At the gate leading from the outer camp to the city.
Before dawn, a long line had already formed of people signing up for the guard selection.
Many families had come out in full force, and the bustling crowd nearly blocked the road.
Entrusting their home to Li Da Niu, Tang Wen and his sister Tang Tang headed straight to the gate and walked into the inner city.
"Hey, hey, why aren't they queuing up to get in?"
Someone pointed at Tang Wen, who had already entered the gate, and complained to the guards maintaining order.
"What are you shouting about? Didn't you see his bronze badge? He has status in the inner city, do you?"
"I, I don't, hehe, I don't."
The crowd couldn't help but cast envious glances at the backs of the two: this young man and girl, they don't look that old!
Old Li was waiting by the roadside near the city gate with his beautiful young wife. When he saw Tang Wen, he first marveled at the changes in his physique.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Li led Tang Wen straight to the large square.
On the way, Old Li suddenly showed an embarrassed expression: "Well, young Tang, I'm afraid you'll have to rely on yourself to get into the hunting squad. This year's assessment has suddenly become stricter. To join the hunting squad, you need at least the strength of a second-class martial apprentice."
"What's a martial apprentice?"
Before Tang Wen could speak, Tang Tang asked with wide eyes.
Old Li explained, "Martial Apprentice, Martial Practitioner, Martial Master," these are the strength standards set by the Guard Barracks and martial arts schools.
Martial Apprentices are divided into three classes, with the third class being the weakest and the first class the strongest.
Above the Martial Apprentice is the official Martial Practitioner.
The strength of a third-class martial apprentice is that of a well-trained ordinary adult man.
An average guard, after training for a year and passing the recruit period, would roughly have this level of strength.
A second-class martial apprentice is required to lift a 300-pound stone dumbbell.
They must also run an arrow's distance (about 200 meters) without any load within the time it takes to count to 15, which is about 15 seconds.
Tang Wen was secretly surprised: this speed is a quarter faster than that of an Olympic 200-meter champion.
In terms of actual combat, a second-class martial apprentice must be able to handle a pack of wolves or other medium-sized beasts with a single sword or dagger, and be able to fight multiple opponents.
The first-class martial apprentice is even more difficult, requiring the ability to lift a 600-pound stone dumbbell.
In terms of speed, they must be able to run a distance of one li (about 500 meters) without being slower than a running donkey or horse.
The key is also in actual combat; without wearing armor, they must be able to defeat a team of 12 to 15 well-trained soldiers without injury.
Old Li continued, "Young Tang, you're a hunter and have special skills, so you should have the strength of a third-class martial apprentice. But it's hard to say about the second-class martial apprentice. Fortunately, you're still young, so give it a try. If you can't get into the hunting squad, you can join the martial arts school, train for a year, and you'll definitely make it next year."
Tang Wen thanked him with a smile, thinking to himself that Old Doctor Li was quite reliable.
He had only given him a roe deer and two rabbits, which was just a few dozen pounds of meat, nothing much to him, but he had thought it through very thoroughly.
"The apprentices in the martial arts school are all kids from the inner city, many of whom have been practicing martial arts since childhood, and they are all very ambitious, wanting to try out for the hunting guards. You can just line up at the end of their queue later."
"Alright!"
The order didn't matter to Tang Wen, but he was puzzled: "I wonder what's so special about the hunting guards besides going out on hunts?"
Old Li was taken aback for a moment, then slapped his forehead: "My fault! I forgot you're from the outer city and don't know the details. The prey and Mutated Beasts hunted by the hunting squad are divided into three parts: one for the camp, one for the Guard Barracks, and the remaining third can be kept by the hunting squad themselves."
"Oh, an extra source of income," Tang Wen nodded.
"Not just that. The Guard Barracks has many exclusive Cultivation Methods. Guards can exchange them with their contributions. Understand?"
Tang Wen showed a look of realization: "Hunting counts as contributions. Thank you, Old Li, for clearing that up."
He was intrigued.
Cultivation Methods were indeed valuable treasures hard to come by outside.
Originally, he thought it didn't matter whether he became a city guard or a patrol guard, but now his mindset had changed.
He must join the hunting squad.
Martial Apprentices stood in the center of the square.
Some were burly, some well-proportioned, all full of vigor.
There were also a few female Martial Apprentices, whose tall and impressive figures couldn't be concealed even by their bulky black cotton clothes.
Tang Wen blended into the last row, keeping a noticeable distance from the Martial Apprentices in front.
Those in front turned to look at him, their eyes calm, mocking, but mostly indifferent.
The young Martial Apprentices chatted among themselves:
"Brother Lin, any definite news? How many people will the hunting squad take this time?"
The young man called Brother Lin was exceptionally burly, with a broad back and a towering height of over 1.9 meters.
He was the tallest person Tang Wen had seen in the camp.
"It seems like 40."
"What?"
The group exclaimed in surprise.
"How could it be so few?"
"I can't make it into the top 40 in our martial hall!"
"Do we have to wait another year?"
Listening to their discussion, Tang Wen suddenly recalled the day his high school classmates chatted similarly after the college entrance exam results were out.
But only forty people?
Tang Wen roughly counted; the number of Martial Apprentices before him definitely exceeded four hundred.
With a 10% acceptance rate, it really felt like the college entrance exam.
"Clank, clank, clank"
The sound of clashing armor came.
Several fully armed individuals walked onto the high platform of the square.
Was that him?
Tang Wen was somewhat surprised; the person responsible for guarding the Silver wolf was also on the platform.
It seemed his status was even higher than Tang Wen had imagined.
The man, with keen perception, noticed Tang Wen's gaze and looked over with sharp eyes. Tang Wen quickly lowered his head.
"Today is a significant day for our Flame Camp. It's the guard selection,"
The General in black armor on the platform began to speak.
Despite no amplification, his voice was clear and precise, reaching the ears of the thousands present.
His tone was firm, and his speech was brief.
About three minutes later, the Black Armor General announced directly: "I declare the selection begins. Those selecting for the hunting squad, step forward 30 paces! Form ten lines! The rest of the candidates, disperse to the left and right."
Tang Wen's spirits lifted; it was indeed a military style, straightforward and decisive.
He quickly followed the line forward, closely following the steps of the person in front, and stood in formation.
"First row, step forward five paces, spread out, warm up, and prepare to lift the Stone Dumbbells."
About forty people stepped forward in unison.
"When I count to one, everyone must lift the Stone Dumbbell in front of you. Those who can't lift it, leave immediately! No excuses, or you'll face the whip! Understood?"
"Understood!"
Everyone responded with a resounding agreement, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
"Ready, four, three, two, one, lift!"
The first row of people gritted their teeth, mustering all their strength to grab the wooden poles and lift the stone dumbbells.
"Hold on, three, two, one, again! Ready!"
Whispers broke out among the group, filled with surprise, anxiety, and frustration.
"This stone dumbbell weighs a full 300 pounds. Why do we have to lift it so quickly?"
"The standard for the hunting camp selection is to be a Second-Class Martial Apprentice. I just became a Third-Class Martial Apprentice not long ago!"
"No chance this year, no chance. My dad's going to beat me to death when I get home."
The 300-pound stone dumbbell had to be lifted three times in a row, each time raised overhead and held for three seconds.
If it weren't for the martial arts heritage in this world, even if you spent three or five years in the gym, you wouldn't be able to reach this level.
On both sides of the square, people from the outer city who had come to participate in the selection were utterly stunned.
Such a large stone—could it be hollow?
If it's solid, how could anyone possibly lift it?
"Silence! Those who make noise will be disqualifi
ed from the selection."
A voice, deep and resonant like a great bell, echoed across the square.
The participants immediately stopped talking and stood up straight.
The speaker was Tang Wen's acquaintance, the Commander who guarded the Silver Wolf.
(End of Chapter)