A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 268: Fighting Rules
West Street, in a private room on the second floor of Babaolou.

Fan Yuanhai was drunk and his eyes were slightly red.

Tonight, although Zhu Qunxiang and the others were clamoring to go find Lianying, Fan Yuanhai did not go because he wanted to meet an old friend.

Fan Yuanhai glanced at Jie Daohan, who was sitting across from the desk. Jie Daohan was also a little drunk. Under the dim light, his bumpy, sallow face was flushed.

Fan Yuanhai understood Dao Han, and he didn't just want to reminisce about the past.

After he failed in the Xu Ruhu case, the tasks assigned to him by the sect were all marginal chores. If he continued like this, after three years as an outer sect disciple, he would have no hope of advancing to the inner sect.

So, when he set foot in Xiangu County again this time, he had some ideas in mind and wanted to overturn this old case.

Although this case has been closed in terms of formal procedures, it is still an unsolved case in terms of the actual facts. The sect's top leaders are actually very clear about this.

Moreover, Fan Yuanhai believed that this case involved the death of Xie Lei. Even if Shen Yanliu used connections to close the case for the sake of political achievements, Xie Daohan would definitely continue to pursue the matter. He would never be willing to see his own nephew die in vain.

Just now at the dinner table, Fan Yuanhai talked about this matter with Jie Daohan, and it confirmed his idea that Jie Daohan had indeed been secretly investigating the case, but more than half a year had passed and there was still no clue.

Fan Yuanhai sighed. He knew that Xie Daohan had been entrenched in Xiangu County for many years, and he had countless informants. He was a local tyrant, but he couldn't find any clues for so long. It was obvious that this case was very unlikely to be solved. Maybe this case was done by a passing expert, and he was no longer in Xiangu County.

Fan Yuanhai knew it was hopeless, so he let it go. He burped, looked at Xie Daohan, and said with a smile, "Captain Xie, tomorrow is the selection test for registered disciples. This once-in-three-years selection meeting is a grand event. Will you participate?"

Xie Daohan laughed coldly and said, "Participate in this for nothing!"

The selection meeting is held every three years and all the gentry and celebrities in the county will attend. As the head of the county police, Xie Daohan should also be present.

Xie Daohan sighed and said, "The county magistrate has assigned me to do some official business. I will not be in the county for the next two days. It will be the last day of the three-day selection meeting. I still have to wonder whether I can make it back in time."

The Zeying meeting lasted for three days in total, but the most tragic and exciting one was the last day.

Fan Yuanhai looked at Jie Daohan's dejected look and smacked his lips slightly. When he first arrived in Xiangu County, he still despised Jie Daohan's cowardly appearance, but after so many contacts, he felt more sympathy for Jie Daohan's situation.

To be honest, he felt uncomfortable just thinking about being a police chief under Shen Yanliu...

In the early March weather, the coldness of the earth has dissipated.

The ice melts and the willow branches sprout.

On this day, the gate of the county office was crowded with people of all kinds, and the early spring sunshine seemed particularly bright.

The martial arts selection meeting held every three years has always been a grand show for the entertainment-deprived people of Xiangu County. It is much better than the wild shows performed by those makeshift troupes at the temple fairs.

Moreover, this is not just a play, sometimes people may die.

The viewing seats on both sides of the school martial arts and zeyingtai were already full of people.

Among the crowd below, many people looked at the people in the viewing seats with envy. Those who could sit in the viewing seats were all well-known figures in the county.

Basically, the owners of all major forces in the county are all here.

Xia Zhongyang from Yunshui Bank, Ximen Yong from the herbal medicine shop, Tao Jiusong from the weapons shop, Jiang Heng from the silk shop, Luo Yuxi from the fur shop, Qiu Yan from the Black Tiger Martial Arts School...

The boss of Yuanshun Escort Agency, Ruan Fengshan, was absent, and only sent the new chief Xiao Zongting to attend the inspection on his behalf...

However, these people were not the ones sitting in the most prominent seats in the viewing audience. Although they all had some status in the county, they were just supporting roles in this talent selection meeting.

Sitting in the middle of the first row of the viewing gallery were Shen Yanliu, Li Xianjiang, Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, Lu Qingfeng, Wang Shanshan, and Lu Qingzhu.

They are the three supervisors of this year's Elite Selection Meeting, representing the prefecture-level government offices, the county-level government offices, and the clan.

The most eye-catching person in the audience seats was A-Mo, who was sitting next to Lu Qingzhu.

A'mo's fat mountain-like body took up two seats alone, and blocked Qiu Yan and Luo Yuxi who were sitting behind her, making it impossible for them to watch the fight.

But the two of them could only worry and be angry but not say anything.

Li Xianjiang glanced at Ah Mo from the corner of his eye, but he didn't say anything. Normally, Ah Mo was not qualified to sit in the viewing seat. But this was Xiangu County's selection meeting, and Shen Yanliu was the host. Since Shen Yanliu didn't say anything, how could he say anything?

Shen Yanliu actually felt that A'mo should not sit in the audience seats, but when he saw that Lu Qingzhu and A'mo, the master and servant, both looked as if it was their right, he swallowed the words.

Shen Yanliu had already seen the extraordinaryness of this master and servant. A-Mo's hands had a faint bronze luster, and his figure reminded him of a secret he had heard in his early years.

In the Taiyi Sect, there is a miraculous body-refining skill called the Thirteen Tempered Vajra.

This skill has very strict requirements on the talent of the practitioner. Only those who are born with supernatural powers can practice it.

If a person is born with supernatural powers, the strength of his bones must be much higher than that of ordinary people, otherwise, he would not be able to bear his own great power.

Although Ah Mo, who was beside Lu Qingzhu, was ugly in appearance, he was obviously a natural genius. Being able to subdue such a person as a servant, Shen Yanliu had already secretly guessed Lu Qingzhu's identity in his heart.

Lu Qingzhu and A'mo were indeed sitting there with calm faces. A'mo felt that since the young lady could sit here, she could sit here too.

Lu Qingzhu felt the same way. She and Ah Mo grew up together, and although they were master and servant in name, they were actually family.

Seeing that the time had come, suddenly a gong sounded, and the noisy crowd suddenly quieted down.

At this time, Secretary Qin came out of the county office gate with a stack of documents and the candidates who had signed up for this year's talent selection meeting. They came to the school martial arts talent selection platform and stood in a row.

Secretary Qin walked slowly to the viewing area, clasped his fists and said in a loud voice: "Your Highness, your Highness, your Highness! The identities of all the talented people who signed up for this year's Talent Selection Meeting have been verified. There are a total of 24 people! The information is true, without any mistakes or omissions!"

In the crowd, seeing a row of people standing in front of the school martial arts selection stage, and then hearing the number twenty-four, there was suddenly some unrest again.

"In previous years, there were at most 15 or 16 people in the class. How come there are so many people in this year's class?"

"That's right. Look, Tao Rong and Ximen Kankan are here too. They are very popular! It is said that they have already achieved the great success realm!"

"In previous years, it took several classes to produce a master. This year, two came at once."

"I really hope they have a fight, it would be fun..."

Shen Yanliu nodded and said, "Well, read it out!"

Secretary Qin then walked back to the school martial arts selection stage, looked at the seeded contestants lined up, and suddenly said in a deep voice: "Qiu Tong, step out!"

At this time, a thin young man with a pale face took a step forward.

Qiu Tong is the only son of Qiu Yan, the owner of the Black Tiger Martial Arts School!
Clerk Qin took a look at Qiu Tong, then picked up a document and read out the details of Qiu Tong's life in front of the crowd.

This is one of the fixed procedures of the Elite Selection Meeting. Anyone who has any doubts about the details of Qiu Tong's background can report it on the spot. Once verified, the sect will have a generous reward in silver.

Ah Mo sat there and suddenly asked, "Miss, that seems to be a touch?"

Lu Qingzhu smiled and said, "I know." Duan Rong was actually standing with his back to them. There was someone next to Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan. Ximen Kankan stood there and kept blinking at Duan Rong.

The two of them haven't seen each other for nearly two months.

On New Year's Eve, Ximen Kankan came to look for Duan Rong twice, but both times he came back empty-handed.

After the New Year, Duan Rong went to Ximen Mansion to pay New Year's greetings. After all, since he recognized Ximen Yong as his uncle, he still had to follow the etiquette, and he had a meal with Ximen Kankan that time.

After that, both of them were dealing with assessments, and Ximen Yong disciplined Ximen Kankan very strictly, hardly giving him any free time, so the two hardly saw each other in the next two months.

Just as Qin Shuban was reading out the details of the contestants' backgrounds one by one in front of the crowd, the old temple priest Xu Dongyang, with a whisk stuck in his waist, walked over with his hands behind his back, stood at the outermost edge of the crowd, and looked into the field.

Xu Dongyang was quite tall and had excellent eyesight. Although he was standing a little far away, he could see everything inside the venue clearly.

"Hey, old temple keeper, you always stop serving the City God, and you come here to watch the fun?"

"What? Can't I take a nap while serving the City God? Are you going to tie me up in the temple?"

Xu Dongyang's tone was quite unfriendly, but his eyes were as bright as lightning, sweeping across the faces of the people standing in front of the school martial arts selection stage.

When Xu Dongyang saw Duan Rong, his eyes suddenly paused because he didn't know Duan Rong.

Those who can participate in the selection meeting are generally young talents, most of whom are children of aristocratic families, but Duan Rong is obviously not among them.

Like Xu Dongyang, there are many people who have the same doubt. Everyone is waiting for Qin Shuban to read out the details of his life experience. When he reads this person, they listen carefully. Who is this person?

Xu Dongyang's gaze only paused for a moment on Duan Rong's face, then swept past him, and then he swept his eyes towards the audience seats.

Compared to the seeded players who were going to take part in the competition, Xu Dongyang was more concerned about the five sects' envoys sitting in the audience seats.

This was because these five sects' imperial envoys not only had to monitor the elite selection competition, but also had to escort the selected registered disciples to the Shenyun Mansion after the competition.

Xu Dongyang's gaze swept across the faces of Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, Lu Qingfeng, Wang Shanshan, and Lu Qingzhu, and finally stopped on Amo.

The moment Xu Dongyang's gaze stopped at Ah Mo, his old, cloudy eyes flashed with extreme astonishment...

As everyone was waiting, Secretary Qin suddenly said in a deep voice: "Duan Rong, step out!"

Duan Rong took a step forward, and the moment he walked out of the crowd, Ximen Kankan looked towards him, stuck out his tongue and made a face.

Duan Rong walked out of the crowd. The crowd, who had been a little drowsy due to the hypnotic voice of Qin Shuban, suddenly became alert. Many people pricked up their ears and listened to Qin Shuban reading out Duan Rong's life story.

"Duan Rong, 17 years old. He has lived in Xiangu County for generations."

"Father, Duan Heiwa. Grandfather, Duan Shousuo. Great-grandfather, Duan Liang."

"Good citizens for generations."

"I live in Wutong Lane..."

"Currently a bodyguard of Yuanshun Escort Agency..."

There was a sudden commotion among the crowd.

"Duan Rong? Wutong Lane?" A pale and thin young man in the crowd looked carefully at Duan Rong standing in front of the Selecting Talents Stage. After a long while, he finally saw a little bit of his past appearance from Duan Rong's burly figure. "Is he really the kid from the Duan family? How is this possible?"

He was obviously not the only one in the crowd who was shocked. Even those who didn't know Duan Rong started discussing him. After all, Duan Rong's background made him an ordinary family. Wutong Lane was remote and run-down, and it was not a good place to live.

Isn’t this the unicorn that jumped out from the pile of rocks?

Shuban Qin completely ignored the commotion of the crowd and just kept reading.

Secretary Qin stood there motionless, reading out the details of the life stories of the twenty-four people in a fluent and even voice with clear pronunciation.

The moment he finished reading, Clerk Qin rolled up the stack of documents in his hand, looked at the crowd, and said loudly: "The details of my life have been read out. Do you have any objections?"

Secretary Qin paused for a few breaths and said, "Since there are no objections, the identities of the applicants will be verified by the county office and monitored by the people. Once confirmed to be correct, they can participate in the selection meeting!"

After Qin Shuban finished speaking, he turned to look at Shen Yanliu, who nodded.

Qin Shuban continued, "I am now announcing the rules of the selection competition. Please listen carefully, contestants!"

The rules of the competition in the Elite Selection Meeting have long been established and have been followed for many years!

Duan Rong had already understood it fully before, but when Qin Shuban spoke, he still listened carefully.

The only selection for the sect's registered disciples is through martial arts combat, and it is conducted in the form of an on-site duel.

In this way, fraud can be eliminated to the greatest extent possible to ensure the purity of the fresh blood of these sects!

The fighting will be carried out over three days.

First, there are three rounds of chaotic points battles!

It was called a melee, but in fact it was a one-on-one fight.

However, after three rounds of rolling, sufficient collisions between the players can basically be guaranteed!

One round a day.

The first round is a one-on-one duel. If you win, you get one point. If you lose, you get no points.

In the second round, the winner of the first round will fight the winner, and the loser will fight the loser. If you win, you will get one point. If you lose, you will not get any points.

In the third round, the winner of the second round will fight the winner; the loser will fight the loser. If they win, they will get one point. If they lose, they will not get any points.

After three rounds of chaotic points battles, those who can win three games in a row and accumulate three points will be directly promoted to become registered disciples.

Those who have accumulated two points will compete for the remaining spots!

Those with less than two points will be eliminated directly!

The number of registered disciples for each Elite Selection Meeting is related to the total number of applicants for that session, that is, one quarter of the total number of applicants plus one is the total number of registered disciples for that session.

Taking this session as an example, the number of applicants is twenty-four, and the number of people who can eventually become registered disciples is seven!
During the three rounds of chaotic points battle, you are not allowed to kill anyone. If someone is killed on the spot, the killer will be disqualified!

The scramble competition after the three rounds of chaotic points battles is conducted in the form of a challenge. In this session, life and death are not counted!

This is the most cruel and brutal part of the selection meeting!

(End of this chapter)