Immortality begins with exchanging talent attributes.

The Xuanyiwei (Black-Clad Guard) headquarters, the martial arts training ground.

The training ground was much more lively than usual today.

Many of the black-clad guards gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves.

"Have you heard? Commander Lu wants to promote the kid who saved him directly to captain."

"Yes, that kid is brave, but his strength is only at the second level, which is still too low."

"So what if he's weak? With Commander Lu protecting him, who dares to say anything?"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

There was much discussion, with most people seemingly indifferent to the matter, while a few looked disdainful.

A moment later, when Lu Qingshuang led Zhou Yan into the training ground, the discussions in the arena gradually subsided.

When the guards in black robes saw Lu Qingshuang, they all clasped their hands in greeting.

"Commander Lu".

"I have met Commander Lu."

Lu Qingshuang simply nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Zhou Yan could feel that many eyes were on him.

They scrutinized him, expressed doubt, and even disdain.

This feeling is not unfamiliar.

From Qingzhou to the prefectural city, he had been seen like this many times.

Just then, greetings came from the other side.

"Fang Baihu".

"I have met Commander Fang."

Fang Wenjian led Zhou Jing and walked over from the other side.

He still looked like a gentle and refined young nobleman. Even in his black-clad guard's official uniform, he couldn't suppress the noble air of a scion of a prominent family.

Upon seeing Lu Qingshuang, Fang Wenjian immediately smiled.

"Qing Shuang, are you feeling better?"

Lu Qingshuang glanced at him indifferently, without replying, seemingly too lazy to even acknowledge him.

Fang Wenjian's smile froze slightly, but he quickly recovered, as if he had long been used to Lu Qingshuang's attitude.

He then looked at Zhou Yan, his smile gentle, and said:

"Brother Zhou is here too. Have you been settling in well in the prefectural city these past few days?"

As he spoke, it was as if he were mentioning it casually.

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"Do you have enough money? If not, feel free to come to me."

These words were spoken.

The gazes of many of the black-clad guards around them immediately changed.

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said:

"Thank you for your trouble, Commander Fang. I don't usually have many expenses, and there are many other things I can do."

Upon hearing the word "money," Lu Qingshuang glanced at Zhou Yan but didn't say anything more.

Zhou Yan noticed her gaze and inwardly cursed Fang Wenjian for being shameless.

This guy was definitely up to no good.

Fang Wenjian strode towards the center of the training ground.

He stood on the arena, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings, and said in a loud voice:

"As you all probably know, the reason for our visit today is indeed to discuss the promotion of a captain."

He paused for a moment, looked in Lu Qing Shuang's direction, and said with a smile:

"The rule of the Black-Clad Guard is that merit determines rank. Now that there are two vacancies for the position of Captain, as long as one has enough merit, everyone should have a chance to compete. There should be no favoritism."

His words sounded righteous, but anyone with eyes could tell that he was actually mocking Lu Qingshuang for secretly appointing Zhou Yan as a captain.

Lu Qingshuang slightly raised her eyes and looked at Fang Wenjian on the arena, her cold eyes devoid of any emotion.

Fang Wenjian, who was still speaking eloquently on stage, suddenly felt a chill creeping down his neck.

As a peak sixth-level Blood Exchange Realm cultivator, just one step away from breaking through to the Acquired Realm, his body suddenly stiffened.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple.

This woman has become even stronger.

His smile became forced, and he couldn't bring himself to say what he wanted to say.

Just then.

call!

A middle-aged man's figure landed on the arena at some unknown time.

Upon seeing this figure, the guards in black uniforms below all clasped their hands in salute and said:

"Greetings, Commander Wang!"

Wang Qianhu?

Who is this?

Li Kun, who had been following behind, seemed to have noticed something and whispered:

"This man is named Wang Baichuan, a deputy commander of the Black-Clad Guard, and a member of the Wang family."

It turned out to be the case.

The Wang and Fang families have always joined forces against the Lu family. After all, Lu Yuan, the Marquis of Linchuan, alone is enough to give them a hard time. If they hadn't joined forces, they would have been squeezed out of the most powerful families in the prefecture city long ago.

After Wang Baichuan appeared, Lu Qingshuang, who was behind the partition, looked at Fang Wenjian, and Fang Wenjian's expression returned to normal slightly.

He looked at Lu Qingshuang with a smile on his face and said:

"Haha, Commander Lu, it's been a long time."

Lu Qingshuang slightly clasped her hands and said:

"I have met Commander Wang."

A deputy commander is still a commander, and under normal circumstances, no one would call him a deputy commander to his face.

"No need for formalities. Xiao Fang has already explained the matter to me. Let's proceed according to the rules of the Black-Clad Guards—a ring duel. What do you think?"

Wang Baichuan smiled and said to Lu Qingshuang.

"What if I disagree?"

Lu Qingshuang's beautiful face showed no smile, and although her tone was calm, her words showed no respect for the other party.

She had already promised Zhou Yan that she would help him become a captain.

She always keeps her promises!

As Lu Qingshuang finished speaking, the entire training ground fell into an eerie silence.

All the guards in black robes looked at Wang Baichuan and Lu Qingshuang, not daring to breathe loudly.

Is Commander Lu going to confront Commander Wang head-on?

But Commander Wang is at the second level of the Acquired Realm, the Pure and Turbid Returning to Origin Realm. Even if Commander Lu is a genius on the Human Ranking, he has only recently broken through to the first level of the Acquired Realm. How could he possibly be a match for Commander Wang?

Wang Baichuan's smile gradually disappeared as he saw the other party's eyes, filled with fighting spirit, looking at him.

While feeling uncertain and apprehensive, I was also weighing the pros and cons.

It's true that he's at the second realm, but even with Lu Qingshuang's talent and ability, it won't be easy for him to defeat her.

Moreover, he dared not use his full strength at all. If he injured the other party, given the Marquis of Linchuan's protective nature, he would not have a good outcome.

But if he loses, it will be even more humiliating. As a dignified commander of a thousand households, at the second level of the acquired realm, losing to a junior will inevitably be recorded in the opponent's record. Then he will become famous, but not for a good reason.

Just when he was feeling embarrassed and helpless.

Fang Wenjian, standing behind him, spoke up:

"Commander Lu, this is the Black-Clad Guard. Everything must be done according to the rules. Even if you force Brother Zhou to become a captain today, what good will it do? It will only harm him."

As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Yan and said:

"Moreover, I have already given Brother Zhou a sum of money as compensation. I will allocate a portion of my merits to him later, so that he can be promoted after his strength has improved."

This made perfect sense, and the Black-Clad Guards underground nodded in agreement.

Zhou Yan then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lu Qingshuang and said:

"Lord Lu, I'd like to give it a try."

Lu Qingshuang paused, then turned to look at Zhou Yan, a hint of disappointment seemingly lurking deep in her eyes.

In her opinion, Zhou Yanming's strength was no more than that of a second-level cultivator.

Those who are qualified to compete for the rank of captain today are at least elites among the Three-Training Black-Clad Guards.

If he comes to power, he has almost no chance of winning.

This made it hard for Lu Qingshuang not to feel that Zhou Yan was preparing to back down, go through the motions, and suppress the matter.

She had originally thought that after she fought Wang Baichuan today, no one would dare to say anything more.

But now, she feels a little bored.

"Have you thought it through?"

Lu Qingshuang's tone was flat.

"yes!"

Zhou Yan's answer was also very straightforward.

Judging from Lu Qingshuang's appearance, Zhou Yan could vaguely guess some of her thoughts.

However, he did not explain.

Explanations are useless; you'll know once you've done it.

Zhou Yan turned to look at Wang Baichuan and Fang Wenjian standing on the stage, and clasped his hands in greeting:

"My lord, I am willing to step onto the stage and fight."

Fang Wenjian smiled again and said:

"Good! This is the true spirit of the Black-Clad Guards."

After saying that, he and Wang Baichuan exchanged a glance and then stepped off the stage one after the other.

Zhou Yan then walked step by step onto the arena.

His steps were steady.

The black-clad guards' uniforms fluttered slightly in the wind.

The long sword at his waist gently tapped against its scabbard, producing a soft sound.

All eyes were on him from all around the training ground.

There was mockery, sympathy, disdain, and indifference.

Below the stage, Li Kun stood at the edge of the crowd, his palms unconsciously clenching.

Lu Qingshuang stood still, watching Zhou Yan's back with a cold expression.

Zhou Yan stood in the center of the arena and turned to face the crowd.

He was tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a thick back, and his angular face was expressionless.

Facing the crowd below, he placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist and spoke calmly:

"My name is Zhou Yan, and I wish to compete for the position of Captain of the Black-Clad Guard."

He paused for a moment.

"Anyone who disagrees, come at me!"

In an instant.

A commotion arose all around the training ground.

.....