The First Test

Backed by his status as the Mo Family’s Young Master, the identity registration process proceeded with exceptional smoothness. There was no undue difficulty encountered throughout.

After all, Mo Hongyi was one of the esteemed Sword Bearers of the Agency. For his son to personally vouch for an outsider creature clearly signified that she was considered one of their own.

With the Mo Family having extended such significant prestige, the staff naturally understood the implications. All procedures proceeded smoothly, to the point where even the most basic qualification review became a mere formality. After all, in a sense, they had no desire to offend such influential figures.

However, an outsider creature like Bai Xia inevitably attracted considerable attention within the Sword-Wielding Agency.

Essentially, an outsider creature is a being corrupted by a certain power—a force that has transformed countless others into monsters driven solely by hunger and slaughter. An individual like Bai Xia, capable of retaining her sanity, was already a rarity among rarities.

What’s more, standing before them was an exquisitely beautiful girl—with white hair and crimson eyes, skin as pristine as snow—yet possessing an inherent vulnerability that simultaneously evoked caution and an irresistible desire to protect.

Such a girl made it difficult to believe she was an outsider creature. Instead, she seemed more like a cherished little princess meticulously groomed by a prominent family.

As the final electronic stamp descended, the guarantee process concluded. A new identification document was swiftly placed into Bai Xia’s palm by the staff, leaving her slightly dazed.

“Miss Bai, with this, you now enjoy the same rights as any ordinary citizen,” the staff member added with a smile. “As for anything else, you can simply ask Young Master Mo.”

“Oh, alright.” Bai Xia gazed at the still-warm identification card in her palm, momentarily lost in thought. It wasn’t until Mo Bai gently patted her shoulder that she snapped out of it.

“Let’s go, we’re heading to the training grounds.” The young man naturally took her hand and led her outside.

Bai Xia followed him through the long corridor, the sharp edges of the ID card pressing lightly against her palm, yet strangely bringing her a sense of peace. The internal facilities of the Sword-Wielding Agency, which she had only dared to glimpse from afar before, now seemed less daunting with Mo Bai by her side.

Though the future remained uncertain, at this moment…

The girl quietly tightened her fingers, returning the warmth of the young man’s palm. Mo Bai, sensing her action, lowered his head to look at Bai Xia beside him, a faint curve gracing his lips.

“Are you scared?”

“No… just a little nervous.”

After all, she had never experienced anything like this, nor did she know what this “training” would entail.

Mo Bai led Bai Xia by the hand into the elevator. A few minutes later, the girl stood before the vast training room beneath the building, her mouth slightly agape at the sight of the high-tech equipment filling the space.

“This is…?”

“Yes, this is the training ground, where the Agency’s extraordinary individuals usually hone their abilities.”

Bai Xia paused, taking in the scene. The area was divided into numerous small spaces by translucent, square barriers. Within many of these spaces, extraordinary individuals could be seen undergoing various forms of training. Some wielded intertwining flames and frost, while others clashed with blade light and supernatural powers—a dazzling spectacle that left her wide-eyed.

Bai Xia felt as though this place and the outside world were two entirely different realities.

“First time seeing all this, isn’t it?” Mo Bai chuckled softly, ruffling her white hair as he watched her astonished expression. “From now on, your weekends won’t be for resting, you know.”

Bai Xia, however, didn’t mind. Previously, she had spent her weekends working odd jobs anyway, so whether she rested or not made little difference.

Mo Bai led her toward the nearest empty training pod. The barrier vanished upon sensing his authorization, only to quietly close once both of them had stepped inside.

The control panel was situated near the entrance. Mo Bai gently guided Bai Xia’s hand to rest on the sensing area. As a soft blue light scanned her palm, a holographic interface instantly illuminated, displaying a dense array of training options. Many of the choices were, at first glance, utterly incomprehensible to Bai Xia.

“Brother Mo, what are these?” Bai Xia looked at the various items on the display with confusion.

From ghouls and vampires to later options like “Divine Servants,” she had never even encountered such beings before.

“Those are for simulated combat,” Mo Bai explained from beside her. “The creatures you see there are combat models generated from real archived data. However, you won’t need these yet, because you can’t defeat any of them.”

“Ah, well…” Though a little disheartening, Bai Xia had to admit it was true; she was a complete novice. “Then… why are we here?”

“To spar. First, we’ll test your abilities, then we’ll try a practice match against me.”

“We… we’re going to spar?”

Bai Xia felt a little bewildered. If they really fought, what if she got hurt?

And this training ground, to be honest, didn’t feel particularly special beyond the external barrier. Surely it couldn’t automatically heal injuries, could it?

Mo Bai merely smiled in response. He saw through the little one’s thoughts instantly, but before anything else, he needed to ascertain what abilities she possessed.

“No rush to fight. First, let’s test what abilities you actually have.”

“How do we test them?”

As the girl’s words fell, a white longsword had already appeared in Mo Bai’s hand. The blade shimmered with a faint silver light, casting a hint of sternness upon his features.

“The simplest test method.” He lightly tapped the sword’s tip on the ground, a subtle ripple of energy spreading outward. “Attack me.”

“Ah…”

Seeing Bai Xia freeze, he raised an eyebrow and added, “Use your most proficient method.”

Bai Xia looked at the gleaming, cold longsword and instinctively swallowed. Although it was a fight, she was truly unskilled in such matters. She couldn’t just pounce on Mo Bai and bite him, could she?

The thought made Bai Xia’s cheeks flush instantly.

Yet, since it was a proper test, Bai Xia shook off her jumbled thoughts. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. At that moment, Mo Bai swiftly distanced himself from his little Blood Princess, for he was aware of Bai Xia’s ability to create and manipulate an aura.

When the girl reopened her eyes, her crimson pupils gleamed with an enchanting, ruby-like luster, and a faint blood-red energy enveloped her body.

Having only replenished her energy yesterday, Bai Xia was not only at her peak but also in an unprecedented state of focus. She was truly a white-haired little Blood Princess in full battle mode.

To be honest, this state was a first even for Bai Xia herself. The blood-red energy swirling around her boiled and surged like a living entity, even solidifying into a palpable pressure that radiated outward, creating a gust of wind that ruffled the young man’s clothes.

This was also Bai Xia’s first time activating this state, and she was already beginning to fear she might harm Mo Bai.