Chapter 316 - 159: At the Bottom

Inside the training grounds of the Martial Guard Headquarters, five arenas had been erected. All five platforms were constructed from bluestone, their surfaces wide and smooth.

Around the arenas, different spectator areas were set up.

On the northern side, a dozen or so pavilions had been constructed. Though temporary, they were neat and orderly. Tables, chairs, and tea sets were arranged beneath them, reserved for officials from the various Government Offices.

The western and eastern sides housed the pavilions for the major families and Martial Arts Halls. Wooden plaques stood before them, inscribed with the names of each house, making them identifiable at a glance.

The southern side was reserved for ordinary spectators without the backing of a major power, with nothing more than a few long benches placed out in the open.

「At this moment.」

Chen Cheng took out his household registration papers, had his identity verified at the main gate, and walked inside with Mrs. Li.

According to the rules, every Martial Artist participating in the selection could bring one person to spectate.

When had Mrs. Li ever seen such a spectacle? The moment she stepped over the threshold, she became so nervous she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet.

She had put on a newly made outfit for the occasion; the fabric and cut were of the highest quality. While walking outside, she had even projected the air of a lady from a prestigious household.

But now, she felt an invisible pressure bearing down on her. Perhaps it came from the officials, or perhaps from the Martial Artists—she couldn’t say for sure. All she knew was that it crushed her spirit, leaving her so unsettled she could barely breathe.

"Mom, see? I told you. You were bound to be uncomfortable here, but you just wouldn’t believe me."

Chen Cheng smiled and soothed her in a low voice,

"But since we’re already here, you should just relax. They’re all just people—two eyes, one mouth. No one’s going to eat you."

Mrs. Li nodded. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"Cheng!"

Just then, Zhuang Hui Xian came walking over, with Yu Feng’s arm tucked in hers.

Her belly was already quite swollen, yet she still moved with a whirlwind of energy—mostly because with Yu Feng protecting her, she didn’t have to be so careful.

"Lady Zhuang, Lord Yu."

Chen Cheng cupped his fist in greeting, then introduced them to Mrs. Li.

Zhuang Hui Xian had heard about Mrs. Li from Zhuang Zhen before, so she immediately invited Mrs. Li to watch the event with them in the officials’ pavilion, instead of having to squeeze onto the benches with everyone else.

Once Mrs. Li heard they were Zhuang Zhen’s aunt and uncle, she immediately felt a sense of kinship, gladly accepted the offer, and thanked them profusely.

Chen Cheng was naturally at ease leaving his mother in their care.

No sooner had they left than someone else started walking toward Chen Cheng.

"Cheng!"

"Sister Mi!"

Chen Cheng turned to see who it was, and a smile couldn’t help but grace his lips.

They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and Shen Mi’s face was also overflowing with a brilliant smile.

She was wearing a long, pale-blue dress today, cinched perfectly at the waist, which accentuated her full bust and rounded hips, making her figure appear all the more graceful and curvy.

Next to her was a young woman in martial attire—it was Shen Chun.

Standing together, mother and daughter looked nothing alike, save for one striking similarity in their chests.

Shen Mi’s face was soft and beautiful, her figure fluid as if made of water. Shen Chun, however, was stern and severe, her waist, legs, and arms as hard and unyielding as if forged from iron.

"Cheng, this is Chun’Er. You two know each other, right? Who’s older again?"

Shen Mi pulled her daughter over.

"Sister Mi, I already call you ’sister,’ so who do you think is older?" Chen Cheng asked back with a smile.

Shen Mi paused, taken aback. Given the high regard in which she held Chen Cheng, she couldn’t possibly lower his generational seniority.

"Chun’Er, call him Uncle Chen."

"..."

Shen Chun glared at Chen Cheng, then turned and walked away.

Shen Mi’s brow furrowed slightly, and she was about to apologize to Chen Cheng.

But Chen Cheng didn’t seem to mind and changed the subject.

The two chatted for a moment, then Chen Cheng personally escorted Shen Mi over to sit with Zhuang Hui Xian.

And in a nearby pavilion, Chen Cheng saw a familiar face. He walked over on his own initiative and cupped his fist in salute.

"Elder Pang."

"Oh, it’s you. Are you also here for the Martial Selection?"

Pang Shixun looked Chen Cheng up and down, his tone lukewarm as he said:

"Hurry up and join the assembly. The first round is about to begin."

"Alright."

Chen Cheng responded without any unnecessary words and turned to walk toward the center of the training grounds.

"Grandfather."

Beside Pang Shixun, a young man in martial attire said in a low voice:

"I’m afraid that kid is still holding on to the promise you made him."

"He’s not."

Pang Shixun shook his head.

"The kid is smart. He understands the principle that a wise man submits to circumstances."

"True..."

The young man thought for a moment.

"After we broke off the engagement with Cao Zhao, our position became clear. This kid surnamed Chen shouldn’t be foolish enough to think you’d give him special treatment."

「A few moments later.」

A bell chimed across the grounds.

All eyes focused on the central arena in the middle of the training grounds.

「At this moment.」

Hong Jinhai, the Inspector General of the Martial Guard Headquarters, was standing proudly on the stage.

All the participating Martial Artists were lined up in formation, surrounding the arena.

Hong Jinhai first gave some opening remarks.

Then, he cleared his throat and continued:

"Next, I will announce the rules for the first round, ’Measuring Force.’ Listen carefully!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the four surrounding arenas one by one.

On each platform stood a frame resembling a folding screen. In the center of each frame was a piece of thick leather, seven feet long and two feet wide.

"This is the Measuring Strength Map. It is similar to the True Strength Crossing Thought Maps used in the major Martial Arts Halls. Its inner layer contains ingenious mechanisms like hidden patterns, grooves, and magnetic powder."

"Participating Martial Artists will take turns channeling their Power into it. You will be ranked according to the ’Candle Pattern’ that appears on the map."

"This ranking will directly affect the combat selection in the second round. All of you must take this seriously!"

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand grandly.

Below the stage, designated personnel immediately led the already-queued Martial Artists to the four surrounding arenas.

Chen Cheng’s group had about thirty people.

Shen Chun was first in line.

After she stepped onto the platform, an examiner briefly explained the procedure to her.

She placed her hands on the Measuring Strength Map, took a sharp, deep breath, and instantly pushed her body’s Blood Qi to its absolute limit, abruptly channeling her Power into the map.

「The next instant.」

Six parallel, blood-colored Candle Patterns appeared on the map one after another.

The first five all reached the very top of the map.

The sixth, however, was just a short, small sliver.

Immediately following, one Scribe was responsible for measuring, while another was responsible for recording.

"Shen Chun, Six Blood Pillar Pattern, three inches, two-tenths, and one-hundredth long," the examiner announced on the spot.

Shen Chun cupped her fist in salute, quickly walked off the platform, and stood to the side.

The following participants went up on stage one after another.

"Lin Fang, Six Blood Pillar Pattern, six inches, three-tenths, and a half-hundredth long."

"Dong Dayou, Six Blood Pillar Pattern, nine inches and two-tenths long exactly."

"Du Bing, Six Blood Pillar Pattern, four inches long..."

Listening to the examiner continuously announce the results, Shen Chun found it harder and harder to hold her head up.

She had come with the mindset of broadening her horizons and gaining experience, and she hadn’t put too much pressure on herself.

But after listening intently for a long time, she realized she was still dead last in the entire group.

This was a result she had never expected.

’And I even specially invited Mom to come,’ she thought. ’I wanted her to see my progress over the past two years. I wanted her to know that the reason I never help at the trading firm is because I’ve poured all my energy into Martial Arts...’

More importantly, the Shen Family’s Clan Leader and Heir were both here today.

’I wanted them to see clearly that I’m now a powerful Martial Artist. I wanted to make them regret expelling the third branch from the Inner City.’

’The reason I trained so desperately and frantically accumulated merits was for this very moment.’

’And yet, this is the result...’

She felt that every time the examiner announced a result, it was like an invisible hand slapping her hard across the face.

She didn’t dare look in Shen Mi’s direction, and she especially didn’t dare glance toward the Shen Family Patriarch and the Heir. Not even for a second.

If a crack were to open in the ground before her, she would have jumped in without a second thought.

Suddenly, her expression shifted slightly, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.

Chen Cheng was taking the stage.

’Here comes the person who’ll be in last place!’

Shen Chun let out a long breath, her eyes glued to Chen Cheng.

She had heard from Shen Mi about Chen Cheng fighting for the Trade Document. At that time, Chen Cheng had only just condensed Five Pillars of Blood Qi.

’Even if he’s improved since then, there’s no way he could have surpassed me.’

’As long as Chen Cheng comes in last, I’ll be able to save a little face.’

「Meanwhile.」

Chen Cheng’s hands were already on the map.

「The next instant.」

Six Candle Patterns shot straight through to the top of the map.

A seventh Candle Pattern then soared upwards, reaching about half the map’s total height.

"Chen Cheng, Seven Blood Pillar Pattern, three feet, three inches, three-tenths, and three-hundredths long."

"How much!?"

Shen Chun’s eyes flew wide open, nearly popping out of their sockets.

She couldn’t believe it, not even in her wildest dreams. Chen Cheng had actually condensed the Seventh Pillar of Blood Qi.

The crucial point was that the length of his Seven Blood Pillar Pattern was more than ten times the length of her Six Blood Pillar Pattern.

She was completely dumbfounded.

「In the distance.」

Shen Mi, Zhuang Hui Xian, and Yu Feng all showed expressions of surprise, and one after another, they congratulated Mrs. Li.

「In the neighboring pavilion.」

Pang Shixun was stunned for a moment, his expression shifting repeatedly, his eyes filled with an extremely complex look.

The young man beside him was even more shocked; his Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a word for the longest time.

「On the other side.」

The expressions on the faces of the Shen Family Patriarch and the Heir, Shen Qian, were equally complex.

The two exchanged a look and spoke at almost the exact same time:

"It seems we can truly consider letting the third branch back... no, welcoming the third branch back into the Inner City."

The Shen Family was not a major clan.

The reason the third branch had been expelled from the Inner City back then was that Shen Chun had offended a person of high status.

And that person’s greatest backing was a Transforming Force expert.

Now, with Chen Cheng possessing such strength, if the Shen Family welcomed the third branch back, not only would they no longer have to bow to that important person’s whims, but the Shen Family might even be able to stand as their equal in the future.

Over at the Dragon Mountain Hall’s pavilion, Wan Qianshan hadn’t come.

Cao Miao, who was sitting in the main seat, shot to his feet, eyes wide, staring at Chen Cheng again and again.

Fatty Fang, next to him, remained seated, steady as a mountain, an ’I-knew-it-all-along’ look on his face, just waiting for Cao Miao to turn and ask him.

"You knew all along?"

Cao Miao did indeed turn his head and ask eagerly.

"Cheng is my good brother. Of course he wouldn’t hide something like this from me."

Fatty Fang grinned, his eyes practically spelling out the four words: Sharing in his glory!

Over at the Wu Family’s pavilion.

Wu Shannan chuckled, looking from Chen Cheng to his granddaughter, Wu Ziyu, beside him. The more he looked, the broader his smile became.

"Grandfather, what are you smiling about?"

Wu Ziyu asked with her lips, but she was so clever, how could she not know why the old man was smiling?

A faint blush crept onto her fair, pretty face, making her skin seem all the more radiant and dewy.

「Just then.」

A sudden uproar broke out in the field. Nearly every gaze turned toward the same arena.