Chương 63: Chapter 63: Of Course I’m a Man! (Two in One Chapter)
[You have passed the formal selection of the Blood Asura Battalion, officially becoming a member of Blood Asura Battalion and earning the achievement "Blood Asura." Battlefield Luck +50.]
[You were thoroughly beaten up by Xu Xia, gaining valuable combat experience. Blood Qi +30, Strength +30, Agility +7.]
Xu Ming dusted himself off, stood up with the "pass" token in hand, and reflected on the trial he had just faced.
It was the first time Xu Ming had encountered such a style of boxing.
Until now, every form of boxing Xu Ming had seen was the type that was bold and direct—if one punch couldn't finish you off, the next would, beating you into oblivion.
However, the opponent's boxing style was as elusive as a butterfly, graceful and unpredictable.
Xu Ming planned to visit the Boxing Pavilion to find out more about this type of boxing.
Although his opponent wasn't a member of the Blood Asura Battalion—just an examiner hired from another army—all boxing techniques in the Wu Kingdom were stored in the Blood Asura's Boxing Pavilion. If nothing unexpected happened, Xu Ming should be able to find it there.
Of course, Xu Ming wasn't planning to cultivate such a "soft fist" technique. It didn't suit his personality or align with his philosophy of "breaking ten thousand methods with one punch."
Besides, this boxing style was way too delicate.
Xu Ming mainly wanted to study it for reference, hoping that it might inspire his own path in boxing.
As Xu Ming spaced out for a few moments, the door to Room Five opened again, and another person was sent flying out.
However, unlike Xu Ming, this person wasn't holding a "pass" token. Instead, a voice from the room bellowed: "Too weak! Go home and farm!"
The failed candidate sighed, stood up, and walked away in dejection. The gazes of those nearby were tinged with sympathy.
"Next, Chen Qian!" the female examiner in Room Five called out.
"Next, Wang Wei!"
"Next, Xu Can!"
"Next, Huang Qian!"
One name after another was shouted, and one person after another was kicked out of the room.
If someone passed, a token would be tossed out.
If not, they'd endure the harsh tongue of the female examiner. For example—
"You're so weak. How do you look more like a woman than me?"
"So timid! Why are you even trying to be a warrior? Take off your pants! Let me see if you even have any balls!"
"What's wrong with the Blood Asura Battalion? How could they let someone like you in?"
Many who had already failed the trial and felt crushed found themselves further humiliated. A few burly men even burst into tears on the spot.
Some might even have their martial will shattered permanently, resigning themselves to a life of farming.
Over time, however, Xu Ming began to understand the reasoning behind this approach.
Those who participated in the trial—even if they failed—were considered elite when placed in an ordinary army. If they couldn't withstand criticism and broke down emotionally, then they lacked the mental resilience to survive on a battlefield and would likely die sooner or later.
If that was the case, it was better for them to go back to farming. If nothing else, they could become guards or private security, marry, have children, and live a peaceful and fulfilling life.
Xu Ming glanced at Wu Yanhan, who stood not far away.
His expression was extremely calm, devoid of the tension others displayed.
But of course—if even Wu Yanhan couldn't pass, then nobody could. Xu Ming himself would probably be in trouble, too.
Xu Ming didn't know when Wu Yanhan would go in, but he was certain that Wu Yanhan would pass. Finding nothing exciting about that, Xu Ming decided to check out the other rooms.
The slick-haired Li Han had passed the trial, though his face was covered in bruises—a clear sign that he had taken quite a beating.
The bald Yuan Hua also passed. Compared to Li Han, Yuan Hua looked a bit more relaxed, though he was limping slightly.
Half an hour later, out of the ten people from Tent 484, three had passed the trial, including Xu Ming, while three others had failed.
The three failed roommates walked back with dejected expressions. Li Han and Yuan Hua wanted to go comfort them, but Xu Ming stopped them.
At this moment, it was best to let people think quietly. If those who passed the trial went to comfort those who failed, it might only make them feel worse.
Another half hour passed, and finally, Xiong Haizhi and the others emerged from their respective trial rooms.
Xiong Haizhi was also sporting a bruised and swollen face, while Guang Yin, much like Yuan Hua, walked with a noticeable limp.
However, judging from their smiling faces and the casual way they greeted Xu Ming, it was clear that they had all passed.
Xu Ming hadn't expected Guang Yin to pass.
When it came to Guang Yin's capabilities, no one knew them better than Xu Ming. Over the past month, Xu Ming had been training him personally.
In Xu Ming's opinion, Guang Yin had made significant progress, but passing the trial still seemed like a long shot.
What exactly did Guang Yin do in there?
Did he… sell his butt to bribe the examiner?
"Where are Hu San and the others?" a roommate named Lu Ren asked.
"They... went back to the barracks," Li Han replied.
Seeing Li Han's hesitant expression, Lu Ren and the others understood the real meaning of "went back to the barracks."
"Who's left from our tent?" Xiong Haizhi asked.
"It should just be Wu Yanhan," Xu Ming replied. "Do you guys want to go check?"
"I'll pass for now. Haizhi and I will take Guang Yin to the medical hall," Li Han said. "Wu Yanhan will definitely pass anyway."
"Alright, I'll go take a look. See you back at the barracks," Xu Ming nodded.
After temporarily parting ways, Xu Ming walked toward Room Five. Outside, only Wu Yanhan remained.
Wu Yanhan stood there, straight as a willow tree.
To be honest, Xu Ming thought Wu Yanhan increasingly resembled a girl.
But his ever-growing strength made it impossible for anyone to seriously associate him with being feminine.
When Wu Yanhan noticed Xu Ming's arrival, he merely glanced at him indifferently without saying a word.
"Bang!"
At that moment, another person was sent flying out of Room Five, crashing to the ground.
"Get out of here! Don't waste my time!" The same sharp voice echoed from within. "Last one, Wu Yanhan!"
Wu Yanhan stepped forward and walked into the room.
"Clang!"
As soon as Wu Yanhan entered, a surge of warrior energy swept through the room, slamming the door shut.
Inside the room, Wu Yanhan came to a halt and looked at the female examiner in front of him. "I didn't expect you to be the one my father sent."
The female examiner, named Xu Xia, smirked. "Since it's you taking the trial, of course it couldn't be just anyone. But you'd better be careful. I won't hold back, you know."
"You'd better use your full strength."
The moment those words fell, Wu Yanhan's figure vanished from where he stood.
By the time Xu Xia reacted, Wu Yanhan's long leg, as fierce as an iron whip, was already swinging toward her temple.
Xu Xia raised her arm to block, forcefully intercepting the strike. Her brows furrowed as a sharp pain shot through her arm.
Xu Xia clawed downward, grabbing both Wu Yanhan's pants leg and ankle. With her other hand, she transformed her palm into a blade, aiming a brutal strike at his knee.
If that blow landed, Wu Yanhan's leg would undoubtedly be crippled on the spot.
Wu Yanhan's brows knit slightly. His left leg shot upward, aiming a kick straight at Xu Xia's chest.
Xu Xia shifted her palm into a fist, punching directly toward the sole of Wu Yanhan's foot.
The impact forced Xu Xia back three steps, while Wu Yanhan twisted in midair, flipping smoothly to land on the ground.
Wu Yanhan stepped forward, his fist cutting through the air with a deafening whoosh, aiming for Xu Xia's vital points.
Xu Xia's figure flickered as she deftly evaded the heavy punch. She extended her right foot in a clever sweep, attempting to trip Wu Yanhan to the ground.
Wu Yanhan had anticipated this. He planted his right foot firmly on the ground, spinning mid-air in a half-circle before landing steadily. Following the momentum, he punched forward, his fist whistling through the air, aiming straight for Xu Xia's face.
Xu Xia's expression remained unchanged as she quickly retreated, her hands transforming into blade-like strikes aimed at Wu Yanhan's waist.
However, Wu Yanhan's wufu energy had already formed a protective barrier around him. When Xu Xia's palm strike landed, it was as if she had struck solid iron, producing a heavy clang.
Seizing the opportunity, Wu Yanhan stepped forward with immense force, his right fist clenched and surging with a thunderous might aimed straight at Xu Xia. But Xu Xia subtly sidestepped, deftly avoiding the powerful punch.
Xu Xia no longer chose to confront Wu Yanhan head-on. Instead, she relied on her nimble footwork to repeatedly evade his attacks, until at last, she struck forward with a punch targeting Wu Yanhan's chin.
Wu Yanhan's gaze sharpened. He quickly retreated and lifted his right leg, sweeping toward Xu Xia's knee.
Xu Xia remained calm. She bent her right leg, stabilizing her stance, and brought her hands together, projecting forward a solid qi barrier, an impenetrable "Golden Wall of Vajra."
Seeing this, Wu Yanhan flipped mid-air to evade her defense, and as his feet landed, his hands transformed into claws, lunging viciously for Xu Xia's back.
Sensing the danger behind her, Xu Xia spun around abruptly. Her fists, like iron hammers, struck at Wu Yanhan's clawed hands. But Wu Yanhan swiftly retracted his hands, his figure flickering like a phantom as he floated back, narrowly dodging her strikes once more.
Their movements were lightning-fast, each attack and defense executed with precision and power. Their figures danced under the glaring noontime sun, weaving through the air like blurs of energy.
Seizing an opening, Wu Yanhan clenched his left fist tightly and thrust forward. His blood qi and wufu(martial) energy coalesced into the form of a blood-red tiger.
The blood tiger roared ferociously, charging forward to rip Xu Xia apart.
"Impressive. You've already mastered the seventh style of Asura Fist," Xu Xia said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Her wufu energy surged upward, coalescing into a towering five-meter-tall version of herself.
Heroic Soul Realm—Martial Soul.
Xu Xia's Martial Soul raised a massive fist, shattering the blood tiger in a single strike. Hovering over Wu Yanhan, she looked down at him and shook her head.
"You are truly a rare Martial God Physique, yet is this all the strength you have? If so, when I report back to your father, I'm afraid he will be disappointed.
It seems you're not even as promising as that kid, Xu Ming."
Wu Yanhan's eyes narrowed, his expression sharpening dangerously. Around him, his wufu energy surged abruptly, creating a palpable pressure that filled the room.
Xu Xia blinked in surprise—he was angry now.
But at which remark? That his father would be disappointed? Or that he was inferior to Xu Ming?
It didn't matter anymore. Wu Yanhan had already launched himself forward, his fist surging with wufu energy. A faint silver armor, resembling dragon scales, formed over his arm.
Xu Xia met him head-on with her own punch.
Clang!
The impact sounded like two massive bronze bells colliding, their combined force dispersing into the wooden structure of the trial room, absorbed by the reinforced walls.
Xu Xia's Martial Soul, acting independently, lashed out with a kick toward Wu Yanhan.
Wu Yanhan retaliated with an upward punch. A dragon's roar echoed through the room as his fist, infused with white dragon qi, collided with the Martial Soul's foot, fracturing it.
But he wasn't done yet.
Wu Yanhan leaped into the air, landing a devastating kick that shattered the Martial Soul's arm. Another kick obliterated its chest, and a final blow smashed its head into fragments.
As Wu Yanhan descended, his heel plummeted straight toward Xu Xia's head.
"That's more like it," Xu Xia said with a grin, her hand forming a fist as wufu energy gathered and condensed into a solid force around it.
"Boom!"
Outside Room Five, Xu Ming heard a deafening explosion.
The door to Room Five shattered once more, but this time, no one was sent flying out.
Everyone turned their eyes toward the doorway.
A single figure emerged.
However, the person who walked out wasn't Wu Yanhan, but Xu Xia.
With her hands clasped behind her back and a calm expression, she walked toward Xu Ming. "He can't stand up anymore. Take him back to the camp. Pour this medicine into water and let him soak his ankle in time, or his leg might be crippled."
As she spoke, Xu Xia patted Xu Ming's shoulder and tossed a bottle of ointment into his hand before walking off without another word.
Xu Ming entered Room Five and saw Wu Yanhan sitting on the ground, his teeth clenched tightly. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his left leg trembled uncontrollably.
"Are you okay?" Xu Ming asked, seeing Wu Yanhan in such a miserable state for the first time.
"None of your business," Wu Yanhan shot back with a glare, stubborn as always.
Xu Ming smiled. "We've been eating, living, and training together for a year now. I'm only helping out because of that. You should be grateful."
"Hah." Wu Yanhan scoffed and turned his head away.
"Can you stand up?" Xu Ming looked pointedly at his long leg.
"Give me a minute, and I'll be fine!" Wu Yanhan insisted, still refusing to admit weakness.
"Do you want me to carry you back?"
"No need!"
"You sure? If not, I'll just leave." Xu Ming asked one last time.
"I said no!"
"Alright, then." Xu Ming nodded and straightened up.
Just as Wu Yanhan thought Xu Ming was about to leave, Xu Ming suddenly crouched down.
"What are you doing?!" Wu Yanhan exclaimed in alarm.
Before he could react, Xu Ming's hands slipped under his armpits and, with a sudden lift, flung him into the air like a baby. As Wu Yanhan was about to hit the ground, Xu Ming turned and caught him securely on his back.
"Put me down! Let me down!" Wu Yanhan, drained of energy from the trial, weakly pounded his fists against Xu Ming's back. He made sure to avoid letting his chest touch Xu Ming's back.
"Alright, stop fussing. Are you a man or not?" Xu Ming said, exasperated.
"Of course I'm a man!" Wu Yanhan retorted firmly.
"Then stop acting like a little kid. That female examiner gave me this bottle of medicine and told me to soak your ankle, or your leg's done for." Xu Ming adjusted Wu Yanhan slightly higher on his back for a better grip. "Alright, let's go."
"..." Wu Yanhan pressed his hands against Xu Ming's shoulders, his lips tightly pursed, cheeks flushed a deep red, as if about to drip blood.
After walking a while, Xu Ming suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Wu Yanhan asked.
Xu Ming sniffed the air, then tilted his head to the side. "Bro, you smell kinda nice."
Wu Yanhan froze for a moment, then swung a weak punch at Xu Ming. "Get lost!"
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