Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 59 Three Chopsticks to Call the General
The next few games weren't as comfortable as the first ones.

Jiang Liang was facing off against scions of prominent families from the prefecture.

With a straight back, relaxed shoulders, and toes turned inward, even his posture has the feel of something he's "trained since childhood."

Jiang Liang knew that, in terms of background, these people were probably raised in medicinal soups from birth, and had someone teaching them breathing techniques when they were just learning to speak.

Having developed strong muscles and bones early on, and with a solid foundation, every punch and kick carries a hint of killing intent, and every move exudes composure and steadiness.

Looking at their moves, even when facing an enemy, there was no fear in their eyes, but rather a lot of calmness and calculation.

They all clearly have some foundation in self-cultivation.

After enduring several rounds, Jiang Liang realized things were not going well.

Although I have consumed a lot of medicinal pills and dishes during this period, my muscles and bones have indeed improved.

The difference isn't just in the surface-level strength, but in the foundation they've built up little by little since childhood.

No matter how fast you wield a stick, it can't compare to the solidity in someone's bones.

He was quickly put at a disadvantage and had no choice but to defend himself. He relied on his exquisite staff skills to counter the attacks and looked quite disheveled.

Fortunately, he wasn't without his advantages.

The most important aspect of that breathing method for nourishing the mind and spirit is not raising the breath, but rather preserving the spirit.

When one's breath is calm, one's mind is at peace; when one's mind is at peace, one remains calm. Even if one loses the initiative, one will not suffer a complete collapse.

Jiang Liang remained extremely steadfast, seeking no merit, but simply maintaining his integrity.

If someone is slow to act, Jiang Liang will stall.

With a long, drawn-out breath, he could wear down the man until he showed signs of fatigue, then find an opening and strike with his stick. This would give him a good chance of winning by seven or eight points.

But if you run into someone who is ruthless, aggressive, and relentless, you can only defend yourself and won't even have time to catch your breath.

No matter how skilled one is with a stick, it cannot withstand the unstoppable force of a bull that "pushes across the entire path".

Unable to withstand the onslaught, Jiang Liang stopped his stubbornness, withdrew his stick, clasped his hands in a salute, and retreated swiftly.

The audience members were somewhat taken aback when they first saw it.

One of the examiners on stage nodded and said:

"This kid knows the situation and refuses to be the one who stubbornly resists to the end."

As for the winner, he may not necessarily be stronger than those who fought more slowly.

In any contest, there are inherent strengths and weaknesses, much like in chess.

Sometimes, overwhelming aura, sometimes clashing moves, and sometimes a moment of unease can lead to total defeat.

After several matches, Jiang Liang had a mixed record of wins and losses, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

The outcome of the match was not the only factor.

The examiners present were the real "opponents".

It's not about who wins or loses on stage, but about the player's fundamental skills, mindset, and the spirit to break through the deadlock.

After several matches, the dust has settled.

The hem of my clothes was wet and then dried, then wrinkled again.

Some people were twisting their sleeves until they creaked, some were staring blankly at their weapons like wooden blocks, and a few were choking on their water, coughing until their faces were red.

Before long, Hongdu Jiao pulled out a roster and stood in front of the stage.

"The second-tier list includes fifteen people: Dong Han, Le Kai..."

As each name was mentioned, silence fell over the surroundings.

Those disciples who had previously taken "shortcuts" are all now included.

This time, however, no one in the room uttered a sound.

True skill is revealed in fists and feet; the fight on the ring is where everything is clear.

Everyone knows in their hearts who came from the mud and fire and who is just an empty shell.

Jiang Liang listened, his expression unchanged, but his eyes relaxed slightly.

Those whose names were called were then led deep into the Armory, towards a quiet courtyard.

The lush greenery overhead and the gentle murmur of water seemed to soothe even the air.

For the first time, no one thought about gathering their qi and circulating their energy; they simply relaxed and took a breather.

After a moment, someone spoke, their voice still hoarse:

"Hongdu Sect...do you still have to compete?"

I didn't dare to be too blunt in my tone, and I asked the questions carefully.

Hongdu glanced at him, his tone gentler than before, no longer as cold and harsh as when they first met: "Relax. There's nothing more to come."

After he finished speaking, everyone was even more puzzled and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Someone couldn't help but ask again:

"If we don't compete, how can we determine the top-ranked team? And how many spots are available for the top-ranked team? We need to have a certain number, right?"

This is the most important thing.

Even though being ranked second-class is good, it's nothing more than a line of text on the state register.

The title of "First Class Scholar" is truly one in a thousand, a golden ticket to officialdom within reach.

Hong Dujiao simply smiled after hearing this.

"This matter of the first rank is none of your concern."

He paused, his tone both relaxed and firm:
"You can choose even without comparing; whether you choose or not, how many, is entirely up to you."

Everyone was stunned for a long time after hearing this.

Some people seemed lost in thought, while others frowned slightly. Jiang Liang, however, simply lowered his head, twisted the corner of his sleeve, and said nothing.

Upon reaching the courtyard, the smile on Hong Dujiao's face vanished completely, leaving only discipline and respect.

He bowed slightly towards the door, his voice low, and even his back was more hunched than before:

"My lord, these are the people selected in this Liangzhou general election."

The courtyard gate creaked open, revealing a sliver of space.

Inside the door, a middle-aged man was sitting at a stone table eating.

He was dressed in ordinary short clothes, his sideburns were loose, and he had just casually tied them into a bun. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and buried his head in a bowl of rice and vegetables, eating with gusto.

At first glance, he looked exactly like a street urchin.

But for some reason, standing there, he made people afraid to even breathe softly.

Hong Du stood to one side, hands hanging down, and said in a low voice:
"This is the Commandant of the Armed Forces Department."

The young men hurriedly paid their respects, and although they were all somewhat suspicious of the adult's "behavior," none of them dared to show the slightest disrespect.

The man finished the last bite, wiped his mouth, and slowly got up without even putting down his chopsticks.

He stepped out of the door, his steps slow and his expression casual.

His gaze swept over the heads of the crowd as if he were shopping.

Even though there was no real action, Jiang Liang felt that gaze was like a needle piercing into his bones.

It was just like the time a few days ago when my dad was watching me through the crack in the window when I came home.

A chill ran through him, and his breath unconsciously rose slowly and continuously, causing his mind to calm down.

The military officer strolled outside the courtyard without even lifting his eyelids. He simply raised his shiny chopsticks and pointed them in the air a few times.

"This one has the strongest muscles and bones."

The chopsticks touched the ground and landed in front of a burly, broad-chested boy.

"This one has the deepest aura."

Another point is that Jiang Liang, at this moment, is holding his breath, calm and composed, as immovable as a mountain.

"And this one, it's the most mentally stable."

The third point lies between the brows of a young man with a reserved expression and calm gaze.

With his three fingers firmly planted, he didn't even put down his chopsticks before turning around and entering the room, without leaving a single word of explanation.

The aroma of food wafted out again, and the door creaked shut.

The crowd was left standing in the courtyard, barely daring to breathe, as if those few strokes of the chopsticks were not a signal to call out enemy generals.

The young men who had fought their way up from the county and prefecture levels looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion, and they began to whisper among themselves.

"This is... a headcount?"

"Why are you stopping the competition? You think you can decide a champion based on just a few chopsticks?"

Although his voice was low, the doubt in his eyes was unmistakable.

On the other hand, the scions of prominent families all had serious faces and slightly shifting eyes, but their minds were already racing with various plans.

Hong Dujiao then turned around and stood still, looking at the three people.

His expression was solemn, and his voice was soft, yet each word he spoke carried clearly to everyone's ears:

"Dong Han, Jiang Liang, and Ma Ruiyuan are the top-ranked candidates in this Liangzhou general election."

(End of this chapter)