Chapter One: The Martial Academy Examination

The Qingming Martial Academy stood within the city of Qinghe Prefecture, nestled beside Mount Luoyun.

On the day of the examination, the foot of Mount Luoyun was already a sea of people, bustling with activity. Young talents from both Qinghe and Guming Prefectures had gathered together.

“Last year, I missed entering the academy by a hair’s breadth. This year, I must join the academy!”

“The martial academy is just the first step on my path of martial cultivation—I must enter!”

Those recommended by martial halls were all local prodigies, each brimming with self-confidence.

Chen Fan, along with his senior brother Zhang Fan and ten other talented disciples from the White Cloud Dojo, bid farewell to their master early in the morning and arrived at the base of Mount Luoyun, before the martial academy’s gates.

Surveying the scene, they were all taken aback by the spectacle.

Chen Fan could not help but remark, “There must be thousands of examinees here! Our Qinghe Prefecture truly has many martial geniuses!”

Zhang Fan nodded. “It’s not just Qinghe Prefecture. Guming Prefecture is here as well. Martial halls, sects, and major clans from both prefectures all recommend disciples for the examination. Every year, at least ten thousand participate—and that’s only because smaller sects have fewer slots.”

Chen Fan nodded in understanding.

Most of the martial artists present were in their early twenties, but there were plenty of fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds as well.

Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd.

In the distance, four enormous crimson tigers, each over three meters tall, pulled a bronze carriage.

“The Crimson Tiger Carriage—this is the royal entourage!”

Each of these tigers was larger and more formidable than the four-tiered tiger demon Chen Fan had once bested.

Around the carriage, armored guards moved in formation, escorting the vehicle to the academy’s main entrance.

As the carriage passed, the crowd parted of its own accord. Despite their fearsome appearance, the tigers remained docile and well-behaved.

Chen Fan cast a sidelong glance at the tigers, unable to suppress his curiosity.

“That must be the prince here to observe the ceremony. I wonder why he’s come all the way to a remote place like Qinghe Prefecture…”

Qinghe Prefecture was in the far west of the empire, while the capital lay to the east—at least seven or eight prefectures apart.

The academy gates swung open as someone welcomed the carriage inside, then closed again.

Chen Fan withdrew his gaze, but a restless itch lingered in his heart.

…

After waiting for half an hour, the gates finally opened. One by one, the candidates, holding their examination permits, formed a long line and entered.

Atop the highest building within the academy, the vice-deans and the dean had gathered, overlooking the teeming masses below.

Among them was a young man in his early thirties, clad in golden feathered robes adorned with a four-clawed golden dragon. With a detached air, he surveyed the lively scene and remarked, “Indeed, Qinghe and Guming Prefectures produce heroes aplenty. The martial academy’s examination has drawn forth such a host of elites… This truly is a land of extraordinary people.”

Dean Mao Wangchen smiled faintly. “Your Highness, you flatter us. All this is due to His Majesty’s benevolent governance—when the people are prosperous and at peace, martial talent flourishes naturally.”

Even in the face of the prince, the dean spoke with ease and composure, without the slightest trace of servility—a testament to his strength. To serve as the academy’s dean, one had to possess at least the tenth stage of martial cultivation.

Meanwhile, the emperor had dozens, perhaps a hundred sons. Even with the blessing of imperial fortune, few reached the seventh stage of martial mastery.

The Nineteenth Prince, sturdy in build and clearly a practitioner himself, shook his head. “Dean Mao, you are too modest. Among all the academies in the land, Qingming Martial Academy stands near the top.”

Indeed, Qingming Martial Academy served both prefectures, drawing from a broad talent pool and thus growing strong. Though in a remote location, it still ranked among the top ten academies in the empire.

Listening to their polite but empty praises, Ye Wuji, standing among the assembled dignitaries, raised his brows. His gaze swept down, searching quietly for Chen Fan among the candidates.

Alas, with such a dense crowd, not even a master could pick out Chen Fan from so far away.

…

The academy’s entrance examination was divided into three rounds.

The first was the simplest and most fundamental: the strength test.

Zhang Fan leaned close to Chen Fan and whispered, “Don’t underestimate this test. At least half will fail to meet the standard and be eliminated outright, without even qualifying for the next round.”

Chen Fan was quite surprised.

This was a bare test of raw strength. Either your cultivation was sufficient, or you possessed innate vitality. If you failed to meet the threshold, you would be cut without mercy.

Most of those eliminated in this round came from small counties—this was merely the initial sift. The elite disciples from White Cloud Dojo would mostly pass with ease.

The examination began. The academy’s spacious outer courtyard had been divided into twenty or thirty testing stations.

Chen Fan and his senior brothers were scheduled together and queued up to enter a large hall.

Before them stood a massive gray-brown wall.

A middle-aged instructor in a gray robe addressed the crowd.

“For the first round, you may choose any weapon provided. Strike the wall with your full strength—no martial arts techniques allowed. Your score will be judged by the depth of the mark you make. Each person has two attempts!”

“Your final score will also be based on your age, divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D. C and D are easier to attain.”

Though the academy valued strength above all, age was also considered in the entrance exam.

To think the first round involved striking a wall…

This wall was clearly not ordinary stone but made from a special alloy, or it could never withstand so many tests.

Chen Fan had expected some kind of unique measuring device, not this crude method.

He overheard someone nearby say, “The wall’s material is special—the first inch is easiest, but it gets harder the deeper you go!”

At the instructor’s command, “First!” the test commenced.

A nervous youth stepped forward, handed his permit with his personal information to the examiner, then turned to the weapons rack to select.

Before he could decide, the instructor barked, “Next! Why are you all hesitating? The wall is wide, there are plenty of weapons—several of you, come up at once!”

Immediately, three or four more young men handed in their permits.

Zhang Fan sidled up to Chen Fan. “For the test, it’s best to choose a spear—its shape allows for deeper penetration!”

In combat, you’d use the weapon you were most skilled with, but for this test, you could exploit the rules. The smaller the point of contact, the deeper the mark. A hammer might have great force, but don’t expect a deep indentation.

Chen Fan nodded in comprehension—his senior’s advice was quick and keen. Still, spears were not easy to wield, and without experience, one might not do better than with swords or knives. As long as you didn’t foolishly pick a huge hammer, the difference wouldn’t be great.

The first few chose mostly swords and blades, hacking and slashing at the wall.

Officials measured each mark meticulously.

“Only one point seven inches after two tries, and you’re already twenty? How weak—unqualified!”

“Twenty-three years old, two point one inches. Close—try again!”

“Unqualified!”

“Next! Don’t wait for me to call—if you see an open spot, step forward!”

Three or four went up in succession, but not one passed.

Even though Chen Fan knew the exam was tough, he hadn’t expected it to be this harsh.

Not until the second batch did an eighteen-year-old finally pass.

“Two point three inches—not bad! Grade C, pass!”

The instructors, all powerful and quick-thinking, could instantly calculate a candidate’s score by age and result.

Zhang Fan squinted and said to Chen Fan, “Grades C and D are manageable. Grades A and B require much more strength, especially Grade A. This round’s score will count toward the final ranking, so don’t hold back!”

Chen Fan was confident in his own strength. He nodded, then asked, “Is there a grade higher than A?”

As soon as Chen Fan asked, Zhang Fan paused, realizing his genius junior was aiming for Grade A. He explained, “Grade A is the highest, but it’s further divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. Achieving A-lower is already very difficult, A-middle is extremely rare—sometimes not even one in a year. As for A-upper, that’s nearly impossible…”

“It’s said this grade was established to keep disciples humble. The strength test is the same at every academy. Since the founding of the academies, few have ever reached A-upper. As for whether anyone at Qingming Martial Academy has ever achieved it, I’m not sure…”

Chen Fan was amazed.

At that moment, a young man who’d overheard their conversation turned and smiled. “In the history of Qingming Martial Academy, only one person has ever reached Grade A-upper in the strength test, and that was twenty years ago. That person had a powerful bloodline, a peerless prodigy—less than five years after entry, he reached the sixth tier of martial cultivation, and within another five years, entered the Radiant Sun Pavilion.”

To enter the Radiant Sun Pavilion meant to become a true master.

This person became a master within ten years of joining the academy—at most in his early thirties, perhaps even younger.

He was a rare genius in all of Qinghe Prefecture, rivaling even Li Linliu!