I run a Taoist temple in a bizarre world.

Chapter 98 Don't kill me!

Cross the high threshold of the Biyue Martial Arts School.

Standing in front of Chi Le were Chen Fang and Zhao De, who were undergoing bone palpation and bone age measurement.

"Sixteen—Please enter."

"Twenty-four — please enter."

"7

Without any surprises, the two successfully passed the first hurdle and continued into the martial arts school.

When the old man who was testing bone age faced Zhao De, a "late-blooming youth" whose age was already on the verge of the martial arts school recruiting martial artists.

I didn't even glance at it twice; I just followed the established procedures of the martial arts school.

They examined the bones to determine the age, recorded it, and then released the person.

It's as if they've already gotten used to all of this.

Come to think of it.

As the first hurdle of the Biyue Martial Arts School.

The old man's responsibility of measuring other people's bone age meant he was destined to meet all sorts of people.

Concealing their age in an attempt to slip through; forcing their way in to enter the martial arts school; offering money in an attempt to bribe their way in order to have a chance to enter the Biyue Martial Arts School—these people will do anything.

He had seen all sorts of bizarre operations.

Aside from the last method, which still has some possibility, don't even think about the others.

It's nothing to be ashamed of the red line that marks the end of one's life.

In fact, this is perfectly normal.

After letting the two through the door, the old man spoke to Chi Le.

"Young friend, you can only enter after your bone age has been measured."

Standing in front of Chi Le, the kind-faced old man waved to him.

At the old man's prompting, Chi Le stretched out her hands and let the old man's withered hands press on them.

His five fingers, so thin that you could see the bones and it looked like he was just skin and bones, burst forth with a tremendous force that was completely out of character for his appearance.

"hiss----"

A sharp pain shot through my arm where it was being pinched.

Caught off guard, Chi Le's hand, which was being gripped, trembled, and she gasped for breath.

"Hehe, sorry young friend, I didn't go a little too hard and couldn't determine your bone age. Please forgive me."

The old man smiled and expressed his apology, then said...

"Bone age 22, name?"

"Yu Xun".

The old man wrote his name on a bamboo slip and handed it to the person waiting nearby.

The man counted the stack of bamboo strips in his hand, which was about two fingers thick, and then turned and walked deeper into the martial arts school.

The old man who was measuring bone age also waved his hand at Chi Le.

"Go in."

Chi Le withdrew his aching arm, stepped aside past the old man, and continued walking deeper into the martial arts school.

After passing through the corridor, the view suddenly opened up.

The first thing you see is a huge gray-tiled house with a plaque hanging above the door.

Three large black characters were painted on it in a flowing, elegant style.

Martial Arts Hall.

On the left and right sides of the martial arts hall, there is a room on each side.

There was no plaque hanging on the door; just like the martial arts hall, the door was tightly closed.

The three houses form a spacious open area that can accommodate about a hundred people at the same time.

The open space was not paved with bricks; it was all filled with compacted and leveled soil.

This kind of ground is better than the ground paved with bluestone bricks.

Practicing martial arts inevitably involves falling and hitting, and falling on a muddy ground is more comfortable than falling on a bluestone brick surface.

The area around the flat ground was already filled with people.

The crowd squeezed together, just to make room in the middle.

On the flat ground in the middle, five stone locks of the same size were placed haphazardly.

Look at that stone lock, it's about the size of a lamb.

Chi Le roughly estimated that this stone lock might weigh over 200 jin (approximately 100 kg).

"Given my current physical condition, even if two of me worked together, we might not be able to lift it—"

Chi Le muttered to himself, then gently patted the loose robe he was wearing.

My resolve only grew stronger; I could not rely on my body, which was in a state of near-total sub-health, to lift that demonic stone lock.

If you go to raise the object, you'll most likely die here.

Being unable to lift it is a small matter, but breaking your back is a big problem.

Just as Chi Le made up his mind, a familiar shout came from not far away.

"Brother Xun, over here!"

Chen Fang jumped up and waved, afraid that Chi Le wouldn't see him surrounded by the crowd.

Approaching the spot where Chen Fang jumped up and waved, Chi Le pushed through the crowd and finally met up with Chen Fang and Zhao De.

"Brother Xun, I just checked, the three of us are in the same batch, the thirteenth batch. The fourth batch is currently on the field, so there's still some time!"

"Let's stand here and watch the excitement for a while, then take a break."

"Conserve your energy for a bit, then we'll get past this damn second hurdle in no time."

Chi Le nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"This stone lock weighs 240 jin (120 kg), and Biyue Martial Arts School requires students to lift it above their heads with one hand and hold it until they tell them to stop."

Looking at the enormous stone lock on the field, Chen Fang frowned, a troubled expression on his face.

"But this stone lock is a bit too big. Can I really lift it?"

Zhao De patted Chen Fang's shoulder, who looked troubled, and comforted him.

"You often lift the stone mill with me at the village entrance. This stone lock isn't even as big as the village's stone mill. If you can lift the village's stone mill, you can naturally lift the stone lock from the Biyue Martial Arts School as well."

Zhao De's cheerful words put Chen Fang's mind at ease.

"That makes sense, but when it really comes down to it, I'm still a little nervous."

"By the way, Brother De, was this the level you failed at last time?"

Zhao Dele's cheerful face fell, and the corners of his mouth drooped downwards.

He withdrew his hand from Chen Fang's shoulder and shook his head.

"No, it's the third level."

After saying that, Zhao De stopped talking and focused on watching the Biyue Martial Arts School call people onto the field and watch the people on the field take turns trying to lift the stone lock on the ground.

"oh----"

Realizing that he might have said something inappropriate that led to Zhao De's reaction.

Chen Fang immediately shut up and dared not speak again.

A pleading look met Chi Le's eyes.

Unable to bear being stared at any longer, Chi Le spoke up.

"Some people did not choose to lift the stone weight."

He pointed to an unusual figure on the field.

His movements toward the stone lock were completely different from those of the people around him.

Instead, he went directly to another spot, where there was a burly man wielding a broadsword.

Chi Le's words successfully broke the awkward silence between Chen Fang and Zhao De.

Both of them looked at the maverick on the field.

Not only Chen Fang and Zhao De, but most of the people watching the spectacle also turned their attention to the person who stood out from the crowd.

"What happened? Did he take the wrong turn?"

"Are you stupid? Look at him, he's as skinny as a monkey. He clearly can't lift the stone weight, so he's just trying his luck by chopping it open with a knife!"

"If you can withstand three blows from the knife, you'll pass the second test."

"If it can't withstand the test—the test fails, and that's that too—this knife—"

"Damn, this knife is so big. With one slash, this person will have to work separately from now on."

"You really are stupid. When Biyue Martial Arts School opens a school and recruits martial arts students, it's a business that collects money to recruit people to join the school, not a street market where people kill and behead each other at the drop of a hat."

"If someone were to commit murder in front of so many of us, would the government of our Great Yu Dynasty let it go?"

"The Biyue Martial Arts School has been closed down for a long time!"

"See that burly man with the knife? A first-level martial artist! His strength is perfectly integrated, and he can control it with ease."

"The force with which he wielded the knife grew stronger with each strike."

"The first cut was a test. That person only used a small amount of strength. If it were you, and you took the cut head-on, it would only penetrate half an inch into the flesh at most, leaving some blood and that would be it."

97

"The second cut will be more ruthless, about two inches into the flesh, at which point the wound will almost reach the bone."

"And the third cut, that one, was truly aimed at cutting right into the bone!"

Even if Biyue Martial Arts School offered you top-quality wound medicine for free, would you dare to try it?

"If you're not careful, you won't be able to have a comfortable two or three months."

"Furthermore, Biyue Martial Arts Academy does not yet have a precise evaluation standard for this."

"Some people were slashed once and screamed in pain, but Biyue Martial Arts School let them pass without even landing the next two slashes."

"Some people can withstand three blows without uttering a sound, letting the bloody wounds keep oozing out. But after Biyue Martial Arts School gave them medicine to stop the bleeding, they told them to go back to where they came from."

"Whether it's worth passing or not, one cannot even know for sure."

"In addition, there is no good way to train and improve the toughness of the flesh and skin to withstand the heavy sword in the hands of a strong man."

"Very few people will choose to endure the blows and get through the second hurdle."

"I have no way of knowing whether I have passed the second test."

"There is also a considerable risk of injury, which would affect the martial arts school's recruitment of students next time."

"There is still no good way to increase the toughness of the skin and muscles so that one can withstand being stabbed by a knife."

"Only a very small number of people would choose to use a knife to chop as the second test content of a martial arts school."

'

Listening to the conversation around him, Chi Le roughly understood the content of the test of being able to withstand being cleaved by a knife in addition to lifting the stone lock.

"Who would choose to be cleaved in two as the second test?"

"If you have this kind of courage, why don't you train your body and improve your strength in your daily life? Why do you have to come to Biyue Martial Arts School to suffer this torture?"

"Is that guy on the field a little off his mind?"

"."

'

Chen Fang's words made Chi Le fall silent, and the atmosphere among the three of them became somewhat heavy again.

Sensing the change in the atmosphere around him, Chen Fang first glanced at Zhao De.

No problem, judging by how focused they are, there shouldn't be any issues.

Then, Chen Fang looked at Chi Le.

【Hmm, no problem. Judging from his nonchalant and indifferent demeanor, that's just Yu Xun as usual. It's definitely Brother Xun!】

Looking left and right, Chen Fang couldn't figure out where the gloomy atmosphere came from, and began to doubt himself.

"Could it be me?"

On the field.

The man had already lifted his clothes, revealing his waist and abdomen above, and his chest below.

The burly man focused his mind and slowly raised the broadsword in his hand.

After aiming at the man's exposed skin, he decisively made his move!

Pfft—

A dull, abrupt sound of flesh being sliced ​​open rang out.

Feeling the pain shooting down from his chest, the man's face turned pale. Before he could even scream, the burly man behind him said in a deep voice.

"Go and get the medicine for your wounds, then go back."

In just one sentence, the test results were announced.

Not approved.

The man still had a hint of resentment on his face, as if he wanted to speak up and fight for it, but the pain in his chest made him shut his mouth.

When faced with the cold glint of the broadsword reflected from the burly man's hand, the man finally lowered his head.

I walked towards the place where I could get the wound medicine.

The first person to be slashed by a knife finished the test very quickly.

Before the crowd of onlookers could fully react, it was already over.

"What happened? Just one cut, and he's gone?"

"I was actually looking forward to seeing how this would perform."

"Don't even think about it. Apart from the last two times when one person chose to be slashed by a knife as the test and passed after only being slashed once, no one has been able to pass this test since then."

"Is it that difficult?"

"By the way, why don't you give it a try? Aren't you not very good at lifting stone weights all at once?"

"Why don't you try the 'being cleaved by a knife' challenge? You might pass it in no time."

"Get lost!"

'

1

The onlookers began to voice their opinions, creating a chaotic scene.

In contrast, the martial arts training hall not far away was quiet.

Inside the martial arts training hall, with its doors closed, a small square table sits in the center.

On either side of the table is a tall square chair.

There was one person sitting on each of the chairs.

On the left is an elderly man with white hair and beard, and a slightly hunched back.

This person is the owner of the Biyue Martial Arts School.

Xu Qing is one of the few third-tier martial artists in Heliu Town.

On the right is a young man wearing a black fish-patterned robe in the style of the Qinghui Department of the Yu Dynasty, with a light gray waist tag hanging from his waist.

This person is named Liu Yilin. He is a gray-ranked cleansing officer of the Cleansing Division of Heliu Town, and also the deputy leader of the Cleansing Division of Heliu Town.

:

:

In the Cleansing Division of Heliu Town, his status is second only to the chief leader.

To the left and right of the two people who are in the top and middle positions.

It stretched from in front of the two people all the way to the doorway.

There are four chairs on each side.

There were eight tables in total, and each one was occupied.

Whether male or female, old or young.

These are all key figures in the Biyue Martial Arts School.

Of the ten people in the room, none spoke; only the sound of Liu Yilin slowly sipping his tea echoed in the room.

After finishing his tea, Liu Yilin spoke first.

"This tea is quite good."

"This is the first batch of tea picked from Biyun Mountain. It's tender tea grown beside a stream. If there's anything wrong with the water, this tea won't taste the same! I'll have someone send some over to Lord Liu's residence another day."

"Thank you in advance."

Liu Yilin sipped his tea slowly, not in a hurry to continue.

For a moment, the room fell silent again.

Outside the gate, the entrance test for martial arts students at the Biyue Martial Arts School was in full swing, as lively as a hot pot.

Inside the door, all was silent; no one dared to utter a sound as the Purification Division came to speak.

This is the complete opposite of Liu Yilin's leisurely tea tasting.

Xu Qing pretended to be calm and took a few sips, but the noise outside the door gradually made his thoughts agitated.

He gulped down the tea in his cup and said.

"Lord Liu, my Biyue Martial Arts School has absolutely no connection with that Demon Extermination Association that kills and harms people."

"I, Xu, swear to the heavens that if Bishui Martial Arts School colludes with the Demon Extermination Association, Bishui Martial Arts School will be destroyed and its members scattered, and will never exist in this world again!"

""

Seeing Xu Qing's confident demeanor, Liu Yilin tapped the table, and the tea server immediately stopped pouring more tea.

He took a sip of tea first.

Then he spoke slowly.

"Who said you're involved with the Demon Extermination Association? I just came to check because I saw that the Biyue Martial Arts Academy is recruiting martial arts students again. Don't be nervous."

Xu Qing's eye twitched involuntarily.

If that's all there is to it, why bother searching the backyard of my Biyue Martial Arts School!

At this moment, a young man, also dressed in a black fish-patterned robe, but with a pure black waist tag instead of a light gray one, walked in.

He entered the martial arts hall through the back door and whispered a few words to Liu Yilin.

Liu Yilin immediately stood up.

"I have business to attend to at the company, so I won't be watching your Biyue Martial Arts Academy recruit people."

As he spoke, Liu Yilin originally intended to walk out through the front door, the one where the recruitment of martial arts performers would be visible as soon as the door opened.

After thinking about it, he still headed for the back door.

"Remember to bring the tea."

After leaving those words, Liu Yilin disappeared from everyone's sight.

Along with them were a group of purification envoys from the Purification Bureau.

After a while, someone came to inform Xu Qing.

"The Qinghui Division has completely withdrawn from the Biyue Martial Arts School."

""

Xu Qing then took a sip of tea and spoke to the air.

"Zheng Xinhe, you son of a bitch, don't you dare get us killed!"