Volume One: Rising to Prominence Chapter 110: Collecting Equipment

“Everyone, for the upcoming matters, including signing the live combat assessment contracts, I’ll need your assistance,” Ning Chuan said to the onlookers around him, then turned to face the middle-aged man standing alone at the edge, dressed in a Tang-style outfit with long hair, and smiled warmly. “Boss, sorry to keep you waiting so long. Let’s go outside.”

Boss?!

This man is actually Lord Ning Chuan’s boss?

Setting aside status, Ning Chuan’s strength alone ranked him among the top three in Peace Town!

Wang Jue and the other two were utterly astonished.

In terms of status, as the branch head of the Martial Association, Ning Chuan held extremely high prestige—there was hardly anyone in Peace Town with higher standing than him.

If Ning Chuan called this long-haired man “Boss,” what kind of status must he hold?

The long-haired man casually glanced at Wang Jue and the others.

For a moment, Wang Jue felt as if his eyes were drawn into an infinite starry sky, sinking completely into them. Yet, with a sudden jolt, he snapped back to clarity.

“What’s going on exactly?”

Wang Jue quickly noticed that Monkey and Guan Shan beside him had gone blank.

“Hiss… such terrifying power—just a single look can render us utterly dazed,” Wang Jue thought in shock, drawing a sharp breath.

This man was the most fearsome opponent he had ever encountered.

No one else came close.

Truly, such a skill was unbeatable.

For example, in a duel, before even exchanging blows, if the opponent’s gaze blurred one’s consciousness, by the time one regained clarity, one’s heart might already be pierced by a blade.

Wang Jue was the first to recover, which surprised the long-haired man, who smiled and said, “Little one, you have good talent. Keep working hard.”

“Strong willpower too, tsk tsk tsk,” Ning Chuan nodded in approval.

Then, Ning Chuan and the long-haired man left together.

After a while, Monkey and Guan Shan finally came back to their senses.

“What just happened?”

“What’s wrong with me?”

They exchanged glances, recalling the earlier events, sweating coldly.

Whether it was Monkey, Guan Shan, or Wang Jue, the long-haired man had unquestionably been the most terrifying person they had ever seen.

“What kind of technique is that? Or what secret art?”

Wang Jue was startled inwardly. “If I’m not mistaken, that man must have been watching our testing all along from the hall.”

“But the problem is, from the start until just now, I never noticed his presence. He made no sound, as if he didn’t exist in the space at all! It’s truly incredible. Wait…”

As Wang Jue tried to recall the man’s features, he was shocked to realize he could only remember those captivating eyes, not the face itself.

“The assessment is over. Why are the three of you standing there dazed?” one of the martial artists laughed, looking at them. “Come on, follow us back to the hall.”

They moved from the neurological reaction testing room into a spacious hall.

“These are three copies of the Adventurer Live Combat Assessment Application Contracts,” a burly elder retrieved three contracts from a corner. “Once you participate in the live combat assessment, if you are killed by star beasts during the process, the Martial Association bears no responsibility! Of course, the fatality rate is quite low.”

At this moment, Wang Jue, Monkey, and Guan Shan each took a contract and carefully examined its contents.

“Though the fatality rate is low, the rate of injury and disability is not,” a bald middle-aged man beside them said grimly. “The adventurer live combat assessment is a life-and-death struggle against star beasts! This is the most basic level of combat. When you venture alone into dangerous areas to hunt star beasts in the future, the dangers will be far greater than this assessment. If you can’t even pass this, you have no qualifications to be an adventurer.”

“….”

Wang Jue, Monkey, and Guan Shan exchanged glances.

The contract was straightforward: in cases of death or injury during the assessment, the Martial Association was not liable. Responsibility lay solely with the individual.

Without hesitation, the three picked up pens nearby and signed their names.

“Not bad,” said a crew-cut man standing nearby with a smile. “Alright, you can go back and prepare well today. Remember to gather at the Martial Association tomorrow morning. Then, you’ll head out with others from different towns for the live combat assessment.”

…

The next day.

Led by a senior martial artist from the Martial Association, more than fifty approved participants from various towns, including Wang Jue and Monkey, rushed toward the underground train station.

*Clack, clack...*

The train car sped swiftly through the dark underground, the screeching friction in the tunnel harsh and grating.

Because the train car was soundproof, no outside noise was audible inside.

Yet inside, the carriage buzzed with chatter.

Familiar faces sat together in small groups, chatting, while strangers found isolated spots to sit silently or closed their eyes to rest.

Monkey, perhaps due to his business background, chatted easily with everyone, whereas Wang Jue chose to close his eyes and rest.

About three hours later.

“Attention all martial artists, the train is about to arrive at the station. Please prepare to disembark.”

A voice came over the carriage speaker as the train slowed and then stopped.

*Click!*

The carriage doors opened, and the martial artists disembarked.

Soon, train after train arrived.

A vast throng of martial artists poured into a large camp.

The camp covered an enormous area, with numerous heavy heat weapons arrayed around its perimeter, each barrel aimed outward beyond the barracks.

Many martial artists carried various finely crafted weapons.

If Wang Jue hadn’t known he wasn’t on Earth, he might have thought he had entered some massive military base.

At this moment, the group including Wang Jue looked around.

“Hey, look outside the camp!” Monkey excitedly pointed to the distance.

“Where?”

Curious, Wang Jue followed Monkey’s gesture.

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

Beyond the camp’s security line, several starved star beasts, their bellies sunken, bellowed but dared not approach the camp.

“Caw…”

At a piercing cry, the martial artists simultaneously looked up to see hundreds of flying star beasts whizzing through the purple sky.

“I remember the teacher at school saying that the farther from the safe zone, the more star beasts appear everywhere. It’s true,” Wang Jue’s eyes gleamed. “Ordinary humans can only live in the safe zone. Only martial artists can venture out in groups. But to venture alone or engage with fierce star beasts, only adventurers can do that!”

Not all martial artists were adventurers, but all adventurers were martial artists!

Among martial artists, adventurers unquestionably held the highest status.

Moreover, most true experts emerged from within the adventurer ranks.

“Everyone!”

A loud voice boomed from a huge loudspeaker in the camp square, reaching every martial artist’s ears.

“Welcome to Camp Six. The live combat assessment for 5,000 participants will be held here. I hope most of you pass the assessment, and all of you survive it!”

“Next, you have two hours for lunch and rest. Assemble here promptly at 2 PM to receive your star beast hunting gear.”

“Now you may choose to eat at the cafeteria or walk around the camp to explore. But don’t forget to gather at 2 PM.”

The announcement was brisk and efficient, delivering the message as if on routine duty, then moving on.

Fortunately, Camp Six was quite lively.

Perhaps someone had given instructions beforehand.

The camp cafeteria had already prepared a sumptuous lunch for those participating in the live combat assessment.

No matter how curious everyone was about the camp, hunger prevailed, and they all headed toward the cafeteria.

There would be time to explore the camp later.

But if they ate late, they might miss out on even the soup.

After all, the assessment was in the afternoon, and no one wanted to face star beasts on an empty stomach.

…

At 2 PM.

All 5,000 martial artists stood without exception in the open square.

Some senior officials from other towns stood on the stage at the front.

“Next, those whose names are called, come up to receive your combat uniform and weapons.”

“Lin Yuanzu.”

“He Sangui.”

“Jiang Daniu.”

“Zhu Ershi.”

“…”

Twenty officials called out names one by one. Those summoned stepped forward to receive their combat uniforms and weapons.

“Wang Jue.”

That clear voice caught Wang Jue’s attention immediately. He ran to the front.

“This is your combat uniform and boots. As for weapons, we have swords, knives, spears, staffs, clubs, and so on. Choose whichever you prefer, but only one weapon is allowed!”

After speaking, the official handed Wang Jue a set of items.

“This is a communication watch, equipped with positioning and communication functions. This is a multifunctional engineer’s shovel.”

Although the official spoke politely, his eyes showed a hint of puzzlement. He’d never seen such a young martial artist participate in the assessment before. It was truly unusual.

“Thank you,” Wang Jue said softly, clutching the items and quickly running away.

He had no choice but to hurry.

Didn’t he see the long line behind him?

Time slowly passed.

All 5,000 martial artists on the square received gear suited to their body sizes and preferences, each equipped with various types of cold weapons.

Everyone used cold weapons!

This was the fundamental requirement of the live combat assessment for martial artists.

Heat weapons were prohibited.

Although heat weapons were more effective against low-level star beasts, as the beasts’ levels increased, cold weapons dealt more damage.

Of course, there were heat weapons capable of handling high-level star beasts.

But those were strategic weapons, forbidden in safe zones except in life-or-death situations.

Moreover, as adventurer squads continually sold star beast materials they hunted, experts upgraded cold weapon grades accordingly.

After all, in the wilderness, once a heat weapon’s ammunition was depleted, death was almost certain.

Cold weapons, though perhaps less damaging, had far greater endurance.

As long as a martial artist’s stamina held out, death was nearly impossible, although injuries were unavoidable.

Soon, after collecting their equipment, everyone returned to their resting places to change into combat uniforms and boots…