made his appearance. This fierce and impulsive senior disciple also went straight for the 900-pound iron bow! Clearly, he was not willing to be second to anyone.

Amidst countless incredulous gazes, subtle crackles of electricity crackled around him as he glared and unleashed a thunderous roar: "Open—!"

"Boom! Crack!!"

His momentum was even greater than Qian Rushan's! He drew back the nine-hundred-pound iron bow with an even more ferocious and swift motion!

Although his arms began to tremble slightly at the fifth breath and his face turned purplish-red, he managed to hold on for ten breaths thanks to the terrifying explosive power honed by the Thunderclap Palm Technique and his iron will!

"Lei Zhen, 900 jin, ten breaths in! He's in first place, tied with Qian Rushan!"

The crowd erupted once again! The two champions stood side by side, each breaking a 900-pound weight – this was arguably the most breathtaking scene of the competition so far!

Subsequently, Zhao Yuanqing demonstrated astonishing control and sustained power, choosing an 850-pound iron bow.

There was no earth-shattering display of power, only fluid movements and exquisitely precise power manipulation. He steadily pulled off 850 jin and easily held the weight for ten breaths. He was also on armor, which drew a chorus of praise.

Li Qingmei surprised everyone by not pursuing the maximum weight, but instead using skill to overcome force. Relying on her unique "listening to the wind and identifying positions" technique to have precise control over her muscles and amazing endurance, she steadily broke 750 pounds, achieving remarkable results and proving that women are just as capable as men.

Sun Sihai opened the 700-jin (approximately 350 kg) mark, and Bai Yunfei followed closely behind, also opening the 700-jin mark. Both of them achieved first-class results, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from their respective supporters.

After swaying the strings, Bai Yunfei straightened his sleeves with a composed demeanor, as if 700 jin was nothing to him. His gaze swept over the direction of the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School, carrying a hint of barely perceptible superiority.

Nie Feng walked out amidst the attention of the crowd.

His expression was cold and his gaze sharp as he walked directly to the 600-pound iron bow.

This weight, while not the limit for top geniuses in the inner city, is certainly not insignificant.

He let out a low shout, the intent of a whirlwind blade subtly flowing through his arms, his muscles bulging as he steadily drew the iron bow, bending it like a full moon, remaining motionless for ten breaths. Although not as good as Qian, Lei, Zhao, and Li, his achievement of 600 jin was absolutely genius-level for his age group, firmly placing him in the top tier.

"Nie Feng, 600 jin, ten breaths complete! Armor up!"

A frenzied shout erupted from the direction of the Nie family's main house, the sound almost lifting the roof off.

Nie Yun, Nie Lei, and the others were so excited that they danced with joy, as if they had achieved a tremendous honor.

"See that? The eldest young master is truly the eldest young master! Six hundred pounds, and he lifts it with ease!"

"This is real skill! Some people try to take shortcuts, but in the face of true power, they are nothing but chickens and dogs!" Nie Yun deliberately raised his voice, glancing sideways at the Zhuifeng Martial Arts School with a face full of sarcasm.

Just then, the steward's voice rang out again, drawing many people's attention back: "Number 77, Gui District, Chasing Wind Martial Arts School—Song Jing!"

The noise subsided for a moment, and countless eyes focused once again like searchlights.

How can this young man from the outer city, ranked fifteenth in the quick pass, fare in the hard-fought battle of the strong pass, where it's all about who has the strongest foundation?

Among the crowd, Zhou Xingyun and Lin Wan'er had just completed their strength test.

The Wind Chasing Leg Technique they both practiced emphasized speed and agility, and was not particularly adept at honing pure strength.

Zhou Xingyun exerted all his strength, his face flushed, but he could only barely pull open the 320-pound iron bow. His arms trembled violently, and he barely managed to hold on for ten breaths. His performance was rated as "C-Class Lower".

Lin Wan'er faced an even greater challenge. She gritted her teeth and persevered, using skillful force combined with all her strength to pull the 300-pound iron bow slightly apart. Maintaining the full moon was extremely difficult, and she was ultimately rated as "C-grade, lower grade".

Both of them had weak, sore arms and were covered in cold sweat. They looked at each other and smiled bitterly, their eyes showing both helplessness about their own performance and worry and anticipation for Song Jing, who was about to take the stage.

Song Jing seemed oblivious to the stares and whispers around him. He walked calmly and steadily to the front of the iron bow formation.

His gaze swept over three hundred, four hundred, and five hundred jin, and finally settled on the iron bow marked "five hundred and fifty jin".

"550 pounds? He chose this?"

"Fast closing doesn't mean great strength! Can he even handle 550 pounds?"

"He's probably just putting on a brave face, trying to compete with the inner city's geniuses. Hopefully, he'll end up hurting himself instead of drawing the bow!"

"That's right, Young Master Nie Feng can lift 600 jin with ease, while he only weighs 550 jin and he's putting on such a serious act. Who is he trying to fool?" The sneers of Nie Yun and the others were particularly grating.

Song Jing ignored him. He stood still before the iron bow, his back bent, his feet seemingly rooted to the ground.

He slowly raised his right hand and grasped the cold, rough bowstring that gleamed with a metallic sheen.

Within his body, the Qi and blood of the Flesh Refining Realm began to surge like a river. Beneath his skin, the pale golden "Golden Bell Shield" shimmered and disappeared in an instant. The explosive power of the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique was perfectly guided to his waist, back, shoulders, and arms.

There was no roar, no exaggerated build-up of energy. He simply calmly adjusted his breathing, his gaze as deep and unwavering as an ancient well.

Immediately, the five fingers of the right hand holding the string tightened suddenly, and the waist and back exerted force at the same time. An overwhelming force rose from the heel, passed through the leg, waist and back, and finally converged in the right arm!

"Creak—!!!"

A sickening metallic screeching sound suddenly exploded!

It wasn't as imposing as Qian Rushan or Lei Zhen, but it possessed a unique, stable, and undeniable penetrating power!

He actually managed to draw that 550-pound iron bow with one arm and at a terrifyingly steady speed!

The bow's curve is smooth and full, and the steel bowstring is taut and straight until it bends into a perfect black full moon!

Throughout the entire process, his arms did not tremble at all, his body was as steady as a rock, and even his breathing maintained a unique rhythm without any disorder.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths — ten breaths.

Time seemed to lose its meaning before his steady, unyielding arms.

The 550-pound iron bow, in his hands, seemed frozen in a full moon state, completely still.

After ten breaths, release your hands.

With a dull, loud "bang," the iron bow rebounded powerfully, its body still vibrating and humming.

A flicker of surprise crossed the official's eyes, seemingly not expecting the young man from the outer city to complete the task so easily and steadily. He then announced loudly, "Song Jing, 550 jin, ten breaths complete! Armor, forward!"

Overall ranking—18th!

550 jin! Top 10! Ranked 18th!

Although this result is far from Qian Rushan and Lei Zhen's 900 jin, and also not as good as Zhao Yuanqing, Li Qingmei, Nie Feng, Bai Yunfei and others, it is still firmly in the top tier among nearly a thousand participants!

Especially for a boy from outlying cities with no background and scarce resources, this pure power is truly terrifying!

What is even more impressive is the composure and control he displayed when completing the assessment.

After a brief silence came a more complex and louder uproar than when it was turned off!

"550 pounds?! He really pulled it apart?! And so steadily?!"

"My God, get him to level fifteen quickly, and level eighteen with all his might—what did this kid from the outer city eat to grow up like this?!"

"Such a balanced combination of strength and speed? This foundation—it's almost too solid!"

"It seems the double armor in the school's strength training hall is truly top-notch! This kid is a real tough nut to crack!"

"Who was it that said he only knew how to take shortcuts? Do you think you can achieve 550 pounds of strength through shortcuts?"

At the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School, Zhou Xingyun and Lin Wan'er were stunned at first, but then their exhaustion was overwhelmed by immense joy.

Zhou Xingyun slammed his thigh hard, wincing in pain but bursting into laughter: "Good! Good lad! You've made your senior brother proud!" Lin Wan'er also covered her mouth and chuckled, her beautiful eyes sparkling with pride and satisfaction.

"Senior Brother Song, you're amazing!" Li Ling Shuang cheered again. Ignoring the stares of those around her, she clapped her hands vigorously, her face beaming with genuine joy. Her gaze towards Song Jing was overflowing with admiration and delight.

Bai Yunfei stood not far away, his face already showing signs of losing its gentle facade.

Although his score of 700 jin was higher than Song Jing's and his ranking was higher, when he heard the people around him praising Song Jing's strength and control, and saw Li Ling Shuang's undisguised joy, the bitterness and jealousy in his heart grew wildly like poisonous weeds.

He forced a cold laugh and said to his followers, "Five hundred and fifty jin is so-so. However, compared to our seven hundred jin, he's still a whole level below. The way of strength isn't just about having brute force. True strength lies in control, in endurance, and in the integration with martial arts techniques. He's still far from that level." These words were less an evaluation of Song Jing and more an attempt to save face and soothe his unbalanced heart.

The mocking smiles on Nie Yun, Nie Lei, and the others' faces had long since frozen, as if they had been slapped hard several times, leaving a burning pain.

They could belittle Song Jing's speed, they could mock his background as an outsider, but his solid 550 jin of strength was like a small mountain crashing down in front of them, making all their slander seem pale and laughable.

Nie Feng's face also darkened completely, and his gaze towards Song Jing was filled with apprehension and seriousness. This kid was not only incredibly fast, but his strength was also enough to pose a real threat to him!

After two rounds, the rankings are right behind mine, which is definitely not a coincidence or luck!

On the high platform, County Magistrate He Tianxiong and Master Sheng showed obvious surprise at Song Jing's performance. The two exchanged a few words in hushed tones, their gazes lingering on Song Jing for a moment longer.

Clearly, this young man from out of town, who had brought a series of "surprises," had finally caught their real attention.

Chen Yanzhou, whose eyes had been calm and unwavering, finally revealed a clear expression of appreciation.

He nodded slightly, and the rhythm of his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest seemed to lighten up a bit.

"550 jin, ranked eighteenth—" He silently repeated the result to himself, and the faint smile on his lips finally became more pronounced. "Speed ​​level fifteen, strength level eighteen. Both levels were top-tier, the overall score is extremely high, firmly placing me among the top participants."

His gaze fell on the young man in the blue robe below the stage.

The boy was surrounded by excited senior brothers and sisters, but his face remained calm, without much pride. He simply looked calmly toward the upcoming practical test.

"Born into humble circumstances, struggling in the outer city, with no one to rely on—" Chen Yanzhou recalled some fragmented information about the young man from the intelligence, and also recalled his own arduous years. "To be able to pass through two rounds in this arena where heroes gather and geniuses abound in the inner city, and achieve such a high ranking in both, leaving many so-called elites of the inner city behind—it is indeed not easy."

This achievement is not only due to talent, but also to perseverance, character, and unimaginable dedication.

"His solid foundation and calm temperament far surpass those of Tongji University. He is a promising talent with great potential." Chen Yanzhou's evaluation of him was raised again.

"As long as we play steadily and avoid making any major mistakes in the upcoming practical tests, and perform to our full potential, we should be able to achieve a top-twenty finish—" Chen Yanzhou looked towards the center of the training ground, where the ten arenas, reflecting the cold light of the sunlight, were already ready. "Entering the Heavenly Gate should be no problem."

This young man has proven himself qualified to step into that higher threshold through the two basic assessments, demonstrating his undeniable strength.

At this moment, Chen Yanzhou no longer regarded him merely as an "interesting" young man from a poor family, but truly included him in his field of vision as "worthy of attention and investment".

"The real battle test—" Chen Yanzhou's gaze was deep, as if he could already see the impending bloodshed and fierce competition. "That is the real battlefield to test one's mettle and determine the final ranking."

Song Jing, you impressed me in the first two rounds. Unfortunately, due to limited external resources, you can only reach your current level. Otherwise, your results might have been even better, and you could have easily made it into the top ten, or even the top five!

Now, let me see just how effective its most important combat advantage really is.

Can you carve out your own path in this inner city, a den of dragons and tigers?