The Mercenary Guild in Leeds City was exceptionally lively today, with people coming and going at the entrance. Mercenaries of various races, wearing all sorts of equipment, bustled in and out, creating a constant din. Magic lights flickered everywhere, interspersed with the sounds of clashing weapons and people's laughter and curses.
Zhao Yun walked into the Guild and approached the Mercenary Guild counter, stating he wished to accept bounties of twenty Gold Coins or more.
Tina was intently organizing the mission list, her rabbit ears twitching occasionally. Hearing Zhao Yun's voice, she adjusted her Crystal Ball glasses.
"Sir, if you wish to accept high-level missions, you must first verify your professional rank. For instance, subduing the Blood Moon Werewolf is restricted to Advanced Warriors, Magicians, and above."
Zhao Yun stroked the Azure Gown Sword wrapped in cloth at his waist, pondering internally.
The horsemanship and Spear Technique he mastered at Changban Slope might qualify him as a 'Knight' here; yet, the vines he could summon from his palm felt somewhat like a Magician's skill.
After a moment of hesitation, he lightly traced a shallow mark on the counter: "What if I possess both?"
Tina's ears immediately shot up. She leaned close to the mark and was astonished to see the wood grain behaving like a living thing, growing along the incision and even blooming a few clusters of pale white flowers.
"Ancestral Spirits above!" She gasped in shock, quickly rummaging through a drawer to pull out a bronze compass inlaid with Magic Crystals.
"Please place your hand here; this is the Profession Tester."
Zhao Yun placed his hand on the compass. The needle spun wildly, and twelve Runes lit up in succession. The sword-and-shield Badge representing the Warrior and the six-pointed star representing the Magician both burned with golden marks, while the central Dragon Mark even spewed azure flames.
This caused quite a stir; the Magic Quill behind the counter snapped with a 'crack,' splashing ink everywhere.
Tina hurriedly wiped it up with a rag.
"Are you trying to tear down the Guild!"
The commotion attracted the gatekeeper of the Certification Hall—a One-Eyed Dwarf Blacksmith. He was carrying a Forging Hammer dripping with scarlet molten iron and strode over.
"Did the little girl break Guild property again?"
The Dwarf's voice was like thunder, but upon seeing the compass wreckage, he froze instantly. From the shattered Magic Crystal Stone, a wisp of azure energy was condensing into a miniature Dragon Shadow, circling the scale Mark on Zhao Yun's left arm.
"To the Battle Qi testing room."
The Dwarf suddenly slammed his Forging Hammer onto the ground, shaking open a hidden door.
"Let those arrogant Mercenaries see something!"
The Battle Qi testing room was on the second basement level. Fluorite lamps embedded in the bluestone walls brightly illuminated the circular hall.
Zhao Yun followed Tina through the bronze gate engraved with a six-pointed star array. Over ten Mercenaries queuing for verification turned back curiously to look at him.
"Advanced Battle Qi certification is on the left, Magic Power certification is on the right."
Tina's rabbit ears twitched in the magical dust as she pointed to two stone gates carved with different patterns.
"Do you want to use the Strength Testing Stele first, or the Elemental Orb?"
Zhao Yun glanced at the relief carving of a sword-wielding Knight on the left stone gate, then glanced at the swirling nebula pattern on the right gate.
The Qi Vortex in his Dantian suddenly began to operate on its own, and the Dragon Mark on his left arm emitted a faint Azure Light. He raised his hand and pressed it against the central pillar: "Test both simultaneously?"
The Crystal Ball atop the pillar instantly blazed brightly. Beams of red-gold and indigo light shot toward the ceiling, meeting there to form a dazzling galaxy. The crowd waiting in line let out gasps of amazement; a Bearman Warrior even forgot the pain of smashing his axe onto the top of his foot.
"Nonsense! The Strength Testing Stele's maximum load is fifty thousand jin!"
The right stone gate was violently pushed open, and an old Magician wearing a Mithril Mage Robe stormed out, his beard and hair standing on end.
"The last time a Berserker cracked the Stele, he had to pay thirty Gold Coins!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Yun had already walked through the left stone gate. Inside, the nine-foot-tall Obsidian Strength Testing Stele was covered in spider-web-like cracks, looking as if it might collapse at any moment.
Zhao Yun pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly touched the surface of the Stele. Inner strength surged through the Dragon Mark to his fingertips, and seven concentric rings of light immediately appeared on the Stele.
"The minimum standard for Advanced Battle Qi is lighting up four rings; this is the first time I've seen all seven rings lit up."
Tina's hands, clutching the record board, couldn't help but tremble.
The moment the seventh golden ring flared, the Strength Testing Stele let out a roar like a waking dragon.
Zhao Yun quickly retreated half a step, watching as magma-like flowing light burst from the cracks on the Stele's surface, causing the temperature in the hall to soar instantly.
The old Magician hastily cast a protective Barrier, his voice changing pitch: "Stop! If you inject any more Battle Qi, the defensive Magic Array will trigger!"
As soon as Zhao Yun retracted his power, the Strength Testing Stele cracked into three pieces with a 'snap.' In the dust cloud, a golden Badge engraved with a lion crest slowly floated up and automatically affixed itself to his collar—the mark of a Kingdom-certified Advanced Warrior.
However, everyone clearly understood that the Strength Zhao Yun displayed was far more than that of a mere Advanced Warrior; it was just that the Leeds City Mercenary Guild could only certify up to the Advanced Warrior rank.
"Time to test the Magic Power."
Zhao Yun brushed the stone dust off his shoulders and turned toward the right stone gate.
The old Magician's beard was singed halfway off, and he tremblingly held out the Elemental Orb.
"This item detects elemental affinity. You only need to hold the Crystal Ball."
Zhao Yun immediately grasped the Crystal Ball. The sphere first erupted with the emerald-green radiance representing Nature Magic, then instantly took on the colors of violet lightning, blue Cold Ice, and red flame, among six other hues. Seven streams of light clashed violently inside the sphere before it finally exploded with a 'bang' into a shower of crystal fragments.
"All-element affinity!"
The old Magician collapsed onto the edge of the Magic Array, and the cat's-eye stone in his Staff cracked with a 'snap.'
"A Magic Swordsman, an all-attribute Magic Swordsman unseen for a century!"
This commotion attracted the Guild Master of the Mercenary Guild, Moore. He was as burly as a bear, clad in dark gold chainmail, with nine blood diamonds adorning the Badge on his chest.
Moore's large Copper Bell eyes swept over the golden lion Badge on Zhao Yun's collar, then glanced at the remains of the Elemental Orb littering the floor, before suddenly bursting into loud laughter.
"Kid, how about registering here? Twenty Gold Coins monthly allowance, and priority selection for all missions below S-rank!"
Zhao Yun gently stroked the cloth-wrapped Azure Gown Sword at his waist; the cool touch from the hilt reminded him of the fiery years at Changban Slope.
"I appreciate the generous offer, but my ambition lies elsewhere."
Moore's smile froze instantly. He waved away the surrounding Mercenaries and lowered his voice: "The bounty for the Black Moon Altar has been raised to eight hundred Gold Coins, but the two Gold Rank mercenary teams and one Platinum Rank mercenary team that took the mission were all wiped out."
As he spoke, he traced a blood-red Rune in the air: "If you are willing to register, the Guild can provide the secret scroll for the ancient Teleportation Array."
"Guild Master!" Tina suddenly rushed in clutching a Parchment Scroll, "We just received urgent intelligence! The Blood Moon Werewolf tribe has rioted, and the Trade Route is blockaded!"
Zhao Yun's heart stirred. He remembered the bounty for subduing the Werewolves was twenty Gold Coins. Although it was far less than the reward for the Black Moon Altar, it was the quickest way to raise money right now.
"I'll take this mission," he said, lightly tapping the wolf-head mark on the Parchment Scroll, and turned to leave the Guild.