Chapter 157: Chapter 151: A Once-in-a-Century Martial Arts Genius

The two-week military training was quickly coming to an end. Buses to pick up the students were lined up neatly on the base’s main field.

Before leaving, Sean Russell quietly gave Aurora Sinclair his contact information, telling her, “If you decide you want to become a warrior, give me a call.”

Aurora Sinclair nodded and thanked him.

The bus ride from the base to the school took two to three hours. Aurora Sinclair closed her eyes to rest, and when she opened them again, they had arrived at the school gates.

She pulled her suitcase along, heading home. Just as she turned onto her street, she saw Alvin Morgan, dressed in a white hoodie.

A pair of non-prescription glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. With one hand in his pocket, he stared at his phone. He was so handsome it was a pleasure just to look at him.

A few young girls were trying to secretly take his picture, but the ever-elusive Dean Morgan quickly put a stop to it.

As if sensing her gaze, he suddenly looked up at her, the corners of his handsome mouth slowly curling into a smile. “You’re back.”

He strode over and took her suitcase from her.

“You got a tan. And lost some weight.”

“Morgan… what are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you to come home.”

Aurora Sinclair froze.

He casually took her hand and started walking toward her home, wheeling the suitcase with his other.

Aurora Sinclair stared, dazed, at their clasped hands. Her heart skipped a beat, and a faint jolt shot through her.

The tips of her ears suddenly turned red.

***

With three days left until the official start of the semester at Arcadian University, Aurora Sinclair was picked up by Butler Sinclair and taken to the Sinclair Estate.

Master Sinclair’s heart ached just looking at Aurora’s face. He immediately ordered the kitchen to stew a chicken for her to help her regain her strength.

’His granddaughter had finally put on some weight after coming back to Kingsford,’ he thought, ’and now it’s all gone thanks to that military training.’

Tanner Sinclair watched from the side, trying to stifle a laugh.

Master Sinclair shot him a glare. “You skip work all day just to come here and mooch off me. Aurora, don’t you be like your uncle…”

“Heh heh… Picking on me, Dad?” Tanner Sinclair teased.

Master Sinclair’s health had been poor recently, so Tanner hadn’t dared to stray too far, staying at the Sinclair Estate to keep him company. And this was the thanks he got—being treated like a nuisance.

“Didn’t you have something to ask Aurora? Hurry up and ask…”

Tanner Sinclair uncrossed his legs and sat up a little straighter. “Aurora, what’s with your Combat Power? Weren’t you a Great Warrior Ninth Rank? How did you suddenly become a Great Martial Master Fifth Rank?”

It was the first time he’d ever seen anything like it. Who breaks through two entire ranks in just a few months? ’She must have been holding back during the test.’

Aurora Sinclair thought for a moment before replying earnestly, “My master said that a martial artist must be humble. Use thirty percent of your strength, and always keep seventy percent in reserve…”

“So you weren’t using your full strength last time?”

Aurora Sinclair nodded.

Tanner Sinclair’s face fell, and he complained with a wounded look, “My dear niece, you even kept a secret from me…”

Master Sinclair, who was sitting nearby, scowled and shot him another glare. “Her master told her to be discreet. Why would she tell you?”

“If she’d told me sooner, I’d have taken Aurora to the Martial Association ages ago.”

He was a Great Warrior Ninth Rank, which made him a fringe member of the association, nothing special.

That was because his scores on the comprehensive assessment after joining the Martial Alliance hadn’t been outstanding, and his aptitude for martial arts wasn’t particularly high. As a result, he was only able to learn some of the more basic Fist Techniques the association offered.

Those with true talent, however, were immediately snatched up by the two major powers within the Martial Alliance. They were given priority training to eventually become pillars of the Martial World and take on various specialized professions for Veridia.

But now, his niece was a Great Martial Master Fifth Rank. This meant she would get the best resources the moment she joined the association.

As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water.

And even if they weren’t father and son, they were still family, weren’t they?

His dear niece surely couldn’t bear to see him languishing in obscurity at the Martial Alliance.

Tanner Sinclair stared at Aurora Sinclair with gleaming eyes, his expression all but screaming, ’My status depends on my niece!’

Seeing his expression, Master Sinclair knew exactly what he was thinking and snorted. “Aren’t you ambitious…”

“Heh heh… Aurora, after lunch, I’ll take you to the Association to get registered.”

Aurora Sinclair nodded.

Her master had instructed her to register with the Kingsford Martial Alliance.

Master Sinclair asked with some worry, “Aurora, did your master agree to this?”

“He agreed.”

Master Sinclair breathed a sigh of relief. Though he had only met Master Aerion once, twelve years ago, he knew the man was unfathomably powerful and likely a reclusive master.

Such reclusive figures often had eccentric temperaments, and he worried that his granddaughter might anger him by acting without permission.

“Aurora, don’t take on another master at the Association lightly. Your current master won’t be pleased if he finds out.”

Aurora Sinclair nodded again.

***

The Kingsford Martial Alliance was located in a massive sports complex in West Kingsford.

This complex was jointly funded by the Seven Great Families of Kingsford and contained a competition arena that could hold 50,000 people.

Arcadia’s annual free-fighting tournament was held here, so the surrounding area was bustling and well-equipped with infrastructure like hotels, hospitals, and shopping malls.

After lunch, Tanner Sinclair took Aurora Sinclair straight to the Kingsford Martial Alliance, which also served as the headquarters for the entire Veridian Martial Alliance.

The main entrance to the headquarters was magnificent. The pillars on either side were made of solid marble, each bearing a white plaque. One read “Veridian Martial Alliance,” the other, “The International Martial Alliance – Arcadia Branch.”

A circular fountain stood before the gate, its jets spraying water high into the air. All vehicles entering or exiting had to drive around it.

Directly in front of the fountain was a platform with three flagpoles. The one in the middle flew the national flag of Veridia, while the ones on either side flew the flags of the International and Arcadian Martial Alliances.

Tanner Sinclair drove around the fountain, entered through the gate, and followed the painted lines to a spot in the parking lot next to the complex.

“What do you think, Aurora? Pretty impressive, huh?”

Aurora Sinclair nodded.

It reminded her of the high-end racetrack Morgan had taken her to.

“Once we get inside, we’ll do a Combat Power test first, then the comprehensive assessment.”

Tanner led Aurora through a side entrance, navigating with ease to the testing area.

A staff member at the front desk politely asked Aurora Sinclair to fill out a form before leading her into a testing room.

The testing equipment inside was identical to the one in the Morgan Residence.

Aurora skillfully put on the boxing gloves, took a deep breath, and threw a seemingly powerful punch at the center of the target.

After ten seconds or so, three lines of text appeared on the adjacent screen:

Force: 2338

Speed: 0.16s

Congratulations! Your power has reached Great Martial Master Fifth Rank!

The tester recording the results was dumbfounded. It took him a long moment to snap out of it, and when he did, his eyes lit up with a fanatical gleam.

An eighteen-year-old Great Martial Master, and a girl, no less! Her talent was simply off the charts.

A once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy!

He immediately jotted down the test data on Aurora Sinclair’s form and signed his name.

His face flushed with excitement, he said, “Young lady, please come with me…”

At that very moment, Hugo Lowell, the head of the Lowell Family, was in his office reviewing documents when he received a call from the tester.

“President, we just tested a prime candidate. An eighteen-year-old Great Martial Master Fifth Rank, and she’s a girl.”

Hugo Lowell’s pen froze mid-air. He suddenly recalled the report from the Martial Affairs Bureau a while back, and his eyes lit up with eagerness. “Where are you now?”

“On our way to the comprehensive assessment area in the West Wing.”

“Wait for me! Don’t start without me!”

After hanging up, Hugo Lowell rushed out of his office, nearly colliding with his favorite granddaughter, Eve Lowell.

Eve Lowell was dressed in workout clothes, soaked with sweat. It was clear she had just come from the training hall.

“Eve, an eighteen-year-old Great Martial Master just showed up. Come with Grandpa and take a look.”

Eve was in a hurry and refused outright. “I can’t, Grandpa. I have somewhere to be.” She darted into the room and grabbed her bag.

“She’s about to start her comprehensive assessment…”

“Never mind, I’ll see them next time! I’ve gotta go, Grandpa…”

Eve Lowell didn’t wait for Hugo Lowell to finish, grabbing her bag and running out the door.

’There was a lecture at the Arcadian University School of Physics today, and rumor had it that Young Lord Morgan would be there…’

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