Chapter 176 - 99: Brute-Force Clearance
Under the pressure of passing the assessment, the other students from various small cities, isolated and without support, could only remain silent despite their dissatisfaction. After weighing the pros and cons, they gave their tacit approval.
A barely perceptible look of triumph appeared on Li Ming’s face:
"Good! Since no one has any objections, once we enter the examination hall, everyone must follow my commands to the letter! Remember, we are a single unit! Everything we do is to pass this assessment!"
The moment he finished speaking—
"VMMMM... K-CLACK!"
The heavy groan of machinery echoed.
The heavy alloy door to Examination Hall 35 slowly slid inward, revealing a deep darkness within.
"Time’s up! Enter!" the military officer’s cold voice rang out.
"Go!" Li Ming roared, charging in first.
The six from Chang City followed close behind him.
The other students took a deep breath, suppressed their anxiety and apprehension, and filed in one after another.
The moment the last person stepped into the darkness—
BOOM!!!
A thunderous, deafening boom echoed from behind them!
The heavy alloy door slammed shut with the force of a thunderclap!
It sealed without a single gap.
It completely cut off the last traces of light and sound from the outside world.
A harsh, blinding white light instantly flooded the examination hall, illuminating the entire space as bright as day and revealing every minute detail.
Lin Yi’s pupils constricted slightly in the bright light as he instantly adapted to the new environment.
He quickly scanned the entire examination hall.
It was an enormous, barren room, easily over a hundred meters long and wide. The walls and ceiling were made of cold metal that gave off a chilling sheen.
The floor was made of some kind of hard, synthetic material.
The entire space was completely empty.
There was no cover anywhere.
Absolutely exposed!
And in the center of the room...
...a figure stood like a mountain.
It instantly captured everyone’s attention.
He was a young man with a ramrod-straight posture, dressed in a set of sharply tailored training clothes that highlighted his lean, powerful physique.
He cradled a dark, matte-black alloy staff in his arms. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips as his gaze swept over the twenty crowded examinees before him.
An invisible pressure, like a physical tide, crashed against every student’s nerves.
The air seemed to solidify, and even their breathing became cautious.
"Let me introduce myself," the young man said, his voice clear and bright. "My name is Tu Jun, a third-year student at Nanjiang Martial Arts University and a Third-Grade Martial Artist!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students’ ashen faces, and his smile widened.
"You have only one objective: defeat me! Or... last one hour against me. Now..."
"Are you ready?"
As his voice faded,
...all of Examination Hall 35 fell into a dead silence.
It was followed by suppressed gasps and a faint stir of commotion.
"A Third-Grade... Martial Artist?!" one of the students cried out, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Are you kidding me?! They want us to defeat a Third-Grade Martial Artist? Is this training camp trying to get us all killed?" another student demanded, his face pale and his voice hoarse.
"Fuck! How the hell are we supposed to fight that? We’re not even in the same league!"
"We’re done for, we’re so done for... There’s no way we’re passing this assessment..."
Looks of despair instantly appeared on every face.
He was only one person.
But that title, ’Third-Grade Martial Artist’, was as heavy as a mountain!
This wasn’t just a difference in Qi and Blood levels.
It was a chasm in terms of life essence, combat Experience, and mastery of martial techniques!
What’s more, he wasn’t just any Third-Grade Martial Artist; he was an elite produced by Nanjiang Martial Arts University, a top-tier Martial Arts Academy!
A heavy gloom descended upon everyone present, and they could see almost no hope of passing.
However,
amidst this bleak atmosphere of despair,
Lin Yi’s expression was a stark contrast.
It wasn’t fear or gravity, but... disappointment!
And even a hint of boredom.
’Is this it?’
He scoffed inwardly.
It was as if he’d been awaiting a grand feast, only to be served a plate of bland vegetables.
He had thought this placement assessment for the training camp would be some earth-shattering, mysterious trial.
But when the curtain was pulled back...
...all they revealed was a Third-Grade Martial Artist standing guard?
What a waste of his precious time and anticipation!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Yi lifted his Owl Dragon Long Spear with one hand, pushed through the crowd, and strode forward with purpose.
The tip of his spear scraped along the alloy floor, letting out a sharp SCREEECH that instantly tore through the hall’s oppressive atmosphere.
The crowd, stunned by his sudden move, froze for a moment.
Li Ming, who had just been appointed temporary leader, paled and hurriedly hissed in a low roar:
"Holy shit! What are you doing?! Get the hell back here! Don’t be an idiot! Going in alone is suicide! He’ll pick us off one by one! We need to stick together!"
However,
Lin Yi paid him no mind, his steps never faltering.
He continued his steady advance toward the dangerous figure in the center of the room.
A vein throbbed on Li Ming’s forehead. He pointed at Lin Yi’s back and began to curse.
"Idiot! That son of a bitch! One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel!"
He whirled around to face the other astonished students and barked out orders:
"Forget that arrogant moron! If he wants the spotlight, let him have it! He can buy us some precious time!"
"Quick! Listen to my plan. Those who focused their Cultivation on their upper limb bones and have high strength, get to the front and tie him down! Those with good Refinement in their lower limb bones, stay on the outside, harass him, and disrupt his rhythm! The rest of you, watch for a chance to provide support!"
"Remember, our goal isn’t to defeat him—that’s impossible!"
"Our goal is to stall! Stall for one hour, no matter the cost! As long as..."
But just as Li Ming was rattling off his tactics, his words firing like a machine gun and spit flying everywhere...