The Everlasting Sword was different from ordinary longswords, thicker, heavier, with a blade measuring five feet in length. Though technically a one-handed weapon, its substantial weight made it feel more like a two-handed sword.
The Everlasting Sword. The Everlasting Sword Technique.
This was Han Jue's uncle's signature martial art, the foundation of his legendary reputation. If not for certain physical limitations, Han Hechang might have reached the invincible War God level long ago.
The Everlasting Sword Technique consisted of three levels and could achieve a maximum power amplification of four times. It was also classified as an SS-level technique in the Warrior Mall, with the complete manual priced at ten billion Yuan.
Fortunately, Han Jue didn't need to purchase it. His uncle had taught him personally.
"Let me test myself against these monsters!" Han Jue said, barely containing his excitement.
Monster Town housed three primary creature types: Shadow Cats, feline monsters renowned for their incredible speed; Iron-Haired Boars, known for their tremendous strength and nearly impenetrable defenses; and Tiger Mastiffs, canine beasts combining devastating speed with raw power.
However, they were merely the lowest-tier H-rank monsters, equivalent to entry-level beast soldiers and comparable to entry-level human warriors in strength.
With Han Jue's high-level warrior physique, this assessment was essentially a massacre waiting to happen. He was here to dominate, to prove himself decisively.
No one, not even Han Jue himself, expected this combat assessment to pose any real challenge.
Walking down Monster Town's main street beneath the glow of scattered streetlights, Han Jue moved with absolute confidence. The Everlasting Sword rested across his back, his hands clasped casually behind his head, eyes half-closed as if enjoying a leisurely evening stroll rather than preparing for combat. He seemed utterly oblivious to the lurking dangers, simply savoring the moonlight filtering through the abandoned buildings.
"Isn't he being ridiculously arrogant?" one of the monitoring officers muttered disapprovingly.
As a major general, he couldn't tolerate such cavalier behavior from a so-called genius, regardless of reputation.
"Understand that he's still young," Wang Heng replied with a knowing smile, readily defending Han Jue's conduct.
"There's a pack of Shadow Cats approaching from that direction," Zhuge Tao observed, his gaze fixed on the surveillance screen. "If he doesn't react soon, even a high-level warrior might find himself in serious trouble."
Over a dozen Shadow Cats materialized from the darkness, their bodies blending seamlessly with the shadows as they silently stalked their prey.
Then,
Whoosh!
Sensing an opening, the Shadow Cats exploded into motion, bursting from concealment at speeds exceeding forty meters per second. This velocity surpassed what most junior warriors could track, and the simultaneous ambush of over a dozen predators would challenge even mid-level warriors. Many would risk death in such circumstances.
But Han Jue moved.
No one in the monitoring room could properly track his movements. It appeared as though he'd simply stood in place, casually raised his right foot, and kicked an attacking Shadow Cat with devastating precision. With over four thousand kilograms of force behind the strike, the creature died instantly.
It looked easier than kicking a football.
Still wearing his alloy combat boots, Han Jue spun gracefully through the pack, toying with the Shadow Cats as if they were training dummies. His speed utterly crushed theirs, in fact, he moved even faster than the supposedly swift creatures. With perfectly controlled strikes, he eliminated them one by one, each kick calculated to kill efficiently without wasted effort. (TN: Imagine him fighting like Sanji)
The entire encounter lasted less than two minutes.
Drawing the Everlasting Sword from his back, Han Jue slapped his forehead with a look of genuine distress.
Which ear was he supposed to cut off again? Left or right?
Silence descended over the monitoring room like a physical weight.
After what felt like an eternity, someone spoke in a trembling voice.
"Microscopic-level movement... No, wait..."
"He didn't even open his eyes during that entire fight!"
"That can't be Microscopic-level," another observer interjected. "Someone at the Microscopic level wouldn't execute those movements with such casual ease."
Zhuge Tao leaned closer to his screen, replaying the footage and analyzing Han Jue's every motion with intense scrutiny. His expression grew increasingly shocked.
"Perfect-level agility!" Wang Heng blurted out before immediately covering his mouth, cursing himself internally. Did this kid deliberately deceive me during his last test? He showed me Microscopic-level movement while hiding his true capabilities?
As for the possibility of Han Jue breaking through from Microscopic to Perfect level in just a few days? Wang Heng had briefly considered it, but dismissed the notion as virtually impossible.
"President, I need to report something urgent to the Pavilion Master," Zhuge Tao announced, speaking directly to Wang Heng even as he prepared his communication. "I've discovered an exceptional talent in Jiangnan Base City, a sixteen-year-old high-level warrior who appears to possess Perfect-level agility!"
"Zhuge Tao!" Wang Heng couldn't help but shout. "Don't you dare try poaching the Thunder Dojo's prodigy! Do you have any idea who his father is?"
"The Everlasting Sword... War God Han Hesheng of the Thunder Dojo?" Zhuge Tao's expression shifted as realization struck. Rumors had always connected Wang Heng with a War God supporter, and that supporter was none other than Han Hesheng. The reason they'd identified Han Hesheng rather than Han Hechang was simple, Han Hechang had neither wife nor children, making him an unlikely candidate.
However, the two War God brothers shared an exceptionally close relationship. The sword technique Han Hechang had created was even named after both siblings, making Han Jue practically indistinguishable from Han Hechang's biological son in terms of mentorship and protection.
"Hold on! I need to contact Senior Han Hesheng directly."
Wang Heng breathed a sigh of relief as Zhuge Tao paused his report, then quickly dialed the number.
The call connected almost immediately, and Han Hesheng's lazy voice echoed from the speaker.
"Hello? Xiao Wang, what's the situation? Did my son already slaughter every monster in Monster Town?"
Everyone in the monitoring room froze in stunned silence.
What makes you think your son could kill all the monsters in Monster Town?
But given the strength Han Jue had just displayed... it might actually be possible.
"Senior Han, the situation is this," Wang Heng explained carefully. "Han Jue just demonstrated Perfect-level agility during his combat assessment. I wanted to confirm whether you knew about this development, and more importantly, which faction you believe he should join."
"Perfect-level? As expected of my son!" Han Hesheng's pride rang clearly through the connection. "As for which faction? Just ask Han Jue directly, let him make his own decision. After all, a sixteen-year-old with Perfect-level agility... surely you understand you can't afford to treat him poorly? That would show disrespect not only to me but to my brother as well."
Everyone in the monitoring room exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Indeed, treating Han Jue too poorly would be a direct insult to both War God brothers. Han Jue wasn't some connection-less prodigy they could take advantage of. On the other hand, they couldn't immediately offer him their best terms without proper authorization from headquarters.
"I've already reported this to the president and contacted the Pavilion Master," Wang Heng announced after checking an incoming message, his surprise evident. "If nothing unexpected happens, Lei Shen himself will come to China tomorrow to meet with Han Jue personally."
"Lei Shen? Excellent, my brother is returning tomorrow as well," Han Hesheng replied with a hearty laugh before ending the call.
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Tao knew the Extreme Martial Arts School had lost this recruitment battle, unless Hong himself could arrive tomorrow.
But the president had just informed him that Hong was currently unreachable, apparently away on some mission.
What a shame.
The War God level is merely Han Jue's starting point, Zhuge Tao thought with a mixture of admiration and disappointment. Such extraordinary talent, and we've lost him just like that.
His mood soured further as he watched Wang Heng's triumphant smile.
Glancing back at the surveillance screen, Zhuge Tao suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait, what is he doing now?"
The screen showed Han Jue surrounded by a massive horde of monsters in an open area of the town. Shadow Cats, Iron-Haired Boars, and Tiger Mastiffs circled him in ever-growing numbers, hundreds of creatures that continued to increase as nearby monsters detected the commotion and converged on his location.
Rather than systematically eliminating them, Han Jue glided through the herd with fluid grace, displaying his Perfect-level agility to its fullest potential. He made no attempt to kill the monsters, seemingly indifferent to the stamina he expended, as though his sole intention was gathering them all into one place.
"Is he trying to train his technique?" someone speculated.
"That doesn't seem right," Zhuge Tao said, concentrating harder on the screen, trying to discern Han Jue's true intentions.