"The first trial is a strength assessment. Here are four strength testing monuments. I believe that you all have already seen it. In a short while, when a number is said, the martial artist with the corresponding plate number will come out and be assessed. If a martial artist's strength exceeds one thousand jin, they will pass; otherwise, they will fail."
"Moreover, passing the first trial is just the beginning of the assessment. There will still be the rest of the assessment. The final score will be determined by the total scores from each part of the assessments."
As Elder Tren said this, the crowd of martial artists once again started talking again. They were eager to demonstrate strength exceeding one thousand jin. Other than a few people with special bodies, one would need at least to be body refining third level to reach a thousand jin of strength.
In the previous year's assessment, the first trial only needed to reach about seven or eight hundred. Some body refining second level martial artists could also barely pass by, but now they had basically cut off the hopes of body refining second level martial artists.
Many martial artists' faces visibly fell, reflecting the impact of the raised standards. About eighty to ninety percent of these people were body refining second level.
However, Elder Tren didn't care about their feelings and continued to say: "The reward for this time's assessment is also quite rich. All those that successfully pass the assessment will become the Zephyr Blade Sect's outer sect disciple, and each will receive a bone purification dan! The top twenty martial artists will each also receive a muscle enhancement pill! The top ten martial artists will directly become Zephyr Blade Sect's inner sect disciple, the top three will receive even more rewards!"
When Elder Tren announced the rewards, every martial artist's eyes glowed. This time's assessment's difficulty was indeed higher, but the rewards were the highest they've ever been.
Most of them didn't have much hope, but as long as they could become an outer sect disciple, they could get a Bone Purification dan. For body refining third level martial artists, a Bone Purification dan would give them a good chance of reaching body refining fourth level.
Scanning the square below and seeing the martial artists were very excited, Elder Tren didn't say any more extras, slightly nodding his head: "Now, let the assessment begin!"
At this time, an examiner was standing beside each of the four strength testing monuments. These people were deacons of the Zephyr Blade Sect. Receiving Elder Tren's command, these deacons began the assessment. Each of them held a roster and began calling out names.
With every number called out, a continual stream of martial artists came up, faced the strength testing monument, and rubbed their fists and wiped their palms, getting ready to test.
Leo's eyes landed on the martial artist who went up first. He saw the martial artist shake his body a little and then suddenly punch the monument.
When the punch landed, the crystal column on the strength testing monument rose quickly, finally stopping a little before the 1,000 jin mark.
The deacon beside him looked and said, "950 jin. Below marks. Two more chances."
The martial artist's face was red. He frantically breathed in and punched it again.
"900 jin. Below marks. One more chance."
"900 jin. Below marks. Failure. Next!"
When he finished speaking, the deacon crossed out the information of the martial artists. He had failed the first trial and would have no chances with the rest of the assessment.
After failing three times in a row, the martial artist could only leave the square. It was soon the next martial artist's turn.
"800 jin, 850 jin, 850 jin. Failure. Next!"
…
"950 jin, 1000 jin. Pass!"
After seeing many martial artists try, Leo finally saw a martial artist pass. Hearing the deacon say he had passed, the martial artist immediately shouted in excitement. Although he had barely passed, it was still much better than those who couldn't even pass the first round.
Seeing each person go up to the test, Leo also saw a few familiar faces. In front of him were that axe-carrying martial artist and the Valdor swordsman, who both passed the test. The two of them hit 1300 jin and 1400 jin, respectively.
The Valdor swordsman who was peak body refining third level and hitting 1400 jin wasn't anything strange, but that axe-carrying martial artist had just entered body refining third level and could still hit 1300 jin, surpassing Leo's expectation. Leo speculated that this individual likely possessed an exceptional constitution from birth. His body strength wasn't normal. One could tell in an instant when seeing him carry that large axe.
"Number 332, Russell." The deacon once again called out a number. The crowd suddenly became noisier.
"Russell. Isn't he known in Stellaria City as a genius, second only to young Miss Cassia?"
"That's right. It seems he's only eighteen years old. I heard that he just advanced to body refining at the fifth level two months ago. An eighteen year old body refining fifth level. This is a powerful person. I think that this time's number one place will be taken by him!"
"Ai, let's not compare ourselves to him. His family's good, and his qualifications are also good. If I can enter the outer sect, I'll be content enough…"
Listening to the discussion of the surrounding martial artists, Leo pieced together from their conversations the impressive background and abilities of Russell, gaining a deeper insight into his identity. He was eighteen years old and body refining fifth level. He could be considered the number one figure in Stellaria City, and he had heard of the Xia family in Stellaria City before.
Soon, a pretty boy who was wearing silk clothing and carrying a long sword came out of the crowd. It was clear that he was Russell.
And at this time, the deacon at another one of the strength testing monuments also called out a number.
"Number 650, Franklin Whitaker."
Leo felt a jolt of surprise in his heart. Franklin!
Hearing Franklin's name, Russell, who was preparing to take the test, suddenly stopped, his eyes scanning across the crowd.
The crowd once again became noisy. A crowd of the Whitaker family's servants opened the road. Leo had been thinking of Franklin night and day, and now he was finally in front of him.
Harold was similarly dressed, but he didn't carry any weapons, and his expression was very calm. He didn't like a good-for-nothing price, however, he did what he wanted in the Azure Peak Village and didn't without hindrance.
Leo's eyes stared at him. He had dared to have ideas about his sister. There would be a day when he was going to fiercely trample Franklin under his feet!
"Haha, Franklin. I hadn't thought we would test at the same time. That's good. Let's let everyone see whether Stellaria City's number one genius is you, Franklin, or me, Russell!" Russell said as he stood in the square, staring at Franklin.
Facing Russell's provocation, Franklin seemed very calm. He walked forward and slowly said: "Stellaria City's number one genius is neither you nor I. Of course it's young, Miss Cassia."
Done speaking, Franklin seemed very humble as he cupped his hands towards Cassia, who was by the judging area. If one wasn't familiar with Franklin, ordinary people would probably really be tricked by Franklin's actions.
"Who is this person, ah? I don't think I've ever heard of Franklin, ah?"
"I know this guy. He is a member of the Whitaker clan from Azure Peak Village. I've heard that he's already reached the body-refining fifth level and is a strong person. I'm guessing that this time's first place position will be a competition between him and Russell."
"Pei! Someone like him wants to contaminate Miss Cassia? He should take a piss and look at himself!" Alden fiercely spat, "Older brother Leo, in a while, go fiercely trample that guy. That first place will certainly be claimed by you!"