49: Chapter 49 The Assessment Begins

The early morning sunlight spilled across the massive central plaza of Qingshi No. 3 Middle School.

The air was thick with a sense of restlessness and anticipation even greater than yesterday's cultural assessment.

Today was the highlight of the Flying Star Class selection—the Physical Body Rank test and the technique assessment.

Not only the registered participants, but the entire Grade 12 student body of over a thousand were gathered here; invisible pressure and excitement shrouded every corner.

The sound of discussion buzzed like a swarm of bees.

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The area where Grade 12, Class 21 was located.

"There are sixty slots; I wonder who from our class will make it."

"Do you even need to ask? Xue Jun is definitely a lock. His Physical Body is strong, and I heard his spear technique is almost at Major Achievement."

"Spear technique almost at Major Achievement? Then Xue Jun has a chance to break into the top ten."

"The top ten might be a bit of a stretch. Last semester's top ten were basically already at the brink of Technique Major Achievement."

"Speaking of which, I heard Zhao Feng from Class 3 had a Breakthrough to Major Achievement in his spear technique over the winter break. Another ruthless guy with Major Achievement technique!"

Just as the discussion about the top ten became increasingly heated, a slightly abrupt voice chimed in:

"Hey, do you guys think... Li Wen has a chance of making the top ten this time?"

The speaker was a slightly thin boy, surrounded mostly by students with calm auras who clearly focused more on the cultural track.

He had accidentally overheard classmates last night discussing how Li Wen's cultural grades might be excellent, which sparked this sudden whim.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sneer immediately came from nearby.

"Li Wen? Impossible!" The speaker was Xue Jun, who was sitting not far away with Deng Yuefei.

Xue Jun swept a disdainful glance at the group of "cultural students."

"He only just reached Top-tier Entry in his Blade Technique at the end of last semester. One winter break? From Top-tier Entry to Major Achievement? Do you think he's an immortal? At most, he's just a bit higher than Top-tier Minor Achievement!"

Deng Yuefei also leaned over and chimed in:

"Exactly! Brother Xue is right. Jiang Lingyun from No. 1 Middle School, who signed a b-rank contract, took two or three months to go from Top-tier Technique Entry to Major Achievement.

If Li Wen can go from Entry to Major Achievement in a month, I'll write my name backward!"

He shook his head as he spoke, as if he were listening to a fairy tale.

Xue Jun added with a sense of superiority:

"Which of the top ten isn't at the Late Stage or even Peak of Top-tier Minor Achievement?

Take me, for example; my spear technique is past the halfway point of Minor Achievement, and I was still over a dozen Ranks away from the top ten last semester.

Li Wen wants to enter the top ten? Unless his Blade Technique has truly Advanced by leaps and bounds to Major Achievement!"

Xue Jun and Deng Yuefei both shook their heads vigorously, their faces practically screaming "absolutely impossible."

At that moment, a broadcast rang out, drowning out the clamor of the crowd:

"Will all students participating in the Flying Star Class selection assessment please follow instructions to the First Testing Area for Physical Body Rank determination!"

The queue quickly formed a long dragon in front of the testing equipment.

The testing was highly efficient, with names and corresponding Physical Body Ranks displayed in real-time on a massive electronic screen, drawing bursts of whispers.

"Grade 12, Class 1, Huang Hao, Physical Body Rank: 9.4!"

The entire field gasped in amazement.

"Grade 12, Class 2, Zhao Feng, Physical Body Rank: 9.0!"

...

"Grade 12, Class 21, Xue Jun, Physical Body Rank: 8.8!"

"Grade 12, Class 21, Deng Yuefei, Physical Body Rank: 8.5!"

...

When it was Li Wen's turn, he calmly pressed his hand onto the testing plate.

Buzz— "Grade 12, Class 21, Li Wen, Physical Body Rank: 7.1!"

This number looked particularly jarring amidst a string of data above 8.0.

Li Wen himself remained unperturbed, calmly withdrawing his hand as if it were just an inconsequential symbol flashing across the screen.

He was actually quite satisfied with this result.

At this moment, the significance of his Physical Body Rank for securing a spot in the Flying Star Class was far less than the upcoming technique assessment.

He paid no mind to the gazes cast from all around—some curious, some contemptuous, and some filled with complex meanings.

After a brief adjustment, the segment that would truly decide their fate arrived.

"All participants, enter the virtual rooms immediately. The 'Sharpened Edge' battlefield is about to open!"

Hearing the announcement, all participants rushed to the virtual rooms.

Finding his assigned spot for this session, Li Wen lay down inside.

He completed the gear-up and flipped the start switch.

The cold sensation of the virtual pod washed over him, his consciousness plummeted, and when Li Wen opened his eyes again, he was suspended above a scorched battlefield of smoke and ruins.

A cold electronic voice rang out simultaneously in his and all the participants' ears:

【Sharpened Edge Battlefield Rules】

A total of 10,000 virtual humans have been deployed on the battlefield. Their strength and corresponding points are as follows:

Black Clothing (Advanced Blade Technique - Entry): 1 point

White Clothing (Advanced Blade Technique - Minor Achievement): 2 points

Red Clothing (Advanced Blade Technique - Major Achievement): 4 points

Orange Clothing (Advanced Blade Technique - Perfection): 8 points

Yellow Clothing (Top-tier Blade Technique - Entry): 16 points

Green Clothing (Top-tier Blade Technique - Minor Achievement): 32 points

Cyan Clothing (Top-tier Blade Technique - Major Achievement): 64 points

Blue Clothing (Top-tier Blade Technique - Perfection): 128 points

Purple Clothing (Blade Technique - Unity Realm): 1000 points

Points are updated in real-time, determined by the highest value of the target killed.

Assessment Time: 90 minutes.

The moment the rules finished being read, Killing Intent soared across the battlefield!

In the center of the large plaza, on the giant screen.

The main display immediately locked onto ID TY001—Huang Hao!

Holding two large axes, he was like a tiger descending a mountain, charging straight toward the core area where the virtual humans were distributed.

His goal was exceptionally clear: he was aiming for the Cyan-Clothed Men who represented Top-tier Technique Major Achievement.

The low-level virtual humans along the way couldn't stop him for even a second.

With his pair of large axes, it was like chopping vegetables; every swing accurately cleaved off a target's head, and his points skyrocketed!

"Look at Huang Hao! He's only targeting the high-level ones!"

"As expected of the number one student! Such courage!"

Next, the camera shifted to ID F002—Zhao Feng.

This newly-ascended Top-tier Spear Technique Major Achievement practitioner was equally imposing. Although the route he chose wasn't as aggressive as Huang Hao's, he was also actively seeking out Green-Clothed Man (Top-tier Minor Achievement) level targets.

His spear technique was swift and fierce. While he didn't instantly kill the green virtual humans of Top-tier Minor Achievement, he handled them with ease, and his kill efficiency was extremely high.

"Zhao Feng is fierce too! Another Top-tier Major Achievement, he's definitely the number one person below Huang Hao!"

"Second place is secured!"

The images shifted, and other seed contestants like Xue Jun also appeared on the screen.

Most of them were efficiently clearing out yellow and green (Top-tier Entry and Minor Achievement) virtual humans. Their points grew steadily, but compared to the explosive growth of Huang and Zhao, the gap was obvious.

However! As nearly twenty minutes of the assessment time slipped by and the leaderboard began to show a clear spread, the point growth curve of ID W021 (Li Wen), who was originally ranked outside the top few dozen, suddenly began a frantic climb at a nearly vertical angle!

It was instantly caught by the intelligent monitoring System and forcibly enlarged on the main screen.

In the footage, Li Wen appeared in a cluttered area of ruins.

Large numbers of low-tier black, white, and red virtual humans were scattered here, and at the core of these minions stood three virtual humans emitting powerful auras—wearing Cyan Clothing!