121: Chapter 121 Practical Trial! Ye Xiao's Thunderous Show!

Chief Examiner Li Feng stood before the podium, his Adam's apple bobbing twice before he could squeeze those words out of his throat.

"Candidate Su Ming, basic Source Energy comprehensive rating—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue.

"Super Five-Star! Black Gold Glory!"

After a brief, deathly silence, came a deafening roar of madness.

"Holy crap!! It really is Super Five-Star!!"

"Black Gold Glory! This is my first time seeing a live one in my entire life! This is rarer than an S-rank talent, dammit!"

"God of Flexing! God of Flexing! God of Flexing!"

"Sanctification through the Physical Body! What he said was real! We were actually mocking him earlier!"

The tens of thousands of candidates in the stands, who had been furious about being called "trash" just moments ago, now stood up in unison, their eyes filled with awe and fanaticism.

Several candidates who had thrown bricks at the stage earlier were now desperate to rush up, retrieve their bricks, and slap themselves twice.

In the livestream chat with over 40 million viewers, the messages were completely drowned out.

[Stop spamming "holy crap," it's not impressive enough!]

[The God of Flexing has arrived! We Mortals, hurry up and pay respects!]

[Those who just cursed the God of Flexing, go queue up in the comments section to apologize!]

[I announce that from today on, I am one of the first believers of the "Physical Body Sanctification Sect"!]

Su Ming stood in the center of the arena, looking at the pile of sparking robot debris at his feet, with an expression that suggested he wasn't quite satisfied yet.

Super Five-Star, Black Gold Glory. Sounds intimidating. But can it be exchanged for money? Can it be exchanged for mass points? Can it be exchanged for military Martial Skill resources? If not, then it's just a hollow title. Only good for showing off!

However... with this much traffic across the entire internet, the account traffic on Wang Hubao's side should be able to double again. Fifty-fifty split, that's still a huge profit.

In the viewing area, Associate Professor Zhou of Imperial Capital University had a face so dark it looked like it could drip water.

He stared fixedly at Su Ming, the murderous intent in his eyes no longer concealed.

A monster who has broken away from the Source Energy system, a heretic who has shaken the existing Foundation of the Martial Dao! Such a person must never be allowed to enter Imperial Capital University!

Looking at Chu Yao beside him, her pair of Phoenix eyes were astonishingly bright, looking like a wolf that hadn't eaten in three days spotting a top-tier piece of fresh meat; she was just short of rushing over to pack Su Ming away on the spot.

She tilted her head and glanced at Shen Qingci beside her.

This cold and detached Young Miss, ranked thirty-second on the heavenly pride ranking, was currently clutching the hem of her skirt on her knees, but the corners of her mouth couldn't stop curling upward.

Chu Yao smiled.

"What are you nervous about? Your little boyfriend didn't lose."

Shen Qingci, who didn't even have many friends, felt a bit out of her depth, recalling Su Ming's shamelessness.

"Who's boyfriend? Instructor Chu, what are you talking about...?"

It seems that guy isn't completely useless either. I should prepare a few responses for this kind of teasing in the future!

"This little guy, he really gives people a surprise every time."

Tie Moshan, the Body Cultivator instructor beside Chu Yao, stroked his rock-like chin and grinned: "I wonder how his actual combat ability is."

"Ahem!"

Chief Examiner Li Feng coughed heavily, forcibly pulling the audience's attention back.

"The first round of grading is over! Now, initiating the second round—the diversion assessment!"

He waved his arm, and the giant holographic screen behind him switched images.

The left side displayed a silvery-white enclosed space, while the right side showed rows of heavy alloy cages, from which low, beastly roars could be faintly heard.

"Candidates for the Auxiliary track, proceed to the East District [Panoramic Multi-functional Simulation Pods] for special ability testing."

"Candidates for the Combat track—"

Chief Examiner Li Feng's tone suddenly deepened.

"Enter the West District [Beast Trial Zone]."

He scanned the venue, enunciating each word: "This is a bloody, real-combat trial. You will enter specially made alloy beast cages, choose your own beast tier, and engage in a life-or-death confrontation."

"Use real slaughter to prove your strength."

The venue was quiet for two seconds, then it exploded into chaos.

"Life-or-death confrontation?! Real fighting?!"

"Weren't they simulations in previous years?"

"The reforms this year are too ruthless!"

Chief Examiner Li Feng continued to announce the rules:

"In the practical assessment, candidates choose their own difficulty. Tier 1 beast, base score of thirty. Tier 2 beast, base score of sixty. Tier 3 beast—"

He paused.

"Base score of one hundred."

The whole venue gasped.

"Each person has a three-minute time limit, and can end early. For every second saved, one point is added. The final score will be counted toward the total ranking."

Su Ming raised an eyebrow.

Life-or-death confrontation? Can I keep the beast carcasses? Those are all mass points. A Tier 2 beast is worth at least a few thousand points...

In the West District of the martial arts arena, twelve giant alloy beast cages slowly rose from the Foundation.

Each cage was over thirty meters in diameter, the top covered with a Source Energy shield, and the cage walls were densely engraved with binding Source patterns.

From within the cages came continuous roars. Even through the alloy walls, one could smell the fishy stench.

The faces of the candidates in the front row turned pale on the spot.

The East District was much more harmonious. Dozens of semi-transparent panoramic simulation pods rose from the ground, the holographic scenes inside constantly switching—some were herb identification, some were Source Energy Formation simulations, and some were tactical deductions.

Liu Ruyan was supported by medical personnel as she walked toward the East District. Her white light armor was still stained with black blood, her face was gray, and her steps were unsteady.

Auxiliary track. Heh. She once thought her A-rank talent was enough to keep her from losing face standing beside anyone. Now she realizes, she isn't even worthy of carrying Su Ming's shoes.

When walking past the entrance to the West District, her peripheral vision couldn't help but sweep toward the crowd. The black-armored youth was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the railing of the preparation area, talking to Ye Xiao next to him. He didn't even look over here once.

Liu Ruyan retracted her gaze and quickened her pace to escape.

"I'll go first!"

Ye Xiao slapped his thigh and sprang up from the railing, grinning at Su Ming, "Brother Ming, watch this, I'll set an example for you!"

Su Ming waved his hand lazily: "Go on, go on, don't disgrace my signature."

"Don't worry!" Ye Xiao patted his chest and walked toward the beast cage.

The examiner stopped him: "Candidate Ye Xiao, please choose the beast tier."

"Tier 2!"

Without hesitation, crisp and decisive.

A candidate next to him muttered: "He's got Tier 3 Silver strength, why not choose Tier 3?"

"Did the beasts eat your brain!? Can a Tier 2 beast and a human Tier 2 be mentioned in the same breath!?"

In the viewing area, Tie Moshan nodded slightly.

This kid is smart. Fighting Tier 3 with Tier 3, even if he wins, it would likely be a pyrrhic victory. Beasts have thick skin and flesh; dragging it out to three minutes, all the bonus points would be gone. Choosing Tier 2, killing quickly to get bonus points, and he can also show off his operation. A martial arts fanatic, but his brain isn't muddled.

"Candidate Ye Xiao, vs. Tier 2 Violent Horned Bull. Timer starts!"

As the words fell, the alloy gate roared open. A [Violent Horned Bull], the size of an off-road vehicle, rushed out from the darkness, its four hooves pounding the alloy floor like drums, lowering its head to reveal two pitch-black curved horns, hot white steam spraying from its nostrils.

Tier 2 Peak. This thing had thick skin and flesh; a head-on charge could flip an armored vehicle.

The whole venue held its breath. Ye Xiao stood in the center of the cage, motionless.

The Horned Bull roared, pawing the ground with four hooves, and charged fiercely! The thirty-meter distance was less than two seconds for a Tier 2 Peak Horned Bull.

Ye Xiao moved.

"Clang—!"

Thunder exploded from his body, dense arcs of electricity covering him, forming a visible high-voltage electric armor.

[Thunder Armor · Dominator Body]!

He didn't dodge. He didn't even turn sideways, just met it head-on!

"BOOM!!!"

The Horned Bull's dual horns slammed heavily into Ye Xiao's chest. Lightning splashed, electric arcs flowed wildly back along the horns, the Horned Bull's muscles spasmed, and it let out a painful hiss.

Ye Xiao was knocked sliding back three or four meters, his shoe soles plowing two scorched marks into the arena floor, but his body stopped steadily. He looked down at the white mark on his chest and grinned.

"Is that it? Doesn't hurt as much as my old man beating me."

The venue was in an uproar.

[Taking a Tier 2 Peak charge head-on??? Is this guy made of iron?]

[His talent sequence even has recoil damage!?! This skill is too cheap!]

The Horned Bull was shocked by the electricity, shivering, but its ferocity didn't diminish; it turned its head to ram again.

Ye Xiao didn't take it head-on this time. Lightning flashed under his feet— [Thunder Flash Step]!

His whole person turned into a blue-white afterimage, instantly disappearing from the spot and reappearing behind the Horned Bull. A string of crackling electric arcs remained on his path.

The Horned Bull rammed into empty air, its momentum carrying it to crash into the cage wall, causing the alloy wall to vibrate with a hum.

Ye Xiao stood behind it, shaking his wrist.

"Alright, played enough."

He raised his right fist, and thunder converged from all directions onto his fist. The air was ionized, emitting a pungent smell of ozone. Blue-white lightning arcs became denser and denser, compressed and brighter, finally condensing into a blinding ball of lightning.

The Horned Bull turned around, instinctively sensing the aura of death. It took a step back. Too late.

[Nine Heavens Thunder Fist]!

Ye Xiao took a step forward, his fist slamming into the Horned Bull's skull.

"Crack— BOOM!!!"

A pillar of lightning blasted from his fist, nearly half a meter in diameter, piercing through the frontal bone between the Horned Bull's horns and exploding a mist of blood from the back of its head.

The Horned Bull's massive body stiffened in place, its four limbs still maintaining the posture of retreating. Two seconds later, it collapsed with a crash. The ground shook.

The venue was silent at first. Then, cheers swept through the entire martial arts arena.

"Awesome!!!"

"Is this a fight you can see without paying?"

"S-rank is S-rank! This speed, this power, it's simply not human!"

In the viewing area, Tie Moshan rarely stood up, his gaze burning.

This kid is Dual Cultivation in body and technique, Thunder-type Source Energy is his main offensive method, but that Physical Body Foundation is the true Foundation. Taking a Tier 2 Peak charge head-on without injury, Source Energy protection alone can't do that. He's a good seedling.

Chu Yao was also nodding, but her attention quickly drifted back to a certain black-armored figure in the preparation area. Ye Xiao is strong. But compared to that one... She remembered the scene of that punch shattering the shield-7 model earlier, and silently shook her head. They shouldn't be in the same weight class.

Chief Examiner Li Feng looked at the timer in the beast cage and announced loudly—

"Candidate Ye Xiao, killed a Tier 2 beast, time taken: one minute and thirty seconds!"

"Base score sixty, ninety seconds early, plus ninety points—"

"Total score, one hundred and fifty points!"

The venue boiled over. One hundred and fifty points!