Zanglong City Martial Arts Association.
The biannual martial artist examination drew massive crowds, disorderly and congested.
Despite the limited number of candidates, each one was often accompanied by family and kin.
In addition, considering that the examination was held only once every six months, and Zanglong City had only one testing site, it was completely packed and impassable at this time outside the Martial Arts Association.
"Old Li, this is as far as I can take you."
Fang Yubai had to stop his beloved car hundreds of meters away from the Martial Arts Association.
The traffic jam was too severe to progress any further.
"Thank you."
Li Pin replied with a smile.
He didn't mention that he could have just ridden his bicycle here himself.
Fang Yubai's offer to drive him here was a kind gesture in their interpersonal relationship.
"Good luck, you must succeed. When you get your license, take a picture for me, and I'll post it on my social circle."
Fang Yubai said while waving his hand energetically, "I haven't even managed to pass the level two certification for the Hanyang University Martial Arts Club president yet. If I had a level two martial artist as my brother, wouldn't I strut around Hanyang University in the future?"
Li Pin waved his hand in return.
Following the flow of people, he casually strides towards the Martial Arts Association.
Jiang Qingyue, the president of the Zanglong City Martial Arts Association, was a grandmaster of Astral Energy.
However, with age catching up, her physical strength isn't what it used to be and she probably couldn't compare to some masters who have achieved Great Completion in Elixir Energy. The association's reputation now chiefly rested on the shoulders of a few deputy presidents who were Holding Elixir.
At present, Li Pin was constantly learning about Elixir Energy from the internet and using his "insight" talent to apply it.
Thus, he didn't feel an urgent need to have contact with those Holding Elixir or to seek guidance in Elixir Energy.
At the moment, he was immersing himself in the milieu of a blooming martial arts world, observing the anxious, expectant, or confident examinee martial artists coming and going.
Most of these people had already developed strength. Some who were taking the level two certification exam even had strength that transitioned from tangible to intangible.
There were perhaps hundreds of them bustling around.
This bustling scene of widespread martial arts practice was unimaginable on Lanstar.
Following the crowd, Li Pin arrived at the examination site of the Martial Arts Association.
The martial artist qualification exam was divided into a written quiz and a practical test.
Li Pin, along with dozens of others, entered a room filled with computers. They input their identification proof.
As soon as the time came, the exam started.
He answered the questions according to the prompts on the screen.
"The main duties of a martial artist... obligations to defend the nation's interests and maintain regional peace, obligations to protect vulnerable groups and assistance in combating unlawful infringements…"
"Main rights... entitled to various preferential policies of the state, higher authority to evacuate in emergency, higher authority for self-defense…"
"Martial artist matches involving disability should be exempted from regular legal punishment, or punished leniently... but matches involving life and death need to be applied for in advance through the Martial Arts Association…"
Li Pin answered each question.
"True or False Question: Martial artists and martial artist organizations adhere to equivalent retaliation, but after martial artist Zhang San received permission from the Martial Arts Association to take revenge, he immediately found martial artist Li Si and killed him, thus avenging his grudge. However, the law sentenced him to ten years for intentional homicide. Is this sentence correct?"
"Correct."
Li Pin wrote down his answer.
Even with permission from the Martial Arts Association to take revenge, it must only take place after three business days.
The opposing party could prepare within these three days and had the right to invite any friends to assist in facing the battle for revenge.
Sentencing to ten years of fixed-term imprisonment...
Falls within the category of lenient punishment for martial artist matches.
"True or False Question... During a conflict, civilian A threatened martial artist B with a sword without actually taking action and was killed by martial artist B who leveraged his martial powers… Martial artist B is sentenced for committing intentional homicide…"
"False."
Martial artists are also mortal and cannot withstand attacks from swords and bullets.
A civilian threatening a martial artist with a sword could pose a threat to the martial artist's life. With higher self-defense rights applicable to martial artists, at most a top lawyer could refute the claim and plead for an over-defense justification on behalf of the martial artist..
Li Pin continued to answer the questions.
Despite reviewing for half a month before the theoretical exam and understanding that martial artists' permissions exceed those of ordinary people in this world, some of the questions still felt outrageous to him.
Like this one.
Martial artist Zhang San owed civilian Li Si one million and hasn't paid him back for three years. One day, Li Si discovered Zhang San returned home, so he rallied a group of civilians to break into Zhang San's house without carrying weaponry. Zhang San killed them and the law judged Zhang San as not guilty.
Because...
Martial artists differ from civilians.
Even though there's a reason for the occurrence, martial artists have unlimited counterattack rights towards anyone who illegally enters their homes, including civilians, unless there's a legal procedure involved.
This law was enacted after the disciple of a big shot killed someone in a martial fight, was intruded during the Holding Elixir phase, and ended up running amok. This law was recognized by all martial artists.
Martial artists indeed cannot tolerate any disturbances in some of their cultivation stages.
Fifty minutes later, Li Pin completed the test.
He barely passed the exam.
Next, they queued for the second round of practical tests.
The Martial Arts Association had a full range of testing equipment.
Qi and Blood testers, strength testing machines, reaction testing devices, etc.
Li Pin passed all levels in one go.
Finally, he demonstrated a surge of hidden strength and successfully completed the examination.
After the examination, he waited for less than an hour at the certificate issuance area and smoothly received his level two martial artist certification.
"That was quick."
Li Pin murmured to himself.
But that made sense.
Martial artists had, to some extent, already risen beyond the common people. The Martial Arts Association naturally wouldn't treat them like the Taibai government departments treat the common people, making them wait for several days for minor issues.
Putting the certificate into his pocket, as a martial artist of Zanglong City, Li Pin went to another building to register for the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition.
This process was also very smooth, and he didn't encounter any difficulties.
Local government needs to fully support official competitions like Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition that are strongly promoted by the government.
The more people sign up, the more support from the lower levels the upper levels could see.
The staff won't discourage Li Pin from taking part because he is a level two martial artist.
Their leaders might even have quotas, taking the initiative to encourage eligible martial artists to participate.
After completing the registration with ease, Li Pin walked towards the still crowded association.
"Young man, please wait."
At this moment, a voice came from behind.
Then, a middle-aged, well-off man stepped forward briskly, with a wide smile and a business card in his hand.
"Young man, I am Yuan Tailai from Red Sun Apparel. Sorry for the intrusion. I noticed you when you were getting your martial artist certificate earlier. Let me first congratulate you on passing the level two martial artist examination."
"What do you want?"
Li Pin asked.
With just a sentence, Yuan Tailai seemed to understand Li Pin's character and promptly got to the point: "Young man, you are indeed outstanding to achieve the level two martial artist qualification at such a young age. Also, I saw you walking out of the martial arts competition registration center. Are you planning to experience the excitement of the Jiangzhou martial arts competition?"
"Yes."
"I've seen quite a few competitors recently, but it's rare to see someone like you - young, handsome, dashing, and radiant. Our Red Sun Apparel is a local brand of Zanglong City, and we've been seeking to break out of Zanglong City and face the entire Jiangzhou. We are in need of a brand spokesperson, and your character image is in line with our spokesperson standards…"
Yuan Tailai said with a smile, "Therefore, as long as you are willing to become our brand representative, shoot a commercial and some promotional photos, and wear clothing with Red Sun Apparel's logo to the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition, we are willing to offer one hundred thousand."