Lone Wolf

The Guards returned to ground-level and so did the Blades. Then they separated, the Guards went down the stairs to the Library gate and the Blades went up.

"Where are we going?" Liu Lei asked Jun Long

"I have no idea."

Qiang Shi led the Blades to the very top of the Castle, a place higher than the Library. Black banners with red wolves... this must be a restricted area just for the Blades. There was only one building, a huge fortified mansion, which looked just about large enough to house 3,000 Blades.

"This is our base of operations, a place exclusive to the Blades. if you see Guards or any other unauthorised intruders trespassing you may apprehend them. If they resist, you are permitted to kill the intruder. You all understand? Good. Do you all know why you haven't seen many Blades around before the assembly?"

The small crowd of recruits shook their heads. That's a good question, I don't remember seeing any Blades when I was walking around the sect... I started to think they were a myth before the assembly!

"Is it because you're all on missions?" Liu Lei answered

"Who asked you to speak?"

"..."

"Raise your hand first. Then... only if I grant you permission, you may speak. Do you understand?"

Liu Lei nodded. Damn, these Blades are really strict. No wonder Shun Zhi is a blade, he would thrive in this sort of environment.

"Good! Now, allow me to explain. Liu Lei isn't wrong, we're a very busy division. But the real reason you haven't seen many Blades around is... you're not allowed to leave this building unless you have my permission!"

What!? We're stuck in that mansion until he says otherwise?

"Right, let's get you all organised! We have two sub-divisions or legions, whichever word sounds better. The first sub-division is called the Rangers and the second is called the Scorpions. It's relatively simple, I'm sure you very talented disciples can figure it out what each sub-division does. We're going to start with a few tests to determine which sub-division would suit you recruits best. Follow me."

The General opened the large door and let everyone in. Then the door was closed by one of the higher-ranking Blades. The mansion looked even bigger on the inside. Qiang Shi led us to the lower floors, where the Blades train. The upper floors are used to house Blades while the lower floors are used to train them... a nice system if I do say so myself.

"Feast your eyes on this wonderful facility!"

All of the new disciples gazed up an underground... sect! In the far distance stood a large group of Blade disciples, their training was halted due to the test. So, they decided to watch the new recruits perform since they had nothing better to do.

"Wow... that's amazing." Liu Lei stated

"Yeah, I never knew the Blades had something like this." Another disciple added

Aerion nodded, this was quite impressive. The buildings weren't detailed but they served their purpose. On the other side of the small fake sect stood a large forest.

"Look at those kids, they're clueless."

"Hehehe, this is going to be so fun! Last year I remember how badly I lost... but this time we're the seniors!"

"We should be wary of that Jun Long, he's a transcendent disciple."

"So... when will we strike?"

"Now!"

*Shew*

A hundred arrows flew straight down towards the disciples.

*Pierce*

An arrow struck the General and he fell to the ground... the senior Blades seemed to have disappeared. Only the recruits were left. My wind aura knocked away a large number of arrows.

"Damn it... run." These were the "last" words of the general. There was no way he really died so easily... this has to be the first test!

A surprise attack, eh? Very well, let's play!

"Jun Long, where are you going!? The general is dead! The general, a sky profound cultivator!!! How are we supposed to win!?"

"Shush, we have to find a safe place... follow me!"

Liu Lei didn't move, he was horrified. Doesn't he understand that this is just a test, a game!? Damn it! I knocked him out with my right hand and retreated into one of the buildings. I locked the door shut and dropped Liu Lei to the floor. I looked through the window, the other recruits were starting to realise what was happening. I wake Liu Lei.

"What was that for?"

"We didn't have much time... anyway, we have to protect ourselves from our enemies."

"What enemies?"

"I suspect that they're Blades."

"Blades... why would they attack us?"

"To test us, of course."

After a few seconds, Liu Lei finally let it sink in.

"That... makes sense. But, what do we have to do to win?"

"Survive for a long period of time or just beat them all up... I think. I know what I'm going to do."

"What?"

"Beat them all up, of course!"

The barrage of arrows seem to have died down, the opposing Blades are most likely searching for the recruits. I opened the door.

"Well? Are you coming with me?"

"No... I'm going by myself!"

Hmm? He's going all alone...? Why?

"You've always helped me... during the 100-day training, the rescue mission and even the assembly tournament! It's time I fight for myself."

"I... understand."

*BOOM*

A bomb exploded which resulted in a large amount of smoke... a smoke bomb?

"Such a wonderful speech... prepare to lose, Jun Long!"

I couldn't see anything... so I, using my profound strength, waved the smoke away. I couldn't find Liu Lei anywhere, looks like he ran away from the smoke.

"Not bad, no-"

Star God's Broken Shadow.

I moved to where the voice was coming from. I found him, the attacker. He wore the black blade's uniform but instead of the red secondary colour, his uniform's secondary colour was gold. Also, on his left arm, he wore the emblem of the golden scorpion... not the red wolf.

"You think you've caught me, eh? You wish!"

*BOOM*

Another smoke bomb... but the smoke was yellow this time. I accidentally breathed it in... the smoke was poisonous. I waved the smoke away and started to think. What do I do now? Jasmine did mention once that the Sky Poison Pearl can cure any poison, so I don't have to worry about it. I was so close to defeating him...

I activate my sharingan and start looking for Blades. Looks like I won't have to chase them down... they're already here! The two consecutive bombs must've brought them here.

"Who's our next prey... wait... that's Jun Long! Nah, this isn't worth it, I'm running away!"

"Where are you going? Damn coward!"

*Slap*

"Get it together, he's just one adept disciple and we're ten well-trained blades! We can handle him."

He does have a point... kind of.

"Ok, you're right, we can handle this ki-"

DEMON KING'S EXPLOSION!

*BOOM*

After the dust cleared, all ten blades were unconscious. Aerion decreased the power output by a large amount (he didn't want to severely injure anyone) but it was still strong enough to one-shot the blade disciples.

~30 minutes later~

Aerion defeated about sixty blade disciples in this time and it was getting harder to find them. Were they all defeated already? He did encounter a few fellow recruits but he didn't join their groups, Aerion was a lone wolf. Besides, the recruits would've slowed him down.

I don't remember defeating the scorpion disciple... maybe someone else knocked him out?

"You look lost, Jun Long!"

*BOOM*

Another smoke bomb? No... it's a bomb that fires out small blades!

Wind Aura.

My wind aura quickly waves away the projectiles.

"Tch, you react too quickly... stop making things so difficult!"

*SHEW*

A crossbow bolt... from behind!? I'm too slow... to dodge it!

*PIERCE*

The bolt pierced my right leg. After a quick scan of the area, I located the attacker... it was the same scorpion disciple. He was hiding pretty well, blending in with the leaves. Unfortunately, my eyes can see through such small obstacles.

Star God's Broken Shadow.

I make my way around and sneak up on the disciple. My afterimage is probably making him feel so secure... little does he know, I'm right behind him!

*SMACK*

I smack him so hard he falls unconscious.

"WELL DONE, RECRUITS. YOU HAVE WENT AGAINST THE ODDS AND DEFEATED YOUR PATHETIC SENIORS. I WANT YOU ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FACILITY IN FIVE MINUTES!"

That's the General's voice projected with profound energy... I should start walking back to the middle.

The middle was just a wasteland, there wasn't anything there but rocks. The right side was the artificial forest while the left was the fake sect.

Aerion made his way to the wasteland. In 2 minutes, he found the group.

"So, did you all enjoy the test? Of course, you did. This test was made to see how quickly you all would adjust to an ambush, your ability to hide from stronger opponents and your use of teamwork to defeat them in battle. All of you did that, apart from you two." He pointed at Aerion and Liu Lei

"Let's start with Liu Lei. He did adjust to the situation, thanks to Jun Long, but he decided to fight someone far stronger than him alone, without any strategy, this ended in his defeat. Though I must say, his stealth is pretty good."

Now... what did I do wrong? I wasn't defeated, in fact, I embarrassed the senior blades.

"Now, onto you, Jun Long. You're wondering, "what did I do wrong?". The answer is, you did nothing wrong!"

Huh...? Wait, he's trying to say we did things differently compared to the others... not that we did anything wrong. Well, Liu Lei definitely did something wrong but I don't see any faults in my methods.

"You fought like a true blade, quick and strong. You knew you didn't need help from the others, so you just did everything by yourself. The ability to be independent and adaptable is very useful when you're a blade since you work alone most of the time."

I see.

"Damn it, those recruits are something else. I'm going to get some sleep..." A senior blade stated

"Ganging up on their poor seniors, how shameful."

"You totally deserve it for being so confident.

"Jun Long, his tournament win wasn't just for show... he's the real deal."

~

The second test was pretty simple. You get three arrows and three targets, the aim is to hit all three targets. The difficult part was the distance... the targets were a hundred meters away! Not only that, they were placed in weird angles... making it even harder! I haven't used a bow in a long time... this will be hard.

"A ranger should make use of every arrow and never miss. Missing your shot will alert the enemy and so will shooting slowly, you must be able to take out your targets as quickly as possible! You, go first."

The recruits began to shoot their arrows one by one, every hit was loudly celebrated. If a person hit two, they would be named a genius (Liu Lei hit 2!). If a person hit 3... wait, that didn't happen yet. Aerion was the last person to go.

He grabbed his three arrows and put all three on his bow.

"Three at once!?" a disciple shouted in surprise

"That's very smart... he isn't shooting 3 at once, he's simply making the process faster. He'll only have to draw once, instead of three times, effectively increasing the speed of his shooting!" Liu Lei stated

"Liu Lei is correct." The General nodded

Let's do this...

Aerion focused his inner archer and gazed at his targets. He filled the arrows with profound wind energy so that the arrows would have a way higher chance of hitting their targets

*FIRE*

*FIRE*

*FIRE*

*BOOOM*

Aerion quickly notched his arrows one by one and hit every target! All 3 wooden targets exploded once their intended arrows hit them.

"That's... cheating!" One disciple stated

The General shook his head and laughed. "Cheating? I never said you couldn't use your profound energy. Besides, he accurately shot his arrows and surprise... rangers use profound energy when they shoot their arrows! How else do you plan to kill your targets when they have high cultivation strength? A simple arrow won't do, you'll need something more lethal!"

"How could I not think of that?" Liu Lei whispered to himself

The disciple who accused Aerion of cheating apologised and Aerion, being the virtuous young man he is, accepted his apology. Aerion was praised for being a genius and everything was well.

"I forgot to mention that only a small amount of Blades belong to a sub-division..." The General tapped his head "how could I forget such a thing?"

"WHAT!?"

"So we went through all of that just for nothing."

"What a joke..."

The General cleared his throat, the crowd of recruits were silent. "I'll say which of you will be joining the elite sub-divisions."

"Cai Rong will go to the Scorpions. She is a very formidable close-range fighter."

"Liu Lei will go to the Rangers. His archery, stealth and occasional smart thinking will be put to good use."

"And lastly, Jun Long will go to both."

Both!?