Chapter 10: Assessment of Prospective Warriors

"Mom and Dad, I'm heading to the 'Extreme Martial Hall' in the city center. I might not come home for lunch today," Luo Feng said as he stood up after slurping down a big bowl of porridge and three steamed buns. "Just wait for my good news today! I'll call you immediately once I pass the assessment."

Mother Gong Xinlan glanced at Luo Hongguo with a smile: "Hongguo, did you hear that? Make sure to carry your phone with you. You wouldn't want to miss his call."

"Of course, I've got it," Luo Hongguo chuckled.

"Alright, I'm off."

Luo Feng winked at his younger brother Luo Hua, who gave him a thumbs-up and a smile.

...

Early in the morning, Luo Feng left the Nan'an Residential Community and took the subway's Line 11 to 'Zhong'an Road Station,' then transferred to Line 1 to reach the heart of Yangzhou City. After exiting the subway, he walked another ten minutes before arriving at the headquarters of Yangzhou's martial arts sect—the Extreme Martial Hall.

It was just past six o'clock when he left home, and by the time Luo Feng reached his destination, it was nearly eight in the morning.

"Is this the legendary Mingyue Residential Community?" Luo Feng stood outside the serene community gates. Named 'Mingyue,' this was the stronghold of the Extreme Martial Hall in Yangzhou City.

"Sir, this is Mingyue Residential Community. Please keep your distance," a soldier barked, his hand on his loaded rifle. Judging by their uniforms, these were military personnel, not police. "If you cross the yellow line, we have the right to shoot you on sight!"

"As rumored," Luo Feng thought to himself.

Mingyue Residential Community was not only the base of the Extreme Martial Hall in Yangzhou but also the exclusive residential area for martial artists and their families.

"They say only martial artists and their kin live here, and not even the police can barge in," Luo Feng marveled inwardly.

"Everyone," Luo Feng announced at the community entrance, "I'm Luo Feng, a senior student of the Extreme Martial Hall. I'm here for the preliminary warrior assessment." The hall held assessments on the first of every month.

"Oh?"

An elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair emerged from the guardhouse, holding a palm-sized computer. "Young man, you're early. You haven't even reached eight o'clock yet. To be taking the preliminary assessment at such a young age, you're destined for greatness! Hmm, let me see your ID card and senior student ID."

Luo Feng handed over his documents.

"Beep!"

The ID card and student ID slid across the palm computer, and information began to pop up on the screen.

"Eighteen years old?" The elderly man looked at Luo Feng in surprise and smiled warmly. "To dare take the preliminary assessment at eighteen, impressive. I hope you pass today."

"Thank you, sir," Luo Feng replied.

"Let him in!" The elderly man waved his hand.

The electric gates slid open automatically, and a soldier with an assault rifle stepped forward, following Luo Feng: "Sir, I'll take you to the Extreme Martial Hall. Once inside the community, don't wander around! You only have access to the martial hall; the residential area for families is off-limits. If you break the rules, even if I don't act, the patrolling brothers will."

The soldier grinned as he spoke.

"Understood," Luo Feng nodded with a smile, secretly amazed... The nation and the Extreme Martial Hall truly had a cooperative relationship, especially in the core protected areas.

"Hmm, all these are single-family villas," Luo Feng observed as he looked around. Except for the towering Extreme Martial Hall in the center of the community, the rest was a harmonious arrangement of standalone villas, interspersed with rockeries, ponds, and lawns.

...

At the heart of Mingyue Residential Community, inside the Extreme Martial Hall, the soldier returned once Luo Feng entered the lobby.

"Sir, are you here for the preliminary warrior assessment?" A beautiful young woman greeted him with a smile. "Please have a seat over there. You'll be tested along with others at ten o'clock."

Luo Feng nodded and headed to a small bar in the corner of the lobby, where a waiter and bartender were on duty.

"Hmm?" Luo Feng glanced around and saw three people already seated.

Two were chatting, while another sat silently on a sofa.

"Look at those villas over there," a young man in white shouted excitedly. "They're the perk for joining the Extreme Martial Hall. Once you become a martial artist, you get assigned one for free. And you can live here... Just look at this environment, so comfortable."

"A martial artist's community is naturally different from ordinary neighborhoods," the others said as they noticed Luo Feng. He nodded politely and took a seat on a nearby sofa.

Since they didn't know each other, no one spoke.

As time passed, three more people arrived, all unknown to Luo Feng. They seemed older, probably in their thirties or even forties.

"Ha! Luo Feng!" A loud voice rang out.

Luo Feng turned around to see a lean man with a fierce scar on his face approaching: "You're here for the assessment too?"

"Brother Yang?" Luo Feng stood up to greet him.

"It's embarrassing to say, but I tested last month. Unfortunately, my speed only reached 24.9 meters per second. Just a bit short! I didn't pass," Yang Wu said helplessly. In fact, he had already met the requirements for punching power and neural response speed; his weakness was speed.

However, Yang Wu had been improving this year. The difference between 24.9 and 25 meters wasn't significant; with a better state of mind, he might have reached 25 meters.

"I believe you'll pass this time, Brother Yang," Luo Feng said with a smile.

"That Yang guy has tested several times and still hasn't passed. I think he's still in trouble this time," a burly man with a loud voice commented.

Luo Feng looked over and saw the bearded maning at him. Yang Wu immediately glared back: "Mr. Tong, you're talking about me, but you've also failed twice. I think you need another two or three years of rigorous training for your neural response speed."

"Quiet down," a cold voice boomed from the center of the hall.

Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man in loose workout clothes giving them a look. "Let's go upstairs for the assessment. Remember to behave. Today, an old friend of our Yangzhou City's chief instructor is visiting, so don't cause any trouble."

"Yes," everyone replied respectfully, including the previously arrogant bearded man, Yang Wu, and Luo Feng.

"An old friend of the chief instructor?" Luo Feng wondered to himself.

It was known that Yangzhou City had one Extreme Martial Hall and twelve affiliated martial halls. The hall masters of each district were called "instructors," while the head of the headquarters Extreme Martial Hall was known as the "chief instructor."

After entering the elevator, the middle-aged man in the loose sportswear pressed "6."

"Ding!"

The elevator reached the sixth floor.

Whoosh!

The doors opened to reveal a vast training hall filled with about a dozen people, including Luo Feng's acquaintance, Instructor Jiang Nian.

"Everyone, enough chatting," a long-haired man said, and all turned to look at Luo Feng and the other eight newcomers. Faced with their gazes, Luo Feng and the others felt a knot of tension in their stomachs—they knew that apart from the staff, only martial artists frequented the Extreme Martial Hall.

In other words, these dozen or so people were all martial artists! After all, this was the headquarters of the Extreme Martial Hall in Yangzhou City.

"Prepare for the test," the long-haired man ordered.

Luo Feng had seen photos of this man online; he was the hall master of the Extreme Martial Hall and the chief instructor of Yangzhou City, "Wu Tong."

"One by one, hand over your ID cards," the martial artist who led Luo Feng and the others upstairs took their IDs and passed them to Chief Instructor Wu Tong, smiling, "Boss, we have a good number today—eight!"

"Hmm!" Wu Tong casually took an ID card and swiped it across a nearby device.

Beep!

A crystal-clear, transparent screen popped up, displaying the person's information.

"First up, Tong Guan," the chief instructor said indifferently. "Fist strength test. It's interesting to see someone from the military come to our Extreme Martial Hall for assessment."

Hearing this, Luo Feng couldn't help but smile. The Extreme Martial Hall, founded by the world's strongest being, had assessments with global credibility and recognition.

Even military personnel and those from family-based martial arts traditions preferred to take their assessments here.

"Begin the fist strength test," the chief instructor ordered.

"Yes."

The bearded man stepped forward, his eyes blazing as he blocked his face with his left hand and smashed his right fist into the giant punching target, causing it to tremble slightly. The screen of the punching machine immediately displayed the number—986kg.

"Passed. Next, Luo Feng," the chief instructor swiped the second ID card and glanced at the detailed record, surprised. "Eighteen years old? Old Jiang, this must be your Yian District's talented young man. When did such a prodigy emerge?"

"Haha!" Instructor Jiang Nian couldn't help but laugh proudly.

"How do we know he has the skills?" A chubby elder among the dozen martial artists jeered. "Maybe he's just here to see the world and doesn't have any real power."

Instructor Jiang Nian glanced at him: "Jealous, are we? I don't think your Beiyuan District has such a genius. Luo Feng, show them the strength of our Yian District students."

"Yes, Instructor," Luo Feng replied loudly and stepped forward toward the punching machine.