In this world, strength ruled above all else.
It was a society where everyone trained in combat, where martial prowess determined status and respect.
So even though Tongcheng wasn't famous within the entire Nanjiang Province—its annual number of registered ability users ranking low among dozens of cities—the Tongcheng Ability User Guild was still bustling with life.
Crowds of people came and went endlessly, their footsteps echoing in every hall.
However, after careful observation, Zhao Xuan noticed that most of them were only First- or Second-Tier ability users.
Third-Tier users were as rare as phoenix feathers,
and as for Fourth-Tier?
He hadn't seen a single one.
When Zhao Xuan finally made his way to the grand dueling arena behind the guild headquarters,
his first reaction was a single word—
"Huge!"
The entire dueling ground was massive—just like the indoor sports stadiums he had seen in his previous life.
Rows upon rows of combat platforms were set up inside.
Some were empty,
while others were already hosting intense duels.
The air was thick with energy and battle spirit—
a living testament to the world's obsession with strength.
Zhao Xuan waited for a while, but since his examiner hadn't arrived yet, he decided to walk around the massive arena.
Before long, he stopped near one of the platforms.
On it, a young man and woman were locked in combat.
Their moves were decent, but after watching for only a few seconds, Zhao Xuan shook his head and walked away.
"Both barely First-Tier," he thought.
"There's nothing to learn from this."
Out of nearly twenty occupied stages,
the vast majority of fighters were First-Tier ability users.
Only three platforms featured Second-Tier duels.
After circling the area several times and still failing to find a single Third-Tier fight,
Zhao Xuan couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
He sighed softly.
"So it's true—Tongcheng really is just a small city.
Even finding a Third-Tier ability user here is rare.
I heard that in the bigger cities' guilds, you can even watch Fourth- or Fifth-Tier battles.
Now that's something I'd love to see someday."
He cast one last glance at a pair of struggling Second-Tier fighters before exhaling again.
There was no spark of excitement left.
He was just about to find a quiet corner to meditate when—
Beep! Beep! Beep!
His phone buzzed.
Zhao Xuan pulled it out and saw a message from the Ability User Guild:
"Dear Mr. Zhao Xuan, your assigned examiner for the Third-Tier Ability User Assessment has arrived.
Please proceed to Platform 13 within ten minutes to begin your test."
A grin instantly spread across his face.
"Finally!"
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
At the same time, on the other side of the arena—
A burly man with arms like iron pillars was walking alongside a guild staff member toward the dueling grounds.
"Examiner Cao Hu," the staff member said, reading from his clipboard,
"your next assessment candidate is named Zhao Xuan, age 18, a high school senior.
He possesses a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, though the exact species and combat strength are unknown."
"Eighteen?" Cao Hu frowned in disbelief.
"A high school senior? Are you sure he signed up for the Third-Tier Exam, not the Second?"
"Confirmed," the staff member replied quickly.
Cao Hu let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Good grief… are today's kids all this crazy? A fresh graduate trying for Third-Tier? Even a Logia-type wouldn't dare do that!"
He shook his head, muttering under his breath,
"This generation… really fearless."
The staff member chuckled good-naturedly.
"Well, you know the saying, sir—a newborn calf doesn't fear the tiger. Everyone's young once."
"Hah! You're right about that," Cao Hu said, a grin spreading across his face.
"But this works out just fine. It means I'll earn my six-thousand-yuan commission without breaking a sweat."
The two men laughed as they approached Platform 13.
By then, Zhao Xuan was already waiting there, standing tall and calm.
Before the fight began, a referee stepped forward and spoke clearly:
"Before we begin, let me explain the rules of the assessment.
To pass the Third-Tier Ability User Exam, the candidate must endure the examiner's attacks for thirty minutes.
If you can remain standing on the platform after that time—fully conscious—you pass the test."
"The entire process will be recorded.
If there are any disputes afterward, the footage can be reviewed for verification."
Zhao Xuan nodded attentively.
Then, after a short pause, he raised his hand and asked,
"What if… I defeat the examiner?"
The question hung in the air for a moment—
Then laughter erupted all around.
Several spectators snickered,
and even Cao Hu, the examiner himself, grinned broadly.
"Haha! Tell you what," the referee said, barely hiding his amusement.
"If you manage to knock the examiner off the stage before the time is up,
that will count as an automatic pass."
He quickly regained his professional composure.
"Any other questions?"
"No," Zhao Xuan said calmly, shaking his head.
"Very well. Both of you, please take the stage."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone nearby,
the two figures—one young and lean, the other massive and battle-hardened—
leapt onto the special combat platform.
The crowd stirred with anticipation.
They all thought the same thing—
"A high schooler challenging a Third-Tier examiner?
This is going to be over in seconds."
But what none of them knew was—
The tiger on the stage…
wasn't the one they should be worried about.
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