"Brother Mo, let me try first." Ma Cai spoke confidently, his expression relaxed. While he knew he couldn't lift the 300-jin stone wheel, he was certain that 200 jin would be no challenge for him.

With that, he eagerly walked up to the stone wheel and joined the line. Under the watchful eyes of the captain's personal soldiers and the occasional crack of a whip, the other soldiers kept mostly in line, too intimidated to stray.

"Brother Mo, do you think I should give it a try?" Ding Bao asked hesitantly.

Though he was not much weaker than Ma Cai in terms of strength, Ding Bao lacked connections and was uncertain about his chances. He knew he could lift the 200-jin stone, but becoming a soldier was far from guaranteed.

Feeding horses was a stable job in the camp—it provided food and even allowed him to make a bit of money selling horse manure. This was a privilege most soldiers didn't get.

Furthermore, tending to the horses was a skill, and if Ding Bao truly mastered it, he could make a living for himself. If he went to another training camp, all of this would be gone.

"I don't know if I should take the risk," he mused. "My father's health is poor, and my sister is getting older. As her older brother, I have to save some dowry for her."

With a deep sigh, Ding Bao made his decision.

"Ma Cai has connections, and if you're well-fed, your family won't go hungry, so both of you dare to take the risk. But I can't. I've been secretly selling horse manure to make two or three pennies a month. The military provides food and shelter, so I can save almost all of that. It's a decent life, better than many have. Plus, my home is nearby, and I can check on my family whenever I need to."

"Leaving now would take all that away."

Chen Mo didn't offer any advice. He understood well that everyone had their own path to follow. It was not for him to say which was the right choice. It was up to Ding Bao.

If Chen Mo didn't possess the Transfiguration Pearl or have such confidence in his own strength, his decision would likely have been the same as Ding Bao's.

Chen Mo walked toward the 300-jin stone wheel. Few soldiers dared attempt it, so there was no need for him to wait in line.

He had decided earlier that if he wanted to make an impression, he would go straight for the 300-jin stone.

Rather than waste time with the 200-jin wheel, he'd take the chance to be directly promoted to a personal soldier. This way, he would receive better treatment, and he could accumulate more Qi and blood to improve his strength.

After encountering the blood monkey, Chen Mo had realized that this world was far more complicated than he had ever imagined.

Though he was safe for now, what if he was caught in danger again? How would he deal with it?

The only solution he saw was to grow stronger. As long as he could become powerful enough, he would be able to face future dangers, like the blood monkeys, with confidence.

For that, he needed resources—resources that would come with status and recognition. By showing his strength, he could attract the attention he needed. This would allow him to improve, grow stronger, and possibly gain access to more resources, such as food to fuel his physical development.

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Feeding himself properly would cost at least two or three pennies a day, nearly ten taels of silver each month. Even the wealthiest landlords wouldn't sustain such a lavish diet.

The more he showcased his strength, the more opportunities he'd have to consume enough food to accelerate the Qi and blood accumulation of his Transfiguration Pearl.

His strength was far beyond the average soldier. Lifting the 300-jin stone was nothing. In fact, it was well below his true potential. If he revealed his full strength now, it might even be seen as a sign of supernatural power—though he wasn't showing everything today.

If he didn't demonstrate his strength now, however, any sudden improvement in the future would surely raise suspicion.

When he stepped up to the 300-jin stone, the entire field seemed to fall silent. Several soldiers had already tried to lift it and failed. No one had succeeded so far, and seeing Chen Mo approach, they couldn't help but doubt his chances.

Despite his strong physique, he didn't look like someone who could lift the 300-jin stone wheel.

The soldiers who had barely managed the 200-jin weight eyed him with disdain, thinking he was foolish to even try. They couldn't fathom that anyone, especially someone like him, could lift that weight.

For the rest of the crowd, it was nothing more than entertainment. No one believed that Chen Mo could actually do it.

But He Maguan, Ma Cai, and Ding Bao knew him better. They were aware that Chen Mo was not the kind of person to seek attention or take risks recklessly.

If he was stepping up to try, then there was a high chance—an 80% chance—that he could lift the stone.

Mo Hu glanced at Chen Mo with mild indifference. For General Sun's personal soldiers, the 300-jin stone was not a serious challenge, and many could lift it.

But in this camp, few had the strength to do so, and it was clear that Chen Mo had a chance at lifting the 200-jin wheel, but 300 jin was another matter. He couldn't fathom that this soldier could manage it.

Born strong individuals were rare, not something you found every day, and even if they existed, they rarely joined the army.

To meet one today—it seemed that luck was on Mo Hu's side.

Chen Mo approached the stone wheel, standing tall and focused. He didn't rush; he first took a deep breath, centered himself, then slowly extended his arms toward the wheel.

To his surprise, the stone felt lighter than he expected, or perhaps his strength had grown greater than he had anticipated.

With a grunt, he heaved the stone up to his chest, then used his legs, waist, and core to lift it effortlessly above his head. He even had enough energy left to survey the crowd around him, meeting their stunned gazes.

The field was dead silent. The soldiers who had tried and failed to lift the 200-jin stone were now wide-eyed, their disbelief turning into awe. They could no longer afford to look down on him. The fear of drawing his attention kept them from even raising their heads.

No one dared to mock him now. After all, he had lifted the 300-jin stone, meaning he would be promoted to the personal guard camp immediately.

The others still had to go through training.

When Chen Mo's gaze swept over them, those who had been sneering earlier quickly lowered their heads, too guilty to meet his eyes.

"Okay, put it down," Mo Hu said, stepping forward. His voice was cautious, but he had a slight smile on his face.

He had not expected Chen Mo to succeed. The young man didn't look particularly strong, but the power he displayed was undeniable. He seemed to have innate strength.

It wasn't common, but it wasn't rare either. Mo Hu knew that in a county, you could usually find a few naturally strong individuals. They just wouldn't be likely to join the army unless they had no other options.

Today, however, luck was on his side.

Mo Hu watched as Chen Mo gently set the stone wheel down, finally exhaling in relief.

The casual observer might not notice, but Mo Hu, an expert, could see the truth in the details. Chen Mo hadn't practiced lifting—his movements were a little clumsy, but with more training, his strength would only improve.

"Since you've lifted the 300-jin stone, you're eligible to join the personal guard camp," Mo Hu said, his voice warmer now. "Go back and get ready. The day after tomorrow, I'll take you to the camp."

Chen Mo was now officially a personal soldier under General Sun, and Mo Hu's tone had completely shifted. Now that he was part of the elite, his treatment would be much different.

End