Chapter Forty: The Assignment of Ranks

(Twenty minutes later.)

A faint, almost imperceptible current of energy emerged in his lower abdomen, much like what had happened with the Qingxu Technique last time.

Qin Yi opened his eyes and found that his spirit was more than twice as vigorous as before. His entire vitality and state of being had improved significantly—a feeling that was hard to put into words.

Moreover, the two indistinct currents of energy within his body did not conflict with each other; instead, they coexisted peacefully. Could it be because they shared the same origin?

"Panel!"

Qin Yi:

Fivefold Primordial Fist: Perfected (Fivefold Force)
Heavenly Pivot Palm: Perfected
Yao Guang Movement Technique: Perfected (Soaring Shift)
Qingxu Technique: Embryonic Breath
Heavenly Jade Step: Perfected (Instant Step)
Heavenly Authority Claw: Perfected (Penetrating Three Inches)
Heart Meditation Technique: Transcendence
Energy Points: 35

"Hmm? The Heart Meditation Technique is just like the Qingxu Technique—it can't be advanced to perfection and can only be raised to the third level?" Qin Yi was puzzled.

The Heart Meditation Technique was also divided into five levels: Nurturing, Circulation, Transcendence, Forgetting the Self, and Mysterious Pearl.

Now it was stuck at the third level, unable to advance further!

"Where exactly is the problem?"

"It must be a flaw in the technique itself!" Qin Yi leaned toward this guess.

"Never mind, let me try using my secret techniques again to see if the pain returns. I hope this Heart Meditation Technique will help!"

In the courtyard.

Qin Yi's figure flashed about, splitting the air with explosive sounds.

Inside the house, Old Qin glanced through the window, then lay back down to continue sleeping.

After a while, Qin Yi finally stopped, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow.

"I used the Fivefold Force eight times, the Penetrating Claw five times, the Soaring Shift eight times, and the Instant Step three times. My body doesn't seem to feel any pain!" Qin Yi checked himself, a surge of delight rising in his heart.

The Heart Meditation Technique truly was helpful to him!

"It's a shame, though, that both the Heart Meditation and Qingxu Techniques can only be cultivated to the third level," he mused. He had asked Yang Yuanzi about this, and the latter had said that even among the seniors of their sect through the ages, no one had managed to cultivate past the third level; the highest achievement was always the third.

It was certainly a curious thing.

The next morning, Qin Yi rose early and went out to buy breakfast.

Passing by a street corner, he saw more than a dozen constables blocking off the end of the lane, as bodies were continually carried out from within.

A crowd had gathered at a distance, watching.

"Brother, what happened over there? Why are so many people dead?" Qin Yi asked a man of about thirty.

"Ah, looks like two gangs fought over territory last night. People died—nothing unusual," the man replied, unfazed.

"I see..." Qin Yi nodded and continued on to the breakfast shop.

After his meal, he headed straight to the magistrate's office.

He intended to have his martial rank assessed!

After the assessment, he planned to become a constable.

Although the odds of rising to the position of chief constable were slim, he had no better path at the moment. He might as well give it a try; if things didn't work out, he could always resign later.

With rebels running rampant, no one knew when another conscription might occur. If he became a constable, at least he'd have some protection from that fate.

Now that he had cultivated the Heart Meditation Technique, the stabbing pain from using secret techniques was temporarily resolved.

But he couldn't guarantee that, should he learn another martial art—perhaps several—the problem wouldn't resurface.

That was why first-rate martial arts were his top priority! A single first-rate technique might be worth several lesser ones.

With no connections at hand, all he could do was try his luck.

The magistrate's office.

The Martial Hall.

This was the place for martial rank assessments.

After waiting in line for half an hour, it was finally Qin Yi's turn.

"Name, age, place of origin, and which rank do you wish to be assessed for?" An old man with a wrinkled face looked up at him.

"Qin Feng, fifteen years old, from Huangsha Town in Jiangning Prefecture. I want to be assessed for third rank," Qin Yi replied. His current identity was that of a native of Huangsha Town, which, being just outside the city, fell under Jiangning Prefecture's direct administration.

"Alright." The old man picked up a brush and quickly filled in the form. When he was done, he said, "Go to Room Two for evaluation."

"Thank you."

Qin Yi took the paper the old man handed him and went to Room Two.

Inside, he found a burly, bald man in his thirties waiting.

The man took the paper, glanced at it, and said with a stony face, "Attack me with all your strength."

"Very well." Qin Yi adopted the opening stance of the Fivefold Primordial Fist and charged. He was careful not to use any of the advanced techniques from the Qingwei Dao Palace.

Instead, he favored the Fivefold Primordial Fist—few people recognized it, since it wasn't officially classified as a martial art even within the Qingwei Dao Palace. It was only a health exercise.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qin Yi delivered his blows, holding himself to the standard of a third-rank fighter.

After about seven minutes, the burly man forced Qin Yi back with a palm strike, his expression unchanged. "You pass," he said.

He stamped the paper and handed it back. "Take this to the rear courtyard to receive your martial rank certificate."

"Thank you," Qin Yi replied, heading to the rear courtyard.

Soon, he received the certificate. With it, he could apply for many government-related positions: constable, city guard, and other posts that required martial prowess—like the examiner he had just faced.

On the other side of the magistrate's office, Qin Yi spotted a large sign at the entrance: Recruiting Constables!

First-rank: three taels a month; second-rank: five taels; third-rank: ten taels!

"Clear as day," Qin Yi murmured in surprise.

But there were no grades listed for ranks above the third?

Inside, he found four or five others waiting in the hall.

At the window, a middle-aged man looked up as Qin Yi entered. "Here to apply for the constable position?"

"Yes," Qin Yi nodded.

"Let me see your martial rank certificate and your identification pass."

Qin Yi produced them from his pocket and handed them over.

The man raised his eyebrows in mild surprise as he read, then looked at Qin Yi. "Fifteen years old, third rank—not bad."

At fifteen, that would be considered extraordinary talent in a smaller county, but in a prefectural city, it was merely "not bad." Many wealthy families could use rare medicines to boost their teenage sons to the third rank with ease. There were even some prodigies who reached the fourth rank at this age.

Even so, the few other young men in the room glanced at Qin Yi with a change in expression.

Most of them were only first or second rank.

Qin Yi was a few years younger than them, yet already at third rank. Naturally, they were astonished.

"Wait here a while," the middle-aged man said. "Once enough people have gathered, you'll be assigned your duties."

"So I've passed the application?" Qin Yi asked.

"Yes. We're short-handed lately; as long as you have first-rank strength, we take everyone," the man replied.

So easy...

He had expected there would be some sort of screening process...