My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 326: Chapter 164: Martial Arts Examination

Following behind the Black Armored Soldier, they strode out through the main gates of the Post House.

Only then did they discover that the wide streets were unusually solemn today. The thoroughfare, usually bustling with people, was completely clear.

But beyond the thoroughfare, large crowds of commoners had gathered, every one of them craning their necks to look over with curiosity.

A general walked at the very front, heading toward the inner part of the city.

The procession of several thousand people moved along the wide thoroughfare without seeming crowded.

Many people, like Qin Fang, were also participating in the Martial Arts Examination for the first time, and they curiously glanced from side to side.

The commoners, on the other hand, wore excited expressions and were chattering amongst themselves.

A Black Armored Soldier stood guard every few dozen meters, holding a halberd with a solemn gaze.

No one was trying to quiet the noisy commoners, however, so the whole scene was still quite lively.

”It’s the annual Martial Arts Examination day again. It’s so lively.”

”The Martial Arts Examination is a grand event every year...”

”These people are all masters at the Anjin stage or higher... there are even masters above the Huajin stage! This is the only time of year you can see so many masters gathered in one place!”

”Sigh, Anjin... I’ve been in Martial Cultivation for ten years and I’m only at the Mid-Mingjin Stage. Breaking through to Anjin seems like a long shot for me...”

The crowd was abuzz with discussion.

Amidst the chatter, the procession moved forward. Many Anjin Martial Artists who overheard the talk couldn’t help but puff out their chests...

...At the Post House, they were residents of D Building, at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

But outside the Post House, they were true masters!

If they were to go to a remote county or village... they would be treated like absolute elites!

Qin Fang watched with curiosity as he followed the Black Armor Army. The further they walked, the more familiar the road seemed.

After walking for about an hour... a familiar area appeared before Qin Fang’s eyes.

Cyan Dragon Bridge!

...One of the nine bridges leading to the Inner City!

On the massive plaza that was previously used for inspecting entry and exit to the Inner City, the iron fences and other barriers had been cleared away, turning it into a vast, open square.

Upon the square were numerous large stones, each one or two meters high, arranged in neat rows. Several horizontal lines were also drawn on the ground.

Surrounding the entire square were thirty-six giant drums, each over ten zhang tall!

The giant drums were imposing, resembling massive stone piers standing tall on the spot.

The vast Moat flowed on, its waters surging.

On the Haiman wall of the Inner City, figures now appeared, looking down from their high vantage point over the scene below.

Qin Fang then noticed that several thousand people were already present in the massive square, standing at its edges.

...They were also here to participate in today’s Martial Arts Examination.

From his idle chat with Qian Ruhai, he already knew... not all examinees stayed at the Post House. For example, those who registered in the last two or three days before the examination wouldn’t be housed there and had to find their own lodging.

With the arrival of Qin Fang and his group, the total number of people surpassed ten thousand.

Around the vast square, Black Armored Soldiers stood in formation. Flags and banners fluttered intermittently among them, and the sunlight glinted coldly off their black armor, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

Further out, massive crowds of commoners were watching.

Even those who had been chatting in low voices gradually fell silent.

Qin Fang saw the general leading them cross the Cyan Dragon Bridge on his own, enter the Inner City gate, and reappear shortly after on the Haiman wall.

”The Lord Prefect is coming!”

Xue Yi, beside him, suddenly spoke with excitement.

”Yes... The Lord Prefect is a true Divine Realm powerhouse! In all of Lanyang City, he’s a top-tier expert... You rarely get to see him. He only shows his face during the Martial Arts Examination or other major events...”

Fu Chen, on his other side, had an excited expression.

”I wonder if he’ll come today...”

Liu Rushi also said excitedly.

Qin Fang raised an eyebrow.

’These heirs of the Divine Families seem really worked up...’

And from Qian Ruhai, he knew that the Prefect’s name was Nangong Muqing.

...Qian Ruhai had mentioned that one of the senior apprentice sister’s three most famous admirers, Nangong Yu, was the Prefect’s son.

’A Divine Realm expert...’

’I wonder just how strong he is?’

Just as Qin Fang was thinking this.

In the very next moment, a brilliant ball of light materialized above the Inner City’s Haiman wall.

The next moment, the light coalesced into a human form, standing atop the wall.

Qin Fang’s pupils instantly contracted, his face a mask of shock.

’...What is that?’

Just then, Liu Rushi whispered excitedly, ”It’s a True Gang Incarnation!”

’True Gang... Incarnation?’

Qin Fang watched in shock. Then, he heard a series of crisp, uniform sounds as all the Black Armored Soldiers guarding the perimeter raised their halberds, faced the Inner City, and bowed respectfully.

”We greet the Lord Prefect!”

The cry rang out.

And then one could see that all the surrounding commoners, the people beneath the Inner City gate, and those on the Haiman wall—everyone—was bowing respectfully toward that figure of Light and Shadow.

On the examination grounds, everyone automatically bowed!

Beside him, Shen Han, Fu Chen, Xue Yi... all these heirs of noble families, who usually held their heads so high, were all bowing, their eyes filled with reverence and admiration, and even a hint of excitement and anticipation...

Snapping back to his senses, Qin Fang, who was standing in the front row, also hurriedly bowed.

”You may dispense with the formalities. Rise.”

A gentle voice sounded softly.

It seemed like a soft whisper.

And yet it reached the ears of every single person in the vast grounds with ease!

This feat alone was enough to make Qin Fang gasp in astonishment...

...His own Transmission technique had a maximum range of only twenty or thirty meters.

But the Prefect’s single sentence had clearly reached everyone within a diameter of over three or four kilometers... and had been heard distinctly by the tens of thousands of people present.

This technique alone was countless times more profound than Qin Fang’s!

’This...’

While he was still reeling in shock, the human figure formed of light spoke again, its gentle voice continuing.

”The annual Martial Arts Examination is upon us once more.”

”The Great Yu was founded over a thousand years ago, securing its lands with martial might and establishing its rule through valor. The Martial Emperor once said: ’Martial Artists are the backbone of the nation; the brave are the heart of the people.’”

”Though the four borders are peaceful today, the shadows of Demons in the Northern Border Snowfield have not been vanquished; traces of evil appear in the Southern Wilderness Miasma Swamp; the rift in the Western Frontier Prison is difficult to seal; and dark currents still surge beneath the great waves of the East Sea... This is truly not a time for complacency, but a time for aspiring heroes to rise to arms.”

”All of you have come from every corner of the land, bearing talent and blade, to cross the Cyan Dragon Bridge and stand in Lanyang City. You are not here merely for personal glory, but to shoulder the burdens of the world. This Martial Arts Examination is not just a contest of strength on a training ground, but the forging of souls in the crucible of war.”

”Today, you stand here. In the future, you may be defending the borders, slaying demons and fiends, or protecting the common people in times of peril—this is the true purpose of the Great Yu’s Martial Arts Examination, and it is the original intent of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect in establishing this test.”

”I, this Prefect, see that your spirits are magnificent, arrayed like the stars, and I am greatly heartened. I hope you will all command your energy with your heart, sharpen your edge with your will, hold the eternal future of the Human Race in your thoughts, and take the everlasting stability of our land as your duty. On the examination grounds, display all that you have learned; in victory and defeat, always maintain a righteous heart.”

”I am here, and I wish to see you all reveal your Sharpness. May your martial fortunes flourish.”

”The hour has come—let the examination begin.”

As his voice fell.

The True Gang Incarnation raised a sleeve and waved it gently. A clear light showered down from the city wall!

DONG DONG DONG DONG!!

The thirty-six immense war drums surrounding the Martial Arts Training Ground began to beat on their own, their sound shaking the heavens!

”Great Yu, eternal victory!”

”Great Yu, eternal victory!”

”Great Yu, eternal victory!”

All the Black Armored Soldiers craned their necks and roared. The sound was thunderous, mixing with the majestic beat of the war drums, echoing and shaking the very land!

Even someone like Qin Fang couldn’t help but feel his heart race at that moment.

He subconsciously looked toward the city wall, only to see that the Prefect’s True Gang Incarnation, having finished speaking, had already dispersed out of thin air, turning into motes of starlight that vanished from atop the wall!

This almost mythical scene left Qin Fang completely stunned.

It also caused an uproar of hushed whispers among the countless commoners.

’...So this is Lanyang City?’

’A big city is really a big city. I’d never seen anything this magical back in True Martial...’

*(I can’t, I can’t do it. The Martial Arts Examination is a moderately sized plot point, and trying to finish it in one day is proving to be difficult. After all... the necessary setup is important. I won’t be able to hit 20,000 words today... but I still wrote fifteen or sixteen thousand... so I guess I didn’t make my bros wait for nothing, right? I’m gonna clear my head and continue tomorrow. Otherwise... if I sleep too late, I’m afraid tomorrow’s update will be affected. Good night everyone, I’ll continue tomorrow.)*