197: test

Three days later, Jiuqu Prefecture City.

The Army Breaker Manor Branch was located in the east of the city, occupying a vast area; from afar, it looked like a crouching giant beast of profound iron.

The towering walls were built from Black Iron Rock, their surfaces covered with mottled traces left by the wind and sand of time, which only added to the solemn and killing Aura. The two stone carvings in front of the gate were not the usual lions or Qilin, but two fierce-looking soldier figurines clad in armor and holding polearms, with deep blue crystals embedded in their eye sockets glinting coldly under the sunlight.

Chen Linsheng stood before the gate and handed over the wax-sealed document.

Guarding the gate were two Pojun Guards, their bodies covered in dark armor and their Auras steady, both at the Late-stage Flesh Tempering Realm. After verifying the document, they carefully sized up Chen Linsheng, and one of them said in a deep voice, "Follow me."

Stepping through the main gate, the noise of the outside world was cut off.

The interior was not the pavilions and towers of an ordinary residence, but a strictly planned, cold-lined military-style complex. The square paved with bluestone was extremely open, enough to accommodate thousands of people for drills. Although it was not time for training, there were still dozens of Martial Artists in uniform either standing quietly to regulate their breathing or practicing in pairs; the sounds of shouting and the clashing of weapons rose and fell, and the air was filled with the scent of sweat and iron.

Crossing the square, there was a long corridor. The pillars were thick and carved with simple cloud and thunder patterns, and bronze wind chimes hung from the eaves. As the mountain wind blew, the chimes rang out clearly, yet they carried a metallic tone.

At the end of the corridor was an independent black stone hall.

The hall doors were high and wide, cast from a single piece of dark metal, their surfaces as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the figures of those who approached. Above the lintel hung a black iron plaque with two powerful characters written in a bold, calligraphic style—Thunder Hall.

The lead Pojun Guard stopped outside the hall doors and stepped aside, signaling, "Elder Thunder is already waiting inside."

Chen Linsheng took a deep breath and pushed the doors open.

“Boom—”

The heavy hall doors slid open to both sides with a dull grinding sound.

The space inside the hall appeared even more vast than from the outside. The vaulted ceiling was about ten zhang high, embedded with countless tiny Glowstones that simulated the sight of a star-studded sky. The floor was made of smooth, ink-like "Profound Iron Rock," polished enough to reflect people like a mirror.

What drew the most attention was the depths of the main hall.

Atop nine levels of black iron steps sat a wide black iron chair. The chair was covered with a dark red skin of an unknown beast, and currently, an old man wearing a dark purple robe embroidered with silver sword patterns sat upright upon it.

His hair and beard were silvery white, but his complexion was as ruddy as a baby's. His eyes were not particularly large, but as they opened and closed, they flashed with brilliant light like two bolts of cold lightning. The moment they swept across the hall door, Chen Linsheng actually felt a faint prickling sensation on his skin.

It was precisely one of the Nine Outer Sect Elders, Thunder Shakes the Mountain.

He did not intentionally release any pressure, but the invisible Aura formed by his long-standing high position and power over life and death already enveloped the entire hall, making the air feel thick and heavy.

Below the steps, on both sides, several figures stood solemnly.

The leader on the left was Xiao Zhan. He was still in his dark red cloak and black armor, his expression cold. Seeing Chen Linsheng enter, his gaze moved slightly, and he gave a small nod.

Beside Xiao Zhan stood a woman who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She wore tight-fitting black soft armor that outlined her vigorous figure, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, and her face was heroic, with a sharpness between her brows from long experience on the battlefield. Her Aura was steady, and she was clearly at the Late Stage Jiaojin Realm.

On the right were three slightly younger men with different temperaments. One was as burly as an iron tower, arms crossed and eyes arrogant; another was slender with a feminine face, playing with a small silver throwing knife; the last one had the most obscure Aura, standing in the shadows as if merging with his surroundings.

These five were all dressed in Inner Sect Disciple attire with silver sword patterns embroidered on their cuffs, and not one of them had an Aura lower than the Middle Stage Jiaojin Realm. At this moment, their gazes all fell upon Chen Linsheng, filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and a faint... Battle Intent.

“Junior Chen Linsheng has come as ordered to greet Elder Thunder.” Chen Linsheng walked to the center of the hall, neither humble nor arrogant, clasping his hands and bowing in a Martial Artist's salute.

His voice was clear and bright, echoing in the empty hall.

Thunder Shakes the Mountain did not respond immediately. He leaned back against the chair, one hand resting on the armrest, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the cold metal with a soft "thud, thud" sound. Those sharp eyes scanned Chen Linsheng up and down as if inspecting a weapon.

A full ten breaths passed.

“Chen Linsheng.” Thunder Shakes the Mountain finally spoke, his voice booming with a metallic texture that made one's eardrums buzz. “Not yet twenty, Jiaojin Realm Perfection... Hmm, your Foundation is quite solid.”

He paused, and his tone suddenly shifted. “Xiao Zhan has already given a detailed report on the matter of the Fentian Secret Realm. That you were able to suppress the crowd and seize the Great Sun Burning Heaven Physique Legacy, and even kill the Senior Brother of the White Lotus Cult Heretic Wei Jingtong, proves you have strength and even more courage. For us Northern Border Martial Artists, it is something that brings honor.”

Chen Linsheng stood quietly listening, his expression calm.

“However,” Thunder Shakes the Mountain leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure slowly bore down like a mountain. “Opportunity is Opportunity, strength is strength, and Heart-Nature is Heart-Nature. What my Army Breaker Manor wants is not a decorative vase with nothing but luck, nor a brute who only knows how to kill. Even less can we tolerate the slightest hidden danger.”

His gaze was like a blade, looking directly into Chen Linsheng's eyes. “I have summoned you here today to personally examine you. Only if you pass the three trials I set will you truly be qualified for my Army Breaker Manor to offer a choice. If you cannot... go back to where you came from. The gate of my Army Breaker Manor is not so easy to enter.”

“Junior understands,” Chen Linsheng said frankly, meeting his gaze. “Please give your instructions, Elder.”

“Good!” A trace of hard-to-detect approval flashed in Thunder Shakes the Mountain's eyes; at least this level of composure was considered acceptable.

He raised a hand and pointed to a circular area on the left side of the hall that had been specially set aside and marked with white lines, about ten zhang in diameter.

“The first trial, the Trial of Strength,” Thunder Shakes the Mountain's voice was cold and hard. “The martial Foundation is the root of a Martial Artist. If the Foundation is not firm, everything is but a castle in the air. Han Chuang!”

“Present!” The tower-like, burly young man on the right stepped forward in response, his voice like muffled thunder. He strode to the center of the circular area, turned to face Chen Linsheng, and grinned, revealing forest-white teeth. “Kid, I'm Han Chuang, Early Stage Iron Bone Realm. The Elder sent me to test your mettle. Don't worry, I'll only use seventy percent of my strength; I won't break you.”

He was nine feet tall with knotted muscles that stretched his Inner Sect Disciple uniform tight; standing there, he was like a human-shaped Vicious Beast. Although his Qi was suppressed to the Jiaojin Realm Perfection, that unruly and fierce Aura far exceeded those of the same level.

Chen Linsheng walked opposite him and stood three zhang away.

“Begin.” Thunder Shakes the Mountain's indifferent voice rang out.

Before the words had even faded, a fierce light flashed in Han Chuang's eyes. With a low roar, he charged forward like a cannonball, his feet slamming into the ground! The floor shook slightly as he thrust his right fist forward, simple and crude, yet carrying a tyrannical momentum capable of tearing down cities. The wind from his fist howled, instantly enveloping Chen Linsheng's chest!