The villa's second floor was exceptionally spacious, no smaller than the training hall at the Limits Dojo in Yi'an District.
"Director," the two men called respectfully as they brought Zhang Junbao over.
"Wu Tong, this young man is Zhang Junbao, isn't he?" a gentle voice asked.
"Yes, Director," Wu Tong replied respectfully.
Zhang Junbao looked up and saw the gray-haired Uncle Bai standing behind a middle-aged man. The man wore a black Tang suit and had a lean build and a hooked nose. His eyes held a gentle smile, lending him a refined air.
Zhang Junbao thought, His bearing still falls a little short of mine. Of course, he wouldn't say that aloud.
Seeing Zhang Junbao freeze, Wu Tong assumed he had been struck by the director's bearing and nudged his foot.
"Greetings, Director." Zhang Junbao gave a respectful bow.
"Mm, that greeting has a touch of classical charm."
The director in the Tang suit nodded slightly. "Old Bai, you may begin. First, test this young man's strength."
"Yes!" Uncle Bai replied.
Zhang Junbao muttered inwardly, I used to select disciples this way myself. I never thought the day would come when I'd be selected like this.
Oh well. If I want to rise as quickly as possible in this era, I need to make use of the Limits Dojo's strength. It's just a few formalities; there's no need to resist.
Uncle Bai soon prepared the equipment, and Zhang Junbao stepped up to the testing machine.
Several cameras had been set up around the training hall, evidently to record Zhang Junbao's entire test. Several staff members were also there to operate the equipment and record his results. It was clearly more professional than the Quasi-Warrior Assessment.
"Uncle Bai, the equipment is ready," a woman in a white suit said from the side.
"All right." Uncle Bai turned to Zhang Junbao. "Zhang Junbao, the procedure is the same as the Quasi-Warrior Assessment. Let's begin with your punching force."
Zhang Junbao got ready, subtly gathering his strength. Wu Tong, Jiang Nian, Uncle Bai, the testing staff, and even the director all fixed their eyes on him.
With a bang!, Zhang Junbao drove a heavy punch into the machine's target.
A number soon appeared on the display: "1380 kg."
"To reach this level without having cultivated Genetic Origin Energy-not bad, young man." The ever-composed director smiled faintly and nodded.
"Next test."
The speed test was soon completed: "41 m/s."
"He's already reached the level of an Intermediate Warrior. Very good!"
The most crucial test, the neural reaction test, was about to begin. Wu Tong and Jiang Nian held their breath, and even the director's eyes lit up.
"Set the Neural Reaction Tester to its highest level," the director ordered.
"Director, that setting can test someone at the Advanced General-Level!" Uncle Bai exclaimed. The director's expectations for this young man were a bit too high, weren't they?
"Do it. I want to see how far this little fellow can go."
"Yes!" Uncle Bai said no more and silently adjusted the equipment.
A slight smile appeared on Zhang Junbao's lips. It seemed the director really thought highly of him. Clearly, he too had been startled by what Wu Tong had said earlier about his "Perfect Level" movement technique and wanted to size him up properly.
Since that was the case, Zhang Junbao had no intention of hiding his abilities. Years of tempering had long since allowed him to bring the Roaming Dragon Startled Swan Steps to their utmost, but his body's physical qualities were insufficient for him to display his full strength.
Even so, it was enough to astound the director.
Zhang Junbao would either stay silent or make a stunning debut. If he wanted to secure more resources from the Limits Dojo, he needed to fully display his talent.
"Begin!" At Uncle Bai's command, the machine rapidly whirred into action.
Inside the red circle, Zhang Junbao's feet moved in a rapid rhythm, his eyes working just as furiously. Every rubber bullet narrowly missed him, and the dense barrage left even Jiang Nian and Wu Tong dazzled.
Uncle Bai and the staff members beside him were so shocked that their mouths fell open, their faces full of disbelief.
A sharp light flickered constantly in the director's eyes, and his expression was intensely focused.
Unlike Luo Wenchong, his own movement technique had also reached the Perfect Level. He was stronger and more knowledgeable, and his position even allowed him to meet War God Level warriors frequently. As a result, he could better appreciate the intricacy of Zhang Junbao's movement technique.
"Beep..."
To everyone else, those sixty seconds felt longer than an hour, as though Zhang Junbao's movement technique had changed the rules by which time operated.
"Time's up. What's the result?" the director asked.
Only then did Uncle Bai come to his senses. He stared at the data on the display as though he had seen a ghost.
"Sixty seconds, hit three times, no contact with the red line. Full marks for an Intermediate Warlord, excellent for an Advanced Warlord!"
"Impossible!" Uncle Bai's first reaction upon seeing the data was that it was wrong.
But several instruments had produced the same result, leaving him questioning his life.
"Hahahaha, excellent! Although I don't know how you did it, the degree of control you have over your body is something even I have never seen before.
"You're seventeen and a half, so you're within the age limit too."
The director in the Tang suit laughed. "Wu Tong, Jiang Nian, you've found a monstrous genius for the dojo! Both of you deserve tremendous credit!"
Seeing the result, Jiang Nian also brightened and smiled. "It was mainly thanks to Junbao's own hard work."
"Mm! Zhang Junbao, are you willing to join my Limits Dojo right now? The previous terms are void. Based on your talent, I'll draw up new ones for you.
"You may choose a villa in Yangzhou City or here at the headquarters in the main urban district. It will be entirely yours, but if you want to sell it, you can only sell it to a warrior from the Limits Dojo.
"Besides that, Wu Tong originally told you about twenty million in starting funds and three manuals-for a movement technique, a Guidance Technique, and a secret attack technique-priced at no more than fifty million.
"Here's what we'll do: your starting funds will be increased to two hundred million.
"Since your movement technique has already reached the Perfect Level, techniques at that level cost more than fifty million. Even the lowest-priced Artistic Conception Level movement techniques cost around two hundred million.
"You may now choose any movement technique manual for the next stage. As long as it costs no more than four hundred million, the dojo will cover the full amount. The Guidance Technique and secret attack technique may each cost up to fifty million."
The director in the Tang suit looked at the woman in the suit. "Draw up a contract with the terms I just stated. Add one more clause: I'll personally sponsor you with another two hundred million in starting funds."
"Yes, Director!" Even if the woman in the suit had been a fool, she would have understood how highly the director valued Zhang Junbao. The dojo's terms alone were more than ten times better than those offered to ordinary warriors, and the director had even volunteered to provide starting funds himself.
It could be said that Zhang Junbao's starting point was enough to take other warriors several years of struggle to reach.
"Thank you, Director!" Wu Tong and Jiang Nian both understood what this meant and hurriedly thanked him on Zhang Junbao's behalf.
"Thank you for your support, Director!" Zhang Junbao said.
He had received several hundred million from the man for no reason, and he truly was short of money at the moment. The director certainly knew how to deal with people.
Of course, this came after he had displayed sufficient talent. Investing in geniuses early was something many people did.
"Hahaha, my name is Zhuge Tao. Don't you forget it, kid. Your talent is excellent. If you progress quickly after successfully cultivating Genetic Origin Energy, you might have a chance to apply for a place in Special Training."
"Although you aren't strong enough yet, I believe you'll have a chance soon," Zhuge Tao said with a smile.
The woman in the suit soon prepared and printed the contract. Zhang Junbao checked that everything was in order and signed his name, officially joining the Limits Dojo.