Dual Transmigration: American Prison, Surviving to a Fantasy Development Stage

Following his words, Lin Feng speculated, "Could it be that the city lord is their protector, profiting from it?"

That's true, but not entirely true.

Jiang Hu, with a far-sighted look, said, "There may be some taking advantage of others, but the main reason lies in this 'military examination system'."

He slowly recounted the story, revealing the cruel rules beneath the calm surface:

"For the ruler of a city, the most important political achievement, or even the only one, that determines his career path, is whether he can select and send enough outstanding military talents to the county during his term of office."

When the imperial court assesses city lords, it doesn't consider whether the people's livelihood is difficult or whether the commercial taxes are abundant. The primary thing it looks at is how many people under their jurisdiction have passed the military examinations and reached what level.

If Yongguan County can have ten qualified participants in the martial arts examination held every five years, the city lord can be considered basically qualified.

If even one person can break through the encirclement and achieve a ranking in the prefectural or even state examinations, that would be a great achievement.

If someone truly possesses extraordinary talent and can rank among the top 100 "Martial Arts Scholars" nationwide, the rewards would be enough to propel the city lord to great heights!

"Whether the people in the county are being exploited or living in hardship is not important to the city lord and the imperial court."

As long as the three major martial arts schools can reliably provide him with "slots" to participate in the martial arts examination, and these disciples do not perform too poorly in the examination.

As long as they don't cause public outrage or incite a popular uprising, the city lord will tacitly approve their actions within the county, and may even provide them with some protection.

This is reality.

Lin Feng remained silent after hearing this.

This logic is cold and direct, treating the common people as nourishment and the selection of martial artists as the only priority, which is indeed in line with the ruling mindset that a martial dynasty might have.

Meanwhile, those from the lower classes who want to change their fate should learn martial arts.

Seeing Lin Feng deep in thought, Jiang Hu continued to persuade him: "Even so, the martial arts examination is still the most direct and brightest path for you to change your destiny."

If you don't participate in the martial arts examination, you will never be able to obtain the truly profound martial arts techniques, precious elixirs, and rare resources controlled by the imperial court.

In the Great Wei Dynasty, the most advanced martial arts inheritance and cultivation resources are firmly controlled by the imperial court or distributed through the martial arts examination system.

Those scattered among the people are extremely rare, and most are incomplete or substandard.

Lin Feng suddenly asked, "Is there no other major sect or faction besides the imperial court that we can rely on? Do we have to take the path of the martial arts examination?"

Jiang Hu shook his head: "Yes, of course."

In the martial arts world, numerous sects exist, some with a foundation that rivals even that of the imperial court.

but…"

He emphasized, "An unwritten rule is that when major sects recruit disciples, they often give priority to those with a 'martial arts examination' background, especially those who have won awards."

The results of the martial arts examination became the most reliable stepping stone, a nationwide and open qualification screening.

Those who can enter the top 100 martial arts scholars are geniuses among geniuses, and any sect would be eager to recruit them.

It can be said that the martial arts examination was almost the only opportunity for ordinary martial artists to rise above their circumstances and change their own and their family's fate.

However, Lin Feng still showed little interest.

He was not a citizen of the Great Wei Dynasty, lacked a sense of belonging to the dynasty, and had no intention of serving it.

If he is unhappy here, or if the risks are too great, he can simply return to the modern city and live a carefree life.

Striving? That's a last resort when you lack a sense of security.

If he had enough strength to protect himself, he would prefer to enjoy life and explore the mysteries of the two worlds rather than get caught up in the complex vortex of power and competition.

Seeing that Lin Feng's eyes remained calm and unmoved, Jiang Hu couldn't help but feel puzzled and even a little confused.

He frowned and asked, "Since you have no interest in the martial arts examination or in acquiring greater power, why did you come to the martial arts school in the first place, and why did you learn martial arts?"

Lin Feng gave an incredibly simple, even somewhat "unambitious" answer: "Just to improve my health and protect myself."

"I just don't want to be bullied by others."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hu was taken aback at first, then chuckled and shook his head: "You're young now, so you can be stubborn."

However, one must understand that in this world, if one does not strive to rise above others and acquire more resources and power, one will ultimately be nothing more than an ant that can be crushed at any moment by the strong.

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

When you possess extraordinary value or secrets, without corresponding status and power to protect you, you are courting disaster.

His gaze sharpened, as if he could see through some of Lin Feng's thoughts. "I believe you are not someone who is content with mediocrity."

What you seek in your heart is far more than just "self-preservation".

You want to gain greater power, explore a wider world, and even pursue a higher realm.

Therefore, participating in the martial arts examination to obtain official status and resource support is almost an unavoidable path.

Unless you're content to spend your entire life holed up in this tiny Yongguan County, never venturing out again, never experiencing the wider world outside.

These words subtly touched upon a certain thought in Lin Feng's mind.

Yongguan County is too small and its resources are limited. The effects of ordinary wild beasts on him have begun to diminish, and higher-level "resources" or secrets clearly exist in a wider world.

Seeing that Lin Feng remained silent, seemingly moved, Jiang Hu seized the opportunity to explain in detail the practical benefits of participating in the martial arts examination.

"The threshold for the martial arts examination is not high. First, the age must not exceed thirty."

Secondly, your cultivation level must reach at least the fourth level of Body Refinement, proving that you have the foundation for further training. Once you stand out in the county examination and enter the top ten in the county, becoming a "Martial Arts Student," you will immediately receive the Inner Strength Realm cultivation manual bestowed by the imperial court.

In addition, there are regular medicinal bath rewards to accelerate cultivation and solidify the foundation.

His tone carried a hint of temptation: "If you can go further and stand out in the prefectural and state examinations, or even break into the top 100 in the country and become a 'military scholar,' the treatment will be worlds apart."

All the resources secretly stored by the imperial court, including profound martial arts techniques, elixirs and miraculous medicines inaccessible to ordinary people, the essence of demonic beasts, and divine weapons, will be tilted towards you and supplied with priority.

Only then will you truly have stepped into the ranks of the elite.

It can be said that a large portion of the taxes paid and the goods produced by the vast lower classes of the Great Wei Dynasty were used to support our martial arts training.

As Lin Feng listened, a sense of doubt arose in his heart.

With the imperial court sparing no effort in cultivating martial artists and providing them with massive resources, isn't it afraid that the martial artists' power will grow too strong, become uncontrollable, and even threaten the imperial authority?

Or is the external pressure from barbarians and monsters truly so immense that the entire nation must dedicate its resources to developing combat capabilities?

Or perhaps, the martial arts examination system itself is a huge selection and control mechanism?

Hiding ulterior motives?

There is absolutely no such thing as a free lunch.