Chapter 1781: Initial Trial

They stayed in the finest suites and ate exquisite delicacies. However, Qingya was indeed a woman of great stature, comparable to any man. She didn't bat an eye at the constant flow of money being spent.

She simply ensured Xu Yang and Long Kun were well-fed and entertained with good food and drink, only resting easy when they were completely satisfied. In this manner, the three of them enjoyed themselves in the Imperial City of Tiandu for three days.

On the fourth day, within the Imperial City, all participating martial artists had gathered. Xu Yang and Long Kun, led by Qingya, arrived at the training ground outside the Imperial City.

Since Xu Yang and Long Kun represented the Zhantian Pavilion and held internal quotas from Congyun Province, their turns in this internal martial artist selection were relatively early.

The first round was a general selection. This meant there were no fixed requirements for a martial artist's raw strength or cultivation level; everyone undertook the same test. Those who passed would advance to the second round. This initial assessment was designed to eliminate approximately eighty percent of ordinary martial artists.

The specific test required martial artists to lift a massive cauldron weighing eighteen thousand jin in front of everyone on the training platform!

This colossal cauldron had a remarkable history. It was said to have existed since the early formation of the imperial dynasty's civilization and had always served as a symbol of the imperial martial arts legacy. Only individuals with at least peak Golden Core stage strength and physical prowess significantly exceeding that of ordinary martial artists could hope to lift it.

However, for Xu Yang and Long Kun, this test posed no difficulty whatsoever.

Long Kun drew an earlier slot, so he entered the arena first and approached the massive cauldron. To demonstrate his superior strength, Long Kun lifted the nearly twenty-thousand-jin cauldron above his head with just one hand. But he wasn't finished. After his successful feat, the surrounding judges were left speechless by his astonishing power.

They decisively raised the small green flag, signaling his advancement.

Seeing that he had successfully advanced, Long Kun, in his excitement, suddenly performed a void-walking technique, tossing the colossal cauldron tens of meters into the air. As the massive cauldron plummeted back towards the ground, Long Kun suddenly punched it, sending it soaring almost a hundred meters high once more. This immediately earned a thunderous applause from the martial artists present.

It was Xu Yang's turn within a few hours. Perhaps the long wait had annoyed him, because he suddenly came up with a brilliant idea on the spot.

When he arrived before the massive cauldron, he didn't immediately act. Instead, he slowly turned around and addressed the martial artists eagerly waiting for their turn to advance.

"Everyone," he began slowly, "this internal test concludes here today. You may all leave."

Everyone present showed expressions of disbelief upon hearing Xu Yang's words.

"By what authority do you say such a thing?" someone challenged.

Xu Yang sneered at the crowd below. "I can shatter this cauldron with a single palm strike. If the cauldron no longer exists, how can the rest of you possibly continue to compete?

This internal selection is meant to choose the strongest martial artist to represent the imperial family, and I am that person. Since I have already stepped forward, there's no need for anyone else to waste their time here."

After speaking, Xu Yang wasted no time, immediately moving to prove the truth of his words with action. He slowly turned and pressed his palm against the surface of the nearly twenty-thousand-jin cauldron.

Immensely powerful qi surged across the cauldron's surface, rapidly expanding into visible ripples of energy that instantly blasted all waiting martial artists within a hundred-meter radius away.

The nearby judges were even temporarily deafened by the overwhelming sound wave.

After the deafening roar, cracks appeared on the surface of the colossal cauldron, which had been passed down for untold millennia, followed by a creaking, shattering sound.

Soon, the immense ten-thousand-jin cauldron crumbled bit by bit before everyone's eyes, turning into a pile of bronze-colored dust on the ground.

"My heavens, what terrifying power must that be to achieve this? He actually shattered that colossal cauldron completely!"

Everyone present was left in a state of disbelief by what had just transpired, but the most astonished were the judges nearby. Without a doubt, Xu Yang's strength far surpassed that of every martial artist who had already competed.

However, because he had violated the rules in such a manner, the judges couldn't prematurely announce the results. The head judge, trembling, rushed over to a nearby captain of the guard.

"Quickly, report this to General Xun! The situation has escalated beyond our imagination and our authority to decide. In any case, do not let this man leave first."

The judges quickly issued orders for the remaining martial artists awaiting their turn to leave the venue. Then, they specially dispatched a hundred-strong elite martial force to surround Xu Yang in the center of the training ground.

"No one is permitted to enter or exit the training ground without explicit orders."

Meanwhile, Long Kun, who had already passed, stood outside the arena with Young Miss Qingya, quietly observing their Big Brother Xu Yang, who was being treated with special attention.

Having witnessed the entire process of him shattering the colossal cauldron with a single palm strike, Young Miss Qingya was also utterly stunned by his terrifying power. She couldn't help but twitch her face, turning to Long Kun to ask.

"Can you tell me the truth? Just how powerful is your Big Brother? Why do I always feel like he possesses immense potential, and that the strength he's displayed so far is just the tip of the iceberg?"

Long Kun secretly gave Qingya a thumbs-up. "The fact that you noticed that already proves your extraordinary perception. The destiny our Big Brother carries is beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

In any case, with him personally taking action, you can rest assured. No matter what situation arises, he can handle it flawlessly.

If I'm not mistaken, tonight we might even get to stay in the imperial palace thanks to Big Brother."

Qingya's expression showed shock. Just then, several powerful martial artists, appearing to be generals in golden armor, emerged and arrived at the center platform of the training ground.

Seeing the scattered fragments of the colossal cauldron covering the ground, and then glancing with astonishment at Xu Yang, who stood nearby with his eyes closed in meditation, one of them finally swallowed hard and forced himself to speak.

"Did you truly shatter this cauldron?"

Xu Yang let out a chuckle. "There are so many soldiers and martial artists here who can testify for me. Just say what you need to say."

The golden-armored general's expression grew solemn as he spoke again. "You don't need to participate in the test anymore. Gather your companions and prepare; you will accompany me into the palace tonight."