55: Chapter 55 Winning Over

As this young-faced boy, dressed in the ordinary standard-issue martial attire of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, walked toward the heavy dark iron rocks, whispers of confusion quickly spread and fermented through the crowd, eventually erupting into an irrepressible uproar.

"Who is this guy? Shouldn't the third person to take the stage for Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall be Du Fei?"

"What about Du Fei? Is he injured? Or..."

"He's going to test? What kind of joke is this! On what grounds did he get a recommendation spot?"

"Could he be the illegitimate son of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall master? This is too reckless!"

Countless gazes, filled with scrutiny, skepticism, curiosity, and even mockery, were firmly fixed on Lin Tian.

Especially at the seating area of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, the expressions on everyone's faces quickly shifted from initial astonishment to incredulous suspicion.

"What is he going up there for?" a Liehuo Disciple asked, eyes wide.

"Could it be..." another person said, their voice dry.

Liehuo Hall Master's crimson face was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water, and the aura of violence between his brows churned. He suddenly turned his head and growled at his confidant beside him: "What is going on?! Where is Elder Yan Lie?! Didn't he swear up and down that he was keeping a close watch on this kid, and that it was absolutely impossible for him to achieve a Breakthrough in such a short time?! What the hell is this situation?! Find Elder Yan Lie for me immediately! I want him to explain this to my face!"

"Yes, Hall Master!" a Disciple hurriedly replied, squeezing out of the crowd to rush and find the red-robed Elder who had been "tailing" Lin Tian for months but had inexplicably lost contact last night.

In the arena, Lin Tian seemed oblivious to the commotion and gazes from all directions.

His steps were steady as he walked straight past the most basic "two thousand jin" dark iron rocks, and even gave only a cursory glance at the "two thousand and fifty jin" stone, finally stopping in front of the giant rock marked "two thousand and fifty jin."

"Two thousand and fifty jin? He has some self-awareness, at least, not daring to touch the two thousand one hundred jin one," someone whispered.

"Being able to lift this one would be good enough, considering he looks so young..."

"Hmph, just putting on an act. If he can't even lift two thousand jin, the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall will lose face big time!"

Amidst the chaotic discussions, Lin Tian slightly lowered his waist and firmly gripped the specially carved slots at the bottom of the giant rock.

Unlike many before him, he did not exhale loudly or contort his face; he simply took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly focused, and the Qi and blood that had been as calm as an abyss throughout his body surged instantly!

"Rise!" With a low shout, not particularly loud but carrying a deep, heavy force.

His arm and back muscles instantly bulged, and he lifted the two thousand and fifty jin dark iron rock as commanded, easily raising it above his head and keeping it steady at a height of over three feet off the ground!

The entire process was clean and crisp; the giant rock was as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremor.

He held the stone silently for three breaths, then slightly lowered his arms, placing the stone back in its original spot with a "boom," kicking up a circle of dust, while he himself only had slightly rapid breathing that quickly calmed down.

The entire arena was silent for a moment, then erupted into an even greater uproar!

"He lifted it! He actually lifted it!"

"Two thousand and fifty jin! Steady as can be! Does this guy really have Second Grade Martial Artist strength?!"

"My god! Where did Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall find such a monster? He looks even younger than Du Fei!"

"I've never heard of him before!"

On the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall side, it was like a pot had exploded. Several Disciples turned pale, looking at each other with shock in their eyes.

"He... did he really achieve a Breakthrough?!"

"How is that possible?! Didn't Elder Yan Lie say it was absolutely impossible for him..."

"Then Elder Yan Lie, he..."

Liehuo Hall Master stood up abruptly from his seat, his eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at the gray-blue figure in the arena who was dusting off his hands and walking back to his seat with a calm expression. An aura of violence, intertwined with rage and suspicion, was almost bursting out of him.

The Elder he had sent to tail him, who should have been foolproof, had gone missing, and the target they were tailing had, under everyone's gaze, displayed the strength of a Second Grade Martial Artist and openly participated in the Imperial Guard examination! If there was no connection here, only a ghost would believe it!

"Elder Yan Lie... trash!" Liehuo Hall Master squeezed the words through his teeth, a foreboding premonition already faintly forming in his heart.

The Disciple he had sent to find him also hurried back at this moment, reporting in a low voice with an ugly expression: "Hall Master... I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find Elder Yan Lie. His belongings seem to have been disturbed, but he... is gone. The last time someone saw him was several nights ago; it seems he left the city..."

"Left the city... several days ago..." Liehuo Hall Master's eyes suddenly sharpened. He looked again toward the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, toward the boy who was chatting in low tones with his fellow Disciples, looking composed. A cold chill, mixed with monstrous killing intent, rose uncontrollably from the bottom of his heart.

He could be almost certain that Elder Yan Lie's disappearance was absolutely related to this kid! Perhaps, Elder Yan Lie might even have already...

"Good! A fine Lin Tian! A fine Hall Master Chen Qingfeng!" Liehuo Hall Master slowly sat back in his chair, his expression terrifyingly gloomy, his fingers digging deeply into the hard armrest. "No matter what evil method you used to achieve a Breakthrough, no matter what means you used to ambush Elder Yan Lie... since you dared to come and participate in this examination, don't even think about leaving Qianlong Villa alive!"

"Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Lin Tian, two thousand and fifty jin, qualified. Evaluation: Medium." The voice of the Imperial Guard soldier rang out at the right moment, setting the tone for Lin Tian's performance in the first round.

Medium—not outstanding, but enough to qualify for the second round.

Lin Tian nodded slightly, not surprised by the result, and turned to walk back to the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall seating area, where he was greeted by the excited, low cheers of Liu Yunfeng, Wang Yu, and others, as well as the clear, slightly inquisitive gaze of Senior Sister Chen Yu.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with both praise and expectation. He knew that this Disciple had clearly held back in the first round; the real stage would be in the next one.

Lin Tian's "amazing feat" immediately made him the new focus of the arena. Many representatives of factions who had not paid attention to him before now cast curious gazes, and some even sent attendants to inquire about his background. After all, a boy who was so young, unknown, yet possessed Second Grade Martial Artist strength and had obtained a recommendation spot from one of the three major martial arts halls, was inherently full of talking points.

Facing the open or hidden scrutiny and the olive branches thrown by a few to invite him to join their Family as a Guest Elder, Lin Tian responded with a polite but distant smile, politely declining with a few simple words, his attitude clear. His goal was only the Imperial Guard.

Not far away, Du Fei watched Lin Tian, who was vaguely surrounded in the center, receiving open and hidden attention from all sides, and felt a suffocating tightness in his chest; a sense of bitterness and jealousy almost drowned him.

Originally, the person who should be enjoying this glory at this moment, fighting on behalf of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, and attracting all the attention, should have been him, Du Fei! It was all because of this damned Lin Tian, who stole his spot and stole everything that belonged to him!

"What are you so proud of..." Du Fei clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms. "The first round was just barely passing! When we get to the second round, the actual combat arena, let's see if you can still laugh! It's full of experts there; your little tricks and evasive footwork might not work every time!"

He absolutely did not believe that a guy who relied on speed to take shortcuts and had mediocre strength could go far in a chaotic arena battle where everyone was using real weapons and showing off their Divine Ability.

The first round of the examination continued. The three Geniuses of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall took the stage one by one. They were clearly holding back a burst of energy, and their performance could be called strong. Two of them lifted two thousand one hundred jin and two thousand one hundred and fifty jin giant rocks, respectively, and the long-haired youth who appeared last, "Constable Lie Ming," even brazenly chose "two thousand two hundred jin"! Amidst a burst of exclamations, his crimson Qi and blood surged all over his body like burning flames, and he roared as he forcefully lifted the incredibly heavy dark iron rock. Although his face flushed red and his veins bulged, he ultimately held it steadily for three breaths!

"Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, Constable Lie Ming, two thousand two hundred jin, qualified. Evaluation: Grade A!"

Grade A! Tied with Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang for the highest so far!

The Liehuo Martial Arts Hall seating area erupted in enthusiastic cheers, sweeping away the gloom brought about by the previous matter regarding Lin Tian and Elder Yan Lie. Liehuo Hall Master also revealed a hint of a ruthless smile on his face, his gaze sweeping over the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall direction, lingering on Lin Tian for an extra moment, filled with killing intent.

The Baiyun Martial Arts Hall, which followed closely behind, also had three Genius Disciples with balanced strength, all of whom easily lifted giant rocks of over two thousand one hundred jin and passed, demonstrating the deep foundation of the three major martial arts halls.

With this, the first round of the strength examination was completely finished. Nearly half of the recommended candidates were eliminated, and the remaining people obtained the qualification to participate in the second round, the "Actual Combat Arena."

Centurion Shen Lian stood up again, his cold gaze sweeping over the remaining thirty-plus young Martial Artists in the arena, his voice devoid of any emotion: "The first round is over. Those who qualified, rest for the duration of one incense stick."

"After one incense stick, the second round: arena combat. Lots will be drawn to determine the order, with duels between pairs. Only victory or defeat matters; there are no restrictions on means. The winner advances, the loser is eliminated, until the final ten are decided, who will obtain the qualification of probationary Assistant Banner Officer and join our Imperial Guard as reserves."

"Now, rest."

As his voice fell, the atmosphere in the arena instantly became more solemn and tense, and an invisible smell of gunpowder smoke permeated the air.

Liehuo Hall Master immediately turned around and, to the three Disciples behind him who were rubbing their hands and had fierce eyes, especially that long-haired Constable Lie Ming, lowered his voice and said grimly, word by word: "Listen well, all of you! If you draw someone from the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, especially that Lin Tian... do not have any scruples; use lethal force for me! If you can cripple him, do it, and if you can kill him... find an opportunity to 'accidentally' kill him! Especially you, Constable Lie Ming, if you face him, I want you to personally smash his bones one by one to wash away the shame of my Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and avenge Elder Yan Lie!"

Constable Lie Ming licked his lips, his eyes flashing with a cruel and excited light, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey, and laughed grimly: "Rest assured, Hall Master, this Disciple's hands have been itching for a long time. If I draw that kid, I will definitely make him... regret coming into this world!"

The other two Liehuo Geniuses behind him also grinned and nodded, their gazes toward the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall filled with undisguised malice.