Stronger Than Strong (Please Vote for Recommendations!!)

This voice was hearty and unrestrained, carrying a hint of wildness; Jiang Feng had heard it not long ago.

Ping Luanshan!

The alley was poorly lit, but it was clear enough to see that Ping Luanshan had shaved his beard clean.

Indeed, once the beard was gone, he looked like a completely different person, revealing his true age.

After being bluntly refused, the man in green's expression darkened. One of them said, “It’s your fortune that Lord Xian Ning is willing to take you as a disciple! Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”

Ping Luanshan scratched his head and replied, “Business may fail, but we part as friends. You put me in a tough spot saying that. I’ve already got a master. I can’t take on another, it just won’t work…”

The man wanted to say more, but his companion clapped him on the shoulder and stopped him. “Why bother? Our Fuliu Sect never lacks for followers. If he misses this chance, it’s his own misfortune!”

Ping Luanshan smiled without a word, clearly showing no intention to change his mind.

With a cold snort, the men in green strode out of the alley, brushing shoulders with Jiang Feng. They glanced at him, saw only a young boy yet to start cultivating, and walked away, departing with an air of indifference.

Ping Luanshan picked up his wine gourd, about to take a drink, but looking up, caught sight of Jiang Feng and smiled in surprise. “Hey! What brings you here?”

Jiang Feng gestured after the men in green. “Why were they interested in you?”

Ping Luanshan wiped his thumb across the corner of his mouth, where a faint scar lay. He said carelessly, “Ran into a few punks earlier, got into a fight, and they happened to see it.”

Jiang Feng understood. “So they thought you had potential and wanted you to join them?”

Ping Luanshan laughed, “Too bad I’m used to my freedom. They’ve got too many people, it’s a little intimidating for me!”

They both burst out laughing. Jiang Feng then asked, “From the way they talked, sounds like you haven’t started the preliminary assessment yet?”

Ping Luanshan pulled out a numbered token. “I picked up my badge this morning, finished the written test. The practical trial is by the order on the token. My turn’s coming up soon… Want to come watch?”

“Absolutely!” Jiang Feng agreed cheerfully, then paused as if thinking of something. “Wait a moment.”

He fished a leather pouch from his clothes, poured a thumb-sized piece of dried meat into his palm, and handed it to Ping Luanshan. “This is special jerky made from a Ming Beast. It should increase your strength by thirty percent for ten minutes or so. No serious side effects. Consider using it if you need to.”

Seeing Ping Luanshan’s surprised eyes, he explained, “A friend of mine made it. It hasn’t been thoroughly tested, so I don’t know if it works for everyone.”

Ping Luanshan grinned, “Not enough test samples, so you want me to try it?”

Jiang Feng raised his brows but said nothing.

After a moment’s thought, Ping Luanshan put the jerky away. “Thanks. I’ll think about it.”

A food that could boost strength by thirty percent for five whole minutes—its value was beyond question.

With this in hand, Ping Luanshan’s greatest weakness could be remedied.

However, for something like the Amaterasu Order, it was best to rely on one’s own strength. In this, he and Jiang Feng were of one mind.

He led Jiang Feng toward the county office. The closer they drew, the more tense the atmosphere became.

Ping Luanshan was preoccupied with his upcoming test and didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings. Jiang Feng, on the other hand, watched closely, his frown deepening.

To him, the county of Hezhong felt like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

The patrol squads and the disciples of the Fuliu Sect acted as a deterrent, but only made the tension worse.

In front of the county office stretched a plaza paved with flagstones, now surrounded by drapes, partitioned into several sections. Sounds issued from behind the cloth: martial artists’ roars, Ming Beasts’ shrieks, the thunderous clash of combat.

On one side of the square, several tables and chairs had been set out. A few people sat there, chatting idly and looking completely relaxed.

Ping Luanshan walked over, handed over his identification badge, and said, “I’m number forty-two.”

One of them glanced at it, jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Sixth platform over there, you’re up next. Head over yourself.”

Without further ado, they resumed their laughter and conversation. Ping Luanshan frowned slightly, but Jiang Feng patted him on the shoulder and together they went in the indicated direction.

On a yellowish curtain was written a large black character, “Lu.” Beneath it stood a man in black robes, clutching a board, his face expressionless. Seeing Ping Luanshan approach, he raised his eyes. “Number forty-two?”

Ping Luanshan took a deep breath and nodded.

At that moment, with a bestial roar, the curtain shook violently. After a pause, one man emerged supporting another, and declared coldly, “Number thirty-five, failed.”

The black-robed man nodded and marked something on his board.

Number thirty-five was a burly man, clutching his right cheek. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his entire arm red. At the news, he immediately roared, “Impossible! How could I fail?! It was only a first-tier, first-level Ming Beast! There’s no way I’d lose!”

The black-robed man said coldly, “You already lost. If Lord Gan hadn’t intervened, you’d have been killed by the Ming Beast. Move along, don’t waste time.”

The burly man was agitated; he lunged for the black-robed man’s shoulder, shouting, “No way! I demand another try!”

The black-robed man stepped back, and the man who had helped the contestant out frowned and waved his hand lightly.

The burly man was immediately flung backward, crashed into a pillar, and slid to the ground.

A patrol squad hurried over. The man said coldly, “He disrupted the examination. Throw him out.”

The patrol squad bowed in assent, picked the burly man up, and quickly carried him away.

In an instant, only a pool of blood remained on the ground.

The black-robed man bowed to the other. “Thank you, Lord Gan.”

Lord Gan nodded indifferently, turned, and walked into the curtained area. Soon after, a cage covered in cloth was wheeled out, and another identical cage was brought in.

Jiang Feng’s brow furrowed as he observed quietly. He noticed that the hem of Lord Gan’s sleeve and the corner of the iron cage both bore a flowing water sigil.

Fuliu Sect disciples?

He stepped back, tugged Ping Luanshan’s sleeve, and whispered, “Eat the jerky now.”

Ping Luanshan was momentarily stunned. Jiang Feng made a discreet gesture, and Ping Luanshan’s expression changed—sudden realization mingled with disbelief.

After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth, turned away, and did indeed take out the jerky and eat it.

He had just swallowed when the black-robed man slapped his board. “Number forty-two, enter.”

Only candidates were allowed inside the curtain. Jiang Feng, a little anxious, asked, “He’s my brother. Can I go in and watch?”

The black-robed man scrutinized him, then looked to Lord Gan for instruction. Lord Gan said coldly, “A boy who hasn’t even started cultivating—what could he possibly see? If you want in, go in.”

Jiang Feng and Ping Luanshan exchanged glances and entered together.

Although it appeared to be cloth, the curtain was actually woven from the silk of some Ming Beast, incredibly tough. Unless struck with excessive force, nothing inside would spill out.

At the front of the tent stood an iron cage, from which muffled sounds of movement emerged—the Ming Beast that Ping Luanshan would face in his trial.

Lord Gan pointed to the side. “You, the boy, stand there and don’t move. If you get hurt, no one will care.”

Jiang Feng nodded and obediently stood where he was told.

Ping Luanshan took a deep breath. “I’m ready!”

Lord Gan flicked his finger. With a bang, the iron cage burst open, a streak of yellow light shot out, bounced once on the ground, and charged at Ping Luanshan.

It was a monkey, half again as tall as a man. Locked up for so long, it seemed crazed with pent-up energy. Its eyes glowed red, wild with rage.

...

...

Ten minutes later, Ping Luanshan roared, seized the monkey by the throat, and slammed it hard to the ground!

Veins bulged on his arms as he twisted his fingers with all his might. Blood spurted from the monkey’s throat—he had snapped its windpipe. The great ape struggled frantically, making choking noises, then finally went limp in death.

Ping Luanshan dropped to one knee, blood and sweat mingling as they dripped to the ground.

He gasped for breath, glancing at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng had retreated into the deepest shadows of the corner. Only now did the worry in his eyes fade; he relaxed at last.

If Jiang Feng hadn’t given him that jerky and made him eat it right before he entered, he would surely have lost to that golden-furred ape!

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Ping Luanshan looked at the ape’s forehead.

Beneath the thick fur, a marking could just be made out on its skin. There could be no doubt; it truly was a first-tier, first-level Ming Beast!

Yet this ape was far stronger than any Ping Luanshan had faced before, second only to that deep-rock dragon!

Even with its clear marking, he couldn’t help but wonder—was it really first-tier, first-level? Why was it so strong?!

Lord Gan had stood by impassively the whole time. Even when Ping Luanshan was in danger, he made no move to help. Only when Ping Luanshan triumphed did he raise his brows. “Didn’t expect you’d be so quick, and so strong too. Not bad—promising!”

He jerked his chin toward the entrance. “You can go now. The actual results will be posted later.”

Ping Luanshan finally caught his breath. The overuse of his strength left him dizzy.

Flexing his fingers, he felt a pang of disappointment. He had only won thanks to Jiang Feng’s jerky—didn’t that mean his real ability wasn’t enough to pass the practical exam?

He stepped out from the tent and spat a breath toward the sky. If that was the case, could he really pass the Great Exam?

Jiang Feng followed, watching as Ping Luanshan reported his results to the black-robed man. He noticed an unusual look flash in the examiner’s eyes when he heard Ping Luanshan’s result.

Distracted and upset, Ping Luanshan left as soon as he finished reporting.

When Jiang Feng caught up to him in a secluded corner, he suddenly tugged Ping Luanshan aside and whispered, “Brother Ping, something’s wrong.”

Ping Luanshan wiped his face in frustration and asked absentmindedly, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Feng said, “That golden-furred ape—its strength, speed, defense, and reflexes were all twenty percent higher than that eagle-headed lion you fought last time!”

The eagle-headed lion was the beast Ping Luanshan had slain before—a first-tier, second-level Ming Beast. If this ape was twenty percent stronger than that, it meant its abilities were nearly on par with a first-tier, third-level Ming Beast!