Mask Makes an Entrance

Wang Quan's words echoed across the vast training grounds. He was right. If they could not overcome this little difficulty, what were they if not useless?

"Aaaaah!"

"I'm not useless!"

The recruits gritted their teeth and shouted back. Everyone who qualified for each year's training was a genius in the truest sense, and most geniuses had pride of their own. They would never let anyone call them useless.

The pressure Wang Quan exerted was perfectly measured. He would not deliberately make things impossible for these recruits, but one thing was undeniable: standing up was excruciating.

Bones crackled and popped. Agony spread through their entire bodies, and every movement felt like countless needles piercing their flesh.

"It hurts a little, but isn't this a bit exaggerated?"

Watching his comrades wail nonstop, Baili Pangpang turned to Lin Qiye in confusion. He was an ordinary person, and one of the few ordinary people still standing.

"You went through hellish training. They didn't!" Lin Qiye rolled his eyes at him, though just thinking about that training made his scalp tingle.

Being chased by a pack of bloodthirsty Mythical Creatures was a thoroughly unpleasant experience.

Time ticked by, and cries of pain rose and fell without a moment's pause.

Gradually, some recruits struggled to their feet, even with sweat soaking their uniforms, exhaustion weighing them down, pain twisting their faces, and sharp aches still stabbing through them.

The instructors on the platform were heartened by the sight, though they showed little of it.

These geniuses were the future of the Night Watchers. The more tenacious they were, the stronger the Night Watchers would become.

Two hours later, everyone was standing.

They all stared intently at Wang Quan, waiting for an answer.

"Very good!"

"You're not useless!"

Wang Quan nodded in satisfaction, then changed tack. "But are you geniuses?"

"Perhaps!"

"It took you two hours just to do something as simple as standing up. If it were me, I'd be ashamed!"

"Of course, that's who you are now. A year from now, you'll be reborn!"

"So, congratulations on completing my first task!"

With that, Wang Quan stepped back and withdrew his pressure. His task was complete: put the recruits in their place and make them recognize their shortcomings. But that clearly was not enough.

Yuan Gang stepped forward, sweeping his gaze across the grounds. His powerful voice rang out. "Stand at attention! Who told you to relax?"

"But we already completed Instructor Wang's task!"

"Exactly! It hurt like hell!"

Those who felt indignant boldly argued back.

"Hurts?"

"You've only completed one insignificant test. What gives you the right to complain?"

"You may be geniuses, with skills that put your peers to shame, powerful Forbidden Ruins, and incredible abilities..."

"But all that proves is that you aren't useless!"

Yuan Gang raised his voice. His mountainlike presence bore down on everyone, a presence honed on the battlefield, between life and death.

"Remember!"

"From the moment you entered the Training Camp, you had only one identity...

You're raw recruits!

You're rookies!

Right now, you aren't even rookies. You're just trash slightly better than useless!"

"When you face a Mystery, all you'll do is drag your teammates down and get yourselves killed!

Don't get smug just because you completed one tiny task!

You're far from becoming true Night Watchers. Very far!"

Yuan Gang's thunderous voice echoed in everyone's ears. Some were bewildered, some watched him coldly, and some sank into thought...

From the raised platform, the instructors could see every expression. Most recruits wore cold looks, exactly the effect the instructors wanted.

Yuan Gang arched his brows and asked, "What? Not convinced, rookies?"

He put particular emphasis on the word "rookies."

There was no need for an answer. It was already clear.

Damn right I'm not convinced. I'm a genius! Like hell I'll accept that!

"Good! Only by recognizing the gap can you wake up to reality. Believe it or not, in your current state, no matter how high your realm is, you're just useless people with high cultivation!"

"Against a true expert, you wouldn't last a single round!"

"Do you believe me?"

By now, the vast majority of recruits were furious, their eyes practically spitting fire.

"I don't!"

An arrogant-looking boy shouted. His cap was on backward, his uniform jacket hung open, and he chewed bubble gum with disdain in his eyes.

After glaring at Yuan Gang, the boy's gaze settled on Wang Quan. He had not expected the white-haired guy's words, "We'll meet again soon," to come true.

"Very good!"

"What's your name?"

"Shen Qingzhu!"

Wang Quan had actually noticed him long ago. How to put it? In uniform, this kid looked like a complete military hooligan. Yet something felt off to him. The more forceful someone acted, the more likely they were hiding something.

Sometimes, seeing was not believing.

"Who else?"

"I'm not convinced!"

"Me neither!"

"That's right! I'm not trash!"

With someone like Shen Qingzhu taking the lead, more and more people voiced their defiance.

Baili Pangpang looked at the people around him, then at Wang Quan on the platform, and felt sorry for them. He muttered helplessly, "Brother Quan's standing right up there. Even a dragon would have to coil up, and even a tiger would have to lie down!"

"I actually think you have a point!" Lin Qiye replied in agreement.

Besides knowing a powerhouse like Wang Quan, he had genuinely encountered Mysteries.

The Ghost-Faced Man had been strong. Even grievously wounded, he had traded blows with Lin Qiye and nearly killed him. The Nanda Serpent Demon had been clever, plotting everything from the shadows. He had simply been unlucky enough to run into Wang Quan.

Yet they had only been in the River Realm. They were not weak, but they were certainly not truly powerful Mysteries.

"Very good!"

"Words prove nothing. I'll give you a chance to prove yourselves-and a chance to see yourselves for what you really are!"

The corners of Yuan Gang's mouth lifted slightly. This was exactly what he wanted.

Wang Quan took out his radio and joked, "Everyone, you can start your jump. Let the battle royale begin!"

"Roger!" Wang Mian's voice came through the radio.

The instructors on the platform all looked up at the sky. The recruits were baffled, then followed their gaze.

In the blink of an eye, seven tiny gray dots appeared among the empty clouds. They grew larger and larger, until the recruits could make them out-and were stunned.

"Holy crap!"

"There are people flying up there!"

"They... don't seem to have parachutes?"

"Are they insane? Jumping without parachutes!"

The others could only see blurry silhouettes, but Wang Quan saw everything clearly.

The members of Mask wore no protective equipment at all. They were in complete free fall. He remembered only telling Wang Mian, "Make your entrance look cool. Give the recruits a shock." Who would have thought the guy would go straight for free fall?

Holy shit!

When it comes to showing off, Wang Mian, you really know your stuff!

Wang Quan grumbled inwardly.