Chapter 38: The Test

Zhou Yan returned to the Sword Hall and rested for a while, his curiosity piqued by what Luo Xuan had said about the “secret sword.” Before he could indulge in his curiosity, he received notifications from several shop managers asking him to lend a hand.

For reasons unknown, business at several eateries along the old street was exceptionally good today. Orders for takeout came in endlessly, keeping Zhou Yan so busy he hardly touched the ground. By the time he returned to the Sword Hall, it was already eight o’clock in the evening.

All the other students had already left; only his younger sister, Luo Ke, waited at the front desk for Zhou Yan’s return. Hearing the sound of him wheeling his bicycle into the courtyard, she hurried out with lively footsteps.

“Zhou Yan, you’re back so late today. If you keep this up, you’ll starve yourself!” she scolded.

Zhou Yan scratched his head sheepishly. “The uncles and aunties had really good business today.”

He smiled, showing his white teeth. “The bosses said they’ve sent all the wages to your e-wallet. Xiao Ke, check how much we earned.”

“Hehe~” Luo Ke covered her mouth with a proud giggle, then took out her phone to show him. Several transfer records appeared in her e-wallet—some just over ten, others exceeding a hundred. All told, today’s earnings amounted to nearly three hundred.

Pointing at the screen, Luo Ke’s eyes sparkled. “Zhou Yan, you’re amazing! At this rate, you’ll make more in a month than the Sword Hall does!”

“Huh?” Zhou Yan scratched his head. “I thought the students’ tuition here wasn’t cheap. Is the income really that low?”

“Don’t even mention it,” Luo Ke’s face fell. “Because we don’t have a master of the ‘mystic grade’ overseeing things, my sister keeps tuition at the lowest rate to maintain enrollment. After paying dues to the higher-ups, there’s barely anything left.”

She sighed, but soon perked up, grabbing Zhou Yan and pulling him inside. “Enough talk! Let’s go eat.”

“Wait, I haven’t showered yet. I’m all sweaty.”

“No worries, eat first, wash later. I’m about to faint from hunger!”

“Xiao Ke, you’re far too impatient.”

“Wicked Zhou Yan, I suspect you’re making indecent jokes to a minor, but I have no proof!”

“It’s because you read too many inappropriate books—your mind is full of mischief for your age.”

Having earned a good sum today, both were in high spirits. Bantering and teasing, they noisily made their way to the dinner table.

*

After the meal, Zhou Yan and the sisters returned to the training hall.

Luo Xuan’s expression was solemn as she led Zhou Yan to a strange device. It looked like a plain, black cylinder.

She reached around to the back of the cylinder and pressed something. With a hiss, a compartment popped out from the rear, its top fitted with a sword hilt. Luo Xuan grasped the hilt and gently drew out a short sword, about a meter long, its blade wrapped in a layer of rubber-like material.

She tapped the cylinder, watching as it retracted the compartment, and explained, “This is a short weapon force tester. Using standardized equipment, you strike this cylinder, and it precisely measures the force of your sword attack.”

As she spoke, Luo Xuan demonstrated. Holding the sword in one hand, she suddenly delivered a fierce Hawk Slash. The black test sword whistled sharply as it struck the center of the cylinder.

A moment later, a number appeared on the black screen at the top of the cylinder.

[100]

She withdrew the sword and turned to Zhou Yan. “I don’t know the exact principles—Xiao Ke, our top student, could probably work out the formula. But this number roughly means I swung the test sword with the strength needed to lift a hundred kilograms, and struck the cylinder with that force.”

Beside her, Luo Ke raised her hand, proud. “Sis, that’s called ‘impulse.’”

Luo Xuan glanced at her sister, ignoring her smug posture, and continued speaking to Zhou Yan. “This is the first item in your physical test—the attack force assessment.”

Zhou Yan looked at the precise ‘100’ on the screen, astonished. He wasn’t surprised Luo Xuan could exert ‘one hundred kilograms’ of force; in fact, from her daily training with over a hundred kilograms of weight, this seemingly delicate young woman likely possessed strength of at least half a ton.

This world, unlike Earth, allowed gifted humans to develop much more formidable physiques through training. Moreover, the natural difference between men and women wasn’t as pronounced as on Earth; aside from sexual characteristics, physical attributes like strength differed only slightly, with men perhaps a bit stronger, but not by much.

What truly amazed Zhou Yan was that the ‘100’ was clearly a result of Luo Xuan’s deliberate control—she could exert exactly as much force as she wished. Such precise mastery of her body? How powerful would the numbers be if she unleashed her full strength?

Luo Xuan handed the test sword to Zhou Yan. “Your turn. Using standard form, strike the cylinder with Hawk Slash, Kite Spin, and Vulture Crash. If each value is above one hundred twenty, you pass.”

One hundred twenty…

Zhou Yan gripped the sword, curious. “Why that number?”

“For Xiao Ke, the requirement is around seventy,” Luo Xuan glanced at the petite, adorable Luo Ke, who replied with a bewildered look.

“To put it simply,” Luo Xuan turned back to Zhou Yan, “the first secret sword technique I intend to teach you depends on personal body weight.”

Zhou Yan nodded to show he understood.

Without another word, he took his place before the cylinder. Adjusting his stance to Owl Perch, he steadied his breath, tightened his right hand, and struck with a form identical to Luo Xuan’s.

“Bang!”

With a dull thud, a number appeared at the top of the cylinder.

[126]

Zhou Yan drew back the sword and looked to Luo Xuan.

She nodded. “Continue, next strike.”

Zhou Yan complied.

Kite Spin—124.

Vulture Crash—128.

“That’s enough, let’s move on,” Luo Xuan said without hesitation, turning to lead the way.

Over the next two hours, under Luo Xuan’s instruction and supervision, Zhou Yan completed a fixed-pace endurance run, a full set of Nanming Sword forms, and a round of high-standard Flow Block assessment.

*

When Zhou Yan finished all the tests, panting as he sheathed his sword and looked to Luo Xuan, the girl’s expression was calm, as if she had expected nothing less.

She said matter-of-factly, “My guess was correct. You managed all of it. This is beyond the level of a ‘once-in-a-decade genius.’ Your strength, endurance, and reflexes are all much improved compared to two weeks ago. You were born with a body suited for martial arts…”

Zhou Yan scratched his head, embarrassed. Before his second journey into the Calamity Realm, he would never have been able to meet Luo Xuan’s requirements.

But after that journey, not only had he advanced Nanming Sword to ‘proficient’ through thousands of kills, but his life emblem had further boosted his physique and acuity upon leveling up and equipping new runes. Even without wearing his gear, with a mere ‘20%’ stat boost, his physical abilities had been elevated well beyond ordinary humans.

It was this combination of factors that enabled him to pass today’s assessment.

Luo Xuan said little more, instead instructing Zhou Yan to don his protective gear.

Once he complied, they stood at the center of the training hall.

Luo Xuan tossed Zhou Yan a hard metal sword. “Use this—so it won’t break during the lesson.”

After Zhou Yan received the specially reinforced sword, Luo Xuan also took one, adopting a poised stance.

Her cold, sharp gaze locked onto Zhou Yan as she spoke softly, “Before I teach you the first secret sword technique, I want you to experience its effect firsthand. Next, all you need to do is resist my attacks with everything you’ve got.”

“Alright.” Zhou Yan raised his sword, fully attentive.

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