Beneath Capital City

"This really feels like arriving in a big city." The moment Wang Yu stepped out of the airship terminal, he experienced the prosperity of this Capital City up close.

Towering buildings and elegant residences, waterside pavilions and gardens—the crisscrossing canals within the city connected to the harbors and open sea beyond the island.

If Island Town 732's architectural layout seemed somewhat chaotic and even backward, the buildings here had clearly been carefully planned.

Old, low houses were rarely seen. Everything was neatly arranged, and even large commercial districts had been divided out for people to shop in at will.

Many bustling places were packed to the brim with people.

The Capital City's local population numbered in the millions, but if the migrant population were included, it was far more than that.

Though Capital City was enormous, the streets were still filled with people, a sea of humanity.

For a moment, Wang Yu even felt as though he had returned to the world of his previous life.

There were several Military and Political Buildings in the eastern district. Outside Military and Political Building No. 1 lay a colossal plaza, built entirely of white brick.

At the moment, many people from outlying islands carrying large and small bags had gathered in the plaza. Most wore expressions of fresh curiosity; this was basically their first time coming to Capital City.

Some also looked nervous, afraid they would fail the upcoming new recruit selection.

With a single glance, Wang Yu could tell from his keen eyesight that the crowd was still mostly made up of ordinary people, especially young and middle-aged adults.

Of course, there were also people like him with martial arts foundations. Such people usually appeared calm and composed. Passing the new recruit selection was a sure thing for them; there was no real difficulty to it.

After all, most people in the same batch were ordinary people. If even ordinary people could pass the selection, it would be absurd for martial artists like them to fail.

"There are way too many people. I deliberately came a few days late, yet there are still this many people coming every day."

A young martial artist frowned as he spoke, his voice coming from somewhere near Wang Yu.

Wang Yu looked over at the sound and found him somewhat familiar. He remembered that they had ridden the same airship.

That also meant the other man was from Island Town 732 and had come here to enlist, just like him.

The young martial artist did not notice Wang Yu. After grumbling a few words, he still squeezed through the crowded plaza and arrived beneath Military and Political Building No. 1.

A group of government workers sat there on chairs, with tables set up before them.

"Um, I'm here to sign up for this new recruit selection." After looking around for a while, the young martial artist finally found a relatively empty table and spoke.

The worker's expression remained flat. He lifted his eyes, swept them over the young martial artist's face, and casually asked, "Do you have domestic citizenship?"

"Of course." The young martial artist frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with the worker's indifferent attitude.

"Fill out a form and register." The worker handed him a sheet of paper and said blandly.

The young martial artist did not cause trouble over that bit of dissatisfaction. He muttered a few words, accepted the paper, and began filling in his personal information.

The worker then looked toward Wang Yu behind him.

"And you?"

"I'm here for the new recruit selection. I have domestic citizenship," Wang Yu said directly.

"Mm. Same for you. Fill out a form and register." The worker did not waste words and directly handed Wang Yu paper and a pen.

As a receptionist like him, he had to receive huge numbers of people participating in the new recruit selection every day lately.

Naturally, he could tell at a glance that the two men before him were martial artists.

But so what?

Were there few civilian martial artists enlisting every year? There were tens of thousands.

After seeing enough of them, he had grown accustomed to it. Naturally, he would not treat them any differently.

Wang Yu took the paper. It was simply a form asking for some specific information about himself.

Wang Yu was a native-born Nanxi citizen, so there could not possibly be any issue with his identity.

Thus, he filled it out truthfully in two or three minutes.

"Mm, all right. Take this form inside. Someone will lead you to the physical examination." Satisfied with Wang Yu's speed, the worker gave the information a rough glance, confirmed that there were no errors, then pointed at Building No. 1 behind him.

"Okay." Wang Yu nodded and walked inside.

This Military and Political Building had been built with considerable grandeur. It looked as though several high-rises had been joined together, occupying an enormous area.

Its brick walls were a darker shade, giving it an exceptionally weighty presence.

A squad of well-trained soldiers guarded the entrance, their faces stern as their eyes watched everyone entering and leaving.

Wang Yu could sense that the auras of these dozen or so soldiers were extraordinary—deep and steady. Every one of them was a martial artist, and skilled ones at that.

Wang Yu judged that they were at least around the Body Tempering Third Layer.

One of them, a broad-shouldered, burly man, had eyes gleaming with sharp light. The invisible aura he released from his body alone was enough to intimidate everyone who came before him.

When Wang Yu approached, the man's gaze instantly locked onto him.

Their eyes met. Wang Yu's steps paused slightly, and he gave the burly man another look before walking inside with an unchanged expression.

Yet inwardly, he judged that this burly man's cultivation was likely no weaker than his own. He was certainly at the Body Tempering Sixth Level, perhaps even higher!

Even soldiers guarding the entrance outside the building possess this level of cultivation and strength? Wang Yu thought to himself.

He felt that after entering the military, he needed to redefine his place within its ranks.

"Vice Captain, what is it?" One soldier noticed something unusual in the burly man's expression and could not help asking.

"Nothing. I just saw a new recruit with rather good strength." A faint smile tugged at the burly man's lips as he replied casually.

After entering the building and handing over his registration form, Wang Yu was soon led to a waiting area.

Several dozen people with varying expressions were already waiting there.

Afterward, more people participating in the new recruit selection were continuously brought in. At a glance, Wang Yu was considered young among them.

"I heard that Nanxi raised its funding for the Military Department this year. Even an ordinary private now receives at least fifteen thousand Crystal Coins in annual pay.

"A first-class private can receive as much as twenty-two thousand, and that doesn't even include bonuses and the like."

"No wonder so many people came to enlist this year. So they all knew about this news."

"Exactly. Maybe this year's overall threshold for new recruits will be raised too."

"I heard from my cousin's uncle that there might be a war!"

"..."

Wang Yu sat in the back, listening to the information and rumors being discussed by the people around him.

He picked out and memorized what was useful.

Before long, a middle-aged man in military uniform approached with documents in hand and addressed everyone.

"My name is Chen Wenlin. Next, I'll take you through a physical examination. This concerns whether you can truly pass this new recruit selection.

"After that, those who have trained in martial arts will undergo a practical sparring match. It will be used to record your current level of strength and make later deployment after enlistment more convenient. Follow me."

After speaking, the middle-aged man turned and walked away. Everyone immediately rose and followed.

Wang Yu noticed that Chen Wenlin's military uniform was white, distinct from the dark blue-green worn by ordinary soldiers.

His aura was restrained, making it impossible for Wang Yu to discern the depth of his abilities for the moment.