23: Breakthrough to the third level of body refining, competition for the martial arts champion!

Lin Wu knew he had stumbled upon a great treasure.

Previously, he rejected the Demonic Path only because of its severe side effects. The Demonic Path in this world generally fell into three categories.

One outcome was losing sanity and completely becoming a madman, or losing intelligence and degenerating into a Vicious Beast.

The third was to use one's strength to suppress the side effects, which also led to increasing cruelty.

Now that his Mount Tai Meditation Technique had reached Major Achievement, the side effects brought by this trait could be resolved on their own.

A Demonic Path trait without side effects!

That was extremely tempting... Meanwhile, the other team members arrived one after another and began to clean up the scene. Leading them was a high-level Martial Artist in the Body Refining Eighth Realm.

Zhang Wanjun went up to explain to him.

And Lin Wu chose to fuse with the talent!

【Mind Power Expert (Blue): Your Mental Energy talent has become stronger, destined to become a Level Three Mental Energy Master!】

【Fusing...】

【Fusion successful!】

Lin Wu felt his Mental Energy surge again by a large margin. This blue trait directly increased his Mental Energy by 500.

This trait even affected his Tianmen Acupoint, making the Mental Mount Tai a little more solid.

Then, he looked at Cao Wei's entries.

First was Mind Power Expert!

After that was proficiency in hidden weapons.

Previously, it was just a green trait, and Lin Wu disdained using hidden weapons. Now that it had turned blue, coupled with his Mental Energy reaching the level of a Level One Mental Energy Master, it could now be used in actual combat!

【Fusing trait Willpower Steadfast (Blue)】

When the Fusion first began.

Lin Wu felt the Tianmen Acupoint undergoing earth-shattering changes!

“Can this trait affect the Mount Tai Meditation Technique?”

Lin Wu quickly entered a meditative state.

Sure enough.

Inside the Tianmen Acupoint, that Mental Mount Tai was undergoing changes.

Compared to its previous semi-transparency, it had now turned grayish-white!

【Affected by the trait Willpower Steadfast (Blue), your Mount Tai Meditation Technique has spontaneously Broken Through and entered the Major Achievement Realm!】

【Mental Energy increased by 200!】

“Awesome! No wonder they say that the Mount Tai Meditation Technique benefits more from higher talent.”

“After acquiring two entries, one's Realm can naturally improve on its own.”

Lin Wu quickly figured it out.

Because the core of the Mount Tai Meditation Technique lay in the Mental Mount Tai condensed in the Tianmen Acupoint.

In other words, the strength of Mount Tai determined the Cultivation Technique's attainment Realm.

The sudden Fusion of two major entries directly caused a qualitative change in Mount Tai, and thus the Cultivation Technique also improved.

“Great!”

Lin Wu then looked at the last trait.

“Fuse!”

This talent was similar to the Star Absorbing Great Art he had seen in his previous life.

It could convert others' Internal Energy for one's own use.

Lin Wu was mentally prepared.

After all, this was contact with the Demonic Path.

During the process of fusing this trait.

Lin Wu felt some inexplicable changes occurring in his body.

Above the basic Meridians, a new Meridian was formed.

This Meridian ran through his entire body, starting from the palms of both hands, passing through the Tianmen Acupoint, and then delivering to the whole body.

“Tsk, I'm a Demonic Path practitioner now.”

“Let's try it first!”

Lin Wu swallowed.

At this moment, the Blood Flame Spear was still stuck in the remains. Lin Wu reached out to pull out the Spear, simultaneously activating the two major Meridians in his hands.

Sure enough, the Qi and blood from the remains were slowly stirred up.

It flowed up along the blood-colored Spear.

It quickly entered his right hand, then flowed along the Meridians to the Tianmen Acupoint.

In an instant!

Lin Wu's mind felt as if it had exploded.

All sorts of voices emerged endlessly.

“I'm so hateful...”

“Why, why did I die here?!”

“You damned Righteous Path cultivators, one day...”

These voices were naturally the lingering resentment left by Cao Wei.

Lin Wu quickly entered a meditative state.

In the Mental world.

Indeed, a dark red cluster of will surrounded the Mental Mount Tai.

Lin Wu, following the operating method recorded in the Cultivation Technique, slowly activated the Mental Mount Tai.

At the same time, he silently recited the incantation—

“The Five Peaks are unique, Supreme under Heaven!”

Bang!

The Mental Mount Tai vibrated once.

Then, a powerful Mental Energy fluctuation was transmitted, and the resentment left by Cao Wei instantly dissipated!

That trace of Qi and blood became pure and quickly flowed throughout his body along that Demonic Path Meridian.

Lin Wu felt a noticeable increase in his Qi and blood!

【Your Qi and blood increased by 500 calories!】

【Congratulations, Host, your Qi and blood value has Broken Through 3000 points, successfully entering the Body Refining Third Realm!】

【Strength increased by 1000kg, speed increased by 10m/s, Spirit increased by 10 Hertz!】

“This purple Heaven-Defying talent is indeed incredible, but it has an upper limit. It seems no matter how powerful the creature, only 500 calories can be extracted at a time. It's only useful during the Body Refining period. Once one reaches the True Qi Realm or even the Grandmaster Realm, it's completely insignificant.”

Lin Wu put the Spear into the System space and then looked at the remains on the ground.

“Let's try projecting Mental Energy.”

Several traces of Qi and blood appeared on those corpses.

Under the pull of Mental Energy, they quickly reached his hand.

These traces of Qi and blood were weaker, and the resentment was easily removed.

【Your Qi and blood increased by 100 calories】

“So weak...” Lin Wu was a bit speechless.

He then slowly walked out of the basement and saw Zhang Wanjun and the others.

The others were still greeting each other.

Zhang Wanjun, however, sensed something different.

“Did your Mental Energy and Realm increase again? I feel your aura is different!”

Zhang Wanjun was indeed a Mind Power Expert; she immediately noticed Lin Wu's Realm improvement.

“You're right. During the battle just now, I had some insights, and both my Realm and Mental Energy improved.”

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Because he had insights, he improved?

Even Zhang Wanjun was a bit surprised this time!

“Your Mental Energy has increased a lot, reaching the level of a Level One Mental Energy Master.”

“And that's in just half a day!”

Now, not only the members of Zhang Wanjun's team but also other teams looked over.

They had long heard of Lin Wu's name.

First in the city, then first in the province, and he could also participate in the Martial Champion competition!

Now he was also a Level One Mental Energy Master!

After a while.

The team leader walked out of the basement.

“The first team just finished their battle today, so they should rest well. The remaining patrol missions will be completed by the four teams simultaneously.”

“Alright, I'll leave this to the logistics team. We'll continue our mission.”

The other four teams dispersed.

Zhang Wanjun also sent the other team members home.

“Your next mission is the Martial Champion competition, which should start very soon. You should go back and prepare thoroughly.”

“I'll also be returning to school in a few days, so patrols can only be suspended.”

Zhang Wanjun's tone towards Lin Wu had changed now.

“Okay.”

Just as Lin Wu was about to leave, Zhang Wanjun's voice rang out again from behind him.

“By the way, I'm at the top Martial Saint Academy. I hope we can meet again.”

Lin Wu nodded.

Then he took a taxi and returned home.

As soon as Lin Wu got home, before he could even take a sip of water, he heard someone knocking at the door.

Lin Luoluo stood up and opened the door, finding three official personnel standing outside.

“Student Lin Wu, where is he?”

“That's me. What do you need?”

Lin Wu looked at the three people.

The person leading them, seeing Lin Wu come out, immediately smiled and took out an envelope.

“Student Lin Wu, we are here specifically to inform you that the Martial Champion competition is about to begin. The location has been chosen as the Imperial Capital, and the opening ceremony is tomorrow!”

“This envelope contains travel expenses, as well as a ticket for a supersonic passenger plane!”

Lin Wu took the envelope.

“I understand. I will set off for the Imperial Capital tomorrow morning!”

The three only said a fewPrecautions, then left without even entering the door.

“Such efficiency...”

Lin Wu was a bit surprised.

Afterward, Lin Wu returned to the sofa and, under Lin Luoluo's excited gaze, opened the envelope.

Inside was a check for one million Dragon coins, specifically for reimbursement of various expenses, and also a metal airplane ticket.

“A super-high-speed passenger plane, wow! I heard it reaches dozens of times the speed of sound; it can fly to the Imperial Capital in just over ten minutes.”

“You know quite a lot.”

“So, Brother, do you have confidence? All the participants in the Martial Champion competition are Prodigies from all over the country, right?”

“Of course, I have confidence. Just wait for my good news.”

Lin Wu was already confident.

After dinner, he went to sleep and then headed to the airport early the next morning to board the passenger plane!

...Half an hour later.

The plane landed at a dedicated airport.

Lin Wu disembarked from the private plane and met the staff who had come to greet him.

Under their guidance, Lin Wu arrived at the waiting hall!

The waiting hall was already filled with tens of thousands of people. They were all the most outstanding candidates of the year, each an undeniable Genius.

Each province only had five hundred spots, truly an assembly of elites!

Moreover, this competition allowed participants to bring private equipment and private weapons, so the difficulty also increased exponentially.

Lin Wu casually found a seat and waited for the examination to begin.

Among the people present, the Realms were generally at the Third or Fourth Realm, with occasional Geniuses at the Fifth Realm!

Everyone was constantly communicating within their own circles, and many even recognized Lin Wu.

As the first place in Bei Province, he would naturally be known by some who were willing to study the examination.

“See that? That's the first place from Bei Province. In the college entrance examination test, his strength was dozens of kilograms greater than yours. He's one of the most troublesome opponents!”

The person speaking was the third place from Nan Province, and these words were spoken for the first place from Nan Province to hear.

“A commoner hero, huh? I'll remember him.”

Similarly, the first place from the Imperial Capital also learned of Lin Wu's achievements.

“Interesting. A commoner, whose strength can actually be on par with mine. He's a talent, and I must be wary.”

“Either he has Awakened a special ability, or he possesses a peerless Cultivation Technique. If he's allowed to grow, the Martial Champion title might very well be his.”

Lin Wu sat in his seat, silent, completely unaware that he was being targeted.

Time passed minute by minute, and everyone's enthusiasm for conversation diminished significantly.

Just as everyone was about to fall silent.

Suddenly!

A figure appeared out of thin air on the podium.

The aura emanating from him was still that of the True Qi Realm!

“Good morning, everyone. I am your co-examiner for this time. I'll skip the self-introduction; I believe everyone knows me as Zhang Yi. Next, please give a round of applause to welcome our chief examiner—Qin Zhu!”

Warm applause erupted in the venue.

The chief examiner quickly appeared. He was wearing a training suit, a white-bearded old man with a friendly appearance, yet constantly exuding Killing Intent.

“Students, let me be frank upfront. This examination will be the strictest in history.”

“It will also be the most dangerous one, because the examination location has been chosen on an alien planet, a planet full of Vicious Beasts. No one can guarantee your safety this time.”

“Additionally, the value of the equipment you carry must not exceed one hundred million Dragon coins. Violators of the rules will be executed without exception!”

As soon as these words were spoken, many students felt a chill down their spines and immediately had thoughts of retreating.

After all, they were only there to gain prestige, not to risk their lives.

The title of Martial Champion was indeed grand, but it wasn't worth sacrificing one's life for.

Lin Wu, of course, didn't care. He was happy as soon as he heard “Vicious Beasts.”

Only with ample slaughter could he become stronger!

And other candidates, upon hearing that the examination site was an alien planet, almost immediately chose to withdraw.

“What's wrong with this year's chief examiner? Choosing an alien planet as the examination site? Isn't that insane?”

“I have billions in assets at home. Isn't it better to be a good prodigal son than to come here and risk my life?”

“Everyone, I'll take my leave first!”

Some people whose rankings were not high to begin with walked out one after another, and the number of people in the venue immediately dwindled by several thousand, from over ten thousand to six or seven thousand.

“Are there still any who wish to withdraw? You still have time now. Later, you'll have to sign a life-and-death agreement.”

The remaining candidates remained silent.

The chief examiner nodded.

“Good, I announce that all candidates, proceed immediately to the examination site!”

The remaining candidates stood up one after another and followed the examiners to an airport.

And in front of the candidates were ten interstellar spacecraft.

As a high-Martial era, humanity already possessed the ability to traverse the void, thus absorbing much alien technology.

Therefore, humanity had also developed interstellar spacecraft.

Lin Wu boarded a spacecraft.

Then the spacecraft slowly ascended... entering a somewhat lengthy interstellar voyage.

On the spacecraft.

Various students had already formed small groups, usually centered around scions of powerful families, agreeing to cooperate and share profits equally.

Lin Wu sat by himself.

Of course, no one came to talk to him.

“This Lin Wu is quite pitiful. He has no background, only brute strength. Even if he's nationally top-tier, he's still ostracized by everyone.”

“It's because he's too strong. Bringing such a person into a small group would only lead to the guest overshadowing the host.”

“That's true...”

Hearing these discussions, Lin Wu also felt speechless.

Joining someone else's small group meant completely giving up on competition and serving others.

However, this was also a method.

After all, they couldn't become the Martial Champion by fighting alone, but they could use this opportunity to curry favor with the scions of powerful families.

“Students, we have now arrived above the examination site. Orbital airdrop will commence shortly.”

“This is a competition wristband, one for each person. You can choose to withdraw and call for help, or you can check your competition points and ranking.”

Soon, dozens of staff members walked in and distributed a titanium wristband to everyone.

The wristband had a button, and pressing it would project a light screen.

Lin Wu tried it out, then put it on his hand.

“On this planet, there are many Vicious Beasts. Killing a First-order Vicious Beast will earn you 100 points, killing a Second-order will earn 200, killing a Third-order will earn 400, and so on!”