Chapter 40: Taking the Stage |
At this moment, the group of martial candidates that Zhou Yu was in came forward.
Women were already rare, and with Zhou Yu's pretty appearance, she immediately drew many gazes.
Having witnessed her fellow disciples' performances earlier, Zhou Yu took a deep breath. She must strive to do well and not disgrace Zhou's courtyard.
"Oh! This woman actually dares to challenge the eight-stone bow?" someone whispered.
Zhou Yu walked slowly toward the eight-stone bow, gathering her focus and strength, drawing the bowstring.
In an instant, her face flushed red and large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
The bowstring moved slowly, and the expressions of those around changed accordingly.
"Open!"
Zhou Yu shouted lowly, her strength exploding outward in an instant.
"Buzz buzz!"
Finally exhausted, she loosened her fingers and the bowstring made a crisp humming sound.
"What a pity..."
Zhou Yu's expression couldn't hide her disappointment. She had originally wanted to pull it twice, but her arms had no strength left.
"Ji Fifteen (Zhou Yu), Yi middle!"
This result could only be called decent, far from outstanding.
At this moment, it was Qin Lie's turn to take the stage.
The Zhou courtyard disciples all looked over with expectation in their eyes.
Zhou Yu said seriously, "Junior brother Qin Lie, this time it's all up to you!"
Qin Lie said in a deep voice, "Sister, rest assured, I won't disappoint you."
After speaking, he strode onto the square.
Zhou Liang, watching from afar, also focused his gaze.
Shen Zhenzhong beside him smiled, "Brother Zhou, I see Qin Lie's qi and blood are vigorous, not far from achieving great mastery of hidden strength. I believe he'll soon be able to attempt the third challenge. With such strength, achieving high marks should be a sure thing."
This was Shen Zhenzhong, the martial master of Shen's courtyard. His thirty-six-form Seven Star Palm had quite a reputation in Gaolin County.
Liu Ze, the Mantis Boxing expert nearby, stroked his beard and continued, "It seems Brother Zhou hasn't spared any effort on this final disciple of his."
Zhou Liang also had three to five close friends among the martial masters who looked out for each other.
Besides Seven Star Palm's Shen Zhenzhong, Mantis Boxing's Liu Ze was also one of them. Both had met Qin Lie several times.
In this world, which martial master didn't have enemies? Taking a final disciple was both for old-age support and to block disasters and fists, already a common practice.
Zhou Liang's eyes showed satisfaction, but then he shook his head and sighed, "The third challenge... is ultimately too difficult. He still needs to accumulate qi and blood before having a chance to try. Brother Liu's beloved disciple has better chances."
"What chances? After failing three times, I think there's no chance left."
"Chances?"
Liu Ze's mouth turned bitter, "My unworthy disciple has already failed three times... what chances are left!"
He sighed deeply and lamented, "This third challenge ultimately depends on fate."
Obvious strength, hidden strength, transforming strength, three distinct barriers.
Though the first two barriers had many obstacles, there were still opportunities. This third challenge was like a vast chasm, with very few who could cross it.
Root bone, resources, and fortune were all indispensable.
Many gazes were drawn over, as Qin Lie was also a somewhat famous young elite.
Qin Lie walked directly toward the nine-stone bow. He took a deep breath, suddenly grasped the bowstring with his palm, and exerted force abruptly!
Buzz buzz!
The heavy nine-stone bow was actually pulled open by him forcefully.
Qin Lie's features twisted from exertion, his gaze sweeping the audience below as a roar burst from his throat.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
He pulled it five times in one breath, finally stopping only when his strength was exhausted.
"Ji Nineteen (Qin Lie), Jia lower!" the clerk announced loudly.
Exclamations rose all around, and the Zhou courtyard disciples were excited.
Only Zheng Ziqiao's face changed slightly, then quickly returned to normal.
Luo Qian watched the spirited Qin Lie with mixed feelings in her heart.
Sun Shun also nodded, "Junior brother Qin is now secure."
Zhou Liang in the distance showed relief, a weight finally lifted from his heart.
"Ji squad withdraw! Geng squad step forward!"
The clerk's command rang out.
In the Geng squad, one person looked nervous and nearly bumped into the martial candidate in front of him, hastily apologizing repeatedly, "Sorry! Sorry!"
This person was Chen Heng.
At this moment, his palms were soaked with sweat, his heart uneasy, repeatedly muttering, "Planning is up to people, success is up to heaven... Planning is up to people, success is up to heaven..."
The next squad included Chen Qing, who saw Chen Heng's lips moving as he muttered to himself. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, thinking: Still playing with mysticism? As if that would work!
The Ding Jia squad martial candidates began their strength tests.
Chen Heng took a deep breath, then grabbed a four-stone bow, exerting all his strength. His arms trembled violently as he struggled to pull the bowstring inch by inch.
Buzz!
The bowstring sounded lightly, and Chen Heng was overjoyed.
In daily martial hall tests, he could at most pull a three-stone bow. This was already extraordinary performance.
"Ding Jia Fifteen, Bing middle!"
The clerk's cold announcement was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.
"Bing middle?"
Chen Heng opened his mouth to argue, but remembering his senior brother's words, he ultimately swallowed his words and silently walked down the platform with his squad, happening to brush past Chen Qing who was preparing to take the stage.
Chen Heng straightened his chest with the tone of someone experienced, "Don't be nervous, just do your best. There's always next year."
Chen Qing seemed not to hear and walked directly toward the center of the examination ground.
On the field, bows of various stone weights were arrayed and waiting:
Three-stone bow. Four-stone bow. Five-stone bow. Six-stone bow. ....
The Ding Yi squad martial candidates came forward to select longbows for strength testing but Chen Qing's steps didn't stop, walking directly to the ten-stone bow.
Once strength was somewhat consumed, it would be very difficult to pull the bowstring again, so most martial candidates, being cautious, wouldn't attempt their limits.
Zheng Ziqiao saw Chen Qing take the stage and whispered, "What is junior brother Chen trying to do?"
"Ten-stone bow!?"
Luo Qian sneered, "Is this kid trying to show off?"
"Junior brother Chen is being too reckless."
Zhou Yu worried, "If he exhausts his strength at the beginning, how can he perform later?"
Seeing Chen Qing actually walk toward the ten-stone bow that even he hadn't dared attempt, Qin Lie couldn't help but lock his gaze on that figure, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.
He had tried the ten-stone bow before, only managing to barely pull it open once out of ten attempts.
Though it was only one stone heavier than the nine-stone bow, that subtle difference was extremely difficult to breakthrough.
So for safety's sake, Qin Lie had chosen the nine-stone bow.
No one believed Chen Qing could pull the ten-stone bow. Even those veteran disciples didn't dare attempt it. How long had he been at hidden strength!?
Not only the people from Zhou's courtyard, but most people on the field looked over.
After all, someone who dared to challenge the ten-stone bow was no simple character.
Looking at his clothing, he was just a mud-leg peasant!
Whether it was showing off or real ability, one test would tell.
Under everyone's gaze, Chen Qing grabbed the ten-stone bow, his qi and blood boiling within, then his arms began to exert force.
Crack! Crack!
Strength exploded outward, immediately producing crisp sounds, then his entire arm's veins bulged, fierce as coiling dragons.
Buzz buzz! Buzz buzz!
The bowstring that required twelve hundred pounds of pull force began to tremble, the bowstring and bow body producing continuous sounds.
Thum!
The sound became almost tangible, spreading continuously in all directions.
Instantly, everyone's expressions changed.
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