Elder Bai was growing increasingly anxious.

He feared that if they delayed even a little, other organizations like the Thunderbolt Dojo might swoop in and poach such a rare talent.

Rowan was only sixteen, yet his combat strength had already reached Intermediate Warrior level, and his psychic power his mental force was comparable to a Junior War General.

His potential far exceeded any of the so-called prodigies they had recruited earlier in the year.

"Understood, Elder Bai. I'll take him to headquarters right away!" Director Norris replied without hesitation.

After ending the call, he turned to Rowan and said, "Come with me. We're heading to HQ."

"Alright." Rowan nodded.

With a mere flicker of thought, the flying knives hovering around him like graceful fish circling their pond swiftly shot back into the armory.

Even the dragon-etched saber and shield he had drawn earlier returned to their designated places.

He followed Director Norris out of the dojo.

They headed straight for the train station.

By now, the sun had dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the city. Twilight would soon give way to full darkness.

Using his martial artist credentials, Director Norris led Rowan directly into a freight train transporting supplies. They were even granted seats in the conductor's cabin.

By the time the train rolled into the heart of Jiangnan Base City, night had fallen.

Rowan peered curiously out the windows as they approached the urban district. To his surprise, the area hadn't changed much from the pre-cataclysm era. The most noticeable differences were the abundance of vivid, multicolored billboards and metallic frameworks that now adorned the skyline.

The crowds and overall bustle still mirrored the kind of city life he remembered from his previous world.

As Rowan continued to take in the cityscape, Director Norris's phone rang.

"Hello, Elder Bai?"

"Norris, where are you now?"

"Almost there, Elder Bai. We just got off the train ten minutes, tops."

"Good. I'll wait for you both at the Hall. Move quickly two Directors are already here."

"What? Two Directors?" Norris's face shifted between surprise and tension.

At the Jiangnan branch of the Extreme Martial Hall, aside from the President, the individuals with the most authority were the three Division Directors. Each one was a high-level War General in their own right, wielding significant power and backed by War God–level figures.

Director Norris rarely interacted directly with any of them let alone two at once. Of course he was nervous.

"I'll be there immediately!" he said and hung up, quickening his pace.

"Rowan, listen," he said over his shoulder, "You've got to give it your best. With both Directors present, this is a huge opportunity. If you impress them, they may grant you bonuses beyond the elite training contract."

Rowan nodded calmly.

Soon, the pair arrived at the headquarters of the Extreme Martial Hall a sprawling complex surrounded by gleaming silver walls. At the center stood a towering dark-blue skyscraper. Four massive characters were emblazoned across its facade, visible even from several kilometers away:

Extreme Martial Hall.

As they passed through the silver gates, Rowan noticed that the headquarters wasn't just a single building. Numerous villas dotted the grounds some small, others large and grand.

Director Norris led him to one of the more spacious villas.

"Come on, let's head inside."

They entered swiftly.

The villa's second floor opened into an expansive hall easily rivaling the main training arena back in the Yian District branch.

Rowan walked behind Director Norris, who, from several meters away, respectfully called out, "Greetings, Directors!"

Peering past Norris, Rowan spotted Elder Bai flanked by six individuals.

Four of them wore crisp white suits and stood quietly behind two middle-aged men.

The first was slender, dressed in a traditional Chinese-style tunic. His features were sharp: a hooked nose, a gentle smile, and eyes that radiated a subtle, almost delicate charm.

The second wore a black suit. His stern expression contrasted sharply with the softness of the first. Muscles strained against the fabric of his clothes, and a noticeable scar etched along his chin gave him a fierce, battle-hardened presence.

From the moment Rowan laid eyes on them, he knew exactly who they were.

He stepped forward and echoed Norris respectfully, "Greetings, Directors."

"You must be Rowan. You're indeed quite young," said the man in the tunic. He examined Rowan closely, his voice calm and kind, eyes filled with appreciation.

"Yes, Director. I'm Rowan," he replied evenly.

"Show us your psychic power," the gentle Director said.

Before Rowan could respond, the scar-faced Director cut in impatiently, "Yes let's see what you can do."

Rowan glanced around the room briefly.

"Of course," he said.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small magnetic card half the size of a bank card. It was the ignition key for his electric vehicle.

With a flick of his index finger, the card popped into the air.

It rose twenty centimeters before gravity began to pull it down.

At that precise moment, Rowan focused.

The card halted mid-descent, suspended perfectly still in the air.

Then, it began to spin slowly.

The onlookers watching every movement closely collectively widened their eyes.

But Rowan wasn't finished.

With another subtle mental push, the card zipped across the vast hall, darting and weaving through the air with precision.

Then, like a bird returning to its nest, it glided smoothly back into Rowan's waiting hand.

The two Directors exchanged glances, their expressions filled with satisfaction and excitement.

"As expected he really is a psychic."

"Excellent. Elder Bai, begin the formal testing," the scar-faced Director said.

Now that Rowan's psychic identity had been confirmed, the Directors relaxed and nodded for Elder Bai to proceed.

Director Norris flashed Rowan a subtle thumbs-up, his eyes full of encouragement.

Rowan nodded in return.

By now, the four individuals in white suits had wheeled over various testing instruments: the strength measurement machine, the speed sensor, and a camera setup to record everything.

"All equipment is functioning properly," reported one of the white-suited women.

Elder Bai nodded and turned to Rowan. "Alright, let's begin. Start with the strength test."

Rowan stepped forward.

He took a deep breath and centered himself, pushing away the pressure of the watching eyes.

Closing his eyes, he listened to the rhythm of his own body.

Then, in one explosive motion, he lunged forward.

His body was like a drawn bow his punch like a shooting star.

Boom!

A deep, echoing thud filled the hall.

The numbers on the machine's screen jumped rapidly.

2,883 kilograms.

Though the Directors showed no visible reaction, a flicker of approval passed through their eyes.

This result far surpassed the threshold for an Intermediate Warrior.

"Very good. Let's proceed to the next test," said the gentle Director, smiling.

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