The morning of August 1.
Led by a martial artist from the Limit Hall, Yun He, Luo Feng, and the others headed to the train station.
The train sped along the tracks, carrying the Quasi-Martial Artists out of the base city and into the wilderness zone.
Everyone sat inside the enclosed carriage as videos played on the large screen at the front, showing the major global powers trying to recruit these future martial artists.
The HR Underground Alliance, the Chinese government, the Thunder Dojo, and the Limit Martial Hall-the four major powers were all showcasing their strength.
The Quasi-Martial Artists chatted excitedly.
Luo Feng and Yang Wu were also discussing it in low voices.
Yun He had no interest in any of it. He sat there tense, his breathing slightly rapid and his heart beating faster than usual, his eyes lowered.
It was here. This day had finally come.
Time to go out and fight. To spill blood.
I've only ever killed chickens...
I'm not ready yet.
Last night, he had performed his routine punching strength test: around 3,200 kg.
He was already nearing the minimum threshold for an Advanced Warrior.
That gave him a little more confidence, at least.
Picking on a few little H-rank monsters should... be fine, right?
It would be a completely one-sided beatdown.
Yeah, no problem.
Yun He silently psyched himself up.
A little while later...
"Attention, Quasi-Martial Artists. The train will be arriving at the station shortly. Please prepare to disembark." The announcement came over the carriage speakers as the train gradually slowed to a stop.
Hiss~
The carriage doors opened, and the Quasi-Martial Artists poured out of each car.
Everyone assembled on the platform before heading toward the large military camp nearby. At a glance, the procession numbered well over a thousand.
The camp covered an enormous area. All kinds of heavy weaponry lined its perimeter, their menacing muzzles aimed beyond the camp. Fully armed soldiers stood guard, weapons in hand.
A grim, deadly atmosphere hung in the air.
Outside the camp, monsters with bellies sunken from hunger let out repeated roars. Their eyes gleamed green as they prowled beyond the security perimeter, yet none dared approach.
Caw~
High overhead, a vast, dense flock of bird monsters swept past, letting out piercing cries.
Faced with this scene, the rookie Quasi-Martial Artists, Yun He among them, wore all sorts of expressions.
Nervousness, anticipation, excitement, unease...
Yun He felt his legs go a little weak, but kept his expression calm as he rested a hand on Luo Feng's shoulder.
Luo Feng's eyes shone. "The books say you can see all kinds of monsters everywhere once you leave the base city. They weren't kidding."
Hearing that, Yun He felt a little sick.
"Everyone!"
A loud voice reached their ears. An officer stood in front of the camp gates. "Welcome to the Northern Military Region of Jiangnan Base City. A total of 1,681 Quasi-Martial Artists will be taking this combat assessment. I hope you all pass, and I hope you all make it home alive."
Yun He's legs felt even weaker, and his hand tightened on Luo Feng's shoulder.
"Yun He, what's wrong?" Luo Feng asked in confusion, excitement still lingering on his face.
"Nothing, nothing. Don't mind me."
"Come forward to collect your combat uniform and weapons when your name is called!"
That afternoon.
The 1,681 Quasi-Martial Artists stood in an open square inside the camp, waiting to collect their weapons and equipment.
"Luo Feng!"
An officer called Luo Feng's name, and Luo Feng immediately dashed over. Before long, he came running back excitedly with a pile of equipment in his arms.
"Yun He!" Soon, it was Yun He's turn.
"Here's your combat uniform, your boots, and your weapon. We don't have the Sharpedge Series 3 Longsword you requested, so we've issued you a Series 2 instead."
The officer handed Yun He his equipment piece by piece. "This is your Communication Watch. It has positioning and communication functions. Here's your shield."
Yun He returned to the line carrying a pile of equipment weighing over 150 kilograms.
The square buzzed with excitement. After collecting their equipment, everyone eagerly discussed it as they put it on.
Yun He changed into his equipment as well.
He wore a combat vest over his torso, military trousers below, and Alloy Combat Boots on his feet. A longsword hung at his waist, and he held a shield in his left hand. All this equipment was made using special materials such as kro alloy.
The full set weighed over 150 kilograms, and Yun He needed a little time to get used to wearing it.
Luo Feng had also changed into his equipment. With his Hexagonal Shield and Blood Shadow Battle Blade on his back, he was happily chatting with the others.
"Yun He, this equipment is great!" Luo Feng ran back to his side and spoke excitedly.
Yun He rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond to this violence enthusiast.
"Luo Feng! Yun He!" Just then, Wu Tong, the chief instructor of the Yangzhou Limit Hall, waved them over.
"Uncle Wu." Yun He and Luo Feng hurried over.
"You two, come with me." Wu Tong led the way.
Soon, Wu Tong brought them to a quiet little building inside the camp. Several people were seated in the living room, including Zhuge Tao, one of the four leading figures at the Limit Martial Hall's Jiangnan headquarters.
"Director," Yun He and Luo Feng hurried forward to greet him.
"Mm. Luo Feng, Yun He, have a seat." Dressed in a jet-black combat uniform, Zhuge Tao nodded with a smile.
Yun He and Luo Feng sat down beside him.
"Zhuge, are these the two geniuses your Limit Martial Hall recruited early this year?"
Across from them, a burly man in a dark purple combat uniform swept his gaze over Yun He and Luo Feng before finally settling on Luo Feng.
The burly man's powerful voice filled the room. "What a coincidence. Our Thunder Dojo also recruited two early this time. One is no worse than your Luo Feng in physical fitness, and the other is a firearms prodigy."
Yun He inwardly curled his lip. Two bit players.
The burly man looked at the two young men beside him, and they immediately stood up.
"My name is Wan Dong," said a somewhat gloomy-looking young man with a purple birthmark on his face.
"My name is Ma Xiao," said the other young man with a smile, his youthful face prettier than a girl's.
Luo Feng smiled and nodded. "My name is Luo Feng."
Yun He nodded as well. "Yun He."
"Luo Feng," the young man with the purple birthmark said. "Do you have the guts to compete with me? Let's see which of us gets the highest score in this Martial Artist Combat Assessment!"
The young man stared at Luo Feng, his eyes gleaming like a hunter who had spotted his prey. He clearly had little interest in Yun He.
"Not interested." Luo Feng shook his head.
The young man with the birthmark froze for a moment, then sneered and sat down.
Both Zhuge Tao and the burly man from the Thunder Dojo laughed.
The burly man said with a smile, "Zhuge, this youngster of yours is interesting. At least he's levelheaded enough not to get worked up the moment someone provokes him. I'm starting to like this young man. Luo Feng, interested in joining our Thunder Dojo?"
"Get out of here!" Zhuge Tao immediately glared at him.
"Hahaha, I was only joking. You're really no fun." The burly man laughed heartily.
That evening.
Led by soldiers, Yun He and the other Quasi-Martial Artists walked for about half an hour until they reached the outskirts of a small town.
Roar~
Awooo~
The entire town was enclosed by wire fencing. The roars of all kinds of monsters came from within, making their hearts tremble.
Large numbers of soldiers patrolled the surrounding area, carrying various high-quality firearms.
This was the site of the Martial Artist Combat Assessment.
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