*Twang!*
The students nocked their arrows, forged of refined steel. True qi surged within them as they aimed at the distant targets with their right eyes, grunting with effort as they drew the bows.
"Hah!"
A sturdy, dark-skinned youth exhaled sharply, his breath steady. With a shout, he yanked the bowstring—crafted from blood beast sinew—into a half-moon arc.
*Snap!*
Pulling it to its limit, he released. The black iron arrow shot forth like a phantom, a blur of motion.
Panting heavily, the youth watched with hopeful eyes as the arrow struck the steel target with a *clang*, leaving only a dent before its force gave out, tumbling to the ground.
Disappointment flickered in his gaze. He swung a frustrated fist, dropped the bow, and sighed as he walked off.
Each got one shot. Fail, and you're out.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The stage rang with the clatter of iron on iron. Of the twenty students, most hit the targets, but few arrows stuck—eliminating them. Some missed entirely, arrows skimming past, while a handful couldn't even draw the bow, let alone shoot.
In the end, only three of the first batch succeeded, their arrows lodging in the targets without falling.
One arrow barely pierced half an inch, bending at a sixty-degree angle, teetering on the edge—but it held.
The trio pumped their fists, swaggering off the stage in triumph.
"Only three passed the first batch? This round's no joke," a spectator mused.
"No kidding. A fifty-stone bow's five horsepower—mid Human-rank strength just to draw it fully. Then there's the iron arrow and steel target. Even your average mid Human-rank student might flop," another replied.
"Tianxing Academy's the kingdom's best for a reason. This 'simple' strength test isn't just power—it's eyesight, accuracy, and control," a third chimed in.
"Heh, intriguing," a noble quipped.
From the stands, dignitaries and capital powerhouses buzzed with interest.
The second batch took the stage.
This group outshone the first, with four passing.
Batch after batch followed swiftly, averaging three or four successes each.
Soon, it was Qin Fen's turn.
"Hmph." He shot Qin Chen a provocative glare, simmering with pent-up rage. Striding forward, he snatched the first bow, pulling it to a full moon with a casual tug—effortlessly.
Then—
*Snap!*
The string quivered as the black iron arrow streaked out like lightning, too fast to track. With a *clang*, it pierced the target's center, punching through five centimeters of steel, the arrow trembling in place.
*"Whoa!"*
Gasps erupted from the students.
"Insane! Piercing the bullseye—that's raw power!"
"No surprise from a senior-class student. Qin Fen's a step from Earth-rank, right?"
"That strength and precision—rare even in the senior class."
Spirit Martial King Xiao Zhan nodded from above. "The strongest we've seen so far, I'd wager. The Qin family's military legacy holds true."
Chu Weichen smiled. "Qin Fen's talented, no doubt, but he's not the prodigy. His elder brother—that's the one who amazes." A wistful glint crossed his eyes.
"You mean Qin Feng, the capital's former golden youth?"
"Exactly. I still recall that he hit Earth-rank at fourteen in just two years, graduated smoothly, joined the army, and racked up feats. Who knows his cultivation now?"
Xiao Zhan's eyes flickered. "A true standout. I remember meeting him at a palace banquet—sharp, destined for greatness."
"Alas," he sighed, "too bad he's aged out, or he'd fulfill the task His Majesty gave me. Now, it's a headache."
Chu Weichen's gaze sharpened, offering a wry smile. "That task from His Majesty's no small feat. Let's watch—maybe someone will catch your eye."
Below, chatter swelled.
Despite his earlier humiliation by Qin Chen, Qin Fen's display won gasps of admiration.
"Dragon's nine sons, all different. The Qin family boasts geniuses like Qin Feng and Qin Fen, yet there's that bastard Qin Chen. Quite the contrast," onlookers mused with smirks. Qin Chen's bloodline awakening proved little—none thought he could rival Qin Fen.
"Great job, Fen'er—haha, excellent!" Zhao Feng slapped her chair's arm, beaming, then shot Qin Yuechi a venomous glance. *"So what if Qin Chen awakened? He's still trash."*
"You three better pray you don't fall into my hands," Qin Fen snarled as he descended, glaring at Qin Chen's trio with a twisted grin.
Qin Chen ignored him, not sparing him a look.
"Hmph, let's see how long you can play it cool. Bet you won't even pass this first round," Qin Fen scoffed, rejoining his group.
"Young Master Chen, it's almost our turn," Lin Tian and Zhang Ying said, nerves creeping in.
Qin Chen clapped their shoulders. "Relax. With your cultivation, this round's no trouble. Just watch the iron arrow—it's poorly balanced. When you release, focus your strength on the arrowhead to drive the shaft. That'll sink it into the target."
"Got it." They nodded firmly.
Sure enough, the next batch was theirs.
Taking deep breaths, they stepped up.
Feet planted, backs straight, and stomachs in—they followed Qin Chen's advice, eyes steady, minds focused. Mid Human-rank true qi surged like a tide as they drew taut bows.
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
Arrows tore through the air, striking the bullseyes dead-on. The tails quivered, but the tips held firm as rock.
"We did it!"
They exchanged a glance, fists pumping in excitement.
"Huh? Aren't Lin Tian and Zhang Ying junior classmates? Since when did they hit mid Human-rank?" a familiar student muttered in surprise.
"Those two dare move to the next round? Interesting—heh, very interesting," Qin Fen and his cronies exchanged looks, eyes glinting with eager malice.
"Young Master Chen, we passed!"
At Qin Chen's side, Lin Tian and Zhang Ying buzzed joyfully.
"Well done," Qin Chen smiled, musing inwardly. *Their comprehension's top-notch. I gave a casual tip, and they nailed it mid-shot. Not everyone's got that knack.*
Next, it was Qin Chen's turn to take the stage.
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