144: Chapter 144 Challenge
In front of the cafeteria, students in groups of twos and threes were all discussing this matter.
"A twenty-year-old First-class! For such a figure to actually choose our Dome! This is truly..."
"Yeah! Becoming a First-class at twenty, he's simply not human. A Prodigy like that will definitely become a Life and Death Realm powerhouse in the future!"
"Exactly, it makes one feel like they can't even dream of catching up!"
"Sigh, next week is his entrance trial. I wonder if he can break the record?!"
"With the strength of a First-Class Martial Artist, he'll definitely succeed in passing the trial!"
"That's not for certain! Robots combined with the Dao of Formations are said to be impenetrable even for a First-class!"
...
"Passing the trial?!"
Ji Yebai thought for a moment and then immediately remembered.
In martial arts cultivation, the phenomenon of Epiphany sometimes occurs.
And when an Epiphany occurs, one loses all sense of time.
A long time ago, there were instances of geniuses falling into an Epiphany during the enrollment period, thus missing their admission.
Because of this, the Martial Arts Academies later changed the rules.
They added a trial segment.
If one is not within the enrollment period, they can only enter by passing the trial.
The trial segments differ at various Martial Arts Academies.
But they are mostly similar.
The trial at Dome Martial Arts Academy involves robots demonstrating sword Formations.
There are three modes: Easy, Hard, and Nightmare.
They correspond to Third-rate, Second-rate, and First-class respectively.
However, Dome Academy has already begun to decline. Aside from the Great Library which sustains it, there is nothing else remarkable, so it has been a long time since a Genius has attempted the trial.
Ji Yebai suddenly became interested.
He wasn't interested in that Genius, but rather in the form of these robots demonstrating sword Formations.
"Hmm, I'll come over and take a look when the time comes!"
Keeping it in mind, Ji Yebai clasped his hands behind his back and slowly departed.
...
Time quickly reached seven days later.
At this moment, a large crowd had gathered at the Martial Arts Arena.
"He's here!"
"He's here!!!"
Instantly, everyone became restless, looking toward the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena.
Ji Yebai was among the crowd.
With his vision, he could naturally see everything clearly from a distance.
A determined-looking young man walked over, surrounded by a crowd of people.
"Li Yi, let's begin! If you can pass the trial, you can become a student of this school. If you can demonstrate enough ability, even an Innate level expert might appear to take you as a Disciple."
The Dean of Teaching looked at the young man before him, giving gentle instructions.
Li Yi looked straight ahead and nodded silently.
"Then let's begin!"
Seeing this, the Dean of Teaching immediately waved his hand.
Suddenly, doors opened on the thick walls surrounding the Martial Arts Arena.
One by one, two-meter-tall robots walked out in an orderly fashion.
Ji Yebai's gaze fell upon the robots.
These robots really looked very similar to the images in old sci-fi movies.
The difference was only that these robots were currently holding long swords in their hands.
The moment Li Yi stepped into the arena.
These robots were as agile as humans, actually performing somersaults and backflips to surround Li Yi.
In Easy Mode, thirty-six robots immediately formed a sword Formation and attacked Li Yi.
"Hah!"
Li Yi gave a loud shout, and the long saber in his hand swept out with a boom.
A thick burst of Internal Energy erupted.
A circle of airwaves exploded outward.
In an instant.
The thirty-six robots were violently pushed back and sent flying.
A sword Formation of thirty-six robots provided enough pressure to leave a Second-rate Martial Artist in a sorry state.
But just now, they only lasted for a split second against Li Yi.
Although this was Easy Mode.
Aimed at testing Third-rate Martial Artists.
But this did not mean a Third-rate Martial Artist was expected to defeat thirty-six robots.
Normally, the challenger only needed to hold out for five minutes.
"Interesting!"
Ji Yebai's gaze fell on Li Yi.
That Move of his just now actually had a sense of 'Handling heavy weight as if it were light.'
This made him somewhat interested.
To achieve 'Handling heavy weight as if it were light,' one must practice diligently thousands or even tens of thousands of times.
For Li Yi to be so young and yet have the patience to temper his Moves through a thousand refinements.
This Heart-Nature was quite extraordinary.
At this moment, the Dean of Teaching on the sidelines saw Li Yi's display, and his eyes instantly lit up.
After a slight nod, he waved his hand, and even more robots stepped out.
Soon, seventy-two robots surrounded Li Yi.
By now, many of the spectating students were gulping in nervousness.
Each robot was equivalent to an ordinary Third-rate Martial Artist.
Now, seventy-two Third-rates combined into a battle Formation—even a Second-rate Peak Martial Artist would be beaten down.
The current best record for this stage was set by a Second-rate Peak Genius, who held out for ten minutes before being defeated.
And while no First-Class Martial Artist had ever met their downfall at this stage, no First-class student had ever broken through this sword Formation either.
After all, reaching First-class strength upon enrollment was already extremely difficult.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Under the adjustment of the robot control cores, the robots began to besiege Li Yi.
Unfortunately.
This level simply couldn't do anything to Li Yi.
He was seen transforming into a streak of black light, constantly weaving through the robots.
In just a moment, he slashed many of the robots away.
If the robot Materials weren't made of hard-to-damage metal, they probably would have been hacked to pieces.
Seeing this scene, everyone gasped in shock.
Li Yi's strength had already exceeded everyone's imagination.
Ji Yebai's gaze shifted outward.
In the distance, an Innate Martial Artist had already appeared.
It seemed they were also moved by his talent.
The Dean of Teaching directly released the Nightmare Mode.
One hundred and eight robots gathered, directly surrounding Li Yi.
Not only that.
A clearly visible ripple rose from the robots' bodies.
Layers of air ripples were generated, transforming into grids that shrouded Li Yi.
And that wasn't all.
The surrounding Spiritual Qi began to be mobilized.
In Ji Yebai's eyes, at this moment, those robots were no longer individual entities but had formed a single whole, turning into something like a spiderweb, mobilizing Spiritual Qi to press down on Li Yi.
At this moment, even Li Yi was clearly starting to struggle.
His speed dropped significantly.
With the robots acting as a whole, one hundred and eight long swords stabbed in from every angle.
Li Yi was no longer as composed as before and began to dodge clumsily.
Truly!
He hadn't expected this sword Formation to be so staggering.
It carried the momentum of heaven and earth as it crushed down toward him.
Not only did it trap his speed, but even his every Move felt as if he were carrying a great mountain; the pressure was immense.
Ji Yebai watched this scene and suddenly smiled.
This Li Yi is not simple!
Turning around, Ji Yebai walked outward.
At this moment, there was a sea of people, and the crowd was packed.
But as Ji Yebai turned and walked out, everyone blocking his path subconsciously moved aside.
And not a single person noticed anything wrong.
Even the Innate Martial Artist in the distance, whose Divine Sense covered the entire Martial Arts Arena, did not discover this scene.
Even the remote surveillance equipment did not detect it.
No.
Perhaps someone did notice, but upon seeing it, they subconsciously ignored it.
Just like that, Ji Yebai disappeared into the crowd.
Unbeknownst to anyone.
Li Yi successfully passed the trial, lasting nineteen minutes under Nightmare Mode.
He refreshed the record.
In the end, the Principal personally appeared to take Li Yi as a student.
And all of this no longer had anything to do with Ji Yebai.
The night was long, and he had already gone back to rest.
Sleeping early and waking early is the only way to work and study better.