Chapter 623 - 621: Centurion

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes as he abruptly threw a punch toward the Mystic Wall.

The punch looked extremely slow.

It was light and feathery, as if it held no power at all.

Tong Niu glanced at Jiang Chen and shook his head in disdain. "Pathetically weak!"

The surrounding crowd also jeered. "His punching speed isn’t even one percent of Tong Niu’s. I bet he’ll only get One-Star!"

"You’re overestimating him, aren’t you? One-Star? I’m guessing Half-Star at best..."

However...

In the next moment, the mocking voices vanished without a trace.

In their place were gasps of astonishment and sharp intakes of breath.

BOOM!

The seemingly light and feathery punch slammed into the Mystic Wall, causing the entire structure to tremble violently.

RUMBLE...

One star.

Two stars.

Three stars...

Tong Niu raised an eyebrow, a playful look on his face. "Not bad. Reaching three stars at the mere Ninth Stage of the Human King Realm... his power already surpasses that of Human Emperors who neglect physical training. The kid’s got potential. Once he breaks through to the Human Emperor Realm, he could probably hit three and a Half-Stars... Wait, this... How is this possible?"

Just as Tong Niu was confidently assessing Jiang Chen...

The light on the Mystic Wall flared brilliantly.

Five stars!

Five and a half...

The speed was already slowing down. Tong Niu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’Good, good, it’s just five and a half. Still, this kid is a real freak. He’s only at the Ninth Stage of the Human King Realm... Holy shit...’

On the Mystic Wall, the sixth star had already lit up.

And the seventh star was flickering between light and dark.

"No way, right? S-seven stars?"

"Could the Mystic Wall be malfunctioning?"

"You’re overthinking it... The City Lord himself refined this Mystic Wall. How could it possibly malfunction?"

Everyone stared with wide eyes.

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, the seventh star finally lit up completely, and then everything stopped.

"Seven stars?"

"This guy is way too strong, isn’t he? Is he really just a Human King?"

"Hahaha, I bet Tong Niu’s face is swollen from that slap..."

Tong Niu was panting heavily, two jets of hot air flaring from his nostrils. A grim fury burned in his eyes. "Damn it, damn it all... That damn kid! He made me lose face like this! He deserves to die!"

Tong Niu was furious.

He had just been so certain, declaring Jiang Chen pathetically weak, only to be proven wrong again and again.

Just as the others had said—his face was practically swollen from the slaps!

His furious gaze fixed on Jiang Chen, Tong Niu ground his teeth. "Kid, don’t get cocky. This is just the most basic assessment. In a few days, when we compete for the Centurion positions, I, Lord Tong Niu, won’t show any mercy. I’ll defeat you in front of everyone and show them that I, Tong Niu, am the strongest!"

The Blood Saber Guard’s gaze toward Jiang Chen now held a trace of awe.

A warm smile on his face, he said, "Lord Jiang, please have a seat over here and wait for a moment!"

"Alright."

Jiang Chen nodded and sat down to Tong Niu’s right.

Tong Niu shot him a cold glance and grumbled, "Kid, I’m definitely going to beat you to a pulp later!"

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes. "Are you an idiot? Do I even know you?"

"You..."

Hot air flared from Tong Niu’s nostrils as he roared, "Kid, you’ve really pissed me off now! I absolutely will not show any mercy!"

"..."

Jiang Chen ignored him and closed his eyes to rest.

The Blood Saber Guard’s assessment test proceeded quite smoothly. Over 30,000 people participated, but only a little over 5,000 passed. This elimination rate of five-sixths effectively barred any Martial Artists with insufficient cultivation from entering the Blood Saber Guard.

"Congratulations on passing this Blood Saber Guard assessment. However, you are not yet official members. For now, enter the barracks and rest for the night. Tomorrow, ten Centurions will be selected from among you. I hope you all prepare well!" After the explanation, the powerful Blood Saber Guard led Jiang Chen and the others to the barracks.

Although they were called barracks, they were actually rows of private courtyards.

The Blood Saber Guard had a total of six million members. Every hundred men formed a small squad, and their captain was called a Centurion!

A thousand men formed a medium squad, and their captain was a Thousand-man Commander!

Ten thousand men formed a large brigade, and the brigade’s captain was also known as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.

Above the Marquises of Ten Thousand Households were the three great Commanders, each commanding two million Blood Saber Guards.

’So two people share a courtyard. No wonder the entire East City is needed for the Blood Saber Guard’s main camp!’ Jiang Chen nodded to himself.

As he stood in the courtyard, he suddenly felt the ground tremble.

He turned to see Tong Niu walking in. It turned out they were assigned to the same courtyard.

Jiang Chen grinned. Before he could even open his mouth, Tong Niu snorted coldly and said arrogantly, "Kid, I’ll let you have the spotlight today, but in tomorrow’s fight for the Centurion position, you’ll be no match for me!"

CLANG!

Tong Niu slammed the door shut.

Jiang Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose and gave a wry smile. "He really lives up to his name. The guy’s as stubborn as a bull!"

A short while later...

A powerful Blood Saber Guard brought a hundred Emperor-level Primordial Pills and gave them to Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen returned to his room and immediately began refining them.

These one hundred Emperor-level Primordial Pills were all imbued with the Mystical Power of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind.

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. ’Just what I needed! After I refine these Primordial Pills, my Four Great Secrets of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind should be able to reach the Tier Six Advanced Realm, just one step away from Tier Seven! Once I’m officially a member of the Blood Saber Guard, I’ll have to find a way to get some Light and Darkness Primordial Pills. It would be best if I could find Primordial Pills for the Secrets of Yin and Yang and the Secrets of Time...’

But what Jiang Chen didn’t know was...

Primordial Pills for the Secrets of Yin and Yang and the Secrets of Time were exceptionally rare, the chances of finding them as slim as finding a single grain in a vast sea.

BUZZ!

Using his devouring technique, he consumed the one hundred Emperor-level Primordial Pills. Just as he expected, his Four Great Secrets of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind smoothly advanced to Tier Six Advanced.

His strength had increased once again!

DONG! DONG! DONG!

Three heavy drum beats sounded, followed by a powerful voice that boomed out: "All Blood Saber Guard, assemble at the Martial Arts Training Ground!"

RUMBLE...

The entire East City trembled as six million Blood Saber Guards rushed toward the Martial Arts Training Ground at top speed.

Jiang Chen left his room and ran right into Tong Niu. Tong Niu snorted coldly and said, "Kid, when the battle for the Centurion positions starts in a bit, don’t you dare be too scared to fight!"

"Don’t worry, I’ll be the one knocking you flat," Jiang Chen said lightly.

Tong Niu laughed heartily. "Knock me flat? You’re dreaming! If you can really knock me flat, I’ll recognize you as my boss from now on. I’ll follow all your orders!"

"It’s a deal!"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly.

’This Tong Niu might be as stubborn as a bull, but he seems like an okay person. He doesn’t have any malicious intent!’

Everyone quickly gathered at the Martial Arts Training Ground.

Six million people stood in perfect formation, clearly divided, without making the slightest sound.

Jiang Chen was secretly amazed. ’Now this is a truly elite force!’

Just then...

Three figures appeared on the Commanding Platform. Each of them was an expert at the Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage. The vital energy and blood flowing from each of them was like the roar of dragons and tigers, incomparably powerful!

"Those are the three great Commanders of the Blood Saber Guard: First Commander Lian Yue, Second Commander Zhao Ziyun, and Third Commander Pei Yidao!"

"Those three are all peerless experts, top masters at the Human Emperor Realm Ninth Stage!"

Amidst the crowd’s discussion...

Zhao Ziyun, seated on the Commanding Platform, slowly began to speak. "Everyone, today our Blood Saber Guard welcomes another group of new brothers. Let’s welcome their arrival..."

"Blood Saber Wudi, conquering all before us!"

"ROAR..."

Six million people shouted in unison, their roars shaking the heavens.

Afterward...

Zhao Ziyun said coolly, "A snake cannot move without a head. Next, we will select the fifty most outstanding soldiers from this new batch to serve as Centurions. Do you see that arena in front of you? Anyone who wants to be a Centurion must get on stage. Use any means necessary to throw your opponents off. The last fifty people remaining will be the fifty Centurions for these new recruits."

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Figure after figure rushed onto the arena stage, at least a hundred in total.

Tong Niu and Jiang Chen were naturally among them. Tong Niu grinned at Jiang Chen. "Kid, don’t you start crying when I throw you off the stage in a minute! Hahaha!"

"You should probably get ready to call me ’boss’!" Jiang Chen laughed.

"Hmph!"

Tong Niu snorted coldly.

The hundred or so people watched each other warily.

Just then...

Zhao Ziyun spoke slowly, "The battle for the Centurion positions—begins!"