He obtained the God of All Laws from human skin.

Chapter 116 Martial Arts Examination

After the county examination was over, Qin Chuan didn't rest during the days he waited for the results to be released. Instead, he went to the venue for the martial arts examination.

Firstly, he wanted to see what kind of tests were being administered in the martial arts examination, and secondly, he wanted to see where he ranked among these martial artists based on his current strength.

It was called the "martial arts examination grounds," but it was actually a training ground outside the city, a place where the garrison would drill on weekdays. During the martial arts examination season, a section would be set up with tents, targets, and fences for the candidates to compete.

The training ground was very large, surrounded on three sides by a wooden fence. On the east side, there was a high platform with several armchairs for the examiners to sit in.

Below the stage was a flat, compacted loess ground, hardened by footsteps, marked with white and gray lines indicating the locations of the archery targets, stone weights, and the arena.

When Qin Chuan arrived, the area was surrounded by onlookers, and the flags of various martial arts schools were fluttering in the wind. The black flag with gold lettering of Zhenshan Martial Arts School was particularly eye-catching, with a dozen or so strong disciples standing under it, each with their arms crossed and eyes fixed straight ahead.

In the center of the arena, a group of burly martial arts students, shirtless, took turns entering the arena. The martial arts test was simpler than the civil service test. First, they were tested on footwork and archery, then on fist and foot techniques, and finally on weapons. After passing all three tests, they would take a comprehensive score.

Yesterday's test was on archery, today's test is on fist and foot techniques.

Qin Chuan looked around and found that most of the participants in the martial arts competition were martial artists at the Blood Condensation Realm, including many who had achieved great mastery of Qi and Blood. With each move, a strong wind would blow, and when they hit the wooden stakes, they would make a muffled thunderous sound, which drew cheers from the onlookers.

Qin Chuan also secretly compared the strength of the martial artists in the arena with his own. In terms of strength, although he had stepped into the threshold of the Blood Condensation Realm, he was only a beginner. His Qi and Blood were only at a minor level. To be honest, compared to these people, he was slightly inferior in terms of hard strength.

However, it's not so certain in terms of moves. He is quite proficient in the Five Forms and Twelve Styles, and the Tiger Form has already grasped the true meaning. In a real fight, he might not be their match.

After circling around, Qin Chuan finally found his target: the two brothers who had caused trouble at Aunt Liu's shop last time. One of them was fighting on stage, while the other, with bandages wrapped around his chest, was cheering him on from below.

The two had previously stated that they were there to participate in the martial arts examination. Since the two sides had already formed a grudge, Qin Chuan naturally had to come and investigate, to find out their strength, and to make preparations.

He stood in the crowd with his arms crossed, his gaze following the movement of the stone tree. The stone tree's boxing style was mainly fierce and powerful, following a tiger-like approach. It was strong and heavy, but lacked agility, and there was a noticeable sluggishness when changing footwork.

Compared to the previous experts who had reached the peak of Qi and Blood cultivation, the muffled thuds from his fists were much lighter, and his momentum and power were significantly reduced. His strength should be in the upper-middle stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, still a step away from the peak, but his moves were skillful, clearly indicating that he had sparred with many people.

Qin Chuan was also thinking about a solution. If he were to face them, it would be best not to drag things out, but to resolve the situation quickly.

After the stone tree finished its duel, it flipped off the platform, took the water bag handed to it by the stone tree, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

As Qin Chuan was assessing his chances of defeating the two men, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure squeezing out of the crowd and walking straight toward the Shi brothers.

The man had a slightly round face; he was the round-faced rogue under Song Hai's command.

Qin Chuan remembered him; he had slapped him repeatedly in the lobby, leaving his cheeks swollen.

Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the three people.

It turns out that Song Hai has contact with these two people. Is it a newly established connection, or have they been in contact for a long time?

Qin Chuan quietly withdrew from the crowd, quickly walked around to a secluded open space behind the training ground, took out a small wooden box from his pocket, dipped his fingertips in some of the pale yellow gel-like substance inside, and quickly applied it to his face.

He carefully examined the small bronze mirror inside the wooden box lid, raised his brow bone, filled in his cheekbone, widened his jawline, and then used charcoal ash to draw a few fine lines on the corners of his eyes and forehead.

Finally, he combed his hair back, changed the belt, and turned his inner shirt inside out. The inner layer was coarse gray cloth, completely different from the long shirt he had worn when he arrived.

In a short while, the face of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy in the mirror was replaced by a weathered, middle-aged face in his thirties.

Although it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, it's more than enough to blend into a crowd.

After getting ready, Qin Chuan returned to the training ground and changed his position to be closer to the Shi brothers. He mingled among a group of men who were cheering him on, arms crossed, back slightly hunched, a stark contrast to the upright young man he had been just moments before.

Qin Chuan slowly approached, using the crowd as cover, pretending to be watching the martial arts competition from the stands, but his ears were already perked up.

The round-faced thug lowered his voice and said to Shi Sen with a smile, "Brother Shi, that move you just made was truly brilliant. Our Boss Song loves to befriend heroes like you. He's prepared a table at Defu Restaurant tonight, Brother Shi, you must do me the honor of joining us."

Shi Sen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, replying, "Of course, I will definitely go."

Qin Chuan listened to them mutter a few words, and then saw them preparing to leave. He quietly followed behind without making a sound. He saw the round-faced thug lead Shi Sen and the other man through the side gate of the training ground and meet up with another group of Iron Hand Gang members.

Beside those people, just like the round-faced thugs, were martial artists at the Blood Condensation Realm, some of whom were still wrapped in bandages, clearly having just come down from the martial arts arena.

Qin Chuan glanced at them and recognized that these martial artists were all candidates who had come to participate in the martial arts examination. However, most of them were hovering around the threshold of the Blood Condensation Realm, and were obviously inferior to the few hard-hitting martial artists on the stage who had achieved the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood. They probably had no hope of being on the list and were looking for other ways.

Having read this far, Qin Chuan understood everything perfectly.

Song Hai is using the martial arts examination as an opportunity to recruit a large number of people. These martial artists have traveled thousands of miles to take the exam, hoping to gain a better life and a better future. Now that they are not as skilled as others and have not made the list, they have nowhere to vent their passion. At this time, Song Hai is extending an olive branch, offering money, status, and a group of brothers to support them. Who would not be tempted?

It must be said that this was indeed a brilliant move, striking at the heart of the problem and seizing the opportunity to enter the fray. Not only did it save the long process of recruiting soldiers, but it also brought in truly skilled and experienced individuals.

Song Hai already wielded considerable power; if he were to recruit all these unsuccessful martial arts students, the balance within the Iron Hand Gang would likely be severely disrupted.

Qin Chuan returned, intending to tell Qian Laifu about the matter so that he could make preparations in advance.

After all, if Qian Laifu were to fall, given the grudge they had formed before, he would have to face Song Hai directly, which would be a huge problem.

Meanwhile, in a room of the county government office, a group of yamen runners were surrounding the room, each holding a sword and with a serious expression.

Inside that room, Fang Mingyuan was leading officials from the prefectural city to review the examination papers for the children's examination.