nownovels Chapter 44 News
Chapter 44 News
"Good lad!"
Duan Kang walked over and slapped Lu Li hard on the chest:
"Why didn't you tell me you broke through?"
Lu Li smiled:
"Junior brother only barely managed to break through the barrier yesterday, and was planning to come see senior brother today."
Beside her, Qin Yushuang also walked over, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lu Li with a sweet smile:
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Lu."
Grandpa told her this news yesterday.
When she heard the news, she was just as shocked as everyone else present.
At the same time, she also developed a sense of admiration for Lu Li.
In the few years since she came to Lin'an City with her grandfather, there have been at least eight hundred or a thousand people with inferior aptitude who have entered the White Crane Martial Arts School, but only a handful of them have been able to successfully break through to the Ming Jin level.
As for the second breakthrough, breaking through the hidden strength?
It's even worse than nothing.
Not to mention that he succeeded both times he tried to pass the test on the first try.
Qin Yushuang knew perfectly well how difficult it was for someone with inferior aptitude to achieve this.
There may be luck involved, but even if it is luck, it is a reward from heaven for those who are diligent.
Perhaps this is what is meant by "Heaven rewards diligence"?
"Thank you so much, Senior Sister!"
Lu Li clasped his hands in a salute to Qin Yushuang.
He had a very good impression of Senior Sister Qin.
One reason for this was that the other party acted as the martial arts school's pharmacist, often applying medicine and prescribing medication for injured disciples. Because of her beauty, sweet voice, and strong skills, she once even caused a trend of many disciples in the outer courtyard pretending to be sick.
Of course, the most important thing was the blood-replenishing pill that his opponent gave him when he broke through to the Ming Jin level.
This was the first time Lu Li had received "funding" from an outsider.
Therefore, he always kept it in mind.
Qin Yan glanced at the silent Liang Jing, Xu Fang, and Zhang Wu, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
As a master, he naturally wanted his disciples to be happy and harmonious, like brothers.
However, some things cannot be forced; doing too much might cause them to develop a rebellious mentality.
Perhaps their relationship will improve with time.
"Alright, alright, from today onwards, Lu Li is my personal disciple." Qin Yan waved his hand.
The apprenticeship ceremony ended quickly; it was merely a symbolic formality.
"The six of you come with me." After the outer disciples finished their tasks, Qin Yan waved his hand, signaling the six inner disciples to enter the inner courtyard.
The door to the inner courtyard slammed shut.
This made many disciples who wanted to gossip feel secretly bored.
They also wanted to eavesdrop.
As for practicing martial arts?
With such an incident happening before our eyes today, how many people still have the mind to practice martial arts?
Many people regretted their shortsightedness in not trying to curry favor with Senior Brother Lu Li because he had inferior aptitude, and even regretted their past mockery and estrangement towards him.
……
Inner courtyard.
Qin Yan returned to the house, sat back down in his chair, and started eating the persimmon cakes.
He found it strange, considering he was a master of internal energy cultivation, why he always preferred sitting to standing and had such a strong preference for dried persimmons.
"I guess I'm really getting old..."
Qin Yan sighed inwardly, then looked at the six disciples with hidden strength and said:
Do you know why I have summoned you here today?
Upon hearing this, Liang Jing spoke first:
"I suppose Master is also thinking about the martial arts program."
There are only twenty days left until the martial arts exam.
At this time of year, Master would hold a small meeting with them to tell them some things to pay attention to and about potential powerful opponents.
I imagine this year will be no exception.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yan simply smiled faintly:
"Yes and no."
Master is going to keep us in suspense again...
This thought flashed through the minds of Lu Li and his group.
None of them wanted to speak.
In the end, it was Duan Kang who was the first to step forward and smooth things over:
"Master, we disciples are truly confused and hope that you can enlighten us."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yan nodded.
"The first thing I called you here for today is the martial arts exam." As he spoke, Qin Yan's expression suddenly turned serious. "The second thing is that the Governor-General is coming."
"Your Excellency the Governor?!"
The disciples exclaimed in surprise.
Lu Li was no exception.
Although he didn't know much about the military and political system of the Great Yong Dynasty, he did know what kind of position the governor-general was.
In the Daiyong era, the official who oversaw the administration, economy, and military affairs of one or more provinces was called the "Governor-General".
Why would such an important figure come to the small city of Lin'an?
"Alright, since the Governor is coming, let him come. It won't affect the Martial Arts Department. I'm telling you this today so that you can be careful when you're out in the future, and not accidentally provoke the Governor's men."
Although Qin Yan spoke calmly, he was actually a little uneasy inside.
For the first two hundred years after the founding of the Dayong Dynasty, the position of Governor-General was a very fixed official post, but in the last few decades, it has become less fixed.
The reason was war.
Now that the governor is about to arrive, I don't know where things have gotten chaotic again.
Hopefully, this won't affect Lin'an City.
Seeing that his disciples were still pondering the governor's matter, Qin Yan cleared his throat:
"What you should be most worried about is the military science."
"If you pass the imperial examination and become a martial arts scholar, you will not only be exempt from taxes but also from corvée labor. Your future status will be completely different. Some of you come from merchant families, some from aristocratic families, and some from humble backgrounds. But no matter what, it is an opportunity to change your life."
After Qin Yan finished speaking, he began to explain the specific procedures of the martial arts course and some precautions.
Finally, Qin Yan took a deep breath and slowly said:
"However, if you draw a powerful opponent in the exam, admit defeat early and don't worry about the reputation of your sect. Admitting defeat simply means you have to take the exam again next year. But if you get injured..."
"Remember, you learn martial arts to pass the imperial examinations, not to risk your lives."
"It's not shameful to preserve one's life."
Not long after he finished speaking, Qin Yan dismissed everyone and sat alone in the room.
In truth, he knew that only Zhang Wu and Duan Kang had a chance of passing the imperial examination and becoming martial arts scholars in the White Crane Martial Arts School.
Zhang Wu goes without saying; his strength has now reached the mid-stage of Dark Force, and with his own resources and guidance, he may very well become even stronger in the remaining twenty days.
Duan Kang recently defeated the 47th ranked martial arts scholar from last year. Although the bottom-ranked martial arts scholar may have an element of luck, he is still a martial arts scholar. As long as Duan Kang doesn't encounter those who are expected to be on the top list this year, passing the martial arts scholar exam is a sure thing.
The eldest brother, Liang Jing, and the third brother, Xu Fang, were both from prominent families. They weren't particularly talented, and their minds weren't entirely on martial arts. Reaching the level of internal strength was already difficult enough for them, so they wouldn't risk their lives for martial arts, and even if they did, they wouldn't succeed.
Granddaughter Qin Yushuang? She has good talent and decent abilities.
but……
Qin Yan didn't want his precious granddaughter to take any risks.
After all, Qin Yan was old, not dead.
As for the sixth brother, Lu Li?
Qin Yan shook his head and sighed silently.
This child is far more diligent than ordinary people. Given time, even if he cannot master the Transformation Force, he will surely become a master of the Hidden Force.
Unfortunately, he broke through to the Dark Force realm in too short a time.
With only twenty days until the martial arts examination, ordinary people can only stabilize their cultivation in twenty days. It is extremely difficult to compete with those seasoned veterans with just the initial stage of Dark Force.
but……
Maybe next year I'll actually pass the imperial examination and become a martial arts scholar.