Chapter 140: You are the worst cohort I

Jiangnan Dao has seven prefectures.

Only five cushions!

The teenage students present stared with burning eyes, yet their glances at one another were filled with suspicion.

Anyone who made it here isn't a fool—they're all sharp-witted.

Clearly, the instructors gave only five cushions to force them to compete against each other.

Twenty-nine people vying for five cushions—the intensity is obvious.

No one moved first!

Because the instructor never said that once someone took a cushion, others couldn't seize it—meaning the first to claim one would likely be attacked by the crowd.

Holding back, waiting until their fight ended, then reaping the benefits as a bystander—that was the wisest approach.

For a moment, the scene fell silent.

But the next instant, a figure appeared from afar, heading straight for the cushions.

"It's Senior Lin!"

Shen Ge, seeing the figure clearly, whispered softly.

"I want one cushion!"

Lin Chen stood atop one cushion, his gaze sweeping the entire crowd.

He arrived just as the five cushions landed, and heard the middle-aged man's words.

Though he still didn't know what "scores" meant, he didn't need to guess—it was surely something valuable.

Coupled with what Senior Zhao had said at the end—when you must be domineering, be domineering—he had walked straight toward the cushion without hesitation.

Otherwise, given his own nature, he would never have become the first to step forward.

Who is this person?

Lin Chen being the first to stand atop a cushion drew curiosity from the others, but no one rushed to attack him.

A stick of incense had barely burned—plenty of time remained, and four cushions were still unclaimed.

The moment Lin Chen stepped onto the cushion, another teenager stepped out from the crowd, his right foot lightly tapping the air, his body soaring like a falcon as he landed swiftly on the second cushion.

Every teenage student here was a prodigy from their respective prefectures, each with their own pride.

They had hesitated only because they feared becoming the target of everyone's ire—but now that someone had led, none wanted to be left behind.

One, two…

Within mere breaths, all five cushions had owners.

Those who now stood atop the cushions all fixed their eyes on Lin Chen and the other four, each weighing which cushion to seize next.

But the middle-aged man's next words shattered their calculations completely.

"Those who haven't claimed a cushion are eliminated in this round!"

Whoa!

Everyone stared at the middle-aged man in shock—wasn't the rule one stick of incense? Why were they being eliminated already?

Seeing the boys' resentment, Min Min Huanbo sneered: "If you lack the courage to seize a cushion, what else are you but trash? Trash doesn't deserve scores."

Min Min Huanbo gave these teenagers no dignity whatsoever. Meanwhile, on the mountain peak to the right of the valley, Xue Yun and two other men stood atop a tree, watching every move.

"Min Instructor's words are as sharp as ever."

"Everyone here is a prodigy from their prefecture, naturally proud. Min Instructor is grinding down that pride—we three went through the same thing, didn't we?"

Xue Yun sighed, recalling his own arrival here—how close he'd come to being scolded into doubting himself.

Was I really trash?

Was I truly an idiot?

Only later did he realize every cohort went through this—among these instructors, no one was anything but trash or an idiot.

"If one day the instructors stop yelling like this, I'd find it strange," remarked the man beside him.

"Maybe we just aren't talented enough—could there really be a student who earns the instructors' praise?" Xue Yun mused, half-joking, recalling what he'd seen two days prior.

The man beside him snorted: "If any student actually earns praise from the instructors, I'll call him Senior."

…

…

Min Min Huanbo's gaze settled on Lin Chen and the other four, then fixed on Lin Chen: "Lin Chen, daring to be the first to step onto a cushion—that takes courage."

Seeing Min Min Huanbo's smile, the other students thought nothing of it—they assumed it was simply because Lin Chen had been first.

But Xue Yun and the other three watching secretly were stunned.

"Senior Du, I remember you were the first to step onto a cushion in our cohort—what did the instructor say then?"

Du Yong gritted his teeth: "You've got some guts, trash—but I wonder if you're just bold, or if you truly believe in your own strength."

He still remembered those words clearly.

Though now he understood—the instructors had said it only to grind down their pride and ignite their fighting spirit, and he bore no resentment.

But only if the instructors treated everyone equally!

This was the first time he'd ever seen Min Instructor smile at a new student—and speak with encouragement.

Xue Yun watched Du Yong's expression and sighed inwardly—he'd said earlier that maybe a student could earn praise not just to tease, but because he recalled the commotion this junior Lin had caused two days ago.

Senior Zhao personally came to fetch him; several instructors appeared…

What other student had ever received such treatment?

Now he knew his judgment was right—the instructors weren't incapable of praise; they simply hadn't met anyone who could make them show such warmth.

"Maybe Min Instructor has something good happening lately, and is just in a better mood."

Du Yong tried to comfort himself, but Xue Yun sighed inwardly—Du Senior, Du Senior, you're covering your ears while stealing a bell.

If Min Instructor was in a good mood, why did he just insult these students so harshly?

If you could walk thousands of steps through Thousand-Step Mist, perfect two martial arts, and walk the ultimate martial path, Min Instructor would smile at you too.

After praising Lin Chen, Min Min Huanbo turned to the other four: "You're bolder than those trash, but only a little. They're trash—you're half-trash."

The other four: …

"Sir, I object!"

The teenager standing on the third cushion suddenly shouted.

"Object? Speak up."

"Why is Lin Chen courageous, but we're half-trash?"

"Because you hesitated. If Lin Chen hadn't stepped onto the cushion first, none of you trash would've dared move. Calling you half-trash is because you're lifted by the trash beneath you—without them, you four are trash too."

The teenager's face flushed and paled—clearly he hadn't expected Min Min Huanbo to insult him so brutally.

"Want to prove you're not trash? Then fight. There are five cushions, but nothing says only one person per cushion. Here's your chance to prove you're not trash—go seize someone else's cushion!"

Min Min Huanbo looked at the boy with contempt: "If you dare not, you're pure trash."

"I dare!"

The teenager's veins bulged on his forehead; he locked eyes with Lin Chen: "I challenge you!"

Lin Chen wasn't surprised the boy would challenge him—this instructor had clearly drawn hatred toward him.

These people were called trash, yet he alone was praised—it would be strange if they didn't envy him.

But… Senior Zhao told him to be domineering…

Just now, this instructor ordered them to fight for the cushions, giving them a full stick of incense—yet only five earned scores.

And remembering Jiang's warning—that the trials here would appear in ways he couldn't anticipate…

…

Lin Chen suddenly had a suspicion: Could it be that since the moment he stepped onto this ground, the trial had already been ongoing? Scores were being awarded based on every student's actions.

Domineering…

The more domineering, the better…

A flash of brilliance lit Lin Chen's eyes as he glanced at the three other teenagers atop the cushions.

"Sir, I accept the challenge—but don't make them come one by one. Let the other three join in too."

Whoa!

The crowd erupted in shock.

The other students, moments ago defeated and slumped, now all looked up at Lin Chen.

One against four?

Did he know what he was saying? Did he know who those three were?

"Senior Lin…"

Shen Ge's mouth hung open—was this really the same person he knew?

"I heard Lin Chen was quite humble in Poyang County—yet here he's become so arrogant. Anyone who dares stand on a cushion is surely the top student of their prefecture."

Yin Yin Aosong beside Shen Ge stared in astonishment—he admitted Lin Chen was strong, likely the best in Raozhou Prefecture.

Yesterday they learned all of them had come here through talent, not cultivation level—the ones who reached the prodigy threshold by pure realm were trained elsewhere.

Their cultivation levels weren't vastly different. Lin Chen had perfected two martial arts, including the iron-bone technique—a hardening art—and was indeed stronger. But the top students from other prefectures weren't weak either.

While Raozhou was merely surprised, thinking Lin Chen overly arrogant, students from other prefectures now wore expressions of fury.

Fury that Lin Chen dared speak such arrogance!

"This… is… damn arrogant."

The man beside Xue Yun couldn't help muttering; Du Yong snorted: "Arrogance needs substance. In training grounds, the more arrogant and domineering you are, the higher your score—but only if you have the strength to back it up. Otherwise, you're just a clown—and your score gets deducted."

In my view, Lin Chen must know something—someone actually dared to leak the secret of our special training grounds. Just watch; the instructors will definitely investigate this after the fact.

Xue Yun rolled his eyes. Brother Du had been hurt by Min Yu Jiaoxi's inconsistent attitude and was now spouting nonsense.

Do you think anyone who made it here is a fool?

Even if someone really did reveal the scoring criteria, they'd surely also reveal the deduction rules.

If you act recklessly, you gain points—but you can lose just as many.

If Lin Chen actually wins this time, he'll get at least forty points; if he loses, he'll lose forty.

Every trainee entering the special training grounds starts with a hundred base points. Lose those points, and your cultivation resources shrink.

Better not gain points than lose any.

Without gaining points, you can still survive three months on base points alone. But if you lose points, you might not even last three months before being kicked out.

Whose elder would tell their family's young heir to take such a reckless risk?

Min Min Huanbo didn't care what these youths thought. Hearing Lin Chen's words, he smiled: "Good. I like your attitude. Defeat these four half-wastes, and Lin Chen, you'll earn forty points."

The next instant, Min Min Huanbo turned to the four youths: "Half-wastes, your chance to prove yourselves has come. Defeat him, and each of you gets ten points."

"Instructor," said the boy in black, his eyes locked on Lin Chen, "may I ask—are there any restrictions on this fight?"

No restrictions. Whether they live or die, kill or maim them!

Min Min Huanbo's face twisted into a cruel smile. After speaking, he floated back thirty zhang away.

He was making it clear to Lin Chen and the others: he wouldn't act as their babysitter. He wouldn't intervene at critical moments.

At thirty zhang, he couldn't possibly offer timely aid.

The moment Min Min Huanbo stopped moving, the four youths on other mats moved simultaneously.

BOOM!

WHISH!

CRASH!

Palm shadows, fist strikes, leg winds…

In an instant, all four attacked at once.

The four youths exploded with astonishing power. Lin Chen, the moment Min Min Huanbo uttered "kill or maim," felt his blood surge wildly—he activated Iron Bones Technique, muscles tensing, skin glowing with a bronze sheen.

The boy who punched toward Lin Chen's face, seeing he didn't dodge, his eyes hardened with malice.

To not dodge? Only one possibility: the opponent trained in hardening arts and trusted his body.

No wonder he was so arrogant—he'd perfected hardening arts.

Hardening arts were extremely difficult to master in any province, far harder than other techniques.

Perfecting hardening arts might bring pride, but not enough to justify taking on four opponents!

Besides, he had confidence in his Cannon Fist!

CRASH!

The boy's fist slammed into Lin Chen's face. Lin Chen didn't dodge or retreat—just shifted slightly, taking the blow on his shoulder.

A dull THUD echoed. Lin Chen's shoulder shook slightly—but the boy's face twisted in disbelief.

His fist felt like it had hit rock. No… it felt like it had hit… himself.

His finger bones had shattered outright.

Lin Chen ignored the boy. Using the momentum of the punch, he spun, facing the sweeping leg aimed at his chest, and slapped out swiftly.

His palm moved like a gale, striking the leg. All onlookers froze.

They saw the boy descending from above, leg sweeping with crushing force—only to be shattered by Lin Chen's single palm strike.

CRACK!

The first boy collapsed before Lin Chen.

At the same time, two others' palms struck Lin Chen's body.

SLAP!

SLAP!

Lin Chen staggered. The watching trainees saw hope—sure, he'd taken one down, but three still remained.

But what stunned them was Lin Chen, having taken two blows on his back, stood as if nothing had happened, turned, and slapped out both palms at once.

"That's for you two!"

The two boys who'd struck him felt the same shock as the first—frozen in disbelief for a moment…

But that single moment was enough to decide the fight's outcome.

Lin Chen's palms landed. Everyone saw the two boys fly like kites—ten or more zhang through the air—crashing heavily to the ground.

Only one remained.

In the blink of an eye, the tide had turned so violently, the entire crowd fell silent. The watching trainees' mouths hung open wide enough to swallow an egg.

"How did such a promising talent get snatched up by Elder Zhao first?"

Lin Chen's performance shocked the other trainees—but to Min Min Huanbo, it felt like a knife to the heart.

It hurt so much!

He had once been just one step away from Lin Chen!

The better Lin Chen performed, the more it hurt him.

The more it hurt him, the worse his mood became.

"Still calling you half-wastes? Four against one, and you're beaten like dead dogs. What good are you? If Great Liang relied on you, it would've been overrun by demon tribes long ago. Even if you went to push the asses of demon beasts, they'd reject you for lacking strength!"

"You're the worst batch I've ever seen. I'm terrified that after training you, my reputation will be ruined."

Deep in the valley, the other instructors listened to Min Min Huanbo's words, helpless. They knew why he was like this.

First, Lin Chen's presence stung him. Second… second, he hadn't managed to claim any of the promising talents in this batch.

If he couldn't have them, he'd destroy them.

That last remark? Pure slander—cursing them all to disgrace in old age.

PS: Four thousand six hundred words. Combined with the previous chapter, we're still fourteen hundred short of ten thousand. One missed monthly vote bonus chapter remains—so I'll merge it all. Next chapter will be at least five thousand words.

(End of Chapter)