Chapter 78: Final Exam (Please Follow)

I clearly remember that during the midterm exam, Lin Qi had only 9.2 blood value!

In just one month it’s already 9.9? That’s too fast!

Countless people were stunned—Lin Qi’s progress was absurdly rapid, each improvement more extreme than the last, with no sign of slowing down.

Jiang Tao stared wide-eyed: “Damn, Brother Qi’s blood value is almost surpassing mine!”

Yu Jing’s face turned grim: “This guy actually caught up?!”

Qi Yuelin blinked her beautiful eyes, revealing a look of astonishment.

Li Zhou grinned: “He really gave everyone a surprise.”

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath and shook his head in awe: “Wow!”

Everyone watched Lin Qi walk down calmly, feeling he towered above them all, radiating an intimidating aura that kept them at a distance.

“Taozi, it’s your turn!”

Lin Qi clapped Jiang Tao on the shoulder.

Jiang Tao shook his head with a bitter smile: “I thought I could surpass you, but now I see how naive I was.”

“Brother Qi, you’re insane right now!”

“Then you’d better work harder!” Lin Qi teased.

“Next, Jiang Tao!”

“Candidate Jiang Tao, blood value: 9.98!”

“Good!” Zhang Cheng nodded.

“Jiang Tao’s progress is also fast—he’s nearly breaking into the second realm. How is everyone improving so quickly? My own progress feels insignificant.” Someone lowered their head in self-deprecation.

Looking at his own blood value, Jiang Tao finally regained a bit of confidence and stepped down, stretching his joints.

Lin Qi also gave a thumbs-up—Jiang Tao’s progress was no slower at all.

“Candidate Qi Yuelin, blood value: 9.99!”

“Candidate Yu Jing, blood value: 9.99!”

Yu Jing’s face darkened—he was stuck at 9.99, while Lin Qi and Jiang Tao were closing in behind him.

Zhang Cheng smirked; as expected, Qi Yuelin and Yu Jing were both stuck at 9.99 blood value.

“Next, Li Zhou!”

Li Zhou stepped forward under everyone’s gaze—his body was massive, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, moving like a standing bear.

His aura had grown even stronger.

“Li Zhou has already broken into the second realm—he can now cultivate techniques and absorb source energy. I wonder what his blood value is now?” someone wondered.

Lin Qi also looked over curiously.

Li Zhou grinned, gripped the metal arm, and unleashed sudden force.

In an instant, his muscles swelled and pulsed, veins bulging, a powerful aura bursting forth.

It seemed to form invisible waves spreading outward, white vapor rising from his skin.

In that instant, Lin Qi felt intense danger—a presence far stronger than himself.

“Ding!”

After the infrared scan, data appeared on the electronic screen.

“Candidate Li Zhou, blood value: 12.33!”

“12.33!”

“Did I misread? He improved by 2.3 in less than a month? That’s insane!”

“The technique’s effect is this strong? I need to break into the second realm and start cultivating techniques too!” Jiang Tao’s eyes widened.

Lin Qi was also stunned—could cultivating a technique boost blood value this fast?

Everyone was shocked and stimulated.

Li Zhou, seeing everyone’s reactions, smirked inwardly, thoroughly pleased.

Especially when he saw Yu Jing’s gloomy face—he was even happier.

At this moment, Zhang Cheng stepped forward, scanning the crowd. This blood test had already delivered many surprises—now he wondered if the martial arts exam would bring even more.

“I now declare the blood value assessment officially over.”

“Everyone, follow me to the virtual chamber for the martial arts assessment.”

Lin Qi clapped Jiang Tao on the shoulder.

“Remember our bet.”

“You can start reserving your barbecue now!”

Jiang Tao shook his head: “I haven’t forgotten—but Brother Qi, don’t think you’ve already won.”

Lin Qi smirked but said nothing, joining the others as they headed to the virtual chamber.

Twenty minutes later

“Next up: Lin Qi, Yu Peng… Jiang Tao, Zhu Yufei, Qi Yuelin, Yu Jing, Li Zhou—you nine, enter for assessment.”

Zhang Cheng announced, holding up his tablet.

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao exchanged glances, then entered the virtual pods and logged into Red Realm.

“I wonder how Li Zhou’s martial arts are—can he score 900?” someone wondered.

“Probably no problem. Li Zhou was stuck at 9.99 blood value for over a month, pouring all his energy into martial arts—he might have made a huge breakthrough.”

Red Realm, personal space.

【Candidate: Lin Qi】

【Exam ID: …】

【Martial Art: Collapse Mountain Spear Technique】

【Yes/No to start final exam?】

Lin Qi clicked “Yes.” In the next instant, centered beneath his feet, it felt as if heaven and earth had swapped places—he was teleported into the assessment room.

He stood on the ground, gazing at the familiar environment, selected the black great spear, and across from him appeared the familiar white figure.

The number “9” on its chest was glaringly obvious.

“Long time no see!”

!

Lin Qi gripped his spear in the central stance, smirked, and waited silently for the assessment to begin.

【Assessment Task: Defeat Candidate No. 9!】

【3, 2, 1…】

【Assessment Begins!】

From the ceiling came a cold, emotionless female AI voice.

“Swoosh!”

The candidate swung his silver great spear, stomping hard on the ground as he launched his attack.

The candidate was tall and muscular; his spear moved like a coiling dragon, charging recklessly with terrifying force.

He wielded the Collapse Mountain Spear Technique—the spear’s momentum carried the weight of a thousand jin, fierce and dominant.

The spear slashed down like a battle-axe.

Seeing this, Lin Qi did not move—he lowered his waist, roots sinking deep into the earth.

In an instant, the candidate was upon him.

He swung his spear, rotating it horizontally like an unyielding stone wall shielding his body.

Stone Wall Spear Technique—Stone Rooted!

“Bang!”

The spears collided, the impact exploding the air.

Lin Qi’s body was forced backward; the spear’s butt slammed into the ground, dissipating the force.

After retreating several steps, the candidate charged again, his spear thrusting like a collapsing mountain.

Collapse Thrust!

Lin Qi continued swinging, moving his spear with the solidity of stone, transforming it into an unbreakable barrier.

Facing the candidate’s fierce, dominant attacks, he defended with calm, steady movements.

“Ding ding~”

“Bang!!”

Weapon clashes sparked as Lin Qi blocked every one of the candidate’s strikes.

Each swing perfectly intercepted the candidate’s Collapse Slashes.

Lin Qi continuously dissipated the force, thinking inwardly:

“Candidate No. 9’s spear skill is far too advanced.”

“I had no chance against him during the midterm.”

“Using only Collapse Mountain Spear Technique won’t be enough to defeat him.”

In direct confrontation, he was no match—so Lin Qi switched to the Stone Wall Spear Technique.

This spear art, most adept at defense, sought counterattack opportunities through steadfast defense.

…

Another assessment room

“Bang!”

“Dang~”

Two massive figures slammed into each other, one silver, one black, both swinging sharp battle-axes.

In the collision, each axe swing unleashed torrents of gale-force wind.

Li Zhou swung his axe like a giant gate crashing down.

His opponent, Candidate “9,” was equally massive and powerful, wielding a battle-axe with unmatched strength, wielding the same axe technique.

“Last time I lost to you—I won’t lose again this time.”

Li Zhou grinned, unleashing all his strength; a terrifying aura erupted from his body.

“In the entire Second Middle, who else could defeat Candidate 9?”

“Fall!”

With that, he charged forward like a colossal bear, his sharp battle-axe slicing through the sky with a piercing whistle of wind.

The First Form of the Storm Axe Art—Heavy Chop!

……

(End of Chapter)