The morning sun shone brightly, almost blindingly.
With a crisp bell ringing, the school gates, which had been tightly shut for two hours, slowly creaked open.
The candidates surged out like a tidal wave, their boisterous chatter instantly shattering the morning's solemn atmosphere.
For most martial arts students, the theory exam was merely an appetizer before the main course—important, but not life-or-death.
In this world where strength reigned supreme, even if you could recite the Fundamentals of Martial Arts Theory backward and forward, it would be useless if a feral beast devoured you in the wilderness.
"Ugh, I think I got that question about the 'weak point of mutated wind wolves' wrong. I chose the abdomen..."
"Don't worry about it. The theory score only counts for 10%. The practical assessment this afternoon is what really matters! Killing just one E-grade feral beast is worth ten multiple-choice questions!"
The candidates clustered in small groups, some beaming with excitement, others hanging their heads in dejection.
The Martian noble examinees maintained their aloof demeanor, disdainfully refusing to interact with the Earth candidates around them, their expressions haughty and arrogant.
Amidst the crowd, Su Yu emerged with steady, measured steps.
His expression remained calm, betraying no hint of emotion, as if he had just taken an ordinary classroom quiz rather than the high-stakes college entrance exam.
"Dad."
Su Yu immediately spotted Su Wu leaning casually against a tree in the shade, looking somewhat relaxed.
"How did it go?" Su Wu asked with a smile, handing over Xiao Bai, who was sleeping soundly on his shoulder.
"Don't worry," Su Yu replied, taking Xiao Bai and casually stroking the creature's soft white fur. "The questions were too easy—mostly just common knowledge."
"That's good." Su Wu nodded. "Come on, let's get you a good meal. The real battle begins this afternoon with the practical combat assessment. It lasts a day and a half—thirty-six hours straight. You'll be eating, drinking, and relieving yourself in the wilderness, so you'll need all your stamina."
The father and son found a quiet restaurant and ordered several high-energy strange beast steaks.
At the dinner table, Su Wu casually cut into his steak and remarked, "Outside the examination hall earlier, I noticed many Martian candidates. Though most had unstable qi and blood, quite a few had reached the early stages of the Master Realm. One, who seemed to be the young master of a prominent family, had even reached the late stages of the Master Realm."
"Late stages of the Master Realm?" Su Yu's hand froze mid-motion, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. An eighteen-year-old at that level was truly a prodigy.
"Don't let that intimidate you," Su Wu chuckled, his gaze turning profound. "He's a Master, and so are you. Besides... you have the Chaos Body and the lethal techniques I taught you. If it comes to a fight, the outcome is far from certain."
"Remember this: once you're inside the examination hall, trust no one but yourself. Especially not those Martians."
"Understood, Dad." Su Yu swallowed the last bite of his meat, his eyes gleaming with a hunter's intensity. "I won't provoke anyone. But if they come after me... whether they're from Mars or Mercury, I'll strike back without hesitation."
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
Ten kilometers outside Azurewave Base, at the edge of the Black Iron Forest.
This was the boundary between human civilization and the savage realm of feral beasts.
Towering trees blotted out the sky, and chilling roars of beasts echoed intermittently from the distance.
Thousands of examinees had been assembled in the buffer zone, each wearing a black metallic wristband.
"This is the 'Heaven's Eye' terminal," the chief instructor announced from the elevated platform, his voice booming like a bell. "It not only records your vital signs and kill points but also contains a miniature camera and an emergency beacon. If you encounter an insurmountable danger, press the red button, and instructors will immediately come to your aid. But remember—requesting help means forfeiting the examination!"
Simultaneously, thousands of fist-sized silver spheres—the "Heaven's Eye" drones—rose into the air like a swarm of bees, hovering above each examinee's head.
These "Heaven's Eyes" were the pinnacle of Federation technology, equipped with all-terrain tracking, thermal imaging analysis, combat power assessment, and other advanced functions. They would transmit every movement, every breath, and even the frequency of each examinee's qi and blood fluctuations in real-time back to the command center.
Meanwhile, atop the towering alloy walls of Azurewave Base, in a spacious, brightly lit, and futuristic command center...
A massive holographic screen dominated the entire wall, divided into thousands of smaller screens that displayed real-time footage from the examination halls.
Five figures were already seated around the circular table in the center of the room.
Besides Azurewave City Lord Pan Hong, there were three middle-aged individuals in Federation uniforms and the elderly man from the Li Family of Mars—Uncle Li.
"City Lord Pan, the quality of this year's examinees seems quite impressive," remarked Zhang Ye, one of the Federation inspectors. His amiable demeanor and slightly plump build belied his early-stage Martial Emperor Realm cultivation.
"Inspector Zhang, you flatter me," Pan Hong replied with a forced smile, his heart pounding nervously.
In previous years, his Grandmaster cultivation would have made him the highest-ranking official in such gatherings. But this year, with the influx of Martian examinees... and the entire room now filled with Martial Emperors, the pressure was immense. Read this novel at novelping(.)com for the best experience.
Just then, the command center's automatic doors slid open.
A staff member respectfully ushered in a middle-aged man dressed in casual gray attire.
"Su... Senior Su!" Pan Hong's eyes lit up as he hastily rose to greet the newcomer.
This gesture startled the three Federation inspectors present.
"This must be Brother Su!" Zhang Ye, ever the smooth talker and quick thinker, immediately recognized the situation.
Having received internal intelligence that Azurewave Base might have produced a hidden Martial Emperor, Zhang Ye immediately greeted Su Wu with exceptional courtesy, impressed by his extraordinary bearing.
"I am Zhang Ye, Federal Eastern Theater Inspector."
Su Wu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the other two inspectors—one with a stern, unsmiling face, the other with sharp eyes that seemed to be scrutinizing him.
Finally, his gaze settled on Uncle Li, who sat beside the head of the table, his eyes closed in meditation.
Sensing Su Wu's attention, Uncle Li slowly opened his eyes. A glint of sharpness flashed in his cloudy old eyes as he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
The unspoken understanding between two Martial Saints needed no words.
"This Su greets you all," Su Wu said calmly, finding an empty seat and settling into it with neither arrogance nor humility.
"Ha ha, come, Brother Su, let me introduce you," Zhang Ye said warmly, acting as the intermediary. "This is Inspector Du, and this is Inspector Li. And this..."
Zhang Ye pointed to Uncle Li, his tone becoming particularly respectful. "This is Senior Li, an elder of the Li Family of Mars. He has come to Azurewave Base specifically to assess this year's promising talents."
"The Li Family of Mars?" Su Wu raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "I've heard much about them. I didn't realize the Li Family took Earth's assessments so seriously."
Uncle Li chuckled, his voice raspy yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. "Not at all, Mr. Su. I'm merely here at the clan head's request to observe the performance of these young talents. Speaking of which, I understand your son is also participating this year? Like father, like son—I have high expectations."
Though the words sounded polite, they carried a hidden barb.
Su Wu smiled faintly, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Just children playing games, nothing compared to the Li Family's Qilin Son. I only hope your esteemed young master will show mercy and not make my unworthy son cry."
"Heh, Mr. Su, you jest," Uncle Li replied, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
This Su Wu, facing a Martial Saint like himself, remained remarkably composed, even projecting an air of equal standing.
"Alright, it's time," Inspector Du, who had been silent until now, checked the time and announced in a deep voice, "The assessment begins. Everyone, please turn your attention to the holographic screen."
At his words, all eyes shifted to the massive holographic screen at the front of the room.
At the edge of the Black Iron Forest, the chief instructor's command unleashed tens of thousands of examinees like caged beasts into the dense jungle.
"Everyone knows the rules!"
"First, hunt feral beasts to earn points! F-grade beasts are worth 1 point, E-grade 5 points, D-grade 20 points, and C-grade 100 points!"
"Second, stealing another examinee's wristband grants you half their points! However, intentionally maiming or killing opponents is strictly prohibited. Violators will be disqualified and face legal consequences!"
"Third, survive for 36 hours until the evacuation signal sounds!"
Su Yu blended into the crowd, refraining from the frenzied rush that gripped the others.
He glanced down at the black wristband on his wrist, then looked up at the "Heaven's Eye" drone hovering overhead.
A playful smile curved his lips.
With a swift movement, he activated his Leaf-Treading Footwork, darting into the jungle like an arrow loosed from a bow. His speed was so astonishing that even the Heaven's Eye drone had to switch to high-speed tracking mode to keep up.
Five hundred meters vanished in an instant.
They emerged into a clearing where a massive bear, its body covered in black iron-like fur, lay sprawled on the ground, gnawing on a wild deer.
Mid-stage Qi Blood Realm Ironback Bear!
Renowned for its impenetrable defense, ordinary alloy battle blades could only leave faint white marks on its hide.
For ordinary examinees, encountering an Ironback Bear would be a nightmare, typically requiring a team of three to five people to take it down. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
"ROAR—!!"
Sensing the human presence, the Ironback Bear reared up on its hind legs, unleashing a deafening roar.
Its bloodshot eyes locked onto the slender, bipedal creature before it, as if sizing up an extra meal.
Yet.
Su Yu didn't even draw his blade.
He stood there calmly, even yawning.
"Too weak," Su Yu muttered, shaking his head.
Having endured Su Wu's hellish training, the Ironback Bear's clumsy movements seemed riddled with openings.
Rumble!
Enraged by the human's disdain, the Ironback Bear dropped to all fours and charged forward like a heavy tank, each step shaking the ground.
Just as its massive paw was about to crush Su Yu's skull...
Su Yu moved.
No flashy dodges, just a simple, direct punch.
Wild Bull Fist · Inch Strike!
Bang!
A muffled, thunderous impact.
Time seemed to freeze.
The ton-heavy Ironback Bear was lifted off its feet by Su Yu's seemingly effortless punch, sent flying backward seven or eight meters!
A deep fist-shaped dent marked its chest, its ribs shattered. Before it could even let out a death cry, it crashed to the ground, twitched twice, and lay still.
One punch, instant kill!
Ding! Killed a mid-stage Qi Blood Realm feral beast. Points +5. Current ranking: 1022nd!
Su Yu didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground before turning and walking away with effortless grace.
This scene was captured by the large screen in the command center, which zoomed in for a close-up.
Hiss—
The inspectors, who had been chatting casually moments before, collectively gasped.
"What devastating fist power!" Zhang Ye exclaimed. "This kid's Flesh Refinement has likely surpassed even the great perfection of the Innate Realm!"
"It's not just the power," Inspector Du, who had remained silent until now, said with a glint in his eyes. "His force application is flawless. Is that... fist intent? How could someone so young have comprehended fist intent?"
Pan Hong, overhearing the inspectors' praise, beamed inwardly while maintaining a humble facade. "Ahem, this is Su Yu from Azurewave First High School. He usually keeps a low profile."
Only Su Wu and Uncle Li remained unmoved.
Su Wu had long known his son's true strength, while Uncle Li's gaze sharpened slightly.
This kid... he's truly extraordinary, Uncle Li thought to himself.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the examination grounds, amidst a chaotic rock forest, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air.
"Ah—!!"
An Earth candidate was sent flying by a kick, crashing heavily against a boulder. His wrist-mounted points bracelet was forcibly ripped off.
"Tch, only 15 points? What a pauper," Li Xinghe sneered, tossing the stolen bracelet to the ground and crushing it under his boot.
Behind him trailed four Martian candidates clad in silver combat suits, each radiating the aura of the Innate Realm or even the Master Realm.
"Young master, we've already cleared out dozens of Earth candidates from this area. We're currently ranked first in points," a sycophantic youth fawned.
"First? That's only natural," Li Xinghe replied, flicking open his folding fan. His gaze drifted deeper into the forest. "Let's continue!"