On the training ground, after Lin Yi stopped him, Wang Kai didn't say anything more. He stood off to the side with Lin Yi to rest.
They waited like this for about half an hour.
Suddenly—
"Vice Principal Zhao Hai Hong and Dean Zhao Hai Shan of Guangling Martial Academy have arrived!"
A booming voice rang across the training ground. At the entrance, an elderly white-haired man in a white robe and wearing a smile appeared, surrounded by Dean Zhao Hai Shan, several martial arts instructors from Guangling Martial Academy who had come with the group, and more than ten instructors from Prefecture City Martial Academy.
Dean Zhao Hai Shan walked just half a step behind the white-haired elder, chatting and laughing with him as they made their way over.
The other martial arts instructors held much lower positions and stood near the back of the crowd.
Seeing this, the many students on the training ground, including Lin Yi and Wang Kai, dared not be neglectful. They cupped their hands in greeting.
"We pay our respects to Dean Hai Hong and Dean Hai Shan!"
"No need for formalities."
The white-haired elder waved his hand.
"Most of you probably already know why I've come today."
"A few days ago, Dean Hai Shan of Guangling Martial Academy sent me a letter. He said that two exceptionally gifted martial arts prodigies had appeared at his academy and asked me to give them a chance to come and train at Dongshan Martial Academy."
"I looked over their records and found that both of them were indeed quite talented."
"So, after giving it careful consideration, I decided to hold a simple assessment for them today, in the spirit of cultivating talent for our sect. If they pass, they may join Dongshan Martial Academy to train."
"As for the details of the assessment? Teacher Sun, announce them."
The white-haired elder, Zhao Hai Hong, instructed a teacher beside him who was dressed like a scholar.
"Yes, Dean!"
The scholar bowed respectfully, then turned toward the students and instructors gathered on the training ground and called out:
"Everyone, I'm Sun Wen Fang, an instructor at Dongshan Martial Academy. I'll be hosting this entrance assessment on behalf of Dean Hai Hong for the two students from Guangling Martial Academy who've come from afar to study here."
"The assessment is simple: each of them will fight a one-on-one duel."
"Before the duels begin, we'll draw lots to select a student from Dongshan Martial Academy who ranked among the top two hundred in the last Martial Academy Grand Competition."
"That student will then fight the first student from Guangling Martial Academy."
"If the student from Guangling Martial Academy wins, they'll pass the assessment and be allowed to train at Dongshan Martial Academy."
"If they lose, it means they have no affinity with Dongshan Martial Academy, and we can't accept them."
"The other student from Guangling Martial Academy will face the same process: drawing lots, fighting, and letting the outcome speak for itself."
"All right! That's the end of the rules. Students ranked in the top two hundred at Dongshan Martial Academy, step forward. We're drawing lots now."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Hearing this, many of the students present grew excited.
Getting to face these two country bumpkins in front of everyone and beat them soundly was a wonderful chance to make a name for themselves.
The talented youngsters present were all young at heart. Which of them wouldn't want to steal the spotlight?
Besides, after beating these two country bumpkins, they could show them just how far the geniuses from their tiny hometowns fell short of true young heroes like themselves!
"Pick me! Pick me! Make sure you pick me!"
"Haha! You should pick me! The Pear Blossom Mountain Splitting Axe in my hands is already itching for a fight. With me in the ring, those two country bumpkins won't be going home in one piece!"
"Haha! Old Pan makes a good point, but my sword, Yuan Feng's, is no less sharp! You'd better step aside!"
One young man and woman after another eagerly stepped forward. After about twenty seconds of drawing lots, a burly youth holding a Twelve-Foot Iron Spear raised a red-lacquered wooden slip and laughed.
"Haha! I got picked! I'm up in the first round! I'll be fighting the first match!"
"Hey, you two country bumpkins! Which one of you wants to fight me first?"
"I'll fight you!"
Seeing the burly youth's arrogance, Wang Kai, who'd been seething for a while now, couldn't hold back. He strode forward with his greatsword in hand.
But out of good manners, he still forced down his anger and gave the burly youth the customary martial-world salute with cupped fists before speaking.
"I'm Wang... of the Wang Family of Guangling Prefecture City—"
"Enough! You don't need to tell me your name!"
The burly youth waved his hand dismissively.
"I have no interest in knowing your name. We'll never cross paths again anyway, so stop wasting time and make your move!"
"You... are asking for death!"
At that, Wang Kai could no longer contain his anger. He lifted his greatsword high over his head, like an Ancient God splitting open the heavens and earth, and brought it down in a single slash toward the burly spear-wielding youth.
It was the first move of the Fifth-Rank Martial Art, Great Mountain Splitting Sword Technique—One Sword Splits the Mountain!
Boom!
The immense force blasted through the air, setting off layers of cloud rings in the void.
Wang Kai's sword came down with the momentum of a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist. Its power was truly impressive, carrying a hint of the force to split mountains and shatter stone.
"Oh? This kid's stronger than we thought."
A thin youth on the training ground looked surprised.
"Judging by the power of that strike, if he's lucky, he might actually make the top two hundred at Dongshan Martial Academy. He really does have some talent."
"Ha! So what if he has a little talent?"
As soon as the thin youth finished speaking, a sharp-featured girl sneered.
"Coming from a small place is still coming from a small place. Even with a little talent, he won't be able to make the most of it."
"With strength like his, he'd barely scrape into the bottom of the top two hundred at Dongshan Martial Academy."
"And Zhou Shan ranked one hundred and fifty-eighth in the Martial Academy Grand Competition half a month ago. He's far stronger than this kid. I refuse to believe this fellow can beat Zhou Shan, pass the assessment, and get into Dongshan Martial Academy."
"Exactly! The only reason this kid's in trouble is that he got unlucky and drew Zhou Shan!"
"With Zhou Shan's strength, this kid won't just lose—he won't even last a hundred moves, if you ask me. Let's just sit back and enjoy the show."
"Heh! A country bumpkin's a country bumpkin. He thinks he can get into Dongshan Martial Academy? Hmph! Keep dreaming!"
The young men and women jeered mercilessly, one after another.
But on the battlefield...
Before you continue