Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog

Someone nearby exclaimed in shock.

Chen Ku looked at the Martial Arts Gold Order in Di Jianqing's hand. He already had one Martial Arts Gold Order, so having a second one was neither here nor there for him.

He then glanced at Guan Hongluan, who also had a Martial Arts Gold Order.

She seemed uninterested in this assessment.

Indeed, Guan Hongluan immediately picked up a stone lion and headed toward the Second Hall, seemingly just wanting to enter the final test, Martial Arts Heaven and Earth, as soon as possible without wasting time along the way.

Chen Ku followed suit, picking up a stone lion and chasing after Guan Hongluan.

"Oh! This Chen Ku... his strength isn't small!"

Pei Qingzhi could see at a glance that Chen Ku was carrying the stone lion with ease and felt the urge to compete with Chen Ku in strength.

Unfortunately, in this Martial Temple, it wasn't yet time to test martial arts.

Wanting to demonstrate his divine power, Pei Qingzhi asked Qin Fang for a large chain and tied five large stone lions together, carrying them like a small stone mountain as he rushed toward the Second Hall.

The scene left Chen Ku with a direct impression of Pei Qingzhi's strength.

"One stone lion weighs fifty thousand pounds, so five would be two hundred fifty thousand pounds, with the Power of Two Dragons and Five Elephants. For Pei Qingzhi to run with them... it means his strength is at least comparable to mine before I cultivated my Hui Dragon Avatar, possessing the Power of Three Dragons."

Chen Ku thought to himself:

"A formidable opponent indeed."

Compared to Pei Qingzhi, Dugu Wuer's lifting technique appeared more graceful. He sent two swords flying, each embedding into a large stone lion. Then, both man and sword dashed forward, propelling the stone lion like a cannonball toward the Second Hall, arriving before everyone else.

After Dugu Wuer and Pei Qingzhi arrived, Chen Ku and Guan Hongluan also reached the Second Hall.

"Dugu Wuer! Pei Qingzhi! Granted Gold Order!"

"Guan Hongluan! Chen Ku! Granted Silver Order! Passed!"

Qin Fang awarded two Martial Arts Gold Orders to Dugu Wuer and Pei Qingzhi but gave a particular look at the five large stone lions on Pei Qingzhi, thinking to himself:

"This Pei Qingzhi is naturally suited to be a disciple under the master's tutelage. He has innate divine strength and also excels at wielding a hammer..."

Finished with his thoughts, he addressed the four:

"You have all passed both technique and strength tests; now, you may proceed directly to the Third Hall to meet the master and the noble lords."

At the Third Hall of Martial Path.

Qin Yuxian and others sat on chairs, watching Di Jianqing walk up with Chen Ku and the others following behind, all smiling.

"Greetings, Grandmaster and lords."

Everyone saluted.

Yet Guan Hongluan alone slightly moved, while others stood still, leading them all to rise and return the salute:

"Greetings to the Commandery Princess of Marquis Han Shou's Mansion."

After mutual salutations.

Shangguan Yun's gaze rested on Guan Hongluan and Qin Yuxian, his expression subtle.

Qin Yuxian and Tan Chongrui were about to implement reforms, and the interests affected most were those of Marquis Han Shou's Mansion, yet...

The mansion sent the commandery princess over here, even to participate in the martial test hosted by Qin Yuxian. What could they be thinking?

Blatantly declaring their power?

Qin Yuxian and Tan Chongrui, however, didn't seem to have any other intentions, not giving Guan Hongluan another glance after the salute.

Qin Yuxian, seated at the main position, spoke up, saying:

"In the past years, the rural examination in Baojiao County was merely a simple test of students' skills, strength, and practical combat. However, having come to Baojiao County this time, I, Qin, have made an exception by changing the rules and increasing the difficulty. It is expected that less than forty people will pass through to the second stage. The reason for raising the difficulty of this year's rural exam to such a degree is primarily to select those qualified to enter Martial Arts Heaven and Earth — the true trial ground.

Even just the first test of carving words on stone requires those under twenty years old to have mastered a martial art to the great achievement level. Talents of such caliber are, at most, two or three per county. The eighteen counties in Qiu Dragon Mansion, combined, would have no more than fifty.

The second test of strength further eliminates half the candidates.

Even counting the outstanding ones from the prefecture city of Qiu Dragon Mansion, estimating that forty people would manage to pass to this stage is already optimistic on Qin Yuxian's part.

Di Jianqing internally complained, thinking to himself, "Reaching thirty people here is the limit."

At this point, Tan Chongrui also spoke:

"This time, the difficulty set by Brother Qin in the martial exam, even at the first stage, will weed out ninety percent of the eligible youth. Anyone who can carve on stone and lift heavy stones to arrive here already possesses the qualification to become a Military Scholar. However, truly becoming a Military Scholar requires going through the third stage, which is the sparring of martial arts."

Dugu Wuer was eager to participate.

But Tan Chongrui continued: "In the past, the sparring was merely held at twenty arenas set up within the Martial Temple. Anyone who could pass the first two tests of skill and strength would go up to defend the stage, and the more successful defenses, the higher their achievements, earning the top twenty 'Military Scholar' titles. However, this time, due to the arrival of so many outstanding talents from a small county like Baojiao County, Grandmaster Qin has specially divided this third stage of sparring into 'two types of sparring.' Those who only lifted one stone lion will remain at the Martial Temple to defend ten stages and compete for ten Military Scholar titles, while those who lifted more than two stone lions or possess the Martial Arts Gold Order can enter 'Martial Arts Heaven and Earth' to challenge the stages. The one with the most successful offenses will become the 'first rank' of this martial exam."