Chapter 23: The Martial Arts Exam Ends

["Winner... Arena No. 1, Li Ang!"]

[As the System's emotionless electronic voice echoed throughout the venue, the snowy ruins constructed by the holographic projection instantly shattered, dissipating into a sky full of light specks.]

["Beep—Neural connection disconnected."]

[You slowly took off the heavy connection helmet. Although you had suffered severe injuries in the virtual world, your body remained perfectly intact in reality.]

[However, due to the extreme burst of "Nine-fold Overlapping Waves" just now, your Mental Energy was overextended, causing you to feel a wave of slight dizziness.]

[You shook your head, stood up by leaning on the armrest, and looked across through the transparent soundproof glass.]

[There, Liu Xiyue had also just taken off her helmet. This ice-cold campus belle, who had always been aloof and seemed detached from the mundane world, was now as pale as a sheet.]

[She looked at her hands in a daze, seemingly not yet recovered from the terrifying experience of being "slain" in that instant.]

[She had lost.]

[She lost to a commoner student with no background, someone she had never even bothered to look at properly.]

[After a brief moment of dead silence, the entire venue erupted like a powder keg being ignited!]

["Whoosh—!!!"]

[The cacophony, like crashing mountains and roaring seas, nearly blew the roof off.]

["He won! That Li Ang actually won!"]

["My god! That was 'Snow Girl' Liu Xiyue! With her Ice-elemental Ability and Crimson Gauze Realm, she was actually sent flying by a single slash?"]

["Is this 'God Li'? Who said he only knew how to study? He has mastered the killing techniques from the textbooks to perfection! Too strong!"]

[At the commentary booth, a specially invited senior coach from the Provincial Martial Arts Association was excitedly pounding the table, spit flying as he conducted a review:]

["Incredible! This is absolutely a textbook-level 'counter-attack'! Director, quick, switch to the replay!"]

[On the large screen, a slow-motion replay of your earth-shattering slash was shown.]

["Look, everyone! First of all, Student Li Ang's Qi and Blood density is simply mind-boggling! Facing the constant suppression of an Ice-elemental Ability, an ordinary Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood would have been exhausted long ago, but he not only held out but could even erupt with such terrifying force at the very end!"]

["Secondly, his saber technique! Without a doubt, it is absolutely at Major Achievement! Even while slowed by the cold, he could still precisely intercept his opponent's sword moves; he has engraved saber techniques into his physical instincts!"]

["The most critical part is..." The coach pointed to a flash of blue light on your arm on the screen, "Just as his records state, he is an Acquired awakened Water-elemental Ability Martial Artist. There is an extremely hidden Water-elemental Ability within his body! This power grants him extraordinary recovery capabilities; his physical strength and resilience far exceed Liu Xiyue's!"]

["Qi and blood, technique, ability, tactics... In this battle, Li Ang won impeccably!"]

[Amidst the praise, Wu Changhe rushed into the contestants' area regardless of his image and grabbed you in a hug, his strength so great it felt like he might snap your bones.]

["Good kid! Well done! You've made me proud!"]

[This man, usually so calculating, now had tears in his eyes as he shouted at the school leaders in the stands, "From today on, let's see who dares to say that I, Wu Changhe, only know how to sell medicine! I've taught a top scorer!"]

...

[One week later, June 16th.]

[The College Entrance Examination ended, and the provincial results were released.]

[You were sitting in Wu Changhe's office, and on the computer screen before you both, the final scores were clearly displayed.]

[Candidate: Li Ang]

[Literary Exam (Theory): 148 / 150]

[Martial Exam (Martial Arts Realm): 150 / 200]

[Martial Exam (Basic Qualities): 195 / 200]

[Martial Exam (Combat Arena): 150 / 200]

[Ability Bonus: 50 points]

[Total Score: 693 / 750+50 points]

[Current Ranking: 1st in Longnan City / 18th in Jiangnan Province]

[Seeing this result, you frowned slightly.]

[Two points were deducted for subjective questions in the cultural classes, which was reasonable; the basic qualities test was near perfect, which was also expected.]

[Except for this martial arts combat score.]

[You were clearly the undefeated number one in Longnan City, so why did you only get 150 points in the combat and Martial Arts Realm assessments, both out of 200?]

["Do you think the score is low?"]

[Wu Changhe poured two cups of tea and handed one to you.]

["Don't be disgruntled. Our province's College Entrance Examination combat uses a 'Provincial-wide Scaling System'."]

["Your Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood plus Major Achievement saber technique are indeed invincible in a prefecture-level city like Longnan.]

[But in this province, and even the entire Federation, there are always a few unreasonable monsters."]

[Wu Changhe pointed to the name at the top of the computer screen, the one ranked first in the province with a combat score as high as 198.]

["See that? That's the gap. At your age, there are already people who have broken through the Life Barrier and stepped into the Origin Opening Realm."]

["In the provincial scaling System, the Origin Opening Realm is in a league of its own, starting at 180 points. In the face of the Origin Opening Realm, no matter how strong a Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood is, the score cap is locked at 150 points. This is a suppression of life levels, something that cannot be compensated for by skill."]

[After hearing this, the bit of pride you felt from becoming the city's top scorer instantly vanished.]

[Origin Opening Realm!]

[This meant the opponent was already capable of externalizing Yuan Qi and had even begun to awaken Mental Energy. Competing on the same track as such a monster, the Qi and Blood Realm truly could only take a back seat.]

["18th in the province... which means, ahead of me, there are at least seventeen freaks suspected to be in the Origin Opening Realm?"]

[Your hand tightened around the teacup.]

["Don't be discouraged." Wu Changhe patted your shoulder. "You started later than them and didn't have a Family pouring resources into you from a young age; reaching this point is already a miracle. Besides, with 693 points, you are well above the admission line for the 'Twin Stars'!"]

["Today we won't talk about martial arts, only happy news. Cheers!"]

["Cheers!"]

...

[The day after the results were released.]

[You received an unexpected phone call. It was from Principal Liao Xianyu.]

[The principal's office was quaint and elegant, filled with the aroma of tea.]

[This Origin Opening Realm expert, who was usually elusive, was now looking at you with a smile and personally pouring you a cup of tea.]

["Sit down, don't be formal."]

[Liao Xianyu sized you up, his eyes full of appreciation. "Your Qi and Blood are steady, and you are neither arrogant nor impetuous. Seeing the provincial ranking, your mindset hasn't crumbled, has it?"]

["You're joking, Principal. There is always a heaven beyond the heaven and people beyond the people. This actually gives me more motivation," you replied calmly.]

["'More motivation,' well said. That's the spirit."]

[Liao Xianyu waved his hand and then said seriously, "I called you here today because I have some important news to tell you."]

[He took a gold-stamped red invitation from a drawer and pushed it in front of you.]

[Joint Special Recruitment of Top Federal Academies · Suhang Station]

["This is..."]

["A special test."]

[Liao Xianyu explained, "This is the final hurdle to enter a top martial arts university. The minimum requirements for the test are extremely high: a Martial Arts Realm of at least Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood, a cultural score of no less than 120, and a combat score of no less than 100."]

["In previous years, only the top geniuses applying for the 'Twin Stars' (Federal Martial Arts University and Changjing Martial Arts University) needed to take this test. But this year is special; the Ten Famous Schools proposed lowering the threshold to give more spots for freshmen to train. Therefore, the Ten Famous Schools also require students who pass the line to participate, to give them a rigorous workout before entering school."]

["Your scores meet this standard."]

[Liao Xianyu looked at you, his tone solemn: "This test isn't just a combat assessment; it's more like a large-scale survival drill. All those monsters ranked ahead of you will be there."]

["Moreover, I heard the rewards this year are extremely generous. Besides the admission letters for the Twin Stars, the top ten can even obtain a supreme treasure that helps in comprehending the Origin Opening Barrier—the 'primal spirit stone'."]

[Hearing the words "primal spirit stone," your heart skipped a beat.]

[You are currently stuck at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood. Although you are powerful, trying to break through to Origin Opening is a natural chasm. If you had such a treasure to assist you...]

["Well? Do you dare to go?" Liao Xianyu asked with a smile.]

[You picked up the invitation, feeling the residual Yuan Qi fluctuations on it, and a blazing Battle Intent ignited in your eyes.]

["I'll go! Why wouldn't I?"]

[You stood up and tucked the invitation into your chest pocket.]

["Longnan is too small. I also want to go and see for myself just how strong those Origin Opening Realm monsters really are."]

[Liao Xianyu nodded in satisfaction.]

["Good! Go back and prepare. We set off for Suhang City in seven days. Besides you, Liu Xiyue's score is also high enough. You two will represent Longnan No. 1 High School."]

["Remember, once you leave Longnan, fight hard! Make a name for our No. 1 High School!"]

[Walking out of the principal's office, you looked up at the blue sky.]

[Suhang City, the capital of Jiangnan Province and the location of Jiangnan Martial Arts University.]

[That will be your new battlefield.]

["Origin Opening Realm... Twin Stars... primal spirit stone..."]

[You clenched your fist.]