Early the next morning
Zhou Yi got up early. After washing up, he followed his memories to Ling Liang's house, an extremely plain wooden cabin.
"Ling Liang, you heard what Steward Wu said yesterday, right? Do you want to join the Patrol Team?"
"Brother Zhou, I... I... I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to chop bamboo for a few more years, save up some money, and marry a wife who can bear me sons." Ling Liang said, his gaze evasive.
Zhou Yi understood as well. This was how most people in this world thought. When the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up. They only wanted enough food and clothing, a peaceful life. Not everyone had the courage to face the strange and uncanny.
Zhou Yi understood Ling Liang's thoughts, so he said to him,
"Alright, then I'll go give it a try first. I heard joining the Patrol Team requires an assessment, and I might not even pass."
After saying that, Zhou Yi bade Ling Liang farewell and went to find Steward Wu.
"Steward Wu, I've decided. I'm going to join the Patrol Team!"
"Kid Zhou, have you thought this through?" Steward Wu asked Zhou Yi with a grave expression.
"Steward Wu, I've thought it through!" Zhou Yi answered just as seriously.
"Alright, then I'll be frank with you, kid. If I recommend someone to the Patrol Team, this old man gets a little benefit too. But there'll still be an assessment before you can enter the Patrol Team. Whether you can join or not will depend on your own fate." ŴŴŴ.
"Steward Wu, can I ask what the assessment is first?"
"Don't rush. Once we get there, someone will explain it to you properly. Come on, I'll take you to register first."
After speaking, Steward Wu strode northward.
Seeing this, Zhou Yi quickly followed.
They arrived before the gate of a huge residence, and Steward Wu directly led Zhou Yi inside.
Beyond the gate was a martial training ground. The area had already been cleared, and only a table and stool stood in the middle of the grounds. A middle-aged man sat on the stool.
Scattered around the training ground stood youths about Zhou Yi's age. Some were dressed in rags, their faces pale. It seemed their families were struggling, so their parents had sent them here.
There were also several youths dressed in brocade robes, arrogance written across their faces as though they looked down on everyone around them.
"Zhou Yi, I'll register you first. Stay here for now."
Hearing Steward Wu's words, Zhou Yi gathered his thoughts and stopped looking around. After replying to Steward Wu, he found a corner and waited there.
Steward Wu hurried over to the middle-aged man and spoke to him in a low voice. Only after quite some time did Steward Wu walk back toward Zhou Yi.
"Alright, I've registered you. Whether you become a dragon or a worm from here on out depends on your own fate. I'm leaving now. Someone will arrange things for you next."
"Mm, thank you, Steward Wu."
Steward Wu said nothing more. He merely spread his hands and walked toward the gate.
After watching Steward Wu leave, Zhou Yi withdrew his gaze and stood quietly where he was.
After Zhou Yi waited for a while, the middle-aged man seemed to have finished registering the names and rose from his stool.
"My name is Xie Tong. You may call me Instructor Xie."
"Though you are standing here now, that does not mean you will still be standing here a month from now."
"Next, I will teach you a stance art. If you cannot get started within a week, then go back where you came from. The Patrol Team is not suited for you!"
After saying that, the middle-aged man assumed a posture, squatting with his legs bent and holding both hands before him as if cradling a baby.
"Alright, follow along. Tell me once your body has produced force."
After Xie Tong spoke, the youths before him all copied the movement he had just demonstrated.
Xie Tong went from one youth to another, correcting their stances.
After standing for thirty minutes, Zhou Yi felt his legs go weak and was nearly unable to hold on.
Looking around, several ragged youths were already trembling in the legs, their faces deathly pale and sweat pouring down their faces like rain. Yet they still gritted their teeth and persevered.
The youths in brocade robes beside them were no different, struggling to maintain their postures.
After Xie Tong finished instructing them, he returned to his stool and silently observed the youths' performance.
When noon arrived, Xie Tong finally allowed the youths to rest and brought them to the Patrol Team's dining hall.
"You have half a shichen to eat. After you finish, return to the training ground and continue practicing."
After Xie Tong spoke, he left. The remaining trainees rushed at the food like starving tigers pouncing on prey.
As Zhou Yi ate, he opened the Modifier.
Name: Zhou Yi Race: Human Strength: 0.6 Speed: 0.7 Constitution: 0.8 Spirit: 1.2 Cultivation Method: Unknown Stance Art+ (Not Started) Techniques: None Yin Energy: 5
When Zhou Yi saw the plus sign behind the stance art, a thought stirred in his mind, and he tapped it.
A strange force surged through his body. The Unknown Stance Art had changed to Entry Level, and his body, which had just been exhausted
from stance training, was once again brimming with vitality.
Zhou Yi looked at the Modifier again.
Name: Zhou Yi Race: Human Strength: 0.7 Speed: 0.8 Constitution: 0.9 Spirit: 1.2 Cultivation Method: Unknown Stance Art+ (Entry Level) Martial Arts: None Yin Energy: 4
After the stance art reached Entry Level, his strength, speed, and constitution had each increased by 0.1. Zhou Yi thought for a moment, then added all his remaining Yin Energy to the stance art.
The Unknown Stance Art's realm changed to Minor Accomplishment, while only two points of Yin Energy remained. The plus sign behind the stance art also vanished.
"Looks like it can't be raised any further. I'll have to find a way to obtain more Yin Energy," Zhou Yi muttered softly.
At this moment, the Modifier's interface had become
Name: Zhou Yi Race: Human Strength: 0.9 Speed: 1 Constitution: 1.1 Spirit: 1.2 Cultivation Method: Unknown Stance Art+ (Entry Level) Martial Arts: None Yin Energy: 2
Before you continue