Dante frowned suddenly at the intrusion of this foreign substance that caused his body to react like this. He felt like he could resist it somewhat, but for the sake of the test, he didn't stall it yet.
Hao Donglei gestured to the crystal that stood beside him with a sharp smile. Dante obliged and placed his hand on it like the others did, curious to see what the result would be.
Immediately, the crystal lit up like a floodlight, almost blinding the eyes of everyone present in the courtyard. It was bright daytime, yet the red light that shone from the crystal was not only nearly as dark as the color black, but it was also pervasive and luminescent beyond compare.
Dante was not surprised by this given his SDI, but everyone else was full of shock and fear. Even Jun Feng's expression changed as he glanced at Dante with a hint of fear in his eyes.
Only Hao Donglei was calm, smiling lightly as if he had been proven right.
"Pinnacle-Grade Bone Talent, High Receptiveness to Blood Qi and Blood Energy near the level of a Martial Grandmaster. Very interesting person you are, Mr. Dante," Hao Donglei spoke slowly, rising to his feet.
"If it wasn't for the fact that I could tell from the test that you have not refined your Blood Energy before, I would suspect you are a prankster who came here to cause trouble," Hao Donglei stated slowly with narrowed eyes.
Clearly, he did not exactly rule out that possibility, and there was a short spell of silence as tension rose in the courtyard. Dante was not bothered by this and bluntly asked.
"So, am I in or what? I'll just find another place if you're gonna waste my time."
His words made many gasp. How could he dare to speak to Hao Donglei, the stronger Martial Grandmaster in the city, like this? Did he not fear for his life?
However, Hao Donglei was not offended as he laughed uproariously. "Of course, you are welcome. Even in the city capital, we might not find a talent like you in 10,000 years. You are admitted as a core disciple!"
Immediately, looks of envy and jealousy struck Dante from all sides, wondering what this fellow did to deserve such privilege. Obviously, as people who didn't even know the criteria for the tests, they could not tell how monstrous Dante was.
His base stats were just a level below a Martial grandmaster like Hao Donglei and above a Martial Master like Jun Feng. When everyone started within the range of 1-5 points in all stats - with those above 5 called geniuses born with divine strength or divine bodies - he was starting with 250 in all stats!
Even if Dante did not learn Internal Arts and simply cultivated External Arts, he could become a half-step Martial grandmaster belonging to the Supreme Martial Hall and stabilize their position in the city.
How could Hao Donglei spit out the fragrant meat that entered his mouth? If it wasn't for the fact that it would cause an uproar, he would have directly made Dante an elder, but that was not possible right off the bat.
It wasn't a matter of having power, but a matter of contribution and loyalty. With Dante being a core disciple, they could quickly cultivate his loyalty and pave his way into becoming an Elder.
Dante nodded as Hao Donglei personally led him into the martial arts hall behind him, ignoring the envy and shock of everyone behind him. After they left, Jun Feng snapped out of his stupor and ordered everyone to get back in line and resume the testing.
Dante stepped into the vibrant and energetic Martial Arts Hall, leaving the bustling courtyard behind. The atmosphere inside was electric, filled with the hum of anticipation and the rustling of training robes.
The hall was vast and spacious, with high ceilings that allowed the energy of the practitioners to flow freely.
"HA!"
"SHO!"
"HUA!"
Sunlight streamed through large windows, casting warm rays of light that danced upon the polished wooden floors. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting legendary martial artists in various poses, inspiring a sense of awe and determination in those who gazed upon them.
The air was thick with the scent of incense, lending a serene and focused ambiance to the surroundings. The sound of steady footsteps and the rhythmic thuds of training filled the air, creating a symphony of dedication and discipline.
Groups of disciples clad in matching uniforms moved gracefully through various routines, their movements fluid and precise. Each corner of the hall seemed to hold a different training area, from wooden dummies for striking practice to padded floors for sparring sessions. The clang of weapons occasionally rang out, punctuating the air with bursts of intensity.
In one corner, a group of students practiced their kicks and punches with unwavering determination. Their bodies moved as extensions of their thoughts, their expressions a blend of concentration and exertion.
Nearby, a master guided a young disciple through a series of intricate forms, his voice calm yet authoritative.
The hall echoed with the shouts of instructors encouraging their students to push their limits, to embrace the pain and fatigue as a path to growth. Sweat glistened on foreheads, muscles strained, and spirits soared as practitioners poured their hearts into their training.
Dante's gaze swept over the scene, casually taking in the wealth of individuals united by their obvious passion for martial arts. There were men and women of all ages, each seeking to master their bodies and harness their inner strength.
The hall was a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, a true testament to the universal appeal of martial arts.
As he walked deeper into the hall, Dante could feel the energy swirling around him, a palpable force that seemed to beckon him forward. He spotted an area where disciples were engaged in a lively sparring session, their movements a dance of strategy and skill.
The impact of each blow sent ripples of energy through the air, creating an almost tangible aura of power. They glowed with a blood-red light that exploded from their fists and legs when they struck, causing minor shockwaves in the area.
His eyes narrowed as he realized that this was definitely not normal power but something cultivated through the use of martial arts. This kind of extraordinary power was one of the reasons Beatrice suggested he come here because it was completely possible to achieve this power and use it in reality.
Unfortunately for others, they could not replicate it. Even if a student comes down here with a virtual body and masters all the martial arts, they would not be able to manifest these same effects in reality.
It was similar to how one needed a spirit root to cultivate as well as the presence of spirit energy. One needed to be within the boundary of this world, with its special and unique laws, to cultivate Blood Qi and Internal Force.
Besides, who in the real world would waste their time practicing hard every day to master blood Qi when they can just head to a gene center for an enhancement shot?
Hao Donglei led Dante to an office near the back of the hall and sat down, gesturing for Dante to take a seat opposite him. Before he started speaking, there was a knock on the door as a servant disciple pushed it open and bowed to Hao Donglei.
Then he placed a special blood-red token as well as a stylized blood-red gi that was folded neatly down on the desk before leaving.
Hao Donglei smiled and picked up the token, checking
it to make sure it was fine before flicking it over to Dante at bullet speed. Dante casually grabbed it out of the air like it was nothing when it could have pierced through the hands or head of any lesser person.
Dante glanced at the token and saw that one side was written 'Core - Supreme Martial Hall' and the other side was 'Dante'. Hao Donglei pointed to it and explained.
"That is your identity token, denoting who you are to us. Make sure not to lose it, no matter what because it is made of special material. Once you activate your Blood Qi, you will be able to infuse it with your special blood qi to unlock more functions of it like retrieval and communication."
Dante nodded and put the token away as he glanced at the folded gi. "That is your special uniform as a core member. You are to wear it at all times while on the premises of the Supreme Martial Hall. Of course when you are in town, you are free to remove it, but why bother?"
Hao Donglei rubbed his chin with amusement. "After all, as long as you wear it, everyone will know who you are and who you represent, so how can they dare to offend you?"
This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om