Chapter 7: The Imperial Army Selection
The courtyard of the martial family had never been this crowded before.
Disciples who usually avoided each other were now gathered together, whispering in low voices, their eyes fixed toward the main gate. Even some elders had come out, their expressions unusually serious, as if something important—something rare—had finally arrived.
Lin Yuan stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, observing.
He didn't push forward. Didn't try to stand out.
For now, watching was enough.
A few moments later, the gates opened.
Heavy footsteps echoed as a group of armored soldiers entered, their presence instantly silencing the entire courtyard. Their movements were uniform, precise, and carried a kind of pressure that ordinary martial artists simply didn't have.
At the front stood a tall man with a scar running across his face. His eyes swept across the crowd once—just once—but it felt like everyone had been seen through completely.
"Imperial Army," someone whispered.
No one dared to speak louder than that.
The scarred man didn't waste time.
"Selection begins now," he said, his voice calm but carrying effortlessly across the courtyard. "No background checks. No recommendations. Only strength and potential."
Simple.
Direct.
Brutal.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but smile a little.
"…I like this already."
---
The first test was straightforward.
Too straightforward.
"Run," the soldier ordered, pointing toward the mountain trail beyond the family grounds.
No explanation.
No rules.
Just one word.
Run.
---
The moment the signal was given, the crowd exploded into motion.
Some sprinted forward immediately, trying to take the lead. Others hesitated for a second before following. Within moments, the quiet courtyard turned into chaos.
Lin Yuan didn't rush.
He stepped forward at a steady pace, slipping into the middle of the group instead of competing at the front.
"Let the enthusiastic ones test the traps first," he muttered under his breath.
Because something felt off.
Tests like this were never as simple as they looked.
---
He was proven right within minutes.
A loud scream echoed ahead as one of the leading disciples suddenly stumbled and fell, his leg caught in a hidden pit along the trail. Another misstepped and triggered a mechanism that sent a wooden log swinging across the path, knocking him clean off his feet.
Lin Yuan slowed slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"Yeah… definitely not a normal run."
He adjusted his breathing and began observing more carefully.
The rhythm of the ground.
The slight disturbances in the dirt.
Even the way the wind moved through certain areas.
Everything became information.
Everything became useful.
---
"BROTHER WAIT!"
A loud, panicked voice suddenly came from behind him.
Lin Yuan glanced back.
What he saw nearly made him laugh.
A chubby boy—no, not just chubby, round in spirit and body—was running toward him with surprising speed, his face flushed red, his breath uneven, and his arms flailing like he might fall at any second.
"Wait—don't go alone! I feel like I'm about to die here!" the boy shouted as he caught up.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"…You don't look like someone who should be running this fast."
The boy panted heavily but still managed to grin.
"Survival instinct! When your life's on the line, even a pig can fly!"
Lin Yuan blinked.
"…That's a very inspirational way to insult yourself."
The boy wiped sweat from his forehead and stuck out his hand mid-run.
"Name's Pang Hu. Future top general of the Imperial Army."
Lin Yuan looked at him for a second… then shook his hand.
"Lin Yuan. Future… not dead person."
Pang Hu laughed loudly.
"I like you already!"
---
The two of them continued forward, but unlike before, Lin Yuan now had to deal with something new.
Noise.
A lot of noise.
"Watch out! I think that rock is suspicious!"
"Why is the ground looking at me like that?!"
"Brother Lin, if I die, tell my mom I was brave!"
Lin Yuan sighed.
"…The ground is not looking at you."
But strangely—
He didn't mind.
---
As they moved deeper into the trail, the traps became more frequent and more dangerous. But with Lin Yuan's observation and Pang Hu's… unpredictable instincts, they somehow avoided most of them.
At one point, Pang Hu accidentally stepped on a trigger—
Only to trip forward and completely avoid the attack meant for him.
Lin Yuan stared.
"…You dodged that?"
Pang Hu blinked.
"I did?"
"…Let's just say yes."
---
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the end of the trail.
Several soldiers stood there, watching silently.
Out of the large group that had started…
Less than half remained.
Lin Yuan exhaled slowly.
"First round… done."
---
Before he could relax, the system suddenly appeared.
---
✨ [Main Mission Update]
Survive: 4/30 Days
Cultivation: In Progress
Disciple Recruitment: 0/1
✨ [Hidden Progress Detected]
Combat Awareness Improved
---
Lin Yuan glanced at it briefly, then closed it.
"Still a long way to go…"
---
The second test began almost immediately.
"Fight," the scarred officer said.
This time, he pointed toward a group of soldiers.
"Endure three moves from any of them. Pass."
Silence fell.
This test…
Was far worse.
---
Pang Hu swallowed.
"…Brother Lin."
"Yes?"
"If I survive this…"
"Yes?"
"…I'm definitely eating a whole roasted chicken tonight."
Lin Yuan nodded seriously.
"That's a very noble goal."
---
One by one, candidates stepped forward.
Most failed.
Some were knocked down in a single move.
A few barely managed to endure.
---
When it was Lin Yuan's turn, he stepped forward calmly.
His opponent was a soldier with a blank expression.
No arrogance.
No mercy.
"Begin."
---
The first attack came fast.
Too fast.
Lin Yuan barely managed to react, his body moving on instinct as he deflected the strike, though the impact still sent a sharp pain through his arm.
"…Strong," he thought.
But his eyes remained calm.
He adjusted.
Observed.
Adapted.
---
The second move came even faster.
This time—
He moved earlier.
Not perfectly.
But better.
---
By the third move—
Something clicked.
---
His body shifted slightly, his movement smoother, more precise.
The attack passed just inches away.
---
Silence.
Then—
"Pass," the soldier said.
---
Lin Yuan stepped back, breathing steady.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Not bad."
---
When Pang Hu's turn came—
It was chaos.
He screamed.
Dodged badly.
Got hit once.
Rolled on the ground.
Somehow avoided the last attack by pure luck.
---
And still passed.
---
When he got up, he looked at Lin Yuan proudly.
"See? I told you. Natural talent."
Lin Yuan nodded slowly.
"Yes… very natural."
---
As the sun began to set, the results were announced.
Only a handful remained.
Among them—
Lin Yuan.
And Pang Hu.
---
That night, as they stood among the selected candidates, Lin Yuan looked at the distant soldiers, his thoughts drifting.
Infinite Battle Law.
Soon…
He would get it.
And when he did—
He wouldn't just learn it.
---
He would change it.
---
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"…Hope they don't regret accepting me."
---
✨ [New Objective Triggered]
Obtain Infinite Battle Law
Reward: ???
Failure: No Access to Imperial Core Techniques
---
Lin Yuan stretched slightly, glancing at Pang Hu who was already talking about food again.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"This is going to be interesting."