Early the next morning, after breakfast, Ian Song headed straight for the National Martial League's Riverstone City Sub-Hall.
The National Martial League was flush with cash and influence, so the Riverstone City Sub-Hall was built in grand style, with a row of traditional-style buildings.
"Stop right there. What are you here for?"
As Ian approached the Sub-Hall's main gate, two gate guards immediately blocked his way.
"My name is Ian Song. I'm a new member of the National Martial League, here to register today!" Ian replied politely.
"Ian Song!"
Hearing his name, both guards narrowed their eyes, a hint of hostility flashing across their faces.
"You're too late. Registration for new members ended yesterday. Go home!" one of the guards said bluntly, a trace of disdain at the corner of his mouth. Gavin Lee had specifically ordered them to kick Ian out if he showed up.
At those words, Ian's expression darkened. He glanced over the guards' faces, a cold smile forming in his heart.
"Hall Master Leon Lee said himself that registration and assessment are valid for three days. What, you two little guards dare defy the Hall Master's orders?"
Hearing Ian say that, both guards grew a bit flustered. But then they remembered Gavin Lee was the one who ordered them to kick Ian out, and Gavin was the Hall Master's nephew. That thought gave them courage. "You must've heard wrong. Anyway, registration's over, so stop making trouble here. Or else, don't blame us for throwing you out!"
"What if I insist on going in today?" Ian stepped forward, ready to force his way inside.
"Damn, kid, you've got guts—trying to break into the National Martial League! Zhang, let's team up and take him down!"
As soon as he finished speaking, both guards attacked at once, swinging their fists at Ian from left and right.
"You bullies hiding behind your boss—get lost!"
Ian barked coldly and fired off two quick punches!
Bang! Bang!
"Aah!"
The two men were sent flying, crashing to the ground several meters away. They struggled for a bit but couldn't get up.
Seeing this, Ian ignored them and strode straight into the Riverstone City Sub-Hall.
Just then, Gavin Lee and his two brothers arrived at high speed, leading a crowd.
As the saying goes, enemies meet with extra hatred. Last time during the assessment, Ian had humiliated them, and Leon Lee had scolded them so badly they were nearly sent back to the clan. Just thinking about it made them grind their teeth in hatred toward Ian.
"Ian Song, you've got a lot of nerve, barging into the Sub-Hall!"
Ian smirked disdainfully and mocked, "Gavin Lee, stop waving your fake authority around. I'm here to register as a new member—don't forget, I'm a new member of the National Martial League. You, on the other hand, are just a reject. What right do you have to stand here and lecture me? Like they say, a good dog doesn't block the road. If you know what's good for you, get out of my way!"
There's a saying: Don't hit someone in the face, and don't expose their shortcomings. Ian's words stabbed Gavin Lee right in the heart like a knife. His face turned ashen and he started shaking with rage.
"Ian Song, you're looking for death! Get him—kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill that bastard!"
At Gavin Lee's command, the fighters behind him—wielding clubs and sticks—shouted and charged at Ian.
"A bunch of trash thinks they can kill me? Pathetic!"
Ian smirked and darted into the crowd, his palms striking out in rapid succession—each slap sent a fighter flying. In just thirty seconds, he'd knocked more than twenty martial artists to the ground.
Seeing this, Gavin Lee and his brothers' faces changed dramatically.
These fighters weren't that weak—they were all mid-stage Postnatal martial artists! How could they be so helpless against Ian?
"Are you three still going to block me?" Ian looked at the Lee brothers with contempt.
"Ian Song, you're pushing us too far! Today, we'll show you how strong the three of us really are!" Last time, they weren't allowed to use weapons in the assessment, so they couldn't fight at full strength. But now, there were no restrictions.
With that, Gavin Lee drew a flexible sword from his waist.
The other two each pulled out a short sword, about a foot long, from their legs.
"All together!"
Gavin Lee flicked his wrist, sending several sword flowers flashing through the air, then transformed them into a silvery blade of light aimed straight at Ian's chest.
The other two lunged from left and right, attacking Ian's neck and waist.
"Trying to stop me is like a mantis blocking a chariot—pathetic!"
Facing the three brothers' combined attack, Ian barked another cold warning and dodged their strikes with a swift movement.
Bang!
He chopped Gavin Lee on the neck, knocking him out cold, then flashed twice more and knocked out the other two as well.
From a small building hundreds of meters away, Leon Lee was watching the scene unfold.
Seeing Gavin Lee and his brothers defeated so easily even with weapons, Leon Lee couldn't help but curse, "Trash is trash!"
Whoosh!
Ian blurred into motion, heading straight for the building where Leon Lee was.
In just a few seconds, Ian was downstairs, looking up at Leon Lee and teasing, "Standing so high up, Hall Master Lee—aren't you afraid you'll fall and get hurt?"
"How dare you!"