The Melee Begins

"Here's a notice for everyone: due to special considerations, the Core Disciple assessment will begin ahead of schedule today."

On the practice field of the martial arts gym, Coach Lu led three members of the assessment panel to an open space.

His resonant voice echoed in everyone's ears, and many students who had been speculating about this showed flickers of surprise, relief, or confusion on their faces.

"So that's how it is."

"Didn't expect the assessment to come early—kinda sudden."

"Sooner or later, it's the same; it's not like any of us are in the running."

Low murmurs rose quietly. Lin Hao stood at the edge with a grin, shooting Chen Feng an "I told you so" look.

Then, perhaps finding the chatter too noisy, Coach Lu raised an eyebrow.

He lifted a hand slightly and pressed down, silencing the noise. "You have ten minutes to warm up."

"In ten minutes, the assessment will begin right here on the practice field, supervised by the three assessors behind me."

"The rules for this assessment are a free-for-all. The final victor will earn the Core Disciple slot at our Yan Wu Academy and be promoted to the Core Class."

Coach Lu quickly laid out the assessment rules, and many students looked taken aback by the news.

Seeing this, Coach Lu said no more and turned his gaze to the three men beside him—or rather, to Cao Tong, who stood at their head.

"Junior Brother Cao, is there anything you'd like to add?"

His tone was sincere. Coach Lu was well aware of this junior brother's talent and strength.

He had long been at Professional Seventh Grade, and rumor had it he was now training in true martial arts, with hopes of becoming a Sect Successor.

Compared to him, Coach Lu was just a Sanshou instructor at a branch gym—a world of difference in status.

If not for Cao Tong's sense of old ties, Coach Lu, despite being older, would have had to address him as "Senior Brother."

"No."

"Senior Brother Lu, just proceed as you see fit. We're only here to observe."

Cao Tong's voice was low and deep.

Coach Lu nodded at that, then watched as the students on the field began warming up, clearly not daring to waste any time.

In moments, stretches, flexes, and punches filled the air.

Shouts and grunts rang out one after another, and the practice field, a full several hundred square meters, quickly became a lively scene.

"Junior Brother Lu, are there any promising talents in this batch you think highly of?"

Someone from the assessment panel asked. Coach Lu instinctively glanced at Xu Dongtai and Chen Feng on the field.

The former had once been his favorite prospect, with Professional Grade within reach.

And he'd heard that, in the last couple of days, Xu Dongtai had even gotten his hands on some secret medicine.

But—

After a moment's thought, he finally pointed toward Chen Feng and said honestly, "This student is very good."

"He had his Martial Awakening a week ago, and he's been changing by the day. In just seven days, he went from a complete novice to proficient in Sanshou, jumping five whole ranks."

"Personally, I think his talent is exceptional, and he's fully qualified to enter our academy's Core Class."

As his words fell, Cao Tong remained expressionless, but the two behind him raised an eyebrow.

Martial Awakening?

Such cases were rare, but every one of them had ultimately reached the Professional Grade level or higher.

"Senior Brother Lu, are you sure it's Martial Awakening, and not just a simple Sanshou epiphany?"

Cao Tong asked. Coach Lu hesitated at the question.

Martial Awakening and ordinary epiphanies were vastly different.

The former was a true transformation of talent, allowing one to go far on the martial path.

The latter was merely a sudden insight into a single martial art—capable of rapid progress in a short period of time, but hard to sustain.

"Nine times out of ten."

After thinking it over, Coach Lu gritted his teeth and said.

He trusted his own judgment and couldn't bear to see such a talent buried by the academy.

After all, he knew Xu Dongtai had obtained secret medicine and surged in strength, likely now nearing Amateur Seventh Dan.

Compared to that, Chen Feng had been awakened for too short a time. In today's free-for-all assessment, he might be in trouble, and could very well lose.

"Martial Awakening takes a lot of time to verify. Senior Brother Lu, be careful you're not mistaken."

Someone from the assessment panel reminded him, clearly skeptical of the possibility.

After all, if the judgment was wrong and the academy admitted a Core Disciple on a special exception, wasting resources—

Then the recommender would have to bear the corresponding punishment.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I—"

Coach Lu wanted to argue, but soon saw another member of the Assessment Panel shake his head.

"Junior Brother Lu, Martial Awakening is too ethereal. Our Martial Arts Hall's history has few cases, and in the current generation, only Junior Uncle Master has achieved it."

"Junior Brother Zhao is also worried that you might be implicated and punished. Don't blame him for speaking out of turn."

Words fell, and Coach Lu knew this was the truth.

He sighed, no longer arguing, and ultimately could only look at Cao Tong.

He was the one in charge of this assessment. Whether Chen Feng could continue to qualify as a Core Disciple after failing the assessment still depended on whether the other party was willing to speak up.

"Let's see how it goes first."

Cao Tong's face was expressionless, his whole figure like a towering pagoda.

Solemn. Still.

Seeing this, Coach Lu tactfully said no more, silently turning his gaze to Chen Feng on the Practice Field.

Chen Feng, Chen Feng, I did my best.

I hope you can make Junior Brother Cao's eyes light up.

"Zheng Qiang, are you really going to help Xu Dongtai?"

On the Practice Field, Yu Shan stood close to Zheng Qiang and asked in a low voice.

"No shit, why wouldn't I take the money?"

"A full ten thousand yuan—even regular boxers don't get that price."

Zheng Qiang looked at Yu Shan like he was an idiot, which made the latter raise an eyebrow.

"Of course, there's also personal grudges."

Zheng Qiang knew his thoughts had been seen through and didn't hide it.

"That kid made me lose face big time that day. I couldn't hold my head up for days."

"Now that I finally have a chance, I have to get that payback."

Words fell, and Yu Shan wore an expression of 'just as I thought.'

Then, looking at the young figure warming up in the corner, he couldn't help but show a trace of pity.

What a shame.

What does talent matter?

"Dong Ge, Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan won't flip on us, right?"

On the Practice Field, Zhou Xin stood beside Xu Dongtai, warming up together, and asked carefully.

The Free-for-All Assessment was about to start, and he worried those two might turn into traitors.

"As long as they're not stupid, they know what to do."

Xu Dongtai said flatly, exuding strong confidence.

Then, standing in place to loosen his joints and muscles, his gaze shifted subtly, unconsciously lingering on the Assessment Panel for a few seconds.

Cao Tong!

He hadn't expected this man to come for the assessment.

Professional Seventh Grade, with hopes of becoming a true inheritor.

The private coach his family hired had praised the other party's strength more than once.

If he could show stronger potential in today's Free-for-All Assessment, he might have a chance to earn his appreciation and gain a backer.

Thinking this, Xu Dongtai's gaze burned, a trace of longing flashing in his eyes.

Then, his gaze shifted.

He finally looked at the figure in the corner, quietly warming up alongside Lin Hao.

As if sensing the stare, Chen Feng turned his head.

Their eyes met, and Xu Dongtai sneered, raising his hand to draw a line across his throat, revealing a mocking expression.

After taking the secret medicine, he was already close to Amateur Seventh Dan strength.

Not to mention that Zheng Qiang and Yu Shan had already been won over.

So this Chen Feng, who had once been a slight threat, was now nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Dongtai's expression turned cold as he withdrew his condescending gaze.

Bones loosened, muscles warmed.

He knew the Core Disciple spot was secured.