The Town

Most of Monster Town lay shrouded in darkness beneath the night sky. Only at the outskirts did bright searchlights occasionally sweep across the area, revealing monsters hidden in the shadows as an air of danger quietly spread.

More than a thousand Quasi-Martial Artists poured into the town, scattering in every direction. Some were confident enough to act alone, while others, cautious and aware that they weren't strong enough, teamed up. Before long, fighting broke out throughout the town. The roars of monsters, the shouts of people, and their screams rang out one after another, blending into a cacophony.

Inside a large building not far from the Closed Town, Wang Heng, the burly man from the Thunder Martial Arts Hall who had chatted with Zhuge Tao earlier, was drinking with another officer.

"The Martial Artist Practical Examination may be called an examination, but it's really more of a test of courage." Wang Heng watched a few Quasi-Martial Artists working together to take on a Shadow Cat on the screen in the room, then shook his head. "If they don't even have the courage for this, how will they ever leave the Base City and face the wilderness, which is a hundred times more dangerous?" Not every martial artist could handle life-and-death combat. Many were eliminated every year, not to mention the martial artists who died in the wilderness.

Martial artists were admired and held an extraordinary status in society not only because of their strength, but also because of the sacrifices they made and the contributions they offered.

The officer drinking with him nodded. "That's right. These youngsters are still too green. I wonder if we'll find any promising recruits among them this time." Ordinary martial artists weren't much use. Only the gifted ones with the potential to become "Gods of War" were valued by the various factions.

But how many Gods of War were there in the entire world? And how many people became Gods of War each year?

It was hard!

Far too hard!

The officer shook his head too.

On a run-down street in the town, Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan trailed a short distance behind Zhuge Qing and Han Lei.

Chen Daolin warily watched his surroundings, on guard for monsters that might suddenly appear. He had just heard someone scream in the distance. Some unlucky person must have run into a monster. Had they been killed?

Chen Daolin felt nervous, but also eager and excited. It was like the first time he'd jumped into a river: his heart had been full of conflicting feelings, eager for what might happen but also uneasy. His hand tightened around the cold spear, and his palm began to sweat.

Ji Xuan seemed much calmer than Chen Daolin. Seeing how nervous he was, she said, "It's fine. Relax a little. The monsters in this examination are all the most ordinary and weakest kind, and they're all solitary. We can easily handle them one-on-one."

Indeed, they were both at the Intermediate Warrior level, and their physical fitness was above average for that level. The examination used only the weakest H-Level monsters—equivalent to the Beginner Warrior Level. Generally speaking, they couldn't pose much of a threat to them.

Chen Daolin felt embarrassed. He was a grown man, yet he was less courageous than a woman.

He didn't know that Ji Xuan's unique ability let her easily sense her surroundings without using her eyes. Under those conditions, of course she seemed calmer than Chen Daolin.

Perhaps because there were so many of them, or for some other reason, they walked for quite a while before encountering an Iron-Haired Wild Boar. It was a powerful, heavily armored monster, its bristles like rows of spikes. It stood a full meter and a half tall and looked like a small car.

Zhuge Qing, who had been walking ahead with Han Lei and smiling broadly, immediately tensed up. She drew back slightly, showing that she wasn't as carefree as she looked and knew how to be afraid.

Han Lei immediately laughed. "It's fine, Qingqing. Don't be scared. Leave it to me. I'll show you how to kill a monster." Holding a blade in one hand and a shield in the other, Han Lei strode toward the Iron-Haired Wild Boar.

Han Lei gradually picked up his pace. The Iron-Haired Wild Boar spotted him too and let out a strange, low growl. It raised its four hooves, kicking up a cloud of dust as it charged toward the humans like a small tank. Its terrifying sense of pressure was impossible to imagine unless you were there.

Chen Daolin felt his heart pound wildly along with the boar's charge. His hand tightened around the spear before he realized it, and he stared at Han Lei, who was about to collide with the Iron-Haired Wild Boar.

At the instant the boar was about to hit him, Han Lei darted to the side and swung his War Blade. A flash of cold steel swept across the boar's neck, and the two passed each other in a blur.

Blood gushed from the boar's neck like a fountain, spraying everywhere. Its massive body staggered several meters farther under its own momentum before crashing to the ground. It thrashed for a while as blood spread beneath it and the heavy stench filled the air.

Chen Daolin's eyes lit up. Han Lei's strength and speed had been no more than those of an Intermediate Warrior, but his composure, his ability to seize the right moment, and his decisive strike had given Chen Daolin a great deal to learn from.

Before long, Chen Daolin couldn't help imagining how he would have dealt with the Iron-Haired Wild Boar from Han Lei's position. He became completely absorbed in the thought, even mimicking a thrust with the spear in his hand.

Deep down, Chen Daolin was the sort of person who became wholly absorbed in something once it fascinated him, paying no attention to the outside world.

Zhuge Qing had tensed up, but only relaxed once Han Lei had killed the monster. She ran over excitedly and said, "Lei Ge, you're amazing! You killed that monster in one move." Admiration shone in her eyes.

Han Lei replied modestly, "It's nothing. This monster was just too weak. There are plenty of people stronger than me." As he spoke, he glanced at Ji Xuan in the distance.

"How could that be? I think you're the strongest person in this examination, Lei Ge," Zhuge Qing said admiringly. She had liked Han Lei ever since they first met. In fact, he was a big reason she had come to take the Martial Artist Practical Examination this time. With her father's position at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, obtaining martial artist status would have been a piece of cake.

Unfortunately, her father was one of the senior figures at the Jiangnan General Hall of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, which had always been at odds with the Thunder Martial Arts Hall. He also didn't think much of Han Lei, which left her troubled.

Zhuge Qing glanced at Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan, who stood not far away, then deliberately raised her voice. "I told you I didn't need protection, but certain people insisted on following us. See? It was a waste of effort." She took Han Lei by the arm and urged him, "Lei Ge, let's go." Han Lei hesitated, glancing at Ji Xuan, but then left with Zhuge Qing.

Ji Xuan watched Zhuge Qing and Han Lei leave. She stayed beside Chen Daolin, who was still lost in thought.

After who knew how long, Chen Daolin snapped out of it and realized he was standing in the street with only Ji Xuan beside him. Zhuge Qing and Han Lei had disappeared at some point.

"You're back with us." Ji Xuan saw Chen Daolin's expression and spoke.

Chen Daolin felt a little awkward. "Where did they go?"

"They left a little while ago." Ji Xuan remained calm. "What you did just now was dangerous. Don't do that again."

Chen Daolin knew she was concerned for him and silently nodded.

He had indeed let himself get carried away.

But after witnessing that fight with his own eyes and seeing how strong the town's monsters were, Chen Daolin had a much better idea of what to expect. He was now confident about fighting monsters.

"Let's split up from here. That way, we can get some real training," Ji Xuan said suddenly.

Chen Daolin nodded. "All right. Be careful and stay safe." He knew how strong Ji Xuan was, so he wasn't worried. As for protecting Zhuge Qing, Han Lei was with her, and Zhuge Qing wasn't some helpless ordinary person. Nothing should happen to her.

The chance to fight real monsters and hone his skills was rare. Chen Daolin was already eager for battle.

"Mm. You too."

Ji Xuan said a few words and left.

Chen Daolin watched her go, then turned and headed the other way.

It was time to fight.

Above him, the stars glittered brilliantly beneath the still-deep night sky.