43: Chapter 43 Martial Arts Examination Rules

Han Ming's thoughts stirred, and a pale blue light screen appeared before his eyes:

[Host: Han Ming]

[Qi and Blood Value: 81,216 points]

[Realm: 8-Star Martial Master]

[Cultivation Technique: Ten Thousand Dao Scripture (Immortal Rank)]

[Martial Skill: Wind Shadow Step (Major Achievement), Mountain Crushing Palm (Major Achievement), Wind-Thunder Palm (Major Achievement), Qi Concealment Art (Minor Achievement)]

[Current Disciple Quota: 2/3 (One disciple quota is obtained for every major Breakthrough in Realm)]

[Bound Disciples: Lin Fan (5-Star Martial Master), Li Xuewei (4-Star Martial Apprentice · Mystic Ice Spirit Body not awakened)]

"Not bad, 81,200 points of Qi and Blood, 8-Star Martial Master."

Looking at his panel, Han Ming nodded with satisfaction.

Moreover, after breaking through to Martial Master, he had gained another disciple quota. He had been so busy Cultivating during this period that he had forgotten about having another disciple quota available.

"Lin Xiaoyu should be Awakening soon, right?" Han Ming put away the panel and muttered to himself.

Once the Martial Exam concluded, it would be the moment for the new batch of students to undergo their Talent Awakening.

Lin Xiaoyu's A-grade Ice Talent was what made her a sensation at the Awakening ceremony after the Martial Exam. If he could manage to bind her before the Awakening...

Han Ming's eyes lit up, but he quickly suppressed this thought.

There were only five days left until the Martial Exam; time was too tight.

Besides, that sister-obsessed Lin Fan would likely flip out if he knew he was targeting his sister.

Better to wait until after the Martial Exam to discuss it.

He stood up and pushed open the window.

The morning sunlight spilled in, feeling warm and cozy.

In the courtyard, his father, Han Yonghui, was Cultivating the "Star-Shattering Finger." Pale golden Protective Aura gathered at his fingertips, and every strike carried a sharp whistling sound as it pierced the air.

"Morning, Dad." Han Ming walked out of the room.

Han Yonghui finished his practice and turned back, glancing at him with a slight nod: "8-Star Martial Apprentice, not bad."

Han Ming's mouth twitched. His father now looked at him as if he were a mysterious box wrapped in layers of disguise. Even though he knew his son was a 5-Star Martial Artist (or so he thought), he had to play along and pretend he didn't know. This feeling was quite awkward.

"Are you going to school today? Principal Wang said there's going to be a mobilization meeting for the Martial Exam," Han Yonghui asked.

"Yeah, I'll go take a look," Han Ming nodded.

He had been busy Cultivating for the past few days and hadn't really gone to school. With the Martial Exam imminent, it was time to go and listen to the rules.

After eating breakfast, Han Ming left the house.

The playground of Third Martial Arts High School was bustling with people. All the senior students had gathered together, and even those "old faces" who usually didn't attend classes much had appeared.

Everyone's face was filled with nervousness and anticipation. Five days later, the fate-deciding Martial Exam would begin.

On the podium, Principal Wang Yang sat upright, with several deans and class teachers behind him. His gaze swept over the four hundred-plus students below, finally lingering for a moment on Lin Fan and Han Ming.

"Students!" Principal Wang Yang's voice boomed across the venue through the loudspeaker, "Five days from now, it will be the Martial Exam. Your hard work over the past three years will be put to the test on that day!"

The audience below was silent.

"This year, many students at No. 3 High School have made rapid progress." Principal Wang Yang's gaze swept over Lin Fan and Han Ming again, "But I hope you remember that the exam is not the end, but the beginning. Regardless of your results, as long as you give it your all, there will be no regrets!"

Applause broke out.

Principal Wang Yang raised his hand to signal for quiet and continued: "Next, I will introduce the rules for this year's Martial Exam."

Everyone pricked up their ears.

"This year's Martial Exam, like previous years, will be conducted in a special Secret Realm," Principal Wang Yang's voice turned serious, "There are 1st-rank and 2nd-rank exotic beasts in the Secret Realm. Killing a 1st-rank 1-star exotic beast grants 1 point; 1st-rank 2-star grants 2 points... and so on, up to 1st-rank 9-star granting 9 points."

"Killing 2nd-rank exotic beasts yields higher points. 2nd-rank 1-star grants 100 points, 2nd-rank 2-star grants 200 points... up to 2nd-rank 9-star granting 900 points!"

A collective gasp of cold air rose from the crowd below.

2nd-rank exotic beasts! Those were existences at the level of a Martial Artist! Most of the students present hadn't even killed a 1st-rank exotic beast, let alone a 2nd-rank one.

"The Martial Exam lasts for three days," Principal Wang Yang continued, "After three days, the ranking will be based on scores. The top 100 candidates in the entire base city will have the opportunity to enter a Martial Arts University."

"The higher your ranking, the more favored you will be by top Martial Arts Universities. The four top Martial Arts Universities—Modu Martial Arts University, Kyoto Martial Arts University, Jinling Martial Arts University, and Wuchang Martial Arts University—will all focus on the top 100 candidates."

The eyes of the students below lit up.

The four top Martial Arts Universities! That was the dream of every martial arts student!

"Of course, students who don't make it into the top 100 should not be discouraged," Principal Wang Yang added, "If a Martial Arts University admissions teacher takes a liking to you, you will still have the opportunity to be admitted."

"More importantly—" Principal Wang Yang's voice suddenly turned grave, "Teachers will be guarding the Secret Realm. Everyone will be issued a positioning bracelet. If you encounter danger, press the button on the bracelet, and a teacher will immediately rush to rescue you. But remember, once the bracelet is pressed, it means your Martial Exam has ended. Your previous score will be your final result."

He paused and scanned the audience: "Safety first; your life is more important than the score. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" the students shouted in unison.

"One more thing," Principal Wang Yang's expression was even more serious, "To ensure the safety of the Martial Exam, the Great Xia Alliance will dispatch at least one Martial Emperor and five Martial King experts to be stationed in every base city to prevent people from the Destiny Sect and the Blood Demon Alliance from causing trouble. You only need to focus on the exam; you don't need to worry about anything else."

Hearing that a Martial Emperor and Martial Kings were stationed there, many students breathed a sigh of relief.

They had also heard that in many previous Martial Exams in other places, people from the Blood Demon Alliance had infiltrated to hunt down geniuses.

Basically, a significant number of geniuses died at the hands of the Blood Demon Alliance and the Destiny Sect every year.

Of course, such situations were relatively rare in Jiangbei City. After all, Jiangbei was only a small base city, and the probability of geniuses appearing was relatively low.

It wasn't enough to attract the attention of the Blood Demon Alliance.

However, thinking of the mysterious person he had seen at the Tianwu Building, it was clear that this year's Martial Exam would likely not be peaceful.

Principal Wang Yang mentioned a few more precautions and then announced the end of the meeting.

The crowd began to disperse in twos and threes, discussing the event.

Han Ming looked around the crowd and soon spotted Lin Fan.

This kid was still as low-key as ever, standing alone in the furthest corner. Even though he was at the 5-Star Martial Master Realm and had the strength to kill a 9-Star Martial Master across ranks, he disguised himself as a 3-Star Martial Artist.

Han Ming reckoned that if it weren't for the fact that hunting exotic beasts outside the city required the strength of a Martial Artist, this guy definitely wouldn't reveal his Martial Artist strength.

"Yo? Not bad, Lin Fan! I haven't seen you for over ten days and I can't even sense your cultivation anymore. You haven't broken through to Martial Artist, have you?" Han Ming walked up to Lin Fan, mimicking his old devil-may-care attitude to tease him.

"Hmph, none of your business. Get lost, and it's best you don't come to provoke me again." Lin Fan gave Han Ming an unfriendly glance and said with a cold snort.

He had never liked Han Ming to begin with. If it weren't for the fact that he had given him one million previously and helped him find Li Wanpeng to get back the money that had been stolen, he would have definitely taught him a lesson.

Now, seeing Han Ming's devil-may-care appearance, he thought of the scene where he had been bullied by him and his group, so it was already good that he could refrain from making a move.

With his current strength, he didn't put the Han Family in his eyes.

If Han Ming didn't know what was good for him, he wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson.

"Hehe... why be so cold and distant? We are technically Master and disciple, aren't we? You have called me Master, after all." Han Ming didn't care about Lin Fan's attitude at all; he stepped closer and said with a cheeky grin.

"You... if you mention that again, don't blame me for flipping out on you." Hearing this, Lin Fan's face turned red and then black. He shot Han Ming an annoyed look and turned to leave.

He felt a wave of embarrassment when Han Ming brought this up, thinking about how he had actually called a Martial Apprentice "Master" for that one million?

However, it was precisely because of Han Ming's one million that his path after his Rebirth had been much smoother.

Otherwise, given his personality, if someone had bullied him like Han Ming did before, he would have already taken revenge.

"Wait! I'm just joking, aren't I? Look at you getting all worked up. Here, take this." Seeing Lin Fan about to leave, Han Ming quickly called him back, took a small booklet from his pocket, and handed it to him.

"You... what is the meaning of this?" Lin Fan took the booklet, looked at it, and was stunned, looking at Han Ming in confusion.

"It's a gift for you. You did call me Master, after all." Han Ming waved his hand and smiled.

After saying this, he turned and left without waiting for Lin Fan to speak.

Lin Fan looked at the Profound Rank Low Grade Martial Skill "Star-Shattering Finger" in his hand, then at Han Ming's departing back, his expression complicated.

This was a Profound Rank Martial Skill!

Han Ming just gave it to him just like that?

This should be the best Martial Skill the Han Family had, right!

Yet, he didn't know that Han Ming was just too lazy to Cultivate it himself and was looking for him to be his "power-leveler"!