Reborn as a Hatrack in the Mystical Land-Chapter 767 - 17: Turmoil at the Warm-Up Match

The Geyue Mercenary Association truly lives up to its reputation as the headquarters for all mercenary branches on the Canglong Continent. It is unlike the Five Saints Branch that Yue Jinghua saw earlier in Five Saints Town, which was just a place for negotiating mercenary tasks.

It more resembles a complete, structured, vast empire-like institution, equipped with a dedicated mercenary reception, a confidential task negotiation area, an armory, a Martial Arts Hall, and a mercenary inn.

This time’s challenge competition was set in the Martial Arts Hall of the Geyue Mercenary Association. By the time Yue Jinghua and others arrived, it was past noon and the competition had already started.

It must be said, the Titan Collision by Compass indeed had a deterrent effect. At least when the members of the July Mercenary Team entered the Geyue Mercenary Association, the eyes of the mercenaries registering for the challenge clearly regarded them differently.

Especially when Compass walked by, the mercenaries consciously cleared a pathway for him, seeing him as a ticking bomb, dangerously so.

The handsome blond, blue-eyed mercenary responsible for reception at the Geyue Mercenary Association checked the Mercenary Manuals of the members of the July Mercenary Team. After registering their manuals, he asked, "Are you all confirmed, including this female mercenary, to participate in the challenge competition?"

Yue Jinghua responded affirmatively on behalf of everyone.

"There are no errors with the Mercenary Manuals. However, I must remind you that every mercenary participating in the challenge competition must also sign an additional Life and Death Contract. The newcomer king competition is an occasion for exchanges and sparring among mercenaries; accidents can happen in the heat of combat. If you have considered it thoroughly, please sign the Life and Death Contract together, and I will take you to the Martial Arts Hall for some warm-up activities before the competition," the Geyue Mercenary Association handled things efficiently, and succinctly clarified the situation concerning the challenge competition.

Yue Jinghua and the others had no objections, and they each signed the Life and Death Contract, though they were somewhat puzzled when they heard about the warm-up competition.

It wasn’t until the blond mercenary led them to the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall that the group saw a robust middle-aged man sitting at the entrance.

The man had a tower-like stature, with muscles blooming like small hills from his battle armor.

Beneath him was a massive Stone Tiger Lion weighing about five or six hundred pounds. Together, the man and the Stone Tiger Lion completely blocked the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall; anyone wanting to enter had to either push past the Stone Tiger Lion or step over the middle-aged man’s head.

"Deacon Yang, these are the new mercenaries coming for the challenge competition," the blond mercenary said cheerfully, bowing slightly to the robust man.

"Alright, hand them over to me, go handle your own business," Deacon Yang responded loudly, glancing briefly at Yue Jinghua and her group, his gaze lingering a moment on Qin Dongting.

"Please go easy, Deacon Yang. Don’t wear them out too much, they are the July Mercenary Team," the blond mercenary winked at Yue Jinghua and the others, giving them a somewhat ominous feeling.

"The July Mercenary Team?" The deacon responded perfunctorily, nodding, "Which one is Qin Dongting?"

Qin Dongting stepped forward, saluting with cupped fists, "It is I."

"You, come here," Deacon Yang casually pushed the Stone Tiger Lion beside him, the several hundred-pound beast moving aside as lightly as a feather.

Deacon Yang’s arm strength was remarkably impressive.

"This person must know Lord Bo Sai, the Mercenary King. Dongzi, you’ve hit the jackpot," Compass said enviously.

Geyue Town is the territory of the Xileng Family and also the domain of Lord Bo Sai, the Mercenary King, so it is not surprising that Qin Dongting receives special care.

However, Qin Dongting did not enter; he stood aside, making it clear to everyone that he did not wish to bask in the glory of Lord Bo Sai and preferred to enter alone.

"Don’t misunderstand, my letting you in has nothing to do with Lord Bo Sai. Before I became a steward at the Geyue Mercenary Association, I was a servant born into the Bo Family. Your mother, from the Qin Family, and I grew up together. Technically, you should call me Uncle Yang," said Steward Yang, his eyes misting over as he spoke.

Yang An was a former attendant of Lord Bo Sai, and as the saying goes, a strong leader has no weak soldiers. Following the customs of the Canglong Continent, strength is everything.

Yang An, sold to the Bo Family due to family poverty, didn’t belittle himself due to his servant status. Instead, he seized the opportunity to serve young master Bo Sai and learned various Dark Techniques alongside him.

Through diligence and decent talent, coupled with Bo Sai’s recent promotion, Yang An devotedly practiced and finally broke through the Heavenly Dark Realm at the age of thirty-three.

According to Bo Family’s rules, a servant who has broken through the Heavenly Dark Realm can request to redeem his servitude and regain his freedom.

Once freed from servitude, Bo Sai, already a famous Mercenary King across the continent, remembered their past camaraderie and recommended Yang An to join the Geyue Mercenary Association.

Yang An did not let down Bo Sai’s trust and worked hard to become a steward at the Mercenary Headquarters.

Qin Dongting had not expected to encounter an old acquaintance of his mother here. He was deeply moved and, after hesitating for a moment and upon receiving nods from Yue Jinghua and the others, he finally entered the Martial Arts Hall.

After Qin Dongting walked past, Steward Yang returned to his normal state, "The rest of you, since you are here to participate in the mercenary challenge, you’ll have to pass my test first," he said, then flicked his foot, and the Stone Tiger Lion obediently returned to its place.

This challenge arrived suddenly; hearing that there was a chance to participate, countless new mercenaries flooded into Geyue Town, almost trampling down the doorstep of the Mercenary Association.

The headquarters had to specially allocate manpower from nearby mercenary branches for this purpose.

When the forest grows, all kinds of birds appear.

The influx of these new mercenaries into the Geyue Mercenary Association was vigorous, but once they actually entered the Martial Arts Hall, the showcased abilities were mixed. After competing all morning, not only did they fail to select any fitting candidates, but many were also quickly defeated by the winners of the elimination rounds without putting up much resistance.

This not only wasted much of the stewards from Geyue Association’s time, but it also left those winners of the elimination rounds quite frustrated. The stewards, with no other choice, hastily came up with a solution, which was that all mercenaries participating in the challenge must first overcome the barrier set by Yang Qi.

Only those who passed the test of Yang Qi, a Dark Heavenly Master, and successfully entered the Martial Arts Hall, would be able to participate in the next round of elimination.

"I’ve already explained the rules. Who will go first?" Yang Qi waved one hand, signaling the start of the battle.