Dragon Blood Saint Emperor

The middle-aged man handling registration was Tan Zhengqing, a Captain of the Nanyang Guard!

At his command, the crowd formed a line to register their names, making it easier to record the number of applicants for the assessment.

Registering was simple. All they had to do was state their name.

"Name!"

"Tang... Tang Yu!"

Upon hearing Tan Zhengqing’s question, a young man answered fearfully.

’Worthless!’

Without a single glance, Tan Zhengqing snorted inwardly and wrote down the name.

The young man, Tang Yu, walked onto the training grounds as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He couldn’t be blamed; the fierce killing intent radiating from Tan Zhengqing was simply terrifying.

"Next! Name!"

"Yut Wei!"

...

As Tan Zhengqing called out, the applicants announced their names one by one. The registration process was swift, and it was soon Ye Wushuang’s turn.

"Name!"

"Ye Wushuang!"

Ye Wushuang stated his name flatly.

Tan Zhengqing was about to write it down when his eyes suddenly glinted.

This voice was different. It was utterly devoid of emotion, perfectly calm—a stark contrast to everyone who had come before.

Curious, he looked up and stared at Ye Wushuang.

At the same time, Ye Wushuang met his gaze. Their eyes locked.

Tan Zhengqing frowned. ’This kid’s gaze... it’s so calm. Frighteningly calm, as if he’s hiding something terrible.’

After a long moment, Tan Zhengqing was shocked to realize that he was the first to break eye contact.

"Not bad, kid!"

Far from being angry, Tan Zhengqing was amused. Many of the previous applicants had trembled in fear just at the sound of his voice.

But this young man in white dared to meet his gaze, and had even bested him in the silent contest.

’He’s got guts!’

’The Nanyang Guard needs people like him!’

Tan Zhengqing suddenly broke into a laugh, much to the surprise of the Nanyang Guard members on duty. It was rare to see a smile on Captain Tan’s face.

"Go on in. Do well in the assessment," Tan Zhengqing said.

"Thank you." Ye Wushuang clasped his fist and walked inside, leaving the crowd behind him stunned.

Upon entering the training grounds, Ye Wushuang headed directly for a large plaza.

The applicants were gathered in the plaza, all crowded around a high platform.

On the platform stood a young man in green armor. He stood there with a cold expression, his muscular, burly frame radiating the powerful aura of the Spiritual Spring Fifth Layer.

"Your assessment is very simple. Endure ten of my moves, and you pass. Endure a hundred, and you’ll become a squad leader. Defeat me, and you can become a Captain!"

The young man announced, his voice clear. The Rules were simple: they had to fight him.

As soon as the young man finished speaking, someone stepped onto the platform.

"State your name!" the examiner demanded, staring at the newcomer.

"Zhong Hui!" The man who had stepped up, Zhong Hui, was at the Spiritual Spring Third Layer. The moment he announced his name, he lunged at the examiner like a fierce tiger, his True Essence erupting from his body.

For the sake of fairness, the examiner matched his opponent’s strength, fighting at the Spiritual Spring Third Layer. He threw out a powerful Killing Fist, filled with a grim, murderous energy.

BAM!

After ten moves, Zhong Hui was knocked off the stage.

"Hahaha, I lasted ten moves!" Zhong Hui wiped the blood from his lips and laughed maniacally, much to the envy of the crowd.

On the other side of the plaza, two men approached.

"Pathetic."

One of the men said with a look of utter disdain, watching the ecstatic Zhong Hui.

"Di Xuan, don’t you forget. When you joined the Nanyang Guard, you only managed to last a hundred moves!"

the man with unbound hair reminded him coolly.

Then, the man with unbound hair walked toward the crowd, a hint of disdain on his face as well. Of course, his disdain was directed at Di Xuan.

’He’d gone through the exact same thing back then. What was there to be so disdainful about?’

’What’s so despicable about being excited to achieve your dream?’

"Damn it, Cao Hong, just you wait. If you ever fall into my hands, I’ll make you pay!" Di Xuan’s eyes flashed with malice as he too walked toward the crowd.

BAM! BAM! BAM...

Applicant after applicant went up. Some were ecstatic to pass, while others failed to last even ten moves and could only leave the field in disappointment.

Ye Wushuang observed the young man on the stage. His Combat Power was indeed extraordinary; it was no wonder some of the applicants couldn’t last ten moves.

Withdrawing his gaze, Ye Wushuang stepped onto the platform.

"Someone with a build like that is going up? Isn’t he just asking for a beating?"

Many eyes turned to watch Ye Wushuang as he walked onto the high platform.

"I won’t go easy on you. If you don’t want to get hurt, back down now," the examiner said, sizing up Ye Wushuang’s slender frame.

Although he couldn’t discern Ye Wushuang’s Cultivation, he was confident he had a clear grasp of his strength.

"’Losing heart before the battle is a soldier’s greatest shame. I’m sure you understand that better than I do," Ye Wushuang said coolly, causing the examiner’s eyes to narrow.

Down below, Cao Hong’s eyes narrowed as well, his gaze fixed on the high platform.

He wasn’t the only one. In the distance, two middle-aged men also turned their attention to the platform.

"Lord Marshal, this kid is quite impressive. With a bit of training, he could become a great asset," one of the middle-aged men said with a smile.

This man was none other than Tan Zhengqing.

And next to him was the highest commander of the Nanyang Guard: Menn Qi, the Mongolian Marshal!

"The Nanyang Guard cannot contain a man like him."

Menn Qi said suddenly, his eyes fixed on Ye Wushuang.

"Lord Marshal, I took a moment to investigate his background. It’s completely clean. If we turn him away like this, wouldn’t that be a waste...?"

Tan Zhengqing said urgently. Few people had ever impressed him, but Ye Wushuang was one of them. Anyone who could say "to lose heart before the battle is a soldier’s greatest shame" was worthy of his recommendation.

"You don’t understand what I mean."

Looking at the anxious Tan Zhengqing, Menn Qi shook his head. His eyes, fixed on Ye Wushuang, glinted thoughtfully. After a moment, he simply said, "Just watch."

Tan Zhengqing was puzzled. There was clearly a hidden meaning in Menn Qi’s words, so he had no choice but to keep watching.

"Not bad, kid. For that alone, if you can last five moves, I’ll let you pass," the examiner said after a moment’s pause.

"That kid’s got some dumb luck!"

The crowd below was green with envy. Five moves was a much lower bar.

"I have a question. If I defeat you, do I get the position of Captain right away?"

Ye Wushuang’s sudden question made the entire crowd freeze. ’How arrogant!’

No one had ever dared to claim they could defeat the examiner. Ye Wushuang was the first, and he did so right after being offered a five-move handicap.

Now, the examiner’s expression soured. He said in a low voice, "Defeat me, and you become a Captain. Those are the Rules for the Nanyang Guard’s assessment. It’s not a joke."

"It’s over. That kid is done for."

The crowd noticed the shift in the examiner’s expression and offered a silent prayer for Ye Wushuang.

"State your name!" the examiner shouted, following procedure.

"Ye Wushuang!"

Ye Wushuang’s tone was just as flat.

The sudden announcement of the name, however, made Di Xuan’s eyes narrow. Killing intent flared from him. The name "Ye Wushuang" was not unfamiliar to him!

Because he, Di Xuan, was of the Di Family, a branch of the Seven Kills Family!