My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 295: Chapter 154: Taking the Initiative

And these people were mostly around thirty years old, with only one last chance to fight for a spot. Their strengths were comparable, qualifying them to compete for the final few of the twelve seats, and all of them came from factions with considerable power in Lanyang City...

...And only people like them would pay such close attention to Qin Fang.

As Qin Fang listened, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes...

He had never even heard of these factions, but they were clearly major powers in Lanyang City.

’Looks like fighting for one of these twelve seats... is going to be a real challenge.’

At this thought, a puzzling question suddenly occurred to him.

”Brother Qian, if what you say is true, and these people are all from powerful factions in Lanyang City... why are they all living at the Post House instead of their own homes?”

The environment at the Post House was decent, but it was a no-brainer that it couldn’t compare to their own family estates.

Qin Fang was certain that if he had a ’home’ in Lanyang City, he would never choose to live in a place like the Post House.

...For one thing, the situation was complicated. For another, the living conditions weren’t great, and there was no privacy. If you had any secrets, they were likely to be exposed.

He had no choice. Tributor Yun had placed him under direct supervision. If he left, his eligibility for the Martial Arts Examination would be revoked, and he would even become a wanted man.

But what about the others?

’Why would they all crowd into the Post House for no reason?’

”There’s something you don’t know, Brother Qin. It’s not that they want to be here. It’s a rule of the Martial Arts Examination.”

Qian Ruhai shook his head helplessly. ”To ensure fairness and prevent any under-the-table dealings, the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect established an iron-clad rule: All Martial Artists aiming for one of the twelve True Inheritor Candidate seats must reside in the officially designated Post House from the day their registration is approved until the Martial Arts Examination concludes. They are forbidden from returning to their own residences or any private estates, except for special missions or urgent business—which must be reported in advance and are subject to monitoring.”

”In other words, once you’re registered, you have to live at the Post House... until the Martial Arts Examination is over.”

”And the clock starts from your very first registration. For example, say you registered this year, but partway through the process, you realize you probably won’t secure one of the twelve seats. You can choose to withdraw and end your current attempt. Then you have a choice: leave the Post House and be done with the Martial Arts Examination... or stay and participate in the next one.”

”If you choose the former and leave, you can basically forget about getting one of the twelve seats in the next examination. Of course, if your performance is so extraordinary that you catch the eye of a true powerhouse from the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect, that’s a different story. But under normal circumstances, even if you managed to take the twelfth seat next time, you’d most likely be disqualified.”

”But if you choose to stay and participate in the next examination, then you have to live here in the Post House... for the entire year.”

Chubby Qian finished and pointed to the silent Lin Chen. ”Take Brother Lin, for example. He’s been living at the Post House for two years now.”

Lin Chen’s face darkened. He shot a speechless look at Qian Ruhai. ’Damn it, just make your point. Why drag me into it as an example?’

’Is failing to get a seat for two years straight something to be proud of?’

Qin Fang was taken aback. ”Why have a rule like that?” he asked, confused. ”And how is that fair?”

He didn’t quite understand.

Hearing this, Qian Ruhai said, ”Brother Qin, you know about the Ascending Array, right?”

Qin Fang immediately recalled the scene from when he first entered the city and nodded subconsciously.

’But what does that have to do with this rule?’

”The Post House is also part of the Ascending Array.”

”While living here, the daily fluctuations in every Martial Artist’s Qi Blood, and even the exchange of Force during sparring matches, are all silently recorded by the grand Array.”

”The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect uses this not only to assess everyone’s true foundation, potential, and temperament, but also to prevent anyone from pulling a switch at a critical moment...”

Qian Ruhai lowered his voice. ”Not every genius comes from an astonishing background.”

”And with the Divine Secret Techniques in this world... it’s not impossible to disguise yourself as someone else, at least on the surface.”

Qin Fang’s eyes narrowed as he slowly began to understand.

’If one of these major factions found a junior with astonishing Talent, they could use some unknown Divine Secret Technique to make him look like their own child. If that imposter then succeeded in winning one of the twelve seats...’

’...then the person who enters the Heavenly Gang Secret Realm might not be the one who won the seat, but someone else entirely.’

’For the family, this would naturally be a great boon.’

’But for the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect, a perfectly good genius would be replaced by someone mediocre, wasting a precious spot.’

’That’s obviously something the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect would never accept.’

”Of course, there’s an even more important reason...”

Brother Qian paused, then narrowed his eyes and whispered, ”The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect might be the biggest Sect in Lanyang City, but it’s not without its enemies... and just how powerful those enemies are, nobody knows. If someone with ulterior motives wanted to hide their identity and infiltrate the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect... what would be the easiest way?”

Hearing this, a chill ran down Qin Fang’s spine.

”...So, you’re saying this measure isn’t just about fairness... it’s also about protection?”

”Exactly.”

Qian Ruhai smiled and nodded.

Qin Fang said no more. The three of them chatted for a while longer, and once Qin Fang felt he had a clearer picture of things, he stood up to leave.

Qian Ruhai didn’t try to keep him, just smiling as he said, ”Take care then, Brother Qin. But... you did say you’d treat me to a drink last time. I’m still waiting, you know.”

Qin Fang chuckled. ”Don’t worry, we’ll get the chance. Well then, Brother Qian, Brother Lin, I’ll take my leave.”

”Farewell.”

Lin Chen also stood and clasped his fists in a gesture of farewell to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang went downstairs, leaving Lin Chen and Qian Ruhai on the second floor.

”The Third Realm of Martial Arts... Feeling the pressure now, Brother Lin?”