From the Dragon and Tiger Cavalry to Hunting Sins and Becoming Saints

Although Fu Que didn't know what the flesh-colored brilliance represented, judging from past experience, the woman on stage was definitely extraordinary.

As Zhou Jing's crisp voice faded away, she returned to her seat, and the martial arts examination officially began. The clerk in charge of recording began to come to the groups of martial arts students according to the pre-assigned numbers.

Under the direction of the minor official, the martial arts students entered the training ground in order and stood in front of a wooden stake with a straw figure attached to it. Each straw figure had a thin silk thread attached to its back.

The first round of assessment tested strength, and the results were based on the performance shown when hitting the straw man. The results were very intuitive.

A punch that breaks four or fewer threads results in a failing grade; five to six threads result in a passing grade, allowing the candidate to proceed to the next round of assessments; and seven to eight threads result in a grade B rating, qualifying the candidate for further evaluation.

Those who achieve the ninth rank or higher are rated as Grade A and have the opportunity to be selected as true martial arts students, receiving a monthly stipend from the imperial court. They will also be given priority admission if they wish to participate in the imperial court's selection process in the future.

"You have two chances in the first round, but you must go all out on the first one and try to break more than nine threads. Since you've decided to walk on the narrow bridge, don't hesitate. In the end, a martial artist has to rely on strength."

While observing the performance of the martial arts actors who went on stage first, Fu Que recalled the instructions Hu Liangyu had given him.

In order to complete the tasks assigned by Peng Chi and 014 these days, although he did not gain any sinful ink, he actually used the hard work of these days to integrate everything he had, including the elemental power he temporarily possessed.

If the first all-out attack does not achieve his expectations, he can use a second chance to enhance it with temporary elemental power, which is an advantage Fu Que possesses.

More and more martial arts performers went on stage, but most of them only managed to break two or three threads, and very few managed to break four threads. All of them failed to meet the standard and did not even qualify to advance to the next round.

It should be noted that those who signed up for the selection were all martial artists at the tendon-strength stage, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were strong enough to pull a horse. However, when faced with the light straw doll and the silk thread that could be broken by the wind, they seemed to be outmatched.

"Qi Hong, Yi Shang."

"Qi Wei, Jia, enter."

Amid a series of indifferent rejections, two untimely voices finally rang out. The martial arts students present all turned their gazes to them and discovered that they were two similar-looking boys, both dressed in gray standard training uniforms.

"The Qi family, they've come to participate in the martial arts competition too?"

"I heard from a rumor that the Qi family was targeted by someone a few days ago, and they suffered considerable losses in terms of assets and personnel. I suspect that this time, they want to join forces with the imperial court and use the court's power to investigate the case."

"Really? In Gaoyang County, someone actually dares to stroke the Qi family's tiger whiskers?"

"Isn't there a gang that's recently gained notoriety called the Fishermen's Mutual Aid Association? They're acting all high and mighty, with a bunch of old gangs like the Fishermen's Gang and the Butchers' Gang joining them. Maybe they're the ones behind this."

"Two tigers cannot share one mountain; it seems there's going to be a good show to watch."

"Shut up! Are you all out of your minds? How dare you talk about the Qi family at a time like this? They might not be able to deal with the Fishermen's Mutual Aid Association, but they certainly can't deal with you and me!"

There was much discussion outside, but the two Qi family members did not change their expressions at all, as if they had not heard anything. They went straight back to their places and stood still, waiting for the next round of assessment.

It seems that the two disciples of the Qi family set a good example, and many martial arts students passed the first round of assessments. Although their scores may not have been as good as the two disciples, they were still qualified to participate in the next round of selections.

"Eighth team, step forward."

The martial arts performers of the eighth team responded to the call and followed the clerk in charge of recording to the prepared straw figure.

Fu Que stopped in front of the straw figure on the far left and took a deep breath.

Although surging blood and qi can temporarily increase one's upper limit, doing so will inevitably lead to exhaustion and damage to one's strength afterward.

There are two more assessments to come, and it would be unwise to overexert oneself at this point. Therefore, most martial arts students will not try to push their limits at the beginning in order to play it safe.

"After the strength test, the next test is a free-for-all, with ten people in a team. After the countdown ends, a maximum of five people can stand on the arena. The fewer people there are, the higher the score. If only one person is left on the stage, they will receive an extra magical artifact from the armory, such as the Great Zhao Ding."

I will assign you to the arena of the Qi family. If you can cripple them all, or send them to their deaths within a reasonable range, I can give you an additional inherited martial art after you select a magic weapon from the armory, as well as a higher-level exchange channel.

But the premise is that you have to show me that you have the strength to sweep them aside. Otherwise, I won't group you together. To be honest, you're quite useful, much smarter than Peng Chichen and his gang. I don't want you to be wasted like this.

Although the straw doll has a maximum of only twelve silk threads, it was originally used by the Flying Scale Army to train and test their basic sergeants. However, it was phased out of the army after better alternatives became available.

However, due to its affordability and wide applicability, it was downgraded for use in martial arts selection.

Besides the silk threads, you need to break the two straws on the scarecrow's shoulders.

But this won't appear in the assessment score, and you must keep this a secret from everyone. Once the two straws are broken, you'll have a chance to inherit the martial arts technique, and I will assign them to your arena.

"Passing on the cultivation techniques."

Fu Que's eyes flashed with a hint of fervor. A single sword technique, in the hands of a strange painter, has the ability to turn the rotten into the miraculous. In a desperate situation of being surrounded and killed, it can automatically activate the essence of the person who copied the sword technique.

If it is a martial art that has mastered the power of elements, what kind of power would it have after being devoured by the painter?

Moreover, even if this power is not valued, for the scroll of the otherworldly painter to be complete, it must have special effects components, which means absorbing a set of inherited techniques.

The rest of the eighth team quickly tried to bombard the straw man. As the official announced the results, nearly half of them were eliminated, and most of the remaining ones received a lower score.

Seeing that time was running out, Fu Que no longer hesitated. Since he needed to pass on the cultivation technique, he decided to go all out to be on the safe side.

Many eyes were focused on the martial artists on the field. In his mind's eye, the swordsman stood upright and unfurled his sword. A faint, ethereal aura, like a blue whirlwind, surrounded the swordsman.

Fu Que clenched his fist, his swordsman-enhanced state boiling over, and then his figure resembled a drawn bow.

It's sizzling!

With a forceful push of his back, he took a step forward and delivered a powerful punch. His arm muscles vibrated like flowing water, unleashing a burst of power that produced a soft, tearing sound before his fist slammed into the center of the straw man's chest.