A will of steel

Liu Qingfeng froze for a moment and looked toward the speaker.

When he saw it was Yu Sheng, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

In his eyes, this boy was outstanding. He never complained about how exhausting the training Liu Qingfeng put them through was.

He was also exceptionally resilient.

His temperament was just a little strange. Although he usually seemed easygoing, he was like a hedgehog inside. It was hard to get close to him, and he was naturally wary of everyone.

Those things were actually fine. The only thing that gave Liu Qingfeng a headache was...

Yu Sheng's mouth.

It wasn't exactly venomous, but every so often, he would come out with a remark that hit you right where it hurt.

"All right, hurry up and get some rest."

"Relax your mind. Don't think about all that nonsense."

Liu Qingfeng changed the subject swiftly and expertly.

But after eighteen long years of waiting, how could anyone truly calm down with the assessment so close?

Even Yu Sheng looked out the window with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

At last...

An announcement came over the speakers, telling all final-year students to assemble at the awakening rooms.

Three precision instruments had been placed in three separate awakening rooms.

Several teachers stood beside the instruments.

Outside, the students formed three long lines, waiting for their own awakening tests.

The principal stood on a raised platform nearby, watching it all with a sigh. "Every time I see these children awaken, it really moves me. In the blink of an eye, we're already on the fifth generation. Back when we were fighting bloody battles at Demon-Suppressing Pass..."

"Principal, you're fifth-generation too."

A middle-aged woman wearing glasses and an impeccably pressed women's suit corrected him with utmost seriousness.

The unexpected reminder made the principal stiffen mid-reminiscence, but he soon recovered his air of calm composure.

He simply lost interest in saying anything more.

"Class Six, Liu Yuxuan. Four-mark egg."

A somewhat scrawny-looking boy stood beside the instrument, a phantom image appearing behind him.

It was a black egg.

Four golden markings glowed faintly on its surface.

The boy was clearly excited!

Small cities like this had small populations, and naturally, fewer talented people.

Getting four marks was already quite an achievement.

At the very least... if he played his cards right, he could join the Guard Bureau as a guard, round up people soliciting prostitutes when there was nothing else to do, and live out his life in comfort.

After spiritual energy returned to the world.

Beasts had grown tremendously stronger, but humans had awakened special abilities as well.

At the initial awakening, an egg would appear behind you, and the markings on that egg determined your aptitude.

They ranged from one to nine marks.

This stage was known as trainee.

You had no real abilities yourself, but your physical fitness would receive a certain boost.

After absorbing energy from demonic beast essence crystals for a few months or so, the egg would hatch.

Whatever hatched determined your future path of development.

For example, a tiger meant the strength path. A longsword meant the assault path. A sunflower meant the healing path.

In short, the possibilities were endless.

There was nothing these eggs couldn't hatch, only things you hadn't thought of.

One student after another stepped up to the instruments for testing in an orderly fashion. Some cried, while others laughed.

Clearly...

Most people found their results less than ideal.

"I think I can awaken a nine-mark egg."

"Then I'll hatch a Phoenix, one of the Four Divine Beasts, and ride it across the skies. That'll be insanely cool."

In front of Yu Sheng, a pockmarked student spoke excitedly, brimming with anticipation.

"Yeah, yeah, I feel like I can hatch one of the Four Divine Beasts too. Then we can form a Divine Beast Demon-Hunting Squad!"

The two had clearly lost themselves in their fantasies.

Only...

Yu Sheng helpfully supplied a fact. "One of the Four Divine Beasts is called the Black Tortoise. Commonly known as the divine turtle..."

The two boys stiffened in the middle of their fantasies.

"And if you hatch a Phoenix and ride it through the air, won't your little bird get roasted..."

"The Birdless Divine Turtle Squad?"

Yu Sheng seemed to be considering the question seriously.

A second critical hit.

The two instantly lost all desire to talk.

Soon, it was their turn to have their aptitudes tested.

They strode forward with their heads held high, even remembering to turn and give Yu Sheng a contemptuous look.

It was as though, at that moment, they had already awakened nine marks and become the most powerful beings in the world.

"Zhang San, two-mark egg."

"Li Si, two-mark egg."

Beside the instrument, the teacher's cold voice brought them crashing back to reality.

They turned away dejectedly, no longer harboring any fantasies about life.

At last...

"Yu Sheng!"

Hearing his name, Yu Sheng exhaled softly, reined in his fluctuating emotions, and walked toward the awakening room.

Until there came a sound...

"Beep-beep!"

The security gate flashed red, its alarm piercing in the open square.

"Yu Sheng, are you carrying metal objects?"

Seeing this, Liu Qingfeng frowned and walked over from a distance, looking at Yu Sheng as he asked.

"Yes."

Yu Sheng nodded matter-of-factly. "You always need to carry a few weapons for protection when you go out."

Weapons... for protection?

The classmates behind him exchanged bewildered looks.

The cities where humans lived were relatively safe, weren't they? At least ordinary people like them had no need to carry weapons outside.

Either nothing happened, or if something did, they would die even with weapons.

"Take them out. The awakening instrument is very expensive, and metal objects will affect the test results."

Liu Qingfeng gave his student a long look as he explained.

Yu Sheng nodded, then...

The daggers strapped to both arms and his calves.

The steel nails in his jacket pockets.

The fine needles concealed in his jacket lining, which could shoot out with a flick.

Yu Sheng placed the items on the table beside him, one after another.

Everyone around him fell silent.

Was this...

Was he even human?

After completing this series of actions, Yu Sheng stepped through the gate again.

"Beep-beep!"

The alarm sounded again.

Everyone's somewhat dazed gaze fell on Yu Sheng once more.

They were all students. Even if people might experience more in this era, how many seventeen- or eighteen-year-olds went out carrying so many weapons?

"Anything else?"

Liu Qingfeng asked with a frown.

Yu Sheng pondered for two seconds. "Maybe... it's my will of steel?"

Everyone: ???

Even Liu Qingfeng fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Yu Sheng and said wearily, "Keep taking them out!!!"

"Oh."

Yu Sheng nodded, hesitated a little, then finally took off his jacket. Through his shirt, he fiddled with something on his back for a while before removing a compact crossbow.

It had been strapped to his back, its trigger connected to a thin cord. The other end ran along his arm, right to his hand.

In other words, if Yu Sheng suddenly ducked his head and pulled the cord...

Even Liu Qingfeng, a veteran who had fought bloody battles at Shanhai Pass for years, instinctively gave Yu Sheng a few extra looks.

You would have to be a veteran of at least a few years to put together this many nasty surprises, wouldn't you?

Fortunately, this time, the instrument did not sound again.

Under everyone's shocked gazes, Yu Sheng walked inside with a miserable expression.

For no other reason...

A third of his hidden trump cards had been exposed.