Half an hour later!
Lu Chuan successfully completed the remaining two assessments. At this moment, the hall once again fell into dead silence.
Ning Yang looked at Lu Chuan's final overall results, and his entire being had gone completely numb.
[Punching power: 32,100 jin, punching speed: 9.3/second] [Speed: 52 meters/second] [Skill: Early Second Stage] [Overall Evaluation: Internal Strength had not tempered the bones; a Primary First-rank Martial Artist with the combat power of a Primary Second-rank Martial Artist. Final Evaluation: Excellent!]
"A Primary First-rank Martial Artist with the combat power of a Second-rank Martial Artist..."
Ning Yang silently thought to himself, He came from the Outer City, so he most likely only cultivated a Low-grade Skin Refining Method. If he could cultivate a High-grade Skin Refining Method, his physical qualities would probably improve further.
With talent like this, there probably aren't more than a few like him in all of Fengle City!
Those so-called geniuses from the great Lineages aren't even worthy of carrying his shoes...
As he thought this, a sharp gleam flashed through Ning Yang's eyes. Looking at Lu Chuan, who was quietly lost in thought, he smiled and said, "Lu Chuan, congratulations on passing the assessment. From today onward, you are a registered Primary First-rank Martial Artist of the Martial Artist Association.
"You will receive the most top-tier benefits among First-rank Martial Artists..."
"The top-tier benefits for a Primary First-rank Martial Artist?"
Lu Chuan had also been reflecting on several issues he had exposed during the assessment. Hearing Ning Yang's words, he finally snapped back to his senses.
His brows rose slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "Examiner Ning, what is the difference between the top-tier benefits of a Primary First-rank Martial Artist and those of an ordinary Primary First-rank Martial Artist?"
"Hehe, no need to call me Examiner Ning. I'm older than you, so if you don't mind, call me Brother Ning!"
Ning Yang smiled faintly. "And I'll presumptuously call you Brother Lu. How does that sound?"
"Of course."
Lu Chuan nodded with a smile as well, though inwardly he could not help sighing.
Sure enough, this world was just that realistic. Everything was decided by strength.
Thinking back to when Ning Yang had first met him, there had not been the slightest expression on his face.
Now that Lu Chuan's results were out, his attitude had immediately changed.
Of course, Lu Chuan would not say anything over it, much less expose it.
He even accepted Ning Yang's goodwill without reservation.
In this world, strength was very important.
But before one was strong enough, a foundation of connections was equally indispensable.
"The Martial Artist Association has its own set of standards. An ordinary Primary First-rank Martial Artist only has two privileges. One is obtaining Inner City resident status, while the other is a monthly Martial Artist Stipend of ten thousand."
Seeing that Lu Chuan had accepted his goodwill, the smile on Ning Yang's face immediately deepened. He promptly explained, "But the benefits for a Top-tier Primary First-rank Martial Artist are completely different.
"Not only will you qualify as an Inner City resident, but your family will automatically gain Inner City resident status as well.
"At the same time, the monthly Martial Artist Stipend rises from ten thousand to thirty thousand.
"Beyond that, you may choose one Mid-grade Skin Refining Method, along with cultivation resources worth a total of one hundred thousand..."
"My family can also obtain Inner City resident status, and there's even a Mid-grade Skin Refining Method!"
Lu Chuan's eyes lit up, shining brilliantly.
He had long known that once someone became a Martial Artist, they could obtain Inner City resident status, but their family could not.
However, if a Martial Artist purchased property in the Inner City, they could bring their family there to live.
Yet they would not receive the benefits granted to Inner City residents, and many matters would still be restricted.
For example, his Younger Sister attending a Martial Dao school in the Inner City.
Lu Chuan had always been worrying over this issue, and had even considered asking Chen Qingfeng for help. He had not expected that after receiving the top-tier benefits of a Primary First-rank Martial Artist, all these problems would be solved as easily as splitting bamboo.
And then there was the Mid-grade Skin Refining Method.
That was something he urgently needed. Though it was not a High-grade Skin Refining Method, it was far more powerful than a Low-grade Skin Refining Method.
It could help him cultivate Stone Skin.
Combined with the boost from his Attribute Panel, he could cultivate the Mid-grade Skin Refining Method to Limit Breaking. He might even make further progress, and the final effect would be no worse than cultivating a High-grade Skin Refining Method.
"Of course, with your talent, Brother Lu, cultivating a Mid-grade Skin Refining Method would truly be a waste."
At this point, Ning Yang spoke again. "It's just that the Association has rules. You can only receive a Mid-grade Skin Refining Method.
"However, if you sign with our Kunlun Martial Arts School, then with your talent, you could absolutely obtain a High-grade Skin Refining Method..."
"Sign with Kunlun Martial Arts School?"
Lu Chuan froze, looking at Ning Yang in confusion.
Because of his background, Lu Chuan knew nothing at all about the many intricacies of the Inner City.
He had no idea what signing with Kunlun Martial Arts School meant.
"Hehe, Brother Lu, do you know much about the various factions in Fengle City's Inner City?" Ning Yang did not answer Lu Chuan's question, but instead asked one of his own.
Lu Chuan was taken aback. Then he shook his head slightly and said, "I basically don't know much. I've only heard of a few major corporations, but I only know their names."
"Mm, that's normal."
Ning Yang nodded. "The Outer City is rather closed off when it comes to information, so it's normal not to know these things.
"In Fengle City, aside from official institutions, there are seven factions that can truly be counted among the prominent ones.
"They are the Three Great Families and the Four Great Martial Arts Schools.
"And our Kunlun Martial Arts School is one of the Four Great Martial Arts Schools.
"You should also know that High-grade Skin Refining Methods are forbidden from being leaked throughout Fengle City. For commoners like you, there are only two paths if you want to cultivate a High-grade Skin Refining Method.
"One is to enlist in the military, earn merit on the battlefield, and exchange your contributions for a High-grade Skin Refining Method.
"But leaving aside the fact that the authorities aren't recruiting in the short term, even if you truly enlisted and went to the battlefield to accumulate merit, the process would be extremely long.
"It often takes several years, perhaps even longer.
"And a Martial Artist only has a few golden years for cultivation. You cannot afford to delay.
"So that path is not suitable for you.
"The second path is to sign with a Great Faction in the Inner City.
"Strictly speaking, the Inner City's seven great factions are actually four great factions, because the other three among the Four Great Martial Arts Schools all have the Three Great Families behind them.
"If you join any of them, you will be working your life away for the Three Great Families in the future.
"Only our Kunlun Martial Arts School is different. Our Kunlun Martial Arts School truly stands upon Martial Dao.
"Furthermore, our Kunlun Martial Arts School offers the most lenient contract terms. I can guarantee that with your talent, Brother Lu, if you sign with our Kunlun Martial Arts School, you can receive a High-grade Skin Refining Method the moment you join.
"There will also be medicinal agents to assist your cultivation, along with all kinds of cultivation resources."
"They will absolutely be the very best.
"You won't be treated any worse than the direct descendants of other Great Factions..."
A sharp light flickered in Ning Yang's eyes as he laid out one enticing condition after another.
If it had been someone else, they might truly have been tempted and agreed on the spot.
Lu Chuan was tempted as well, but he remained extremely calm, because he understood one thing very clearly: where there was gain, there was loss.
There was no such thing in this world as taking all the benefits without lifting a finger.
Ning Yang had just listed a whole heap of benefits, yet had deliberately avoided mentioning the responsibilities after signing with Kunlun Martial Arts School.
Or its drawbacks.
Before you continue