Chance Encounter

A week had passed since Chen Hao consumed the century-old ginseng, and he had now fully absorbed the entire root. He could feel his body brimming with vitality; the previous deficiencies and hidden injuries had vanished, and his skin had even turned fair and supple.

Chen Hao threw a punch, and a sharp crack echoed through the air. Surprise and elation surged within him—he had definitely surpassed the Quasi-Warrior assessment standard. The exact figure, however, required a test at the martial arts hall.

He glanced at the time: just past three in the afternoon. It would take him about half an hour to reach the hall at a normal pace, but if he sprinted at full speed, he wouldn't even need ten minutes. A leisurely jog would suffice, since he had just finished training and needed no warm-up for the assessment.

Half an hour later, standing before the main entrance of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in Yi'an District, Chen Hao gazed up at the four large characters above the gate—Extreme Martial Arts Hall—with a complex expression.

"Halt. Non-members are not allowed inside." Just as Chen Hao was lost in thought, a guard's warning rang out.

Chen Hao stopped in his tracks. "Hello, I'm here to take the junior trainee test."

The guard looked at Chen Hao, who was already somewhat older than the typical trainee, with mild surprise but no real shock. In an era where everyone practiced martial arts, becoming a warrior was everyone's first aspiration. "Go to the testing area over there."

Chen Hao nodded. "Thanks for the reminder. I know the way." How could he not? Back in high school, he had come here more than once, but the results were always dismal—he never passed. Even by graduation, he still failed. His last score of 198 kg had been a cruel irony for his former self, making him one of the rare few who weren't martial arts hall trainees and turning him into the laughingstock of his class.

But all that was history now. Today marked the beginning of his vindication!

The trainee testing area wasn't crowded; most people came in the morning, with only a handful showing up in the afternoon.

The receptionist was a young woman in her twenties, with a pretty face. "Hello, are you here for a strength test?" she asked politely, showing no sign of bias despite Chen Hao's age.

"I want to take the strength test. Give me a form. I'm not a trainee yet, so I'll also register for the trainee assessment," Chen Hao said, familiar with the process. He filled out the paperwork quickly and soon stood before the Fist Strength Testing Machine.

Facing the punching target, Chen Hao took a deep breath. His right foot stomped hard against the ground, launching his body forward like a cheetah. He drove his fist into the target with full force, producing two sounds: the impact of his punch and the sonic boom that followed.

"Beep." The screen on the Fist Strength Testing Machine displayed the result—1236 kg.

"Ah! This..." The testing staff member was stunned. Was this a hidden powerhouse? To her, a Quasi-Warrior was already a big shot.

Chen Hao wasn't surprised. He knew he lacked proper striking technique; his force output was probably worse than even a junior trainee's. Still, he was deeply excited. The path of martial arts began right here!

"Could you please turn on the Speed Testing Instrument?" Chen Hao didn't wait around and stepped up to the device.

"Ah? Sure, one moment, please." The staff member hurried over and activated the Speed Testing Instrument. "Sir, it's ready. You may begin whenever you're ready."

Chen Hao took a few deep breaths, then shot forward like an arrow, nearly leaving a Shadow Remnant in his wake. As he stopped, a "beep" sounded, and the screen displayed his speed, leaving the staff member utterly dumbfounded.

Chen Hao walked over to check—30.6 m/s. Just as he expected, his speed test was excellent. Next up was the Nerve Reaction Speed Test, the one he was least confident about. He had no training in it, was completely unfamiliar with the process, and hadn't even practiced basic movement techniques.

Compared to the Fist Strength Testing Machine and Speed Testing Instrument, the Nerve Reaction Speed Testing Room was much smaller, but its equipment was far more complex and valuable. At the front of the machine was an array of dozens of barrels, resembling a Gatling gun.

Chen Hao stepped into a circle three meters and six decimeters in diameter in front of the barrels. A faint red glow emanated from the circle's edge—he knew this was the test's sensing laser.

"Sir, are you ready?" the staff member asked once Chen Hao was in position. "Ready!" At his confirmation, she pressed the red button. "Begin!"

The moment the command was given, the testing barrels began to rotate, firing beams of red light mixed with red rubber bullets. Their speeds and trajectories were chaotic and unpredictable, forcing him to rely purely on reflexes to dodge. He had to avoid the red light while dodging as many bullets as possible.

Chen Hao was a bit flustered. This was his first time; the junior trainee assessment didn't include this test—it only measured physical fitness. The Nerve Reaction Speed Test was part of the Quasi-Warrior evaluation, and this room was reserved for free warriors testing their abilities. Chen Hao wanted to gauge his own strength, so he had to rely on instinct to evade.

As the red light surged toward him, Chen Hao spun quickly, searching for gaps between the beams. A bullet slammed into him, slowing him down, and a red beam struck him immediately after. Then three more bullets hit him. Gritting his teeth, he decided to focus solely on dodging the light and ignore the bullets. The minute passed quickly.

"Beep." The staff member finally let out a sigh of relief. Chen Hao's tense nerves relaxed. That single minute had left him drenched in sweat and gasping for breath—the exertion was immense.

"Sir, you were hit fifty-nine times and touched the red light once. You're just one step short of the Quasi-Warrior passing standard."

Chen Hao wasn't disappointed. He hadn't even learned basic movement techniques, so failing was expected; passing would have been a miracle.

"Hello, sir. Your current strength fully meets the standard for our hall's Senior Trainee. Would you like to join our martial arts hall?" The receptionist's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Chen Hao wasn't surprised by this. Just as he was about to answer, a bald man in black walked in. Chen Hao looked up and felt an imposing aura in the man's gaze.

"Hello, I'm Jiang Nian, the head of this Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Your strength is impressive. Would you be interested in joining us? Our hall's chief, Hong, is the world's number one fighter. With us, you'll receive the best training!" the bald man said, speaking first.

Chen Hao's expression shifted slightly: So it's him. Then a panel appeared, and an appraisal result surfaced: Jiang Nian, Earth Human, Age 37, Talent: None, Realm: Apprentice Third Stage, Skills: Microscopic Basic Movement Technique, Proficient Basic Saber Technique, Nine Heavens Thunder Blade (Not Yet Started), First Level of Overlord Saber Technique (Beginner).

Chen Hao's heart jolted. He hadn't expected Jiang Nian to have a hidden ace—the Overlord Saber Technique was probably no joke. Just as he was about to close the panel, it suddenly shifted, and a line of text emerged: Replicable Talent: None. Replicable Skills: Microscopic Basic Movement Technique, Proficient Basic Saber Technique, First Level of Overlord Saber Technique (Beginner).