WHOOSH—

The Assessor brandished his Silver Spear. With a single move, he shot forward like a speeding car on a highway.

A powerful aura erupted from his body, infusing his Spear Technique. His movements were wide and open. With a tremor of the spear’s tip, he thrust violently toward Lin Qi.

An intense sense of danger enveloped Lin Qi.

Lin Qi’s expression remained calm. With a sudden movement, he charged out like a black panther, leaving two phantoms in his wake.

The afterimages of the spears danced like a Wandering Dragon, filled with killing intent.

Lin Qi exerted his strength, making the spear’s shaft vibrate. Its tip shot out like a Spiritual Snake emerging from its hole.

He had seen the Assessor’s Spear Technique before. It had not only broken through to Tier Two, but converted into panel data, it would likely fluctuate around Tier Two 10%.

A Martial Artist who had just broken through to Tier Two Spear Technique would find it almost impossible to defeat him.

But that applied to other people.

BANG!

The long spears clashed. A powerful force erupted between them, sending both stumbling backward.

In the Skill assessment, not only was their Life Strength identical, but their physical fitness was as well. All that mattered was pure Skill.

’I blocked it!’

Lin Qi’s feet screeched against the ground as he forced himself to a halt. Feeling the transfer of power, he charged out again, brandishing his great spear. With a flick of the tip, he unleashed dozens of consecutive thrusts.

Cloud Picking!

CLANG! CLANG!

Facing Lin Qi’s assault, the Assessor planted his feet as if rooted to the ground. He swung his long spear, creating a defensive circle that seemed like a mountain rising from the earth.

As Lin Qi’s long spear thrust out, the Assessor swept his own, kicking up a fierce, whistling wind to block the attack.

’His Spear Technique is as strong as I expected!’

Even though his attack was blocked, Lin Qi patiently searched for a flaw in his opponent’s Spear Technique.

He fully unleashed the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique, its Techniques wide and open, flowing seamlessly from one to the next.

It was fierce and domineering, with a powerful momentum. His speed increased, and he launched one ferocious attack after another.

...

「Meanwhile, in another assessment room.」

Two figures were clashing here as well. Jiangtao, dressed in a gold Combat Suit, swung his Battle Saber. He had a long reach, and after his saber missed its mark, he brought it down in a sudden Heavy Slash.

His opponent was also Assessor #8, clad in a white Combat Suit. His Battle Saber rose from below like a mountain erupting from the earth, swinging into a defensive circle as heavy as a mountain range.

’This Assessor’s Saber Technique is incredible!’

Jiangtao frowned, feeling immense pressure. It was like facing an unbreakable fortress.

He had lost to his opponent’s Saber Technique last time.

This time, his Saber Technique Realm had improved significantly, but defeating his opponent was still difficult.

’I wonder how long Brother Qi can last?’

He suddenly thought of Lin Qi. How long could he hold out against the Assessor?

’No, I have to last longer, maybe even defeat him. I have to win!’

Seeing Lin Qi’s current strength put pressure on him, which gave him a powerful drive to succeed.

At this thought, Jiangtao’s gaze grew more determined.

...

BOOM!!

On the assessment field, the white-clad figure raised his Silver Spear high. Like a Mountain Collapse, he brought it down in a vicious Heavy Slash.

Sky Jumping!

Lin Qi put his strength into his arms and raised his spear to block. With a deafening crash, the long spears collided. An immense force traveled through his spear and into his arms.

He couldn’t stop himself from stumbling back a dozen steps before regaining his footing, his arms numb.

He frowned at his opponent. Although their physical attributes were identical, the Assessor was able to build up momentum with his exquisite Spear Technique, allowing his Techniques to unleash even greater power.

WHOOSH—

The Assessor shot out like an arrow from a bow. He swung his long spear, immense power gathering within it before he thrust it forward, like a raging torrent in a stormy sea.

Wherever the spear tip passed, it pierced the air, seeming to tear it apart and creating a sharp, whistling sound.

Killing Technique—Furious Sea Bursting Stab!

’It’s coming!’

A sharp glint seemed to flash in Lin Qi’s eyes as he sensed extreme danger.

It felt as if he was about to be devoured by a furious, sky-rending sea. At the same time, he moved, his entire aura changing.

He stood his ground, feet rooted and steady as a rock, sinking his weight to build power in his core.

HUUU—

Just as he finished gathering his power, the Assessor was upon him. The spear’s tip glinted coldly, and a wind full of killing intent was already raging.

Lin Qi was completely focused. He erupted in an instant, his spear’s momentum like a Thunderbolt, striking with unstoppable force.

He brought it down with the force of Mount Tai crashing down, like the fury of a Mountain Collapse.

Killing Technique—Mountain-Shattering Slash!

A fierce wind tore across the field. The two clashed in an instant, their spear tips meeting in a flash.

A massive force collided, sending a powerful shock through both their bodies.

Lin Qi used the force to flip his body over, while the Assessor held his long spear steady, his powerful arm muscles correcting the spear’s path to continue the thrust.

The corners of Lin Qi’s mouth curled up slightly. In his eyes, the Assessor’s movements seemed to slow down, as if set to 0.5x speed.

As he flipped, he abruptly straightened his body, planted his feet on the ground, and spun around to deliver a devastating thrust with his long spear.

Basic Spear Skill—Reversing Spear!

PFFT—

Lin Qi felt a sharp pain. A cold light flashed as the sharp tip of the spear grazed his neck, cutting the skin and drawing blood.

On the other side, the Black Great Spear had violently pierced the Assessor’s chest, accurately impaling his heart. Blood sprayed wildly from the blood-reddened spear tip.

[Assessor #8 has been killed!]

An automated voice echoed in the air. The Assessor in front of Lin Qi dissipated into nothingness.

Lin Qi clutched his neck, his expression blank, as the wound rapidly healed.

’That was too close!’

’The artery in my neck was almost severed. I was just a hair’s breadth away from losing, too.’

’But in the end, I was the one who won.’

"If this were a real person, I might have won, or I might have lost long ago," Lin Qi muttered to himself, quietly waiting for the next round.

「A moment later.」

The white-clothed Assessor reappeared, the number on his chest now a "9".

[Assessment Mission: Please defeat Assessor #9!]

[3... 2... 1...]

[Assessment Resumed!]

...

"Haha, I won! Although we just took each other out."

Jiangtao emerged from the Virtual Cabin, his expression excited. The others were already out, and the next group of students was entering.

He quickly located Lin Qi’s Virtual Cabin and saw that he had come out as well.

"Brother Qi, I’ve definitely won this time!" Jiangtao said confidently as he walked over.

Lin Qi’s lips curved upward. "Is that so? Then let’s wait and see."

"Lin Qi and Jiangtao were the last ones out. They both made it to Assessor #8, which means their Skill has broken through to Tier Two."

"Who do you think is better between the two of them?" someone asked in a low voice.

"Isn’t it obvious? It has to be Jiangtao," someone else replied.

Hearing the others’ discussion, Jiangtao was secretly pleased. ’The advantage is mine,’ he thought. ’I’ve got this in the bag.’

Lin Qi’s expression was calm as he waited quietly.

Since they didn’t have to start from the beginning, this Skill assessment was much faster.

Zhang City stood up and announced,

"I declare the Skill assessment officially over!"

"Everyone is free to train on your own or return to the classroom. You will be notified when the results are out."

The crowd dispersed. Lin Qi returned to his Martial Arts Room, changed into a Martial Arts Uniform, and picked up his long spear to continue practicing.

After defeating Assessor #8, he had faced #9, whose Spear Technique Realm was on a whole other level.

Lin Qi learned from his previous defeat and went on the defensive from the start of the battle.

He only managed to last a few seconds longer before being killed.

Not even facing Wang Qiufeng, the number one in Celestial Sea, had made him feel this powerless.

’Assessor #9’s Spear Technique is definitely around Tier Two 20%, while I’m only at Tier Two 2%. No matter how strong my Combat Talent is, it’s useless.’

’When it comes to Spear Technique,’ Lin Qi thought, ’I still have a long way to go.’

...

「One hour later.」

The Elite class classroom was filled with noisy, restless chatter.

When Lin Qi entered, nearly all of his classmates were already there.

"Why aren’t the results out yet? The wait is excruciating. I can’t focus on my Cultivation at all."

"I hope my ranking went up this time. I’m really curious to see where I stand in all of Cang Province," the students discussed in low voices.

They were hoping to distract themselves and ease their nervousness.

A moment later, Homeroom Teacher Yan Hong entered the classroom with Zhang City. An unspoken understanding passed through the room, and it instantly fell silent.

Homeroom Teacher Yan Hong walked up to the podium, with Zhang City standing beside her.

"I won’t waste any time. Let’s get straight to the results!"

This time, Yan Hong directly projected the list of results. Instantly, countless hearts began to pound. Cold sweat broke out as everyone’s eyes frantically searched for their own name.

...