Chapter 194: The Methods of a Lower Sixth-Rank

At the Public Security Division’s martial hall.

When Yang Ling arrived, he found the place buzzing with activity.

“Could it be that constables from the Bandit Apprehension Division, the Public Security Division, and the Inspection Department have all come?”

The vast martial arena was now packed full of people.

Seeing Yang Ling’s arrival, the Ironclad Department agents parted to make way for him.

Zhao Xun, the Fourth Prince, Xu Wuji, Zhang Hu, Li Huaiyi, and other Ironclad agents were also present.

Lu Yunchen stood with his hands behind his back at the central position, smiling as he watched Yang Ling.

“Isn’t Yang Ling an upper Seventh-Rank? Could he have broken through after coming out of the Water Qilin Cave?”

“A Sixth-Rank assessment... it’s been years since we’ve had a Sixth-Rank assessment in the Yunwen Provincial Capital...”

The Ironclad constables from the Yunwen Provincial Capital looked at Yang Ling with curiosity and a hint of awe.

The various directors of the Yunwen Provincial Capital, aside from Lu Yunchen himself, were also at the Seventh-Rank level.

Even if this young Chief Constable Yang hadn’t broken through to Sixth-Rank, his level of cultivation was already something they could only look up to.

If he truly passed the Sixth-Rank assessment and got registered, they couldn’t imagine how terrifying his future prospects would be!

“Director Yun, isn’t this... too many people?”

Yang Ling asked in a low voice.

Yun Ruo replied, “The Yunwen Provincial Capital hasn’t seen an Ironclad agent participate in a Sixth-Rank assessment for years. Some constables haven’t even witnessed one before.”

“The directors also hope their people can broaden their horizons. They’re all colleagues, so there’s no need to be nervous. Just show your true strength.”

“Chief Constable Yang, the Fourth Prince and Lord Zhao are both here today, and they’ll serve as witnesses for your Sixth-Rank assessment.”

Lu Yunchen said with a faint smile, “This kind of opportunity is extremely rare. You need to seize it well. If you fail this assessment and don’t manage to advance to Lower Sixth-Rank,”

“You won’t have such esteemed figures as your witnesses in the future.”

A flicker of doubt passed through Yang Ling’s eyes.

Did the Sixth-Rank assessment require witnesses?

The Fourth Prince laughed and said, “Chief Constable Yang probably isn’t aware of these matters yet.”

“Registration has its own set of rules.”

“For the Ninth-Rank, Eighth-Rank, and Seventh-Rank, the requirements aren’t as strict.”

“But once you reach Sixth-Rank, it’s not something that can be decided casually.”

“All Sixth-Rank assessments require witnesses to be present, and the identity and strength of those witnesses must be recognized by all parties involved.”

“With the Fourth Prince and me here today, consider yourself lucky. It saves you from a lot of tedious procedures.”

Zhao Xun chimed in with a smile, “As long as you pass the assessment and we confirm you have Sixth-Rank strength,”

“I’ll take your results directly back to the Capital for registration. From then on, you’ll be a true Sixth-Rank expert.”

“Lord Zhao Xun happens to have the Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra and the Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique with him.”

The Fourth Prince added, “If you pass the assessment, we’ll give them to you today. Lord Zhao will take care of the paperwork when he returns to the Capital.”

The Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra! A second-rate internal technique!

The constables on site all stiffened, their eyes burning with desire.

As Ironclad agents, how could they not know the value of this technique!

This was the internal technique that all high-ranking members of the Ironclad Department had to cultivate!

Even Li Huaiyi and the others felt a pang of envy, though they knew they would eventually get the Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra and the Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique as well—it was just a matter of time.

“Now, let me explain the standards for the Sixth-Rank assessment.”

Lu Yunchen continued, “I will go all out. As long as you can hold out for over a hundred moves against me, you pass.”

“During this time, your Vital Qi must not be depleted. If it runs out, you fail.”

“You can dodge or evade, but you cannot leave the boundaries of the martial arena. Crossing the line also counts as failure.”

All he had to do was survive a hundred moves?

Yang Ling’s mind stirred. That didn’t seem like a particularly harsh standard.

“Director Lu, what level of cultivation are you at?”

Yang Ling asked.

Lu Yunchen smiled and replied, “Lower Sixth-Rank.”

Yang Ling clasped his fists and said, “Director Lu, I don’t mean anything by this. I’m just asking—if you’re Lower Sixth-Rank and I can only last a hundred moves against you, does that mean I’m also considered Lower Sixth-Rank?”

A knowing smile spread across Lu Yunchen’s and the others’ faces, as if they had heard this question many times before.

“Martial arts cultivation is actually very difficult to assess. The existence of ranks is only for convenience.”

“If you can last a hundred moves against me without your Vital Qi being depleted, it shows that an upper Seventh-Rank expert poses no threat to you at all.”

“At that point, even if you’re not a Lower Sixth-Rank, and not an upper Seventh-Rank, what are you?”

Lu Yunchen chuckled, “We usually refer to this stage as the ‘newly advanced’ stage. You’d be a newly advanced Lower Sixth-Rank, with slightly weaker foundations.”

“Given enough time—say, half a year or a year—if you train and temper yourself well, you can shed the ‘newly advanced’ label.”

“Similarly, among Lower Sixth-Rank experts, there are differences in strength. I may be a Lower Sixth-Rank, but in the entire Zhao State, there are no more than twenty Lower Sixth-Rank experts who can defeat me.”

A flash of understanding passed through Yang Ling’s mind. He roughly grasped what Lu Yunchen meant.

None of the big shots present today actually believed he had reached the Lower Sixth-Rank level.

They simply thought his strength was now a cut above the upper Seventh-Rank.

Thus, by passing this assessment, he could become a newly advanced Sixth-Rank.

This was a literal ‘newly advanced Sixth-Rank’—it didn’t actually represent his cultivation level.

If the Ironclad Department wished, they could even register an ordinary person and mark them as First-Rank without any issue.

“Once Li Huaiyi and the others return, they’ll likely participate in this kind of assessment before long. So this standard was specifically set to avoid closing off the path to advancement, giving the lower ranks a fighting chance.”

Once he understood that, Yang Ling knew exactly what to do next.

“It’s getting late. I’m going to begin. Prepare yourself.”

Lu Yunchen smiled faintly as he slowly activated his internal cultivation technique.

In an instant, his attributes began to skyrocket.

Both attributes increased by 60 points!

In Yang Ling’s eyes, Lu Yunchen’s Strength shot up from 106 to 166.

His Agility rose from 73 to 133.

“These attributes are actually quite close to Chi Qingyao’s and the others’.”

“But this isn’t his peak yet. He still hasn’t used his martial techniques.”

Yang Ling’s mind stirred.

Just then, Lu Yunchen’s attributes suddenly spiked by another huge margin!

Both attributes increased by another 40 points!

Strength reached 206, and Agility hit 173!

“Wait! Something’s not right here?”

A strange glint appeared in Yang Ling’s eyes.

The dual attribute increase of 60 points should have come from the Skilled-level Azure Dragon Technique’s boost.

And the dual attribute increase of 40 points—was that from the Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra!?

“No, I’ve encountered quite a few Seventh-Rank experts who cultivate two internal techniques as well.”

“Yun Ruo practices the Ironclad Heart Technique and the Azure Dragon Technique, but when she fights, only one internal technique provides an attribute boost...”

Yang Ling’s perception locked onto Lu Yunchen, and he seemed to catch a hint of something unusual.

The Vital Qi inside Lu Yunchen’s body was circulating along a special pathway.

And the consumption was extremely intense.

Even though his opponent hadn’t made a move yet, his Vital Qi was already depleting rapidly.

“Is this the price of activating two internal techniques simultaneously?”

“Is this the real difference between Sixth-Rank and Seventh-Rank!?”

At that moment, Lu Yunchen had already transformed into a fierce tiger charging at Yang Ling.

His Strength and Agility shot up by another 20 points!

This was the attribute boost from the Skilled-level Azure Dragon Movement Technique!

Behind him, the faint shadow of a giant dragon appeared!

The Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique and saber momentum!

Lu Yunchen’s dual attributes increased by another 15 points! This came from the Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique’s bonus!

In that instant, his Strength reached a terrifying 241 points, and his Agility broke through 200 points, landing at 208!

“This is the real strength of a goddamn Lower Sixth-Rank!?”

Yang Ling couldn’t help but curse inwardly. Not daring to slack off, he immediately activated the Vajra Bright King Technique!