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Once the apprentices in hemp clothing had lined up and the two pharmacists were seated on the stage, Guard Xue came to the front of the group.

He clapped his hands: "Then today's martial arts examination will officially begin. The examination consists of three parts: 'Standing Posture,' 'Martial Arts Demonstration,' and 'Challenge.' I have already explained the details to you before, so I won't go into them here."

He announced loudly, "Now we begin the first stage: Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation)! All those in hemp clothing, stand in Zhan Zhuang immediately! We'll see how well you do after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!"

At his command, the apprentices in hemp clothing immediately sprang into action. They looked at each other, their faces showing either excitement or trepidation, and began to stand on stakes in the training ground.

Shen You also followed the other apprentices in hemp clothing to practice the "White Ape Stance".

Just then, Guard Xue beckoned to Shen You: "Shen You, you don't need to stand in the stance with them."

Shen You looked over in surprise, only to see a hint of a smile on Guard Xue's fierce face. "You are a martial artist, so you don't need to participate in the first two stages. Just prepare for the final challenge."

"Yes!" Shen You nodded gratefully and stood up straight.

Just then, a cold snort came from the stage.

The chilling voice struck Shen You's ears, making her feel as if the temperature around her had dropped several degrees.

Shen You's body trembled, and Xue, the guard beside him, also changed his expression, turning his head to look at the stage.

The one who let out the cold snort was none other than Huang Yaoshi.

The sinister old man stared at them expressionlessly, a hint of undisguised coldness in his eyes.

Behind Huang Yaoshi, Wang Long stepped forward and coldly shouted:

"Everyone else is practicing standing meditation, but he's not. Why should he?!"

A flash of anger crossed Guard Xue's face, and he said coldly:

"He's already a martial artist, destined for the Blue Robe realm. What's the point of comparing himself to these ordinary hemp-clad warriors!"

"A martial artist? Him?" Wang Long's gaze fell on Shen You, a disdainful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "This little bug that I could crush with one finger dares to call himself a martial artist? It's laughable!"

"What did you say!" Seeing Wang Long's arrogance, Guard Xue frowned and drew his sword with a clang.

The waist-knife guards who are in charge of the daily affairs of Renxin Hall and the broadsword guards who are stationed in the inner courtyard are two different systems. They have always been at odds with each other. Now that Wang Long is causing trouble in front of Guard Xue, it can be said that he has ignited Guard Xue's anger.

Guard Xue glared angrily at Wang Long, but Wang Long remained unmoved, his gaze turning cold.

The smell of gunpowder gradually intensified on both sides.

"Alright, both of you, please don't get angry."

On the stage, Pharmacist Hong slowly spoke, "I see that this apprentice in hemp clothing does indeed have the strength of a martial artist. It is only right that he does not need to participate in the first two rounds of the examination."

He turned to Shen You and said gently, "Your name is Shen You, right?"

"Yes, Elder Hong!" Shen You hurriedly clasped his hands respectfully, not expecting that Pharmacist Hong would still remember his name.

"Come up here and stand behind me," Pharmacist Hong smiled and nodded to Shen You.

"Thank you, Elder Hong!" Shen You was delighted and nodded emphatically before heading onto the stage.

"Wait!"

But at this moment, Huang Yaoshi spoke coldly.

His cold gaze fell on Shen You, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Can a martial artist who develops their skills by eating meat truly be called a martial artist?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing his words.

Hong Yaoshi frowned slightly and asked Huang Yaoshi, "What does Elder Huang mean?"

Huang Yaoshi sneered, "The first two rounds of this Hemp Robe Examination test fundamental skills! I think this kid is too eager for quick success, swallowing the flesh and blood of demonic beasts to break through his cultivation level, so his fundamental skills may not be solid! If he doesn't even have the foundation of a martial artist, what use is his martial arts strength?"

Huang Yaoshi's words left Hong Yaoshi speechless.

Seeing this, Shen You was also annoyed, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Then let Shen You participate in the examination as well! Shen You has never been afraid of anyone in his life!"

Shen You gritted his teeth inwardly: "Old man, do you really think I have no basic skills?"

Shen You knew that his foundation was weak at the beginning, but since his root bone broke through one hundred, his daily cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds, and his progress in the "White Ape Stance" has already reached a minor success. He really didn't think he was inferior to those ordinary hemp-clad people below him.

"Good, that's ambitious!" Pharmacist Hong stroked his beard and nodded. "Then go and take the exam with them!"

The more Pharmacist Hong looked at Shen You, the more satisfied he became. He had seen Shen You's loyal and righteous nature before, and now seeing Shen You's fearlessness in the face of Huang Yaoshi, he admired Shen You even more.

"Heh." Huang Yaoshi sneered. "Tian Yi'er, you go down too, and join them in the examination. Let them know what a true martial artist should be like!"

"Yes, Elder Huang!" The timid young man, Tian Yi'er, hesitated for a moment, but still gritted his teeth and agreed.

Tian Yi'er jumped off the stage and stood with Shen You.

On the stage, seeing this, Pharmacist Hong turned his head and said, "Xiugu, then you should go down and take the exam with them."

The beautiful Hong Xiugu, dressed in red, widened her eyes in surprise, pointing at herself in disbelief: "Grandpa, you want me to go and practice standing meditation with these people in hemp clothing too?"

Pharmacist Hong's face darkened. "You're also a hemp-clad person. What's wrong with you standing here?"

"Yes, Grandpa..." Hong Xiugu lowered her head dejectedly and obediently jumped off the stage.

She went to Shen You's side, but glared at her fiercely and whispered, "It's all your fault! You'll remember this!"

Shen You turned around and smiled slightly at her: "You're so beautiful, I've remembered you for a long time."

Hong Xiugu was taken aback, then gritted her teeth in anger: "Bah, you lecherous scoundrel!"

[Affinity value decreased; Hong Xiugu's current affinity value: 9 (-2)]

Shen You felt embarrassed.

"That's strange! My irresistible charm has failed me!"

He had hoped to use this opportunity to gain favor, but it backfired...

Was he only capable of pleasing older women? He fell into deep thought.

"Well then, all Mais, listen up!"

Guard Xue, still somewhat displeased, stepped forward and waved his hand, saying, "One incense stick's time, begin the standing meditation!"

At his command, another guard immediately lit an incense stick, and all the apprentices in hemp clothing below dared not slack off and together they planted their "white ape stakes".

Shen You and the other two also obediently set up their stakes.

Mai's examination has finally officially begun.

……

The "White Ape Stance" is indeed a fundamental skill for all the apprentices in the hemp clothing school. It may seem ordinary, but once they are in the stance, the differences between them become apparent.

Some of the apprentices in hemp clothing were not even able to stand steadily. After standing for a short while, their legs would tremble and their bodies would sway, desperately trying to maintain their posture.

Some of the apprentices in hemp clothing were merely imitations, their bodies stiff and motionless, showing none of the agility and nimbleness of the white ape.

Some apprentices in hemp clothing have just begun to grasp the basics. Their breathing is long and steady, their movements are light and graceful, and their qi and blood rise from their legs and accumulate in their lower abdomen, causing their lower abdomen to bulge slightly. They have already begun to find the feeling of qi.

Generally speaking, once one has grasped the essence of Qi, one is already qualified to become a Qingyi (a type of female martial arts practitioner).

As soon as Shen You planted his foot in the "White Ape Stance," the energy in his lower abdomen naturally flowed throughout his body, and with each flow, the energy grew slightly stronger.

This is the process of accumulating and strengthening one's dantian qi after becoming a martial artist.

Only upon reaching this stage can one truly enter the cultivation state of the "White Ape Stance." The previous stance training was merely laying the foundation.

"How about that? Now you have nothing to say, right?"

Shen You sneered inwardly, thinking that this should shut Wang Long and Huang Yaoshi up.

But at that moment, I suddenly heard a loud breathing sound next to my ear.

He turned his head to the left and saw Hong Xiugu standing in the "White Ape Stance," her body shimmering with the phantom of a white ape. With each breath she took, the phantom expanded and contracted. Each contraction made her aura even more formidable.

Shen You looked to the right and saw that Tian Yi'er was motionless. His originally timid face was now filled with an innocent yet solemn expression. A white ape phantom appeared on his body, and the phantom was actually quite substantial.

Shen You felt as if a white ape was standing right next to him.

With each breath, Tian Yi'er exhaled long white breaths from his nostrils, making him look less like a human and more like a demon beast.

"It's actually the White Ape Force!"

When Xue, the guard in front, saw Tian Yi'er, he looked shocked.