Chapter 16: Test

"So you're the Yu Lin who can draw Qi in a single day?"

Yu Lin, who was originally heading to the classroom, was stopped by a youth whose slightly plump build and looks could be described as "he'd be handsome if he lost weight."

Yu Lin slightly frowned:

"I'm, who are you?"

"My name is Zhang Youwei."

"We knew each other before?"

"We don't know each other, but we are starting to now!"

Zhang Youwei pointed at himself: "Third Sequence No. 7 Heavenly Authority—Awakener of Thunder! I also joined the Civil Affairs Bureau half a year ago; in other words, I'm your senior!"

"Hmm." Yu Lin nodded in acknowledgment:

"So you're here to provoke me, to make a scene at my expense?"

"Of course not. What era is this? We're in a rule‑of‑law society, understand? You've had nine years of compulsory education! We're all civilized people! We're building a civilized city!"

"So what exactly did you come to me for?"

With a thump.

Zhang Youwei fell to his knees, grabbing his thigh with both hands:

"Brother, you're my real brother!"

"Please, teach me how to draw Qi!"

"I've been at this for half a year and still can't draw Qi—what a shameful disgrace, what a terrible humiliation!"

"........." Yu Lin was silent for a moment, twitched the corner of his mouth, then bent down and pulled him up from the ground:

"I really have no way; even if you beg me, it won't help."

"Then how do you draw Qi? Any sensations?"

"No, I just recite the mantra: first this, then that, follow what the teacher said, and then I draw Qi. It's very simple, right?"

".........."

This time, Zhang Youwei fell silent.

"Simple, huh? If it were simple, would I still be unable to draw Qi after half a year? Everyone in my batch is already refining their forms, sigh!"

He let out a long sigh:

"Anyway, thank you. I live on the third floor, room 301; you can come find me if anything comes up."

"Do you know Zhang Youcai?"

Yu Lin nodded: "He's ranked first on the South Province richest list."

"That's my dad!" Zhang Youwei patted his chest:

"Lacks everything except money!"

"That's it, okay? Keep in touch if anything, bye."

He turned and jogged away.

He arrived suddenly and left just as swiftly.

Leaving Yu Lin to shake his head helplessly:

"... still kind of interesting."

He kept walking forward until he reached the classroom.

Today is his eighth day here.

The Myth Book mission has been unlocked, but he hasn't gone yet.

Thanks to the Civil Affairs Bureau's resources and the pills provided by ZhouYi, his cultivation is now at the mid‑stage of drawing Qi, thinking he'll wait until tomorrow or the day after to enter the later stage before taking on the mission.

He doesn't know whether dying in the mission means truly dying, or just a mission failure that teleports him back to his original world to await the next mission, so he must be more cautious.

Unless.

This time the mission will grant a one‑time ability that boosts combat power until the end.

We'll talk about it then.

Shaking his head, Yu Lin dispelled the stray thoughts in his mind.

He walked into the classroom.

Chen Haoxi was already waiting inside, along with Qin Zhao and the other three.

Ding—ding—

The bell rang.

Chen Haoxi patted the table:

"You've been cultivating for eight days, so your hands are itching; let's test how your cultivation results are."

"So."

"Today we won't talk about cultivation; we'll go straight to practical application!"

"I'll grade you based on your performance, and will apply to the organization for rewards, so don't hold back—show your real abilities!"

"Got that?"

Yu Lin and the three others nodded: "Heard it!"

"Very good! Follow me."

A moment later.

The training ground behind the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Chen Haoxi clapped his hands, and the ground of the training field suddenly cracked open, a pitch‑black mannequin slowly rose.

The mannequin was entirely forged from a special metal, its joints etched with dense runes that glimmered with a cold sheen in the sunlight.

"This is a 'trial puppet' made by one of your seniors." Chen Haoxi tilted his head to explain, "They will automatically adjust their strength according to your cultivation; defeating one earns an F-rank score; two, E-rank; three, D-rank; four, C-rank… and so on."

He looked at the four of them: "Each round you pass, your score will increase. F-rank, E-rank, D-rank... until you can't hold on."

He paused, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smile: "Whoever can defeat ten——"

"I will apply to the organization on the spot to equip you with a full set of Xuan-rank gear!"

"Listen clearly, it's a full set!"

As his words fell, Yu Lin and the four others' eyes twitched slightly.

Especially Yu Lin.

If he could obtain this set of equipment, future missions would be much safer.

A full set of Xuan-rank equipment is a rare item in the Civil Affairs Bureau; it cannot be bought with money alone, one must spend contribution points.

It can withstand attacks from experts of the Indestructible Realm level.

Of course, it only guards against external injuries; internal injuries can only be weakened, and once they reach a certain extent, one still has to reincarnate.

Chen Haoxi looked around: "So, who goes first?"

"By the way, the use of Heavenly Authority is not allowed!"

Qin Zhao stepped forward, her sleeves fluttering in the wind: "I'll go first."

"Alright, make way." Chen Haoxi led Yu Lin and the three others to an open space.

Accompanied by a shout: "Begin!"

The first puppet's eye rune lit up, mechanically locking onto Qin Zhao.

She adjusted her breathing, internal qi circulating.

The puppet lunged instantly, its right fist aiming straight for her face.

Qin Zhao sidestepped, her right hand forming a claw to grab the puppet's wrist, then using the momentum to throw it—

"Bang!"

The puppet slammed heavily to the ground, its chest rune extinguishing.

"F-rank passed." Chen Haoxi nodded, "Second round."

Two puppets rose from the ground, left and right attacking simultaneously.

Qin Zhao did not retreat but advanced, first sweeping down the left puppet with a whip kick, then striking with a fierce right elbow that caved in the head of the other puppet!

"E-rank."

Third round, three puppets formed a triangular formation surrounding her.

Qin Zhao's eyes sharpened, she suddenly lowered her stance, sweeping down the nearest puppet with a low kick; her left hand formed a claw to grab the second puppet's wrist, using the momentum to fling it toward the third—

"Boom!"

The two puppets collided, their runes extinguishing simultaneously.

"D-rank."

"Not bad." Chen Haoxi raised an eyebrow: "Fourth round."

Four puppets activated simultaneously.

Beads of sweat appeared on Qin Zhao's forehead, but her movements remained fierce.

She first repelled the front puppet with a spinning kick, then launched a barrage, her fists raining down like droplets on the chests of the two side puppets.

"Bang bang bang!"

Three puppets collapsed in succession.

But the fourth had already attacked from behind!

"Watch out!" Bai Xiaoxia shouted a warning, but Chen Haoxi glared at her.

Qin Zhao hastily turned, but still got grazed on the shoulder.

She grunted, her right hand shooting like lightning toward the puppet's throat.

"Crack!"

"C-rank, continue!"

Fifth round, five puppets slowly rose.

Qin Zhao panted, blood seeping from the wound on her right arm.

"Still continue?" Chen Haoxi asked.

Qin Zhao wiped her sweat: "Come on!"

The battle grew more intense.

She first disposed of the two nearest puppets, but the third puppet suddenly changed tactics, a punch slamming into her abdomen.

"Cough!" Qin Zhao staggered back, suppressing the pain with a side kick that dealt with the sneak attacker.

But the fifth puppet had already seized the opening—

"Bang!"

She was heavily struck and flung, crashing into the edge of the arena.

"B-rank." Chen Haoxi announced, "Test over."

Qin Zhao struggled to her feet, blood at the corner of her mouth: "I can still..."

"Enough." Chen Haoxi waved his hand to deactivate the puppets, "Five B-ranks, performance excellent."

"Achieving this in eight days already exceeds my expectations."

"Do you know what our Civil Affairs Bureau's record is?"

Qin Zhao instinctively asked: "How many?"

"Seven days, A-rank! Eleven days, ten puppets!"

Chen Haoxi gave a slight smile:

"He is our Bureau Chief! He is called a genius that appears once in a century!"

"If you can achieve this, your future accomplishments will be higher than mine!"

"Don't lose heart; you're already very talented, got it?"

Qin Zhao pressed his lips, then nodded:

"Yes!"