After the tests, those who passed had become reserve Marines.
But did you think that was the end?
No, this was only the beginning!
Although reserve Marines were still Marines, they were merely rank-and-file soldiers. Without training, they were the kind who could not even take the field.
The real trial was about to begin!
The outstanding ones would be selected.
After all, the Navy was a place that valued strength. As long as your talent and power were sufficient, you could enjoy treatment that others did not receive.
Cultivation resources, cultivation insights, and cultivation techniques would all be personally taught to you!
Even Rokushiki and Two-Color Haki would be taught to you step by step.
Of course, no one at a Navy branch would teach the later Rokushiki and Two-Color Haki. Only at the legendary recruit Training Camp of Navy Headquarters would it be possible to receive such instruction.
A few days later, the trial began.
Calling it a trial, it was really just a competition.
A competition between newcomers.
The final dozen or so would be chosen and nurtured as key recruits.
Moreover, it was said that in two months, a trial ship from Navy Headquarters would arrive. At that time, anyone with a slot could follow it to the holy land in every Marine's heart—Navy Headquarters!
In short, the better one performed and the higher one's talent, the greater one's chances of going to Navy Headquarters.
After several rounds of competition, there was no need to say it: Yun Ye won every match with ease, looking as though he had not even taken them seriously.
And he truly had not taken them seriously. He had not even used the most basic White Lightning, so naturally, he had not been serious.
The burly young man Lun Lian'er also won easily. His fighting style was exceedingly rough, without much technique. He practically relied on his physique to crush his opponents head-on!
In the later rounds, Yun Ye and Lun Lian'er finally met.
Seeing these two, who had both performed well during the tests, finally face each other, everyone else became interested.
One person laughed. "Who do you think will win between them?"
Another looked toward the arena and shook his head. "One excels in speed, the other in strength. Hard to say."
"I bet the stronger Lun Lian'er will win!"
"Why?"
"Are you stupid? Yun Ye may be fast, but his attack power is not that great. He probably cannot even break through Lun Lian'er's defense."
"Not necessarily. Lun Lian'er's attacks might not be able to touch Yun Ye. As long as Yun Ye keeps wearing down Lun Lian'er's stamina, that will be enough."
"Alright, stop arguing. Just watch."
"They've already started."
At first, these people had been chattering away, but once the two began fighting, they focused their attention.
The Navy officers nearby also looked over.
A captain spoke. "Who do you think will win between these two kids?"
Another lieutenant smiled. "Probably Lun Lian'er. His physique is no joke. Even I, in terms of pure strength, might not be his match."
"This kid truly has outstanding talent and an excellent physique! He might even become a pillar of the Navy in the future!"
"Haha, so you all favor Lun Lian'er? I think so too. Although Yun Ye has something special when it comes to speed and may perhaps learn Soru from Rokushiki in the future, he probably is not Lun Lian'er's match right now."
"That is true. The gap in their physiques is right there."
Most people on the field did not think Yun Ye could win.
At this stage, when neither side knew any combat techniques, the one with the stronger physique naturally held the advantage.
Yun Ye's senses were sharp, so he naturally heard the discussions around him, but he paid them no mind.
Perhaps they were all right.
At this stage, Yun Ye's physique was indeed inferior to Lun Lian'er's. However, the outcome of a battle was often decided by many factors.
If Yun Ye got even slightly serious, he had dozens of ways to deal with Lun Lian'er in an instant...
"Haha, brother, we meet again! I spotted you earlier. I never expected you to be so formidable too! Just as expected of the opponent I chose!"
Lun Lian'er seemed delighted when he saw Yun Ye.
The people on this island were all extremely xenophobic. Whenever he tried speaking to them, they ignored him and kept their distance.
He had even given them friendly smiles, yet they were still so exclusionary. That was far too unfriendly.
Yun Ye was the first person who had spoken with him, which moved him greatly.
He regarded Yun Ye as a friend!
Then, after seeing that Yun Ye was equally outstanding, Lun Lian'er immediately regarded this newly made friend as a formidable rival!
His mother had said that a good rival would make him strive harder to improve!
Therefore, Lun Jin'er's gaze toward Yun Ye was filled with fighting spirit!
Lun Lian'er stood over two meters tall, nearly three. Compared to him, Yun Ye's height of just over 1.8 meters made him look like a tiny figure, frail and weak.
The opponent he chose?
Yun Ye was baffled. This guy was quite familiar with strangers—he had known that from the moment Lun Lian'er first approached him—but when had he become this guy's opponent?
And why had he suddenly become so fired up?
How baffling.
"You're called Lun Jin'er, right? Hurry up and start. There are others waiting behind us." Yun Ye spoke calmly, his expression composed.
"Then be careful, Brother Yun Ye!"
Lun Jin'er's gaze sharpened. His already fierce face became even more terrifying, making the onlookers involuntarily shudder.
"What a terrifying look. Was this guy really not some gang boss before?"
"This guy's appearance alone could scare plenty of people!"
The people around them mocked him. Lun Jin'er's face was simply too fierce-looking; if he showed his face outside, the Navy might even arrest him.
Lun Jin'er charged forward like a bull. The sound of his feet striking the ground was especially loud, and his rush carried immense momentum!
He swung a fist as large as a cooking pot and punched straight at Yun Ye!
Yun Ye flashed aside and easily avoided it.
Lun Jin'er missed with his first strike, but he reacted quickly and raised his fist to attack again.
Yun Ye dodged again.
"Are you trying to wear down my stamina? It's useless! I can keep this up with you all day!"
Lun Jin'er shouted as he strode forward, raised his fist, and fiercely punched toward Yun Ye's chest.
"Such straightforward attacks cannot hit me!" Yun Ye shook his head and lightly dodged again.
"Just as expected of the opponent I chose, you really are troublesome!"
Lun Jin'er remained unmoved. Or perhaps he was simply missing a screw and had not taken Yun Ye's words to heart at all. He continued throwing punches.
Yun Ye was a little speechless and shook his head. "I'm getting serious now. Watch out."
As he spoke, Yun Ye seized an opening in Lun Jin'er's attack. He used Flash Step, evading while appearing behind Lun Jin'er, then kicked out.
With a bang, Lun Jin'er had thrown a punch and shifted his center of gravity forward. Combined with Yun Ye's kick, his body became unstable. He staggered ahead as though a force from behind were pushing him onward, and finally, one foot stepped out of bounds.
"Thank you for letting me win." Yun Ye said it and turned to leave.
"I lost?"
Looking at the foot he had stepped over the boundary, Lun Jin'er was somewhat dazed. However, his eyes quickly lit up again. "So strong! As expected, you are the opponent I recognized! I will definitely work hard and surpass you!"
Yun Ye: "..."
The others were also somewhat bewildered by this sight.
"I don't quite understand. Lun Jin'er lost just like that?"
"Wasn't it just a simple kick? Why did Lun Jin'er get kicked out of bounds?"
"Could Lun Jin'er have gone easy on him?"
"Or was this an accident?"