"Warrior Level Seven, passed!"
"Warrior Level Eight, passed!"
"Warrior Level Nine, passed!"
"Warrior Level Seven, passed!"
...
Following the scarred man, those possessing recommendation letters began their tests. Their acquisition of such letters inherently signified their formidable prowess, and nearly all of them succeeded.
However, thus far, the strongest among the test-takers was merely at Warrior Level Nine; not a single Warrior Level Ten had emerged.
Leaf Tian waited quietly in line. After observing a few tests, his initial astonishment at the mystique of the enigmatic stone wall began to wane. Noticing that several individuals still awaited their turn ahead, he decided to close his eyes and conserve his energy.
He was unsure how long he had been waiting when a sudden wave of gasps jolted him awake.
"Warrior Level Nine, impressive! Brother Yang has a worthy successor." The centurion smiled slightly at a young man in resplendent attire standing before the stone wall.
Leaf Tian was momentarily taken aback; it was the first time he had witnessed the centurion smile, and the young man had merely attained Warrior Level Nine.
"Warrior Level Nine, hmmm… how old is this kid?"
"You're rather uninformed. This is Yang Tianyou, the young master of the Yang family, only fifteen years old, and a renowned prodigy in Blood Jade City."
"Who would have thought Yang Tianyou would also participate in the Blood Guard assessment? A fifteen-year-old at Warrior Level Nine? Quite remarkable; he will undoubtedly make a name for himself in Blood Jade City."
...
Listening to the astonishment around him, Leaf Tian finally understood. At just fifteen, Yang Tianyou had achieved Warrior Level Nine, one year his junior, showcasing extraordinary talent. No wonder even the centurion was impressed.
"Young Master Yang, here is your Blood Guard token. At Warrior Level Nine, you qualify to compete for the position of Captain. Congratulations," the Blood Guard in charge of registration said courteously, handing Yang Tianyou a crimson token.
The Yang family was one of the prominent clans in Blood Jade City, and the young master's exceptional talent compelled even the Blood Guards to treat him with utmost respect, cautious not to offend.
Yang Tianyou, with an air of pride, accepted the crimson token and moved to stand alongside those who had already passed the assessment, casting a disdainful gaze at those still undergoing tests, as if viewing them as mere jesters.
"What arrogance! Yet, this fellow truly has the talent to be proud." Some observed with annoyance, though they dared only to murmur in private.
The status of the Yang family and Yang Tianyou's remarkable abilities intimidated many.
The subsequent tests proceeded with considerably less excitement, for prodigies like Yang Tianyou were a rarity.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
"Next—" the centurion declared coldly.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a middle-aged man clad in gray stepped forward to the stone wall.
This man, tall and upright, with jet-black hair and long brows, emanated a piercing gaze as sharp as a blade. Carrying a long sword on his back, his very presence exuded an oppressive aura that demanded respect.
"Hmm?" The centurion regarded the gray-clad man, his brow slightly raised, before breaking into a smile.
This moment stunned the crowd; until now, only Yang Tianyou had garnered the centurion's approval, and now another contender had emerged.
All eyes fixated on the gray-clad man, eager to discover the prowess that earned him the centurion's favor.
Even Leaf Tian was no exception, abandoning his moment of meditation to observe the stone wall.
"Judging by his aura… he must be Warrior Level Ten!" Leaf Tian thought to himself.
Just then, the gray-clad man let out a fierce roar and swiftly extended his steel-like arm, his fist, reminiscent of a boulder, crashing down upon the stone wall.
The golden ripples upon the surface of the wall trembled, coalescing into four brilliant golden characters.
"Half-Step Martial Master!"
These four words shone brightly, radiating waves of golden light that captivated the attention of all present.
A profound silence fell across the square.
"Excellent, you are already on the cusp of the Martial Master realm; it seems our Blood Guard is about to gain a new Captain. What is your name?" the centurion inquired, smiling at the gray-clad man.
The man bowed respectfully. "Reporting, my name is Wu Qinghu."
"Proceed to register your name. Cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Martial Master realm soon," the centurion nodded.
Gradually, the crowd resumed their chatter, their gazes now filled with respect for Wu Qinghu. A strong individual commands reverence wherever they go.
Even the perpetually haughty Yang Tianyou displayed a trace of gravity when he regarded Wu Qinghu.
"Half-Step Martial Master? I didn't expect such a formidable expert; he is as impressive as the village chief," Leaf Tian mused, though he felt little concern, recalling that Wang Tian, whom he had slain, was also at the Half-Step Martial Master level.
As time flowed on, another hour passed before it was finally Leaf Tian's turn.
"Next—" the centurion announced, maintaining his usual indifference.
Leaf Tian stepped forward under the scrutiny of the crowd.
His mere appearance stirred a commotion, the murmurings swelling in intensity.
This uproar was not due to any significant reputation, for he was newly arrived in Blood Jade City and held no acclaim. Instead, it stemmed from his youth; discerning eyes could see he was no more than twenty years old.
Among those being tested, only Yang Tianyou and Leaf Tian were of similar age.
Naturally, the crowd assumed Leaf Tian could not possibly match Yang Tianyou's extraordinary talent; after all, prodigies of that caliber were exceedingly rare in Blood Jade City.
Thus, as Leaf Tian stepped forward, derisive remarks began to echo around him.
"Who's this little brat? He hasn't even grown all his hair yet and thinks he can become a Blood Guard? Hahaha, how ridiculous!" a burly man laughed heartily.
"Maybe he's a genius like Young Master Yang!" someone quipped mockingly.
"When did geniuses become so commonplace? If he passes the assessment, I'll eat that stone wall," a middle-aged man scoffed.
"Alas, I wonder which noble gave him a recommendation; even backdoor dealings shouldn't be this outrageous. This kid is at most Warrior Level Three or Four," another lamented, shaking his head.
...
A cascade of scornful remarks flowed from the crowd, transforming the square into a hubbub.
"Silence!"
The Captain's stern voice echoed, commanding silence among the crowd, yet their eyes remained gleefully fixed on Ye Tian, standing before the mystic barrier.
Those who had already passed the tests wore mocking expressions as they glanced in his direction.
"Only adding to the farce, hmph!" Yang Tianyou cast a disdainful look at Ye Tian.
Wu Qingtian narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of intensity flashing within the narrow slit. He regarded Ye Tian before the barrier with a serious demeanor, his face grave.
"Hurry up and commence the test!" The Captain seemed impatient, his gaze shimmering with excitement as he awaited the moment.
If someone as powerful as Li Tian, a hundred-man leader, could discern Ye Tian's prowess, it was only natural for the Captain to have taken notice and eagerly anticipated this moment.
However, the spectators misinterpreted the Captain's eagerness as impatience, causing their mockery to intensify.
Unfazed by their taunts, Ye Tian acknowledged the Captain's urging with a nod.
The dim, white-hued barrier emanated a soft glow. Ye Tian took a deep breath, focusing his energy, and slowly gathered his entire essence, raising his long right arm.
"Still trying to put on a show!" someone sneered softly.
In an instant, with the speed of an arrow, Ye Tian concentrated his entire energy into a powerful punch aimed at the barrier.
Whoosh! The golden ripples trembled, swiftly spreading and coalescing into four resplendent golden characters—Warrior Level Ten!
The brilliant letters radiated dazzling light, plunging the square into stunned silence.
Nearby, Yang Tianyou's eyes widened in disbelief, his face a mask of shock.
Wu Qingtian's serious countenance froze, astonishment flickering in his gaze.
Silence enveloped the venue!
All eyes were glued to the four golden characters appearing on the barrier, and the expressions of the crowd were nothing short of spectacular. Moments later, gasps echoed through the square like a raging wind.
"Gulp!"
Some individuals even found themselves unable to suppress their astonishment, staring at Ye Tian with wide eyes, their previous expressions of schadenfreude abruptly frozen in place.
"Hahaha, I knew I wasn't mistaken! Boy, what is your name, and how old are you?" The Captain's hearty laughter rang out, his demeanor more relaxed than ever as he fixed an intense gaze upon Ye Tian.
Ye Tian remained remarkably composed, bowing slightly in response and stating calmly, "Reporting to you, sir, I am Ye Tian, and I am sixteen years old this year."
"Hiss!"
Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
At just sixteen, achieving Warrior Level Ten is a rare feat in the history of Blood Jade City, a mark of extraordinary talent, surpassing even Yang Tianyou.
"Gulp…" Yang Tianyou swallowed hard, his earlier disdain replaced by astonishment, which blended with his expression, creating a striking contrast.
Wu Qingtian's gaze tightened, his serious demeanor growing even more pronounced.
"Good! Ye Tian, I will remember you. I am Zhao Dapeng. If you ever need anything, feel free to seek me out!" The Captain's face beamed with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the crowd's expressions shifted dramatically, some filled with envy, while others brimmed with jealousy.
It was clear that with the Captain's endorsement, Ye Tian's path in the Blood Cloak Guards would be smooth, and combined with his remarkable talent, he would undoubtedly become a formidable figure in Blood Jade City.
"Thank you, Sir Zhao!" Ye Tian was no fool; he promptly expressed his gratitude, pleased to have a powerful ally.
"Hahaha, go register your name now," Zhao Dapeng replied, nodding in approval.
The Blood Cloak Guard responsible for registration promptly and courteously recorded Ye Tian's name, aware that this young man was on the brink of greatness, destined to become a target for many factions seeking to recruit him.
Ye Tian maintained his composure as he stepped among the already successful warriors, closing his eyes to gather his thoughts.