Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

Meanwhile, in the south of the city.

Fan Weiping, the head of the Fan Family Winery, and his sister Fan Wanyu and brother Fan Yang waited together for the martial arts examination list to be released.

Watching the busy figures of the yamen runners, Fan Weiping shook his head:

"Wanyu, I told you long ago that Wu Yanshu is not a good match for you. He has his own family and will never consider the interests of our family."

"Marrying him is like throwing yourself to the wolves. After I die, won't the entire Fan family fortune go to him?"

"Didn't I hear from Fan Yang that there's some guy named Li with some hidden talent, from a respectable family and of good character?"

Fan Wanyu pursed her lips:

"That guy is far inferior to Brother Wu... Brother Wu is a master of the intermediate martial arts school, while he's just an ordinary internal strength practitioner, one of many like him."

"To be honest, I just don't like him!"

Fan Weiping pointed at Fan Wanyu, as if he wanted to say something, but then sighed:

"If you, Brother Wu, fail to pass the imperial examinations again this year, I will not approve of the two of you!"

Fan Wanyu smiled and said confidently:

"Dad, don't worry. Brother Wu was just one spot short last year! He's prepared for an extra year this year, how could he not pass?"

While they were talking, the yamen runners had already finished posting the list of names.

Fan Wanyu patted her younger brother's head hard:

"Fan Yang, go and take a look!"

Fan Yang snorted and reluctantly stepped forward:

"Calling me 'Brother Wu' so affectionately, you'll be in for a world of hurt if I don't win!"

Although Fan Yang thought this way, he also knew in his heart that the chances of Wu Yanshu passing the imperial examination were still very high.

His gaze began searching at the end of the list.

After a few breaths, his voice suddenly trembled:

"Sis, come quick!"

Fan Wanyu frowned:

"Don't make a fuss. A real man is one who remains calm even when Mount Tai collapses before him, like Brother Wu!"

Fan Yang angrily said:

"Look where the real men are!"

Fan Wanyu turned her gaze to the list, trying to find characters starting with the surname "Wu".

Even at number 45, there wasn't a single person with the surname Wu.

"Strange, could it be that Brother Wu performed exceptionally well this time, managing to squeeze to the front?"

Fan Wanyu was both surprised and delighted.

She was almost impatient to call Fan Weiping over and see whose judgment was right!

Fan Wanyu's eyes suddenly lit up.

The one surnamed Wu!

But looking further ahead, it turned out that it wasn't Wu Yanshu.

That's already forty people.

Even though Fan Wanyu had absolute confidence in Wu Yanshu, she sensed that something was wrong.

Suddenly, a possibility occurred to her.

"No, it can't be." Fan Wanyu shook her head violently, still searching forward with unwavering determination.

"Brother Wu is here!" After searching for a while, Fan Wanyu finally saw the three familiar words.

"But why is the handwriting so small? It's different from before."

Fan Wanyu frowned, and looking up again, she unexpectedly discovered a name.

A name she never imagined would appear on the martial arts examination list!

Li Chuan!

Ranked thirty-sixth.

Results: Lifted a thousand catties of stone in the first round.

Wu Yanshu was defeated in the second round!

Wu Yanshu's name did appear, but it was listed in Li Chuan's record!

Suddenly, Fan Wanyu felt dizzy and almost fainted!

Fan Weiping quickly stepped forward: "Fan Yang, what happened to your sister?"

Fan Yang explained:

"Li Chuan, the one who asked my sister to propose marriage before, passed the imperial examination and ranked thirty-sixth."

Fan Weiping was overjoyed:

"That's fantastic news! Quickly prepare gifts and go find him right away!"

Fan Yang's tone was bitter:

"But my sister refused at the time..."

Fan Weiping's blood rushed to his head, turning the white dough red.

He stomped his foot hard and said to Fan Wanyu, angrily, "You're so useless!"

"What a terrible thing you've done! Look what you've done!"

"Personally rejecting a martial arts scholar?!"

Fan Weiping felt a sharp pain in his heart and was so angry that he couldn't speak.

Fan Wanyu collapsed to the ground in a daze.

Regret and pain surged from all directions, making her feel a tightness in her chest.

At that moment, she remembered that bright afternoon when she was half-squatting by the fishpond.

Fan Yang happily came to find her, holding up a portrait of Li Chuan.

If... we weren't so picky, would the result be different?

……

Songfeng Martial Arts School.

"A-Chuan, your master wants to see you." Luo Zheng knocked on Li Chuan's door and said loudly.

"Squeak."

After Li Chuan opened the door, he followed Luo Zheng into the inner courtyard.

"I won't go in. Master is waiting for you inside!" Luo Zheng patted Li Chuan on the shoulder and stepped outside.

As soon as Li Chuan opened the door, he smelled a strong herbal scent.

Qin Feng remained lying in bed, unconscious.

Liang Xingzhou stood silently by his bedside.

"Master," Li Chuan reminded him.

Liang Xingzhou turned around and smiled:

"Ah Chuan is here. Congratulations on passing the imperial examination. You and your family are now exempt from the hardship of forced labor and can continue to stay and practice martial arts."

At this point, Liang Xingzhou stared intently at Li Chuan's figure.

He remained as upright as ever, showing neither surprise nor arrogance, nor any feigned humility.

There is only tranquility, as tranquil as an ancient spring.

He usually keeps a low profile, unlike Qin Feng's flamboyance, but he reveals his skills at crucial moments, surprising everyone.

If I had to find something to describe it, it would be like a reef in a rapid current.

After the water flows away, the rocks remain.

My apprentice has the bearing of a great general...

Liang Xingzhou came to his senses:

"Achuan, I have two things to tell you."

"The first question is how to break through to the Transformation Realm after breaking through the Dark Force Realm."

Liang Xingzhou's gaze deepened:

"Today, I'm going to tell you what 'transformation energy' is."

"The body generates external force, unparalleled in its power and ferocity; a single sound is priceless—this is Ming Jin (manifested strength)!"

"The power transforms from hard to soft, entering and concealing itself within the body, yet when unleashed, it can be concentrated into a single point, penetrating the body to injure the opponent—this is hidden power!"

"As for the neutralizing force, it is the unity of the obvious and the hidden forces, like water and milk blending together, forming a seamless whole. Its power is profound and far beyond what the hidden force can compare to. Let me demonstrate it for you."

"Watch closely!" Liang Xingzhou stood tall and struck out with his palm at a rock not far away.

"Bang!" The blue stone statue seemed to have been hit hard, remaining motionless yet emitting a loud sound.

"Is it still intact on the outside?" Li Chuan asked, his eyes filled with doubt.

The next moment, the intact exterior of the bluestone shattered instantly, turning into dust that fell in a flurry!

It can even injure people from a distance!

Liang Xingzhou said calmly:

"There's a saying in the martial arts world about neutralizing force: 'Not even a fly can land on you, not even a leaf can stick to you.'"

Li Chuan looked over and discovered that the stone dust that was flying everywhere had strangely stopped just an inch away from Liang Xingzhou!

It was as if an invisible force was blocking their progress.

"This is the profound mystery of the Transformation Realm. Although you have inferior aptitude, judging from your demonstrated comprehension, you may have a glimmer of hope to reach the heavens." Liang Xingzhou looked at Li Chuan with a complex expression.

This disciple has truly surprised him several times.

Even now, he no longer dares to make rash judgments as he did before, believing that it is impossible for someone with inferior physique to break through to the Transformation Realm.

If someone had said that to him before, he would have laughed at that person for not understanding the principles of martial arts.

Liang Xingzhou regained his composure:

"The second thing is my support for you."

"As the first martial arts scholar in the martial arts school, it would be unreasonable for your master not to show any appreciation."