Making His Might Known

The sharp-faced lackey stepped forward and pretended to leaf through the Registry on the table.

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

"Young Master Gu's strength is quite impressive. It meets our recruitment standards. However..."

"What do you mean, 'however'?" Gu Yanzhi frowned.

Zheng Hu sauntered forward with his hands in his pockets, mockery and cold amusement in his eyes.

"However, our Third Station has filled all its available positions for now. There aren't any openings for you."

He looked at Gu Yanzhi, putting on an officious air.

"Young Master Gu, these are hard times. Even a landlord's family has run out of grain. Why don't you go to the offices in South City or North City and try your luck? It'll be a bit of a trek, but you can manage, right?"

Zheng Hu raised his voice and jeered loudly.

"Go around a few more times. Call it training your qi and blood! Hahaha!"

The few subordinates in plain gray uniforms around them burst into unrestrained laughter.

Gu Yanzhi's face turned livid in an instant.

He had lifted the eight-hundred-pound stone lock and met the standard, only to be publicly toyed with under the high-minded excuse that there were "no openings."

It was a blatant humiliation.

But he didn't strike back.

This was the Garrison Bureau. His opponent wore a dark-black brocade uniform and a Red Copper Tiger Badge, and was a Bright Force Martial Master in charge of the troops—a representative of the military's dignity and authority.

If Gu Yanzhi flew into a rage and attacked, it would be a capital crime: "assaulting the military." Not only would he be done for, but the Gu Family would be dragged into trouble too.

Gu Yanzhi took a deep breath, and the livid hue slowly faded from his face.

"Brother Lu."

"Forget it."

"We're up against the odds. This is their turf. If we make a scene, we're the ones who'll suffer."

He didn't spare the still-laughing Zheng Hu another glance. Turning around, he headed for the courtyard gate.

"Come on. We'll try somewhere else."

Gu Yanzhi turned around.

He took two steps, then realized the person beside him hadn't followed.

"Brother Lu?" He looked back.

Lu Zhen stood where he was and shook his head.

"Brother Gu, there's no need to waste time going somewhere else."

Gu Yanzhi looked at him in surprise.

Lu Zhen didn't head for the gate.

He strode through the crowd, straight toward the strength-testing area in the center of the yard.

On the steps, the sharp-faced lackey was watching. Seeing this, he immediately let out a mocking laugh.

"What, your master's already bowed his head, but you, the servant, still want to show off?"

The constables around them burst into laughter again.

Lu Zhen ignored them.

He kept walking.

Past the five-hundred-pound stone lock.

Past the eight-hundred-pound stone lock.

He went all the way to the far edge of the strength-testing area.

In front of the five-thousand-pound boulder, coated in dust and so huge that no one ever bothered to touch it.

Lu Zhen stopped.

The laughter in the courtyard cut off at once.

The lackey's sneer froze on his face. He gaped like a duck with its neck clamped shut.

Even Zheng Hu lowered his arms from where he'd been holding them across his chest.

Five thousand pounds.

That was the threshold of a Bright Force Martial Master.

In this chaotic age, Bright Force made someone a genuine local strongman, a member of the privileged class.

The moment a powerhouse of this level broke through, his name could spread across all of Ocean City in an instant.

Whatever faction he went to, he'd be an honored guest.

He had no need to go through any recruitment tests.

Forget waiting for an opening!

If a Bright Force Martial Master showed up, the Garrison Bureau would have to squeeze someone out and immediately clear a position for him in a dark-black brocade uniform!

Lu Zhen lowered his head and looked at the boulder.

He didn't reach for the handle of the stone lock.

Instead, he slowly sank his weight and planted his feet firmly on the ground.

Humm!

Without warning, a scorching, violent, almost tangible surge of terrifying qi and blood exploded from Lu Zhen.

"Crack!"

A layer of white vapor rose visibly from his skin. It was the immense heat within him, forcibly evaporating the cold air around him into mist.

Blood and qi surged like steel; force poured out from his body!

Lu Zhen placed one hand on the boulder. He didn't even seem to exert much strength.

He simply lifted it with an easy tug.

"Boom!"

The terrifying boulder, weighing five thousand pounds, rose several inches off the ground in one hand, rumbling heavily.

In the courtyard, the only sound was the faint hiss of wind passing through the white vapor.

Everyone was stunned.

On the steps, the sharp-faced lackey's once-arrogant face had gone white as paper. Cold sweat rolled down his cheeks in beads as big as soybeans.

Had he just provoked a Bright Force Martial Master?!

All the mockery had vanished from Zheng Hu's eyes.

He stared at the qi armor swirling around Lu Zhen.

"How is this possible?!"

"When did someone this powerful end up at Gu Yanzhi's side?!"

How could a powerhouse of this caliber be willing to follow Gu Yanzhi here and put up with such an insult?!

Not far away, Gu Yanzhi stood frozen in place.

He still clutched the jacket he'd taken off, staring blankly ahead.

He knew what Lu Zhen had accomplished at Soul-Falling Gorge. He knew Lu Zhen's fighting strength was extraordinary.

But he'd never imagined...

Lu Zhen had already crossed that insurmountable divide.

Bright Force!

How many geniuses in Ocean City were trapped in the Late Force Refining Realm, never advancing an inch for the rest of their lives?

At the age of thirty, when his qi and blood should have long since settled into their final form and breaking through was least likely, Lu Zhen had advanced without the slightest warning!

The rogue martial artists around them, dressed in mismatched uniforms from various martial arts schools, hardly dared to breathe.

They stared, eyes wide, filled with the deepest awe.

Lu Zhen released the boulder.

"Thud—!!"

He turned and looked calmly at Zheng Hu, whose face had turned ugly on the steps.

"Now."

"Does the Third Station have an opening?"

Zheng Hu's face turned pale, then flushed. He stood frozen, unable to squeeze out a word for a long while.

"Hahaha... What strength! What splendid skill!"

Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from the inner hall.

As the laughter rang out, a sturdy old man with his hands behind his back slowly stepped over the high threshold.

The old man was advanced in years. His hair was white, and deep wrinkles creased the corners of his eyes.

He looked exceptionally kind.

But he wore a dark-blue military uniform of satin.

The character "戍" on his chest had been carefully embroidered in pure gold thread, glinting with a weighty, cold sheen in the sunlight.

It was the uniform of a Squad Leader in the Garrison Bureau.

He outranked a constable like Zheng Hu by a full rank.

The old man walked down the steps with a smile. His gaze passed over Zheng Hu and landed directly on Lu Zhen, admiration impossible to conceal in his eyes.

"So that's what I heard rumbling outside. Our Third Station has welcomed another Bright Force powerhouse!"

He came closer and cupped his hands toward Lu Zhen.

"I'm Chen An, Squad Leader of the Third Station."

"With cultivation this astonishing, you're willing to grace our humble corner with your presence. That's a blessing for the Third Station. How could we possibly be full?"

Then Chen An turned to look at Gu Yanzhi, who stood nearby.

"Hmm? Isn't this Young Master Gu of the Tongjiang Chamber of Commerce?" The old man's smile widened.

"Master Gu is here too. Come, come. Since you've arrived on our turf, don't just stand in the courtyard."

He gestured warmly for the two of them to follow.

"It's just about mealtime. Young brother, after that earth-shaking display of skill, allow me to host you in a private room at our rear-courtyard canteen."

"First, we'll welcome you both. Then we can discuss the details of your appointment. This way, please!"

Lu Zhen reined in his surging qi and blood, his expression calm.

"You're too kind, Squad Leader Chen. Please."

The private room at the rear-courtyard canteen of the Third Station was far quieter than the noisy courtyard outside.

Once the door closed, only the faint aroma of food and liquor remained in the room.

Soon, four or five hearty dishes arrived at the Eight Immortals table, steaming hot.

Chen An filled their cups with Burning Knife Liquor, then raised his own and cheerfully toasted them.

After several rounds of drinks, Gu Yanzhi held his cup, his gaze still straying to Lu Zhen from time to time.

The shock in his eyes hadn't yet faded.

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

He gave a wry smile and shook his head, his voice full of emotion.

"Some time ago, on the river, I knew you were peerless in battle, a top-notch expert in the Late Force Refining Realm."

"But how long has it been? You crossed the divide that's stopped countless people without making a sound..."

Gu Yanzhi raised his cup.

"A Bright Force Martial Master at thirty. I, Gu Yanzhi, am thoroughly impressed today."

Lu Zhen's expression remained unchanged.

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

"You flatter me, Brother Gu."

"I walked through life and death, and my qi and blood surged. I happened to break through the bottleneck. It's nothing special."

"Ah, young brother, you're far too modest."

The Squad Leader Chen sitting opposite them put down his chopsticks with a smile.