31: Chapter 31 A Terrible Prelude

"Identification: Qin Yan, 225th class New Student, unassigned to a college, rank: non-martial artist.

Insufficient permissions; unable to enter the Public Martial Arts Hall area."

A cold electronic prompt sounded.

At the same time, an invisible energy barrier seemed to rise at the entrance. No matter how Qin Yan tried, he could not pass through.

Some senior students training inside the hall noticed this scene, and many let out good-natured chuckles.

"Haha, another new kid blocked by the permission wall!"

"Normal, totally normal. Didn't we all suffer the same setback back then?"

"Junior, don't lose heart! Once you're assigned to a college and break through to become a martial artist, you can train wherever you want!"

Qin Yan's face felt a bit hot, but he said nothing, simply turning away in silence.

This minor setback gave him a deeper understanding of Dean Su Zhiming's words—at Modu University of Martial Arts, privilege and respect are tied solely to strength!

Returning to his cramped dormitory room, Qin Yan had no choice but to practice the most basic fist techniques.

He went through the most basic stances over and over again, honing his minute control over his strength.

Sweat soaked his training uniform, dripping onto the floor bit by bit.

He practiced for three hours straight until his entire body was sore before finally stopping.

After a simple dinner, he continued practicing through the night...

In this way, amidst boring yet fulfilling preparation, three days flashed by.

The New Student Trial Day finally arrived.

Colosseum No. 1, shaped like an ancient Roman arena, was filled with a chilling aura of slaughter.

Qin Yan stood among the ranks of New Students in the waiting area. Looking around, he found that there were fewer than three hundred students gathered here.

He understood: "It seems the other New Students were assigned to different colosseums.

Makes sense. If nearly a thousand New Students were to trial here one by one, it would take days and nights to finish."

He also keenly noticed that almost every student in Colosseum No. 1 had condensed blood-qi and sharp gazes.

Clearly, these were the people at the very top of the student ID rankings, with an extremely high proportion of martial artists among them.

Qin Yan dubbed it the "No. 1 Elite Arena."

On the distant circular spectator stands, many upperclassmen were already seated.

They had relaxed smiles and spoke in low voices, as if watching a performance.

"Bets are open! Betting on how many people in Arena No. 1 can directly take down a Merman Warrior this year!"

"I guess seven at most!"

"Heh, I'll be conservative and bet on five! Maybe this year's batch is a bit more 'gentle'?"

"..."

On the rostrum, Su Zhiming and a group of instructors appeared once more, their gazes sweeping over the slightly nervous ranks of New Students below.

Then, Su Zhiming's powerful voice rang out again.

"I presume you are all clear on the rules and content of the trial.

Fighting a Merman Warrior is no joke!

Injuries are commonplace, and... death is a possibility!"

The word "death" was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of many New Students. A wave of suppressed gasps and commotion immediately broke out, with many showing unconcealable terror in their eyes.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Now, if anyone feels fear and wishes to forfeit, you may step forward immediately!"

"This is your last chance.

Once the trial officially begins, anyone who deserts will be treated as a coward fleeing from battle!

Modu University of Martial Arts has no room for cowards!"

The arena fell into silence, with only heavy breathing heard here and there.

But not a single person stood up to choose forfeiture.

Those who could stand here were the favored children of their respective regions; they had a pride in their bones that could not be trampled upon.

Seeing this, Su Zhiming gave an imperceptible nod.

In reality, with him, an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster, overseeing the event, the possibility of death was almost zero.

Those words just now were merely a preliminary test of these New Students' character.

The result was acceptable.

"Since no one has forfeited, then, without further ado, the New Student Trial begins now!"

Su Zhiming's voice was like a booming bell as he waved his hand. "Bring out the Merman Warriors!"

Rumble—

At the edge of the massive circular arena below, a heavy metal gate covered in dark red rust slowly rose.

A wind carrying a salty, putrid stench blew out from the deep passage.

Then, a tall, burly figure dragging heavy alloy shackles walked out step by step.

It was precisely the Merman Warrior seen in the projection!

It was even more hideous and terrifying than in the projection. Its grey-blue skin shimmered with a greasy luster under the light, and the pair of emotionless blue eyes on its fish head scanned the stands with primal ferocity.

In its hand, it tightly gripped a rusty but glinting Trident, its throat emitting a low, gurgling sound like someone drowning.

The atmosphere on the scene instantly became murderous and oppressive.

In the air, Su Zhiming flicked his finger. A tiny streak of golden light shot out like lightning, precisely shattering the alloy shackles on the Merman Warrior's ankles.

Clang!

The shackles hit the ground.

Freed from its restraints, the Merman Warrior let out a raspy roar, flexed its thick arms, and turned its bloodthirsty gaze toward its surroundings.

"Combat order will follow student IDs from lowest to highest!

First up, Lin Dong!"

In the ranks, a slightly thin boy with a buzz cut shuddered violently.

He gritted his teeth and, with legs that felt like they were made of lead, almost shuffled into the passage leading to the arena.

A moment later, he appeared in the arena below. He now held a standard-issue combat blade, but the hand holding it was trembling slightly.

"Match start!"

As the announcement fell, the gate to the passage behind Lin Dong slammed shut.

Simultaneously, the blue light in the Merman Warrior's eyes flared. Its thick legs kicked off the ground, and with a gust of fishy wind, it charged at Lin Dong with speed unfitting its size, swinging its Trident!

"Ah!" Lin Dong was completely terrified by this ferocious aura. His legs gave out, and he actually slumped to the ground, his combat blade falling beside him with a 'clatter'.

The Merman Warrior arrived in an instant, its high-raised Trident whistling through the air as it smashed down toward Lin Dong's head!

"I surrender!" Lin Dong screamed.

At the critical moment, a soft yet tough golden light shield instantly enveloped Lin Dong's entire body.

Thump!

The Trident struck the shield with a dull thud. The shield didn't budge, not even a ripple appearing.

Instead, the Merman Warrior was sent staggering back by a counter-force, and was immediately bound in place by an invisible power, unable to move.

"Lin Dong, defeated! Eliminated!" Su Zhiming's cold voice rang out.

Staff members immediately stepped forward to help the nearly collapsed Lin Dong away.

The instructors in the stands shook their heads one after another, their faces filled with disappointment.

With such a character, he didn't even have the qualifications to be evaluated by them.

This seemed to set a terrible prelude.

In the subsequent trials, the situation did not immediately improve. Nearly a hundred students went up in succession, and more than half performed no better than Lin Dong, showing their unsightly sides under the Merman Warrior's fierce onslaught and losing quickly.