Chapter 173 - 98: Provincial City
"I just don’t get it! Your Yang City No. 1 High School is clearly weak overall, so why waste such a precious spot?"
"We have three Martial Artists at Super High School! Besides me and Sun Tai, there’s also Wang Hao. He broke through to become a First-Grade Martial Artist six months ago! He’s definitely way stronger than you! Why shouldn’t he have gotten the spot?"
He was aggressive, directly challenging Lin Yi’s right to be there.
Seeing the atmosphere suddenly grow tense, Gao Yongkang quickly tried to smooth things over, forcing a smile as he tried to mediate:
"Alright, alright, Dong Kun, calm down. We’re all from Yang City. It’s a small world, so let’s not ruin the mood. Yang City only has five spots in total. No. 1 High has to get at least one, right? Since Lin Yi is here, it means he has his own merits. Once we’re in the camp, we should all work hard and help each other out. Together, we can make a name for ourselves."
But Dong Kun wasn’t having any of it. He snorted coldly, his sharp gaze fixed on Lin Yi as he said decisively:
"Hmph! Work hard? Some gaps can’t be closed with hard work alone! Let me be blunt: my cousin’s team is full of elites. The bar for entry is extremely high. He would never even look at someone like you, who just broke through and has an unstable foundation! So you’d better give up now. Don’t even think about tagging along with us!"
With those words, he had essentially excluded Lin Yi from their "group."
The corner of Lin Yi’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
’First-Grade Martial Artists?’
’In his eyes, they were just a bunch of kids.’
’They don’t even have 300 cal of Qi and Blood.’
’Even if all of them attacked him at once, they were nothing but pushovers, not even worthy of him getting serious.’
He felt that even looking at such weak, short-sighted, and self-righteous people was a waste of time, beneath him.
He couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath, so he simply closed his eyes.
His body relaxed against the back of the seat as if he were feigning sleep.
He shifted more of his focus to his Mosquito Avatar.
The continued chatter and brown-nosing from Dong Kun and the others in the car had nothing to do with him.
...
Two in the afternoon.
The vehicle finally reached the edge of the Provincial City.
But it didn’t enter the bustling urban area.
Instead, it traveled along a heavily guarded, exclusive road.
Heading straight for the depths of the wilderness outside the city.
The destination soon came into view.
It was a vast area, tightly enclosed by a fence of high-voltage electric wires and barbed wire.
A massive alloy gate was shut tight.
In front of the gate,
several soldiers, exuding a formidable aura, stood guard with rifles.
"The students from Yang City are here."
Director Wu, who was leading them, got out of the vehicle and handed a document to the lead officer.
The officer took the document, gave it a quick glance, and said in a voice as cold and hard as iron:
"Students disembark and enter. The escort returns in the vehicle!"
The order was not to be questioned.
Lin Yi and the other four quickly disembarked, carrying only simple bags.
One by one, they walked up to a device by the gate, which glowed with a faint blue light, to undergo a retinal scan and identity verification.
A cold, mechanical voice confirmed their passage.
Only then did the heavy alloy gate slowly open a crack.
A soldier with an expressionless face led them inside.
Passing through the gate,
it was like entering another world.
Before them, the view suddenly opened up to a gigantic training ground, its surface paved with a special alloy.
In the distance stood several gray buildings with stark, simple designs.
The training ground was already a cacophony of voices.
A dense crowd of figures had gathered, nearly a thousand strong by visual estimate.
They were all young men and women, each with vigorous Qi and Blood and high Spirit, their eyes holding the sharp confidence unique to geniuses.
The air was thick with youthful restlessness and a competitive atmosphere.
Many were weaving through the crowd, talking in low voices or demonstrating subtle Martial Skills, clearly scouting for and recruiting strong teammates.
The soldier leading them stopped and said to Lin Yi and the others:
"At four o’clock sharp this afternoon, the placement exam will begin. The format is team combat, with twenty people per examination area. From now until then, you are free to choose and form your own teams."
Having said his piece, he turned and walked away without another word.
He left the five of them standing at the edge of the bustling training ground.
"So that’s how it is!" Gao Yongkang said with sudden understanding as he watched the busy figures on the training ground. "No wonder everyone’s trying to recruit people!"
Dong Kun, who looked as if he had expected this all along, immediately took out his communicator.
"You guys wait here. I’m going to contact my cousin and ask if he’s here and where he is."
He quickly made the call, and after a few hushed words, a pleased expression appeared on his face.
"Found him! Follow me!"
Dong Kun put away his communicator, his voice tinged with excitement. He waved for the others to follow and took the lead, heading toward a less crowded corner on the western edge of the training ground.
Lin Yi and the others followed behind him, weaving through the boisterous crowd.
On the west side of the training ground, a group of a dozen or so people had gathered. They kept to themselves, seeming out of place amidst the somewhat noisy surroundings.
Each of these individuals possessed a calm and profound aura.
Though they were just standing there casually, they formed an invisible barrier, causing the other students to subconsciously keep their distance, not daring to approach.
"Cousin!" Dong Kun quickened his pace, an enthusiastic smile spreading across his face as he called out to a tall young man in the group.
The young man addressed as "Cousin" turned at the sound of his voice. His gaze was electric as it quickly swept over Lin Yi, Liu Ying, and the others behind Dong Kun.
His eyes were indifferent, carrying a condescending scrutiny, as if he were appraising the value of several objects.
"Dong Kun." The cousin’s voice was low and carried an unquestionable authority. "Our team already has sixteen people. You’ve brought one too many. Kick one out."
Dong Kun’s smile froze for a moment, but he recovered instantly. Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "Liu Ying, Gao Yongkang, you two, hurry over here!"