While it is undoubtedly commendable to stand out, excessive exposure of one's talent inevitably breeds jealousy, and attracting unnecessary troubles is even less desirable. Therefore, during this assessment, Ye Tian refrained from unleashing his full potential; otherwise, with the terrifying power of his blade intent, none of the newcomers present would stand a chance against him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The gale from the red-clad girl's palm became increasingly ferocious, startling the nearby Blood Guards. However, Ye Tian understood that this girl was merely experiencing a fleeting surge of energy, which would soon dwindle. He could discern that the five commanding officers on the high platform were equally aware of this fact.
The only female commander shook her head slightly and remarked with a smile, "This girl, Hong Wu, is destined to lose."
"Haha, it's good for her to face some hardship; it will help temper her arrogance," Zhao Dapeng chuckled.
"Indeed, there are always greater talents beyond our own, and if she grasped this truth, her future accomplishments would be limitless," "Uncle Duan" said with a hint of seriousness.
Among the five commanders, the only youth was now intently watching the battle between Ye Tian and the red-clad girl.
Zhao Dapeng cast a sidelong glance at the youth and teased, "What's wrong? Blood Cloud, do you feel a twinge of pressure watching them?"
The other three commanders turned their gaze at this remark and couldn't help but smile.
Speaking of this youth, he was far from ordinary; his name alone could shake Blood Jade City. He was Blood Cloud, a figure deemed perfect in the eyes of all in Blood Jade City.
Blood Cloud's father was the lord of Blood Jade City, and as the heir apparent to the title, he had attracted attention from an early age, drawing the focus of countless eyes.
Of course, Blood Cloud did not disappoint. At the tender age of thirty, he had already achieved the rank of Seventh Level Martial Master, making him the youngest to hold that title in Blood Jade City and the youngest commander in the history of the Blood Guards.
He was known as the foremost among the youth, a title that aptly reflected his standing in Blood Jade City.
With such a multitude of accolades, it was no wonder Blood Cloud's reputation was so formidable.
"Pressure? Perhaps!" Upon hearing Zhao Dapeng's jest, Blood Cloud momentarily paused, then responded with a faint smile.
In his eyes, both Ye Tian and the red-clad girl were merely children. Although their talents were impressive, they posed no threat to him.
After all, the path of a martial artist is fraught with challenges; even geniuses can meet untimely ends.
The true victor is the one who laughs last.
"Hong Wu has been eliminated!" Suddenly, Niu Yunshan broke into laughter.
The commanders turned their gaze downward.
Within the circle, Ye Tian and the red-clad girl had finally determined the victor. After a prolonged deadlock, the girl's offensive gradually waned, while Ye Tian's force only intensified, culminating in a decisive strike that sent her flying.
"Liu Hongwu... Sixth place!" Li Tian shouted loudly from outside the circle, marking the girl's name down.
"Liu Hongwu!" Ye Tian murmured softly, committing the name to memory. Given her actions, it was clear she held an extraordinary identity, which is why he had refrained from inflicting serious harm and merely knocked her out of the circle.
"Sixth place!!!"
Outside the circle, Liu Hongwu glared fiercely at Ye Tian, her eyes burning with flames of determination. She gritted her teeth, a mix of shock, resentment, and disbelief swirling within her.
Having lost, especially to someone her own age, Liu Hongwu felt a surge of indignation. For so many years, she had been invincible among her peers, and this was her first defeat.
"Ye Tian, I will remember you," Liu Hongwu said, lightly biting her cherry-red lips, her beautiful eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
Ye Tian paid her no further heed. With her defeat, only five contenders remained in the circle, precisely the number required for the commanders' slots, eliminating the need for further competition.
Li Tian subsequently announced the conclusion of the contest and awarded the command tokens to Ye Tian and the others.
"Well done, young man! I knew I was right about you. Train diligently and strive to reach the Martial Master realm soon," Li Tian said as he approached Ye Tian to hand him the command token, patting him encouragingly on the chest.
"Thank you, Lord Li," Ye Tian responded with a slight bow.
"Lord Li? From now on, call me Uncle Li. If you have any questions, feel free to seek me out," Li Tian replied with a hearty laugh, genuine warmth in his eyes.
Ye Tian was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly and smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Li!"
In the unfamiliar territory of Blood Jade City, Ye Tian found himself becoming more acquainted with Li Tian. Now that he saw the other party attempting to win him over, he didn't refuse; after all, having an acquaintance would facilitate matters in the future.
"Alright, haha, go ahead and choose your subordinates. Remember, these newcomers are not only your subordinates but also your future brothers, so choose wisely; do not be careless," Li Tian chuckled, then leaned in to whisper.
Ye Tian nodded thoughtfully, then took the token and joined the Centurions in selecting their subordinates.
The fifty Decurions would choose their subordinates first, while each of the five Centurions would select ten Decurions.
Five hundred individuals buzzed with chatter, and Ye Tian quietly observed from the side. Many newcomers opted to follow the more powerful Decurions, while the weaker ones were left without interest, ultimately having to settle for the scraps left behind by others.
As the Decurions made their selections, the five Centurions introduced themselves to one another.
"I am Wu Qinghu. Greetings, brothers," Wu Qinghu boomed, his commanding presence notable as he bore the title of Half-Step Martial Master, making him the strongest among them.
"Bai Shui, greetings to all!" spoke a pale young man, dressed finely, evidently a wealthy scion from Blood Jade City, boasting a martial prowess of level ten.
"Huang Fei, brothers, from now on we are comrades! Haha!" a hearty man bellowed, also possessing level ten martial capabilities, with a presence slightly overshadowing Bai Shui, yet second only to Wu Qinghu.
Then it was Ye Tian's turn to introduce himself, and the others regarded the sixteen-year-old prodigy with keen curiosity.
"I am Ye Tian. I look forward to your guidance, brothers."
Ye Tian responded with a calm smile upon hearing their remarks.
"Brothers?"
Wu Qinghu, Bai Shui, and Huang Fei exchanged puzzled looks, their expressions tinged with bitterness. Although they were not particularly old, in comparison to Ye Tian, they certainly seemed like elder brothers.
"Kid… it would be better for you to call us 'Big Brother' from now on!" Wu Qinghu chuckled ruefully, shaking his head. Bai Shui and Huang Fei nodded in agreement; no one wished to bear the title of "Uncle."
Ye Tian smiled softly and nodded, saying, "Then I shall refer to you all as my big brothers."
"Ha ha!"
Laughter erupted among them.
"Don't forget, there's one sister who hasn't been introduced yet," Huang Fei remarked, glancing at the final Centurion. Ye Tian and the others turned to see that it was indeed a woman.
She was strikingly beautiful, appearing to be around thirty years old. In the realm of Shenzhou, this age was considered the prime of youth, immediately capturing the attention of Wu Qinghu and the others.
Only Ye Tian remained composed, smiling gently at the female Centurion.
"My name is Yun Feifei, and I greet my brothers, as well as you, Ye Tian, little brother! Hehe!" The woman, Yun Feifei, appeared entirely at ease, her laughter playful, particularly in her teasing of Ye Tian, who could only rub his nose in exasperation.
"Ha ha! With that, we're acquainted! Let us unite our efforts and strive to become true Blood Guards!" Wu Qinghu laughed heartily.
Ye Tian joined in the laughter, feeling as though he had returned to his past life, recalling his first experiences meeting comrades upon entering the military.
As they were getting to know each other, the Decurions had already chosen their teammates, forming fifty teams that stood before Ye Tian and the others.
At first glance, Ye Tian noticed the girl in red, Liu Hongwu, standing right in front of him, her wide eyes glaring at him with apparent vexation.
"Hehe, little brother, you're in trouble. This girl has set her sights on you; you'd best be cautious," Yun Feifei whispered with a chuckle.
The elder sister seemed to take delight in teasing Ye Tian, leaving him speechless.
"Do you know her background, Sister Yun?" Ye Tian asked curiously.
"It's impossible not to know! She is the apple of our Blood Guard commander's eye. Who would dare provoke her?" Yun Feifei replied, her tone tinged with schadenfreude.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian rolled his eyes at Liu Hongwu, who was still glaring at him, feeling a wave of headache wash over him.
He was well aware of the Blood Guard commander's reputation, a figure second only to the lord of Blood Jade City, whose mere stamp of the foot could send tremors through the entire city.
Soon, the Decurions began selecting their favored Centurions, forming partnerships as long as the Centurion agreed, cementing their bond as teammates.
Among them, Wu Qinghu was the strongest, attracting the most Decurions, leading him to make his selection first.
Despite Ye Tian's demonstrated strength, his youth was a significant drawback. Those who passed the Blood Guard assessment were formidable warriors; they were unwilling to follow the commands of a mere child, even if he was exceptionally powerful.
Consequently, by the end, only three Decurions chose Ye Tian.
Ye Tian could tell that the three who opted for him harbored ulterior motives. Their expressions suggested they were not following him out of respect, but rather viewed him as a child, perhaps hoping for more freedom in the future by aligning with him.
Among them was also a female Decurion—none other than Liu Hongwu, who had surprisingly chosen Ye Tian.
Ye Tian couldn't help but smile wryly. This girl was like a sticky candy, impossible to shake off; he could foresee future annoyances.
"Kid, just wait! One day, I will surely defeat you!" Liu Hongwu gritted her teeth, glaring at Ye Tian. Her intention in selecting him was clear: she sought the opportunity to challenge him at any moment.
Nearby, Wu Qinghu, Huang Fei, and Bai Shui looked at Ye Tian with expressions of sympathy.
Ye Tian rolled his eyes, feeling the weight of impending troubles on his shoulders.