Becoming a martial arts saint starting with Black Tiger Fist

On the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the thirty-second year of Jinghe in the Great Wei Dynasty.

Heishui County, North Suburbs Training Ground.

The air in the height of summer was stifling and hot. A viewing platform about ten feet high was erected on the north side of the field, covered with green curtains and decorated with colorful flags, overlooking the entire field from above.

Those were the positions of county magistrate, prefectural military commander, and other officials of rank in the county.

There were also stands on the east and west sides. Although they were not as grand as the main stage, they were spacious and clean. They were already filled with local tycoons and wealthy businessmen who came to watch the ceremony, as well as the owners of various martial arts schools and their families.

Around the drill ground, county soldiers stood with their spears at the ready, their eyes scanning the entire area like hawks to maintain order.

In the center of the training ground, thousands of candidates stood in solemn rows according to their registered residence.

Some are burly and strong, with muscles bulging like iron towers; others are calm and reserved, standing tall and upright like ancient pine trees.

The martial arts examination is the foundation for selecting talent in the Great Wei Dynasty, and it is also one of the few legitimate paths for children from poor families to change their social standing.

Once one passed the imperial examination and obtained the title of "Martial Arts Scholar," it meant leaving behind the status of a commoner and enjoying privileges such as tax reductions and exemption from bowing to officials. With the qualification to participate in the provincial martial arts examination and sect assessments, one's future and social status would be completely different.

Therefore, every year at this time, all martial arts enthusiasts under the age of thirty from Heishui County and even nearby towns, as long as they feel they have some confidence, will gather here to give it their all.

However, the path of martial arts is fraught with difficulties and requires a massive accumulation of resources.

From meat to replenish vital energy, to skin-refining ointments, to bone-strengthening pills and even more precious medicines, every step of progress is accompanied by a large expenditure of silver.

The candidates who are able to stand here, regardless of their background, all have resources supporting them to some extent.

But those who are truly confident and determined to succeed are mostly well-dressed and composed rich kids.

Their families had long ago paved the way with money, hired famous teachers for them, and prepared ample resources to hone their talents to a level far superior to their peers.

For impoverished students, it's already difficult enough to exhaust their family's wealth to gain admission to prestigious martial arts schools; to stand out among the many talented individuals in such schools is an even greater challenge.

In one corner of the east stand, the Qian family's seats were quite close to the front.

Several women were fanning themselves with round fans and talking quietly.

Feng Ping's gaze swept aimlessly across the candidates below, then suddenly her eyes fixed on a tall figure in the crowd.

"Chen Yuan!?" Feng Ping's eyes were filled with disbelief. "He actually managed to come!"

She recalled their chance encounter a few months ago, when she had earnestly tried to persuade him to give up on this unrealistic path.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yuan not only ignored the advice, but actually went to the martial arts examination hall.

"Ping'er, what's wrong?"

A richly dressed woman standing nearby asked, "Is this the mistress of the Qian family?"

"Reporting to Madam," Feng Ping quickly averted her gaze and whispered, "I was somewhat surprised to see a childhood friend here."

"Oh? Your childhood playmate on that riverbank?" The matriarch of the Qian family frowned slightly.

"That's right, I wonder if he'll pass the exam this year?" Feng Ping looked at Chen Yuan with a complicated expression, a strange curiosity in her heart.

"Pass the exam?" Madam Qian scoffed upon hearing this. "Martial arts, on the surface, is about fist and foot skills, but behind the scenes, it requires mountains of gold and seas of silver to invest, and you also need to have enough talent."

"Cheng'an has good aptitude and has been practicing martial arts for four or five years. He has all kinds of resources, but he still hasn't succeeded even once."

"That kid from your poor mudflats, he's already incredibly lucky to be standing here. He thinks he can pass the martial arts exam? He's dreaming!"

Feng Ping listened, pursed her lips, and did not refute. Although the mistress's words were harsh, they were the truth.

On the other side, at the seats belonging to the Yang family, a prominent family in the city.

Yang Shuying, dressed in a neat and smart outfit, did not sit under the canopy like the other women, but stood by the railing, her sharp eyes scanning the candidates.

When she saw Chen Yuan, her eyes suddenly sharpened, and her chest seemed to ache again.

She turned her head and whispered to a stern-faced, short-bearded middle-aged man beside her, "Father, that man is Chen Yuan."

Yang Jiye followed his daughter's gaze and looked at Chen Yuan for a moment. His face remained expressionless. He simply said to the steward standing behind him, "Go and make arrangements so that when he meets Zhu Cang on the arena in the second round of martial arts, tell Zhu Cang not to hold back and to cripple him."

The middle-aged steward bowed and said, "Don't worry, sir, I'll make the arrangements right away. A mere lad who has only recently begun his bone-forging process can't cause any trouble."

Yang Shuying's eyes flickered as she assessed Zhu Cang's strength, and she felt much more at ease.

Zhu Cang is a newly recruited martial artist in her family. He mastered bone forging three years ago, has rich combat experience, and is ruthless. He should be more than capable of dealing with Chen Yuan.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Three heavy, resounding drumbeats suddenly drowned out all the noise on the drill ground. The crowd fell silent instantly, and countless eyes turned to the main stage on the north side.

A middle-aged official in a blue robe stood in the center of the main platform, his demeanor composed and dignified; he was the magistrate of Heishui County. He cleared his throat, gathered his strength, and his voice carried clearly throughout the drill ground:

"The martial arts examination for children in Heishui County, the thirty-second year of the Jinghe era of the Great Wei Dynasty, is now beginning!"

"Round 1: Strength Test! Using stone weights as the standard, choose your own weight and lift it overhead. Count the number of repetitions. The weight and number of repetitions will be combined to determine four grades: A, B, C, and D. Only those at grade C or above can advance to the next round! Now, step forward in order of your numbers!"

After the rules were announced, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The candidates took turns receiving their number plates from the examiners and then headed towards the stone lock formation on the west side.

Testing strength, though seemingly simple, is the most direct test of a martial artist's foundation.

Strength originates from qi and blood, permeates the muscles and bones, and there is no room for trickery.

The weight one can lift and the duration one can sustain directly reflect the depth of one's cultivation and the strength of one's physique.

Chen Yuan received a license plate number that was "Bing Zi Jiu Shi San", which was near the end of the sequence.

He was not anxious. Standing in the Jiangyuan line, he calmly observed the performance of the candidates in front of him.

The examiners had already recorded the information in front of the stone lock array, while several other officials were responsible for checking and maintaining order.

Following the instructions, the candidates chose to lift the stone locks with all their might.

"Character A, number five: Select a 400-jin stone weight and lift it five times! Exhausted, assessment: C (lower)!"

"Character A, number nineteen: Select a 700-jin stone weight and lift it five times! Rating: C+!"

"Character A, number 31: Select a 900-jin stone weight! Lift it five times! Assessment: Below B!"

The cheers and evaluations continued. Most of the candidates weighed between 400 and 800 jin (approximately 200-400 kg), and few could lift it more than five times.

A person who can weigh 1,000 jin often causes a small commotion and attracts attention, which usually means that they have reached the Bone Forging Realm.

Soon, it was Jiang Yuan's turn to become a disciple.

Cao Lie stepped forward steadily and chose the black iron stone lock, marked as weighing 1,200 jin. He lowered his stance, gripped the sides of the lock with both hands, and exhaled, "Rise!"

The heavy stone lock was lifted off the ground with a thud, and he held it steadily above his head, his arm muscles bulging and he didn't move an inch.

"Once, twice, three times... five times!" Cao Lie's face was slightly flushed, and his breath was long. He lifted the stone lock five times in a row before gently putting it down, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"Nine out of thirty-nine, choose a 1200-jin stone lock and lift it five times! Judgement: B is above!" The examiner announced loudly, and a few sounds of praise came from the stands.