Martial Arts Exam Begins

The next few days were calm and uneventful.

That icy feeling of being watched by a venomous snake vanished completely. Lin Feng knew it was not because the other side had given up, but because Teacher Lei Lie had acted. With the thunderous methods of the Martial Arts Bureau's director, even if he could not uproot Shadow Kill Pavilion entirely, he could still force them to rein in their claws within Jiangnan City for the time being—at the very least, they would no longer dare act so openly.

As for the Zhang Family, the follow-up news Chen Wu sent confirmed that after Lei Lie publicly issued his warning, that influential figure from the Provincial Capital had hurriedly left Jiangnan City. Zhang Tianba, too, had gone utterly silent like a duck with its neck wrung. Even the Zhang Family's many businesses had become far more low-key.

This was the deterrence brought by absolute strength.

Lin Feng was more than happy for the peace and quiet, throwing all his focus into cultivation. By day, he tempered his body and condensed Thunder True Qi in the Martial Arts Bureau's Advanced Training Area, inside a triple-gravity chamber. At night, he returned to his apartment, consumed Energy Liquid, and used the system's analysis function to continuously refine the method of condensing the second level of Thunder Gang in Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, while also attempting to integrate the move "Electric Light Finger" more deeply with the True Meaning of Thunder.

His strength steadily and rapidly improved.

[Strength: 968kg]

[Agility: 51m/s]

[Nine Heavens Thunder Blade Second Level Mastery: 12%]

He was already not far from the peak of the mid-warrior stage, and the speed at which he condensed Thunder Gang had also increased slightly. Though it still could not be used as a conventional method, it was no longer as taxing as it had been the first time.

That day, Lin Feng had just emerged from the gravity chamber and was preparing to visit the internal Ancient Texts Library to look up insights on the fine control of True Qi when his personal communicator and the Martial Arts Bureau's internal public broadcast sounded almost simultaneously.

"Citywide announcement! Jiangnan Province's Martial Arts Exam Qualification Tournament will officially begin in three days! All registered candidates, please proceed to your respective test sites tomorrow for final information verification and to collect your competition credentials and detailed rule manuals!"

The broadcast echoed through the spacious main hall of the Martial Arts Bureau headquarters, instantly igniting the passion of every young martial artist. Whether they were students who had come to use the facilities or internal Martial Arts Bureau staff, all stopped in their tracks, excitement and anticipation appearing on their faces.

"It's finally starting!"

"Three years of waiting, and the day is finally here!"

"I wonder what changes there'll be to the rules this year..."

Discussions broke out everywhere, and the air was thick with the tension and restlessness of an impending battle.

Lin Feng's communicator also received official notices from the school and the Education Department. He took a deep breath, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. The stage he had waited so long for was finally about to raise its curtain.

He did not go to the Ancient Texts Library after all, instead returning directly to his low-rent apartment. Not long afterward, Chen Wu called.

"Brother Lin! You got the news, right?" Chen Wu's voice was brimming with barely restrained excitement. "The qualification tournament starts in three days! I just got some inside information about this year's rules from my dad. Wanna hear it?"

"Go on." Lin Feng was concise.

"This year's qualification tournament has three trials!" Chen Wu spoke at lightning speed. "The first is the 'Cloud Climbing Ladder'! It's supposedly a gravity staircase simulated with the latest technology. The higher you go, the greater the pressure. It tests your foundation, endurance, and willpower! They say there are nine hundred and ninety-nine steps!"

"The second is 'Phantom Beast Alley'! You have to pass through an alley filled with all kinds of illusory demonic beasts. Though these phantom beasts aren't physical entities, their attacks carry real spiritual impacts and slight physical feedback. It tests your reactions, movement techniques, and ability to handle real combat!"

"The third is the 'Arena Qualification Battle'! Candidates who pass the first two trials will be randomly assigned opponents for a single-elimination tournament. Only those who win three matches in a row will qualify to participate in the main Jiangnan Province Martial Arts Exam!"

Lin Feng listened silently, rapidly analyzing it all. The first two trials tested overall capabilities, while the third was a pure practical-combat selection. The rules were not particularly surprising, but they were effective, quickly filtering out the true elites.

"What else?" Lin Feng asked. He could tell Chen Wu had not finished.

"Hehe, I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Brother Lin." Chen Wu lowered his voice. "Apparently, the results of this qualification tournament—especially the number of steps climbed on the 'Cloud Climbing Ladder' and the completion time for 'Phantom Beast Alley'—will be recorded and scored, then counted toward the initial points for the main tournament! And those who perform exceptionally well might be directly noticed by certain important figures watching from the shadows, receiving special attention or even direct admission!"

Special attention? Direct admission?

Lin Feng's gaze shifted slightly. That was unexpected news. It seemed this qualification tournament was not merely a simple selection process—it was also the first opportunity to display one's potential and draw the attention of higher circles.

"Also," Chen Wu's tone became somewhat serious, "my dad warned me that although Director Lei has intimidated the petty scoundrels, it's easy to dodge an open spear but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. There'll be all kinds of people at the qualification tournament. The Zhang Family, or others jealous of you, Brother Lin, may try to trip you up within the rules—for example, deliberately striking heavily during arena battles, or joining forces with others to target you. You must be careful."

"Mm, I understand. Thanks." Lin Feng's tone remained calm. He had long anticipated such tricks from these demons and monsters.

After ending the call, Lin Feng closed his eyes and began simulating the three trials in his mind.

"Cloud Climbing Ladder... a gravity environment. My Thunder Foundation Establishment Chapter and my hard training in the gravity chamber are perfectly suited for it. The key will be endurance and precise control over my own strength."

"Phantom Beast Alley... tests of spiritual impact and movement techniques. My Spiritual Power far surpasses those at the same level, and I've already mastered 'Thunder Flash' and 'Galloping Thunder Steps,' so it shouldn't be a problem. What I need to watch for are the attack patterns of certain special phantom beasts."

"Arena battles... pure overwhelming strength will be enough. Any schemes and tricks are nothing but a joke before absolute power."

He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with confidence.

Over the next two days, Lin Feng no longer trained at high intensity, focusing instead on adjusting his condition. He brought his body, energy, and spirit to their peak, like a fully drawn bow waiting only for the instant its arrow left the string.

On the night before the qualification tournament, Lin Feng received a call from Lei Lie.

"How is your condition?" Lei Lie's voice was as steady as ever.

"Reporting to Teacher, I am fully prepared," Lin Feng replied.

"Mm." Lei Lie responded, then paused briefly before saying, "Tomorrow's qualification tournament—act without restraint. Do not hold back for any reason. Your stage is not here, but in the provincial main tournament, and in places even higher. Let those people see what the might of thunder truly is."

"Yes! This disciple will not disgrace your expectations!"

"Go."

The call ended. Holding his communicator, Lin Feng could feel the undisguised expectation and protective intent in his teacher's words.

He took a deep breath and suppressed the slight turbulence in his heart.

The night deepened, yet the city remained brightly lit. Countless young martial artists carrying dreams and ambitions were waiting for dawn to arrive.

Lin Feng stood by the window, looking toward the distant city center—there lay tomorrow's main qualification tournament venue.

His fist quietly clenched, and a purple arc of electricity flashed across his fingertips before vanishing.

"Cloud Climbing Ladder... Phantom Beast Alley... Arena Qualification Battle..."

"I'll use these three trials as the first step for me, Lin Feng, to make my name resound across Jiangnan!"