After steadying his breath, he stomped his feet, causing the entire training ground to tremble. All his strength gathered, his spine crackling segment by segment, and the power was transmitted to his blade.

Clang!

21,231 kg!

“Still a bit short.”

Looking at the data, he raised his hand and tapped on the calculator: (21231-10851)÷10851≈0.94.

Ninety-four percent!

At the first level of Mountain-Splitting, bursting out with the strength of the second level didn’t make Samuel Thompson happy. Instead, he frowned a little—his goal was to double it.

Over the past three months, while improving his strength, he hadn’t used much demon blood; most of it was spent practicing with the blade.

His combat power increase still hadn’t reached double.

“Where’s the problem?”

With the boost from demon blood, his basic blade techniques—though not yet at the level of perfection—were already second nature to him.

“Momentum?”

After thinking for a moment, Samuel Thompson sheathed his blade and walked out of the training ground.

Beep beep.

He raised his arm, and a message appeared.

‘Old Grandpa White: What are you doing? Not replying to my messages—are you really not planning to take my jobs anymore? Young people are so fickle.’

After glancing at it, Samuel Thompson immediately blocked him.

For the past three months, this old man had been pestering him every day, messaging from morning till night.

‘Only three days left until the martial arts assessment. Need any equipment?’

‘Large-caliber Thunder Eagle—one shot to take down a Mountain-Splitting, sweeps through everything at close range.’

‘Demon Shadow Battle Blade, flat price of two hundred thousand, I’ll give you a 1% discount.’

……

‘Top secret assessment info, twenty-one thousand per copy.’

‘“Stories You Have to Know About Each Academy,” five thousand per book.’

‘Three steps to help you fill out academy applications—even with low scores, you can make a comeback.’

……

‘Hey, got a fourth-grade Thousand-Sinew Soft Armor, flat price of six hundred eighty thousand, a life-saving treasure—want it?’

On the streets of the port district, Samuel Thompson bought a few groceries and picked up a bottle of wine, heading toward Old Man Bear’s house.

Tap tap.

The crooked door, after two knocks, lost three nails and two planks.

“Who is it!”

Old Man Bear opened the door, looked at Samuel Thompson and the things he was carrying.

“Come in.”

Entering the room, Samuel Thompson looked around, then sat directly on the floor, setting out the food and wine.

“Couldn’t find anyone selling tobacco leaves. I’ll get you some next time I see them.”

The old man picked up his tobacco pipe and also sat on the floor.

“My combat power increase has reached ninety-four percent. It’s getting harder and harder to improve. What’s the reason?”

The old man, who hadn’t been interested at first, suddenly looked up at Samuel Thompson.

“Last time, I said you’re no better than those brutes in the Wu’an Army.”

Samuel Thompson wasn’t annoyed. He had indeed lived two lives, but hadn’t practiced martial arts for many years.

“Come with me. Let’s see if what you say is true.”

Following Old Man Bear, he got up and went into the basement.

“Give it a try!”

Samuel Thompson didn’t stand on ceremony. He went to the machine in the corner of the basement, first punched it, then slashed with his blade.

10,901 kg.

20,201 kg.

The numbers fluctuated compared to those at the outpost, but the uncertainty in power bursts was normal.

“Let’s go.”

After a glance, Old Man Bear turned and left.

This left Samuel Thompson completely baffled.

Back in the room, the old man said nothing, just drank and ate, sweeping everything clean.

“The taste is average.”

He picked up his tobacco pipe and started smoking on his own.

Samuel Thompson looked on eagerly.

“You’re going to take the martial arts assessment, right?”

“Yeah, I’m getting ready to go back to the city to sign up.”

“Your strength came too easily. You lack killing intent.”

Old Man Bear puffed on his pipe and said, “Human martial arts are skills of killing. Killing a few demons—what kind of killing skill is that?”

At this point, the old man glanced at Samuel Thompson, held up a finger, and said, “Keep killing.”

“All right, if there’s nothing else, you can go.”

“Goodbye, teacher.”

Samuel Thompson stood up, bowed, and walked out.

Puff, puff—the smoke came out of Old Man Bear’s nostrils, whistling.

“Can’t even lift the blade anymore…” Bang!

A few more pieces of wood fell off the wooden door.

Heading back to the outpost, he planned to tell Baldy Wood that he was going back to the city to sign up for the assessment.

“I’m heading back to the city too, I’ll give you a ride.”

In the office, Baldy Wood walked out with his thermos.

“My shimu is treating me to a meal. At my age, still having a shimu thinking of me—aren’t you jealous?”

Baldy Wood’s driving was much steadier than Edward Carter’s; the whole way was almost bump-free.

“Old Zhao might be heading to Shahu Pass next.”

On the way, Baldy Wood spoke up. Samuel Thompson knew about this—Edward Carter had left two months ago, taken away by the military law office.

They slowly arrived outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Samuel Thompson got out, and Baldy Wood headed toward the academy.

Ministry of Internal Affairs.

With the assessment approaching, there were many people coming to sign up, even more parents. Each one was dressed to the nines—whatever Emily Thompson’s mom wore, they wore too.

Swipe card, line up, register—after half a day, Samuel Thompson arrived at a table.

“Name, place of origin, ID number, parents’ names…” The registrar asked mechanically, and Samuel Thompson answered each question.