Chapter 2: Three Trials Passed, Entering the Martial Arts Hall

The four large characters "Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall," written in a bold, sweeping, and majestic calligraphy, hung over the entrance of the martial arts hall.

The martial arts hall occupied a large, spacious courtyard, surrounded by a ten-foot-high gray wall.

The main gate faced south, and the ground at the entrance was paved with rustic White Stone tiles, polished smooth and shiny by the footprints of those coming and going.

"Zhou You has come to register."

Zhou You walked to the steps below the gate, cupped his hands, and called out loudly toward the main gate.

The registration fee for the martial arts hall is 5 taels; only after paying does one have the qualifications to enter the martial arts hall's main gate.

The threshold for accepting Disciples at Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall is not low; one must be a child of a respectable family within the city, and those with unclear backgrounds or no fixed residence are not accepted at all.

Only after meeting these conditions does one proceed to the entrance selection process.

He had come here once before with Gao Qiang, and although he failed, he was very familiar with the process.

"Zhou You, a resident of the city, hmm, it seems you have been here once before."

The one speaking was the Outer Courtyard Senior Brother Lu Qiang, the trusted Disciple of the martial arts hall master Wang Jianxiong, a robust man in his thirties.

Lu Qiang looked up and asked Zhou You, "A second registration, adding up to 10 taels in total, have you still not given up?"

The registration fee for Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall is 5 taels, which is considered very expensive.

For a family of three like the Fang family, an annual expenditure of only 4-5 taels is enough to live quite well, and they can even eat meat during holidays and festivals.

The 5 taels from the last registration were the pocket money Zhou You had painstakingly saved since he was a child; he had hoped to change his fate, but unfortunately, it was money down the drain.

"Senior Brother, let me try again; I feel I can pass this time."

Zhou You puffed out his chest; in his line of sight was a panel that no one else could see.

Even Lu Qiang, who was close at hand, could not detect the existence of this panel.

"Personal Profile:

Name: Zhou You.

Strength: 3.

Speed: 3.

Defense: 4.

Occupation: Commoner.

Skills: None.

Experience Points: 57.

Status: Trial Project One (No Rating): Successfully pass the Entrance Examination and become a Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall Apprentice..."

His greatest trump card after being reborn was this panel, which gave him the confidence to defy the heavens and change his fate.

The Entrance Three Views of Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall is a comprehensive examination targeting strength, speed, and defense.

The entrance standard is also very simple: according to the data standards of the panel, all three items must be at least 5 to be qualified for entry.

Zhou You's strength, speed, and defense were all below 5, so it was no wonder he was eliminated.

This time he came prepared, having accumulated enough Experience Points before visiting.

"Consume 10 Experience Points, Strength +1."

"Current Experience Points 37, Strength 5."

"Consume 10 Experience Points, Speed +1."

"Current Experience Points 17, Speed 5."

"Consume 10 Experience Points, Defense +1."

"Current Experience Points 7, Defense 5."

The panel consumed Experience Points to fully raise the three attributes to 5, meeting the conditions for entering the martial arts hall.

He had the confidence now!

Zhou You looked up to face Lu Qiang's questioning and answered loudly, "Senior Brother, please examine me."

Lu Qiang nodded; the other party was a child of a respectable family in the city, and his parents were honest people; if his innate talent wasn't too poor, he wouldn't have been eliminated.

Since he could still take out 5 taels of silver, he would give him another chance.

First trial, Strength Trial.

In the Outer Courtyard grounds, there was a row of ten Stone Locks, increasing in weight from smallest to largest.

The minimum standard for entry is to lift the 5th Stone Lock, which is a 100-kilogram Stone Lock, and lift it ten times in one breath.

Last time, Zhou You couldn't even lift the 4th Stone Lock and was miserably eliminated in the first trial.

But this time was different.

Zhou You lifted the 5th Stone Lock, feeling the enormous pulling force; his arms exerted strength, and his muscles suddenly tensed.

The Stone Lock instantly left the ground, and he lifted it up and down in mid-air.

Lu Qiang counted to 10 and nodded, saying, "That will do, you pass this trial."

He exclaimed in admiration, "Good lad, what have you been eating? Your strength has grown so fast!"

He hadn't seen him for a while, and the youth before him had made huge progress, having already touched the threshold for passing.

Then came the second trial, Speed Trial.

Lu Qiang grabbed a handful of Wooden Balls coated in lime and threw them at him from ten meters away.

When a Wooden Ball hit his body, it immediately left a white dot; if the number of white dots exceeded a certain amount, he would be declared eliminated.

Zhou You took a deep breath, hearing the whistling wind in his ears, as Lu Qiang's arm blurred into afterimages.

One by one, the Wooden Balls flew through the air, shrouding his body like raindrops.

The speed he had just raised to 5 played its role.

Zhou You kept jumping and shifting, using every means to dodge the Wooden Balls, but his arms, chest, and abdomen were still hit one after another.

It hurt so much he bared his teeth and grimaced, but the 5 taels of silver could not be wasted, so he had to endure the pain.

"Stop, count the number of white spots."

Lu Qiang circled around Zhou You, "A total of 100 balls were struck just now, the number of white spots on your body is 43, which is less than 50, you pass."

After the Speed Trial, it was the final trial, the Defense Trial.

The Defense Trial was the simplest: stand in place without moving, let Lu Qiang push him once, and if he did not fall to the ground, he would pass.

Zhou You felt it was quite difficult; he had once seen with his own eyes Lu Qiang snap a Hardwood Stake as thick as a bowl with a single palm strike.

Although his own frame had been strengthened, could it really withstand a full-force strike from him?

"Senior Brother, please go easy on me."

Lu Qiang saw his worry and laughed heartily, "Don't be afraid, it's just an assessment, I will hold back."

Zhou You stood on the ground, his soles rubbing slightly against the rough surface, and took a deep breath.

He tensed his entire body, preparing to withstand that unprecedented attack.

In his line of sight, Lu Qiang raised a hand, and the palm suddenly expanded, becoming larger than a human head, slowly pressing toward him.

The air became thin, making it difficult for him to breathe, unable to catch his breath.

Boom—a slight muffled sound.

Lu Qiang's hand pushed against Zhou You's chest!

Zhou You almost vomited his dinner from the night before, his legs went stiff, and his body flew backward uncontrollably like a tattered sack.

He could not retreat; if he retreated, he would lose, and the 5 taels of silver would have been paid in vain.

This money was gathered only after his father had exhausted all his dignity and borrowed from every friend and relative.

He did not want to bow his head to hoodlums who were like mud; only by joining the martial arts hall could he protect his family.

Today's trial allowed for advancement but no retreat; if he did not succeed, he would perish.

Zhou You used all his strength to sink downward, boom, the force was channeled through his legs into the ground, and the soles of his feet trembled slightly.

"Hmm!"

Lu Qiang was incredibly surprised; he hadn't retreated, and he hadn't fallen down?

The requirement to pass was not to fall to the ground; it didn't say he couldn't retreat.

After all, he was a martial arts expert whose palm power could snap wood and crack stone; even if he restrained 99% of his strength, it was not something a youth could withstand.

Originally, according to his plan, Zhou You would take the palm strike and retreat a few steps to dissipate the force, and that would count as passing.

"Stubborn temper, if this continues, he's bound to get hurt."

Lu Qiang shook his head and withdrew his palm, announcing loudly, "You pass."

A line of glowing text flickered on the panel in Zhou You's vision:

Trial Project completed, joining the martial arts hall successfully concluded, Experience Points +15.

"Personal Profile:

Name: Zhou You.

Strength: 5.

Speed: 5.

Defense: 5.

Occupation: Commoner.

Skills: None.

Experience Points: 22."

Lu Qiang patted his shoulder, "Welcome to the martial arts hall, I will take you to see the Hall Master; from now on, we are all Senior Brothers."

"You will learn boxing in the Outer Courtyard, your status is Apprentice, and you can call me Big Senior Brother just like everyone else."