20: With the martial arts exam starting, is Lin Fan really not up to the task?

The crowd surged.

Lin Fan went downstairs with the flow of people.

At the corner of the stairs,

Xiao Zhan "accidentally" bumped into him.

The force wasn't great,

But Lin Fan stumbled along with the momentum, looking as if he were about to fall.

"Oops! Sorry, Brother Fan!"

Xiao Zhan hurriedly "supported" him, his voice very loud:

"Are you okay? Look at how careless I was... Your body is too weak right now. Why don't you apply to the teacher to skip the exam?"

Many students around them looked over.

Their expressions were varied.

Lin Fan steadied himself and patted the shoulder that had been bumped.

Then he looked up at Xiao Zhan.

His gaze was as calm as a pool of deep water.

"Xiao Zhan."

"Huh?"

"You have a vegetable leaf on your teeth."

Xiao Zhan was stunned and instinctively covered his mouth.

Suppressed laughter came from the surroundings.

Lin Fan ignored him and turned to go downstairs.

[Ding! Defused a provocation with indifference, prestige value +100!]

[Current prestige value: 21,100 points!]

Xiao Zhan's face turned ashen.

There was no vegetable leaf on his teeth at all!

He had been played!

"Lin Fan... just you wait!"

He gritted his teeth and growled low:

"Wait until the written exam is over. During the practical combat test... see if I don't kill you!"

...The playground.

In the temporary examination hall, hundreds of tables and chairs were arranged neatly.

Outside the cordon, reporters were armed with cameras and microphones. School leaders, military observers, and recruitment representatives from various martial arts universities sat on the viewing platform.

The atmosphere was solemn.

Lin Fan found his seat—a corner in the back row.

Just as he sat down,

An invigilator walked in carrying a sealed box of exam papers.

"Now announcing the examination hall rules!"

"Whispering is prohibited! Peeking at others' papers is prohibited! Using any electronic devices is prohibited!"

"Violators will be disqualified immediately and banned from the Martial Arts Examination for three years!"

"Now, distributing the papers!"

The exam paper was in hand.

Lin Fan glanced at it.

"Comprehensive Martial Arts Theory Paper of the High Martial Era"

Question types: Single choice, multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay.

Full score 300, passing score 180.

Time: 150 minutes.

For ordinary students, the volume of questions was massive and the difficulty extremely high.

But for Lin Fan... he picked up his pen.

In his mind, the Internal Energy of the Muscle circulated slowly, and his thoughts became exceptionally clear.

The three years of theoretical knowledge from his original self, the martial arts insights bestowed by the System, and his recent practical experiences... all merged together.

"Question 1: When a Martial Artist breaks through to a Martial Master, what is the optimal distance range for projecting Internal Energy?"

"A. One to three inches B. Three inches to one foot C. One to three feet D. More than three feet"

Lin Fan's pen tip tapped.

Option C.

At the Early Stage of Martial Master, Internal Energy projects three feet; at the Middle Stage, one zhang; and at the Late Stage, three zhang. This was common knowledge.

"Question 2: Where is the weakness of the common Catacombs beast, the Ironclad Beetle, located?"

"Abdominal joints and compound eyes."

"Question 3: Briefly describe three methods to clear a blockage when blood qi circulates to the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin."

Lin Fan's pen moved like a dragon and snake.

Flushing with gentle Internal Energy, assistance from medicinal baths, Acupoint-breaking Needle Techniques... He not only answered completely but also added a fourth method—forceful penetration with higher quality Internal Energy, along with precautions.

Time passed minute by minute.

In the examination hall, there was only the rustling of pen tips against paper and occasional sighs.

Many students were scratching their heads, their foreheads dripping with sweat.

Theory had always been Lin Fan's forte—his original self wasn't good at martial arts, so he could only grind on theory.

And now, with the System's assistance... Lin Fan's answering speed was astonishingly fast.

Multiple choice questions: the answers were clear at a glance.

True/false questions: judged as soon as he scanned them.

Short answer questions: all key points were included.

Essay questions: unique perspectives.

Forty minutes.

Lin Fan stopped writing.

He looked up.

Check?

No need.

He directly raised his hand:

"Teacher, I'm handing in my paper."

His voice wasn't loud.

But in the quiet examination hall, it was like a thunderclap!

Swish!

All the examinees looked up at the same time!

The invigilator was also stunned:

"Student, there are still over a hundred minutes of exam time left. Do you want to check it again?"

"No need."

Lin Fan stood up, picked up his exam paper, and walked toward the podium.

The entire examination hall was dumbfounded!

Handing in the paper in forty minutes?

This was a 300-point comprehensive paper! The volume of questions was massive!

Many people hadn't even finished half!

Xiao Zhan looked at Lin Fan's back, stunned at first, then filled with wild joy!

He definitely doesn't know any of it! He's just giving up!

He suppressed his laughter and lowered his head to continue the exam.

The invigilator took Lin Fan's paper and instinctively glanced at it.

Then,

His eyes widened.

The paper was neat, and the handwriting was tidy.

The multiple-choice questions were all filled, the short answers occupied all the blank spaces, and the essay questions were densely packed with nearly a thousand words!

Did this look like someone who didn't know the answers?

"You..." The invigilator looked at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan had already turned and walked out of the examination hall.

The sunlight on the playground was dazzling.

When the reporters saw someone coming out, they immediately swarmed him!

"Student! Why did you hand in your paper so early? Were the questions very difficult?"

"Was it because you couldn't hold on due to physical reasons?"

Lin Fan looked at the camera and smiled faintly:

"The questions?"

"They were okay."

"They were just a bit simple, so I finished a bit faster."

After saying that, he walked toward the resting area, leaving the reporters bewildered in the wind.

[Ding! Handed in the paper two hours early, shocking the entire audience! prestige value +500!]

[Ding! Calmly flexed during the interview! prestige value +300!]

[Current prestige value: 21,900 points!]

Resting area.

Lin Fan sat down and closed his eyes to rest.

In his mind, the System's notification sounded again:

[Detected that the Host is about to participate in the Martial Arts Examination practical combat test!]

[Environmental Analysis: All eyes are on you, multiple parties are watching. Host's role—the fallen Genius!]

[Prestige Strategy Suggestion: Show weakness to the enemy, lure them in deep, reverse the situation at the critical moment to create the ultimate contrast!]

[If executed properly, the estimated prestige value gain is 5,000+!]

The corners of Lin Fan's mouth curled up slightly.

The System and he were thinking the same thing.

"However... the System's vision is still too small."

"Simply reversing the situation isn't enough."

"If I'm going to play, I'll play even bigger."

He opened his eyes and looked at the distant examination hall.

A hint of madness flashed deep in his eyes.

The theoretical exam ended.

Students walked out of the examination hall one after another, most with pale faces as if they had lost their parents.

"It's over... I didn't have time to write the last two big questions at all..."

"I just made up the essay questions; I don't know how many points I'll get..."

"The theory this time was too hard! Will the passing grade be lowered?"

Xiao Zhan walked out of the examination hall, and his expression wasn't great either.

He only wrote half of the last essay question.

But when he saw Lin Fan resting with his eyes closed in the resting area, his mood immediately improved.

What's the use of doing well in theory?

The Martial Arts Examination ultimately depends on practical combat!

And practical combat... he felt the surging blood qi in his body; he was only one step away from breaking through to Martial Master!

And Lin Fan was just a cripple!

"Lin Fan, just wait..."

He licked his lips, his eyes ruthless:

"Wait for the practical combat test. I will crush your last bit of dignity into dust!"

...After the lunch break.

The playground was cleared, and ten alloy arenas were set up in the center.

The second part of the Martial Arts Examination—the practical combat test—officially began!

The rules were simple:

Opponents are determined by drawing lots, and they fight in pairs.

Winners advance, and losers are eliminated.

The final ranking is based on wins, losses, and performance scores.

Beside the arenas stood ten of the latest Blood Qi Testing Devices. Before the duel, blood qi must be measured as the basis for the initial score.

"Now, students whose names are called, come forward for testing and then draw your opponents!"

The Dean of Academic Affairs held a megaphone:

"Group one, Zhang Tao!"

A sturdy boy went on stage and pressed his palm on the testing device.

The screen flickered:

[blood qi value: 1.45]

"Group two, Li Jing!"

[blood qi value: 1.38]

...The testing proceeded in an orderly manner.

Most students' blood qi values were between 1.2 and 1.6. Those who could reach above 1.7 were already the top students.

Soon.

"Group seven, Xiao Zhan!"

Xiao Zhan strode onto the stage.

Today, he had specially worn a custom martial arts uniform, and the Xiao Family crest on his cuff sparkled in the sun.

He took a deep breath and pressed his palm onto the testing device.

Internal Energy activated!

Buzz!

The device vibrated violently!

The numbers jumped wildly!

1.80...1.85...1.90...1.93...2.54!

Finally settling at:

[blood qi value: 2.54]

"Whoa!"

The crowd below exclaimed!

"2.54! Xiao Zhan has improved again!"

"He can already break through to Martial Master!"

"It seems the Xiao Family has poured quite a lot of resources into him..."

Xiao Zhan withdrew his hand, enjoying the looks of amazement.

Then, he turned to look at Lin Fan below the stage.

His gaze was as provocative.

As if saying: See that? This is true strength!

Lin Fan leaned against the chair in the resting area with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

"Group eight, Su Muyu!"

The cool and elegant girl went on stage.

She pressed her palm lightly.

The device's vibration was even greater than Xiao Zhan's!

The numbers soared!

2.95...2.97...2.98...2.99...!

Finally!

[blood qi value: 3!]

The entire venue was in an uproar!

"3!"

"Has Su Muyu broken through to Martial Master?"

"My god... this year's Martial Arts Examination is going to produce a true Dragon!"

On the viewing platform, the eyes of the recruitment representatives from various martial arts universities lit up.

A high school student at the Martial Master realm!

No matter where she went, she would be a top-tier Genius!

Su Muyu's face was calm. Before stepping down, she glanced at Lin Fan.

Her expression was complex.

Finally.

"Group ten, Lin Fan!"

Swish!

All eyes in the venue focused!

Reporters' cameras were aimed!

The school leaders sat up straight!

The military observers narrowed their eyes!

The corners of Xiao Zhan's mouth curled up, already prepared to mock him.