Seventy years old is the age to take risks!

"Spirit Stone..."

Jiang Yuan muttered to himself, then suddenly remembered something.

He had heard that one could become a retainer of the city lord's mansion by passing the martial arts examination.

Jiangning City is a major city in the southern part of the Great Yu Kingdom. The city lord's mansion is very powerful and has many retainers.

Most of these retainers were martial artists who earned cultivation resources by serving the city lord's mansion and could also receive a stipend of spirit stones regularly.

"Looks like I'll have to go to the government office again."

Jiang Yuan stood up, changed into a clean blue robe, and pushed open the door to go out.

......

Jiangning City Government Office.

Zhang Yong was practicing his swordplay in the courtyard, the blade flashing and the air filled with power.

As the head constable of the yamen, his Qi cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Condensation, which was considered a master among ordinary people.

"Old Zhang, busy?"

An aged voice came from behind.

Zhang Yong sheathed his sword and turned around, seeing Jiang Yuan walk into the courtyard. He immediately burst into laughter:

"Hey, old Jiang, what brings you here?"

"What's wrong? Business at the teahouse is bad, so you're coming to the yamen to beg for a living?"

"Go! Go! Go."

Jiang Yuan rolled his eyes. "I have important business with you."

"What important matter is it?"

Zhang Yong put away his knife and wiped his sweat.

"I wish to participate in the martial arts assessment and register as a retainer of the city lord's mansion."

"Oh, participating in the martial arts assessment..."

Zhang Yong casually agreed, then suddenly widened his eyes, staring at Jiang Yuan as if he were a monster:

"What? You want to participate in the martial arts assessment??"

"What, is it not allowed?" Jiang Yuan asked calmly.

Zhang Yong almost jumped up. "Old Jiang, I think you're getting senile!"

"You're a seventy-year-old man, it's fine if you practice martial arts for a few days to improve your health, but do you really think you're a martial arts master?"

Jiang Yuan was too lazy to waste words with him. He flipped his right hand, and a wisp of true energy condensed in his palm.

"this......"

Zhang Yong's voice stopped abruptly, his eyes widening like copper bells.

"Old Jiang, you've condensed your true energy?"

"How is this possible?"

Jiang Yuan withdrew his true energy, smiled faintly, and said, "I am endowed with extraordinary talent, is that not allowed?"

"Exceptional talent..."

Zhang Yong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

He had heard of the young prodigy.

I've never heard of an elderly prodigy before?

Generally speaking, it is difficult to become a martial artist once you are over forty years old.

Although there are indeed martial artists in this world who enter the Qi Condensation Realm in their later years, such beings are extremely rare, even rarer than peerless geniuses!

Legend has it that an old Taoist priest suddenly attained enlightenment and directly entered the Middle Three Realms, becoming a martial arts grandmaster, which caused a sensation throughout the Great Yu Kingdom.

Of course, there is another possibility.

Jiang Yuan was originally a martial arts master. Once he reached that level, he could completely conceal his true energy and appear no different from an ordinary person.

But the possibility of this is almost zero.

"OK."

Zhang Yong took a deep breath, suppressing his shock. "Since you have already condensed your true qi, you are qualified to participate in the assessment."

"But old Jiang, let me warn you beforehand: if your old bones get broken, don't blame me for not warning you."

"Enough with the nonsense, lead the way," Jiang Yuan said.

Seeing Jiang Yuan's confidence, Zhang Yong didn't try to persuade him any further and led him to a spacious training ground.

The training ground was extremely spacious, with various weapons such as swords, spears, halberds, and knives displayed all around.

At this moment, more than a dozen martial artists had gathered on the training ground. Some were practicing their skills, while others were sparring. Each of them was vigorous and powerful, exuding an extraordinary aura.

"Oh, Officer Zhang is here!"

A burly man in rough clothes saw Zhang Yong and greeted him with a smile, "What brings you to the training ground today? Want to spar with the brothers?"

"Sparring my ass."

Zhang Yong waved his hand and pointed to Jiang Yuan behind him, "I brought people here to participate in the martial arts assessment."

"To participate in the assessment?"

The man in rough clothes was stunned. He looked at Jiang Yuan in the direction Zhang Yong was pointing, and his face was full of astonishment.

"he?"

"Yes, that's him." Zhang Yong nodded helplessly.

"Ha ha ha ha......"

The rough-looking man couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Officer Zhang, you're not joking, are you?"

"How old is this old man?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding martial artists burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, Officer Zhang, you didn't bring some old man here to amuse us, did you?"

"Grandpa, you're so old, you should go home and hold your grandchildren!"

"Hey, this old gentleman looks familiar. Isn't he the old storyteller Mr. Jiang from the teahouse?"

"Holy crap, it really is!"

"Old sir, you haven't gone mad from storytelling, have you? Do you really think you're some kind of old rascal?"

"Hahaha, I can't take it anymore, this is too funny."

Alas, the children of Nancun are taking advantage of my old age and weakness.

Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly, then his eyes sharpened.

Swish!

The next second, Jiang Yuan casually swung his palm, the wind from which blew and landed on a wooden stake not far away.

boom!

In an instant, the wooden stake shattered into pieces, as if it had been smashed by a tiger's paw.

The laughter in the room stopped abruptly, and there was complete silence.

"Holy crap?"

Someone couldn't help but swear, and only then did everyone snap out of their shock.

"No, is this old man serious?"

"Rumor has it that old men are not to be underestimated; they are often hidden masters. And it's certainly true!"

"Good heavens, this old man is a martial artist!"

Everyone was utterly astonished.

Zhang Yong was also somewhat surprised, because Jiang Yuan had just used the Tiger Form of the Five Animal Fist.

This old guy has only been practicing for a few days?

That's intense?

Jiang Yuan remained calm and spoke indifferently: "Gentlemen, I began practicing martial arts at seventy, which is indeed a bit late, but surely the City Lord's Mansion doesn't have a rule that people over seventy can't participate in the assessment?"

The words fell.

A middle-aged man dressed in government official robes with a stern face walked out from the crowd.

It was Zhao Tieshan, the chief examiner of the martial arts assessment here.

He was a resident retainer of the city lord's mansion and was considered a prominent figure in Jiangning City.

Zhao Tieshan approached Jiang Yuan, cupped his hands slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Jiang, we were blind to your greatness just now, and we have offended you."

"You will pass the test if you can defeat any of the martial artists present."

"Whom do you wish to challenge?"

Jiang Yuan glanced at Zhao Tieshan in front of him and said indifferently, "No need to choose, you're the one."

Zhang Yong was startled upon hearing this and quickly pulled Jiang Yuan aside, whispering, "Old Jiang, this guy is already a martial artist. Are you sure you want to challenge him?"

"You old codger, don't let your words carry you away!"

"It's alright."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand.

He came here to participate in the martial arts assessment for two reasons: first, to register as a disciple and receive a monthly stipend of spirit stones; and second, to test his cultivation progress, as he rarely had the opportunity to spar with others.

Although he only cultivated for a month, with the blessing of late bloomer, it was equivalent to cultivating for a full seventy months. Even the Five Animal Fist technique seemed to have been practiced for seventy months, and he used it very skillfully.

Furthermore, even after seventy months of practice, others inevitably have moments of relaxation, indicating a lack of substance.

He relied entirely on cheat codes!

Sit down!