25: Chapter 25 Encounter

The practical assessment, noon on the second day.

With the scorching sun overhead, the temperature inside the Black Iron Forest had climbed to forty degrees; the air was thick with the smell of rotting leaves and a faint scent of blood.

"Beep."

Su Yu raised his wrist, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and glanced at the latest Leaderboard.

NO.1 Li Xinghe: 1850 points

NO.2 Su Yu: 1005 points

NO.3 ...

"Still second, and the gap has widened."

Su Yu leaned against the trunk of a towering ancient tree, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had barely closed his eyes since yesterday afternoon.

Relying on the Chaos Body's keen perception of blood qi, his efficiency in hunting Vicious Beasts was already more than ten times that of ordinary examinees.

If it were a one-on-one competition, that Li Xinghe wouldn't even be able to hope to catch up to him.

"These Martians really treat the exam grounds like their own backyard."

Su Yu let out a cold snort.

From some Earth examinees, he had already learned what trick Li Xinghe was playing—teaming up.

Although the rules didn't explicitly forbid teaming up, Li Xinghe was leading four experts with extremely clear divisions of labor.

With this kind of assembly-line operation, how could his points not rise rapidly?

However, just as Su Yu was about to get up and continue searching for prey...

Buzz!

An extremely chaotic and violent surge of blood qi suddenly burst into his perception range.

That was the Aura erupted when human Martial Artists clashed, and... one of those Auras felt strangely familiar, though it was currently filled with panic.

"Hmm?"

Su Yu's body stiffened, his gaze instantly becoming sharp.

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Yu executed the Leaf-Treading Footwork, moving like a ghost through the jungle, silently stalking toward the direction of the fluctuations.

...

A clearing in the forest...

"Run! Keep running! Weren't you quite the runner just now?"

"Hahaha, these Earth chicks just can't take a hit. Out of energy after only a few blows?"

Harsh mocking laughter rose and fell.

Five Martian examinees in silver combat suits were forming a circle, watching the girl in the center like they were watching a monkey.

The girl was none other than Xu Lele.

At this moment, she was in a wretched state; her high ponytail had come undone and was now disheveled, her face was covered in dirt and scratches, and her snow-white martial arts uniform was slashed in several places, seeping crimson blood.

Her left arm hung limply, clearly dislocated. Her right hand tightly gripped a broken dagger, and her eyes were filled with anger and humiliation.

At her feet, her Points Bracelet had already been crushed to pieces.

"You guys... have gone too far!"

Xu Lele gritted her teeth, her eyes rimmed with red. "You've already stolen the bracelet and the points belong to you now. Why do you still... why do you still have to humiliate people like this?"

"Why?"

The crowd parted, and Li Xinghe walked out slowly, waving his signature folding fan.

He looked at Xu Lele with no pity in his eyes, only a sense of high-and-mighty mockery.

"Because it's boring."

Li Xinghe shrugged. "Killing Vicious Beasts is too dull; one has to find some fun. Someone said you have a good relationship with that number two guy, what's his name, Su Yu."

At the mention of "Su Yu," Xu Lele's expression changed.

"Tsk tsk, looks like it's true." Li Xinghe's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. "That Su Yu is currently ranked second and is nipping at my heels. I really don't like people chasing after me."

"Since I can't catch him, I'll start by dealing with his little girlfriend."

Li Xinghe snapped his fingers.

A lackey at the Innate Great Perfection stage beside him immediately stepped forward with a sinister grin, slapping an Alloy Long Staff against his hand with a series of clacks.

"Hehe, little sister, don't blame big brother for being heavy-handed!"

Xu Lele closed her eyes in despair.

Whoosh—!

Just as that long staff was about to strike Xu Lele.

A sharp sound of breaking wind suddenly exploded!

No one saw what happened; they only saw a blur as a black shadow, like a cannonball fired from a barrel, instantly crashed into the circle!

Bang!

The Martian examinee holding the long staff didn't even have time to scream. Like being hit by a speeding train, his chest collapsed, and he was sent flying over a dozen meters away, smashing hard into the bushes, his fate unknown.

As the dust settled...

A tall and slender figure stood before Xu Lele.

The youth was bare-chested, his muscle lines well-defined, and his entire body radiated a suffocating Aura of brutality.

His gaze was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice, fixed dead on the group of Martian examinees.

"Su... Su Yu?!"

Xu Lele opened her eyes and saw that familiar back; her tears instantly burst forth. "You... how did you get here? There are so many of them, run!"

"Run?"

Su Yu turned his head, glanced at Xu Lele's dislocated arm and the wounds on her face, and the fury in his heart instantly incinerated his reason.

He reached out, gently wiping the dirt from Xu Lele's face, his voice tender yet hiding an endless killing intent:

"Since you were being bullied, why didn't you press the Distress Button?"

"I... I didn't want to be eliminated..." Xu Lele sobbed.

"Silly girl."

Su Yu turned around to face Li Xinghe and the others, slowly drawing the Alloy Warblade from his back.

...

"Oh?"

Seeing the sudden appearance of Su Yu, Li Xinghe didn't panic; instead, he folded his fan, an excited light appearing in his eyes.

"Su Yu, I've been waiting for you for a long time. I thought I'd only run into you later, but I didn't expect you to deliver yourself to my doorstep."

He glanced at the subordinate who had been sent flying by Su Yu's punch, his brow twitching slightly. "Instantly killing an Innate Great Perfection with one punch? Not bad. It seems you do have some skill and didn't just rely on luck to farm points."

"However..." Li Xinghe's tone shifted, and his Aura suddenly erupted. "Do you think that you alone can turn the tables?"

Boom!

Grandmaster Realm Late Stage!

A powerful surge of blood qi swept out from Li Xinghe, the surrounding fallen leaves caught in the air current and pulverized.

At the same time, the other three Martian examinees behind him also assumed combat stances—three Grandmaster Early Stages!

Inside the command room.

Seeing this scene, several Federation Inspectors sat up straight.

"This is trouble." Zhang Ye's brow was locked in a frown. "Li Xinghe is a Grandmaster Late Stage and is excellently equipped. Although Su Yu is also a Grandmaster, he's only at the Early Stage. Plus, there are three helpers... this is almost a certain death trap."

Uncle Li sat in his chair, teacup in hand, a faint smile playing on his lips as he cast a subtle glance at Su Wu nearby.

"Mr. Su, it seems your son has been a bit impulsive. Playing the hero to save the beauty is all well and good, but one must act according to their strength. If he presses the Distress Button now, it might still be in time."

Su Wu remained expressionless, merely watching the large screen quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

"Senior Li worries too much. In this world, there are some fights that must be fought, even if one ends up battered and bloodied."