Free Web NovelChapter 319: Chapter 165: Ten Thousand Points in a Day, the Final Assessment
"There’s only one way to reclaim your previous rankings."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students in the stone tower, all with varying expressions. Then, his voice suddenly rose.
"Tomorrow morning marks the third week of this training camp and the final practical combat assessment."
"This assessment will determine the top three participants of this training camp."
"As is tradition, the number of eliminations will be the highest yet. But those who remain will all be commissioned and have limitless futures!"
At his words, the breathing of every student in the tower grew heavy.
The final assessment!
To remain meant making the leap from carp to dragon!
To be eliminated meant all their previous efforts would be for nothing!
Nie Cang’s gaze finally returned to Lin Ye, and his voice held a hint of barely perceptible gravity.
"The top student will receive one of Great Xia’s only thirty-two Qiming General Star titles for this year. There is only one spot for each province."
Lin Ye had only ever had one goal.
And that was first place.
’Otherwise, I won’t be able to complete the racial advancement mission.’
Leaving the Nirvana Tower, Lin Ye ignored the complicated gazes from behind him and walked straight toward the Spirit Core Hall.
Lin Ye had spent most of his time in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Hall recently. But he hadn’t forgotten to come to the Spirit Core Hall every day to stimulate his Martial Arts Spirituality.
Pushing open the main doors of the Spirit Core Hall, Lin Ye immediately saw a few familiar faces.
Dongfang Zhen and Zhang Daoxuan were sitting cross-legged to the side, seemingly waiting.
In the center of the hall, three giant, mysterious metal rings were slowly rotating, emitting a low hum.
Beneath the rings, there was no one to be seen, but the machine was running. Clearly, someone was inside, refining their spirituality.
Dongfang Zhen sensed someone enter and opened his eyes.
When he saw it was Lin Ye, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and his usual gentle smile returned to his face.
"Mr. Lin, long time no see."
"Long time no see," Lin Ye nodded in response.
A旁的 Zhang Daoxuan also opened his eyes. He looked at the two of them staring at each other, his expression turning somewhat subtle.
He could clearly feel two invisible currents of battle intent silently clashing in the air.
"Mr. Lin, you’ve broken through."
Dongfang Zhen’s tone was a statement, not a question.
His eyes, which seemed able to see through anything, had already discerned Lin Ye’s current state.
Lin Ye nodded again.
Dongfang Zhen’s smile didn’t change, but his gaze grew sharper. "My Martial Arts Spirituality, by a stroke of luck, also broke through a few days ago. I’ve officially entered the fourth level."
"Tomorrow is the final battle."
He unleashed his aura without reservation. "Mr. Lin, I’ll be coming at you with everything I’ve got again. This time, I won’t lose."
These words were both a declaration and a challenge.
Standing to the side, Zhang Daoxuan’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
’Dongfang Zhen, you bastard, is your old rival completely invisible to you?’
’Do you really think *this* guy is the biggest obstacle on your path to the top spot?’
It’s said that cultivators should value a calm mind, free from arrogance and impatience.
But Zhang Daoxuan found that ever since Lin Ye—this variable—had appeared, his Dao Heart had hardly known a moment’s peace.
Lin Ye averted his gaze from Dongfang Zhen, sat down in a nearby empty seat, and began to wait his turn.
With that simple action, the tense battle intent between them quietly dissipated.
Tomorrow, they would be opponents in a life-or-death battle, but for now, they were still friends.
Lin Ye’s gaze fell on the three giant, slowly rotating metal rings ahead.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "Is someone inside?"
"Yes, it’s Ye Qi."
"His spirituality seems to involve some kind of transparency or stealth. In any case, once the All-Seeing Instrument activates, he becomes invisible."
He had barely finished speaking when the All-Seeing Instrument began to slow its rotation, its humming gradually subsiding.
Lin Ye’s vision blurred for an instant.
In the originally empty area, space seemed to ripple slightly, and a figure appeared without any warning.
Lin Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It was Ye Qi.
He was the student who had been so low-key since the start of camp that he had almost no presence at all. His rank had always held steady at third or fourth, right behind him.
But Lin Ye had never seen him interact with anyone, like a lone wolf who had completely shut himself off from the world.
Ye Qi opened his eyes, his gaze calm and placid. He didn’t look at anyone, simply got up, brushed past everyone, and silently left the Spirit Core Hall.
Zhang Daoxuan stood up. His usually frosty face now burned with fighting spirit.
He no longer paid any attention to Lin Ye and Dongfang Zhen, walking straight toward the now-stationary All-Seeing Instrument.
’He had to seize this last bit of time to get himself into peak condition.’
Lin Ye withdrew his gaze, no longer in the mood for idle chatter.
In truth, everyone was more or less the same.
Tomorrow was the ultimate test—not just of the past twenty-some days, but of everything they had accomplished in their martial arts training to date.
Those who could maintain a carefree attitude like Dongfang Zhen were, after all, in the minority.
...
「The next day, at dawn.」
The morning light was faint, and the air carried a hint of chill.
In front of the Martial Arts Hall, the twenty-one remaining students stood in neat formation, utterly silent.
Everyone’s face was taut, their eyes sharp, like swords about to be unsheathed.
They didn’t speak to one another or even meet each other’s gazes. All their energy was contained, waiting for the moment to explode.
Yin Liulan stood at the front of the formation, her calm gaze sweeping over each person.
"This year’s situation is special. The higher-ups sent me to be the chief instructor."
"I had originally predicted that fewer than fifteen of you would make it to the final assessment."
