Wang Hao's Dirty Trick

After the second round of testing, fewer than five hundred qualified candidates remained.

The atmosphere in the square had visibly grown solemn—none of those who had made it this far were mediocre. But everyone knew that the real test had only just begun.

The practical combat test: fight a Rank 2 early-stage puppet.

During the time it took an incense stick to burn, many candidates hurried to regulate their breathing, inspect their equipment, or even pray under their breath.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged in a corner of the resting area, closed his eyes, and circulated [Basic Breathing Technique].

Vital energy slowly flowed through his meridians, repairing the strain his body had endured during the speed test. He could feel that after every challenge at his limits, his body's capacity to adapt grew stronger—perhaps that was another hidden benefit brought by the system.

"Brother Fan!"

Chen Dahu squeezed his way over, concern written across his face. "You ran so fast just now, so you must've used up quite a bit of stamina, right? Want something to eat?"

He pulled out an oil-paper packet containing several pieces of dried meat.

Lin Fan opened his eyes and took a piece. "Thanks."

The dried meat was tough, but satisfyingly chewy, and could quickly replenish one's strength. Lin Fan chewed on it, but his gaze swept toward Wang Hao in the distance.

Wang Hao was gathered with several aristocratic youths, whispering about something. Every so often, he cast a cold, sinister glance in Lin Fan's direction.

"Brother Fan, you need to watch out for Wang Hao." Chen Dahu lowered his voice. "I just saw his father—the head of the Wang Family—go looking for the examiner in charge of the practical combat test. He's definitely planning something shady."

Lin Fan nodded without speaking.

He had expected this long ago.

In both the strength test and the speed test, Wang Hao had been utterly crushed by him. With that arrogant temperament of his, there was no way he would let it go.

The practical combat test was the perfect chance for revenge.

"Candidates, attention!"

The examiner from the practical combat testing area stepped forward. He was a sallow-faced middle-aged man with shifty eyes, and he looked somewhat unsettled.

"The third round, the practical combat test, will begin shortly. The rules are as follows: each person will enter a combat chamber and fight a Combat Puppet. Endure without defeat for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, or defeat the puppet, and you will pass."

He paused, his voice a little dry. "This year's puppet strength... has been adjusted to Rank 2 early stage. One minor realm higher than in previous years. Therefore, if you feel you cannot win, you may surrender early. The formation will immediately halt the puppet's movements."

His words stirred up a commotion.

Though they had long known the difficulty had been raised, hearing the words "Rank 2 early stage" with their own ears still made many candidates turn pale.

Rank 1 against Rank 2—even if it was only the early stage—was still a qualitative gap. Amount of vital energy, strength, speed, defense—every aspect was utterly overwhelming.

"Now, enter the combat chambers in numerical order. Numbers 1 through 10, prepare!"

Ten candidates walked toward the row of black, square buildings.

Every combat chamber was completely sealed, with only a single heavy iron door. Protective formation patterns had been carved into the doors to prevent the aftermath of battle from leaking out.

"Creeeak—"

The iron doors opened one after another. The candidates took deep breaths and walked inside.

The doors shut behind them.

The square fell quiet.

Everyone stared at the doors of the combat chambers, waiting for the results.

The time it took an incense stick to burn was neither long nor short.

But for the candidates inside, every second was torment.

Clang!

The first combat chamber's door opened.

A candidate staggered out, covered in blood, his left arm hanging at an unnatural angle—clearly broken. His face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled. "I... I surrender..."

A staff member stepped forward to examine him, confirmed his injuries, then announced, "Candidate No. 7 endured for three minutes and twenty-seven seconds before surrendering. Failed."

Then the second, the third... candidates emerged one after another.

Most were in a miserable state. Some had swollen, bruised faces, others had torn clothes. The worst one was carried out—his chest caved in, unconscious.

Out of ten people, only two had passed! And both had barely endured until the incense burned out; neither had the ability to defeat the puppet.

"This... this difficulty is completely insane!"

"A Rank 2 early-stage puppet is simply not something Rank 1 can handle!"

"What is the academy trying to do? Kill us?"

Complaints and doubts erupted from all sides.

On the high platform, Liu Batian frowned deeply and looked toward the examiner in charge of the practical combat testing area. "Examiner Zhou, is there something wrong with the strength of these puppets?"

The sallow-faced Examiner Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead. "V-Vice Principal, it was an order from above this year... They said the practical combat assessment had to be strengthened..."

"Strengthening the assessment is fine, but there has to be a limit." Liu Batian said in a low voice. "Rank 1 against Rank 2 was already extremely difficult. With this elimination rate..."

"B-but the rules have already been announced..." Examiner Zhou's voice grew softer and softer.

Liu Batian gave him a long, deep look, but said nothing more.

The testing continued.

The pass rate remained terrifyingly low. Every now and then, a few stood out—Wang Hao, for instance, had actually defeated the puppet in the eighth minute. Though he had suffered serious injuries himself, it was still a genuine victory.

There were also Liu Feng, Li Yue, and several other noble-born geniuses, who all barely managed to pass.

But the common-born candidates were almost completely wiped out.

"Group 48, numbers 471 to 480, get ready!"

Xiao Shitou was in this group—the youth who had been eliminated in the first round for falling short by twelve jin. He should have left already, yet for some reason, he had appeared here again.

Xiao Shitou walked toward Combat Room 9. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and found Lin Fan amid the crowd.

Their gazes met in the air.

Xiao Shitou opened his mouth and silently formed two words: "Good luck."

Then he turned around and entered the combat room.

Lin Fan's heart stirred.

This youth... he had clearly already been eliminated, yet he had stayed behind to watch the assessment, even cheering Lin Fan on.

"Creak—"

The iron door shut.

An incense stick's time passed.

The door to Combat Room 9 did not open.

Two incense sticks' time passed.

It still did not open.

"What's going on?" A staff member noticed something was wrong. "It's exceeded the allotted time!"

"Open the door, now!"

Several staff members rushed forward and forcibly opened the door to Combat Room 9.

The sight inside made everyone suck in a cold breath.

Xiao Shitou lay in a pool of blood, already unconscious. Across from him, the puppet—that two-meter-tall metal humanoid—was raising its foot, preparing to stomp on his head!

"Stop!" Liu Batian roared. His figure shot into the combat room like lightning, and he struck the puppet's chest with a palm.

Boom!

The puppet flew backward and slammed into the wall. Its chest caved in, its formation core shattered, and it ceased moving.

The medical staff hurried inside and carried Xiao Shitou out.

"Three broken ribs, internal bleeding, a fractured left leg... He needs emergency treatment!" After a swift examination, the physician's expression turned grave.

"How did this happen?" Liu Batian stared at Examiner Zhou, his gaze like a blade. "Where was the combat room's protection mechanism? Why was the puppet still attacking after the candidate lost consciousness?"

Examiner Zhou's face went deathly pale. "I—I don't know... The formation may have malfunctioned..."

"A malfunction?" Liu Batian sneered. "Once the assessment is over, I'll investigate this personally."

He glanced at Xiao Shitou as he was carried away, a trace of sorrow flashing through his eyes.

This youth had clearly already been eliminated, yet he had insisted on entering the combat room... Had he come with the resolve to die, trying to prove something?

The plaza fell deathly silent.

What they had just witnessed sent a chill through every candidate.

This was not an assessment. This was a fight to the death!

"Group 49, numbers 481 to 490, get ready!"

At last, it was Lin Fan's group's turn.

Lin Fan rose to his feet and headed toward Combat Room 7.

As he passed Wang Hao, Wang Hao suddenly chuckled under his breath. "Lin Fan, good luck. I hope you make it out alive."

Lin Fan did not slow down, nor did he even glance at him.

But inwardly, he had already raised his guard to the utmost.

Xiao Shitou's "accident" was definitely no coincidence.

The combat room's protection mechanism had failed, and the puppet had continued attacking after the candidate lost consciousness... It was too much of a coincidence.

If he encountered the same thing...

Lin Fan arrived before the door to Combat Room 7, drew a deep breath, and pushed it open.

The iron door closed behind him.

The combat room was pitch-black.

Only several spiritstone lamps on the walls gave off a faint glow.

The room was roughly twenty meters square. Both the floor and walls were covered in heavy black metal plates, etched with defensive formation patterns. At its center stood a Combat Puppet in silent stillness.

Lin Fan's pupils contracted.

There was something wrong with this puppet... no, this was definitely not right.

A normal early 2nd Grade puppet should have had a standard humanoid form, around two meters tall, forged entirely from refined iron, with formation patterns at its joints.

But this one stood a full two and a half meters tall! Its frame was even more burly, and its metal surface gleamed with a dark red luster—that was the mark of Red Copper mixed into it, its hardness far surpassing ordinary refined iron!

Moreover, its arms were exceptionally thick, its fists covered in spikes. The core formation on its chest shone several times brighter than that of an ordinary puppet!

This was absolutely not an early 2nd Grade puppet.

It was at least peak 2nd Grade, perhaps even... close to 3rd Grade!

"Formation activated."

An ice-cold mechanical voice came from all directions.

The red light in the puppet's eyes abruptly flared to life.

"Assessment begins. Objective: endure for one incense stick, or defeat the puppet."

Before the words had faded, the puppet moved.

Without warning, without gathering force, it simply—vanished from where it stood!

Lin Fan's hairs stood on end, and he instinctively rolled to the left.

"Boom!"

The spot where he had just been standing was smashed into a deep crater by a metal fist! Shattered stones sprayed everywhere!

So fast!

At least twice as fast as any puppet the previous examinees had faced!

Lin Fan had no time to think, because the second punch was already upon him.

He dodged again, activating the Status Panel's [Combat Log] function at the same time—something he had only discovered a few days ago, capable of analyzing an opponent's movement patterns in real time.

[Target: Combat Puppet (Abnormally Enhanced Type)]

[Estimated strength: Peak 2nd Grade—Early 3rd Grade]

[Speed: Estimated at 180% of a standard early 2nd Grade puppet]

[Strength: Estimated at 220% of a standard early 2nd Grade puppet]

[Defense: Red Copper alloy; conventional 1st Grade attacks ineffective]

The Status Panel's prompt was ice-cold and cruel.

Peak 2nd Grade to early 3rd Grade...

This had completely exceeded the scope of the assessment!

Wang Hao, you really spared no expense.

Lin Fan's gaze turned cold. [Basic Footwork] operated at full force beneath his feet as he constantly weaved and dodged through the combat chamber.

The puppet's offensive came like a raging storm, every punch carrying a shrieking gust of wind. Its metal fists slammed into the walls with deafening booms.

Lin Fan did not dare receive them head-on.

Though his strength now exceeded two thousand jin, that was only in comparison to human flesh and blood. The hardness of Red Copper alloy was enough to shatter the bones in his fists.

"Bang!"

He dodged a fraction too slowly, and the puppet's fist-wind grazed Lin Fan's left shoulder.

A sharp agony shot through him!

Gritting his teeth, Lin Fan borrowed the impact to tumble backward and open up the distance.

Looking down, he saw that the clothing over his left shoulder had already been torn apart, a bloody mark left on his skin—merely from being grazed by the fist-wind!

This could not go on.

Simply dodging was not enough. One incense stick was too long; sooner or later, he would make a mistake.

He had to strike back.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and pushed [Basic Breathing Technique] to its limit. Origin Energy surged through his body, pouring into his right fist.

Then, he made a risky decision—

He took the initiative to close in on the puppet!

"Looking to die?" In the monitoring room, Examiner Zhou watched the scene through the formation projection, a sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Young Master Wang Hao had made his instructions clear: Lin Fan was to be "accidentally seriously injured," preferably with his cultivation crippled.

This specially made "Blood Copper Puppet" was a banned item the Wang Family had acquired from the black market. It had originally been meant for practical combat training for 3rd Grade Martial Masters. Now, it was being used to deal with a mere 1st Grade Martial Trainee...

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author instead—perhaps it was simply renamed!

It was like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.

Still, watching that arrogant Kid get crushed was rather interesting.

Inside the combat room, Lin Fan had already closed in on the puppet.

The puppet reacted with extreme speed, its right fist crashing down like a hammer!

Lin Fan did not dodge.

He pushed off with his left foot, turned his body slightly, and drove his right fist upward to meet the metal fist!

"Basic Fist Technique—Skyrocket!"

This was the simplest Straight Punch in Basic Fist Technique.

Yet in Lin Fan's hands, this punch gathered the strength of his entire body, incorporated the exertion technique of Spiral Force, and was further boosted by the 20% bonus of [Basic Fist Technique] at Mastery Level!

"Boom—!!!"

Fist struck fist!

A terrifying shockwave erupted from the point of collision!

Lin Fan grunted and was sent flying, slamming into the wall.

A piercing pain shot through his right fist. His finger bones had likely cracked.

But the puppet did not fare much better—it staggered back three steps, two spikes on its right fist snapped off, and a shallow dent appeared on its fist.

In the surveillance room, Examiner Zhou's smile froze.

"Th-This... how is that possible?"

A Blood Copper Puppet's fist had been dented by a 1st Grade Martial Trainee?

Though it was only a shallow mark, it had already surpassed all reason!

Inside the combat room, Lin Fan slowly rose to his feet and shook his agonizingly painful right hand.

The Status Panel prompted:

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +15]

[Combat Experience +3]

[Detected battle across ranks (estimated 2–3 minor realms higher). Proficiency gain efficiency increased by 300%]

Just as expected.

Fighting across ranks caused proficiency to soar!

And that punch had confirmed one thing for him: though this puppet was powerful, it was not invincible.

Its weakness lay in its joints.

Those complex formation patterns provided power and flexibility, but they also meant its structure was relatively fragile.

As long as he could destroy a critical joint...

Lin Fan's gaze sharpened.

He charged at the puppet once more.

This time, his target was clear—the left knee joint!

The puppet seemed to sense his intention, and its attacks grew even more savage. Its fists rained down like raindrops, sealing off every route forward.

Lin Fan wove through the shadows of its fists like a fallen leaf in a gale. It looked perilous, yet he always evaded at the very last instant.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +8]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +8]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +8]...

His proficiency was rising at a frantic pace.

His perception of wind pressure, his awareness of shifts in airflow, his instinct for danger... the abilities honed in the Gale Formation were unleashed to their utmost at this moment.

Thirty seconds.

Lin Fan had already grown familiar with the puppet's attack rhythm.

Forty seconds.

He found an opening.

Fifty seconds—

Now!

The puppet's right fist swept sideways, its force spent, leaving its left side wide open!

Lin Fan lowered his body and slipped beneath the fist, instantly closing in on the puppet's left side. He drew back his right fist, while his left shot out like a venomous snake leaving its hole, accurately blasting the joint connection behind the puppet's left knee!

"Basic Fist Technique—Heart Drill!"

This punch concentrated the strength of his entire body into a single point, drilling forward in a spiral!

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of shattering!

Several formation lines on the puppet's left knee shattered!

Its movements instantly faltered, and its left leg lost some of its flexibility.

"It worked!"

Lin Fan's eyes lit up as he prepared to press the advantage—

Suddenly, the core formation on the puppet's chest flared with blazing light!

A terrifying pressure erupted from the puppet!

"Warning: Target threat level has increased. Initiating Second Combat Mode."

The ice-cold mechanical voice rang out again.

The puppet's eyes changed from red to deep purple.

Its movements suddenly became strange and fluid—no longer as stiff as before, but as nimble as a living person!

As its arms swung, they left behind streaks of afterimages!

Its speed rose once more!

"What?!" In the monitoring room, Examiner Zhou shot to his feet. "Second Combat Mode? Isn't that a function only 3rd Grade Puppets have?!"

The Blood Copper Puppet... had been modified?

What exactly had the Wang Family tampered with?!

Inside the practical combat room, Lin Fan was driven into a desperate situation.

With its Second Mode activated, the puppet's strength surged to nearly 3rd Grade Mid-tier! Every punch carried a terrifying gale; before the fist even arrived, the pressure of its wind made breathing difficult.

Bang!

Lin Fan barely blocked the punch, but his entire body was blasted away. He slammed into the wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.

His ribs... might be broken.

[Health Points: 72/100]

[Status: Moderate Internal Injury, fractured right finger bones, bruised left shoulder, broken ribs (estimated)]

The Status Panel's warning was shocking to behold.

He couldn't clash with it head-on anymore.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Fan began circling again.

But this time, the puppet was far too fast. Several of his evasions were perilously close, and wounds kept appearing across his body.

[Health Points: 65/100]

[Health Points: 58/100]...

At this rate, he wouldn't last three minutes.

Lin Fan's mind raced.

He couldn't run.

He couldn't win in a fight.

The only hope...

His gaze fell on the core formation on the puppet's chest, where the light shone brightest.

That was the source of its power—and its greatest weakness.

If he could destroy the core...

But how could he get close?

The puppet's defenses were watertight, especially around its chest, which was tightly guarded by both arms.

Unless...

A glint of resolve flashed through Lin Fan's eyes.

He stopped.

He no longer dodged.

He simply stood where he was, silently watching the puppet charge toward him.

"Has he given up?" In the monitoring room, Examiner Zhou let out a breath of relief.

Fine. As long as he was badly injured, that was enough. Just don't actually beat him to death, or it would be hard to explain.

The puppet's fist had already reached Lin Fan.

Carrying the aura of death.

At that very instant—

Lin Fan moved.

He did not dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, straight into the oncoming fist!

His right fist drew back. Every ounce of strength in his body, all his Origin Energy, all his will, condensed into this single punch.

Basic Fist Technique, Mastery Level, 20% bonus.

Spiral Force, triple stacked.

Two thousand jin of strength, unleashed in full.

Then came the final desperate gamble—Sacrificial Strike!

"Basic Fist Technique... Mountain Breaker!"

The punch flew.

Like a meteor crashing to earth.

His fist was not aimed at the puppet's fist, but at its chest!

A life for a life!

"Madman!" Examiner Zhou cried out.

"BOOM—!!!!!"

Both fists struck at once!

Lin Fan's chest was struck solidly by the metal fist!

He heard the crack of his ribs breaking, the sound of his organs rupturing, the sound of blood surging up his throat.

But he smiled.

Because his fist had also smashed into the puppet's core formation on its chest.

Spiral Force, triple stacked, bored through the Red Copper shell and drilled into the formation's interior.

"Crack... crack-crack..."

Cracks appeared in the core formation.

The purple light in the puppet's eyes began to flicker.

Its movements froze.

Then, slowly, slowly, it toppled backward.

"Bang!"

Its heavy body slammed into the floor, and the core formation in its chest went completely dark.

A dead silence filled the combat room.

Only Lin Fan's ragged breathing and the sound of blood dripping onto the floor remained.

Supporting himself against the wall, he barely managed to stay standing.

His chest was in agonizing pain; every breath felt like a blade cutting through him.

But he was alive.

And... he had won.

Status Panel notifications flashed wildly:

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +150 (bonus for fighting above one's level)]

[Combat Experience +30]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +80]

[Extreme near-death state detected. Skill comprehended: Sacrificial Strike (prototype)]

[Warning: Health Points below 30%. Seek treatment immediately.]

Lin Fan smiled, blood spilling from his mouth.

Then his vision went black, and he fell forward.

In the final second before losing consciousness, he heard the iron door being forced open, heard cries of alarm, and heard Liu Batian roar:

"There's something wrong with this puppet! Zhou Ming, you'd better explain this to me!"

And Wang Hao's incredulous shriek:

"Impossible! How could he possibly..."

The sounds gradually faded away.

Darkness swallowed everything.

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