At three o'clock that afternoon.
As Lin Weidong had told Zhou Yu, the mobilization meeting for the new recruit training officially commenced.
All the new recruit team members participating in this training stood on the training ground, looking up expectantly, awaiting the appearance of the female war god.
Leng Xue, as the chief instructor for this training, was bound to make an appearance.
However, Zhou Yu noticed Lin Weidong taking this opportunity to go and welcome that mysterious figure.
Outside the temporary base.
Lin Weidong, accompanied by two Dragon Team members, finally met the last member of the observation delegation.
"Old Lin, it's been a while. I didn't expect you to have reached the Houtian Mingjin stage."
A man in training attire stepped out of the black SUV. He appeared to be in his early fifties, slightly younger than Lin Weidong.
Zhou Yu, observing from a distance, narrowed his eyes slightly as he saw the man.
"This person is a master!"
Although it was difficult to ascertain his exact strength without engaging in combat, Zhou Yu estimated that this middle-aged man's martial arts realm was at least late Anjin.
Masters in the late Anjin stage were indeed rare.
It was known that once a martial artist entered Anjin, their progress became increasingly arduous.
This was because at the Anjin realm, martial artists needed to continuously gather true qi within their bodies. In other words, the more true qi they possessed, the stronger they became.
Even Zhou Yu had spent a full two years at the late Anjin stage himself.
The term "peak Anjin" was merely a description of a strength level; in reality, it was still considered late Anjin.
"Judging by Uncle Lin's and this man's demeanor, they seem to be old acquaintances. It's likely the young man behind him..."
Zhou Yu observed a tall young man following the middle-aged man. The latter carried himself with an arrogant attitude, completely disregarding the two Dragon Team members. His gaze was almost pointed towards the heavens.
It was likely that this was his usual disposition towards others.
However, when addressing Lin Weidong, this person showed no arrogance at all.
"Someone who can treat Dragon Team members with such disdain must have an extraordinary identity. He's definitely a descendant of a top-tier family," Zhou Yu mused.
The tall young man's origin from a top-tier family was highly probable.
Before long.
The group from a distance approached and arrived before Zhou Yu.
Lin Weidong slowed his pace and proactively introduced Zhou Yu to the middle-aged man and the tall young man.
"Old Jiang, this is Zhou Yu, the divine doctor Zhou I mentioned to you earlier."
"Oh?"
Jiang Kui sized up Zhou Yu, his expression remaining as usual, with little change.
In fact, he had already heard some things about Zhou Yu from Lin Weidong.
The tall young man behind Jiang Kui, upon hearing Zhou Yu's name, showed a flicker of a different emotion in his eyes.
Lin Weidong had told Jiang Kui over the phone that he had recently discovered a martial arts prodigy. This person, at the age of twenty-four or twenty-five, had already reached the peak of Houtian Mingjin, making him a rare talent to cultivate.
Jiang Zhuliu, who was standing beside Jiang Kui at the time, had heard everything.
He was just twenty-four this year and, among all the disciples in the Jiang family, his martial arts strength barely ranked in the top twenty.
But!
Jiang Zhuliu was only twenty-four!
And the older brothers who were stronger than him were all in their thirties.
Reaching the mid-Anjin stage at twenty-four years old was already a remarkable feat, worthy of pride!
In any family, Jiang Zhuliu would be considered the most promising candidate for cultivation.
"Is he really at peak Houtian Mingjin? He doesn't look like it. Could Uncle Lin be exaggerating about this kid? I found it incredibly difficult to reach mid-Houtian Mingjin at twenty-four; it's impossible for anyone to be stronger than me, let alone at peak Mingjin."
Jiang Zhuliu scrutinized Zhou Yu, his mind working through various calculations.
He hadn't believed the news when he first heard it, and even after meeting Zhou Yu in person, he still didn't.
The inherent sense of superiority that came from being from a top-tier family made him believe that individuals from smaller families or those who were "wildcards" outside could not possibly surpass the descendants of top-tier families.
After all, the Jiang family was one of the five top-tier families!
This honor was unshakeable!
Jiang Zhuliu absolutely would not allow anyone to shake it.
"What did this kid eat to grow so tall? He must be at least 1.95 meters!"
In fact, while Jiang Zhuliu was observing Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu was also observing the former.
He had to admit that in terms of height, Zhou Yu was at a distinct disadvantage.
But he was already over 1.8 meters.
Any taller and it wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing.
A man of over 1.8 meters had a perfect height; someone like the tall young man before him would stand out conspicuously, which was rather unsightly.
"Hello, young friend. I am a guest elder of the Jiang family. Since you call Old Lin 'Uncle Lin,' you might as well call me Uncle Kui."
Jiang Kui was a straightforward person. Given his relationship with Lin Weidong, it was not unusual for him to allow Zhou Yu to address him as Uncle Kui.
Zhou Yu did not hesitate and directly called out, "Uncle Kui."
As for Jiang Kui being from the Jiang family in Di City, Zhou Yu was not particularly surprised.
Hearing Lin Weidong refer to him as "Old Jiang," he had already made a guess.
"Oh, this is a junior from my Jiang family, Jiang Zhuliu."
Seeing Zhou Yu and Jiang Zhuliu sizing each other up, Jiang Kui introduced them further, "Zhuliu, aren't you always curious about divine doctor Zhou? Why aren't you stepping forward to greet him now that you've met him?"
"Hello, I am Jiang Zhuliu, from the Jiang family in Di City. You can just call me by my name."
Jiang Zhuliu reluctantly stepped forward and said to Zhou Yu.
If it weren't for Jiang Kui and Lin Weidong being present, he would never have taken the initiative to greet Zhou Yu.
If there were to be a greeting, it should have been from Zhou Yu!
"It's a pleasure to meet you. In that case, you can just call me Zhou Yu," Zhou Yu said with a smile.
This tall young man was like a child; he didn't seem to have fully matured and lacked emotional maturity.
In other words, under the protection of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhuliu had become a flower in a greenhouse, having never experienced the harsh realities of society.
Even with all his cunning, such a person couldn't be truly malicious.
"Zhou Yu."
Immediately after Zhou Yu spoke, Jiang Zhuliu uttered these two words.
"..."
Zhou Yu was taken aback.
This kid!
What else could he do? Out of politeness, he could only nod and respond with a soft "Mm."
Lin Weidong and Jiang Kui, witnessing their interaction, smiled without comment.
Young people had their own ways of communicating, and they naturally wouldn't interfere.
...
Here on the training ground.
Under the anticipation of countless people, Leng Xue finally appeared.
Black Rose followed closely behind her, her expression serious.
She, too, was dressed in a sleek combat suit, her figure, like Leng Xue's, was curvaceous and alluring.
After all, both women had undergone rigorous training since childhood. Their muscles were more developed than those of many special forces soldiers, so their physique was not surprising.
Below, many of the new recruits stared with wide eyes.
Leng Xue was, after all, a frequent topic of discussion among these scions of prominent families. Although the "female war god" had a fearsome reputation, her beauty was also considered top-tier among women of her age, making her a goddess-like figure in the hearts of many young disciples.