On the Arena.
"Little Earl?"
The five opponents on the other side were slightly startled upon hearing the conversation.
"Alright, you may begin!" The referee finished verifying and announced.
Hearing this, He Jinyun lazily addressed the five in front of him.
"Are you ready?"
"So, you're the Little Earl?" One of them spoke with a serious expression. "Come on then! Let me see what the Martial Academy students are made of."
As soon as the man finished speaking.
He Jinyun moved like a gust of wind, charging toward them.
In the next moment.
Boom
Boom
Boom
Several loud impacts echoed as the seemingly frail and malnourished He Jinyun crashed into the five like a freight train.
Against He Jinyun, the five had no resistance and were sent flying off the arena.
"So exaggerated!!!" Zhou Xing, watching from below, was visibly shocked.
Jiang Ning was also slightly surprised.
Although he had heard from Liu Sansheng that He Jinyun was a prodigy with natural divine strength, Jiang Ning had some doubts when he saw He Jinyun's sallow and thin appearance.
But when He Jinyun made his move, Jiang Ning knew there was no mistake.
The strength He Jinyun displayed was extraordinary, his speed incredibly fast, not falling behind Jiang Ning's own.
And the power he exhibited, effortlessly defeating the five opponents, showed that his strength was undoubtedly immense.
Only overwhelming superiority could result in such a crushing victory.
Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "His strength is indeed impressive."
"Good thing Junior Brother Jiang stopped me earlier!" Zhou Xing, having regained his composure, looked relieved.
He sighed. "I know those five who were knocked off the arena. They're not weak among the ninth rank. One of them is even a friend of mine, at the peak of the ninth rank!"
"But this Little Earl, who looks so unassuming and malnourished, is ridiculously strong. He swept through those five like they were nothing!"
"Even if we went up, we'd be no match for him!"
"Thankfully, Junior Brother Jiang stopped me!"
Zhou Xing's face showed a look of having narrowly escaped disaster.
Meanwhile.
He Jinyun received a dark-colored token.
"Is this my identity token for the Inspection Office?" He played with it as he spoke.
"Young Master He, this is just a temporary token. After the assessment ends today, you can come to the Inspection Office tomorrow to exchange it for the official one."
"I heard there's a competition for deputy commander later?" He Jinyun tossed the token in his hand and asked while standing on the arena.
"Correct," the referee nodded slightly.
Then he asked, "Does Young Master He plan to compete for the squad leader position?"
He Jinyun shook his head slowly. "Squad leader? That's not enough."
He smirked. "If I compete, it'll be for the deputy commander position. An eighth-rank official position that suits my status!"
Hearing this, the referee said, "If Young Master He secures the deputy commander position, you're welcome to join my unit. I owe your family a debt of gratitude."
"A debt of gratitude? Forget it," He Jinyun waved his hand dismissively and jumped off the arena.
The four Martial Academy students behind him exchanged glances, and one of them shrugged. "This assessment was surprisingly easy."
Then they all jumped down.
The five who had been knocked off the arena, hearing this, were furious.
They had no issue with being defeated by He Jinyun.
Losing was losing, and there was nothing they could do about it.
But being mocked by these guys who had just walked onto the arena and passed the assessment without lifting a finger that was too much.
Martial artists were straightforward by nature, and their pride was easily provoked.
One of them stood up and shouted, "I protest!"
"What are you protesting?" The referee in the arena asked indifferently.
"I protest the rules of this assessment! Why should these weaklings pass without even fighting? It's unfair!!" the man shouted.
"Protest? Unfair?" The referee chuckled.
Then he said, "Protesting is right! Unfair is right! The world isn't fair. If you're not strong enough and can't find backing, then you're out. It's that simple."
After saying this, his gaze swept across the crowd like a sharp sword.
Wherever his eyes landed, silence followed.
"Continue!!"
He announced, then leaped gracefully to another arena that had just concluded.
Below the arena.
After witnessing what had just happened, the crowd, though large, hesitated to step forward.
The rules were clear.
Five out of ten would be eliminated.
In other words, the pass rate for this final stage was only fifty percent.
But once you pass, regardless of your background, you will gain an official position.
The gap between commoners and officials was always vast.
Passing this stage depended not only on your own strength but also on your teammates' strength and your opponents' strength.
If you encountered someone like the Little Earl, few would have the confidence to pass.
Once you stepped onto the arena, there was no turning back.
No matter who came after, you had to face them and determine the winner.
Thus, an awkward situation arose below the arena no one wanted to be the first to step up.
Being the first to step up would put you at a disadvantage, making you a target for others to pick off.
"Should we go up now, Junior Brother Jiang?" Zhou Xing asked.
After what had just happened, Zhou Xing, feeling uncertain, deferred the decision to Jiang Ning.
"Let's go up," Jiang Ning decided.
"Alright," Zhou Xing nodded.
Immediately.
Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng leaped onto the arena.
Boom
Zhang Tiesheng's large frame landed heavily on the arena.
Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing, however, landed lightly, making no sound.
"Everyone, let's not waste time. Please, a few more people come up, and let's settle this!" Zhou Xing clasped his hands and addressed the crowd.
"Ha!" Someone below laughed. "Everyone in Luoshui County knows you, Zhou Xing, the prodigy of the Zhou family! With your eighth-rank strength, who would dare to face you?"
"Exactly! And Jiang Ning who doesn't know him? With the two of you here, only a fool would step up to compete!" another person chimed in.
Hearing this, those below who had been considering stepping up immediately held back.
Among the three on the arena, two were likely at the eighth rank. There was no way to compete.
That already took up three spots. With only five spots available, stepping up would leave only two spots.
That would mean seven people competing for two spots. How could anyone win?
Thinking this, everyone lost any desire to step up.
Thus, the lively crowd below the arena fell silent, with no one willing to step forward.
After a while.
"Junior Brother Jiang, what do we do now?" Zhou Xing's voice carried a hint of helplessness. This situation was completely unexpected.
At this moment, Zhou Xing felt no pride, only tension.
Their strength had been publicly revealed.
The weak wouldn't dare to step onto the arena, so only the strong would.
Among the younger generation in Luoshui County, eighth-rank martial artists were rare, but this place wasn't limited to the younger generation.
Martial artists in their thirties and forties from the previous generation were also present.
Some of them had previously been retainers or guests of various factions.
Now, they too were eligible to participate in the Inspection Office's assessment.
Add to that the Martial Academy students from Dongling City, many of whom were exceptionally strong.
Like that sallow-skinned young man from earlier, if he stepped into the arena, Zhou Xing had no confidence he could defeat him!
Hearing Zhou Xing's words, Jiang Ning said softly, "Don't worry. Since the Prefect set these rules, he must have anticipated this situation. There will be a solution soon."
Meanwhile.
Among the Martial Academy students.
He Jinyun glanced at the arena where Jiang Ning and the others were and smirked. He turned to the person beside him. "Qin Xuan, with two eighth-rank martial artists in the arena, why don't you go up and show them what real strength looks like?"
"Why play the villain?" Qin Xuan, dressed in a black robe with gold trim, smiled and declined.
Just then.
"Two eighth-rank prodigies? I'd like to test them."
A voice suddenly rang out, clear and loud.
Hearing this, everyone turned their heads.
"I didn't want to play the villain, but it seems Lü Renyao is willing to do it," Qin Xuan said.
Everyone saw a man leap from the crowd, dressed in white robes, gliding through the air like a crane.
This man was Lü Renyao, the one Qin Xuan had mentioned.
On the arena.
"What impressive movement skills!" Zhou Xing's eyes narrowed as he focused on the white-robed man.
Jiang Ning glanced at him and shook his head slightly.
Why bother?
In the next moment.
Lü Renyao's cloud-patterned shoes lightly touched the arena, sending a ripple of dust outward.
Lü Renyao landed in front of Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing, looking them up and down.
Then he spoke. "You two aren't bad. Reaching the eighth rank at your age is quite impressive for a small place like this. After joining the Inspection Office, how about working under me?"
Zhou Xing opened his mouth to speak.
But Lü Renyao interrupted. "No need to answer right away. Think it over. If you agree, I'll let the three of you pass this stage. If not..."
Here, Lü Renyao paused, his face full of confidence. "Then I'll have to send you off the arena."
Hearing these words, Zhou Xing, who had just opened his mouth, closed it again.
His gaze turned to Jiang Ning.
In Zhou Xing's eyes, among the disciples of the Canglang Martial School, only Jiang Ning, who had reached the eighth rank, was his equal. Only Jiang Ning had the right to discuss such decisions with him.
As for Zhang Tiesheng behind him.
Although he was a junior disciple, he was also a retainer Zhou Xing had recruited.
In terms of strength and status, he was naturally not on equal footing.
"Take your time to discuss. I'm in no hurry," Lü Renyao smiled. Then he added, "Later, I'll secure the squad leader position. If you join my team, you'll be part of my squad, and there will be plenty of benefits for you both."
Below the arena.
Not far away, Qin Xuan, hearing Lü Renyao's words, was slightly stunned, then shook his head with a smile.
"Lü Renyao is quite cunning! Using the promise of a spot in the Inspection Office to force these two prodigies from Luoshui County to join his future squad and obey his commands!"
"If they refuse, with Lü Renyao's strength, he can easily force them to agree!"
"After all, for people from such a small place, joining the Inspection Office is like ascending to heaven, a chance to change their fate. Even earning a scholarly title can't compare to this opportunity."
"True," He Jinyun nodded slightly. "These two, reaching the eighth rank at such a young age in a small place like this their talent would be considered top-tier even in Dongling City."
"If they had been born in Dongling City and enjoyed the resources of the Martial Academy, they might not be much weaker than us!"
"They're indeed good seedlings!"
As he spoke, He Jinyun grew more excited.
"Damn it" He slapped his thigh. "These two are real talents! I didn't even think of this earlier."
Qin Xuan, hearing He Jinyun's words, couldn't help but smile. "Brother Jinyun, if you want, with your strength, it's not too late to step up now."
He Jinyun shook his head. "Forget it. I'm too lazy for that kind of trouble."
"Fair enough," Qin Xuan smiled. "With your status as the Little Earl, you don't need to compete with the mud-struggling loaches."
He Jinyun glared at him. "You know how to rub people the wrong way, don't you?"
Meanwhile.
On the arena.
Zhou Xing asked in a low voice, "Junior Brother Jiang, what do you think?"
"There's nothing to discuss. My bones are a bit stiff I prefer soft over hard," Jiang Ning said.
Zhou Xing smiled.
"Junior Brother Jiang, you suit my taste!"
"I'm the same I prefer soft over hard!"
"Soft over hard, huh?"
Lü Renyao, standing in the arena, smirked as he watched the two.
"It seems you've made your choice!"
Zhou Xing said, "I'd like to see what the Martial Academy students are capable of."
"And you?" Lü Renyao looked at Jiang Ning.
In Lü Renyao's mind, between Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing, he favored Jiang Ning.
The reason was simple Jiang Ning was younger.
Being at the same rank but younger meant greater talent and potential.
Naturally, he was more worth cultivating.
Jiang Ning said indifferently, "Same here."
"Good!" Lü Renyao nodded.
"Very well!!" He emphasized. "Later, I'll show you just how big the gap is between us, even at the same rank!"
Just as the tension was building.
A calm voice suddenly came from the side.
"Alright, you four have passed the assessment. Come and collect your identity tokens."
"Wha—what???" Lü Renyao turned to the referee in the arena, his face full of disbelief.
What kind of joke is this?
We haven't even fought, and we've already passed?
At this moment, Lü Renyao wondered if he was hallucinating.
Seeing Lü Renyao's expression, the referee couldn't help but smile.
"Come and collect your identity tokens!"
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