Before the Test

He had passed the second level of the Warrior Path Trial Tower, but on the third level, facing nine ninth-rank Apprentice Level beast-type monsters, he had only killed one before being surrounded and slain.

"My close-combat techniques are too weak. My force amplitude is only 1. It takes at least several strikes to kill a single monster, sometimes even more than ten."

Li Qi shook his head. "My movement technique is also mediocre. Without spiritual telekinesis to assist me, I'll quickly be driven into a desperate situation when facing nine ninth-rank Apprentice Level monsters."

His foundation in close combat was weak, but fortunately, his foundation as a spiritual telekinetic was quite good. He had already completed the third stage of the Twenty-Eight Basic Controller Techniques.

"I need to ask Third Dad about movement techniques."

Having made up his mind, Li Qi left the Virtual Universe and sought advice from his third father, Ivanko, on movement techniques.

"It's a good thing you didn't blindly train on your own. Otherwise, correcting your mistakes would take a long time."

Seeing Li Qi come to him for guidance, Ivanko felt much more reassured. He had been afraid that Li Qi would keep practicing blindly without asking questions, training himself into trouble.

Ivanko said, "Because warriors need to fight at close range, their movement techniques should focus on borrowing force—using the environment, enemies, and every other available force to evade attacks with the smallest possible movements.

"Spiritual telekinetics are different. Since they can attack enemies from afar, their movement techniques should emphasize speed and explosive power, avoiding close proximity to enemies whenever possible."

Ivanko first explained the differences between the movement techniques of warriors and spiritual telekinetics, then carefully taught him the finer details.

Nine days later.

The Trial Tower of Zhaoguang Academy in the Virtual Universe.

Six beast-type monsters, each roughly seven or eight meters long, were constantly leaping and pouncing across the grassland as if they were playing.

Three bird-type monsters circled in the sky as well. Occasionally, one would dive toward the six beast-type monsters below, only to fly back up empty-clawed.

Amid the six beast-type monsters, Li Qi weaved between them, narrowly avoiding every attack.

At times, a monster's claw would seem certain to hit him, only for another monster to crash into it and cause its attack to miss.

While dodging the monsters' attacks, Li Qi would occasionally give a light block with the shield in his hand, borrowing the force to evade an attack from another monster.

Suddenly, all the monsters vanished, and a screen of light appeared out of nowhere.

"Time's up! Third level of the Trial Tower failed!"

Li Qi stretched, completely unconcerned about the failure. He had not come here to challenge the Trial Tower in the first place.

"Very good. This time, I was only hit once while challenging the third level of the Warrior Path Trial Tower."

He was very satisfied with this result. His movement technique had finally reached the subtle level.

"Unfortunately, my force amplitude is only 1. There's no way I can clear the fourth level of the Warrior Path Trial Tower."

On the third level of the Warrior Path Trial Tower, he could slowly wear down every monster with his movement technique.

But on the fourth level, where he would face twenty monsters, he would have no chance. There were simply too many of them. At most, he could hold out for twenty seconds; once those twenty seconds passed, the monsters would quickly overwhelm him.

"Tomorrow marks the start of Zhaoguang Academy's three-day entrance test. As Third Dad said before, the entrance test is divided into an amplitude test and a combat record assessment.

"Those with high amplitudes and strong records may receive special approval from the examiners and enter Zhaoguang Academy directly. If they do not receive special approval to enter Zhaoguang Academy,

"then they will have to undergo the Trial Tower assessment, with admission to Zhaoguang Academy determined by their Trial Tower assessment rankings."

After recalling the process for Zhaoguang Academy's entrance test, Li Qi set himself a small goal. "I'll strive to enter Zhaoguang Academy through special approval based on my amplitude and record."

Early on the third day.

Third Dad Ivanko took Li Qi to Zhaoguang Academy.

At the base of five skyscrapers that stood like pillars supporting the heavens, the four entrances of Zhaoguang Academy were packed with people. Hundreds crowded around the entrances, lining up as they waited.

Compared to the first day, far fewer people had come to take the test today.

Still, quite a few people had brought their children, all hoping their children possessed extraordinary talent and could enter Zhaoguang Academy to become powerful in the future.

As a Stellar Level powerhouse, Ivanko naturally possessed a few privileges. He could bring someone through a special passage without having to line up and wait with the people outside.

Their hovercar entered Zhaoguang Academy and stopped in an area where quite a few other hovercars were parked.

After getting out and taking a high-speed elevator, Ivanko expertly led Li Qi to the testing site.

The testing site was on the first floor of the north building among the five towers. Upon entering, there was a waiting area the size of a football field.

Many tables and chairs were arranged throughout the waiting area, but only twenty or thirty people sat scattered around it, making the place feel extremely empty.

When they saw someone arrive, quite a few people in the waiting area looked over. Most of them were youths around seventeen or eighteen.

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl asked, "Do any of you know those newcomers?"

One person shook his head. "No."

Another shook his head as well. "Me neither."

Seeing that none of their companions recognized them, the three found it strange. Were they outsiders?

They belonged to a Stellar Level family in Zhaoguang City. Having grown up in the circle of Stellar Level families in Zhaoguang City, there were few people they did not know.

"The one who brought that little fellow here is Ivanko Royce, the third son of the Royce Family."

A middle-aged man's voice sounded beside the three.

Hearing that voice, the three hurriedly rose to their feet and respectfully bowed in the direction it came from. In unison, they called, "Ancestor."

"Sit."

The middle-aged man nodded with a smile and pulled over a chair to sit down.

Only after the middle-aged man had taken his seat did the three sit back down, putting on attentive expressions.

Since their ancestor had personally brought them here, they naturally understood his preferences and knew that he enjoyed discussing interesting stories and watching excitement unfold.

Sure enough, they heard their ancestor speak. "Heh, you all know about the Royce Family.

"Though it was established only recently and has few members, it has produced several geniuses. The most famous of them is Ron Royce."

The three nodded in unison. Of course they had heard of the legendary Ron Royce, a legendary figure of Kuka Planet.

The middle-aged man continued, "This Royce Family is rather unusual. Every member of the family is quite talented, and nearly all of them have entered Zhaoguang Academy."

"Ha! The Royce Family is that impressive?"

The three were inwardly astonished. Their own family could not achieve anything close to that.

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes. "And that little fellow you saw has quite a reputation on the grasslands. It is said that during this beast tide, he killed a Planetary Level monster by himself."

"An Apprentice Level fighter killed a Planetary Level monster?" The three were stunned. "That's far too monstrous!"

If their ancestor had not been the one saying it, they would have challenged the claim. How could an Apprentice Level fighter possibly kill a Planetary Level monster?

But they knew their ancestor's character. He liked watching excitement, but he never made baseless claims. There was a ninety percent chance the rumors he spoke of were true!

The middle-aged man admonished them, "So don't be too arrogant. Don't look down on people from the grasslands. After all, your ancestor came from the grasslands too."

The three respectfully listened to the reprimand. "Yes, Ancestor."

"Li Qi Royce, Derrick's son. There will probably be something interesting to watch today..."

After lecturing the three juniors, the middle-aged man turned to look in Li Qi's direction. His intuition told him that something interesting might happen today.