Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Examination
Zhang Yuan was also tempted.
Over the past few years, he had been to the county town many tis, and this was only the second ti he saw a recruitnt notice from the County Governnt Office.
This was just like the civil service exams from Zhang Yuan’s previous life, and many people would certainly participate.
He wasn’t interested in becoming a constable or a posthouse minister.
What caught his eye was the position of a patrol officer!
The reason was simple—the benefits of becoming a constable at the Governnt Office were quite attractive, and most importantly, it allowed you to learn martial arts!
Previously, Zhang Yuan had inquired repeatedly and even spent so silver taels to find out that there were four paths for ordinary people to truly learn martial arts.
The military, the governnt office, gangs, and martial arts schools!
There were martial arts schools in Linhe County Town, and not just one.
However, Zhang Yuan learned that, for soone like him who had already achieved Entering Force, he needed to sign a contract with a martial arts school, serve them for three years, and only then receive direct instruction from the master.
If he didn’t want to sign, he had to pay a hefty tuition fee.
Zhang Yuan asked three martial arts schools, and the conditions were essentially the sa.
But he couldn’t afford the tuition fee!
That’s when Zhang Yuan finally understood why after working for Hunter Gao for three years, he couldn’t warm the latter’s heart.
Because in Hunter Gao’s eyes, the work he did was not worth the tuition fee.
So how could Hunter Gao accept Zhang Yuan as a disciple?
The path of the martial arts school was closed, Zhang Yuan had no intention of joining the military, leaving only the governnt office and the gangs.
The governnt office was definitely better than the gangs!
Now that such an opportunity had suddenly appeared, Zhang Yuan certainly couldn’t pass it up.
So he followed the notice’s instructions and imdiately went to the County Governnt Office courtyard to register.
The courtyard of the County Governnt Office was already packed with people, showing that the allure of a governnt job was quite similar in different worlds.
A secure job was indeed appealing!
After paying the registration fee of one silver tael, Zhang Yuan successfully enrolled for the patrol officer’s test and received a copper token representing his candidate identity and number.
It was quite formal.
Compared with the lowest level constable, the requirents to apply for a patrol officer were much higher—one had to be an Entering Force martial artist.
Zhang Yuan originally thought there wouldn’t be many qualified people.
It turned out he was too optimistic!
The patrol officer assessnt was divided into three stages: strength test, interview, and martial arts test.
The first two stages were scheduled for five days later.
After registration, Zhang Yuan returned ho and focused on preparing for the exam.
Since the requirent was to be a martial artist, surely there would be a martial arts test.
Zhang Yuan’s current strength and cultivation were not a problem, but his lack of martial arts skills would be his biggest weakness in a duel.
To make up for this weakness, Zhang Yuan practiced the "Rock Foundation Skill" more diligently these days, even soaking daily in dicinal baths, striving to increase his Qi and blood capacity.
His biggest reliance was the Divine Nest Host; the higher his Qi Blood, the longer he could sustain his extraordinary abilities.
Thus, day after day passed, and soon five days were over.
On the appointed day, Zhang Yuan changed into a new outfit and headed to the County Governnt Office courtyard for the exam.
The courtyard was already filled with martial artists participating in the assessnt, and four Thunder Stones were placed in the center.
Thunder Stones were weapons used for city defense, to be dropped off the walls when enemies approached.
Most martial artists couldn’t withstand a hit from a Thunder Stone.
The four Thunder Stones were of different sizes and labeled with their weights.
They weighed 300, 500, 700, and 1,000 jin!
Is 300 jin really the entry-level standard for a strength test?
Zhang Yuan was sowhat puzzled.
But that didn’t prevent him from patiently waiting in line.
When the ti ca, the County Governnt Office gates closed, and the first round of patrol officer assessnts officially began.
"Number one, Wang Xinming!"
As the examiner called out nas one after another, martial artists stepped up to take the first round of the strength test.
Strength was the most basic standard for evaluating the rit of a martial artist.
Participants in the assessnt could proceed in an orderly manner, so most people started by testing with the lowest weight of 300 jin and then advanced to 500, 700, and even 1,000 jin.
But there were also those very confident in their own strength, who started directly with 500 jin!
"Number 27, Zhang Yuan!"
When it was Zhang Yuan’s turn, he also chose 500 jin as the starting point.
According to the assessnt requirents, Zhang Yuan squatted in a horse stance and spread his arms to embrace the Thunder Stone in front of him.
The next mont, he explosively exerted force to lift the 500-jin Thunder Stone and held it for ten breaths.
"Clang!"
The copper gong sounded, indicating that Zhang Yuan had passed the initial strength test.
After achieving Entering Force and becoming a martial artist, Zhang Yuan practiced the "Rock Foundation Skill" diligently every day and consistently used dicinal baths to enhance his physique and Qi Blood.
This period had been quite fruitful.
Currently, even without the Divine Nest, Zhang Yuan could unleash a force exceeding 500 jin.
So this level wasn’t difficult.
He dusted off the stone powder from his hands and then stood before the second Thunder Stone weighing 700 jin.
This ti, Zhang Yuan quietly activated the Host, adding the double Power of the Black Giant Ant to himself.
His strength instantly surged beyond 1,000 jin.
The 700-jin Thunder Stone was easily conquered!
Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Zhang Yuan energetically proceeded to challenge the 1,000-jin Thunder Stone.
Inside the County Governnt Office courtyard, everyone’s attention was focused on him.
"Lift!"
Firmly gripping the largest Thunder Stone, Zhang Yuan exhaled sharply as his arm muscles swelled simultaneously.
The 1,000-jin Thunder Stone rose three feet off the ground!
The crowd exploded.
"Impressive!"
"Truly a hero among youths, whose child is this?"
"One thousand jin of strength, at the pinnacle of Dark Force!"
"I don’t think he’s a Dark Force cultivator; it must be innate divine strength."
"Even so, it’s remarkable!"
The martial artists present were having heated discussions, so whispering secretly to each other.
Shock, disbelief, envy, jealousy...
Their gazes at Zhang Yuan were complicated, and so weren’t very friendly.
There’s no doubt that Zhang Yuan was one of the most formidable among this cohort of patrol officer candidates!
When the ti ca, Zhang Yuan placed the 1,000-jin Thunder Stone back down.
Then he received a slip stamped with an "A-grade" evaluation and proceeded to a side room of the courtyard.
To undergo the second round interview.
After a short ti, the once-confident Zhang Yuan walked out of the room with a bewildered look.
The second-round interview was conducted by three examiners who asked Zhang Yuan nurous questions in succession.
They inquired very thoroughly about his birth date, place of origin, family situation, and more.
The last examiner gave him a "C-grade" rating, and the other two gave him the worst "D-grade."
With a combined rating of "D-grade," Zhang Yuan was eliminated on the spot, without even qualifying for the final martial arts test.
Even though he had received an "A-grade" in the first round!
One of the examiners seed slightly remorseful, stating that if Zhang Yuan was willing, the County Governnt Office could recruit him directly as a constable.
There might still be a chance to beco a patrol officer in the future.
The other two examiners agreed and acted as if they were offering Zhang Yuan a favor.
Honestly, Zhang Yuan felt a strong urge to unleash fourfold strength and smash these hypocrites on the spot!
But acting on such impulse wouldn’t solve any problems, and would only plunge him into an abyss of no return.
So Zhang Yuan held his breath and politely declined their seemingly kind offer.
He left the County Governnt Office with a heavy heart.
As he stepped out the door, a voice called from behind: "Brother, please wait a mont!"
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