Innate Level Nine Ranks Second

Early the next morning, as soon as Lu Yuan entered the Branch Hall, he saw a spirit beast corpse added to the courtyard.

A half-man-tall black-furred ape lay on its back on the ground with its chest caved in, its thick arms still maintaining a curled posture. Standing beside the corpse was a boy of roughly Lu Yuan's age, half a head taller, the black fur on his right arm slowly receding.

A circle of yellow spirit ring at his feet vanished accordingly.

Lin Yue came out from the house, and upon seeing Lu Yuan, he jerked his chin toward that side.

"Shen Chuan, just got back from North Ridge yesterday."

Lu Yuan nodded.

Without an introduction, he had already guessed it.

The innate level-nine one ranked below him on the candidate roster yesterday.

Shen Chuan clearly recognized him as well, said a couple of words to the person beside him, and walked straight over.

"Lu Yuan?"

"Yeah."

Shen Chuan first glanced at the Dark Iron Spear on his back before speaking. "When I got back last night, the Branch Master said I was ranked second."

His tone carried no hint of dissatisfaction, only straightforwardness.

Lu Yuan said, "The roster hasn't been sealed yet."

"That's why I came over today."

Shen Chuan raised his right arm, and the black fur spread upward from the back of his hand once more.

"Fight?"

The people nearby who had originally been watching the excitement grew somewhat quieter.

Lin Yue frowned. "How long ago did the two of you get your first spirit rings?"

"Precisely because we just got them, it's worth watching," Shen Chuan said. "He saved someone in the Black Stone Forest, and I didn't get that chance. We can't just compare based on a matter I didn't happen to encounter."

He looked at Lu Yuan after finishing.

"I lose, and you take the quota. I win, and we let the Branch Master decide again."

Lu Yuan did not agree immediately, instead turning his head to look at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue said nothing.

Instead, the Branch Master walked out from inside, still holding yesterday's candidate roster in his hand.

"Fight."

He swept a glance over the two of them.

"Spirit City wants people who can actually use themselves. Innate soul power, first spirit ring, on-the-spot performance—all of these should naturally count."

The courtyard quickly cleared out a space.

Lin Yue stepped into the middle and made the rules clear first.

"Keep it to a sparring match. Whoever dares to aim for places like the eyes or throat, I'll throw that person out first."

Shen Chuan stepped back a few steps and clapped his fists together.

After his Iron-Armed Ape possession, his two arms noticeably thickened by a circle, the black fur covering all the way to his shoulders.

The yellow spirit ring rose.

Lu Yuan also grasped his Dark Iron Spear.

"Begin."

As soon as Lin Yue's voice fell, Shen Chuan had already rushed forward.

There was no probing.

His right fist went straight for Lu Yuan's chest.

Lu Yuan sidestepped to let him pass, the tip of his spear smoothly thrusting toward Shen Chuan's shoulder.

Shen Chuan raised an arm to block.

With a clang, the Dark Iron Spear struck as if hitting hard wood, jarring Lu Yuan's web between thumb and forefinger with numbness.

The difference in strength was quite obvious.

Yet Shen Chuan didn't give him the chance to retreat far, following closely with his steps as his left fist already smashed upward from below.

Lu Yuan used the shaft of his spear to prop against the ground, taking two steps back.

"Only know how to dodge?" Someone by the edge of the courtyard muttered softly.

Lin Yue glanced at that person.

"For someone holding a spear to engage in close-quarters fist-fighting with an Iron-Armed Ape, that's what you call stupid."

Right as he finished speaking, the yellow spirit ring at Shen Chuan's feet lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Heavy Arm!"

His right arm suddenly swelled by a circle, sweeping horizontally toward the spear shaft.

Lu Yuan relaxed his wrist, not meeting the force head-on, and let the spear swing away with that momentum, borrowing the force to retreat to the side.

Shen Chuan turned and pursued immediately.

The second Heavy Arm smashed over again shortly after.

Lu Yuan retreated once more.

People by the edge of the courtyard began to frown.

From the looks of it, he was being suppressed and beaten the entire time.

Yet what Lu Yuan was watching wasn't the fists.

Before unleashing his soul skill the first time, Shen Chuan's right shoulder dipped slightly.

The second time as well.

The range of movement was tiny, yet enough to let him know in advance that that arm was about to exert force.

Shen Chuan clearly didn't intend to let him drag it out.

When closing in the third time, his pace suddenly quickened.

His right shoulder sank.

The yellow spirit ring lit up.

This time, Lu Yuan did not retreat.

The circle of yellow at his feet lit up simultaneously.

Piercing Edge!

The person who had still been pulling back suddenly lunged forward fiercely.

Shen Chuan's expression changed; the Heavy Arm had already smashed down.

The Dark Iron Spear did not collide head-on with the fist.

As he lunged out, Lu Yuan lowered the spear tip, passing right beneath Shen Chuan's right arm almost brushing against it.

The two crossed paths instantly.

Shen Chuan was just about to turn around when his movement halted.

The chilling spear tip was already pressed against the outside of his left leg.

Had Lu Yuan been off by even half a foot just now, this spear would not have stopped here.

No one in the courtyard spoke anymore.

Lu Yuan didn't pretend to be relaxed either; the hand holding the spear was still numb.

The speed of Piercing Edge was fast enough, but how many times had he even used it? Just now, if his control had been slightly off, it wouldn't necessarily have been clear who was bleeding.

Shen Chuan lowered his head to look at the spear tip.

"You were waiting for me to use Heavy Arm a third time?"

"Both previous times, your right shoulder moved first."

Shen Chuan lifted his own shoulder, as if noticing this habit for the very first time.

After a moment, he withdrew his martial soul.

"I lost."

It was straightforward enough to catch the few people nearby preparing to watch the fun somewhat off guard.

Lu Yuan also retracted the Dark Iron Spear.

Shen Chuan glanced at him.

"The quota belongs to you. But once we get to Spirit City, we'll fight again if there's a chance."

"Fine."

Only then did the Branch Master walk over.

He didn't praise anyone, lowering his head to add a few strokes to the candidate roster before directly crossing out the two characters for "candidate."

Seeing his action, Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.

"It's settled just like that?"

"Originally planned to wait three more days."

The Branch Master folded the roster.

"No need to wait."

He raised his head to look at Lu Yuan.

"This branch hall's sole recommendation quota, registered to you."

Lu Yuan looked at that folded roster.

Yesterday, his name had only been ranked right at the very top.

Now, this quota was finally settled.

Right at that moment, a deacon hurried in from outside, holding a newly delivered letter.

"Branch Master, urgent dispatch from Spirit City."

The Branch Master unsealed it and read for a few moments, his brows quickly lifting.

"The time has been brought forward."

Lin Yue asked, "Brought forward by how much?"

"Departure tomorrow morning."

The Branch Master handed him the letter.

Standing close, Lu Yuan saw a golden seal stamped at the very top of the letter paper.

Below were only a few lines of text.

Personnel recommended by various branch halls must arrive in Spirit City within three days.

Qualifications revoked upon overdue arrival.

At the very bottom was the official name of this selection.

Elder Hall Youth Special Training.

Lu Yuan's gaze lingered on those words.

The Branch Master had already taken the letter back.

"Pack your things tonight."

"First thing tomorrow morning, Lin Yue will send you to Spirit City."

Lin Yue was stunned for a moment.

"Me?"

The Branch Master glanced at him.

"You're the one he picked up from the Black Stone Forest; if not you, who's going to send him?"

Someone in the courtyard let out a laugh.

With an irritated expression, Lin Yue cursed, though he didn't refuse.

Just as Lu Yuan turned around, Shen Chuan suddenly called out to him from behind.

"Lu Yuan."

He turned back.

Shen Chuan stood beside that Iron-Armed Ape carcass, brandishing his fist at him.

"Don't get weeded out by people the moment you arrive in Spirit City."

Lu Yuan smiled.

"You fix that habit with your right shoulder first before talking."

Shen Chuan's face darkened.

The laughter in the courtyard grew even louder this time.

Lu Yuan didn't linger further, following Lin Yue out of the Branch Hall.