Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint-Chapter 1395 - 240: Mountain and River Tripod, the First Martial Examination!
On the training grounds.
"No mistake!"
Jiang Ning’s voice fell, resonating powerfully.
Making the originally noisy training ground even more tumultuous.
At that moment, countless eyes fell upon Jiang Ning.
But for Jiang Ning, it was as light as a feather, unable to move him at all.
The examiner looked at Jiang Ning, nodded, and then continued to verify the others behind him.
After some time, verifying each one, the examiner returned to face the crowd.
"Are all martial artists aware of the rules?"
"Please explain them to us, sir!" One of the martial artists respectfully said.
Upon hearing this, the examiner nodded.
"Today, the martial examination tests only two skills: lifting and foot shooting!"
Upon hearing this, everyone had no objections, for they clearly understood.
The further the martial examination progresses, the simpler the tests become.
"Achieving Class A in both evaluations allows progression to the next stage, contending for the honors of top scholar, second-place scholar, and third-place scholar!"
On the other side.
"Xiaoba, what are your thoughts on who the top scholar of this year’s examination will be?"
On the high platform, a woman with a noble air casually spoke.
"Second sister, what do you think?" Ji Minghao took over the conversation and returned the question unchanged.
"Xiaoba is still so sly!" The woman smiled elegantly and then looked towards another prince on the viewing platform: "Xiaowu, what do you think?"
"Second sister, the top scholar this year must be Wan Jianyi, as he is currently the number one among the younger generation."
"Fifth brother, there’s a saying, ’there’s always someone better, and there’s always a higher sky!’" Another young man who looked rather young chimed in.
"Xiaoshi, who do you favor then?" Ji Mingyuan asked.
"I rather favor Jiang Ning from Dongling County!" The young man said lightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao and Ji Mingyue also looked at him.
"Why does Xiaoshi think highly of him?" The woman with a noble air inquired.
"Because I noticed that second sister’s gaze was always on him." The young man responded with a gentle smile.
Upon hearing this, the woman with a noble air felt embarrassed.
As the Great Xia Imperial Family’s eldest princess, she knew it was somewhat inappropriate to focus on the prospective husband chosen by Shiqi.
Watching Shiqi’s burning gaze, she chuckled softly.
"Second sister, have you taken a liking to my chosen husband?" Ji Mingyue asked bluntly.
"Shiqi, you must be joking. As your sister, I wouldn’t compete with you for a man!" The eldest princess shook her head calmly, indicating denial.
Meanwhile.
On the training grounds.
"Zhao Meng!"
The examiner called out the first name.
On the martial artist’s viewing platform.
A burly man raised his hand to grab at his arm, tearing off his upper garment.
In the crowd, Jiang Ning silently watched this scene.
Unlike the Child Test and Township Test.
In the Metropolitan Test, what is lifted is no longer iron locks.
Because reaching the Metropolitan Test, even the weakest martial candidates are among the most outstanding in the Martial Arts Sixth Grade.
Most martial candidates have already entered the Fifth Grade.
And among the numerous prodigies, they often choose to refine both inside and outside before reaching the Fifth Grade.
This leads to true prodigies not lingering too long within the Fifth Grade.
Firstly, being extraordinarily gifted, they already have a deep foundation, refining both inside and outside.
Secondly, upon reaching this point, even without the support of sect or family heritage, there are endless crowds offering investments and favors.
This often makes the Fourth Grade the median for martial candidates.
Once entering the Fourth Grade, there is a transformation in life’s level, and strength increases again.
For instance, when he was in the Martial Arts Fourth Grade, one arm possessed nearly twenty thousand pounds of strength.
The foundation of an ordinary martial artist may not be as deep as his accumulation.
But those who arrived at this place are not ordinary martial artists; all are prodigious figures.
Receiving far superior resources and cultivation than ordinary people, their foundation naturally becomes much more profound.
For martial artists in the Fourth Grade Marrow Refining Realm, single-arm strength exceeding ten thousand pounds is normal.
And for iron locks to reach ten thousand pounds, converting them to spheres with a diameter of one meter and height of one meter is inconvenient.
Based on the examiner’s recent explanation, he understood the five tripods at the center of the grounds as Mountain and River Tripods.
Forged with a special method, possessing the weight of mountains and rivers.
To pass the weight-lifting test and achieve a Class A rating.
One must lift the fourth Mountain and River Tripod.
At this moment, the first competitor, Zhao Meng, leapt from the high platform.
Boom—
Accompanied by his landing, a muffled sound of impact echoed across the training grounds.
Then, Zhao Meng arrived in front of the first Mountain and River Tripod.
He stretched his limbs, and his upper body muscles were like an old tree’s roots, strikingly fierce.
In the next moment.
He grasped the tripod’s foot with one hand and the tripod’s body with the other.
"Lift—" He yelled, and the large tripod was slowly raised by him.
Jiang Ning saw Zhao Meng’s face flush red instantly.
Then, he lifted the large tripod above his head, and under the tripod’s pressure, Zhao Meng’s figure started to sway slightly.
After three breaths.
Zhao Meng slowly lowered the tripod.
This was also the rule for weight-lifting.
Lift above the head, sustain for three breaths, then steadily place the tripod down to complete a round of motion, only then considered effective.
If there is a mistake at any point, unable to sustain for three breaths, or the tripod is thrown heavily onto the ground causing a surface crack, it counts as a failure.
Huff—
Huff—
Zhao Meng calmly placed the tripod on the ground without causing cracks, and only then did he begin to breathe heavily, his flushed face rapidly subsiding.
"Zhao Meng, would you like to continue?" The examiner asked from a distance.
The robust voice instantly echoed throughout the training grounds.
This was an achievement of an internally trained martial artist.
"Continue!" Zhao Meng replied.
The voice was equally strong, instantly spreading across the training grounds.
