However, what surprised Hao Zhuang somewhat was that the young man named Lin Li had incredibly fast reactions.
Most of the dozen or so punches he returned were blocked by Lin Li with both hands, and only a few landed on him.
"Remember, you're a Cultivator, not some thug who only knows how to fight with brute force. When you throw punches at me, use your Spiritual Energy!"
The timer beneath the ring showed that only thirty seconds remained. Hao Zhuang, still attacking the desperately defending Lin Li with ease, educated him as he punched.
"Bang."
The moment Hao Zhuang finished speaking, Lin Li suddenly erupted with power. He raised his right leg and kicked toward Hao Zhuang's stomach.
Hao Zhuang leaped backward, easily dodging Lin Li's sudden outburst, and landed five meters away.
"You think I don't want to use Spiritual Energy? I just haven't reached the point where I need to use it yet." Lin Li, who had taken several punches to the chest and stomach, bared his teeth at Hao Zhuang as he spoke.
"Oh? Then go ahead and use it! Time's almost up. Let me make this clear first: I wasn't serious just now. In the final ten seconds, I'll increase the force of my attacks and beat you until you can't stand up." Hao Zhuang smiled at Lin Li.
Unfortunately, that smile froze the moment he finished speaking. The expression on the staff member beneath the ring froze as well.
"Whoosh."
A Small Fireball the size of a pigeon's egg appeared at Lin Li's fingertip. In just a few seconds, the Small Fireball rapidly grew larger.
In less than five seconds, the Small Fireball had become a huge fireball the size of a soccer ball.
As a Second-Order Early Stage Cultivator, Hao Zhuang instantly sensed the fireball's destructive power. If he took it head-on, he wouldn't die, but he would certainly be blasted into critical condition.
Just as Lin Li was about to hurl the fireball in his hand at the examiner before him, he heard the other man say, "I didn't expect you to have awakened a Flame Ability. Not bad! You've passed this exam."
"Ah?" Lin Li, who had been preparing to launch the fireball, hadn't expected Hao Zhuang to announce that he had passed.
"All right, hurry up and dispel your ability! Don't blow up the ring." Hao Zhuang spoke to Lin Li.
After being suppressed and beaten for two minutes, Lin Li really wanted to send a fireball at him to vent his anger.
But the exam had already ended, so he no longer had a reason to throw one.
Once he dispelled his ability, the fireball floating on his fingertip vanished in an instant.
Hao Zhuang walked over to Lin Li and stared at him with blazing eyes.
What is this guy doing, staring at me like that? Could he be into that sort of thing? Lin Li felt his scalp go numb beneath Hao Zhuang's gaze.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Hao Zhuang say, "Would you like to join our Beast Hunter team?"
"Join your Beast Hunter team?" Lin Li asked in return.
"Our Beast Hunter team is short one person. Although you have no combat experience and no experience fighting beasts, I have high hopes for you. What do you say? Would you like to join us?" Hao Zhuang invited him.
Lin Li pondered for a moment, then shook his head at Hao Zhuang, who had extended the invitation. "Thank you for the invitation, but I have no plans to join a Beast Hunter team for now."
Although his invitation had been rejected by a newcomer, Hao Zhuang didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed heartily, pulled a business card from his pocket, and handed it to Lin Li.
"This is my business card. If you change your mind later, you can contact me anytime."
Lin Li accepted the business card, smiled, and nodded. Then he followed the staff member out of the exam room and went to collect his Beast Hunter License.
Inside Exam Room No. 6, where only one person remained, Hao Zhuang stood on the ring and muttered to himself, "This young man named Lin Li has an astonishing rate of growth!
"In that brief exchange of just over two minutes, he quickly adapted to the rhythm of my attacks and was even able to launch effective counterattacks. He'll probably become an extraordinary figure in the future."
"Drip, drip, drip..."
The gloomy, heavy clouds began to release rain. The raindrops were blown by the wind and slapped against the glass windows, forming streaks of water that trickled downward.
Looking at the palm-sized Beast Hunter Qualification Exam certificate in his hand, Lin Li wore a happy smile. His plan had taken another step forward.
"Hiss..."
The pain in his right arm made Lin Li suck in a breath of cold air. During the Beast Hunter Qualification Exam earlier, his right arm had blocked many of Hao Zhuang's punches for him.
It hadn't been obvious how badly he was hurt before, but his arm had now turned blue.
"I remember there's still half a bottle of Red Flower Oil at home. Once I get back, I'll rub it in properly and get the bruising to disperse as quickly as possible."
After muttering, Lin Li opened his folding umbrella. Holding it over his head, he walked into the rain and headed toward the distant street corner.
At the street corner, he crossed the traffic lights, turned right, and walked on for a while. A Weapon Shop appeared before Lin Li.
Cultivators had weapons made specifically for them. The Weapon Shop before him, named "Jin He," was precisely a shop specializing in serving Cultivators.
Everything sold inside was a spiritual-energy weapon forged from various Spiritual Energy materials.
"Welcome." The beautiful saleswoman greeted Lin Li as he entered the shop.
Unexpectedly, the saleswoman at this Weapon Shop wore a traditional cheongsam-style uniform that accentuated her figure exceptionally well.
Her pretty face and graceful figure, paired with the traditional cheongsam, complemented each other perfectly. Lin Li couldn't help but look at her a few extra times.
"Sir, is there anything you need?" the beautiful saleswoman asked with a smile.
"Ahem." Lin Li withdrew his gaze and coughed lightly, concealing his embarrassment at having been captivated by her beautiful cheongsam.
"I'd like to buy a spiritual-energy weapon. Could you recommend one for me?"
"Of course, sir. Please come this way." The beautiful saleswoman nodded with a smile and led Lin Li farther into the shop.
There were quite a few people browsing weapons in the shop. Most were over thirty, and their bodies were filled with a rugged air. At a glance, it was obvious that they were most likely Beast Hunters who frequently came into contact with beasts in the wilderness.
"Please take a look, sir. This is our shop's newly stocked Spirit Artifact Longsword, priced at one million yuan. This Spirit Artifact Saber is priced at one and a half million yuan, and this Spirit Artifact Spear is priced at two million yuan... As for this spiritual-energy firearm, it's priced at ten million yuan."
"..." With only five hundred thousand yuan to spend, Lin Li fell silent as he watched the beautiful saleswoman eloquently introduce one expensive spiritual-energy weapon after another.
More than ten minutes later, the beautiful saleswoman had introduced Lin Li to every spiritual-energy weapon priced above one million yuan displayed in the cabinet before them.
At that moment, she noticed that the young customer before her was staring at the cheapest spiritual-energy weapon in the shop.
P.S. Thanks to "08a" for the 100-point tip.
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