Wutong Prefecture, Military's Open-Air Training Ground.
March, noon, the sun hangs high in the sky.
As a Prefecture City under Great Zhao, Baoping State, Wutong Prefecture has a population of over ten million.
Moreover, being near the northwest, martial customs flourish.
The noble clans entrenched here, the prestigious families with military backgrounds in the border counties, as well as the occasional prominent government officials, all shine every four years during the Prefecture Examination.
The Prefecture Examination is a path to officialdom opened by Great Zhao for the entire world and several states' Jianghu.
But practicing martial arts requires spending a lot of silver coins and precious medicines.
Poor families who do not join the Border Army to gamble their lives for a background don't know how many hardships they must endure to compete on an equal footing with the prestigious families with military backgrounds.
Therefore, throughout the generations, those who rise to prominence in the Prefecture Examination are often predicted beforehand. Occasionally, there might be a dark horse, but it only secures a seat at the end.
Like this generation.
A young master has come to Wutong Prefecture from the "Divine Capital," known to master Martial Arts Mastery Realm and achieve Foundation Establishment and Qi Collection.
He hasn't stepped into the "Great Innate" yet, as he desires to earn the title of "Orthodox Martial Temple's" champion.
There is also one who, at the far end of the Northwest Border, in that "Demon-Suppressing Great Wall," despite being born from a military lineage, willingly served as a low-ranked soldier,
Shaped by years of hardship, beheading a hundred demons, and becoming a true Centurion Military Officer, earning the qualification for the "Prefecture Examination."
Reportedly, this person has caught the eye of a Great Sage from the military in Baoping State and is just a step away from becoming their disciple.
Every year's Prefecture Examination is a fierce competition.
But compared to this time, the last three or four instances may dim by comparison.
Previous champions, in this edition...
It's uncertain if they could even rank in the top three.
At the far end of the training ground, three people were watching the bustling crowd, among them was Xiang Zhulu of the Demon Hunting Department wearing Suanni Lion Armor.
The other two were Bai Qiuyi, who oversaw all the sub-prefecture government offices under Wutong, the Wutong Prefecture Venerable,
and Lin Shao, Commander of the Military Department responsible for managing and directing the Wutong Prefecture soldiers.
At this moment, the three were discussing critically.
"The boy from the Jiang Family in Divine Capital, from a fallen family, can't make a name among the generations of noble lineages, Daoists, and Buddhists, so he comes to our little corner to seek a 'name.'" Xiang Zhulu glanced at a noble-robed young man leading the group with a snicker.
"Jiang Clan's ancestral home is Wutong Prefecture. In Divine Capital, at most, he is from a humble family background, unmatched against those who treat precious medicines like weeds and Great Pills as meals. That's normal; there's no need to criticize." Bai Qiuyi, with half-grey hair and beard, eyes drooping, spoke with a smile.
"Jiang Yi has some talent, he possesses the demeanor of a 'Profound Body,' born to practice martial arts."
"But the skills Xu Zuorong honed through seven years of hardship, emerging from battles, are inherently fierce."
"In a real arena, someone who only understands theory, how can they defeat someone who has seen real swords and firearms and hunted demons and eliminated devils?"
"It's you, Xiang Zhulu. You've listed that Half-Demon kid of the Xie Family in the top group for the three assessments' 'Hunt,' aren't you afraid he'll become the target of everyone?"
"Even if according to the rules, those from the Demon Hunting Department can substitute Hunting Assessment with 'Demon Hunting Merits,'"
"But considering his special status, while others go out of the city in March to hunt for monsters and gain a fair 'grade,' if he's the only exception, unless he can crush through all enemies effortlessly, otherwise..."
"In my view, his rating won't be very high." Lin Shao, a middle-aged man, said sternly, slightly displeased.
"I actually have high hopes for that child. Being a Half-Demon is no easy feat, and all three of them seem quite promising. If they pass the Prefecture Examination, they can be counted as my informal disciples. No need to be so particular, Lin Shao." Bai Qiuyi glanced far into the distance at the black-clothed youth, nodding slightly, eyes filled with thought, unsure of what he was contemplating.
"Hmph, let's just wait and see." Xiang Zhulu replied with a snort, surprisingly without arguing further.
At the threshold of Martial Gate Foundation Establishment, one can already condense a "Authentic" level Fist Dao seed.
Without exaggeration, this is even rarer than breaking through the third step!
A naturally born martial genius, a future grandmaster,
But it's merely Wutong Prefecture Examination.
It's neither Baoping State's sword contest to decide the youthful leader among Jianghu, nor the congregating of all Great Zhao's heavenly talents, with all sorts of prodigies competing fiercely.
Jiang Yi and Xu Zuorong are both commendable,
But as he sees it...
It's still uncertain whose hands the deer will fall into!
...
[Late March, Wutong Prefecture Examination.]
[Various young noble clans, military lineages, martial artists, and officials under thirty gather together.]
[Great Zhao Prefecture Examination consists of three assessments.]
[First is the 'Great Hunt' lasting a month, where the Commander of the Imperial Army leads a hundred riders into the mountains with the examination participants to hunt spirits and slay demons. The one with the most harvest receives an A or B rating.]
[As a 'Demon Hunting Patrol,' with six months of outstanding merits and backed by higher-ups, you've been specially graded 'A-plus,' first among your peers.]
[Thus, the Prefecture Examination makes you a target of jealousy, with occasional rumors reaching your ears, but you pay no heed.]
[After all, whether or not there's a convenient path, in your eyes, every step of your journey so far was carved out with your fists.]
[Even if participating in the Grand Hunt, you are confident in seizing the title of champion, although it would waste a lot of time.]
[Using your limited time on more meaningful training to prove yourself early is your true goal; everything else is trivial.]
[In this Prefecture Examination, only two individuals deserve your attention.]
[One is from Divine Capital, a successor to a Great Zhao 'Lingxiao Pavilion' title, named Jiang Yi, possessing a 'Profound' physique, and has already perfected his Martial Gate Foundation Establishment.]
[The other is from the 'Demon-Suppressing Great Wall,' Great Zhao's crucial defense against the largest demon forces in the Northwest border, watched over by a sage day and night. Coming from such a harsh place, their martial arts insight is not to be underestimated.]
[But even so, you are determined to strive for the champion title.]
[With the official commencement of the Wutong Prefecture Examination.]
[Ten Directions Arena, set up neatly.]
[Three assessments: Grand Hunt first, skills second, battles last.]
[Afterwards, combining all three, the top ten seats are decided.]
[Skills are defined as: fists and feet, stake skills, sword and knife, equestrian, archery!]
[These martial skills determine whether a person has a solid foundation.]
[As the saying goes, a thousand-foot tall building starts from the ground. Not everyone can cultivate extraordinary abilities; those who pass the Prefecture Examination will mostly be pillars of the first or even second step, so mastering the basics is crucial.]
[Five-stage martial exam, first stage: fists and feet!]
[You hold nothing back, launching a 'Sun and Moon in Harmony,' martial intent evident, striking the wooden stake dummy into flying splinters, astonishing everyone!]
[Second stage: stake skills!]
[After six months of training, you have mastered the Xie Family's true teachings, rendering your energy continuous and breath long, like the roots of an ancient tree, unshaken by surrounding winds.]
[Third stage: sword and knife, as weapons are extensions of fists and feet. You wield them with ease, as if part of your body, remarkably proficient, standing out in the martial exam.]
[Fourth stage: equestrian, possessing Flood Dragon bloodline, even the fire-blooded horses tremble in your presence, how can they not be obedient and gentle, allowing you free rein?]
[Fifth stage: archery, your bow forms a full moon, drawing a hundred-pound bow, seven arrows piercing through seven wooden targets, all hitting the bullseye!]
Under the blazing sun.
You shed your outer garment, wearing only light clothing, smoothly passing through the Martial Gate!
Then you glance around,
Finding no one comparable to you!
"Martial exam skills, all five stages passed."
"Prefecture Venerable Bai Qiuyi announces..."
"Xie Mansion's Song Chai Xin, skill rating: A!"
A Summoning Officer on the side records the results, then trots away, shouting loudly in less than half a stick of incense.
And when this stage ends, those who can achieve fame like you...
Are only Jiang Yi from Divine Capital and Xu Zuorong from Demon-Suppressing Great Wall!