I have a martial arts panel.

The training ground was bustling with noise.

Suddenly, someone shouted.

"The Black Armor Guards are here!"

Then, the crowd fell silent.

All eyes turned to the distance, where the black-armored guards walked side by side with the elders of Tao Family Village, heading towards the training ground.

"All irrelevant personnel must leave the training ground and wait. All eligible young people participating in the assessment, please stay here and await further instructions!"

Elder Tao Jinglu strode over, leaped onto a high platform, and shouted to the crowded people.

At the clan elder's command, the people in the training ground retreated like a tide.

"Xu Ning, I'll be waiting outside the training ground. If you're thirsty or hungry, come find me."

Tao Yunchuan patted Xu Ning on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Just do your best, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Okay, brother-in-law."

Xu Ning nodded and responded.

The training ground in Taojiazhuang was very large. After the crowd of idlers dispersed, only more than two hundred candidates remained.

The training ground was much emptier inside, but outside it was still packed with people, all waiting to see the next assessment.

"Everyone!"

At this moment, clan chief Tao Jingxing also ascended the high platform.

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy. Addressing the younger generation in the village, he said, "Today, the Black Armor Guards have come to Tao Family Village to select reserve talents. I hope everyone will give it their all. Whether for yourselves, for your families, or for the village, please take the assessment seriously."

"From now on, follow the instructions of the examiners and abide by the examination rules. Anyone who does not follow the procedures will be expelled from the training ground! Understand?"

"clear!"

The response from the young people below was equally enthusiastic.

Everyone was full of enthusiasm for the upcoming assessment.

"Automatically arrange the queues and line up in front of these five tables."

At this moment, the black-armored guards who had been standing to one side also began to move.

They had already communicated with Taojiazhuang about the arrangement of the drill ground today.

The accompanying black-armored guards dispersed one by one and began the procedures.

Xu Ning followed the dispersing crowd and stood in the middle of a line.

"What are you trying to do...?"

Xu Ning tilted her head, trying to see the person at the very front.

Almost everyone was craning their necks to see what would happen next.

The queues became distorted as a result.

"Maintain formation."

A black-armored guard approached, his voice low and deep.

The black-armored guards had already removed their masks, but their indifferent voices and chilling gazes silenced the chosen ones who had been sitting with their legs crossed.

"It seems to be registering personal information..."

The process was quick, and Xu Ning arrived at the front in no time.

"Next."

The examiner holding the registration paper had a pen in his hand and a stack of papers next to him.

After Xu Ning came up, he took out a blank page and began to ask questions.

"Name?"

"Xu Ning."

"Um?"

Upon hearing Xu Ning's name, the black-armored examiner was slightly surprised. He looked up and asked, "From Tao Family Village?"

"Yes," Xu Ning replied, "My brother-in-law is a local from Taojiazhuang."

The examiner nodded: "Age?"

"Seventeen."

After answering the age question, another examiner stepped forward from next to the examiner who was holding the pen.

He grabbed Xu Ning's shoulder and groped around on Xu Ning's arm.

"The age is accurate."

The man turned around and gave the examiner who was writing the paper an affirmative answer.

"How accurate are age verification methods...?"

Xu Ning thought to himself.

"Tell me about the external and internal martial arts you practice, and the corresponding levels you reach."

The examiner then asked, "Answer truthfully."

Xu Ning paused for a moment, then made no attempt to conceal his strength.

"Mastery of the Gale Blade Technique, Spring Breeze Technique, Bone and Muscle Realm."

Xu Ning didn't mention the Light Feather Bow Technique, as it was only at the minor mastery level and was merely an auxiliary skill for him, so he didn't specifically mention it.

"Oh?"

After Xu Ning finished answering, both examiners raised an eyebrow.

Behind Xu Ning, a young man from the same village whom he didn't know well showed a helpless expression when he heard about Xu Ning's strength, clearly feeling that he didn't have much of an advantage in this assessment.

"You have good talent."

A rare smile appeared on the examiner's usually cold face.

After recording the information, the examiner handed the information sheet to Xu Ning and pointed: "Go over there to participate in the first assessment."

Thank you.

Xu Ning nodded in acknowledgment.

Xu Ning took the information sheet and glanced at it.

The information from just now has been recorded. Apart from that, the three columns for Strength, Technique, and Aptitude are still blank.

"Strength should be assessed through weightlifting tests, and technique should be assessed through external martial arts examinations. So how exactly is this aptitude determined?"

Xu Ning was somewhat puzzled, but now was not the time to dwell on this issue.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Ning went to another venue.

The field was filled with weightlifting stones; he had seen them when he walked around the training ground with Tao Yunchuan that morning.

As expected, testing strength was one of the assessment criteria.

"This strength test is simple and straightforward."

Xu Ning automatically joined the queue; the people who registered their information before him were already being tested.

"Anyone who has mastered internal strength will inevitably have a strong physique and increased strength. Lifting this heavy stone should not be difficult for them."

Xu Ning estimated that the weightlifting stone weighed about 150 jin (75 kg): "If someone can lift this weightlifting stone without practicing internal energy cultivation, then they must have innate strength, which can be considered a unique talent. Although the testing method is simple, it is practical."

Soon, it was Xu Ning's turn.

Another examiner took the information sheet from Xu Ning's hand: "Lift this weightstone with one hand and hold it for ten breaths."

"understood."

Xu Ning stepped forward, half-squatting down. He gripped the handle on the weightlifting stone, pulled hard, and then flipped upwards to stand up straight.

"Just as I estimated, it weighs around 150 pounds."

Xu Ning lifted the weightlifting stone with one hand, effortlessly.

"That's fine."

When the time was up, the examiner gave a direct reminder.

Xu Ning gently put down the weightstone and then took the watch from the examiner.

On the original form, a circle had been drawn around the area after the strength test, clearly indicating that the test was passed.

After finishing the first project, Xu Ning moved on to the next one.

"Xu Ning."

As soon as Xu Ning walked over, he saw an acquaintance greeting him in a low voice.

This person was Tao Qingping, who had previously received the Spring Breeze Technique with him.

"Qingping".

Xu Ning also greeted him in a low voice.

Because there were examiners watching, neither of them said anything more.

Tao Qingping's presence here must mean he passed the first strength test.

Either Tao Qingping was born with superhuman strength, or he had cultivated to the first level of the Mortal Realm, the Strength Refinement Realm.

If it is the latter, then Tao Qingping must have something extraordinary about him to have advanced to the Qi Refining Realm in less than two months.

After all, not everyone is like me, with the super boost of martial arts skills.

After a brief greeting, Xu Ning surveyed the surroundings. The area was filled with various weapons, with knives and spears being the most common.

In the middle of the field, young men from Taojiazhuang were attacking the black-armored guards who were wielding long swords.

Those black-armored guards were relaxed and at ease, their long swords in hand, used only for defense, not for offense.

"Testing external martial arts techniques..."

This is consistent with previous speculations.

"Xu Ning, I'm going upstairs first."

Soon, it was Tao Qingping's turn.

He turned around and greeted Xu Ning, then picked up a knife and engaged in combat with a black-armored guard.

"Tao Qingping's Gale Blade Technique should be considered quite good even among those at the Lesser Mastery level."

Xu Ning watched from the side, pondering to himself.

When Tao Qingping received the Spring Breeze Technique last time, he had just achieved minor mastery of the Gale Blade Technique. Now, he has clearly established himself at the minor mastery level, but he is still far from reaching the major mastery level.

"Next."

At that moment, Xu Ning saw an examiner point at him.

This assessment was conducted on multiple people simultaneously. Before Tao Qingping's assessment was even finished, it was Xu Ning's turn.

Xu Ning also grabbed a knife and handed over the information sheet.

"You don't need to display your internal strength when you make a move; this is just a test of your external skills."

The examiner remained expressionless and began to offer his suggestions.

Xu Ning nodded, and without hesitation, he grabbed the hilt of his knife and charged straight ahead.

His Gale Blade Technique had reached its peak, and he had previously killed bandits in actual combat, proving its effectiveness.

"Um?"

The examiner narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing the oncoming gust of wind.

Xu Ning's movements and eyes told him at a glance that this young man had experienced real combat and might have even killed enemies.

"As expected, his swordsmanship has reached its peak."

After just three exchanges, the examiner understood.

"stop."

The examiner quickly stopped the interview: "Very good."

He circled the technique section of the information form and handed it back to Xu Ning.

"The final assessment hasn't started yet, please go to the waiting area first."

"Okay, thank you."

Xu Ning also did not expect the assessment to be conducted so quickly.

Next, only one assessment remains.

"What exactly will this qualification assessment take...?"

Xu Ning was quite curious.