14: Chapter 14 Couldn't you be a little gentler?

After picking up Wang Jun, the three of them drove towards the Abyssal Rift located in the New District.

"Before I take you into the abyss, there are some things I need to make clear."

Principal Liu Zhifeng drove while explaining some very important precautions.

"Once you go in, the administrators will distribute positioning bracelets, which come with maps of explored and unexplored areas."

"After we enter, we can only operate within the explored areas of light and moderate pollution; you must absolutely not enter the heavily polluted areas."

"Only martial artists above the fourth grade can explore heavily polluted areas, as their bodies can withstand that level of radiation erosion."

Accompanied by Principal Liu Zhifeng's endless chatter, the three of them reached their destination after a drive of over an hour.

Unlike what they had imagined, the perimeter of the Abyssal Rift was shrouded in a containment zone, with many martial artists entering and exiting in an orderly fashion.

"Besides this kind of fixed Abyssal Rift, there is a very low probability that small, random Abyssal Rifts will appear."

"Those Abyssal Rifts can appear randomly anywhere, which is why every city needs a large number of martial artists stationed there to ensure the peace and prosperity of ordinary people."

After showing his martial artist license, the staff member handed the positioning bracelets to the three of them.

After putting on their positioning bracelets, the three of them found an empty entrance and walked in.

Looking at the water curtain-like Abyssal Rift in front of him, Chen Mo took a deep breath and followed Principal Liu Zhifeng inside.

A slight wave of dizziness washed over him, followed immediately by an unpleasant, strange odor that drilled into his nostrils.

"What is that smell?"

Chen Mo rubbed his nose and turned to look at Principal Liu Zhifeng.

"It's the stench of decaying corpses from a large number of Abyss Beasts, mixed with the unique odor generated by the sulfur belts exclusive to the Luo City Abyssal Rift."

Principal Liu Zhifeng seemed accustomed to this smell and didn't think there was any problem with it.

Chen Mo's face darkened; if he had known, he would have worn a mask.

"Follow me. This is the safe zone; about four kilometers ahead, we can enter the lightly polluted area."

Principal Liu Zhifeng glanced at his positioning bracelet and, without any nonsense, led Chen Mo and Wang Jun toward the lightly polluted area.

Behind the trio, several pairs of eyes were darting about, staring at their backs.

"That's... Chen Mo, right?"

Zhuo Jida rubbed his eyes, making sure he hadn't seen wrong.

"What, do you know that student?"

A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with his hair combed meticulously, asked with some curiosity.

"Yeah, I do."

Zhuo Jida nodded in response, thought for a moment, and decided to bring up the question in his mind.

"Teacher Wu, do you think a First-Grade Martial Artist's combat power can reach the evaluation limit of our Luo City Martial Education Bureau?"

Teacher Wu frowned slightly, not knowing why his prized student would ask such a brainless question.

"Absolutely impossible."

"Even the most powerful Rule-based Talent martial artist could never reach the evaluation limit while still a First-Grade Martial Artist."

"The evaluation limit of our Luo City Martial Education Bureau is 99,999. A normal First-Grade Ascetic Martial Artist's combat power is around 1,500, while a Talent-based Martial Artist is between 1,800 and 2,200."

"Being able to exceed that number makes one a genius among geniuses, but there is absolutely no possibility of what you are suggesting."

Zhuo Jida opened his mouth to say something else, but after seeing Teacher Wu's expression, he shut it.

"Teacher Wu, that kind of First-Grade Martial Artist that classmate Zhuo Jida mentioned actually does exist."

Su Qingyue poked her little head out from behind Teacher Wu, her tone light but still expressionless.

"It's that Chen Mo from just now; I heard later that he punched the simulation room until it exploded."

"I also used the True Sight Eye to examine him."

"In the foresight of the True Sight Eye, the pressure he put on me was even more terrifying than yours, Teacher Wu."

Teacher Wu's brows furrowed even deeper. If it were understandable for Zhuo Jida, with his unreliable mouth and penchant for bragging, to say such things, it was absolutely impossible for Su Qingyue to lie.

"If that's the case, then this Chen Mo you speak of isn't some physical-type."

"It's highly likely some kind of extremely perverted Rule-based Talent, but the manifestation is expressed through the physical body."

"No, we're following them. I want to see what kind of First-Grade Martial Artist can bring more combat pressure than I can."

About three hours later, a muffled sound came from within the lightly polluted area.

"Boom!"

Chen Mo watched the Abyss Beast he had punched into a blood mist, then looked at Principal Liu Zhifeng and Wang Jun with some confusion.

Both of them clutched their faces in pain simultaneously; this was already the third First-Grade Abyss Beast that Chen Mo had punched to smithereens.

"I told you, you need to control your strength."

"If you turn the Abyss Beast into a blood mist, how are we supposed to collect materials?"

Principal Liu Zhifeng shook his head and wiped the Abyss Beast blood off his face.

"I didn't know this thing was so fragile!"

Chen Mo felt a bit aggrieved; he had already restrained his strength as much as possible.

But when you throw a punch, you have to use force, and his strength is just there; you can't expect him to just flick the Abyss Beast on the forehead, right?

Although, that might not be impossible either, given that the attacks of a First-Grade Abyss Beast didn't hurt or itch when they landed on him.

"There is a Ghost Hound over there; Wang Jun, you go give it a try."

From the beginning until now, they had encountered three Abyss Beasts in total, all of which had been turned into blood mist by Chen Mo's punches.

Wang Jun didn't have any room to perform at all; he could only watch Chen Mo's show and, incidentally, get sprayed with blood.

"Okay."

Wang Jun nodded and drew the long blade from his waist.

He held the blade with one hand, and the originally black long blade instantly turned bright red, with scorching flames beginning to dance along the edge.

Wang Jun stomped hard on the ground and charged toward the Ghost Hound that was eyeing them hungrily not far away.

"Did you see that?"

"This is the power of an Elemental-type Talent."

"Wang Jun's application of it is still quite rudimentary, but it's sufficient among First-Grade and 2nd-rank Martial Artists."

Principal Liu Zhifeng patiently explained the application of Elemental-type Talents to Chen Mo, and Chen Mo listened with great interest.

As for why Principal Liu Zhifeng was explaining it in such detail, it was naturally for the upcoming City-level Joint Exam.

In Principal Liu Zhifeng's view, compared to Wang Jun with his Elemental-type Talent, Chen Mo's pure violence had a better chance of taking first place.

A blade of fire shot into the sky, and the Ghost Hound's head was severed by Wang Jun's Slicing strike.

The wound was charred black, and not even a drop of blood flowed out.

"See? This is the best way to hunt Abyss Beasts."