You'd Better Be Stronger Than Me!

After Zhao Heng finished speaking, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

The others were not like Xu Ye; they quickly made way for him.

There was a little more pity in the way they looked at Xu Ye. They knew Zhao Heng's temperament all too well.

That guy always repaid every slight; he would not let this go so easily.

Watching Zhao Heng leave, Xu Ye naturally knew the other man would never let the matter rest, but he did not care.

He had joined the Demon-Suppression Bureau to find himself a backer, so he would not have to live so suffocatingly.

If he had still swallowed his anger today, what meaning would there have been in joining the Demon-Suppression Bureau?

He might as well have found a mountain early on and hidden away there.

Still, Xu Ye felt a little wronged.

He had come to take an assessment in peace, yet somehow he had offended someone for no reason—and someone from the county office, at that.

This was truly ridiculous.

"Sorry." At that moment, Lin Yuyan suddenly spoke from beside him.

Xu Ye looked at Lin Yuyan in surprise. "Why?"

Lin Yuyan said, "He dragged you into this because of me."

Lin Yuyan was not foolish. Naturally, she knew Zhao Heng had acted that way because of her.

She felt somewhat guilty for making Xu Ye take the blame for nothing.

Xu Ye shook his head. "It's fine. I'm not the kind of person who can stomach being pushed around."

Though it had something to do with Lin Yuyan, if he had been willing to endure it, he would not have offended Zhao Heng so thoroughly.

But the fact that Lin Yuyan had said this showed that the Lin Family's second young lady was still kindhearted.

Far better than that shrew from the Su Family.

Lin Yuyan wanted to say something else, but seeing that Xu Ye had no intention of continuing the conversation, she found herself at a loss for words.

In the end, she did not say anything more.

Time passed quickly, and before long, nearly everyone taking the assessment had arrived.

"Silence!"

Suddenly, a thunderous shout came from above the main hall.

The previously clamorous hall instantly fell quiet.

Everyone turned to look toward the front of the hall.

At that moment, two men stood there, dressed in the Demon-Suppression Bureau's specially made long robes, sabers hanging at their waists.

Xu Ye recognized the two men at once and could not help his surprise. "Uncle Du!"

The two men were none other than Du Yuanxiu and Lü Tao.

He had not expected the Demon-Suppression Bureau's assessment this time to be overseen by these two.

At that moment, Du Yuanxiu, standing at the front of the hall, swept his gaze around before speaking. "Today's assessment will be overseen by Lü Tao and me."

"I believe you all already know the assessment items, so I'll briefly go over them once. The assessment is divided into two parts. The first tests your strength. In a moment, I will have you strike the testing stele. Only those at the third level of Meridian Opening or above may take part in the next round."

"The second round is actual combat. I trust you all know the duty of our Demon-Suppression Bureau: slaying demons and exterminating evil, protecting one region. The second round will test your reactions and abilities when facing demons and monsters in real combat."

"Pass both rounds, and you may become a member of our Demon-Suppression Bureau."

As Du Yuanxiu's words fell, many people in the hall began discussing among themselves.

The Demon-Suppression Bureau's assessment seemed simple, but it had a certain threshold.

One had to reach at least the third level of Meridian Opening.

After all, the Demon-Suppression Bureau faced real demons and monsters. Without sufficient strength, even passing the assessment would be no different from courting death.

Before long, however, the discussions quieted down.

Those who had come to take the assessment all knew at least something about it, so no one found it too strange.

Even Xu Ye had looked into it before coming.

Seeing this, Du Yuanxiu wasted no more words. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Next, when I call your name, come forward one by one and strike the stele. Those who pass will advance to the next round."

As he spoke, a stone stele about five meters tall appeared at the very front of the hall.

Light flowed across its surface, as though it had come alive.

Looking at the stele, Xu Ye silently marveled at the wonder of this world.

This was a stele specially made by the Demon-Suppression Bureau. As long as someone struck it, it could accurately determine that person's cultivation.

"First, Li Yong!" Du Yuanxiu had already begun calling names.

A burly man stepped out from the crowd and smashed his fist into the testing stele.

With a hum, the stele buzzed and light flared across it. Then, a line of words emerged.

Third level of Meridian Opening!

He had only just met the standard!

Du Yuanxiu spoke softly. "Qualified! Next... Zhang Kai."

The burly man was overjoyed. He bowed and stepped aside, while the next person immediately took his place.

What followed was an unending cycle of tests.

Though there were many people, not many failed.

After all, who came here without knowing the Demon-Suppression Bureau's threshold?

But there was no one especially outstanding either.

At most, there was one person at the fourth level of Meridian Opening, drawing quite a few sidelong glances.

Finally, Du Yuanxiu called out a name. "Lin Yuyan!"

The moment that name was spoken, the hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze landed on Lin Yuyan.

"It's finally Second Miss Lin's turn!"

"I wonder if she's grown stronger."

Many people murmured to themselves, turning to look with barely concealed excitement.

This world revered the strong, regardless of gender.

Very soon, Lin Yuyan walked forward at an unhurried pace. Reaching the stele, she did not linger. She clenched her fist with all her strength and threw a punch at it.

With a boom, the stele shuddered. Amid the flashing light, a line of words appeared.

Fifth level of Meridian Opening!

"As expected, she's at the fifth level of Meridian Opening!"

"The rumors were true!"

"So strong!"

Seeing the result, many people cried out in astonishment.

Among so many people, only one had reached the fifth level of Meridian Opening. It was clear just how strong she was.

Du Yuanxiu nodded in satisfaction. "Qualified. Next, Zhao Heng!"

"It's Young Master Zhao's turn!"

"He's no weaker than Second Miss Lin!"

"This assessment is getting interesting."

As Du Yuanxiu called Zhao Heng's name, another wave of exclamations rose around the hall, and many people looked in Zhao Heng's direction.

Zhao Heng stepped out beneath everyone's gaze, his chin raised slightly.

He thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being surrounded by stars.

Soon, he reached the stele. Like Lin Yuyan, he did not hesitate at all, raising his hand and driving his fist into it.

With a boom, the stele trembled and light flashed. A line of words emerged.

Sixth level of Meridian Opening!

One minor realm higher than Lin Yuyan.

"He's actually at the sixth level of Meridian Opening!"

"He's even stronger than Second Miss Lin!"

"It looks like Young Master Zhao Heng will take first place in this assessment."

Countless people cried out in shock at the sight.

The fifth level of Meridian Opening was already very strong.

For someone their age, the sixth level of Meridian Opening made him an outstanding talent among outstanding talents.

Who would not envy that?

Some even declared that Zhao Heng was certain to take first place in this assessment.

At that moment, seeing his assessment result, Zhao Heng smiled in satisfaction and turned to look at Lin Yuyan.

The meaning in his gaze seemed to say, Did you see that? My strength has conquered the whole hall!

"Full of yourself!" Lin Yuyan snorted, not even bothering to spare Zhao Heng a glance.

Zhao Heng's expression stiffened at once, but he said nothing, as though he had grown used to it.

However, with a sweep of his peripheral vision, he happened to spot Xu Ye nearby.

His expression immediately darkened. He stared coldly at Xu Ye and said indifferently, "You'd better be stronger than me!"