Small Town

Under the cover of night, most of the Monster Town was shrouded in gloom, with only the occasional beam from a searchlight sweeping across the outskirts, revealing monsters hidden in the darkness. A sense of danger quietly permeated the air.

Over a thousand prospective martial artists flooded into the town, scattering to various locations. Among them were those full of confidence who chose to act alone, and others who were cautious, teaming up because they felt their strength was insufficient. Soon, fierce battles erupted throughout the town; the roars of monsters, the angry shouts of humans, and screams of pain rose and fell, blending into a chaotic symphony.

In a large building not far from the sealed-off town, Wang Heng, a burly man from the Thunder Martial Arts Hall who had been chatting with Zhuge Tao earlier, was drinking with another military officer.

"This Martial Artist Practical Examination, while called an exam, is really more of a test of one's courage," Wang Heng said, watching the screen in the room where several prospective martial artists were working together to deal with a Shadow Cat. He shook his head. "If they don't even have this much courage, how can they step out of the base city in the future to face the wilderness, which is a hundred times more dangerous?" Not every martial artist can adapt to life-and-death combat; every year, many are eliminated, not to mention those who die in the wilderness.

Martial artists are respected and hold a transcendent status in society not only because of their immense power, but also because of the sacrifices and contributions they make.

The officer drinking with him nodded. "Indeed, these little ones are still too green. I wonder if we can unearth a few good seeds this time." Ordinary martial artists are of little use; only those with talent, those with the potential to become a 'God of War', are valued by all parties.

But how many Gods of War are there in the whole world, and how many people can become one each year?

It's difficult!

It's far too difficult!

The officer also shook his head.

On a dilapidated street in the town, Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan followed at a short distance behind Zhuge Qing and Han Lei.

Chen Daolin observed his surroundings vigilantly, guarding against monsters suddenly popping out. He had just heard the screams of a human in the distance and wondered which unlucky fellow had encountered a monster and whether they had been finished off.

Chen Daolin felt a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and excitement, much like the first time he jumped into a river as a child. His heart was full of contradictions; he was both eager to encounter a monster and somewhat apprehensive. His hand, gripping his cold spear, began to sweat slightly.

Ji Xuan's expression was much calmer than Chen Daolin's. Seeing his nervous state, she said, "It's fine, relax a little. The monsters we are facing in this exam are the most common and weakest types, and they are all solitary creatures. We can easily handle them one-on-one."

Indeed, they were both at the level of intermediate warriors, and their physical fitness was considered quite outstanding among intermediate warriors. The monsters used for the town's exam were all the weakest H-Level monsters (equivalent to junior warriors), so generally speaking, they couldn't pose any threat to them.

Chen Daolin felt a bit embarrassed that he, a grown man, had lost to a woman in terms of courage.

He did not know that Ji Xuan possessed a unique ability that allowed her to perceive her surroundings easily without using her eyes. Under such conditions, she was naturally more composed than Chen Daolin.

Perhaps it was because there were so many of them, but they walked for quite a while before encountering an Iron-Haired Wild Boar. This was a monster with high strength and high defense; its entire body was covered in hair like sharp needles, and it stood a full 1.5 meters tall, looking like a small car.

Zhuge Qing, who had been walking in front with Han Lei with a smile on her face, immediately tensed up and shrank back slightly. It seemed she wasn't as carefree as she appeared; she still knew how to be afraid.

Han Lei immediately smiled and said, "It's okay, Qingqing, don't be afraid. Leave it to me; watch me show you how to kill a monster." Han Lei held a blade in one hand and a shield in the other, walking toward the Iron-Haired Wild Boar with great momentum.

Han Lei's pace gradually quickened. The Iron-Haired Wild Boar opposite him also spotted Han Lei, letting out a strange, low growl. It kicked up its four hooves, stirring up a cloud of dust, and charged toward the human who had suddenly appeared with the momentum of a small tank. The terrifying sense of oppression was impossible to imagine if one wasn't on the scene.

Chen Daolin felt his own heart racing along with the wild boar's charge. His hand tightened instinctively around his spear, his eyes fixed on Han Lei, who was about to collide with the beast.

At the very moment the Iron-Haired Wild Boar was about to crash into him, Han Lei quickly dodged to the side. At the same time, he swung his combat blade fiercely, and a bright flash of steel swept across the boar's neck as they crossed paths in an instant.

Puff. Blood sprayed like a fountain from the Iron-Haired Wild Boar's neck, splashing everywhere. The beast's massive body stumbled forward for several meters due to momentum before crashing down, twitching incessantly. Blood pooled beneath it, and a thick, pungent smell of gore filled the air.

Chen Daolin's eyes lit up. The power and speed Han Lei had just unleashed were only at the intermediate warrior level, but his calm, collected attitude, his timing, and his decisive, clean execution gave him great inspiration.

For a moment, Chen Daolin couldn't help but start simulating in his mind how he would deal with this Iron-Haired Wild Boar if he were in Han Lei's position. He became completely lost in thought, his hand even mimicking a thrusting motion with his spear.

Chen Daolin was the type of person who, once obsessed with something, would become completely immersed in it, ignoring everything else in the outside world.

Zhuge Qing, whose heart had been in her throat, breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Han Lei successfully kill the monster. She ran over excitedly and said, "Lei Ge, you're so amazing! You killed this monster in one go." Her eyes were filled with admiration.

Han Lei said modestly, "This is nothing. It's just that this monster was too weak. There are many people better than me." As he spoke, he glanced at Ji Xuan in the distance.

"How can you say that? I think you're the most amazing one in this exam, Lei Ge," Zhuge Qing said admiringly. She had felt a strong attraction to Han Lei since they first met. In fact, the reason she had come to participate in the Martial Artist Practical Examination had a lot to do with him. Otherwise, given her father's status in the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, obtaining martial artist status would have been a trivial matter.

Unfortunately, her father was one of the high-level officials at the Jiangnan General Hall of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, which had always been at odds with the Thunder Martial Arts Hall. Her father didn't think much of Han Lei, which caused her a great deal of distress.

Zhuge Qing glanced at Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan standing not far away and said loudly on purpose, "I told you we didn't need protection, but some people insisted on following us. Look, it was a waste of effort, wasn't it?" Zhuge Qing grabbed Han Lei's arm and urged, "Lei Ge, let's go." Han Lei hesitated, glanced at Ji Xuan, and left with Zhuge Qing.

Ji Xuan watched Zhuge Qing and Han Lei leave, remaining by the side of the dazed Chen Daolin without moving.

It was unknown how much time had passed when Chen Daolin snapped out of it, only to find himself standing on the street with only Ji Xuan by his side, while Zhuge Qing and Han Lei were long gone.

"You're awake," Ji Xuan said upon seeing Chen Daolin's expression.

Chen Daolin felt a bit awkward. "Where are they?"

"They left a while ago," Ji Xuan said calmly. "What you just did was very dangerous. Don't do that again in the future."

Chen Daolin knew this was her showing concern, so he nodded silently.

He had indeed been a bit carried away.

However, having witnessed that duel and seen the strength of the monsters in the town, Chen Daolin felt confident. He was now full of resolve to fight the monsters.

"Let's split up from here on out. That's the only way to get proper training," Ji Xuan suddenly said.

Chen Daolin nodded. "Alright, be careful and stay safe." Chen Daolin knew Ji Xuan's strength, so he wasn't worried. As for protecting Zhuge Qing, with Han Lei there, and considering Zhuge Qing wasn't a weak, ordinary person, nothing should happen to her.

Finally having the chance to fight real monsters and hone his strength, Chen Daolin was full of fighting spirit and eager to try.

"Mm, you too."

Ji Xuan said this and walked away.

Chen Daolin watched the direction she left in, then turned and walked away himself.

It was time to fight.

Above his head, the stars were brilliant, and the night remained deep.