The command room was filled with people sitting around an oval-shaped long table.
Among them were Chen Guangpu, the principal of Qingteng Academy, and Zhao Hu, the deputy captain of Deep Blue City's City Guardians.
However, their seats were at the end of the table.
Sitting ahead of them were the leaders of each major district.
The military district always held great importance for the annual Spirit Contract Master assessment, with district leaders attending in person to prevent any mistakes during the process.
But this year was particularly special.
Because sitting at the very front of the oval table was an elder.
With him present, each district leader sat obediently like quails, not daring to breathe too loudly.
The large broadcast screen was displaying the scene of Wang Luma piercing through a Black Bull Insect with his spear.
Only then did the elder slowly speak, saying, "It's acceptable."
The middle-aged man sitting directly to his left snorted with a breath through his nose.
"S Level talent, yet struggling so hard to kill a Tier One Exotic Beast. Teacher, this is far inferior to my batch back in the day."
The speaker was Wei Qing, the chief of the First District.
The First District is mainly responsible for direct engagement with the main forces of the Insect Race Exotic Beasts on the battlefield, known as a terrifying meat grinder. Surviving such battles and becoming the overall chief, just Wei Qing's words filled the room with a pervasive, murderous aura.
"Smack!" Then, the back of the chief of the First District's head was slapped hard by someone.
Everyone lowered their eyes, focusing on nothing.
The elder, whom Wei Qing called teacher, slowly withdrew his hand. "How many times have I told you not to say 'I, the boss', do you want to be the boss?"
"No, I don't dare..." On the battlefield, Wei Qing, who was not afraid of even Tier Eight Insect Emperors, quickly lowered his head.
The elder shifted his gaze to another side. "Lin Jingxuan, share your thoughts."
"Yes!" A slim man with black-rimmed glasses habitually adjusted them and responded.
Lin Jingxuan, the chief of the Second District.
The Second District is responsible for comprehensive military coordination, with the united front department under his command. If Wei Qing is the consummate martial artist, Lin Jingxuan is the ultimate strategist.
"As an S Level Spirit Contract Master, he is still in the initial stage of developing his talent. His use of it is quite inexperienced."
"As an S Level Contracted Spirit, its power seems to be about twenty percent weaker than expected. Otherwise, without waiting for the trait [Immortal Spirit Energy] to trigger, it should have been able to penetrate the Tier One Black Bull Insect's body directly, achieving an instant kill."
"Perhaps extravagance in lifestyle has led to a leakage of spiritual origin."
In just a few words, Lin Jingxuan nearly stripped Wang Luma and Xiao Mei bare.
"How many times have I told you, share half of what you know; you've said everything. Are you in a hurry to die?"
Lin Jingxuan instinctively put his hands over his head, seemingly about to block a brain flick, but he quickly retracted his hands and got hit.
After dealing with the leaders of the First and Second Districts, the elder sat back in his seat.
Other district chiefs who hadn't been questioned breathed a sigh of relief, much like students who avoided being called on by the teacher during class.
...
Combat assessment zone.
Wang Luma and Xiao Mei ultimately succeeded in breaking through combat difficulty level seven, surpassing Qingteng Academy's previous level six record, which led to a burst of applause.
Next up were Han Zhan and Xia Youwei.
As they entered the combat space, from the cage across them, one, two, three... a total of ten Tier One Black Bull Insects emerged one after another.
Meanwhile, the assessor's voice rang out: "Test difficulty one: ten Tier One Alien Insect Black Bull Insects."
"Ten?"
"Did I see it wrong? Isn't difficulty one supposed to have just one? Just now, Wang Luma only needed to deal with seven at difficulty level seven."
"Is the official targeting them? Haha, this is interesting now."
"Serves him right, choosing an E Level useless Contracted Spirit. Aren't you fond of slacking? Now, slack off all you want!"
Amidst the confusion, the examiner provided an explanation: "Test difficulties vary per person to screen elites. SSS Level talents should be challenged ten times harder to be convincing."
"Exactly!"
"Well said!"
"Support!"
A group of people, excited for the drama, clamored, and the broadcast camera zoomed in on Han Zhan's face.
However, Han Zhan's face did not show the expected anger or injustice.
"The assessment rules don't seem like that," the elder spoke for the second time in the command room.
Sitting at the end of the table, Zhao Hu could only brace himself and stand up to respond: "This was a temporary addition by our Deep Blue City Guardians. We believe this young man is wasting his talent and setting a bad example, so..."
"I find no issue with it. This was our difficulty back in the day. Over these years, these youngsters have gotten too comfortable!"
"Countless Spirit Contract Master warriors die on the frontlines daily, creating this relatively peaceful environment for them. People who waste their talents should be banished to the Lower City District; they don't deserve to stay here!"
Wei Qing stood up for Zhao Hu.
This time, he didn't say 'I, the boss', and the elder merely hummed in acknowledgment, without more to say.
Everyone in the command room did not believe that as a Tier One Spirit Contract Master, Han Zhan could handle ten Black Bull Insects at once.
In the scene, Xia Youwei beside Han Zhan had already transformed into the pale pink form of the Fu Xi Guqin.
Han Zhan held it horizontally in front of him, the wind blowing, his clothes fluttering, giving off a somewhat immortal demeanor.
"Bring it on." Han Zhan looked at the ten Black Bull Insects ahead, speaking softly.
As if understanding his words, or perhaps angered by his indifferent attitude, the ten Black Bull Insects charged fiercely at Han Zhan.
Facing these ten Black Bull Insects, Han Zhan didn't even glance at them, just gently placed his right hand on the Fu Xi Zither.
Plucked the strings!
Strum!
As the Fu Xi Zither's strings were played, along with the sound of tearing fabric, a massive, visually perceptible Qi Blade instantly formed in front of Han Zhan.
The Qi Blade took shape immediately, and with Han Zhan's sweeping strum, it launched horizontally with unstoppable force!
The Black Bull Insects couldn't react in time and were pierced by the Qi Blade.
The sound of ten heads hitting the ground rang out,
ten Black Bull Insects, dead!
Dead silence!
The previously noisy assessment zone seemed choked silent, not a sound could be made.
Instant kill.
A true instant kill!
From Han Zhan's attack to the Black Bull Insects hitting the ground, the swiftness of the process left everyone astonished.
Is that really just an E Level Contracted Spirit? Are you telling me that's an E Level useless Contracted Spirit? What then are the others, not even as good as useless?
At this moment, everyone, whether on-site or watching the broadcast, was shocked to silence.
In the silence, they all heard Han Zhan's voice, calm yet indescribably ostentatious.
"This tune, breaks the formation."