The voice of Pei Zongyue, Deputy Hall Master of Judgment Hall, echoed above the Drill Ground.
"The Commander and Deputy Commander of the Pacification Guard are both key posts in the Heaven Patrol Office."
"Twenty people qualify for today's assessment: the Candidate Chief Inspectors from the four offices and the prodigies of the various factions."
"This assessment consists of two rounds."
"The first round is defending the platform."
He raised a black iron box and opened its lid, revealing eight bronze Command Tokens arranged side by side.
Each bore the Pacification Guard's flying eagle emblem.
"The rules are as follows."
Pei Zongyue looked around the Drill Ground, then announced loudly:
"All Candidate Chief Inspectors from the four offices, along with candidates registered in advance by the major factions, are eligible to take the platform and defend it.
A defender must hold the platform for one incense stick's burning time. If no one challenges them, or if they defeat every challenger, they will receive a Command Token."
He glanced over the crowd below and added:
"There are eight Command Tokens granting passage to the next round, first come, first served.
Only those who obtain a Command Token may enter the second round and compete for the position of Commander."
His words fell silent.
The vast Drill Ground remained quiet for two breaths before murmurs began to ripple through it.
Clearly, the rules had caught them somewhat off guard. They had not expected the assessment to take this form.
The eligible Candidate Chief Inspectors wore differing expressions, each weighing their own considerations.
Standing among the Nether Spring Office's ranks, Yi Yang quickly ran through the implications of Pei Zongyue's announcement.
Three Candidate Chief Inspectors from each of the four offices made twelve.
Then there were two candidates each from the Golden Sun