One Ton Punch Power

"Five minutes remain until the assessment officially begins. Coaches at all stations, please count your people to ensure no one misses the assessment."

The broadcast issued its reminder.

With the leaders of the Four Great Martial Halls arriving, the assessment was about to begin.

Chen Yuan whispered, "Coach, that old man from the War God Martial Hall is Wang Peng's great-uncle, Wang Jianming, right? He and Qin Heng don't get along. Could he trip Qin Heng up?"

Yang Huai'an replied, "Unlikely. The leaders of the Four Great Martial Halls are only here to snap up elite students; they do not participate in the assessment review. The examiners are all staff from the Base City government. The Four Great Martial Halls have no authority to interfere."

Hearing this, Qin Heng felt much more at ease.

The assessment was immensely important to him. If Wang Peng used Wang Jianming's status to block his results, today's matter would become troublesome.

Broadcast: Three minutes until the assessment begins. All examiners, please proceed to your designated positions and prepare.

The clamor in the plaza gradually fell quiet. Tens of thousands of candidates were somewhat nervous, and even the coaches did not dare speak loudly.

There were twelve examination sites set up across the plaza, each overseen by one Chief Examiner and two Assistant Examiners.

The punch-force testing machines had naturally long been put in place. They were all brand-new, enormous machines, their screens displaying red square characters: 00000.

This meant their testing limit was 99,999 kilograms, making them far more advanced than the four-digit testing machines at the Trial Martial Hall.

There was also a robot for testing agility, fitted with four Mechanical Arms.

This was the second test item, only needed after the punch-force test. As long as one endured thirty seconds of attacks from the four Mechanical Arms at a frequency of one punch per second, while being hit no more than five times, they would pass.

Time ticked away second by second.

Wang Peng separated from his great-uncle Wang Jianming and walked toward the queue from District 7 Slums.

"Coach, I'm back in formation," he said, holding his Admission Ticket.

Yang Huai'an nodded. "Fall in. You should be the twelfth one from our district to test."

"Yeah. I'll definitely pass this time!" Wang Peng was brimming with confidence.

Zhou Yan, who was from the same class as him, complained, "You've already risen like a phoenix. What difference does it make whether you pass or not?"

Wang Peng chuckled. "That's different. Having power and influence at home is one thing, but the process still has to be followed. My great-uncle gave me a dead order: I must cultivate my way into becoming a Martial Warrior within this year, or he'll take back my Benma E-Class Sports Car. That thing costs 740,000—enough for you guys to struggle for a lifetime."

Everyone: ...

This guy was clearly here to flaunt his wealth.

"Wang Peng, now that you've made it big, you can't forget us old friends."

Someone among the retaking candidates immediately began sucking up to him.

Wang Peng said, "Easy, easy. As long as you pass the assessment, I'll put in a word with my great-uncle, and all of you can come to the War God Martial Hall. Follow me from now on, and I'll get your accommodation fees waived."

"Haha, then we'll definitely follow Brother Peng's lead!" The retaking candidates were overjoyed.

Those of them retaking the assessment had no right to choose their Martial Hall. If they were assigned to the Dragon God Martial Hall, which had the worst conditions, they would receive much less money.

Though the War God Martial Hall was not as rich and imposing as the Heavenly Dao Martial Hall, it at least offered the second-best benefits. Getting in would be like striking gold.

Even Zhou Yan, who had been a little displeased before, happily said, "The Martial Hall charges 500 a month for accommodation, and it's mandatory. This saves us quite a bit."

"Exactly, exactly. Wang Peng is a true brother, haha." The crowd continued flattering and fawning over him.

Wang Peng secretly felt pleased with himself. His gaze swept toward Qin Heng as though he were showing off his influence.

But Qin Heng simply ignored him.

Not only Qin Heng—even Su Kuang wore an indifferent expression.

After all, they were not retaking candidates. They had the right to choose, and their results were quite good as well. They had no need to curry favor with anyone.

Wang Peng was slightly displeased, but this was not the time to show it on his face.

Three minutes passed.

The broadcast sounded again: "The 2088 Nansha Base City Quasi-Martial Warrior Assessment now begins."

The moment that would decide their fates had finally arrived!

At Examination Site No. 3, not far from Qin Heng and the others, the Chief Examiner immediately picked up the list and announced loudly, "Your coaches have already explained the examination rules, so I won't repeat them here. The assessment begins now. District 7 Old City District, Jiang RuLong."

The official name of the Slum District was the Old City District.

According to the lineup, District 7 Slums happened to be the first group.

Of the twenty-six people from District 7 Slums, nine taking the First Assessment stood in front, while seventeen retaking the assessment stood behind.

When he heard the Chief Examiner call his name, Jiang RuLong, a student from Qin Heng's class standing in front of him, stepped out of the line.

At that moment, a voice rang out.

"I'm in a hurry. I'll go first."

It was Wang Peng.

He actually wanted to cut in line!

Everyone froze for a moment.

This was the Quasi-Martial Warrior Assessment site. Every order had been arranged by government agencies according to registration rules. Candidates from the same area always took their First Assessment first, followed by those retaking it. No one had ever dared break the rules!

How arrogant did this guy have to be to dare step out ahead of everyone else?

The Chief Examiner was also stunned. His expression changed, and he was about to rebuke him.

At that moment, the Assistant Examiner standing beside him whispered something.

The Chief Examiner frowned and looked into the distance.

The leaders of the Four Great Martial Halls were slowly walking over.

Wang Jianming, the old man from the War God Martial Hall, stood at the center with a kind smile on his face, making others feel as though bathed in spring breeze.

Yet the aura around him was not something anyone dared underestimate.

The Chief Examiner hesitated. Forced by circumstance, he ultimately nodded. "Since you are a key student personally selected in advance by the War God Martial Hall, we'll make an exception and let you test first."

As an examiner, he was only an Intermediate Martial Warrior. Though he worked for the government, he did not hold much authority.

And Wang Jianming was a Grandmaster, the Deputy Hall Master of Nansha of the War God Martial Hall.

With such an identity, even the mayor of Nansha Base City would have to treat him with respect. Naturally, he could exercise special privilege.

"Thank you, Examiner!"

Wang Peng thanked him loudly and stepped out of the line.

As he passed Qin Heng, he quietly said, "Kid, watch closely. Compared to me, you're still far behind."

Under everyone's gaze, Wang Peng strode confidently to the testing machine.

Not far away, the leaders of the Four Great Martial Halls all showed interested expressions.

"Old Wang, is this child your great-nephew whom you lost contact with many years ago?"

"Hehe, yes. My elder brother and I were separated amid the chaos back then. I thought he had perished in the great calamity, leaving me with no family in all the world. I never expected Heaven to pity me—my elder brother's bloodline still had a single sapling left alive. This child is my only hope for the rest of my life."

"Old Wang devoted his entire life to battle and gave everything to the Base City, yet has no children of his own. It is both admirable and lamentable. Now that you have this great-nephew, you can finally enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by children and grandchildren."

"Haha, that's taking it too far. I only hope this child doesn't cause trouble for me."

As they spoke, Wang Peng's test had already begun.

His first punch landed with a thunderous boom.

"First strike, 1,002 kilograms!"

The Chief Examiner announced the number.

Everyone around them was startled.

"Over a thousand!"

"My God, one ton of punch power!"

"Even for someone retaking the assessment, isn't that too outrageous?"

"Just now, I thought he was some spoiled dandy. I never expected him to be a genius..."

The leaders of the Four Great Martial Halls did not react lightly to this result either.

Wang Jianming nodded in satisfaction. "At least this year's bitter cultivation was not wasted."

The Bearded Middle-Aged Man from the Heavenly Dao Martial Hall commented, "Though he is retaking the assessment, going from failing to 1,002 kilograms in a single year absolutely counts as outstanding talent."

The Middle-Aged Woman from the Dragon God Martial Hall asked curiously, "Old Wang, did you give your great-nephew some divine medicine?"

Wang Jianming smiled. "I wish I could, but he is still young. Taking divine medicine would only ruin him."

Huo Wen, the elder twin from the Hero Martial Hall, revealed an approving expression. "With such talent, plus personal guidance from a Great Martial Master under Old Wang, Nansha will gain another elite Martial Warrior within five years."

Within the testing area.

After throwing one punch, Wang Peng did not continue. He said to the Chief Examiner, "Examiner, let's leave it at that. I won't throw the remaining two punches, so I don't take up everyone's time."