A glimpse of opportunity: Start by marrying a mermaid bride.

Chapter 68 What's the use of strength if you can't fight?

General Zhao didn't even bother to be polite to Magistrate Liu, taking the initiative to announce the start of the meeting without any regard for Magistrate Liu.

Liu Jie looked at Commander Zhao, suppressing his anger. Had things in Beijing deteriorated to this extent?

As he was thinking this, he heard the soldiers below receive the message and begin to beat the drums three times.

The small drum team followed closely behind and began to beat the big drum in unison, instantly pushing the atmosphere in the arena to its peak.

The drumming stopped shortly afterward, its lingering sound echoing throughout the training ground.

At this moment, County Magistrate Sun came up behind Commander Zhao and said, "Commander Zhao, please give your speech."

Although a Qianzong is a sixth-rank official, the opening speech for the martial arts examination is usually given by the local county magistrate. However, today Magistrate Sun bypassed Magistrate Liu Jie, which is actually a very strong political signal.

Song Jin'ao, standing below the stands, frowned slightly, but as a nobody, he couldn't say anything.

Commander Zhao stood up, walked to the front of the stage, and scanned the surroundings with his fierce eyes, saying: "This year's martial arts examination is to select outstanding talents. On the training ground, everything depends on ability. Swords and spears have no eyes, and you are responsible for your own life and death. Everyone, let's begin."

General Zhao took a step back and sat back in his chair.

At this moment, Magistrate Sun immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly, "The time has come—"

"Opening Ceremony!"

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The next moment, another drumbeat sounded, and amidst the drumbeats, all the martial arts students selected this time entered the training ground. This first round was a test of basic strength.

General Zhao, seated in his chair, said to Gong Ying behind him, "Master Gong, I've heard that the Bagua Sect produces many talented individuals. How many will pass the exam this time?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Ying said, "General, you flatter me. This martial arts examination is a real test with many variables. Who can guarantee it? If we're talking about a sure thing, my eldest disciple, Ma Zhenshan, should have a chance."

"Oh, you're too kind, Master Gong."

Then he looked at Magistrate Liu Jie and said, "Lord Liu, I heard that some of your men are also participating in this martial arts examination?"

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Liu Jie said with a serious expression, "I have no one; they are all people from the imperial court!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Zhao said, "Very good, it's good that you think this way, Lord Liu. I had heard that two of Song Jin'ao's disciples had jumped into the Bagua Sect, and I was going to comfort you, magistrate. I didn't expect you to think this way, so that's all the better."

Then Zhao Qianzong said, "What a pity. I heard that those two disciples were quite good and had a chance of passing the exam. Now it seems that Song Jin'ao's trip this year was in vain."

"If word gets out, it will tarnish his reputation as a great hero of the Southwest."

Liu Jie's face was somewhat grim as he said, "The competition hasn't even started yet; it's still uncertain who will emerge victorious."

Upon hearing this, Commander Zhao laughed and said, "Good, I like Magistrate Liu's stubbornness, he won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin."

As he spoke, he glanced at Gong Ying, who smiled and nodded, indicating that everything was arranged.

The assessment began, and the first round tested physical strength.

It's actually quite simple. There are only three things: a hard bow, a stone lock, and a broadsword. The hard bow is divided into three sizes: 100 jin, 120 jin, and 150 jin, which correspond to three scores: C, B, and A, respectively.

The hard bow requires ten consecutive draws to record the score.

Similarly, stone weights are also divided into three types: 120 jin, 150 jin, and 180 jin, corresponding to categories C, B, and C.

A has three scores.

The stone lock requires the user to be able to lift it above their head to score points.

Finally, it's time to wield the broadsword. This broadsword comes in three sizes: 82 jin, 120 jin, and 150 jin.

The requirement is to be able to pick up the broadsword and perform basic movements such as chopping, sweeping, parrying, and thrusting. Finally, the task is completed in the posture of holding the broadsword upright with one hand. This is considered passing and is divided into three grades: C, B, and A.

Finally, the three criteria were combined to select 64 people, which was considered the first round of selection.

You can then proceed to the second round of assessment.

As soon as the referee announced the start, everyone began the assessment.

For Ming Jin martial artists, this first hurdle is not difficult. After all, those who can enter Ming Jin have exceptionally vigorous Qi and blood. With such vigorous Qi and blood, how could their strength not keep up?

However, this is very difficult for martial artists who have not yet entered the sequence.

Many of them can only choose the simplest C-group equipment to practice with, and some are not even proficient enough.

Actually, this grueling physical training is mainly used for large-scale elimination of people.

"Zheng Xuan".

At this moment, someone called out Zheng Xuan's name.

"Junior brother."

Hearing someone call his name, Chen Shouyi cheered for his junior brother, and Chunping nodded in agreement, signaling Zheng Xuan to keep going.

Li Ziping glanced at Zheng Xuan and said, "Don't feel pressured. Just give it a try. Don't push yourself. Your master can rely on me."

This statement was quite arrogant, but Zheng Xuan still smiled. Li Ziping had the right to be proud; he had entered the eighth rank of martial artists.

He has every reason to be proud.

Zheng Xuan ignored him and, encouraged by Chen Shouyi and Chunping, entered the training ground.

Meanwhile, not far away at the White Crane Gate, Wei Datong said, "Hey, junior brother, isn't that your brother?"

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Seeing this, Zheng Jin said with a disdainful look, "Let's see if he can pull a hundred-pound bow first."

As he spoke, he looked at Zheng Xuan, who entered the training ground. The examiner looked at Zheng Xuan and asked, "How heavy a bow do you draw?"

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"One hundred and fifty jin!"

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Upon hearing this, Wei Datong said, "Hey, your brother is going to draw a bow that weighs 150 jin!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jin frowned and said, "Let's see if it can be opened first. This is just bluffing!"

The examiner signaled Zheng Xuan to draw the bow. It was a heavy bow weighing 150 jin. To draw the bow meant to pull it to its full length. He drew it ten times in a row.

Zheng Xuan picked up the hard bow, strained his arms, and easily drew the 150-pound bow ten times in a row.

"Valid, score recorded: A"

The examiner spoke and recorded the score.

Upon seeing this, Wei Datong said, "Your brother is quite capable."

Zheng Jin frowned and said, "He's just strong, not that he can fight."

As he spoke, his brows furrowed; he hadn't expected Zheng Xuan to possess such strength.

Meanwhile, Zheng Xuan has already moved on to the next assessment.

One hundred and eighty catties of stone lock.

"Valid, score recorded: A"

Finally, the Guan Dao is the same. The heaviest Guan Dao weighs 150 jin (75 kg). This Guan Dao is made of pure iron and is quite heavy. In history, Guan Yu used a broadsword that weighed only 82 jin (41 kg). Of course, that is purely fictional. After all, in the official history, there was no such weapon as a broadsword during the Three Kingdoms period. Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade was definitely added by later generations.

And inspiration may be this pure iron Guan Dao (a type of halberd) used to hone one's strength.

Zheng Xuan picked up the Guan Dao and strained his arms. This was something only a Ming Jin martial artist could lift, but he also had the added strength of fifty percent from his merman body, so the Guan Dao didn't seem very heavy in his hands.

Zheng Xuan grabbed the Guan Dao and used it to chop, sweep, parry, and thrust, finally completing a beautiful one-handed Guan Dao stance.

It is worth noting that the most challenging task is to hold the Guan Dao upright with one hand, and Zheng Xuan executed a perfect Guan Dao.

"Valid, grade recorded: A!"

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