18: Participating in the Martial Arts Academy Assessment

Lin Mo was pondering the various uses of the Qi Sea Acupoint vortex in the courtyard when Er hurriedly came to report.

"Master, the Black Wolf Gang seems to have found some of our tracks and is secretly inquiring about us.

Steward Wu of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion sent a message. The Qinglan Martial Academy's autumn enrollment will begin in half a month.

He asks if the Young Master is interested in participating?

If so, he can help smooth over some connections and resolve the household registration and guarantee issues, but the academy's assessment must rely on your own ability."

Lin Mo's eyes flashed.

The trouble with the Black Wolf Gang would have to be resolved sooner or later, but now was not the time.

And the Qinglan Martial Academy was an excellent opportunity!

Not only could he obtain a formal identity, a systematic martial arts education, and access to higher-level knowledge and networks, but he could also use the academy's platform to openly develop his forces and acquire resources!

"Reply to Steward Wu that I, Lin, intend to participate in the academy assessment. Thank him for his trouble in arranging the guarantee," Lin Mo decided immediately.

"In addition, have the intelligence network team step up their surveillance of the Black Wolf Gang. Find out the locations and activity patterns of all their leaders and important properties.

While we are at the academy for the assessment, have Yi transfer a group of capable men from Qingyuan Town to strengthen our defenses.

If the Black Wolf Gang dares to act recklessly, let Liu Kui and White Sand Child cause some trouble for them first to distract them."

"Yes!"

...The Qinglan Martial Academy was located in the east of the city, occupying a vast area. Two stone lions stood majestically in front of the gate, exuding a solemn and dignified aura.

Unlike the noisy and ostentatious martial arts halls in the city, this place appeared restrained and profound.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Lin Mo's life became more regular and fulfilling.

Cultivating the Aperture Condensation Method daily, the vortex in his Qi Sea Acupoint became increasingly solid and stable, and his control over his Inner Breath became more refined.

The cultivation feedback from the Death Warriors was steady and continuous. Newly summoned [Eighteen] (Basic Horsemanship) and [Nineteen] (Basic Clerical Work) joined, further enriching the skill pool.

Wu's research on the rusted sword progressed slowly but steadily. The effects of the wen yuan powder prepared by Liu were verified and began to be promoted among all the Death Warriors involved in cultivation.

Fang Han made rapid progress in basic physical fitness and breathing exercises. His body became visibly stronger, and his eyes gained a bit more spirit.

Grateful for the kindness, he kept the courtyard in perfect order and was very respectful to Lin Mo and the Death Warriors.

After observing him, Lin Mo felt that the boy's Heart-Nature was pure and his root-bone was excellent, so he occasionally gave him more guidance. Fang Han took it all to heart and cultivated even more diligently.

On the Black Wolf Gang's side, the intelligence network team reported that the other party was indeed secretly investigating the conflict in the Ghost Market that night.

However, because Lin Mo and the others' movements were hidden and Guard Zhao's identity made them wary, there had been no substantial retaliatory actions yet.

There were only constant small movements, with increased patrols and inspections in the Ghost Market and surrounding areas.

Following Lin Mo's instructions, Liu Kui and White Sand Child caused some accidents for several of the Black Wolf Gang's smuggling teams in and around Qingyuan Town, tying up some of their energy.

Yi also transferred ten elite Hidden Guards who had undergone preliminary training from Qingyuan Town, strengthening the defense of their foothold in Qinglan City.

On this day, the autumn air was crisp and clear; it was the day of the Qinglan Martial Academy's autumn enrollment.

The plaza in front of the academy was already crowded with people. Hundreds of young men and women between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five had gathered there.

Accompanying family members and friends made it even more crowded.

The academy Disciples maintaining order were dressed in uniform green martial arts suits, their expressions serious as they divided the plaza into several areas.

Accompanied by Guard Zhao, Lin Mo passed through the crowd and arrived at the registration desk specifically set up for recommended candidates.

Steward Wu had already arranged everything. Lin Mo successfully registered his temporary household registration guarantee and received his examination token—No. C-27.

"Young Master Lin, the assessment is divided into three stages," Guard Zhao introduced in a low voice.

"The first stage is the Strength Test, to check basic strength and physical toughness."

"The second stage is the Bone Examination. An academy Instructor will personally perform a bone touch to evaluate root-bone Aptitude and the smoothness of the Meridians."

"The third stage is the Heart Inquiry. The format varies; it could be a written test on literature and logic, or a situational response to assess Heart-Nature and willpower."

"Only after passing all three stages is one considered qualified. Then, based on overall performance, candidates are Grade D into four levels: A, B, C, and D, and the best are admitted."

Lin Mo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the eager candidates in the plaza.

Among them were many with steady breath and slightly bulging temples, clearly already having some foundation in martial arts.

There were also many young people like Fang Han who, although their foundation was thin, had eyes full of longing.

"Clang—!"

A loud bell rang out, drowning out the noise in the plaza.

A lean middle-aged man in a green robe appeared on the steps, his voice like a great bell: "Silence!

The Qinglan Martial Academy autumn enrollment begins now! All candidates, line up according to your examination tokens and prepare for the first stage—the Strength Test!"

The crowd quickly became restless as the candidates rushed to different areas according to the A, B, C, and D labels on their tokens.

Lin Mo came to Area C, which had the most people, about a hundred or so.

The Strength Test stage was very simple. In the center of the field were several rows of stone locks of various sizes, ranging from fifty to five hundred jin.

Candidates were required to step forward in turn, lift a stone lock of a specified weight, and hold it for at least three breaths.

The standard for Area C was to lift a one-hundred-and-fifty-jin stone lock.

To Lin Mo, this was child's play.

His current pure physical strength had already exceeded a thousand jin, and he even found it difficult to accurately estimate his upper limit.

However, adhering to his principle of keeping a low profile, he did not use his full strength.

When it was his turn, he stepped forward and grasped the handle of the one-hundred-and-fifty-jin stone lock with one hand.

With a seemingly casual lift, the stone lock left the ground steadily, was held above his head, and remained motionless for five breaths before he gently put it down without being red-faced or out of breath.

The academy Disciple responsible for recording looked at him and made a checkmark on the register, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Being able to lift one hundred and fifty jin so easily was considered a very good result in Area C.

The first stage quickly eliminated nearly thirty percent of the candidates who failed to meet the standard, and the number of people on the field decreased sharply.

The remaining people were led into the interior of the academy to a spacious martial arts hall for the second stage, the Bone Examination.

Several middle-aged Instructors with deep breaths and sharp gazes sat in the hall, and the candidates stepped forward one by one.

The Instructors would personally touch their bones, joints, and major Acupoints throughout their bodies, and send in a weak trace of Inner Breath to investigate the Meridians. The process was very fast.

"Bones are thick, but flexibility is insufficient, Meridians are congested... Grade D."

"Root-bone is extraordinary, Meridians are clear, but unfortunately, the age is a bit old... Grade B."

"Eh? Blood and Qi are vigorous, bones are light and sturdy, a good seedling... Grade A!"

Very few were rated Grade A, slightly more were Grade B, Grade C was the most common, and Grade D meant elimination.

When it was Lin Mo's turn, a serious-looking Instructor signaled him to step forward.

Fingers were placed on his wrist pulse, and a trace of warm but probing Inner Breath was sent in.

Lin Mo immediately retracted the vortex in his Qi Sea Acupoint, suppressing the Inner Breath fluctuations to the minimum, showing only a physical Blood-Qi power several times stronger than an ordinary person's.

The Instructor's fingers quickly brushed over several key bones and Acupoints on his body, the surprise in his eyes growing stronger and stronger.

The trace of Inner Breath he sent in flowed through Lin Mo's Meridians without any hindrance, and he even vaguely felt that the other party's Meridians were far wider and tougher than usual, and his Blood-Qi was as vigorous as a furnace!

What surprised him even more was that this young man's bone density was extremely high, yet it contained a peculiar vitality, as if it had been tempered a thousand times yet was still full of life.

"Have you... Cultivated before?" the Instructor couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"I have learned some crude physical fitness methods from my family elders." Lin Mo replied respectfully; this was the explanation he had prepared long ago.

The Instructor gave him a deep look and didn't ask further, writing a comment on the register: "Root-bone superior-superior, Meridians are clear and wide, Blood-Qi is exceptionally vigorous, suspected to have a special Foundation Establishment method as a base... Grade A-Superior!"

Grade A-Superior! This was the highest evaluation that had appeared so far!

Several nearby Instructors and candidates who had not yet left cast surprised glances. Lin Mo's expression remained calm as he bowed and stepped back.