"This is the County Captain of Wu'an, Lord Han Lang."

Mei Nianzhi glanced at the people beside him and whispered, "If you perform well and catch Lord Han's eye, you might have the opportunity to enter the government office or become a city defender. These are positions recognized by the Court, better than those of most wealthy families."

After Han Lang entered, he took a seat on the high platform of the training ground.

This high platform also had several chairs, offering a bird's-eye view of the crowd in the training ground, allowing any sudden changes to be noticed instantly.

The constables under his command entered the training ground, some maintaining order, others starting to register participants, proceeding in an orderly manner.

Those who wished to register for the Grading Test had to pay ten taels of silver.

Then they would be given a Bronze Token two fingers wide and four inches long, with their names temporarily marked on it.

If they succeeded in the grading, this Bronze Token would be collected, and the government office would use a special tool to inscribe their name on the front and imprint the grade on the back, and it would be returned to successful martial artists during the banquet.

If they failed, the ten taels of silver would be forfeited, and the Bronze Token taken back would not be returned.

Soon, it was the turn for the people from Changze County.

Mei Yingxue, Mei Jixian, and other disciples of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall came forward to line up.

Chen Tang adjusted his black clothes, held his long knife, and followed suit.

Getting a Ninth Grade would exempt him from chores like corvée and military service, reducing some minor troubles.

Even if people from Changze County, like Gou Dai, knew he was Ninth Grade, they probably wouldn't dare to provoke him.

"Hey, look at that guy, his clothes are pitch black."

Qingmu, pretending to be a passerby, exclaimed.

Chen Tang chuckled.

Qingmu understood him and was attentive. He had casually mentioned this Jianghu outfit before, and she remembered it.

"Wow, his sheath is also pitch black!"

Zhiwei's voice also came through.

With the crowd around, the sisters began to discuss earnestly.

Chen Tang held back his laughter, put on a solemn face, and posed as a lonely expert, gripping the knife sheath so tightly that the back of his hand appeared somewhat pale.

Qingmu wore a bamboo hat and a veil, making it hard for others to see her face.

However, the sisters' voices were extremely pleasant, drawing many around them to follow their gaze.

Qingmu said, "Even the hilt of his knife is pitch black."

Zhiwei was about to say something, but his hand holding the knife was pale. A passerby next to them remarked, "Even his eye sockets are dark, didn't he sleep well last night?"

Qingmu: "..."

Zhiwei: "..."

Chen Tang: "???"

"Look, even his face is turning a bit dark."

Chen Tang clenched his fist and ground his teeth.

Finally, he finished registering and returned with the Bronze Token.

Mei Yingxue saw Chen Tang also registered, a flash of surprise in her eyes.

She knew Chen Tang was good at archery, having witnessed it herself on the road since he came from a hunter's background.

But being good at archery didn't necessarily mean he would pass the Grading Test.

One of the Entry Level tests was a bow test, which tested strength, not archery skills.

"It's good to try; it's a worthwhile experience."

Mei Yingxue thought to herself and kindly reminded him, "You should know about the first test, the bow test. Actually, there's a second test: Skin Like Armor. You need to stand at a fixed position. Then, an archer will shoot at you from a hundred paces away with a Half-Stone Bow."

"During this process, if you move your feet or dodge, you'll be deemed to have failed. If you bleed from the arrow, you also fail."

"Only those who have cultivated to the Skin Like Armor realm can withstand an arrow from a hundred paces without harm."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang raised his eyebrows slightly.

This testing method was quite novel.

The killing power of a Half-Stone Bow at a hundred paces was very small. Even for ordinary people, it couldn't cause fatal injuries.

But if one hasn't cultivated to Ninth Grade, they might end up with some surface wounds after the test.

Mei Nianzhi added, "Actually, this test assesses Skin Like Armor on one hand, but on the other, it tests the martial artist's courage. A normal person would flinch in fear when facing an incoming arrow, but such a move would lead to failure."

"Every Grading Test, some fail at this stage."

"Don't underestimate this test. Both the government office and large wealthy families take it seriously. After all, no matter how high your cultivation or talent, if you are timid and run at the first sign of trouble, no faction would want you."

Zhiwei blinked and asked, "What if an arrow heads toward your eye, since even the strongest can't train their eyes?"

Mei Nianzhi smiled and said, "You must stand still and not dodge, but you can block with your hand. If an arrow is aimed at a vital point, you can extend your arm to block it."

"In effect, it's the same. If you haven't trained to Skin Like Armor, your arm would still get injured and you would fail."

Just then, another commotion arose from the crowd.

A group of over ten people walked into the training ground, led by two men and a woman.

The man in the center had a Hasshaku stature with a dragon walk and tiger step, exuding a strong presence.

The man on the left wore a scholar's robe, with hair tied and a crown, a white and beardless face with clear features, and a gentle smile.

The woman on the right had a graceful figure, skin like snow, and exceptionally beautiful looks, though her brows carried a cold and distant aura that seemed daunting to approach.

"Oh, both Young Masters from the Li Mansion are attending this grading test!"

"Yes, usually only the Second Young Master Li comes. Is that the Li family's young lady with them?"

"That's right. Rumor has it she was widowed early, and even in her early twenties hasn't remarried and seldom goes out."

"Keep it down. Her father is the Commander of Wu'an, after all."

Hearing the discussions around, Chen Tang was somewhat surprised.

He had met these three siblings before.

The man in the center was Li Boxiong, next to him was Li Zhongmou, and on the other side was Li Junqing.

Chen Tang originally thought the Li Family was just another prominent family in Wu'an.

He didn't expect that the father of these three was actually the Commander of Wu'an!

He suddenly recalled that Meng Liangyu mentioned the Commander of Wu'an had been injured, causing his realm to drop below Sixth Grade.

And Li Junqing had also said her father had been ill for a long time.

No wonder.

Chen Tang then became curious.

Even if the Commander of Wu'an had no military power, being the highest official in Wu'an, who would have the nerve to call off a marriage with their family without showing any courtesy?

Mei Yingxue caught sight of one person in the group, and her heart stirred. She quickly said, "Dad, look, isn't that..."

"That's him!"

Mei Nianzhi nodded.

The leader of the group entering the training ground was indeed Li Boxiong, who had once saved them!

"Ah, it's that righteous man!"

"Look, the righteous man is coming towards us; he remembers us."

The people from Changze County also recognized them.

Once the Li family entered, they immediately drew numerous gazes.

The Li Mansion was nominally private, but with the Commander of Wu'an behind them, the Li Family was undoubtedly one of the major forces in Wu'an in name and reality.

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