Monster Town

It was nearing noon, and the military region had long since prepared a sumptuous lunch for the Quasi-Martial Artists.

To avoid drawing attention, Luo Feng and Yang Wu sat in a corner of the cafeteria.

"There really are a lot of people taking the assessment," Luo Feng remarked, looking at the swarming crowd around them.

"This real-combat assessment for Quasi-Martial Artists only happens twice a year in each Base City. With six months of accumulation, plus those who failed due to injuries or missed the previous one, it's no surprise there are so many people," Yang Wu said slowly.

"Huh, this is actually meat from a monster!" Luo Feng took a bite of the dish and said with some surprise.

The price of monster meat in the Base City was staggering; even the lowest-grade monster meat cost over a hundred yuan per jin, something ordinary people rarely got to eat.

Before Yang Wu became a Martial Artist, he could only afford to eat it about once every half month, and Luo Feng had eaten it even less frequently.

"That's not surprising!" Yang Wu explained, "The reason monster meat is so expensive in the Base City is usually due to the high cost of transportation. Here in the military camp, these low-grade monster meats are available in abundance; obtaining them is probably easier than getting vegetables!"

"Brother Yang, you really know a lot!" Luo Feng exclaimed.

Yang Wu smiled. Having lived two lives, he indeed knew more common knowledge than Luo Feng, who had just graduated from high school. However, in this world, the most important thing was one's own strength.

The two of them chatted while they ate, and soon, they finished their lunch.

In the afternoon.

All the Quasi-Martial Artists gathered in a vast square, with the high-ranking officials of the North Military Region and various major factions standing at the front.

"The real-combat assessment for Quasi-Martial Artists is about to begin. Now, when your name is called, come up to collect your combat uniform and weapons."

An officer on the high platform shouted loudly. Although he didn't use a megaphone, his voice was clearly transmitted to the ears of every Quasi-Martial Artist.

Subsequently, more than a dozen officers began calling out the names of the Quasi-Martial Artists one by one. Those called stepped forward to collect their combat uniforms and weapons.

"Bai Yang."

"Yang Wu."

Hearing his name, Yang Wu hurried forward. Under the puzzled gaze of the officer distributing the gear, he took his weapon, combat uniform, and other equipment, then walked to the side to start putting them on.

A moment later, Luo Feng, carrying his combat uniform, battle blade, and shield, ran over as well.

"Brother Yang!" Looking at Yang Wu, who was putting on his combat uniform, Luo Feng asked, "Why don't you and I form a small team later to venture into this Monster Town together?"

Although Luo Feng preferred to hone his blade techniques and footwork alone, he decided to give that up for the sake of Yang Wu's safety.

The real-combat assessment for Quasi-Martial Artists was quite dangerous, and there were casualties every time. Although there were rescue teams, Luo Feng still felt a bit uneasy.

Hearing Luo Feng's words, Yang Wu smiled slightly.

Having such a sentiment from Luo Feng meant his years of effort hadn't been in vain. However, Yang Wu certainly wouldn't be acting with Luo Feng.

"Ah Feng, I appreciate your kindness, but this time I want to venture into the Monster Town alone."

After Yang Wu finished speaking, seeing that Luo Feng was about to say something more, he quickly smiled and said, "Ah Feng, pass me my weapon!"

"Brother Yang?"

Yang Wu's long spear was right by his side. Although Luo Feng was a bit puzzled, he picked it up anyway.

The moment Luo Feng picked up Yang Wu's weapon, a look of shock suddenly appeared on his face.

"Brother Yang, what is this?"

Luo Feng suddenly discovered that Yang Wu's long spear was even heavier than the 98kg Blood Shadow Battle Blade in his own hand!

"What's wrong?" Yang Wu smiled, "If you, 'Madman', can make great strides in strength, why can't your Brother Yang?"

"This..." Luo Feng was stunned for a moment, then said happily, "Brother Yang, have you successfully cultivated your Genetic Origin Energy too?"

"Yes!"

"Then how much strength did you gain, Brother Yang?" Luo Feng asked with a smile.

He was also very happy that Yang Wu had successfully cultivated his Genetic Origin Energy and greatly increased his strength.

"About 8000 kilograms!" Yang Wu said, feigning a calm expression, though his heart was blooming with joy.

I wonder what kind of reaction this future City Lord Luo will have when he hears me say this?

Sure enough, Luo Feng looked astonished after hearing Yang Wu's words.

"8000 kilograms? Brother Yang, are you serious? You didn't add an extra zero by mistake, did you!" Luo Feng looked disbelieving.

When he first successfully cultivated his Genetic Origin Energy, with the help of his Spiritual Force, he had only gained a little over two thousand kilograms of strength. How could anyone gain 8000 kilograms of strength in one go?

"Of course it's true, why would I lie to you?" Yang Wu laughed.

"Luo Feng, Luo Feng."

Just then, Wu Tong, the chief instructor of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in Yangzhou City, suddenly came over.

"Uncle Wu."

"Chief Instructor." Yang Wu and Luo Feng greeted him hurriedly.

"Yang Wu is here too. Put in some effort during the assessment later and strive to pass on your first try!" After encouraging Yang Wu, Wu Tong turned to Luo Feng and said, "Luo Feng, come with me!"

After saying this, Wu Tong turned around and led the way.

"Uncle Wu!" Luo Feng followed behind Wu Tong and suddenly asked, "Do you think it's possible for a martial artist to increase their strength by 8,000 kilograms the very first time they cultivate Genetic Origin Energy?"

"How could that be possible?" Wu Tong laughed. "Luo Feng, someone must be playing a joke on you."

"Is it really impossible?" Although Luo Feng didn't quite believe it either, he felt that Yang Wu wouldn't lie to him.

"Let me put it this way!" Wu Tong laughed, sounding annoyed. "You succeeded in cultivating Genetic Origin Energy this time and gained over two thousand kilograms of strength in one go; in Jiangnan Base City, only one or two geniuses like you appear in a year. As for even greater geniuses, while I haven't seen them, I have heard of a few. But the most anyone has ever gained at once was over four thousand kilograms, becoming an Advanced Warrior Level martial artist immediately upon qualifying. 8,000 kilograms? I've never even heard of such a thing. It's simply impossible!"

As the two talked, they arrived at the second floor of a quiet little building.

Here, Luo Feng encountered a provocation from Wan Dong, a genius martial artist from the Thunder Dojo, but Luo Feng, still lost in thought about Yang Wu's strength, completely ignored the other party.

By evening, Yang Wu and over a thousand other Quasi-Martial Artists were led by soldiers for over half an hour until they finally reached the outskirts of a small town.

"Roar--"

"Awoo--"

Various unsettling monster roars drifted out from the town.

"Hurry up, there aren't enough monsters inside! Transport another 1,200 Iron-Haired Wild Boars, 300 Shadow Cats, and 500 Tiger Mastiffs over here!" the person in charge of the assessment inside the town shouted orders.

Soon, heavy trucks drove into the town, and one could see that every large truck was carrying crazed monsters in large iron cages.

Two thousand of the weakest H-Level monsters were transported into the town, bringing the number of monsters inside to a staggering figure.

"Everyone!" An officer standing on a three-story building inside the town shouted to the crowd: "The rules for this Quasi-Martial Artist combat assessment are the same as in the past. It begins at 6:30 tonight and ends at 6:30 tomorrow morning."

"Your task is to hunt as many monsters as possible. The more monsters you hunt, the more points you will earn. For every monster you kill, cut off its left ear as proof!"

"Killing each other among Quasi-Martial Artists is strictly prohibited. Violators will be executed by firing squad immediately."

"Finally, only the top 60% of you in terms of points will successfully obtain the qualification of a martial artist; the others will have to wait for the next assessment."

"If anyone is seriously injured, be sure to press the distress button on your Communication Watch immediately, and someone will come to rescue you right away."

After finishing these instructions, the officer glanced at his Communication Watch and then shouted loudly: "Time is up! All Quasi-Martial Artists participating in the assessment, enter the Monster Town."

With a wave of his hand, the town gates swung open with a boom, and countless Quasi-Martial Artists rushed rapidly into the Monster Town.