Chapter 165: Will You Join My Ranks?

Chapter 165: Will You Join My Ranks?

On the arena stage.

"Young Master He?"

The five people on the opposite side, hearing the conversation between the two, couldn't help but be slightly startled.

"Alright, let's begin!" The host checked and then announced.

Hearing these words, He Jin Yun lazily addressed the five people in front of him.

"Are you ready?"

"Young Master He, is that you?" Someone's expression slightly tense, then he said, "Come on! Let me see how strong the Martial Academy students really are."

His words fell.

He Jin Yun's figure moved, like a gust of wind rushing towards the group.

The next moment.

Bang—

Bang—

Bang—

Several sounds rang out, and the seemingly weak and malnourished He Jin Yun was like a heavy truck crashing into the group.

In front of He Jin Yun, the group had no resistance and was directly knocked off the stage.

"This is so exaggerated!!!" Zhou Xing, seeing the scene on the stage, was shocked.

Jiang Ning was also slightly surprised.

Just now, although he heard Liu Sansheng mention that He Jin Yun was a Heaven's Pride with Heavenly Born Divine Strength, when he saw He Jin Yun's emaciated appearance, Jiang Ning had some doubts about his judgment.

But when he saw He Jin Yun in action, Jiang Ning knew he was right.

Because He Jin Yun's displayed strength was extremely outstanding, his speed was abnormally fast, and even compared to him, he didn't fall behind.

And the power, as evidenced by these five people not being able to withstand a single blow, was undoubtedly exaggerated.

Only by demonstrating overwhelming dominance could such a feat be achieved.

Then.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, "This strength is indeed a bit exaggerated!"

"It's a good thing Jiang Ning stopped me just now!" Zhou Xing, having recovered his senses, immediately showed a relieved expression.

Then he sighed, "I know the five who fell off the stage, and they're not weak among the ninth rank. One of them even has a connection with me, and he's at the ninth stage mastery!"

"But this Young Master He, he doesn't show off his strength, with his pale face and emaciated body, this strength is too exaggerated! Facing these five, he swept them away like crushing dry weeds!"

"Even if we went up, we would definitely not be his match!"

"Thankfully, thankfully, Jiang Ning stopped me!"

Zhou Xing's face turned into a post-disaster relief expression.

On the other side.

He Jin Yun received a dark token.

"Is this my identity token for the Inspection Office from now on?" He played with the token as he spoke.

"Young Master He, this is just a temporary token. After today's assessment, you can come to the Inspection Office tomorrow to exchange it for a formal identity token!"

"I heard there's also a competition for the Deputy Commander position later?" He Jin Yun tossed the token in his hand and asked from the stage.

"Indeed!" The man overseeing the assessment nodded slightly.

Then he asked, "Young Master He, do you want to compete for the Captain's position?"

Hearing this, He Jin Yun shook his head, "The Captain's position? That's not enough!"

Then he smirked, revealing a smile, "I'm aiming for the Deputy Commander position, an eighth-rank official position, which suits my status!"

Hearing these words, the man overseeing the assessment spoke, "If Young Master He can win the Deputy Commander position, you can come under my command. I've received the old master's grace."

"Received grace? Forget it!" He Jin Yun pouted, leaping off the stage.

The four Martial Academy disciples behind him exchanged glances, and someone spread their hands, "This assessment is too easy!"

Then the group leaped off the stage.

Hearing these words, the group who had just fallen off the stage immediately turned red with anger.

Being swept by He Jin Yun, they were convinced of their defeat.

They couldn't win, and there was nothing they could do about it.

But being mocked by these people for passing the assessment without even fighting made someone among them unwilling to accept it.

In the world of martial arts, one always carried a sense of pride and straightforwardness.

So, someone immediately stood up and said, "I'm not convinced!"

"What are you not convinced about?" The man overseeing the stage asked indifferently.

"I'm not convinced by these assessment rules! Why can these weaklings win without even fighting? This is unfair!!!" The man shouted.

"Not convinced? Unfair?" The man overseeing the stage smiled faintly.

Then he said, "Not convinced? It's indeed unfair! This world is inherently unfair! If you're not strong enough and can't find a powerful backer, you'll be eliminated; it's that simple!"

After saying this, his eyes swept across the entire venue like sharp swords.

Wherever his gaze fell, silence ensued.

"Continue!!!"

He spoke again, and his figure soared, gliding through the air to another stage where the assessment had already ended.

Below the stage.

At this moment, after witnessing the previous incident, the audience below the stage, though numerous, hesitated to step forward.

The rules were clear.

Ten, take five!

In other words, the passing rate for this final assessment was only fifty percent.

As long as they cleared this hurdle, regardless of their background, they would be granted official status.

The divide between commoners and officials was a significant leap in social status.

Passing this assessment not only depended on one's own strength but also on the abilities of teammates and opponents.

If they encountered someone as powerful as the young master from before, few would have the confidence to pass this test.

Once they stepped onto the stage, there would be no turning back.

Regardless of who followed them, they would have to face them and determine victory or defeat.

Thus, an awkward atmosphere descended upon the stage as no one dared to take the initiative and go first.

Being the first to step up would mean losing the advantage and becoming a target for others.

"Should we go now, Jiang Shidi?" Zhou Xing asked.

After witnessing the previous incident, Zhou Xing, lacking confidence, turned to Jiang Ning for guidance.

"Let's go!" Jiang Ning made the decision.

"Alright!" Zhou Xing nodded in agreement.

Immediately.

Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng leaped forward.

Boom!

Zhang Tiesheng's massive physique landed heavily on the stage.

Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing, on the other hand, were light and agile, landing gracefully without causing any disturbance.

"Everyone, please don't delay. We need a few more volunteers to compete!" Zhou Xing urged, bowing to the crowd.

"Hey!" Someone from the audience laughed. "Who in Luo Water County doesn't know you, Zhou Xing, the Qilin of the Zhou family? With your Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm, who dares to challenge you?"

"That's right! And who doesn't know Jiang Ning? After your performance just now, only a fool would dare to compete with you!" Another person from the crowd chimed in.

Upon hearing this, those who were initially eager to participate suddenly held back.

Among the three, two were at the Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm, making it impossible for others to compete.

This occupied three out of the five available spots. With ten participants required, only two spots remained.

It became a situation of seven participants being selected from five, leaving everyone at a loss.

The once bustling stage area fell silent as no one volunteered to step up.

After a brief moment.

"Jiang Shidi, what should we do now?" Zhou Xing's tone carried a hint of helplessness, as he had not anticipated this situation.

Contrary to Zhou Xing's expectations, he felt anxious instead of triumphant.

Their strengths had been publicly acknowledged.

The weak dared not step onto the stage, and those who did were undoubtedly strong.

Although Eighth Stage practitioners were rare among the youth in Luo Water County, the area was not solely populated by young people.

There were also elders in their thirties and forties.

Some of them had previously been guests or advisors to various powers.

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These elders were also eligible to participate in the Inspection Office's assessment.

Additionally, students from the Dongling City Martial College, including many with formidable abilities, were present.

Like the pale and skinny youth from before, if he were to step onto the stage, Zhou Xing had no confidence in his ability to compete against him.

Hearing Zhou Xing's words, Jiang Ning spoke softly, "There's no need to rush. Since the Marquis has set these rules, he must have anticipated this situation. There will surely be a solution."

At the same time.

In the direction of the Martial College students.

He Jinyun glanced at the stage where Jiang Ning was located, then smiled slightly and said to the person beside him, "Qin Xuan, since two Eighth Stage Martial Dao practitioners are on stage, why don't you go and show them a thing or two?"

"Why be the bad guy?" Qin Xuan, dressed in a black robe with golden embroidery, smiled and politely declined He Jinyun's suggestion.

Just then.

"I'd like to test the might of these two Martial Dao prodigies."

A voice suddenly rang out, clear and loud.

Upon hearing this, the crowd turned their heads in unison.

"I don't want to be the bad guy, but it seems like Lu Renyao has taken on that role!" Qin Xuan remarked.

The crowd witnessed a man leaping from the crowd, dressed in white, graceful as a white crane soaring through the sky.

This man was none other than Lu Renyao, as mentioned by Qin Xuan.

On the stage.

"What exquisite movement technique!" Zhou Xing's eyes narrowed, focusing on the man in white.

Jiang Ning glanced at him and silently shook his head.

Why bother?

The next moment.

Lu Renyao's cloud-treading shoes gently touched the stage, stirring up a cloud of dust.

In front of Jiang Ning, two figures stood, one of them being Zhou Xing, who had just arrived at the Canglang Martial Academy in Jiangning. The other was a young man named Zhang Tiesheng, who followed Zhou Xing as his junior martial brother.

As they approached, the man named Lu Renyao, standing on the platform, sized them up, his gaze sweeping up and down several times.

"You two are quite impressive," Lu Renyao began, "to have reached the Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm at such a young age. In this small place, you could be considered Heaven's Pride. After entering the Marquisate, how about joining my command?"

Zhou Xing opened his mouth to speak, but Lu Renyao interrupted him.

"Hey, no need to rush your answer. Think it over carefully. If you two agree, I'll let all three of you pass this assessment. But if you disagree..."

At this point, Lu Renyao paused, his face filled with confidence. "Then I'll have to send you off the stage."

These words caused Zhou Xing's mouth, which had just opened, to close again.

His gaze shifted to Jiang Ning.

In Zhou Xing's eyes, among the disciples of the Canglang Martial Academy, only Jiang Ning, who had also reached the Eighth Stage Divine Strength Realm, was his true peer. Only Jiang Ning had the qualifications to discuss such decisions with him.

As for Zhang Tiesheng behind him, although he was his junior martial brother, he was also a guest Lu Renyao had recruited.

Whether in terms of strength or status, he naturally couldn't compare to Zhou Xing.

"Take your time discussing it. I'm not in a hurry!" Lu Renyao smiled slightly and then continued, "Later, I'll definitely take the captain's position. If you two join me, you'll be members of my squad, and in the future, the benefits will naturally come your way."

Below the stage, Qin Xuan, who was not far away, heard Lu Renyao's words and was momentarily stunned, then smiled and shook his head.

"This Lu Renyao is quite the schemer! Using the entry quota to force these two Heaven's Pride of Luo Shui County to join his squad and follow his orders!"

"If they don't comply, with Lu Renyao's strength, he can easily pressure them into agreeing later!"

"After all, for people from such a small place, joining the Inspection Office is like ascending to heaven, defying fate. Even if they gain official titles, it's hard to compare to this opportunity."

"Indeed!" He Jin Yun nodded slightly. "At their age, to have reached the Eighth Stage Martial Dao in this small place, this talent is actually top-notch even in Dongling City."

"If they were born in Dongling City and enjoyed the resources of the Martial College, they might not be much weaker than us!"

"They are indeed excellent seeds!"

As he spoke, He Jin Yun became more and more excited.

"Damn it!" He slapped his thigh. "These two are truly talented! I didn't even think of this just now."

Qin Xuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile at He Jin Yun's words. "Brother He Jin Yun, if you want, with your strength, it's not too late to go up on stage now!"

Hearing this, He Jin Yun shook his head. "Forget it. I'm used to being lazy and hate the hassle!"

"That's true," Qin Xuan smiled. "Brother He Jin Yun's identity as a young master doesn't need to compete with eels struggling in the mud."

He Jin Yun's eyes widened. "Why are you talking like that? You're quite good at irritating people!"

On the other side, Zhou Xing asked Jiang Ning, "Junior Martial Brother Jiang Ning, what do you think?"

"There's nothing to say. I have a stubborn bone in my body, always yielding to the soft and never to the hard!" Jiang Ning replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing smiled.

"Junior Martial Brother Jiang Ning is quite to my liking!"

"I feel the same! Always yielding to the soft and never to the hard!"

Yielding to the soft and never to the hard?

On the stage, Lu Renyao looked at the two of them with a slight smile.

"It seems you two have already made your choice!"

"I want to see the methods of a Martial College student," Zhou Xing said.

"And you?" Lu Renyao turned to Jiang Ning.

In Lu Renyao's mind, he favored Jiang Ning over Zhou Xing, and the reason was simple—Jiang Ning's youth.

Being at the same stage but younger represented greater talent and potential for the future.

Naturally, Jiang Ning was the more worthy of cultivation.

"I am too!" Jiang Ning replied calmly.

"Good!" Lu Renyao nodded.

"Very good!" He emphasized again, "Later, I'll let you two see the difference in strength between us, both being at the Eighth Stage!"

Just as the atmosphere became tense, a faint voice came from the side.

"Good, all four of you have passed the assessment. Come and get your identity tokens."

"Wh-what?" Lu Renyao turned his head, his eyes wide with shock, looking at the man conducting the assessment on the stage.

Was this a joke? They hadn't even started fighting yet, and they had passed the assessment? At this moment, Lu Renyao doubted his own ears.

As Lu Renyao's doubts grew, the assessor, seeing Lu Renyao's expression, smiled.

"Come and get your identity tokens."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end