Chapter 18

Monthly First Evaluation

He hurried all the way home.

Originally, Yu Qian was in the same batch as him, so there was nothing wrong with discussing it with her.

However, Yu Qian didn’t seem to be just practicing martial arts. She seemed to have the intention to take advantage of others.

It had only been three days, but there was already a group of fans around her. If he got too close to her, it would probably cause a lot of trouble, so Lin Yan simply rejected her.

Following that, Lin Yan’s life became more and more regular.

Every day, he left home early and returned late. Other than taking an extra hour every day to accompany Xiaozhi for a walk, game, and storytelling, he spent the rest of his time practicing the Five Animal Hands as usual.

His busy life always passed very quickly. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month of peace had passed.

After practicing martial arts for half a month with abundant blood energy, Lin Yan began to grow taller, and the muscles all over his body clearly bulged.

In the past half a month, more than 10 new people had joined the Wu Yard. They came from all kinds of backgrounds, including the descendants of martial artists, the young masters of the government, and the children of businessmen…

The admission mechanism of Dragon Gate Pavilion was similar to the inspection system of ancient times in his previous life. The candidates were recommended by martial artists or rich families all over Ding’an City.

However, Lin Yan was focused on practicing martial arts. He had only met them a few times when Eldest Senior Brother was teaching and he was not familiar with them.

However, he heard that Yu Qian had already gotten along well with them. She often drank with them and seemed to be in the same batch as them.

This day, Lin Yan woke up early and carried Xiaozhi to the martial arts arena.

Xiaozhi was too young, and he could not bear to leave her in the study room all day long. Every day, he would take Xiaozhi for a walk and play games. Of course, they would never leave the Dragon Gate Pavilion.

After the incident with Hu Biao, he no longer applied mud directly on Xiaozhi’s face. Instead, he applied freckles and birthmarks on her face through makeup. Then, he messed up her hair and made her clothes look ugly. Xiaozhi became a cute but ordinary child.

“Brother, there are so many people!”

Xiaozhi clearly felt a little nervous and hugged Lin Yan’s neck tightly.

“Xiaozhi, don’t be afraid. I’ll bring you to watch the show.”

In the center of the martial arts field, there was already a large circle drawn with white stone powder. It was the size of a basketball court.

There were three red square tables in the middle of the venue, and a black wine jar was placed on the table. It was filled with a red sticky liquid.

Three people sat behind the table with dignified expressions. Lin Yan had never seen them before. As for Eldest Senior Brother Zang Wei, he stood behind the person in the middle and waited respectfully.

The disciples of the various yards were also gathered in groups of twos and threes outside the venue with different expressions. Yu Qian and Senior Bai were also there, standing opposite. There were also a few new disciples gathered in a circle.

“Lin Yan! Lin Yan!”

Lin Yan turned around and saw Wei Yan walking over with a bitter expression.

“Senior Brother Big Yan, aren’t you participating in the monthly assessment?”

Wei Yan had a bitter expression on his face. “Sigh, don’t mention it. I know that I’m not good enough. I definitely won’t be able to pass it. So, I was packing my luggage just now.”

Lin Yan fell silent.

The Monthly First Evaluation was the assessment of Dragon Gate Pavilion’s Wu Yard. It was called the Monthly First Evaluation because the test was at the beginning of each month.

Wei Yan had been here for two months and more than ten days. Today was the day he would take the final exam.

However, Wei Yan’s cultivation of the Five Animal Hands was really not good. Lin Yan had seen it before and it was even worse than his. It was probably impossible for the man to pass the assessment.

In the past half a month, he had gotten along well with Wei Yan. Wei Yan had shared a lot of information with him.

Lin Yan didn’t say that he wouldn’t know until he tried. He comforted him. “Senior Brother Big Yan, what do you plan to do after leaving Dragon Gate Pavilion?”

A look of disappointment appeared on Wei Yan’s face. “What else can I do? My father is a martial arts practitioner and works as a guard in a restaurant. As for me, I might go to the restaurant to be a chef. That’s it.”

“Senior Brother, you must tell me the address so that I can go and support you.”

“Definitely, definitely!”

As he spoke, the person in the middle of the venue stood up. “The monthly assessment has officially begun! The candidates whose names have been called will step forward one by one. If you don’t go forward after being called three times, you will be considered to have forfeited! Remember, only by transforming your blood energy can you pass the assessment!”

He was in his forties, and his physique was exaggeratedly burly. He was simply like an upright giant bear, and his voice was like a thunderous bell that attracted the attention of everyone present.

Wei Yan said in a low voice, “I heard that this is the owner of our Dragon Gate Pavilion. His surname is Pang, and he’s an extremely powerful martial artist.”

“First, Tang Shi!”

“Here!”

A young man with a square face and a cold expression walked forward.

“Let’s draw the pattern first!”

“Yes, sir!”

Tang Shi walked up to the three of them, rolled up his sleeves, and stretched out his strong black arm.

The burly man in the middle picked up a brush and dipped it into the wine jar on the table, covering it with the red liquid. Then, he drew a curvy line on Tang Shi’s arm. The curvy line moved wantonly like a swimming dragon.

“Senior Brother Big Yan, this is?”

Wei Yan replied in a low voice, “It’s your first time seeing it, so you don’t know. The Wu Yard assessment requires a transformation of blood energy in order to pass.

“However, in the early stages of martial arts, one’s blood energy is too weak. Even if they undergo a transformation, it’s impossible to tell with the naked eye.

“We need to use this kind of dragon pattern paint made of special herbs mixed with minerals. It’s very sensitive to blood energy. When applied to the body, under the stimulation of blood energy, its color will change. If the dragon pattern turns from red to blue during practice, it means that the blood energy transformation is successful and you pass.”

It could change color? It was actually so magical. It was a little similar to the acid-alkali indicator he had seen in his previous life.

Tang Shi drew a dragon pattern on his arm. He rolled up his sleeves and walked to the center of the arena. He cupped his hands and said, “Please guide me, Pavilion Master!”

Without entering Wei Yard, he was not qualified to call Master. Tang Shi immediately set up a boxing stance and practiced the Five Animal Hands Technique.

Tiger form, deer form, ape form…

His movements were bold and imposing. As his movements became more and more ferocious, the red dragon pattern on his arm seemed to have turned into a real flying dragon and wandered like it was riding the clouds.

“It’s changed! The color has changed!” The surrounding disciples shouted excitedly.

The color of the dragon pattern gradually turned from red to blue. By the time Tang Shi stopped practicing, it had already turned dark blue.

Pavilion Master Pang and the two people around him revealed satisfied smiles. They whispered to each other and said loudly, “Tang Shi has passed with flying colors! Go to our right and wait.”

Tang Shi’s indifferent face couldn’t help but show joy. “Thank you, Pavilion Master!” He walked to the side.

“Next, Tian Wei!”

Then, one after another was called, and they were all painted before they demonstrated.

There were four or five of them in a row, but not a single one of them passed.

From their actions, their proficiency shouldn’t be lower than 50%. However, after 50%, there would be more changes in the details of their internal muscles, so Lin Yan couldn’t tell what level they had reached.

“Next, Wei Yan!”

Lin Yan turned to look at Wei Yan. Wei Yan rubbed his face and smiled bitterly at him before walking to the center of the arena.

Patterns, demonstration…

“Wei Yan is not qualified. Eliminated!”

As expected.

Wei Yan looked both sad and relieved as he returned to Lin Yan’s side.

Lin Yan comforted him. “Senior Brother Big Yan, let’s go for a drink after we’re done.”

“Alright, alright, alright…”

“Next, Bai Xin!”

Bai Xin was that Senior Brother Bai. Lin Yan had never seen him practice martial arts, but he had heard from Wei Yan that Bai Xin’s Five Animal Hands seemed to be even worse than his.

However, his condition was clearly much better than Wei Yan’s. He stepped forward confidently.

“Good luck, Senior Brother Bai!”

“Senior Brother Bai, you can definitely do it!”

It was the two new disciples who had been standing around Bai Xin previously, shouting at the top of their lungs. Yu Qian and the other two stood awkwardly at the side.

Bai Xin waved at them confidently. After painting, he went to the center of the arena to practice.

His movements were decent, but Lin Yan had been practicing the Five Animal Hands for some time. He clearly felt that Bai Xin’s movements were soft and weak. It looked like his movements were on point, but they were actually fancy. He didn’t use any strength at all.

And yet…

“It’s changed! The color has changed!”

The dragon pattern on his arm began to slowly change color, from red to blue, and finally to a deep purple!

“Senior Brother Bai is too powerful!”

“Senior Brother Bai, you’re the best!”

The new disciples beside him were all excited.

Wei Yan was in disbelief. “How is that possible?”

After Bai Xin finished, he did not blush or pant. He swept his arrogant gaze across the crowd, especially at Yu Qian’s face.

Yu Qian’s face was slightly red, and there was a hint of surprise on her face.

Bai Xin had a proud look on his face as he cupped his hands at the three people behind the wooden table. “Pavilion Master, I’m done practicing.”

However, the three people opposite him were expressionless. They sat upright and looked at him coldly.

Bai Xin’s expression stiffened slightly, and he shouted tentatively again, “Pavilion Master, I’m done practicing.”

Pavilion Master Pang sneered and said, “Bai Xin, you’re not qualified!”

“What!”

The surrounding disciples widened their eyes and looked at each other in shock.

On the other hand, there were some old disciples of the Wei Yard who were gloating and watching the show.

“Pavilion Master, why didn’t I pass? This isn’t fair! My dragon pattern clearly changed color!” Bai Xin questioned indignantly.

Pavilion Master Pang’s eyes narrowed, and an invisible pressure fell on Bai Xin like a heavy mountain. Bai Xin’s face immediately turned pale.

“The Flowerless Grass, combined with the bone marrow of a beast, can be mixed into a special colorless liquid.”

Bai Xin’s face instantly turned pale. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Pavilion Master Pang pointed at the wine jar on the table and said, “Apply this colorless liquid on your arm first, then apply the Dragon Pattern Liquid. There’s no need for blood energy to be activated. It will just slowly change color. Although this method is secret, you don’t think that we don’t know, right?”

Bai Xin’s expression changed drastically, and he said incoherently, “I, what did you say? I don’t understand what you’re saying! This is slander, slander! Y-y-you, show me the evidence!”

Pavilion Master Pang’s eyes suddenly turned sharp. “You’re courting death! Zang Wei, cripple his hand and leg and throw him out!”

“Yes, sir!”

Zang Wei stepped forward coldly.

“How dare you! My father is the registrar of Jing’an District. If you dare to touch me, my father won’t let you off! You… Ahhh!”

With two crisp cracking sounds, Zang Wei broke his arm with one hand and kicked his leg bone. It was so painful that Bai Xin fainted on the spot. When he woke up, he fainted again.

The few disciples who were originally praising Bai Xin looked at each other with pale faces.

Zang Wei immediately carried Bai Xin out.

Only then did the old disciples of the Wei Yard whisper to each other and laugh.

“The registrar of Jing’an District? Who does he think he is? How dare he make a ruckus in Dragon Gate Pavilion?”

“He’s probably spoiled by his family and thinks he’s so great.”

“That’s right. Every year, there are idiots who think they’re smart.”

“Do they really think that the head can’t tell?”

“If he admits it honestly, he will only lose face. How dare he provoke the Pavilion Master? He’s courting death!”

“Trash. Purely trash.”

Zang Wei returned very quickly. He wiped his clothes forcefully, leaving a bright red trail of blood.

After this incident, all the new disciples present felt a chill run down their spines. They didn’t even dare to speak anymore.

Pavilion Master Pang knocked on the table. “Alright, continue!”