He had passed the second floor of the Warrior Path Trial Tower, but on the third floor, facing nine Apprentice Level Nine beast-type monsters, he had been surrounded and killed after slaying only one.
My close-combat skills are too weak. My Force-Output 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 average. Without Mental Force assistance, facing nine Apprentice Level Nine monsters will quickly force me into a desperate situation.
His close-combat foundation was weak, but fortunately, his Spirit Reader foundation was quite solid. He had already completed the third stage of the Twenty-Eight Basic Controller Techniques.
"I need to ask Third Dad about Movement Technique."
Having made up his mind, Li Qi left the Virtual Universe and sought advice from his Third Dad, Ivanko, on Movement Technique.
"It's good that you didn't train recklessly by yourself. Otherwise, correcting your mistakes would take a long time."
Seeing Li Qi come to ask him for guidance, Ivanko felt much more at ease. He had been afraid that Li Qi would blindly practice without understanding or asking questions, only to develop problems.
Ivanko said, "Since Martial Artists need to fight in close quarters, their Movement Technique should focus on borrowing force—using the environment, enemies, and every other available source of force to evade attacks with the smallest possible movements.
"Spirit Readers are different. Since Spirit Readers can attack enemies from afar, their Movement Technique should focus on speed and explosive power, avoiding close contact with enemies whenever possible."
Ivanko first explained the differences between the Movement Techniques of Martial Artists and Spirit Readers, then gave Li Qi detailed instruction on its finer points.
Nine days later.
The Zhaoguang Academy Trial Tower in the Virtual Universe.
Six beast-type monsters, each around seven or eight meters long, were continuously leaping and pouncing across the grassland as if playing.
Three bird-type monsters circled in the sky as well. Occasionally, one would dive toward the six beast-type monsters below, only to return empty-clawed.
Among the six beast-type monsters, Li Qi moved between them, every attack missing him by the narrowest margin.
Sometimes, a monster's claw strike was clearly about to hit him, only for another monster to crash into it, causing it to miss helplessly.
As he evaded the monsters' attacks, Li Qi would occasionally give a light block with the shield in his hand, borrowing the force to dodge another monster's attack.
Suddenly, every monster vanished, and a screen of light appeared out of nowhere.
"Time has run out! Trial Tower third floor failed!"
Li Qi stretched, utterly unconcerned by 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 attempting the third floor of the Warrior Path Trial Tower.
He was very satisfied with this result. His Movement Technique had also reached the Subtle Level.
Unfortunately, my Force-Output Amplitude is only 1. There's no way I can clear the fourth floor of the Warrior Path Trial Tower.
On the third floor of the Warrior Path Trial Tower, he could slowly wear down every monster with his Movement Technique.
But on the fourth floor, where he would face twenty monsters, he would have no chance. There were simply too many monsters. He could hold out for twenty seconds at most; once those twenty seconds passed, the monsters would quickly overwhelm him.
*Tomorrow marks the start of Zhaoguang Academy's three-day Admission Test. As Third Dad said before, the Zhaoguang Academy Admission Test is divided into an amplitude test and a combat record.
Some applicants with high amplitudes and strong records will 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 a Trial Tower assessment, with admission to Zhaoguang Academy determined by ranking in the Trial Tower assessment.
After reviewing the Zhaoguang Academy Admission Test process, Li Qi set a small goal for himself. "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 bases of the five skyscrapers that rose like pillars of heaven, the four entrances to Zhaoguang Academy were packed with people. Hundreds stood crowded at the entrances, waiting in line.
Compared with the first day, far fewer people had come to take the test today.
But quite a few still brought their children along, all hoping their children possessed extraordinary talent and could enter Zhaoguang Academy to become powerful figures in the future.
As a Stellar Level powerhouse, Ivanko naturally enjoyed a few privileges. He could take people through a special passage without waiting in line with everyone else outside.
Their hovercar entered Zhaoguang Academy and stopped in an area where many 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. Beyond the entrance was a waiting area as large as a football field.
Many tables and chairs were arranged in the waiting area, but only twenty or thirty people sat scattered throughout it, making the place seem very empty.
When they saw people arrive, quite a few in the waiting area looked over. Most were teenagers around seventeen or eighteen.
A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl asked, "Do any of you know that newcomer?"
One person shook his head. "No."
Another shook his head as well. "Me neither."
Seeing that none of their companions recognized him, the three found it strange. Could he be from outside the city?
They belonged to a Stellar Level family in Zhaoguang City. Having moved among the circles of Zhaoguang City's Stellar Level families since childhood, 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 and respectfully bowed toward its source, calling in unison, "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 sat down did the three take their seats, adopting attentive expressions.
Since their ancestor had personally brought them here, they naturally understood his preferences. They knew he enjoyed talking about interesting matters 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 among 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 special. Its members are all fairly talented, and nearly all of them have entered Zhaoguang Academy."
Ha! Is the Royce Family really that impressive?
The three were astonished. Their own family could not achieve 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 killing a Planetary Level monster!" The three were deeply shocked. "That's far too monstrous!"
If their ancestor had not said it, they would have spoken up in rebuttal. How could an Apprentice Level possibly kill a Planetary Level monster?
But they knew their ancestor's personality. He liked watching excitement, but he never made baseless claims. The rumors he mentioned were ninety percent credible!
The middle-aged man lectured them, "So don't be too arrogant, and don't look down on people from the grasslands. After all, your ancestor also came from the grasslands."
The three respectfully listened to the lecture. "Yes, Ancestor."
"Li Qi Royce, Derrick's son. There will probably be something interesting to watch today..."
After lecturing his three juniors, the middle-aged man turned to look in Li Qi's direction. His intuition told him that something interesting might happen today.
Before you continue