The military garrison of District Eighteen, the War God Hall branch.
The blazing sun burned like fire. Jiang Kai followed the staff member, walking along the slab road paved with white jade stone.
"Jiang Kai, the assessment hall is right ahead." The soldier big brother pointed at a towering building ahead as he spoke.
This hall faced them sideways, and they could see a road on one side that led toward the front of the building. The hall, however, had two back doors, each leading to a different area.
"Everyone who wants to become a War God has to pass through the assessment hall before they are qualified to enter the War God Hall."
"The hall has only one entrance, but two exits. Those who come out from the east exit are the ones who passed the assessment, and those who come out from the west exit are the ones who didn't pass."
"In addition, the stone stele in front of the assessment hall records the best fifty results from all War God assessments in the main city of our District Eighteen."
As they talked, they had arrived at the main entrance of the assessment hall. Sure enough, there was a rectangular stone stele, carried by the divine beast Bi Xie, standing twenty to thirty meters tall.
But there was nothing written on the stele, which made Jiang Kai feel a little puzzled.
"Big brother, didn't you say it has the best fifty results from Jiangzhong City's assessments? Why is it completely bare without a single record?"
The man smiled a little. "You haven't become a War God yet, of course you can't see it. And not only that. Every War God Hall branch in every main city can only view its own branch's War God assessment rankings. The headquarters can view the lists of all branches."
Jiang Kai nodded. It seemed he couldn't see it yet.
When the two reached a dozen or so meters before the assessment hall, the soldier stopped.
Jiang Kai asked in confusion, "Why aren't you going in?"
The man hesitated, then let out a sigh. "I'll send you only to here. As for whether you can go in or not… that depends on you." After he said that, he turned around without looking back and left decisively.
Jiang Kai stared in surprise as the man walked away, then turned back to look at the assessment hall in front, frowning.
"You already brought me here, but not all the way to the door?"
Maybe he didn't have enough clearance and could only escort him this far.
Jiang Kai shook his head and continued walking toward the assessment hall.
Just as he neared the hall, the door suddenly opened. Then eight or nine people walked out. They stood before the entrance, looking at Jiang Kai with cold expressions. Someone reached back and shut the door.
Jiang Kai hesitated a moment but still walked over.
But when he reached them, they had no intention of moving aside.
"Seniors, what do you mean by this?" Jiang Kai asked with a frown.
The middle-aged man standing in the center folded his arms and lifted his chin slightly. "What do I mean? Jiang Kai, what's the deal with the Fire Tribulation Pearl?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? You're telling me you don't know why the Firelight Beast had something that belongs to you inside its body?"
Jiang Kai said calmly, "I don't know."
A tall man beside him said coldly, "So the rumors were true. You really are hiding something from us."
"Ghost Star has been exploited for fifty years. Hundreds of billions of people have participated, and billions of items have been obtained. Never once has there been an item that already had an owner before someone acquired it. Do you think Ghost Star exists just for you alone?"
Jiang Kai shook his head. He knew he couldn't explain this matter clearly and could only say, "Everyone, since you don't believe what I said, then I have nothing more to say.
"But the Fire Tribulation Pearl is the Fire Tribulation Pearl. Right now I'm here to join the War God assessment. Please step aside."
The leader let out a cold snort. "Step aside? Do you know how great the losses were for Huaxia in the hunt for the Firelight Beast this time?"
"Yes, you have made many great contributions in the past, but do you think all the credit belongs to you alone? In the global domination war, without others repeatedly charging the allied forces' defenses, could you have stood safely in the public area? In the national war, if others didn't fight to the death, before you even entered the war zone Huaxia would have already been defeated!"
"Bearer of the National Soul? You're only carrying this state. The attribute boosts of the National Soul come from those who keep charging higher floors of the Endless Abyss. What does that have to do with you?"
"You think just because you're a little famous now, you're irreplaceable?"
"Jiang Kai, if you don't clarify the Fire Tribulation Pearl issue today, we won't allow you to join the War God Hall!"
Jiang Kai narrowed his eyes a little. "First, I've never been arrogant about my achievements, and I've never said all the credit is mine alone. Second, I've already said I never encountered the Fire Tribulation Pearl before. I have no way to explain why it belongs to me!"
"I'll say it again. Please step aside. I need to take the assessment. You don't seem to have the authority to keep me out of the War God Hall."
The leader's lips curled slightly as he let out a cold laugh. "What? You're threatening us?"
"Jiang Kai, who do you think you are? Trying to throw your weight around in the War God Hall? You picked the wrong place!"
Jiang Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. He would definitely get to the bottom of the Fire Tribulation Pearl, and he would definitely join the War God Hall.
"Sorry then, but I'll offend you!" Jiang Kai said coldly.
"Fine. Let me see if you're really as invincible as the rumors claim!"
Nine War Gods in total formed three rows, blocking the entrance completely.
Jiang Kai let out a low shout. "Battle Eight Desolations!"
His movement speed surged instantly, and he shot straight toward the War God Hall doors.
"Hurricane Roar!" a War God shouted, slashing out several arcs of blade light that instantly formed a whirlwind that blasted toward Jiang Kai!
Around the whirlwind, Jiang Kai felt a powerful pulling force trying to drag him inside.
The whirlwind was huge, and it completely blocked the entrance. If Jiang Kai wanted to force his way in, he had to break through it.
In an instant, his figure was dragged into the hurricane.
"This is the so-called legendary super genius? I think he's nothing much. He can't even dodge one of my moves!"
Just then, inside the violently spinning whirlwind, a burst of white light suddenly lit up!
"Limitless Guardian!" Jiang Kai directly activated the eighth step of Battle Eight Desolations, releasing a terrifying burst of force from his whole body.
The powerful force tore the Hurricane Roar apart!
The winds dispersed, and within the white glow, Jiang Kai stepped closer and closer to the hall's doors.
"He… he tore through the hurricane?! Limitless Guardian… is that the final step of Battle Eight Desolations that he comprehended?!"
"Don't let him through, Tianming!"
A man in a purple robe suddenly took out a treasure and shouted, "Soul Refining Jade!"
A mass of black energy instantly wrapped around Jiang Kai.
But before Soul Refining Jade could unleash its full effect, a golden treasure appeared in Jiang Kai's hand.
"Divine Power Jade!"
A halo fell from above Jiang Kai's head, and the black mist was scattered at once.
"Move aside. I don't want to hurt you." Jiang Kai's voice was low and powerful. "As for the Fire Tribulation Pearl, I'll give you all an explanation in the future. But today, no one is stopping me!"
"Arrogant!" the leader roared. "Icebound Shield!"
As his sword struck out, the sword qi swept forth. Wherever it passed, the air crackled and moisture condensed into frost. In a moment, Jiang Kai was surrounded by a layer of freezing frost.
"Quenched Fire, Moonlit Immortal Trace Sword!"
An ancient long sword appeared in Jiang Kai's hand. Flames erupted from his entire body and instantly shattered the frozen layer around him.
Seeing that Jiang Kai was about to reach the assessment hall door, several War Gods drew their weapons at the same time, ready to strike.
At that moment, the hall doors were pushed open from inside.
A familiar voice rang out. "Hey, you said you'd only stop him and wouldn't use attack skills. What are you trying to do now?"
All the War Gods present looked toward the inside of the hall.
A moment later, a person walked out.
When he saw this person, Jiang Kai froze for a moment. It was that guy who was always around Wei Ying, "Little Black".
Black God walked out of the hall, looked at Jiang Kai, then at the others, and shook his head as he said, "It doesn't matter if you don't believe what he said. What I see is that you didn't use actual attack skills on him, and he also didn't truly attack you."
"This is the Jiang Kai I know. If people don't offend me, I don't offend them!"
"No matter what his connection with the Fire Tribulation Pearl is, I'm willing to give him some time to give us a clear answer!"