Chapter Fourteen: The Preliminary Warrior Examination

Morning, Villa No. 200, Mingyue Community.

This villa spans three floors with a basement, and boasts a massive terrace on the third level. Its total area is 512 square meters. If you include the basement, courtyard, and the expansive terrace, the space approaches 800 square meters.

On the second floor, there are four exceptionally large rooms: a bedroom, a home theater, a reception room, and the vast martial arts training hall. The training hall alone covers 120 square meters, nearly half the total area of the second floor.

Luo Yuan had just finished packing his luggage when his phone rang; it was his instructor, Jiang Nian.

“Hello, Instructor Jiang, is there something you need?”

“Luo Yuan, do you have time now? Our supervisor wishes to meet you, right here at the Extreme Pavilion in Mingyue Community,” Jiang Nian’s calm voice came through.

“The supervisor wants to see me? Alright, I’ll come right away.” Luo Yuan changed into his training outfit and stepped out of his villa, not knowing who this supervisor actually was, nor dwelling on it much.

Reaching the Extreme Pavilion, Luo Yuan immediately saw a vast area ahead. Beyond the stretching silver-white walls stood a towering deep blue skyscraper. On its facade, four gigantic characters declared, even from miles away: Extreme Martial Pavilion!

Outside the walls of the main pavilion, armed guards stood at intervals with live ammunition. The entire headquarters felt like a beast armed to the teeth. The main entrance alone spanned a hundred meters, flanked by rows of soldiers scanning their surroundings.

To Luo Yuan’s surprise, Jiang Nian was waiting for him at the entrance, a clear sign of their regard.

“This is the headquarters of the Extreme Martial Pavilion in Jiangnan City,” Jiang Nian explained.

“These are our internal security forces; the pavilion has the right to establish its own security corps.”

“Don’t be nervous, Luo Yuan. This is just a routine meeting. Come, let’s head inside.”

Jiang Nian patted Luo Yuan’s shoulder, leading him toward the entrance. Luo Yuan nodded in response.

“Let him through!” commanded a scar-faced, one-armed man at the gate. Instantly, all the soldiers stepped back in unison, their disciplined formation radiating a chilling, iron-blooded aura.

“Our martial artists here are very united,” Jiang Nian pointed to the skyscraper. “That building is the headquarters for our martial artists in Jiangnan City. Nearly everyone coming and going through it is a practitioner.”

“Almost all martial artists?” Luo Yuan was taken aback, then delighted; this seemed the perfect place for him to collect attributes. He could make out faint figures within the lobby, likely over a hundred people.

“Most on the first floor are socializing. The second to ninth floors are for warrior-level practitioners to train and linger. The tenth to nineteenth floors are for warlord-level practitioners. Floors above the twentieth are reserved for collective meetings.”

Listening to Jiang Nian’s introduction, Luo Yuan felt an urge to become a martial artist as soon as possible, wondering if he might be tested ahead of schedule.

As they conversed, Luo Yuan and Jiang Nian soon reached a large, standalone three-story villa. Its second floor was empty, matching the size of the training hall at the pavilion in Yian District, Yangzhou.

“Supervisor, Uncle Bai, Chief Instructor,” Jiang Nian called respectfully upon entering the second floor.

“Jiang Nian, this young man must be Luo Yuan,” a gentle voice responded.

“Yes, Supervisor,” Jiang Nian replied, full of respect.

Luo Yuan looked up carefully. Seven people stood on the second floor: an elderly man with white hair, a middle-aged man with long hair, and five others who seemed to be together. Four of them wore white suits, standing respectfully behind a middle-aged man dressed in a black Tang suit. This man was thin, with a hooked nose and gentle, smiling eyes, exuding an air of subtle softness.

Jiang Nian signaled Luo Yuan with his eyes, and Luo Yuan realized this was the highest-ranking official. He quickly greeted, “Supervisor.”

“Mm,” the Tang-suited man nodded slightly. “Luo Yuan, shall we assess your abilities right now?”

Luo Yuan hesitated at the directness. “Uh, yes, but may I ask—could this test count as my martial artist qualification exam? I’d like to be evaluated ahead of schedule,” he ventured, sensing the supervisor’s formidable strength.

“Certainly,” the Tang-suited man agreed decisively, after sizing up Luo Yuan.

“Let’s begin,” he instructed the four behind him.

“Yes, sir.”

“Beep!”

The switches for the punching power tester and speed measurement devices were activated.

“Vrrr—”

Cameras and other equipment in the spacious training hall flickered to life, ready to record Luo Yuan’s performance in detail. The four youths in white suits sprang into action—some with tablets, others checking the precision of the instruments.

“Luo Yuan, start with the punching power test,” the Tang-suited man said gently.

Luo Yuan drew a deep breath, walked up to the machine, and, his body relaxed, suddenly exploded into action like a leopard.

“Boom!” His heavy punch landed with a burst of force on the target.

The display showed: ‘2200 kg’.

“Well done, young man,” the once-placid supervisor smiled and nodded. “Proceed to the next test.”

Speed and neural response tests followed swiftly.

Speed: 45 m/s.

Neural response: Micro-level.

“Your physical attributes are impressive—matching a mid-level warrior. And this, without practicing the genetic original energy cultivation technique. That neural response, reaching micro-level, marks you as a true talent,” the Tang-suited man said, his eyes glowing with admiration.

“Eighteen years old—well within the age limit.”

He turned to Jiang Nian with a smile. “Yian District has produced an exceptional talent. Jiang Nian, you deserve credit.”

Jiang Nian, pleased, smiled modestly. “It’s mostly Luo Yuan’s own hard work.”

The Tang-suited man's gaze rested on Luo Yuan. “Luo Yuan, I hear you’ve agreed to join our Extreme Martial Pavilion. Excellent. Jiang Nian’s offer was somewhat modest.”

He addressed a woman in a white suit nearby: “Draft a contract as per tradition—but amend one clause. Luo Yuan may freely choose manuals for movement techniques, guidance arts, offensive techniques, and weaponry. As long as the total value doesn’t exceed two hundred million, it’s all free. I’ll cover the cost.”

“Yes, Supervisor.” The woman shot Luo Yuan a surprised glance, then hurried off to print the contract.

“Supervisor…” Luo Yuan was startled.

“You’ve done very well,” the Tang-suited man smiled. “I have high hopes for you. Don’t worry about the money—it’s a trivial matter.”

ps: Esteemed readers, your support, monthly votes, and favorites are humbly requested. Luo Yuan bows in gratitude.