Chapter 24 (2/2)

Suddenly, an explosion revealed a small pit the size of a footprint. Amidst the crumbling surface and flying rocks, Fang Xingjian had already flipped across the wall and headed towards the examination area.

As the Prefectural Selection neared, Kirst gradually started filling with strangers. They were Warriors who had come for the selections from the neighboring cities, towns, or even villages.

According to the official figures, more than three thousand people were participating in Kirst’s Prefectural Selection.

While hurrying all the way to the examination area, Fang Xingjian saw many brave strong Warriors carrying various weapons. Solemnity and nervousness fully shone on their faces, since the following competition could decide the paths that the rest of their lives would take.

The drill grounds in the City Guards Institution were already packed with people. Fang Xingjian queued up at the entrance to verify his identity before he took a number tag and wore it on his wrist.

Fang Xingjian had been casually standing by the side. After a while, his senior in The School of Sword Arts, Ogden, appeared before him. Ogden had already comprehended the Nine Yang Divine Sword Technique and had successfully attained level 2 in it. Confidence was written all over his face. His current strength, agility, and reaction attributes had all broken past 20 points. A few juniors who were also participating in the selection followed behind him.

Seeing Fang Xingjian, he could not help but laugh. “Isn’t this Junior Xingjian? After hiding for so many months, you’re finally out in the sun?

“Couldn’t have been easy training by yourself. Anyway, it’s been such a long time. Have you increased your Eagle Sword Technique’s level? Do you need some guidance from me?

“Oh, right. Young Master Kaunitz is also here for the selection. Why don’t you go greet him?”

Ogden laughed out loud. To him, the one Fang Xingjian feared the most in The School of Sword Arts would be Kaunitz, who had thrashed him daily.

Fang Xingjian smiled coldly in his heart and threw a glance towards Ogden. Suddenly, he placed his hand on Ogden’s chest and pushed him with a little force. It was as if an adult had pushed a young child. Ogden flew backwards and landed with a bang after tumbling away over ten meters.

“You!” Having been pushed over by the other party in one strike, his face had turned a furious red. But then he thought to himself, ‘What happened? How could his strength exceed mine by such a large margin?’

At this moment, a red-haired Knight wearing Knight attire clapped, starting to speak slowly from a podium on the drill grounds. “Everyone is here, let’s begin.”

This Knight had strong limbs, a full beard decorated his face, and his red hair flew in the wind like flames.

He had only opened his mouth normally, not even shouting, but the sound waves reached the ends of the arena due to some specific contractions of his lungs. Ogden’s expression turned ghastly. He glared at Fang Xingjian fiercely, but did nothing else.

Fang Xingjian did not even look at him, but instead stared fixedly at the red-haired Knight, saying to himself, ‘His internal organs must be extremely condensed, and their strength is equivalent to that of a strong man’s arms and thigh muscles.’ He had asked around and had found that the Knight before him was one of the examiners in the selections. He was Hogan, the leader of the City Guards, at level 19. Since he had been able to attain level 19, it was obvious that he had completed his first transition after becoming a Knight.

His abilities were just a step away from reaching the second transition. It was said that he had participated in the Regional Selection before, and had almost become a Conferred Knight, who could attain the right to the Empire’s second job transition.

As the red-haired Knight spoke, everyone on the grounds fell silent.

The Knight nodded, satisfied, and said, “I am Hogan, your examiner for the first round.”

The Empire’s Prefectural Selection was not an easy test. The three areas he was evaluating were namely their physical abilities, their techniques, and their level of comprehension.

The examinees were basically Warriors who had not gone through the first job transition, and there were many participants overall. Therefore, it was not arranged for them to have duels which could easily result in deaths or injuries.

Suppose there were duels between a few thousand people, each of them the elites of various dojos and academies. If there were to be any cases of injuries or death, these could even incite fierce rioting, increase the frequency of armed fights in the city, and cause unrest in the Empire.

Moreover, a single battle would not be sufficient to determine one’s potential and talent.

Hence, the Prefectural Selection removed the battling mode, only including theoretical and practical tests.

Hogan continued. “The Prefectural Selection’s main arena is at Kirst Royal Academy, which is about twelve kilometers away.

“You have ten minutes to get there. All latecomers will be disqualified.

“So, I will be waiting there.”

After saying that, in a flash, Hogan sprinted beyond the drill grounds. The air howled and the earth shook, as if a large group of elephants were running wildly. Each of his steps smashed the ground into pieces, making little pits, while the enormous counterforce propelled his body, allowing him to dash out like a rocket, and even to rip through the air, creating a trail of faint white smoke.

‘What a fast speed!’ Fang Xingjian’s gaze froze. ‘To have such an explosive force, his strength and agility must both be at a minimum of 50. No, they could even be at 60! Or even higher!’

With Hogan’s display of ability, many Warriors on the ground started to move, jostling each other as they headed towards the drill grounds’ exit.

“Everyone, I will make a move first. The Tresia Clan will be accepting the position of this time’s Prefectural Champion.”

With a faint howl, a shadow dashed up high. Kaunitz stepped on the heads of over ten Warriors and dashed out of the drill grounds like a cool breeze.

The City Guards’ Institution was barricaded by tall walls over five meters tall, and the fastest way out was through the main gate.

Kaunitz’s control was brought to its peak. He used the bones and muscles of the bodies in the crowd as a propulsion medium, sprinting to the gate in a flash.

However, just as he was about to leap to the main gate, a fierce gale howled. The turbulence in the air stirred against his face, making it difficult for him to breathe.

“Scram.”

Immediately afterwards, a gigantic shadow loomed over him.