After Chen Wuya's iron staff struck the ground, the air over the drill grounds felt as though it had been gripped by red-hot tongs, scorching enough to steal one's breath.
The breaths of several hundred people mingled, steaming into a wave of heat laced with sweat, rust, and anticipation.
"The rules are simple."
Chen Wuya stood on the raised platform. His voice was quiet, yet carried far. When an Inner Qi Realm martial artist spoke, it was nothing like an ordinary person speaking. Every word squeezed from his throat came wrapped in force, enough to make the back of one's head tighten.
"Before entering, each of you received a waist token."
He casually drew a small bronze token from his sleeve, spun it once between his fingers, and turned its face downward.
"The tokens are numbered according to the blood qi cultivation you reported yourselves. The higher your rank, the lower your number."
Yi Yang glanced down at the unremarkable bronze token hanging from his waist.
One hundred forty-seven.
He had reported himself at the Qi-Blood Third Level. What standing did that give him here on the drill grounds? Somewhere toward the back of the middle ranks—not enough to measure up to those above, but more than enough against those below. Of the hundred and forty-six people ahead of him, the strongest few had reached Qi-Blood Fourth-Level Perfection. Those at the Qi-Blood Fifth Level had no need to prove themselves through a test like this. They could simply sit up above and enjoy the show.
Chen Wuya tossed the bronze token back into his sleeve.
"A challenge format. Step onto the platform and challenge someone. The winner takes the token; the loser leaves."
His gaze swept from the Heaven Patrol Office formation on the north side to the martial hall