Becoming a saint begins with the infinite accumulation of destiny.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

A thin layer of mist enveloped the streets of Wuhe City. Although it was summer, the mist felt like winter frost, giving people a chilling sensation.

Chen Shisheng instinctively wrapped his coarse cloth clothes tighter around himself and looked up.

Farmers carrying vegetables from outside the city were on the street, and shop assistants on both sides of the street were taking out their door panels, preparing to open for business.

There were also dark-faced constables dressed in dark blue robes, with curved swords at their waists, hurrying to the yamen for roll call.

Not far along, after crossing several streets, Chen Shisheng spotted a large crowd outside a compound in the distance.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that they were all young and strong men, who had come here to try their luck and hoped to become retainers of the Wen family.

Among the crowd were Liu Ergou, Zhang Qing, and others, including Liu Tong, the son of the clothing store owner, who stood with several acquaintances.

It seems they were hoping to use this opportunity to build connections with Young Master Wen.

Chen Shisheng glanced at it but made no intention of going over to say hello.

Just then, a loud, booming sound suddenly came from ahead, like the beating of a drum, deafeningly loud.

"quiet!!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Before the vermilion gate stood a tall, muscular middle-aged man, dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt, with bulging muscles on his arms and a serious expression.

His eyes, like those of a hunting eagle, swept over the crowd below the steps. He exuded an invisible aura, powerful and fierce, pressing down on them.

"Gentlemen! This is... this is Lin Bao, the leader of the Wen family's guards!"

A man who looked like a guard quickly stepped forward and introduced them to the group.

As one of the three most powerful families in Wuhe River City, the Wen family's influence extends to the surrounding towns, and as a result, they have cultivated a group of loyal guards.

Its treatment and status were among the highest in Wuhe City, and even the Blackwater Gang treated it with utmost respect and dared not act recklessly.

"【Dragon Spirit and Tiger Might (Purple)】? That sounds much more impressive than being skillful and dexterous."

Chen Shisheng's attention was not on that, but his gaze paused and lingered on the purple phantom above Lin Bao's head.

There's an extra section there: 【Dragon Spirit and Tiger Might (Purple): Spirit and energy like a dragon, strength surpassing that of a tiger. Possesses the strength of a tiger】

"We are grateful for the young master's kindness in opening the academy's gates wide to recruit disciples and impart martial arts knowledge. You should all have heard of the power of our martial arts..."

Lin Bao paused, his expression turning serious, which made everyone hold their breath slightly.

He looked around and his gaze fell on a black banner on the training ground outside.

Just then, a gust of wind swept by, causing the flag to flutter wildly and rustle loudly.

Bang! !

Lin Bao's gaze narrowed slightly, then suddenly widened.

Then he raised his hand, his five fingers loosely clenched, and his bones crackled all over.

He threw a punch at the banner, the force of which was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

A white fist-shaped shadow hurtled through the air!

Everyone was shocked and quickly looked up. They saw the fist-shaped shadow pass through the flag silently, like a gust of wind, without moving the flag at all.

"It's broken!!"

Someone with sharp eyes immediately exclaimed in surprise.

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, like boiling water, staring blankly into the air.

Chen Shisheng raised his head, his gaze falling slightly on the hole in the center of the banner, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Martial arts in this world aren't just for show?!

I don't know if it's like the kind of internal energy or true energy described in novels from my past life.

"This is the way of martial arts!"

Lin Bao shouted loudly and slowly withdrew his stance.

The crowd below was stunned by this move; no one uttered a sound, but their breathing became rapid.

Chen Shisheng glanced around. A group of men had a gleam of desire in their eyes, and their gazes toward Lin Bao seemed to want to devour him alive.

"Most of you are slaves, and even the slightly better ones are just commoners. If it weren't for your magnanimity, young master, you would never have had a chance to learn martial arts in your entire lives."

Lin Bao's voice remained majestic and powerful, as if he had used some kind of sonic martial arts, making people's eardrums hurt.

"Those who pass the selection today, remember to perform well in the future and never forget the great virtue of the young master!"

After saying that, he strode away, his movements creating a gust of wind.

Then, a disciple guarding the academy came out to explain the requirements and rules.

There are three characteristics: rough skin, strong strength, and thick flesh.

Chen Shisheng understood that if the Wen family was willing to recruit retainers, they would not accept just anyone who came; they would definitely select the best candidates.

Soon, guided by the flow of people, the queue split into several lines and began to be tested one by one.

With thick skin and flesh, it's easiest to examine someone like Chen Shisheng. As Chen Shisheng approached, the examiner simply patted his body a few times to confirm that he had no disabilities and a certain level of endurance.

That means you've passed the test.

The most difficult part is having enough strength, which requires lifting a hundred-pound stone lock.

Most of the people present lived a life of hardship; they were considered to be doing well if they could eat their fill, let alone have meat.

As for meat, it's something that can only be eaten during festivals and holidays.

As time went on, their bodies became like skeletons, all thin and bony, with bones visible beneath the skin.

Chen Shisheng joined the others, standing behind Zhang Qing while Liu Ergou was at the front.

"You must lift it!"

Liu Ergou stared at the white stone lock, his hands unconsciously clenching, his body trembling slightly with tension.

This is his only chance.

His sister went to a pleasure boat, but was swindled out of all three taels of silver. He couldn't explain it to his family.

Chen Shisheng stood behind, carefully examining the stone lock and pondering the techniques for exerting force.

Ahead, Liu Ergou pulled on the stone lock with all his might, as if the stone lock was his life, and he needed to change his fate, and he had to change his fate.

His family is waiting for him to make something of himself, the rice jar still needs him to fill it, his sister is waiting for him to redeem her from servitude, and his elder brother is waiting for him to return from the front lines.

He muttered to himself, his thin face flushed red, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Lift...lift it up!!"

Its thin body, like a withered branch, made strange cracking noises.

But it couldn't be lifted, it just couldn't be lifted; the stone lock remained unmoved, as if by fate itself, impossible to manipulate.

"Next."

Liu Ergou didn't know how he got out of the training ground. His eyes were lifeless, and he stared blankly at the bustling crowd like a walking corpse.

Despite the sweltering heat of the dog days of summer, he felt a bone-chilling cold that seemed to reach the very top of his head.

He has no chance!

"Pass!"

Zhang Qing clapped his hands, unable to suppress a smile.

He gave Chen Shisheng behind him a thumbs-up, showing no signs of elation after his success.

"Next."

The nurse who was testing the procedure wrote down the names in the book and called them out again.

Chen Shisheng stepped forward, took a deep breath, and grasped the somewhat rough-textured stone lock with both hands.

He exerted all his strength, stomping his heels hard on the yellow earth, trying to lift the stone lock, but it remained motionless.

The guard glanced at Chen Shisheng and saw that he was dressed in hemp clothes and was thin and small, which made it clear that he was not even able to get enough to eat.

He then scoffed, ignoring it, and shouted:

"Next."

call--

Chen Shisheng let out a long breath, his expression slightly unpleasant.

He had to admit that he had overestimated his physical strength. Let alone a hundred-pound stone lock, even fifty pounds would probably be extremely difficult for him.

At the same time, Chen Shisheng felt a tightness in his chest; all his hopes had been pinned on this place, but now they were gone.

"well enough?"

Zhang Qing came over and offered a word of comfort.

He was surrounded by a group of people, all with beaming smiles, who had all passed the test.

One of the people next to Zhang Qing couldn't help but offer some kind advice:

"Brother Zhang, this person hasn't passed the test yet, why bother? He and we will no longer be on the same side in the future. If he asks for your help again in the future, there will be no shortage of trouble."

"Yes, Brother Zhang, it's best to cut ties as soon as possible to avoid becoming a burden."

The others echoed this sentiment.

"Is that so?"

Zhang Qing seemed lost in thought, watching Chen Shisheng's retreating figure, but ultimately remained silent.

But just then, from a high platform in the distance of the training ground, a guard shouted loudly:

"Even those who are literate can learn!"