Chapter 8: Practical Combat Test

Yunluo Li, Year 9994, May.

The final month of the fourth academic year.

Nearly a year has passed since the Fallen Heart Flame evolved; my strength has steadily risen from the early stage of the Fourth Level to the peak of the Fourth Level, with only the final step remaining before the Fifth Level.

That morning, in the Fire Element fourth-year classroom, Teacher Ailisen announced news.

"Next week, the fourth years will undergo a practical combat test." Zhui Shu Shen Qi reads novels every day, ttkk. tw, extremely smooth.

A ripple of commotion rose in the classroom.

"Practical combat test?" someone asked, "How is it measured?"

Ailisen glanced at that person and said calmly, "Two per group, opponents decided by lot. No restrictions on magic, no restrictions on methods; it ends when one side admits defeat or loses combat capability."

The classroom fell silent for an instant, then the murmuring grew louder.

"No restrictions on methods? Won't that mean injuries?"

"The fourth years have had this tradition in past years; it is to let students experience true combat."

"I heard someone had their ribs broken last year..."

Ailisen raised her hand, signaling silence.

"I know what you are thinking," she said, "but true combat will not fail to occur just because you are not ready. This test is to let you feel in advance what is meant by 'nothing matters except life and death'."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the classroom before finally settling on me.

"Of course, teachers will be watching from the side; no one will actually die."

After class, several classmates gathered around.

"Aikesi, you surely aren't afraid of this."

"Exactly, you are the top student of our year."

I shook my head: "Practical combat is different from usual drills; one cannot be careless."

They still wanted to say something, but I had already walked out of the classroom.

Afternoon, Hou Shan Pu Bu.

I sat cross-legged on a rock beside the waterfall, eyes closed in meditation. The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly within my body, the Five Spirit Wheel rotated simultaneously, and surrounding Fire Element constantly surged into my body.

After nearly a year of cultivation, my application of these two treasures has become increasingly proficient. The Fallen Heart Flame's automatic cultivation keeps me always in peak condition, while the Five Spirit Wheel allows me to absorb elements at a speed far surpassing ordinary people during meditation.

"Third Brother."

Linlei's voice came from behind.

I opened my eyes and turned to look. Linlei was walking over this way, with Beibei perched on his shoulder.

"You came to cultivate too?" I asked.

"Mm." Linlei found a stone nearby and sat down, "I heard your fourth years have a practical combat test next week?"

"Your news is quite timely."

"Yelu said so." Linlei paused, "How is your preparation?"

I thought for a moment and said, "Strength is one thing; actually fighting is another. I have never faced anyone in actual combat."

Linlei nodded and said no more.

The two of us meditated separately.

When the sunset slanted, I opened my eyes. Linlei was already gone, but Beibei was still perched on the stone beside me, those round black eyes staring at me.

"Where is your master?"

Beibei tilted its head and did not answer.

I reached out and stroked its head; the little creature comfortably squinted its eyes.

"Let's go, back to eat."

Carrying Beibei, I walked toward the dormitory.

One week later, the practical combat test was held as scheduled.

The test ground was an open space on the eastern side of the academy; several teachers stood around, including Ailisen. The fourth-year students gathered in small groups; some were nervous, some excited.

The lot-drawing results came out; my opponent was a boy named Kalun.

Fire Element fourth year, strength above average, usually not conspicuous. But the look in his eyes when he looked at me was somewhat different—not fear, but a kind of eagerness to try.

"Aikesi." He walked over and extended his hand, "Please give me your guidance."

I grasped his hand: "Please give me your guidance."

The test began.

Kalun and I stood in the center of the arena, ten meters apart. The surrounding students and teachers all watched this side.

"Begin!" Ailisen gave the order.

Kalun immediately stepped back one pace and simultaneously began chanting a magic spell. His choice was wise—facing an opponent with my reputation, creating distance was the first choice.

But I did not move.

I stood in place, quietly watching him.

Kalun's spell was completed; a Fire Snake shot out from his palm and lunged toward me. Second-level magic, Fire Snake Technique. The temperature looked good; it should be around 900 degrees.

I raised my right hand.

The Fallen Heart Flame trembled slightly; that Fire Snake suddenly stopped one meter from me, then... turned around and lunged back at Kalun.

Kalun's face changed drastically; he hurriedly raised a defense shield.

"Boom!"

The Fire Snake crashed into the defense shield and exploded into a ball of flame. Kalun stumbled back two steps; several cracks appeared on the defense shield.

"How is this possible..." He looked at me in disbelief, "What did you do?"

I did not answer, only raised my left hand.

Another fire snake coalesced into form, larger than the previous one, its flame edges tinged with a faint milky white.

Kalun's expression changed.

He gritted his teeth and suddenly began chanting a new spell. This spell was longer than before, and the Fire Elements around him surged violently.

A Level Three spell?

I squinted slightly.

Kalun finished his chant, and a massive fireball coalesced above his head, its diameter reaching two meters. A Level Three Fire spell—Great Fireball Technique.

"Go!"

The fireball hurtled toward me.

The surrounding students erupted in exclamations. A Level Three spell was already a formidable attack for Level Four students; Kalun's move clearly revealed he had been hiding his strength.

I stood my ground, still unmoving.

The fireball drew closer, ten meters, five meters, three meters—

Just as everyone thought I would be struck, I raised my right hand.

I fully activated the Fallen Heart Flame.

The fireball halted two meters away from me.

"This... how is this possible?" Kalun's eyes widened.

I looked at him and, with a mere thought,

the fireball slowly turned, reversing its direction to aim squarely at Kalun.

Kalun's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"I surrender!"

He nearly shouted it out.

I withdrew the Fallen Heart Flame, and the fireball slowly dissipated in midair.

Silence fell over the area.

After a few seconds, Ailisen's voice rang out: "Aikesi Yan wins."

Scattered applause rose, though most students were still too stunned to recover.

After the test concluded, Ailisen called me over.

"Come with me."

She led me to a quiet corner, turned around, and looked at me.

"Is your ability to 'control others' flames' innate?"

I thought for a moment and said, "You could say so."

Ailisen fell silent for a moment, then said, "This ability is extremely rare. In all my years, I have only heard legends of Fire Element Saint Domain experts capable of such a feat. And you are so young..."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words.

"I mean no offense," she said. "I merely wish to remind you to avoid displaying this ability in public. Today, everyone present was a Level Four student, so it was fine. But in more public settings in the future, it could attract unnecessary attention."

I nodded: "Thank you, Teacher."

Ailisen glanced at me once, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Night, in the dormitory.

As usual, the five of us chatted in the courtyard. Yelu spoke animatedly about the day's events—though he hadn't been present, his information network was remarkably sharp.

"Third Brother, you were too fierce! Controlling an opponent's magic! What's this move called? Teach me!"

"Even if I taught you, you couldn't learn it," Qiaozhi said.

"Why couldn't I? My talent isn't bad!"

"You're of the Wind Element; how could you learn Fire spells?"

Yelu choked, then waved his hand: "Forget it, then."

Reynolds laughed until he nearly doubled over.

Linlei sat aside, saying nothing, but a hint of contemplation flickered in his eyes. He must have known that my feat was beyond what ordinary Fire Element talent could achieve.

The night breeze blew, carrying the warmth of early summer.

Looking at the four brothers before me, I suddenly felt that days like this were truly wonderful.

【Ding—Detected host experience: First demonstration of the Fallen Heart Flame's special ability in actual combat.】

【Hidden condition triggered? Sign in?】

The system's voice rang out.

I silently thought in my mind: Sign in.

【Sign-in successful.】

【Reward obtained: Aizesilasi Aoshu Zhihui (Permanent)—Spiritual perception permanently enhanced, meditation efficiency increased by another twenty percent.】

A cool breath surged into my mind, instantly spreading outward.

In that instant, I felt the entire world become crystal clear.

The distant chirping of insects, the rustling of leaves, the flow of the night breeze, even the faint chewing sounds of Beibei gnawing on meat—everything was so clear.

This was the effect of enhanced spiritual perception.

"Third Brother?" Yelu's voice came, "What are you staring off into space about?"

"Nothing," I snapped back to reality. "Just thinking of something."

"What?"

"Something good."

Yelu rolled his eyes and stopped pressing further.