Chapter 108 - 107: Lifting the Tripod
Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Lifting the Tripod
Yue Zifeng was exceptionally burly, standing a full head taller than an average person. His arms were as thick as a man’s thighs, and his knotted muscles strained against his martial uniform, making it bulge.
His features were rugged and his gaze disdainful. He paid no mind to the 3,000-jin cauldron, striding directly toward the largest one—a 5,000-jin Bronze Cauldron.
Chen Shouheng’s expression was placid, his gaze calm and untroubled. As if he had seen nothing, he nonchalantly looked away and returned to his spot.
"Damn, what’s he doing?"
"Is he really going for the five-thousand-jin one?"
"Well damn. Then again, with a build like that, he can probably lift it."
The crowd instantly erupted, all eyes focused on him.
Yue Zifeng stopped before the giant cauldron. Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his arms around its body, his muscles tensing like solid rock.
"HAAA!"
An explosive shout, like a clap of muffled thunder, rang out.
The massive 5,000-jin cauldron, so large it would take several men to encircle with their arms, slowly lifted off the ground.
Veins pulsed on his temples, but his arms remained as steady as boulders. Inch by inch, he raised the cauldron to his chest before, with a final, explosive effort, he hoisted it over his head.
"Gods! He lifted it!"
"Five thousand jin! He actually lifted it!"
"A power to shake mountains! His reputation is well-earned!"
The entire training ground fell silent for an instant, then erupted in a tsunami of shocked cries and cheers.
Yue Zifeng held the pose for several breaths before slamming the giant cauldron back down.
THUD!
A heavy, muffled boom echoed as the ground trembled.
He stood tall and proud, his chest heaving. He exhaled a plume of hot, white breath and swept his arrogant gaze across the arena.
The first trial, the test of strength, quickly came to an end, leaving some joyous and others dejected.
Of the several hundred examinees, only a dozen or so failed to lift a cauldron.
But everyone knew the true key to the County Examination wasn’t this trial, but the afternoon’s challenge: the Eighteen Martial Arrays.
The morning portion of the examination concluded.
Government constables brought out large baskets, distributing simple dry rations and fresh water to the examinees for lunch.
For a moment, the tense atmosphere on the training ground eased.
The examinees gathered in small groups. Some were excitedly discussing the trial, others were striking up conversations and making new acquaintances, and some were taking the opportunity to stretch their muscles.
Chen Shouheng took his portion of the rations and, together with Qian Laibao and Shi Zhongjian, found a relatively quiet spot to sit down cross-legged.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.
"Excuse me, gentlemen."
A gentle, polite voice spoke up.
Five Martial Artists dressed in azure training attire stood before them.
Their leader was a handsome young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six with bright eyes. He was bowing with his hands clasped in a formal greeting.
Behind him stood three men and one woman.
The appearance of the young woman immediately captured Qian Laibao’s full attention.
She was about sixteen, and though she wore the same azure training attire, it could not conceal her slender and graceful figure.
She was exquisitely beautiful, with fair skin and eyes like autumn pools. They held a trace of timid vulnerability, a look that would inspire protectiveness in anyone.
Seemingly unaccustomed to being the center of attention, she lowered her head slightly and subconsciously shrank behind one of her tall, sturdy senior brothers.
"I am Zuo Hong of the Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall."
The young man introduced himself. "Forgive my intrusion. This afternoon, we face the Eighteen Martial Arrays. The formation is unpredictable and perilous. It’s nearly impossible to pass alone, which is why challengers have always formed eight-person teams. Cooperation gives a much greater chance of success. I can see that you three have an impressive bearing and formidable skills. I was wondering if you would be willing to join us from the Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall to brave the array together?"
Qian Laibao’s eyes lit up. His gaze flickered to the lovely young woman, and his enthusiasm surged. He cut in before anyone else could speak. "Of course, of course! So you’re the young heroes from the Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall! I’m Qian Laibao, from the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall! Teaming up is a great idea. There’s strength in numbers, after all!"
"Alright."
Chen Shouheng’s gaze swept across the five from the Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall, and he gave a slight nod, signaling his agreement.
Seeing that Chen Shouheng had no objections, Shi Zhongjian nodded. "I’m in."
As if sensing their gazes on her, the young woman lifted her head for a moment before quickly lowering it again, a faint blush rising in her cheeks that made her seem all the more delicate.
The sight made Qian Laibao even more infatuated.
Suddenly, an arrogant voice cut in. "Hmph. Zuo Hong, what’s the meaning of this? I asked you to team up, and you refused. Now you’re over here recruiting others?"
An arrogant snort interrupted the conversation. A group of six or seven young men in black martial uniforms approached, all of them wearing ill-tempered expressions. Their leader was especially haughty, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Who we choose to team up with is our own business. It has nothing to do with you, Zhao Shengyan," Zuo Hong replied, his brow furrowed and his tone turning cold.
"You!"
Zhao Shengyan pointed at Qian Laibao, his tone overbearing. "This doesn’t concern you. Scram, if you know what’s good for you!"
Qian Laibao froze for a second, then his temper flared. "You? A toad on the ground telling us to get lost?" he shot back. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"You’re courting death!"
Zhao Shengyan’s murderous gaze fixed on Qian Laibao.
Zuo Hong’s expression darkened. "Zhao Shengyan," he said in a cold voice, "I’ll say it one more time. Who we team up with is our business. If you keep causing trouble, don’t blame us for what happens next."
Zhao Shengyan sneered. "Fine. After we’re done here, I’ll be sure to personally test your ’great skills,’ Zuo Hong."
With that, he gave a sharp wave of his hand and led the members of the Liuyang Martial Arts Hall away. Before turning, he shot a leering grin at Liu Ruoyi.
The confrontation started and ended in a flash.
Funnily enough, the disturbance served to break the ice between the two groups, who had been strangers just moments before. They quickly grew closer and began to chat.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The bell signaling the start of the afternoon examination rang out.
"Let’s go. It’s time."
Zuo Hong took a deep breath, his expression turning serious as he gazed toward the Martial Array.
The others nodded, and together they walked toward the center of the training ground.
On the main platform, eighteen bare-chested strongmen stood at the four cardinal points. Their muscles were as knotted and defined as if cast from Refined Iron, and each held an eyebrow-high staff.
Their mere stationary presence emanated an invisible pressure that was enough to make one’s breath catch in their throat.
On the Commander’s Platform, the County Captain rose once more. His voice boomed like a great bell as he announced the rules for the next stage. "The Second Level: the Eighteen Martial Arrays! You will enter the array in groups of eight. Anyone who manages to exit the array through their own ability will be deemed to have passed this trial."
His gaze swept over the examinees below before he paused and added, "Of course, any exceptionally confident individual may choose to enter the array alone. Should you manage to break through the formation by yourself, you will be ranked first and receive a bye in the third round’s tournament."
’Enter the array alone?’
The examinees took one look at the formation of eighteen strongmen, and not a single person volunteered.
Soon, the first group of eight examinees stepped into the array.
The moment they stepped inside, a violent wind whipped through the air!
WHOOSH!
The eighteen guardians of the array moved in an instant. Their footwork was intricate, their movements like lightning, and their staffs became a tempest of overlapping shadows, raining down upon the challengers like a hurricane.
"AHH!"
THWACK!
Agonized screams and sickening thuds rang out almost instantly.
One examinee had barely stepped through the gate when his vision blurred. Before he could even react, he was struck more than a dozen times. He coughed up a spray of blood as he was unceremoniously tossed out of the array like a sack of garbage, where he collapsed, unable to move.
Inside the array, a chaotic symphony of shouts, clashing staffs, and cries of pain erupted.
A moment later, the chaos subsided.
Only two people managed to stumble out from the other side. One of them had an arm hanging limp at an unnatural angle, a clear sign of a severe injury.
A wave of shocked gasps and worried murmurs swept through the spectator stands.
"The first group... and only one made it through?"
"And he’s injured, at that?"
"In past years, at least half of them would pass! What’s with this year’s trial?"
...