Seven World Martial God

Chapter 53: Five Commanders

The Martial Warriors who had passed the test were filled with awe and respect as Ye Tian walked over to join them.

“Next,” Zhao Dapeng’s cold voice called out again.

The line of Martial Warriors stepped forward orderly, each taking their test. Those who passed cheerfully registered and stepped over to Ye Tian’s group while the few depressed failures among those who’d received recommendations had to leave.

“Jia!”

Just as the line of recommended warriors was nearing its end, a small red horse galloped in carrying a young girl in form-fitting red martial robes.

Shocked gazes turned towards the intruder; only the mentally challenged or the truly powerful would dare to enter so willfully.

“En? Hong Wu, what are you doing? The entrance exam is still going on—don’t cause trouble,” Zhao Dapeng called out, brows furrowed.

Ye Tian opened his eyes and looked over. The young red-robed girl had already leapt off her horse and was proudly stalking forward towards the Mysterious Stone Wall. “Uncle Zhao, why would I cause trouble? I’m here for the examination as well. I heard there’s a sixteen year old Level Ten Martial Artist, hmph!”

As she spoke, the red-robed girl punched the Mysterious Stone Wall.

Above her, the golden lines formed into bright characters—Level Ten Martial Artist.

The calm square burst out into excitement once more.

The girl lifted her chin proudly, looking out at the crowd as she exclaimed: “This young lady is fifteen years old. Who is the sixteen year old Level Ten Martial Artist? Let this little sister take a look.”

At this point, the crowd was almost accustomed to their stunned amazement.

The red-robed girl followed the crowds’ gaze to Ye Tian, turning her own proud gaze at the young man.

Despite everything, the young Ye expert was calm, his eyes clear and unperturbed.

“Alright Hong Wu, since you want to join the Scarlet Guard, go register your name!” Zhao Dapeng called out loudly, his head aching at the troublesome young girl.

“I know, Uncle Zhao!” The red-robed girl walked over to Ye Tian, calling out to the registration Scarlet Guard as she grabbed a Scarlet Token. “You know my name!”

The Scarlet Guard hurriedly nodded, shrinking backwards as the young girl swept by, secretly wiping his sweaty brows.

“Kid, are you the sixteen year old Level Ten Martial Artist? What’s your name?” The young girl called out as she stopped in front of Ye Tian, her chin lifted proudly.

Ye Tian frowned.

Ye Tian had seen too many of these domineering young misses in his last life and he couldn’t bother replying.

“En? Brat, this young lady is speaking to you. Are you deaf?” The young girl glared as Ye Tian ignored her, her hands propped on her hips.

Ye Tian glanced at her before turning away. The last recommended Martial Warrior had just finished their test and Zhao Dapeng had sent a Scarlet Guard to bring the new warriors to lunch.

“This brat…” The young girl glared wide-eyed at Ye Tian’s back, her teeth gritted angrily. No one had ever dared to treat her with such disrespect.

“Little Sister Hong Wu, let’s have lunch together,” Yang Tianyou called out with a flattering smile, his eyes glowing warmly as he stared at the young girl.

“Who’s your little sister, you wimpy brat? Get lost!” The young girl glared at the young man before turning back to her horse, quickly mounting it and galloping away.

Choked laughter rang out around the young master as the gathered experts couldn’t hold back their amusement.

Yang Tianyou’s face fell as he glared around him, snorting as he turned to leave.

…

Lunch inside the Scarlet Guard Compound was a straightforward affair; every guard ate the same thing no matter their poor or wealthy background—everyone received the same treatment.

After lunch, Ye Tian and the others were given their rooms.

“You will live here for today. Tomorrow, you will be taken elsewhere!” The Scarlet Guard assigned to Ye Tian spoke politely, guiding him respectfully to his temporary home.

Ye Tian nodded at the guard, walking into the simple wooden cabin.

Surprisingly, most of the buildings in the Scarlet Guard Compound were these wooden cabins, each well ventilated and clean—standard housing very suitable for cultivation.

For the rest of the afternoon, Ye Tian cultivated, only taking a break for dinner.

That night, Ye Tian broke another minor stage, stepping into Late Stage Level Ten Martial Artist.

The next morning, Ye Tian rose for the early troop breakfast, joining the rest of the new Scarlet Guard warriors.

When Ye Tian entered the dining hall, he saw at least five hundred people, double the size of the group he ate with the day before.

The tests had been completed for the warriors who had come without recommendations and now they were all grouped together.

“I heard that new Scarlet Guards have to compete for the new positions. There’ll be five Centurions and fifty Squad Leaders.”

“There are no Martial Masters here; how could any of us become Centurions?”

“Actually, us recruits aren’t fully fledged Scarlet Guards yet. We’re still reserves in training and we still have to go through several trials before we will be given an official status.”

…

Ye Tian ate quietly, listening to the gossip and chatter. As a newcomer to the city, he knew far less than those more experienced with the Scarlet Guard.

Hong! Hong! Hong!

At that moment, the ground began to tremble.

A Scarlet Guard entered the dining hall, his eyes gleaming coldly and he called out commands: “Everyone, assemble in the arena. Line up in an orderly manner.”

Everyone stood, setting down their utensils and wiping their mouths before retrieving their weapons, turning to follow the Scarlet Guard as they jogged over to the arena.

The not-too-distant arena was already half-filled with orderly figures standing at attention in disciplined formation.

The several thousand soldiers formed a square, every one of them wearing scarlet robes, their eyes fierce and the Scarlet Sabers on their hips sharp. Together, they filled the large clearing with a sharp, oppressive pressure.

Many of the new recruits gasped at the scene, some of the weaker ones even turning pale.

The Five Thousand Scarlet Guards of Blood Jade City. Every one of them is the cream of the crop, experts among experts! Ye Tian breathed deeply, his eyes solemn.

Just through the strength of their aura, Ye Tian understood just how powerful Blood Jade City was. This power allowed the city lord to rule a hundred towns unchallenged, his might irresistible.

The December morning was cold but the chill of the wind couldn’t compare to the sharp, piercing, experienced eyes of the gathered Scarlet Guards.

The entire arena was covered with a solemn silence with no one daring to utter a word. Quietly, Ye Tian and the others lined up, forming a small square.

To Ye Tian’s surprise, the young red-robed girl from the day before was already there, and as soon as she noticed the new recruits, she walked over, head thrown back proudly.

“Brat, when we fight for Centurion, I will show you my power!” The young girl declared unhappily, waving her little fist at Ye Tian, her face filled with “killing intent.”

Ye Tian ignored the little girl.

The young red-robed girl snorted coldly, turning to find her place in the square formation.

Ye Tian paid no mind to the little girl, his eyes still focused on the Five Thousand Scarlet Guards before him, sighing silently to himself Their Qi is so forceful that gathered together, it feels like a mountain pressing down on my heart.

The other recruits had similar expressions on their faces, solemnity mixed with ambition and anticipation. Clearly, everyone wanted to join the Five Thousand Guard.

“Hahaha…” Loud, brilliant laughter filled the arena as five tiger-embroidered-robed Commanders marched into the arena. Ye Tian and the others turned as Zhao Dapeng laughed, the Thousand-Man Commander in charge of yesterday’s test quite cheerful today.

“The Five Commanders!”

A recruit gasped and every gaze glowed, following the five Scarlet Guards who were making their way forward.

Ye Tian was shocked as well. Each of these five figures was a Thousand-Man Commander, and every single one of them carried a powerful Qi that sent shivers down Ye Tian’s spine.

The recruits whispered quietly. These Thousand-Man Commanders were the leaders of the Five Thousand Guard, each one of them influential figures in Blood Jade City.

“Little recruits, welcome to the Scarlet Guard Reserves. That’s right—you’re all still in the reserve camp,” Zhao Dapeng began, a small smile on his face as he looked out at Ye Tian and the others.

The recruits exchanged quick glances as they waited silently.

“Good. Nice discipline,” Zhao Depeng continued pleasantly, nodding at the recruits. “If you think that a Level Seven cultivation level means you can enter the Scarlet Guard, know that you’re wrong. Look at the Five Thousand Scarlet Guards in front of you. They’ve all been baptized by death and blood. Before they could stand here before you, they were all like you recruits—part of the reserves.”

Zhao Dapeng explained, pointing proudly at the Five Thousand Guard.

“Alright Old Zhao, enough chatter. Prepare the competition. We don’t have time to waste on these greenhorns,” a grizzled commander called out loudly.

“Commander Niu Yunshan. I hear he’s incredibly strict; I hope I’m not assigned to him,” one of the recruits whispered.

Ye Tian examined the small group. In addition to Zhao Dapeng and Niu Yunshan, there was a young man, an elder, and a young woman.

Every single one of them had extremely powerful Qi beyond anything Ye Tian had ever experienced, but the elder stood out, clearly more powerful than any of the others.