"There's one more matter. Qin Bo, in view of your outstanding performance during the assessment, you will be promoted to Day Roamer by special dispensation."
"Day Roamers not only enjoy better treatment, but can also command a certain number of Demon Suppressing Guards to assist with missions. I hope you won't betray this trust and will make even greater contributions to the Demon Suppressing Division."
Elder Sun Yu looked toward Qin Bo, his eyes filled with expectation.
"Many thanks to Elder Sun and all the elders for your favor. Qin Bo will certainly do his utmost."
Qin Bo cupped his fists in salute, secretly resolving to make a greater impact in this new position.
With the announcement of the appointment, all the newcomers turned toward Qin Bo's position in shock.
A wave of hushed whispers immediately rose from the crowd. There was envy, amazement, and even a trace of jealousy.
"Qin Bo was actually promoted straight to Day Roamer by special dispensation. That's incredible!"
"Exactly. We're still only Demon Suppressing Guards, while he's suddenly a level above us. His future is limitless!"
"Hmph, maybe he just got lucky. We'll see if he can keep enjoying such glory."
All kinds of voices reached Qin Bo's ears, but he paid them no mind. At that moment, his heart was filled with plans and determination for the future.
Elder Sun Yu waved his hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down, then continued:
"All right, stop discussing it. Qin Bo earned this opportunity through his own strength. I hope the rest of you will also work hard to improve yourselves and make greater contributions to the Demon Suppressing Division. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"Elder, I'm not convinced! Why is he able to advance to Day Roamer?!"
At that moment, a sharp voice rang out.
Qin Bo looked up and saw a burly-looking man step forward.
The man was tall and powerfully built, with a face covered in thick flesh. He was glaring angrily at Qin Bo.
Elder Sun Yu furrowed his brows slightly and looked at the man. "Zhao Hu, what are you dissatisfied with?"
Zhao Hu took a step forward and said loudly:
"Elder, I also passed this assessment without a hitch. I believe my strength is no worse than Qin Bo's. Why can he be promoted to Day Roamer by special dispensation, while I can only become an ordinary Demon Suppressing Guard?"
"Oh? You believe your strength is no worse than Qin Bo's?"
"That's right. During this assessment, I broke through to the third realm of Body Tempering—the Bone Forging Realm. I'm considerably stronger than even ordinary formal disciples."
Zhao Hu puffed out his chest, his eyes full of arrogance.
Elder Sun Yu remained calm and said flatly, "Zhao Hu, what do you want, then?"
"Simple. Since we're all martial artists, we'll settle it with our fists!"
As Zhao Hu spoke, he looked toward Qin Bo and cracked his knuckles. His meaning was crystal clear.
Elder Sun was helpless.
He looked toward Qin Bo.
"Boy Qin, what do you think?"
Qin Bo bared his teeth in a grin and said,
"I have a habit: I specialize in dealing with people who aren't convinced. Since someone isn't convinced, I'll beat him until he is!"
"Good. Since that's the case, I'll give Zhao Hu a chance. As long as you can defeat Qin Bo, you'll take the position of Day Roamer!"
The moment Elder Sun Yu said this, an uproar erupted around them.
No one had expected Elder Sun Yu to offer such a wager. It unquestionably made this sparring match far more intense and crucial.
Then Elder Sun said,
"What the Demon Suppressing Division needs is precisely this spirit of daring to fight. Anyone who isn't convinced may settle it through martial force."
"You two, come up here!"
With that, Qin Bo and Zhao Hu leaped onto the arena.
They cupped their fists at each other, while Zhao Hu wore a provocative expression.
"Remember, this is a spar between fellow disciples. Don't deal a deathblow. Stop once the victor is clear."
The two nodded, indicating that they understood.
Qin Bo, however, froze for a moment, because Elder Sun's voice appeared in his ears again.
"Boy, show him some mercy! Zhao Hu is just like his name—he's a real tiger."
"But his heart isn't bad. He's a distant nephew of Director Zhao Ting, and Director Zhao sacrificed himself. Zhao Hu is also trying to protect the Demon Suppressing Division."
Qin Bo nodded inwardly, understanding Elder Sun Yu's meaning.
He remained outwardly calm, his gaze fixed tightly on Zhao Hu.
Inside, however, he was considering how to display enough strength to make Zhao Hu submit wholeheartedly without hitting him too hard.
"Hmph, Qin Bo, today I'll let you know that not just anyone can easily obtain the position of Day Roamer!"
With an angry shout, Zhao Hu launched his attack first.
He pushed off with his foot and charged toward Qin Bo like a cannonball.
His thick arm rose high, his clenched fist stirring up a whistling wind as it smashed toward Qin Bo's head.
This punch was heavy and forceful. If it landed, it could probably shatter his skull.
"Forget it. I'd better finish this quickly!"
Qin Bo thought it over and decided that only overwhelming strength could make them submit wholeheartedly.
His blood and qi circulated in an instant, and red light burst from his entire body.
Zhao Hu was shocked when he saw this.
"You... you've broken through to the Blood Condensation Realm?"
"Correct, but there's no prize!"
Qin Bo grinned. While Zhao Hu's attention was divided, he moved like lightning and closed the distance in an instant.
He unleashed the unfinished Tiger Roar Fist. Though his execution was awkward,
his strength exceeded Zhao Hu's. His right fist carried surging blood-and-qi power, turning into a blurred afterimage as it shot straight toward Zhao Hu's face.
Zhao Hu was horrified. He hurriedly tried to dodge, but Qin Bo's punch was too fast, and its angle was exceedingly tricky. He only had time to tilt his head slightly.
Qin Bo's fist skimmed across Zhao Hu's cheek. The powerful wind sliced his skin with fiery pain, and a thread of blood slid down his face.
"So... so fast!"
Zhao Hu was utterly shaken. He had originally thought that after breaking through to the Bone Forging Realm, dealing with Qin Bo would be a piece of cake.
He had never expected Qin Bo to have broken through as well—and his strength seemed even greater than Zhao Hu had imagined.
"Take this!"
Unwilling to accept defeat, Zhao Hu roared. His blood and qi surged, and the muscles across his body bulged high, as though he had instantly swollen by an entire size.
He unleashed his signature Mountain Splitting Fist.
This fist technique was renowned for its fierce, overbearing power. When the punch blasted out, it seemed to carry the force of mountains collapsing and the earth splitting apart.
Qin Bo smiled faintly and neither dodged nor retreated.
He likewise raised his hand and threw another punch.
The two fists collided.
Bang!
A figure flew straight out and crashed into the crowd.
That figure was none other than Zhao Hu.
He slammed heavily into the crowd, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The Demon Suppressing Division disciples around him hurriedly retreated, their faces filled with shock.
Zhao Hu struggled to rise, but a sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
His throat turned sweet, and he could not stop a mouthful of blood from spraying out.
He stared at Qin Bo in disbelief, his eyes filled with unwillingness and astonishment.
He could never have imagined that the Mountain Splitting Fist he had unleashed with all his might would be so easily defeated head-on by Qin Bo.
Qin Bo stood firmly in place, his expression calm.
Although that punch had looked effortless, it had actually consumed a considerable amount of blood-and-qi power.
He had not yet fully mastered the Tiger Roar Fist, and he still could not bring out the full power of this martial technique.
Just now, he had relied entirely on the formidable strength gained from his breakthrough to knock Zhao Hu back.
"I lost!"
Before you continue