Upper Capital Base City!

Xiao Wuhen paused, looked into Lin Ming's eyes, and asked meaningfully:

"You asked before—can people be killed there?"

Lin Ming's gaze sharpened as he met Xiao Wuhen's eyes.

The smile at the corner of Xiao Wuhen's lips widened, carrying an almost cruel anticipation:

"Of course they can. As long as you have the strength, and it isn't purely malicious slaughter, then in competition and conflict permitted by the rules, everyone bears responsibility for their own life or death. Peak Martial Arts Hall has never objected to internal competition. It even encourages it. Because only the strongest king of the gu can represent the hall and face the even crueler world outside."

He patted Lin Ming on the shoulder and said no more. "You'll naturally understand the specifics once you get in. For now, we'll head to headquarters and complete your registration."

With that, Xiao Wuhen stopped walking, took a palm-sized silver metal plate from his pocket, aimed it at a point in the sky, and gently pressed it.

An invisible ripple spread outward.

Before long, a deep, powerful engine roar came from the distant horizon.

A small fighter jet appeared, sleek and silver-gray from end to end, roughly fifteen meters long and brimming with a sci-fi aesthetic. Like a silver arrow tearing through the clouds, it streaked through the air at astonishing speed before hovering steadily above the two of them.

The hatch beneath the fighter silently slid open, casting down a soft tractor beam.

"Let's go." Xiao Wuhen stepped into the beam first, his body gently drawn into the fighter's cabin.

Lin Ming hesitated no longer and followed close behind.

The cabin was not especially spacious, but its decor was simple and technologically refined.

As the hatch closed, the fighter trembled slightly before suddenly accelerating, transforming into a silver streak and vanishing into the dusky Wilderness sky. It sped northeast, toward the heart of Dragon Nation—Upper Capital Base City.

The inside of the fighter was extraordinarily stable, with barely any sensation of turbulence. Xiao Wuhen leaned back in a comfortable seat, resting with his eyes closed.

Through the window, Lin Ming watched the mountains, rivers, ruined cities, and landscapes below race past, shrinking into miniature models. His heart could not calm down.

A month ago, he had still been a high school student striving for the martial arts entrance examination, betrayed by his closest family.

One month later, he was already a Third Tier martial artist. His hands were stained with countless lives, he had been hunted by a Fifth Tier powerhouse, and now he had been personally brought away by an inspector from Peak Martial Arts Hall. Soon, he would enter the legendary Genius Trial Grounds.

Nothing was stranger than fate.

Who knew how long passed—perhaps several hours. When an incomparably vast city silhouette appeared beyond the window, its lights glittering like a sea of stars and its countless towering structures standing like a forest of steel, Xiao Wuhen opened his eyes.

"We're here. Upper Capital."

The fighter began to slow and descend toward the city's core. There stood a vast cluster of buildings enclosed by a pale golden energy shield, where ancient, majestic architecture blended perfectly with cutting-edge technology. That was the headquarters of Peak Martial Arts Hall.

As the fighter passed through the pale golden shield, Lin Ming clearly felt a gentle yet ocean-like spiritual force sweep across the fuselage before withdrawing. The defenses here were evidently strict to the extreme.

The fighter finally landed on a spacious platform within the headquarters grounds. The hatch opened, and Xiao Wuhen stepped out first. Lin Ming followed with his spear in hand.

What greeted them was natural energy several times richer and purer than that of South River or East Forest. A single breath left him refreshed, his blood and qi faintly stirring.

From afar came indistinct shouts, the clang of metal, and explosive booms from colliding energies—the sounds of martial arts hall disciples cultivating and sparring.

The air carried an invisible aura of competition and striving that made one's blood surge.

When everyone encounters ads like "Are you a real person?", there is no need to pay attention to them. Just close them. Do not scan codes or send text messages!

"Come with me. We'll handle your registration first."

Xiao Wuhen was clearly extremely familiar with the place. He led Lin Ming through several corridors and arrived before a square-shaped building made entirely of some sort of silver alloy, with elite martial artists guarding its entrance.

The guards immediately stood at attention and saluted upon seeing Xiao Wuhen. "Inspector, sir!"

Xiao Wuhen gave a slight nod and led Lin Ming straight inside. The building's interior was equally simple. There were not many people coming and going, but every one of them had a sharp, capable aura and hurried footsteps.

The registration procedures were simpler than Lin Ming had imagined. They mainly involved verifying his identity information and conducting a few basic examinations.

The identity verification was quick. Lin Ming's iris, fingerprints, and genetic fragments were compared against the Dragon Nation citizen database, confirming that he was indeed the person in question.

As the recommender and an inspector, Xiao Wuhen possessed authority for special recruitment and directly skipped the cumbersome application and review process.

Next came the basic tests. Lin Ming was brought to a room resembling a martial arts testing hall.

The first was an age test. A precision instrument scanned Lin Ming's bone age and cellular activity.

"Bone age: eighteen years and three months. Cellular activity: extremely active, exceeding standard thresholds. Test passed," the cold electronic voice announced.

A bone age of eighteen was not especially remarkable at the headquarters of Peak Martial Arts Hall, where geniuses gathered, but it was certainly young.

Then came the realm test. Lin Ming had no need to deliberately conceal anything and slightly released the aura of the fourth level of the Third Realm—the fourth level of the Golden Viscera Realm.

"Blood and qi intensity: fourth level of the Third Tier, mid-stage Golden Viscera Realm. Blood and qi quality: abnormally condensed, exceeding the standard for the same tier by 300%. Test passed."

The staff member responsible for recording the results gave Lin Ming a surprised glance. Blood and qi quality exceeding the standard by 300%? That was not something an ordinary genius could achieve.

Next was the strength test. In the center of the room stood a jet-black metal pillar as tall as two people, covered with sensing components. It was a strength tester.

"Use your strongest attack to strike the central target. You may use martial skills, but not weapons," the staff member explained.

Xiao Wuhen stood to one side with his arms folded, a smile of anticipation on his face. "Lin Ming, don't hold back. Let me see what you're made of."

Lin Ming nodded and walked up to the tester. He did not use the Silver Frost Spear, merely clenched his right fist.

The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art circulated within him. Dense, majestic dark-golden blood and qi surged forth, while the strength of the Indestructible Asura Body flowed through his muscles and bones. The intent of "Mountain Splitter" from the Heaven-Splitting Three Forms naturally condensed.

He held nothing back. Twisting at the waist, he caused the ground beneath his feet to sink slightly. His fist shot out like a cannonball, carrying the crushing might of splitting apart a mountain as it slammed into the red-glowing target at the center of the tester!

Boom—!!

A muffled, earthshaking blast rang out! The entire testing room seemed to tremble slightly! Streams of light flickered rapidly across the tester's surface as it emitted a buzzing sound under strain.

A moment later, the electronic voice announced:

"Peak strike force: 50,000 jin. Overall evaluation: strength burst equivalent to the standard of the seventh level of Tier Four."

50,000 jin?!

The staff member recording the data jerked so hard that he nearly dropped his electronic tablet. His eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the number on the screen, then at Lin Ming, as though he had seen a ghost.

Eighteen years old, fourth level of the Third Tier, and 50,000 jin with a single punch?! That strength already rivaled many martial artists at the seventh, even eighth level of Tier Four! Was this body made from a ferocious beast?!

Xiao Wuhen had expected Lin Ming's strength to be extraordinary, but when he heard "50,000 jin" and "standard of the seventh level of Tier Four," a clear flash of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by even deeper appreciation.

"Good kid!" Xiao Wuhen stepped forward and gave Lin Ming's shoulder a hard pat.

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