77: Chapter 77 Class A Contract

The expenditure of Primordial Spirit Power was immense, and the dullness from the virtual wounds on his back and left arm was vividly clear.

Most importantly, there was the icy countdown piercing his mind:

[ Remaining Assessment Time: 00:02:17 ]

"Last two minutes—hold on!"

A sharp glint flashed in Li Wen's eyes, but his body, taut like a coiled leopard, no longer charged toward the core. Instead, he moved rapidly along the edge of the ruins.

[Absolute Focus] was activated to its extreme, and the jade-like Primordial Spirit light, though dim, still scanned his surroundings with precision.

He was like the most precise hunting machine; his target was no longer challenging the Peak, but—maximizing his harvest.

Two mid-tier Blue-Clothed combatants, slightly complacent because of the top-tier battle erupting ahead, were hiding behind the window of a half-collapsed mall, attempting to ambush low-point examinees passing by.

"Found you.", Li Wen muttered internally.

He stomped hard on a broken wall, his body shooting out like an arrow released from a bow, shattering the fragile glass curtain wall.

"Piercing Sun"!

The blade light arrived with residual might, striking the hastily defending Blue-Clothed combatant. His saber broke, and his body shattered!

[ Points +700! ]

The other Blue-Clothed combatant was greatly alarmed. As his Intent began to rise, Li Wen spun and followed through with a [Lve Ying] slash, ghosting past his neck.

[ Points +700! ]

Without pausing at all, he burst through another window and dropped down. On the street ahead, three high-tier Blue-Clothed combatants who had just failed to corner an examinee were gathered.

"Startling Swan"!

"Across the Sky"!

"Long Rainbow"!

Three slashes, swift as lightning and tricky in angle, arrived in an instant.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The three Blue-Clothed combatants didn't even manage to form effective coordination before they turned into streams of light one after another within a single breath.

[ Points +50 * 3 = +150! ]

Li Wen moved like a fierce tiger plunging into a flock of sheep, efficiently weaving through the shadows and corners of the ruins, reaping every "high-value" target exposed by his Primordial Spirit scan.

In the final dozen seconds before the countdown hit zero, his figure transformed into a terrifying flash of death at the edge of the battlefield.

Beep, beep, beep—!!

"Assessment time over! All combat forcibly terminated! Battlefield settlement in progress—----"

The piercing alarm echoed throughout the virtual space.

The smoke, blade lights, and energy fluctuations of the Doomsday City instantly froze.

Whether it was the examinees scrambling to hide or the ferocious virtual hunters, they all seemed to have hit the pause button. The next second, they transformed into countless data streams and began to dissipate.

In reality, at the observation areas of various high schools in Qingshi County, the end-of-time notification sounded. On the massive light screens, all combat footage instantly froze and dimmed.

A brief silence followed, as if even breathing had stopped.

Then—BOOM!!!!

The observation area of the Third Middle School completely exploded. It was the total eruption of all accumulated suppression, ecstasy, and disbelief!

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

"He held on! Li Wen held on!"

"He survived! And he was still killing! Oh my god!!"

"Did you see that?! He was still gaining points in the last dozen seconds!" Someone roared, pointing at Li Wen's point ranking board.

That young and resolute face, that figure constantly counter-killing in desperate situations, completely ignited the decade-long yearning and pride of the Third Middle School people.

Countless students screamed until their throats were raw, teachers embraced each other excitedly, and even some first-year students wept with excitement.

The observation areas of the First, Second, and other schools were filled with blankness, shock, and speechless silence.

Jiang Lingyun was eliminated.

Tang Jin was eliminated.

Qi Yuqing was eliminated.

All the top, well-known Geniuses of Qingshi County were successively eliminated under the terrifying hunting of the Black and White Duality Stance.

In the final footage, only the youth from the Third Middle School was frantically reaping targets under the gaze of Death, managing to maintain a heart-stopping combat posture right up to the last moment.

He was the only examinee on the Qingshi County virtual battlefield who stood until the very end!

On the main spectator stand.

The representatives of the Four Great Factions were no longer sitting in their original seats.

Director Sun of the Kindling Hall, Minnie of the Virtual Company, the bald big man from the Mercenary Alliance, and the female representative of the Galaxy Bank were all standing at the very front of the light screen.

Leaning forward, their gazes were locked onto the final point rankings that were about to refresh—the Qingshi County Regional List, the Changning City Municipal List, and the Jiangnan Province Provincial List.

Fang Chengwu still maintained that gentle expression. The Primordial Spirit possessed only by Marquis-level Experts, even if used only for auxiliary functions in a lower Realm, would certainly lead to rampant slaughter.

The County Magistrate of Qingshi County and the Director of the Education Bureau dared not even breathe, their palms slick with sweat.

The light screen refreshed. Qingshi County List (Top Ten):

1. Li Wen (Qingshi Third Middle School) — Points: 7230

2. Jiang Lingyun (Qingshi First Middle School) — Points: 4250

3. Tang Jin (Qingshi Second Middle School) — Points: 2980

4. Shadow (County Vocational High School) — Points: 2670

Changning City List (Top Ten in the City):

1. Luo Zhen (City No. 1 High School) — Points: 18200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one Black and White Duality Stance)

2. Li Wen (Qingshi Third Middle School) — Points: 7230

3. Ye Ziwei (Xinglan Middle School) — Points: 6150

4. Lei Lie (Affiliated High School) — Points: 5580

9. Jiang Lingyun (Qingshi First Middle School) — Points: 4250

"Second! Second in the entire city!!" The observation area of Qingshi Third Middle School went completely wild!

Li Wen's name shone like a meteor on the top ranking board of Changning City.

"7230 points! How many high-level enemies did he slaughter in that last period?!"

Buzz—!

As soon as the City List was announced, an even larger and more magnificent list appeared.

Jiangnan Province List (Top Hundred in the Province):

The top of the list seemed like gods and demons suspended in the air; the gap in points was breathtaking.

1. Chu Feng (Provincial Capital First Middle School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 89500 (Note: Single-handedly killed eight Black and White Duality Stances)

2. Nangong Xue (Provincial Capital Second Middle School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 77400 (Note: Single-handedly killed seven Black and White Duality Stances)

5. Lin Dong (Provincial Capital First Middle School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 56800 (Note: Single-handedly killed five Black and White Duality Stances)

39. Luo Zhen (Changning City No. 1 High School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 18200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one Black and White Duality Stance)

47. Li Hao (Lishan City No. 1 High School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 15200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one Black and White Duality Stance)

48. Li Wen (Qingshi County Third Middle School · Unity Realm) — Points: 7230

50. Wang Hao (Yonglin City No. 1 High School · Momentum Realm) — Points: 6950

Forty-eight out of the top fifty in the entire province!

This ranking was like a nuclear bomb, detonating in all the observation areas.

"Pro-Province Top Fifty?!!!" The principal of the Third Middle School exclaimed in disbelief, almost thinking he was seeing things.

"Qingshi County——produced a Provincial Top Fifty?!"

"My heavens——"

Gasps erupted everywhere.

Everyone instantly understood what that point gap signified—it was the absolute, insurmountable gulf in strength between the Momentum Realm and the Unity Realm!

Li Wen, at a Realm where he hadn't yet grasped 'Intent,' forcibly squeezed onto this list dominated by Momentum Realm Prodigies.

Although he was only ranked forty-eighth at the very bottom, this achievement was already earth-shattering.

He was the only examinee in the entire province who had entered the top fifty without comprehending 'Intent'.

The assessment ended, and the virtual battlefield exited.

Li Wen's figure appeared in the starting plaza.

He was greeted by a tidal wave of cheers and gazes filled with adoration.

The teachers and students of the Third Middle School surrounded him like they were welcoming a triumphant hero.

But the representatives of the Four Great Factions were faster.

"Move aside! Make way!" The bald big man from the Mercenary Alliance strode forward with powerful steps, his voice booming, "Student Li Wen, I am Lu Xiong, head of the Qingshi Branch of the Mercenary Alliance! Congratulations on achieving an astonishing result!

Come to our Mercenary Alliance! Licking blood off the blade is the true destination of a warrior! We offer you the best A-Rank Contract—-"

"Lu Xiong, what's the rush!" Director Minnie of the Virtual Company stepped forward quickly with a professional, confident smile, her gold-rimmed glasses reflecting light, "Student Li Wen's extraordinary insight and computational talent are precisely the treasure our virtual technology field dreams of! The Virtual Company A-Rank Contract offers you access to core laboratory resources—-"

"Director Minnie, data analysis is important, but resource investment is what builds the Foundation for becoming a God or Demon!"

The female representative of the Galaxy Bank elegantly but forcefully interjected, looking at Li Wen with impeccable grace, "Student Li Wen, the financial power of the Galaxy Bank is unquestionable. Our A-Rank Contract promises the most generous—-"

"Enough."

A steady voice, carrying undeniable authority, rang out.

Director Sun of the Kindling Hall pushed through the crowd and walked in front of Li Wen.

His eyes were sharp as lightning, looking deeply at Li Wen, then glancing at Fang Chengwu, who looked gratified in the distance.

His gaze finally returned to Li Wen. His previous reserve and restraint were gone, replaced only by pure admiration and fervor.

"Student Li Wen," Director Sun's voice was not loud, but it clearly suppressed all the noise, "I am Sun Zhenshan, Director of the Jiangnan Province Branch of the Kindling Hall. Congratulations on creating a miracle in desperation, earning distinguished honors, and proving your unparalleled potential."

His attitude became exceptionally solemn: "On behalf of the Kindling Hall, I formally extend to you the highest-spec A-Rank signing invitation. This is our utmost sincerity towards a true Prodigy."

"First, this contract is the 'Xinhuo Seed' promotion contract," Sun Zhenshan stated decisively, "As long as you meet any of the following conditions—1. Comprehend Saber Intent within three years; 2. Reach Diamond rank in the Infinite Arena; or 3. Rank in the top three in the Provincial Second Mock Exam—the contract will automatically be promoted to S-Rank! You will enjoy resources equivalent to the top giants at the provincial level!"

"Second, God and Demon Foundation Establishment!" Director Sun's eyes burned, "We will tailor the strongest Foundation-laying treasure plan aimed directly at the God and Demon Foundation for you!"

"This requires a total of eight cosmic rare treasures. The Kindling Hall will first provide the four rarest and most difficult-to-obtain among them."

"As for the other four, we will provide a list. They are relatively easier to acquire, but still priceless."

"Third, funding and resources:

huaxia coin: A-Rank standard, 5 million annually, six-year contract, totaling 30 million.

xinhuo points: Equivalent to the Kindling Hall's internal hard currency, usable for purchasing rare Materials, etc. 5 million points annually, also for a six-year contract, totaling 30 million points.

Cultivation Points: Can directly purchase proprietary secret arts, techniques, and information within the Hall. They have extremely wide applicability and are specifically used to support core martial Dao cultivation resources."