Chapter 2473: Chapter 2463: Too Forceful

Long Yan heard Zhang Si’s words but didn’t pay attention, only walked towards the gate leading to the examination. After passing through the gate, there was a huge training ground. To become a Human Level mercenary doesn’t really require anything, but if you want to become an Earth-level mercenary, you need to go through the Mercenary Guild’s examination.

Actually, Long Yan had once learned about the mercenary promotion examination from Li Mu. At that time, Long Yan got three answers, with the first step being Power. One measure of strength can conquer ten strategies. For mercenaries, having greater Power means being able to inflict more damage on your opponents. Power is the foundation of all foundations.

It’s said that there was once a King of Mercenaries in a small town who possessed a thousand pounds of strength. The Horse-chopping Saber he usually used was two to three times larger than regular ones, and when wielding it, neither allies nor opponents dared to come close. With a light exertion, the head of a Demon Beast would explode like a watermelon.

The second step is speed, also known as the ability to dodge. There’s no systematic training method for this and can only be improved through actual combat. There’s not really a good examination method for this either; you just have to dodge attacks from guild mercenaries and hold out for thirty minutes to pass.

Li Mu couldn’t really pass this level, but managed to by bribing mercenaries with money. Of course, most mercenaries pass through bribery as well, at about eighty percent of a Heavenly Level mercenary’s attack speed.

The last step is also the hardest one, which is reaction testing. Within Demon Beast Forest, danger is everywhere. Just a faster reaction may help you evade lethal damage, allowing a battle to change from the very start.

No one can cheat with money to pass this step, as it represents a mercenary’s life. No one dares to tamper here; you can only rely on strength to pass.

Zhang Si remembered the level of danger he faced in this last step, which made his scalp tingle even now, and gave him more confidence. From Zhang Si’s view, there’s no way Long Yan could pass this Third Level.

Now, Zhang Si was just waiting for Long Yan to deliver one hundred taels of Patterned Silver, then he himself would escape far away, and who could find him then?

Just as Zhang Si reminisced this time, Long Yan had already reached the first step. Presented before Long Yan seemed like those small games you’d find at the Temple Fair, also a test of human strength.

A piece of wood connected to the top of the shelter. From Long Yan’s viewpoint, he could barely see the state of the roof, where a small copper gong was hung. If Long Yan struck the front surface, the converted Power would cause the small ball in front to hit the copper gong above. On the wood, there are engravings of rows of Red Lines; reaching the second Red Line was considered passing.

“Please.”

The receptionist stood beside the wood. This device is not like the small gadgets found in the street; it’s powered by True Qi, and whether one passes the level will be clearly communicated to the receptionist.

“Hmm!”

Long Yan responded, gathering all his Power in his left hand, causing his palm to emit a faint red glow. This is a Simple application of True Qi; a fist infused with True Qi can increase one’s Power. After all, Long Yan didn’t want to attract too much attention now, so he hadn’t used the Martial God Array.

Otherwise, not to mention the roof, he wouldn’t have much difficulty in piercing through this room.

Zhang Si watched Long Yan gather Power, snorted disdainfully, clearly not believing Long Yan’s Power would pass.

“Pretentious, let’s see how you handle it if you fail later.”

Long Yan ignored Zhang Si’s mockery, his veins bulging on his arm, evidently using Power to an extreme. Then, he smashed a punch onto the platform in front of him.

The small metal ball inside shot like a rocket, disappearing from people’s sight in an instant, leaving Zhang Si speechless. He couldn’t believe a newcomer who had only completed one task possessed such Power.

But the fact was right in front of him, and even he had to believe. The clang echoing from the ceiling was like a death sentence for Zhang Si, almost paralyzing him, needing his doglegs at his sides to support him.

“It must be cheating; how could a newcomer possess such strength.”

But Zhang Si’s words seemed unheard; even the receptionist beside him was left dumbfounded by the device. Could it be broken today? That’s impossible, it’s never broken since the Mercenary Guild got this thing.

The previously noisy crowd suddenly quieted down, then all turned their sympathetic gaze to Zhang Si. Long Yan clearly was playing dumb, and Zhang Si foolishly jumped in.

“Power examination, passed, Heavenly Level.”

After a while, the receptionist recalled to announce Long Yan’s examination result.

“Wow, this young man who just joined the mercenaries actually possesses Heavenly Level Power?”

“Really? I can’t believe it.”

“Didn’t you hear that gong sound?”

The mercenaries nearby immediately started discussing; this matter was too astonishing. What kind of genius could reach such a level in just one task?

“I don’t believe it. The second step, he surely can’t reach this level.”

Zhang Si shouted with bloodshot eyes. If Long Yan passed the examination today, not only would Zhang Si receive nothing today, but he’d also have to give up an arm and his tongue. Such a thing was unacceptable to Zhang Si, but the Mercenary Guild’s examination was conducted under everyone’s eyes; even Zhang Si couldn’t say anything.

Helplessly, Zhang Si could only place his hopes on the second step of the speed test, hoping Long Yan was just born with Divine Power, but that couldn’t deceive himself; Long Yan looked somewhat frail, seemingly nothing like a Power-type.

At this instant, Zhang Si almost cried.

But he saw Long Yan’s expression seemed faintly… unhappy?

Big Brother, that’s Heavenly Level Power, what would make you unhappy? If I had Heavenly Level Power, I’d even wake up laughing at night.

Actually, Zhang Si had no idea why Long Yan was unhappy: it was because Long Yan hadn’t maintained his Power well and directly reached the highest point. Long Yan, though unsure of the state of Heavenly Level mercenaries, could be sure that the punch he just threw was definitely stronger than most Heavenly Level mercenaries.

“Please, over here.”

The receptionist’s attitude toward Long Yan became more respectful. After all, the Mercenary Guild had only two Heavenly Level mercenaries in this Small Town, and today another role whose Power had reached a Heavenly Level mercenary appeared. She was but a small receptionist; how could she not respect him?

“Next round, I’ll kill you.”

Zhang Si looked at Long Yan’s back, took out a talisman from his Storage Ring.