Displaying Might

The sharp-featured, monkey-faced lackey stepped forward, feigning a thorough inspection of the roster on the table.

He raised his head and drawled at Gu Yanzhi with a mocking, sarcastic tone.

"Young Master Gu, your strength is certainly impressive; it meets our recruitment standards. However..."

"However what?" Gu Yanzhi frowned.

Zheng Hu walked up with his hands in his pockets, his eyes filled with playful coldness.

"However, our Third Station has reached full capacity recently. We don't have any extra positions for you at the moment."

He looked at Gu Yanzhi, speaking with the affected, bureaucratic tone of an official.

"Young Master Gu, times are tough, and even the landlords have no surplus grain. Why don't you go to the trouble of running over to the stations in South City or North City and try your luck there?"

Zheng Hu raised his voice, mocking him loudly.

"Run a bit more; consider it training for your blood and qi, hahaha!"

The surrounding subordinates, dressed in ordinary gray uniforms, immediately burst into unbridled, raucous laughter.

Gu Yanzhi's face turned livid in an instant.

He had lifted the eight-hundred-pound stone lock and met the standards, only to be publicly toyed with under the high-sounding excuse of "no positions."

This was a naked humiliation.

But he did not strike.

This was the Garrison Bureau. The man before him was a Bright Force Martial Master wearing black brocade and the Red Copper Tiger Badge, representing the face and authority of the military system.

If he were to lash out, it would be the capital offense of "assaulting the military." Not only would he be finished, but the Gu Family would also face trouble.

Gu Yanzhi took a deep breath, the lividity on his face slowly fading.

"Brother Lu."

"Forget it."

"The situation is stronger than the man. This is their turf; if we cause a scene, we'll be the ones to suffer."

He didn't spare another glance at the wildly laughing Zheng Hu, turning instead to walk toward the courtyard gate.

"Let's go, we'll try another place."

Gu Yanzhi turned around.

He took two steps, only to realize that the person beside him hadn't followed.

"Brother Lu?" He looked back.

Lu Zhen stood where he was, shaking his head.

"Brother Gu, there is no need to waste time looking elsewhere."

Gu Yanzhi's face showed astonishment.

Lu Zhen did not walk toward the main gate.

He strode forward, passing through the crowd, and headed straight for the strength-testing area in the center of the field.

On the steps.

The sharp-featured, monkey-faced lackey was watching them, and upon seeing this, he let out a sneer.

"What? Your master has already bowed his head, and you, a mere servant, still want to play the hero?"

The surrounding bailiffs erupted into another round of mocking laughter.

Lu Zhen ignored them.

He did not stop his pace.

He passed the five-hundred-pound stone lock.

He passed the eight-hundred-pound stone lock.

Until he reached the very edge of the testing area.

He stopped in front of the dust-covered, terrifyingly massive boulder that no one ever dared to touch: the five-thousand-pound giant stone.

The laughter in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt.

The sneer on the lackey's face froze, his mouth hanging open like a duck being strangled.

Zheng Hu, who had been holding his arms across his chest, involuntarily let them drop.

Five thousand pounds.

That was the threshold for a Bright Force Martial Master.

In these chaotic times, a Bright Force expert was a true powerhouse and a member of the privileged class.

Once someone reached this level, their name would instantly spread throughout all of Ocean City.

Wherever he went, he would be an honored guest.

There was no need for any recruitment test process.

Let alone waiting for a vacancy!

As long as a Bright Force expert showed up, the Garrison Bureau would have to squeeze out a position for him in black brocade, even if they had to clear a spot immediately!

Lu Zhen lowered his head and looked at the giant boulder.

He did not reach out to grab the handle of the stone lock.

Instead, he slowly lowered his center of gravity and planted his feet firmly on the ground.

Hum!

Without any warning.

A scorching, violent, and terrifying blood energy, as tangible as reality, exploded outward with Lu Zhen at its center.

"Crack!"

Immediately after, a visible layer of white air surged from his skin. It was the water vapor created by the intense heat within his body evaporating the surrounding cold air.

Blood energy like a barrier, force projected outward!

Lu Zhen pressed one hand onto the giant boulder, not even exerting much effort.

He simply lifted it casually.

"Boom!"

That terrifying boulder, weighing five thousand jin, was lifted an inch off the ground by his single hand, emitting a dull roar.

In the courtyard, there was only the sound of wind whistling through the white mist.

Everyone was stunned.

On the steps, the sharp-featured lackey, whose face had been arrogant just a moment ago, was now as pale as paper, with beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

He had provoked a Bright Force martial artist?!

The mockery in Zheng Hu's eyes had long since vanished.

He stared fixedly at the swirling energy barrier around Lu Zhen.

"How is this possible!?"

"Since when did Gu Yanzhi have such a Bright Force expert by his side?!"

How could a powerhouse of this level be willing to follow Gu Yanzhi and suffer such indignity here?!

Not far away.

Gu Yanzhi froze in place.

He was still clutching the jacket he had taken off, staring blankly ahead.

He knew of Lu Zhen's achievements at Soul-Falling Gorge and knew that Lu Zhen possessed Force Extreme combat power.

But he never expected this.

Lu Zhen had actually crossed that chasm.

That was Bright Force!

How many geniuses in Ocean City were trapped at the late stage of Lianli, unable to make any progress for their entire lives?

At the age of thirty, when his blood energy had long since set and breakthrough was most unlikely, Lu Zhen had broken through without any warning!

The rogue martial artists around him, dressed in various martial arts school uniforms, did not even dare to breathe loudly.

Each of them widened their eyes, their gazes filled with extreme awe.

Lu Zhen loosened his fingers and dropped the boulder.

"Bang--!!"

He turned his head, his gaze calm as he looked at the grim-faced Zheng Hu on the steps.

"Now."

"Does the Third Station have a vacancy?"

Zheng Hu's face turned from green to white, and he stood frozen, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long time.

"Hahaha... What strength! What fine martial arts!"

Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from the direction of the inner hall.

Following the laughter.

A robust old man, with his hands behind his back, slowly stepped out from behind the high threshold.

The old man was somewhat advanced in age, with gray hair and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

His appearance looked extremely kind.

Yet, the uniform he wore was a deep blue satin military tunic.

The character "Shu" on his chest was embroidered with fine, pure gold thread, casting a heavy, cold glint under the sunlight.

This was the attire of a Garrison Bureau commander.

It was a full rank higher than a petty officer like Zheng Hu.

The old man walked down the steps with a chuckle, his gaze passing over Zheng Hu to land directly on Lu Zhen, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

"I was wondering why there was thunder outside today; it turns out our Third Station has welcomed another Bright Force master!"

He walked up close and cupped his hands toward Lu Zhen.

"I am Chen An, the commander of this Third Station."

"For a young brother with such astonishing cultivation to condescend to visit our humble territory is the Third Station's good fortune. How could there be any talk of the roster being full?"

Having said this, Chen An turned his head to look at Gu Yanzhi not far away.

"Hmm? Isn't this the young master of the Tongjiang Chamber of Commerce?" The smile on the old man's face deepened.

"Young Master Gu is here as well. Come, come, since you've arrived on our turf, let's not stand in the courtyard."

He waved his hands enthusiastically, beckoning the two of them.

"It just so happens to be mealtime. Since the young brother has just displayed such earth-shattering skills, I shall play the host. Let's head to the private room in our backyard canteen."

"First, to welcome you both, and second, to discuss the details of your enrollment. Please!"

Lu Zhen retracted his surging blood-qi, his expression calm.

"Commander Chen is too kind. Please."

Third Station, backyard canteen private room.

It was far quieter here than the noise outside.

Once the door closed, only the faint aroma of wine and meat remained in the room.

Soon, four or five steaming, hearty dishes were placed on the eight-immortal table.

Burning Knife Liquor was poured, and Chen An raised his glass, cheerfully offering a toast to the two of them.

After three rounds of drinks.

Gu Yanzhi held his wine glass, his gaze still lingering on Lu Zhen from time to time.

The shock in his eyes had not yet fully faded.

"Brother Lu, you truly gave me a fright today."

He shook his head with a bitter smile, his tone filled with emotion.

"A few days ago on the river, I knew your combat power was peerless and that you were a top-tier expert at the late stage of Lianli."

"But how much time has passed since then? You have quietly crossed the chasm that has trapped countless people..."

Gu Yanzhi raised his glass.

"A thirty-year-old Bright Force master. With such progress, I, Gu, am thoroughly impressed today."

Lu Zhen's expression remained unchanged.

He picked up his glass and clinked it against Gu Yanzhi's.

"Brother Gu, you flatter me."

"It was merely a brush with death that caused my blood-qi to surge, and I happened to break through the barrier. It is nothing worth mentioning."

"Ah, young brother, that is far too modest."

Commander Chen, sitting across from them, smiled and set down his chopsticks.