"Very well! Since Brother Niu is so eager to witness the potential of this batch of newcomers, let it be as you wish." As Niu Yunshan interrupted him, Zhao Dapeng showed no sign of annoyance; his booming voice echoed throughout the training ground.
At this moment, the five of them had already ascended the high platform.
On the platform, five chairs were arranged, and the five chief captains of the Blood Guards took their seats, their ten piercing or intense gazes sweeping across the training ground.
"Greetings, esteemed Chief Captains!" As if in unison, a resounding shout erupted from among the Blood Guards.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
In an instant, five thousand Blood Guards knelt on one knee, shouting, "Greetings, esteemed Chief Captains!" However, among them, fifty individuals did not kneel but merely inclined slightly, for they were the Hundred Captains.
According to the military regulations of the Blood Guards, it was explicitly stated that any officer of the rank of Hundred Captain or above could forgo kneeling before anyone, at most bowing slightly.
In the Divine Continent, where martial prowess reigns supreme, this also serves as a mark of respect for the strong.
"Please, remain standing!" Among the five chief captains, the only elder raised his hand in a dismissive gesture and spoke calmly.
The five thousand Blood Guards immediately rose to their feet.
"Among the five chief captains, this man is undoubtedly the strongest!" Ye Tian observed closely. When the elder spoke, the other four captains noticeably adopted a more serious demeanor, their gazes reflecting a hint of respect.
If the other four chief captains exuded an aura of formidable strength, this elder radiated an air of unfathomable depth.
Gazing at this elder, Ye Tian felt as though he were confronting a dormant volcano—calm on the surface, yet exuding a menacing aura of impending threat.
The martial artist ranks are divided into ten levels, and similarly, the Master Martialist ranks are also tiered into ten levels. As far as Ye Tian knew, only those who reached the seventh level of Master Martialist could become a chief captain of the Blood Guards.
Yet Ye Tian sensed that the elder's prowess must have long surpassed the seventh level of Master Martialist.
"Master Martialist at the seventh level? With my current martial soul talent, as long as I possess an internal cultivation method, I could undoubtedly unleash my potential in a short time. Reaching the seventh level of Master Martialist would take me no more than ten years." Ye Tian's eyes glimmered with fervor.
His primary objective in joining the Blood Guards was to acquire an internal cultivation method. In the Divine Continent, such methods are of paramount importance, shrouded as secrets by many factions. Only by joining a faction could one obtain these coveted techniques.
The Blood Guards were thus Ye Tian's first destination.
Just as Ye Tian contemplated this in the brief moment, the elder spoke again: "Dapeng, you are responsible for testing this group of newcomers, and you shall preside over the selection of the Hundred and Ten Captains."
"Yes, Uncle Duan!" Zhao Dapeng responded with a bow and then descended the high platform, approaching Ye Tian and the others.
The newcomers gazed at Zhao Dapeng, their eyes brimming with fervent confidence, as if they were on the cusp of becoming Hundred Captains or Ten Captains.
Very few could maintain the same composure as Ye Tian.
Zhao Dapeng's gaze lingered on Ye Tian for a moment, and a flicker of appreciation crossed his eyes. He then cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Obey my command! All of you with a martial level of nine or above, step forward."
Clatter!
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian wasted no time stepping forward. Alongside him, dozens of others joined him, forming a line at the front.
Zhao Dapeng regarded the line of individuals with a cold gaze, nodding in satisfaction. "Excellent. There are seventy-three of you here; you may compete freely, and the five strongest will be appointed as Hundred Captains, while the next fifty will be Ten Captains."
After speaking, Zhao Dapeng turned to the remaining newcomers, stating coldly, "As for you… you may observe their competition closely and later select whom you wish to follow. If you fail to make a choice, the Blood Guards will assign you at random."
With that, Zhao Dapeng summoned a Hundred Captain from the Blood Guards to arrange the competition, while he returned to his seat on the high platform.
Ye Tian raised an eyebrow in surprise; he recognized the Hundred Captain summoned by Zhao Dapeng as Li Tian, who had given him the recommendation letter two days prior.
Li Tian noticed Ye Tian and secretly gestured to him before stepping aside to draw a circle with a diameter of one hundred meters. Many looked on curiously, unsure of his intentions.
However, the five chief captains on the platform remained silent, and no one else dared to speak at this moment, choosing instead to await Li Tian's next move.
As expected of a Master Martialist, it wasn't long before Li Tian finished drawing the circle and coldly addressed Ye Tian and the others, "All of you, immediately step into the circle."
Ye Tian and the others exchanged glances, uncertain of what this entailed, but ultimately complied and entered the circle.
"Hey, how exactly are we going to compete? I'm getting impatient!" a voice exclaimed, and everyone turned to see the red-clad girl.
Li Tian furrowed his brow at the sight of her, seemingly wary, and quickly stated, "The competition begins now. You may freely attack anyone inside the circle. The first person to be knocked out will be the last remaining. This continues until only the strongest remains."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere within the circle erupted in excitement, and everyone immediately retreated, alertly watching their fellow newcomers.
Ye Tian's brows arched; he hadn't anticipated such rules, and it intrigued him. He smiled faintly and stood to the side, vigilantly observing the others.
The rest of the newcomers mirrored his vigilance, though no one dared to make the first move, as none wished to be the target.
The red-clad girl's eyes lit up, and with a mischievous grin, she giggled, "Great! I like this rule! By the way, who should I attack first..." With that, her gaze swept over the crowd.
Anyone caught in her line of sight turned pale, fully aware that this girl possessed the prowess of a level ten martial artist and was not to be underestimated.
Yang Tianyou met the red-clad girl's gaze, forcing a smile while subtly stepping back.
"Tch, cowardly wretches!" The red-clad girl scoffed, causing Yang Tianyou to grimace, though he dared not retort.
Though Yang Tianyou was a genius, he was still only a level nine martial artist, and many here were stronger than him.
Ultimately, being a genius meant little; until one had truly matured, it did not guarantee strength.
The gaze of the crimson-clad maiden continued to sweep across the crowd until it landed on Wu Qingtiger. The formidable aura of this half-step Martial Master erupted, scattering several nearby newcomers.
"This oaf... hmph!" The red-clad maiden was no fool; she felt a hint of trepidation and gave a light huff, shifting her gaze away from Wu Qingtiger to a boy of similar stature beside her.
"You there, how dare you disregard me! Today, I shall ensure you don't even attain the rank of Tenth Captain!" Her eyes sparkled as she cackled gleefully.
The others looked at the boy she was targeting with a mix of sympathy and apprehension.
That boy was none other than Ye Tian.
Ye Tian's expression remained unruffled as he cast a fleeting glance at the crimson maiden without responding.
"Hmph!" With a disdainful snort, the red-clad maiden charged towards Ye Tian, her palms sweeping through the air and summoning a fierce gust of wind that struck toward him.
In the face of her ferocious assault, Ye Tian calmly met her attack with the Thunderclap Palm, seeking neither glory nor error.
The two exchanged blows vigorously, creating an intense clash, causing the surrounding newcomers to step back, unwilling to involve themselves.
Soon, the others also erupted into combat, turning against one another, with the weaker ones swiftly eliminated.
On the high platform, the five captains observed the fray, most focused on the duel between Ye Tian and the red-clad maiden, given their prominence among the newcomers and the maiden's extraordinary status.
Moreover, both were prodigies, naturally drawing the attention of the esteemed captains.
"This lad named Ye Tian is rather impressive. Look at how he has perfected that basic yellow-level martial technique to its utmost form; his talent is exceptional," Zhao Dapeng remarked, his admiration for Ye Tian evident.
"At only sixteen years of age, to possess such strength—truly a top-tier talent. Do any of you know his background?" The elder, referred to as Uncle Duan by Zhao Dapeng, nodded thoughtfully before asking.
"Uncle Duan, I've already inquired about that. This boy is a villager from Baiyun Town; his origins are quite respectable and worthy of nurturing," Zhao Dapeng quickly replied.
Uncle Duan smiled upon hearing this, nodding in acknowledgment. "Baiyun Town, I know that place; it's a poor little village. I never expected that such a remote area could produce a talent of his caliber. Ha!"
"Uncle Duan, I've heard that those village children grow up without access to herbal training; this Ye Tian must have relied on sheer hard work to reach this level. His talent is indeed exceptional, far superior to that lad from the Yang family," Niu Yunshan added.
"Exactly! I value this aspect greatly. He has achieved this without resources; if we Bloodclad Guards invest our support in him, his future accomplishments will be boundless!" Zhao Dapeng's eyes sparkled with ambition.
...
As the five captains conversed, the number of fighters in the circle dwindled, and after about half an hour, only a handful remained.
Ye Tian and the crimson maiden continued to battle fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.
It was evident that the palm technique she employed was formidable, likely a powerful yellow-level martial skill, but she had not perfected it, limiting its power.
With Ye Tian's mastery in the late stages of the ninth level, coupled with the fully realized Thunderclap Palm, he adeptly countered her attacks, leaving the crimson maiden struggling to prevail.
"You're quite impressive, but I haven't even exerted my full strength yet!" The crimson maiden, growing anxious from her inability to subdue Ye Tian, began to falter; her once precise strikes started to become erratic.
Ye Tian recognized that despite her prowess, the maiden lacked experience in direct combat; her prolonged aggression had finally disordered her focus, resulting in her own undoing.
However, he refrained from overreaching, continuing to utilize the Thunderclap Palm to neutralize her assaults one by one.
He aimed to conceal his true strength, for after all, a tree that stands out invites the wind.