Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune: Starting with death row inmates

Shen Chen then realized another problem.

Since Bai Li knew about the government spy in the head of the household, the chieftain Hu Muzhi must have known as well.

Why didn't Hu Muzhi expose and execute that spy? Instead, he allowed him to sit comfortably in his chair. Wasn't this turning a blind eye to a traitor within his own ranks?

Shen Chen's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood.

Why leave government spies unattended? Are they trying to cast a long line to catch a big fish?

"If you're going to play the long game, you can't let the bait feel like it's bait... Obviously, the person Hu Muzhi values ​​and pays the most attention to recently is a government spy." Shen Chen's mind raced, and without Bai Li needing to reveal it, he had already guessed who the spy was.

Bai Li then said, "I want to eat something, but Father won't let me. Can you get it for me?"

Shen Chen asked, "Okay, what is it?"

"It's a bunch of fruit, bright red, looks delicious, but unfortunately Father told me it's a prize for a martial arts tournament and I can't eat it," Bai Li said. "Will you participate in that martial arts tournament?"

Shen Chen said, "I will probably participate."

Bai Li's eyes lit up: "Then you win it and give it to me to eat."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely get it for you." Shen Chen said confidently. Putting everything else aside, just considering Bai Li's ancestral abilities, he had to cultivate a good relationship with her.

The next day.

The martial arts competition in the village was held as scheduled. As the horn sounded, Shen Chen and the others stepped into the competition arena.

The martial arts competition in the village was divided into three rounds. The first round was to test the strength of the many martial artists. There were nine bronze cauldrons in the arena, with the weight of the cauldrons increasing from 500 jin to 3,000 jin.

Each person has two chances to lift the tripod. Success is achieved if the lift is completed within ten breaths. The best result from the two lifts will be recorded.

At the command of the village chief Hu Muzhi, the nine cauldrons of different weights were lined up in rows of varying lengths.

Shen Chen wondered to himself, "Which bronze cauldron should I choose to challenge this time?"

Faced with nine bronze tripods of varying weights, what would you choose?

[Good fortune: You chose the 1,500-jin bronze cauldron, successfully endured it for ten breaths, and did not overexert yourself. Auspicious.]

[You chose the 1,000-jin bronze cauldron and easily lasted for ten breaths, but your performance was mediocre. You win.]

[Bad Fortune: You chose a bronze cauldron weighing 2,500 jin. You tried your best to lift it steadily for ten breaths, but because you lacked strength, you were instead crushed under the cauldron, making a complete fool of yourself. Ominous.]

After careful consideration, Shen Chen chose a bronze tripod weighing 1,500 jin.

A dark-skinned man in front of him turned his head and glanced at him. Seeing that he was of average build, he couldn't help but kindly remind him, "Brother, you have to hold onto this 1,500 jin for ten breaths. Those at the Internal Organs Realm can't possibly last that long."

Shen Chen nodded and said "I understand," but did not change his mind about the goal.

Seeing his stubbornness, the burly man in front thought to himself, "Such obstinacy... just wait and see how you make a fool of yourself..."

Just then, an exclamation rang out from not far away: "Three thousand jin! Master Huang is too strong!"

Shen Chen looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure supporting the three-thousand-pound cauldron in the very center, lifting it high with both hands.

The man was shirtless, his arms were muscularly defined, and his legs were as thick and strong as ancient bamboo, firmly rooted to the ground.

【Descending Tiger】Huang Sancai, the sworn brother of Huang Ahu, the second-in-command, is a martial artist with the Meridian Opening ranked eighty-third on the Heroes List.

"Indeed formidable." Shen Chen glanced at it and sighed inwardly. He then focused his attention on the cauldron he was about to lift.

The surface of the 3,000-jin (1,500 kg) giant cauldron is decorated with nine oxen and two tigers, while the surface of the 1,500-jin (750 kg) cauldron is decorated with four oxen and one tiger.

A martial artist at the Internal Organs Realm exerted all his strength to finally lift the 1,500-pound bronze cauldron, but he couldn't even last three breaths before his face turned pale and he put it down, shaking his head repeatedly: "I was careless, I was careless! Only a True Qi Realm cultivator could manage it in ten breaths!"

The instantaneous burst of power in the Visceral Realm might reach 1,500 jin, but its endurance is uncertain. This first round is not only a test of "strength" but also a test of "qi".

The burly man who had previously advised Shen Chen stepped forward. He was as strong as an ox, and his two large, fan-like hands gripped the legs of the bronze cauldron. He uttered a low shout: "Rise!"

The bronze cauldron immediately rose into the air and was steadily lifted above his head.

This scene instantly attracted a lot of attention, and murmurs arose: "1,500 jin! Who has that kind of strength?"

Someone recognized the burly man: "It's Luo Tieniu! He was in the deep mountains trying to break through to the True Qi Realm, and he's successfully emerged this time!"

Shen Chen recalled briefly that Luo Tieniu was the younger brother of Luo Xiong, the Ninth Leader, and his nickname was "Black King Kong".

He sized up Luo Tieniu's bruised skin and burly build, thinking to himself, "That nickname is really fitting."

Luo Tieniu put down the bronze cauldron with great satisfaction; the result of 1,500 jin was more than enough to satisfy him.

Although everyone has two chances, after lifting the cauldron the first time, the result of the second attempt will inevitably be worse than the first, so Luo Tieniu gave up on lifting it a second time.

Shen Chen strode to the front of the cauldron and walked to the spot where Luo Tieniu had just stood.

"This pretty boy can lift this cauldron?" Luo Tieniu sized up Shen Chen, noticing his average build and fair complexion, and couldn't help but feel a sense of contempt.

"Master Shen!"

"Master Shen!"

Upon seeing Shen Chen appear, many bandits shouted his name.

Shen Chen is no longer the pale-faced scholar he was when he first entered the stronghold. Now he controls the salt well business, is wealthy, and has made great achievements such as capturing Liu Ming and Zheng Yu, causing a scene at Mo Yuancai's birthday party, and entering the True Qi Realm in half a year. He has already become famous in the stronghold, and many people regard him as an idol.

Luo Tieniu looked somewhat confused. For the past six months, he had been holed up in the deep mountains and forests trying to break through to the True Qi Realm. Until last night, he was still sparring with a bear in a cave. He had no idea what had happened in the village recently.

Master Shen? Where did this "master" come from?

Luo Tieniu nudged a loud-mouthed henchman next to him: "Who's this guy?"

The henchman was about to roll his eyes at Luo Tieniu, but when he saw Luo Tieniu's face, he trembled: "Master Luo! Don't you know Shen Chen, the 'Ghost Calculator'?"

"I don't know, are you a newbie?" Luo Tieniu asked.

"He is indeed a newcomer, having only been in the stronghold for half a year, but he is a remarkable figure," the henchman said.

Just then, Shen Chen grabbed the handles on the cauldron's mouth with both arms, and with a strong lift, steadily raised the cauldron.

His true energy flowed throughout his limbs and bones, and his spine, like steel tempered in a fierce fire, completely absorbed the pressure of 1,500 jin! Not even a popping sound was heard.

"True Qi Realm?" Luo Tieniu was greatly surprised to see this.

He suddenly realized something: he had been only three feet away from Shen Chen, yet he had not realized that the other party was a true qi martial artist.