Inside Crimson Cloud City.
Ye Cang drove around slowly, thinking about how to deal with Xue Long.
"High-level General. The gap between our strengths is too great right now. If I run into him, I'm afraid I won't stand a chance of surviving."
"What's more, if the Green Python Squad found us in just a few days, then it'll be child's play for Xue Long, a High-level General, to find the person who killed his younger brother."
"Ah! I can only hope Xue Long doesn't hear about Xue Qing's death too soon."
With a sigh, Ye Cang looked at the attribute panel in his field of vision.
[Life Energy: 28]
This was the Life Energy he'd gained after wiping out the Green Python Squad.
"Over nine attribute points. Better than nothing!"
After glancing at it, Ye Cang focused his mind. His Life Energy quickly disappeared, and his 'Spirit' attribute began to rise.
In just three minutes, he spent 9 points of Life Energy, raising his 'Spirit' attribute to 100.
He broke through without the slightest bottleneck!
Ye Cang had long since become unmoved by this phenomenon.
Within his sea of consciousness, the mist of spiritual power spun rapidly, converging toward one point.
Soon, a vortex slowly began to turn.
In an instant, Ye Cang felt his spiritual power surge.
His perception range alone had expanded from over 150 meters to around 200.
"I broke through!"
"Junior Psionic Energy General. My combat strength is on par with an Intermediate General!"
A hint of delight flashed in Ye Cang's eyes.
After taking a moment to adjust, Ye Cang continued adding points.
Life Energy -1!
Life Energy -1!
This time, although he'd expected it, seeing that it took a full 10 points of Life Energy to raise his 'Spirit' attribute by just 1 still made Ye Cang's heart tremble.
"That's an incredible amount to spend!"
Frowning, Ye Cang looked at his remaining 9 points of Life Energy and added them to his 'Body' attribute.
[Ye Cang (Intermediate Martial Artist, Junior Psionic Energy General)] [Spirit: 101] [Body: 63] [Combat Skills: Blood Shadow Flow Killing Sword Art (Intent Realm · Dripping Blood), Stinger Sword Technique (Basic 23/30)] [Movement Technique: Subtlety (32/)] [Life Energy: 0]
After looking at the system panel, Ye Cang continued thinking about how to deal with Xue Long.
"If it were only me, I'd prepare enough supplies now, then plunge straight into the Gray Fog Zone."
"By the time Xue Long found me, it'd be anyone's guess who would come out alive."
"But now..."
Thinking of Lin Yan and the others, Ye Cang furrowed his brow.
"Although the official Martial Artist Management Bureau is responsible for maintaining public order in the city, its headquarters isn't here—or even in Vermilion Bird King City."
"Ever since the Gray Fog erupted, the authorities have done their best to maintain ordinary people's lives."
"But as the evolvers grow stronger, strength has become everything. On top of that, the Gray Fog has made transportation inconvenient, and there's the threat of ferocious beasts."
"The various king cities are more like feuding fiefdoms."
"The authorities' influence within the king cities has steadily weakened. In affiliated cities like Crimson Cloud City, the powerful lineages entrenched there wield even greater authority."
"As a High-level General, Xue Long ranks below only the city lord, Huang Heyu, here in Crimson Cloud City."
"Our information was leaked, and Wu Guang was captured inside the city. Xue Long's influence must have played a part."
"That means once Xue Long learns of Xue Qing's death, even the members of the Rock Mountain Squad won't be safe inside the city."
Ye Cang's thoughts raced, and his brow furrowed tightly.
By chance, his gaze fell on several buildings nearby.
"Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall!"
The largest martial arts hall in Huaxia Nation, founded by Li Yunxiao, the strongest person in the country at present.
After glancing at the building, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Ye Cang.
"This is the only way!"
Rules dictated by strength could only be fought with strength!
He seemed to have found a way forward.
Here in Crimson Cloud City, if one judged by the strength of the various powers,
apart from the city lord, Huang Heyu, and his Huang Family,
there was another force no weaker than him.
That was the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall.
Even Huang Heyu wouldn't dare act recklessly there.
There was only one reason!
The Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall was the number-one martial arts hall in Huaxia Nation.
Its master, Li Yunxiao, stood at the very peak of Huaxia Nation's combat strength.
Across all five king cities in Huaxia Nation, no force dared to confront it head-on.
Of course, that was all far beyond Ye Cang's concerns.
What mattered most to him was the benefits he'd receive by joining the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall.
Warriors around the world could move into the 'Warrior Residential District' under the hall's jurisdiction as soon as they joined.
No fighting was allowed there. Anyone who broke that rule would be slapping the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall in the face, and the hall had absolutely no tolerance for it.
It was no exaggeration to say that those who broke the rules had long since fed the grass growing over their graves.
That was something countless warriors had learned through bitter experience, at the cost of their lives.
So, as long as he could move into the residential district belonging to the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall, he wouldn't have to worry about safety at all.
By then, even Xue Long could only glare helplessly from outside.
"As long as I pass the Warrior assessment and join the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall, I'll be able to move into its residential district."
"Then the members of the Rock Mountain Squad and their families can stay there for a while."
"During that time, I won't need to worry about their safety and can focus entirely on improving myself."
With that in mind, Ye Cang drove straight toward the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall.
A little while later!
"Beep!"
Ye Cang took out his ID, scanned it at the main entrance of the hall, and walked into the courtyard.
This time, he went straight past the first three buildings and headed for a larger one farther back.
This was the Warrior Building, where the warriors of the Divine Firmament Martial Arts Hall gathered and mingled.
Naturally, this was also where the Warrior assessment took place.
"With my current strength, passing the Warrior assessment will be a piece of cake."
"But if I want a higher standing and better treatment there, I'll have to prove my greater value."
At the entrance, Ye Cang glanced around, then strode inside.
There were few people in the lobby.
Only a few of the windows had staff on duty.
After looking around, Ye Cang walked straight to one of the windows.
"Hello, I'd like to apply for the Warrior assessment!"
Hearing this, the woman at the window looked up, her eyes lighting up slightly.
She didn't often meet someone so young applying for the Warrior assessment.
"All right! Please give me your ID!"
The woman spoke softly.
Ye Cang handed over his ID.
Less than a minute later, the woman stood up and smiled.
"Mr. Ye Cang, your information shows that you already have Quasi-Warrior status, so you're eligible to apply for the Warrior assessment."
"Your first assessment is free, too."
"The entire assessment process is handled and supervised by an intelligent information computer. You can take the assessment at any time. When would you be available?"
After she finished speaking, Ye Cang nodded and casually replied,
"Let's do it now!"
The woman was taken aback, but quickly recovered.
"All right. I'll take you to the assessment room."
Under the woman's guidance, the two soon arrived on the fourth floor.
Warrior assessments
required passing two tests.
A physical fitness test and a combat assessment!
The physical fitness test covered three areas: strength (punching power), speed, and nerve response.
They entered the assessment room on the fourth floor.
The female staff member led him to the Punching Power Tester.
Beep...
The machine started up. The female staff member entered the information, then looked at Ye Cang.
"Mr. Ye, you may begin!"
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