New Recruit Selection

Name: Wang Yu

Identity: First Batch of Immigrants from Island Town 732 (verified and confirmed)

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Unmarried, height 189.5 cm, weight 85 kg

Cultivation Aptitude: Bone structure qualified, comprehension good.

Professional Skills: None

Education: None (literate)

Remarks: Has practiced martial arts. Learned Body Tempering fist technique—Shadowless Fist. Current cultivation: Body Tempering Sixth Level (verified and confirmed)

The physical examination ended, and Wang Yu's detailed data was recorded on the registration form.

A red star had been marked beside the final remark, indicating that it required special attention.

Chen Wenlin was somewhat surprised when he reviewed Wang Yu's test results, his page-turning fingers abruptly stopping.

His gaze settled on the key entry marked with a red star.

"Eighteen years old and already at the Body Tempering Sixth Level, yet his tested bone structure and comprehension are only qualified and good?"

Even Chen Wenlin was stunned. How had this kid cultivated to such a level? Or had there been an error in the aptitude test?

At just eighteen, he had reached the Body Tempering Sixth Level. Judging from that achievement alone, even in the Imperial Capital, he would probably count among the rare young geniuses.

Drawing a deep breath, Chen Wenlin pulled Wang Yu's information sheet out and set it aside separately before continuing down the stack.

"Hmm, twenty-seven years old, Body Tempering Third Layer, passable... Twenty-five, Body Tempering Third Layer, this one works too... Forty-one, Body Tempering Fourth Layer. Fifty-five, Body Tempering Fifth Level—an immediate fighting force..."

Chen Wenlin basically skimmed past Martial Artists at the Body Tempering First and Second Levels, selecting only those at the Body Tempering Third Layer and above for special consideration later.

Besides them, he would also pick out some ordinary people who tested well for martial arts aptitude. After receiving training in the military, they could still become useful in the future.

After finishing this, Chen Wenlin walked before everyone who had completed the tests.

"Those whose names are called, follow me for an additional test. The rest of you may return and wait for notification."

The crowd immediately stirred.

Chen Wenlin paid them no mind and read through the names on the list one by one.

There were around twenty people, all Martial Artists with cultivation at the Body Tempering Third Layer or above.

"Ding Fu, Wang Yu. All those named, follow me."

Around twenty people stepped out from the crowd.

Each of them was composed and unhurried. Compared with ordinary people, the air of Martial Artists around them was unmistakable.

Some carried the rough, untamed aura of the wilds; some radiated a chilling sharpness like a blade's edge; others possessed the calm composure of masters.

None of them looked surprised at being selected for an additional test.

"I heard that under the rules of previous years, those chosen for the extra test not only had to be Martial Artists, but also had to be at the Body Tempering Third Layer or above," an ordinary person said quietly.

"So all these people are Martial Artists at the Body Tempering Third Layer?" someone beside him said in astonishment. "That many?"

"If every batch has this proportion of Martial Artists, then that really is a lot—more than in recent years.

The benefits and pay for joining the military have improved considerably. That's why this time they attracted so many Martial Artists from the outer islands. And recently, the higher-ups have introduced quite a few policies, all meant to strengthen the nation's military power..."

The ordinary people who remained were quite envious of the departing Martial Artists.

They were all new recruits, but unless something unexpected happened, this group of Martial Artists already stood at a different starting point from them.

Wang Yu followed the group into an arena.

Inside, Martial Artists from the previous batch of recruits were sparring with a group of soldiers in military uniforms.

By the time Wang Yu and the others entered, the matches inside had already reached their end.

With one sweep of his eyes, he could clearly see that most of the Martial Artists who had finished their additional tests looked quite grim.

Defeat hung on their faces. Some had even been beaten black and blue; the outcome spoke for itself.

"The additional test is very simple. I already know your Body Tempering cultivation levels. What will be recorded next is your actual combat ability.

"In a moment, each of you will spar once against a soldier from the military at the same level. Give it everything you have. Show everything that should be shown. This concerns your future prospects in the military.

"Also, if any of you can defeat your assigned opponent, then according to the rules, there will be an additional reward allowance: one Crimson Tiger Pill, worth ten thousand Crystal Coins," Chen Wenlin explained.

"Crimson Tiger Pill?" Wang Yu wondered inwardly.

It seemed to be some kind of medicinal pill, but he had never heard of it. Still, considering that a single pill was worth ten thousand Crystal Coins, it was extremely expensive. Even if he could not use it himself, selling it for money would be quite good.

Though Wang Yu had never heard of it, several Martial Artists in the group showed visible excitement upon hearing the name Crimson Tiger Pill.

"Heh heh, I never expected to have a chance to get the military's exclusive Crimson Tiger Pill right after joining up.

"It's excellent for cultivation. Not only can it speed up body tempering, but supposedly it also refines the blood. Take a few more while in the Body Tempering Realm, and when you charge at the Blood Ignition barrier in the future, the difficulty will be reduced considerably."

A slick-faced man chuckled as he spoke, his words brimming with desire for the Crimson Tiger Pill.

He was already at the Body Tempering Fifth Level. The Crimson Tiger Pill was perfect for laying a foundation and preparing for his future attempt at Blood Ignition.

The other Martial Artists immediately revealed a measure of desire as well.

"You know quite a bit. That saves me the trouble of explaining it in detail," Chen Wenlin said with a faint smile.

"Forget it. These are all military elites with extremely strong practical combat ability. You simply can't beat them. I advise you not to fantasize about that Crimson Tiger Pill either.

"Take it from someone who's been through it: when the time comes, don't force yourselves to hold on. Surrender when you should surrender. Otherwise, if you get beaten until you start doubting your whole life, you'll have no one else to blame."

As the Martial Artists from the previous batch trudged out with their heads lowered, they passed by Wang Yu and the others. Seeing the looks on this group's faces, they shook their heads repeatedly and spoke.

"Hmph, how would you know without trying? That only proves you people were useless! The opponents are only at the same cultivation level, after all!"

The man from earlier snorted. He seemed quite confident in his actual combat ability.

The previous batch of Martial Artists had wanted to argue further, but when they recalled the baffling confidence they had possessed upon first arriving—identical to his—they had nothing more to say.

"Do as you please..."

A civil servant responsible for compiling the statistics immediately gave a military salute upon seeing Chen Wenlin.

"How did it go?" Chen Wenlin asked.

The civil servant glanced at the compiled combat results in his hand and said evenly, "Two from the previous batch performed fairly well, but they still lost in the end. Not one managed to defeat our soldiers."

Chen Wenlin was not surprised. Every military expert he had arranged was a veteran hardened through countless battles.

Life-and-death combat was as commonplace to them as daily meals.

How could these civilian Martial Artists possibly defeat soldiers tempered in the crucible of life and death?

That so-called Crimson Tiger Pill reward was merely meant to motivate the new recruit Martial Artists and make them give their all.

Every year, the number of Martial Artists who truly defeated military soldiers in the additional test could be counted on one hand.