Combat Assessment

For the next month, Lin Yun hardly ever left the house.

Aside from the day after he completed the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method, when he went to the Limit Dojo and showed Jiang Nian his nearly 10,000-kilogram punch, leaving Jiang Nian stunned before he sauntered away, Lin Yun stayed home. That display also meant he had fulfilled the first and second clauses of his contract with the dojo—and then some. His punch strength had tripled after his first time cultivating Genetic Origin Energy! At 10,000 kilograms, his strength was already close to that of a seasoned Junior War General!

All he had to do was fulfill any one of the remaining clauses, and he could apply to enter the War God Training Camp. Even without it, he could reach the peak of the War God Level without encountering any bottlenecks. Still, he would need guidance to break through to the Planetary Level later on, and the War God Training Camp offered the best opportunity.

After that, the villa in Bright Moon Residential District became his cultivation base. Every morning, he practiced his footwork and Basic Blade Technique in the courtyard, striving to reach the Micro-Level as soon as possible. In the morning and afternoon, he sat cross-legged in his room, holding Magical Beast Crystal Cores as he practiced the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method and absorbed the life energy within them. At night, he switched his consciousness to the Coiling Dragon World and meditated in the back hills of Ernst Academy, tempering his magical and spiritual power.

Two worlds, two bodies—cultivating in tandem, each reinforcing the other.

The crystal cores were even more effective than he had expected. He used Level 3 and Level 4 cores as his daily "rations," absorbing several a day as his Genetic Origin Energy steadily grew. He saved Level 5 and Level 6 cores for pushing past minor bottlenecks, each one bringing a noticeable improvement. Nourished by the life energy, his body grew stronger and tougher by the day.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

On the evening of February 28, the day before the combat assessment, Lin Yun sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly absorbing energy from a Level 6 Crystal Core in his hand.

The life energy flowed into his body like a gentle stream, greedily devoured by his cells. He could feel that his Genetic Origin Energy had reached its absolute limit. Every cell was like a water jar filled to the brim—not a single drop more would fit.

The peak of the High-Level War General Level.

He was only one step away from the War God Level.

Lin Yun opened his eyes and shook the powdery remains of the crystal core from his hand. He let out a long breath.

"Just a little short," he murmured. "I'm only missing the right opportunity."

The War God Level was a watershed on the path of a Warrior. The gap between a High-Level War General and a Junior War God wasn't just a matter of the amount of Genetic Origin Energy they possessed—it was a qualitative leap. Many Warriors remained stuck at that threshold for years, even decades, and some never crossed it at all.

But Lin Yun wasn't in a hurry. He had plenty of time and resources. What's more, he had the cultivation system of the Coiling Dragon World to draw on. With the combined accumulation from both worlds, reaching the War God Level was only a matter of time.

He stood and stretched. His bones crackled softly, and his muscles drew taut like bowstrings, brimming with explosive power. He clenched his fist and felt the strength gathered in his palm. At the peak of the High-Level War General Level, with Spiritual Force at the peak of the Intermediate War God Level, he was probably peerless among the younger generation in the entire Jiangnan Base City.

"Tomorrow's the combat assessment." Lin Yun walked to the window and watched the sky darken outside. "Taking it at my current level... It's like using a cannon to swat a mosquito. What a waste of firepower."

He couldn't help laughing.

The Quasi-Warrior Assessment pitted candidates against Beast Soldier Level monsters. For ordinary Quasi-Warriors, it was a matter of life and death. But for someone at the peak of the High-Level War General Level, it would be little more than a leisurely stroll.

Still, he couldn't reveal all his strength.

A fifteen-year-old High-Level War General was an astonishing talent. The Limit Dojo would surely make a point of cultivating him, but what about the other powers? The HR Alliance, Thunder Dojo, underground organizations—even groups overseas might take an interest in him. Before a genius had time to grow, they were often at their most vulnerable.

"Keep a low profile," Lin Yun reminded himself. "Showing the strength of a Junior War General should be enough. I'll pass the assessment without attracting too much attention."

A fifteen-year-old Junior War General was still an astonishing talent, but at least it was within the bounds of what people could "understand." There were several geniuses like that at the Limit Dojo Headquarters, so it wouldn't cause much of a stir.

Early the next morning, Lin Yun got up, changed into his Limit Dojo training clothes, and checked his equipment.

His grandfather, Lin Guodong, stood by the doorway, watching his grandson with pride and concern in his eyes. He wanted to say something, but after opening his mouth and closing it again, all he managed was, "Be careful, Yun'er."

"Don't worry, Grandpa." Lin Yun turned and hugged him. "I'll be right back. Let's have a nice dinner tonight and invite Luo Feng's family, too."

Lin Guodong nodded, his eyes growing a little red.

Lin Yun let go of his grandfather and strode out the front door.

Jiangnan Base City, north gate assembly point.

By seven in the morning, nearly a thousand people had gathered there.

When Lin Yun arrived, he spotted the Limit Dojo's meeting point in the distance. Dozens of Quasi-Warriors in Limit Dojo training clothes stood around in small groups. Some spoke in low voices, some checked their gear, and others rested with their eyes closed, varying degrees of nervousness written on their faces.

Feng Lu was among them. When she saw Lin Yun coming, she waved to him. "Lin Yun, over here!"

Lin Yun walked over and stood beside her. Feng Lu looked him up and down, then smiled. "It's been a month, and you look like you've grown taller. How's your training going?"

"Not bad." Lin Yun smiled. "How about you?"

"My punch strength's passed 1,000 kilograms, and I'm a little faster, too." A trace of pride crept into Feng Lu's voice, but soon gave way to nerves. "Still, I'm worried. I hear the combat assessment is nothing like training. When you're facing a real monster, plenty of people can't even hold on to their blades."

Lin Yun nodded without saying much. Feng Lu was right, of course. Training and real combat were two different things. But over the past month, he had survived countless life-and-death battles in the Magic Beast Mountain Range of the Coiling Dragon World. He was already familiar with the feeling of dancing on the edge of a blade.

But he couldn't tell her that. He could only pretend to be a rookie facing his first battlefield, nervous and eager like everyone else.

"Everyone, fall in!"

A booming voice rang out. A middle-aged man in a black uniform walked to the front of the group. The Limit Dojo emblem was pinned to his chest, and his gaze was as sharp as a hawk's. Lin Yun recognized him: Supervisor Zhuge of the Jiangnan Base City Limit Hall, Zhuge Tao, a powerhouse at the Advanced War General Level.

"I'm Zhuge Tao, the head of this combat assessment." His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard him clearly. "The rules are simple. You'll be deployed to an assessment area in the Wilderness Area. Your task is to survive for twenty-four hours and hunt at least three Beast Soldier Level monsters. The more you kill, the more points you earn, but you must meet the minimum requirement. You may form teams during the assessment, but your final score will be based on your individual kill count."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. "The assessment will take place in a C-Level Area, where all the monsters are Beast Soldier Level. The HR Alliance and the Limit Dojo will set up monitoring equipment throughout the area, and every battle you fight will be recorded. Anyone caught cheating will be disqualified on the spot and banned from future assessments for life."

"Lastly—the Wilderness Area isn't a training ground. Monsters won't go easy on you. If you don't think you can handle it, you can withdraw now. Once you enter the assessment area, you're responsible for your own life and death."

No one withdrew.

Zhuge Tao nodded and waved his hand. "Get on the bus."

The train carried the Quasi-Warriors out of the base city. After nearly two hours traveling through the Wilderness Area, it finally came to a stop.

Lin Yun jumped down. Before him lay a desolate ruin: collapsed buildings, a dried-up riverbed, roads swallowed by vines. In the distance, several ruined high-rises stood on the horizon like tombstones. The sky was gray, and the air was filled with a foul, indescribable stench.

A loud voice reached every Quasi-Warrior. "Welcome to the Jiangnan City North Military District. This time, the Martial Artist Combat Assessment for all 1,850 of you will be held in our district. I hope most of you pass, and I hope every one of you makes it through this combat assessment alive!"

After collecting their equipment, the candidates entered Monster Town in small groups.

Lin Yun didn't hurry. He found a relatively concealed spot and slowly spread out his Spiritual Force. Everything within a thousand meters appeared clearly in his mind.

With his current strength, this assessment truly posed no challenge. But he had to put on a performance—he couldn't seem too relaxed or too strained. He needed to show just enough strength to pass as a Junior War General, pass the assessment, and avoid drawing attention.

"Then... I'll take it slow." Lin Yun withdrew his Spiritual Force, picked a direction, and walked off at an unhurried pace.

He encountered his first monster fifteen minutes later.

It was a Beast Soldier Level Iron-Armored Lizard, about the size of a calf. Black scales covered its body as it gnawed on something beside a collapsed building.

Lin Yun didn't use throwing knives or Spiritual Force. He drew the War Blade at his waist and strode toward it.

The Iron-Armored Lizard sensed the threat and whipped around, its slit pupils flashing with malice. It opened its jaws and let out a low growl, then sprang toward Lin Yun with all four limbs.

Lin Yun dodged to the side and swept his War Blade in an arc, striking precisely at the lizard's neck, where its scales were thinnest.

"Crack!"

The blade cut through flesh, and the Iron-Armored Lizard's head dropped to the ground. Its headless body twitched a few times before falling still.

One blow, one kill.

Lin Yun flicked the blood from his blade and cut off the lizard's ear, stowing it in his backpack. The ears served as proof of kills, and the military would count them to calculate each candidate's points.

The entire process was clean and quick. It took less than ten seconds.

"Too weak," Lin Yun thought with a sigh, then continued toward his next target.

Over the next few hours, he "encountered" more than a dozen monsters: Shadow Cats, Tiger Mastiffs, Iron-Haired Boars... Every one died with a single slash. He never wasted a motion. His War Blade was the scythe of death; nothing could withstand it.

By afternoon, his backpack already held more than twenty monster ears.

"That should be enough." Lin Yun glanced at the sky. "If I keep killing, I'll draw too much attention. I'll find somewhere to rest and wait for the assessment to end tomorrow."

He found a relatively intact building and settled into a room on the third floor. After setting a few simple traps at the door and windows, he sat against the wall, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

His body in the Coiling Dragon World entered a meditative state at the same time. Magical power flowed steadily as his Spiritual Force quickly recovered through Dual World Resonance.

The night passed peacefully. A few monsters foolish enough to approach were taken care of by his traps. Lin Yun didn't even open his eyes.

The signal marking the end of the assessment sounded the next morning.

Lin Yun opened his eyes, stood, brushed the dust off his clothes, and headed toward the assembly point with his backpack full of monster ears.

Quite a few people had already gathered there.

Lin Yun glanced around. Most wore the relieved expressions of people who had just escaped death, while some looked dejected—their teammates hadn't returned. The air was charged with a jumble of emotions: joy, sorrow, exhaustion, relief.

Feng Lu was among them. Her left arm was bandaged, and a few bloody scratches marked her face, but she seemed to be in good spirits. When she spotted Lin Yun, she managed a smile. "You're all right?"

"I'm fine," Lin Yun said. "Your arm..."

"A Shadow Cat scratched me. It's nothing." Feng Lu waved it off. "How about you? How many did you kill?"

"More than ten," Lin Yun said casually, choosing a number that was neither too high nor too low.

Feng Lu's eyes widened. "More than ten? By yourself?"

"Yeah."

Feng Lu fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "You're a monster."

Lin Yun smiled without replying.

Zhuge Tao stood atop a truck, his gaze sweeping over everyone before he spoke. "The assessment is over. Congratulations to everyone who made it back alive. Starting today, you're official Warriors."

A cheer erupted from the crowd. Some were so excited that tears streamed down their faces. Others hugged their teammates tightly, while a few threw back their heads and shouted, venting the fear and pressure that had built up over the past twenty-four hours.

Standing among them, Lin Yun watched in silence, his heart as calm as still water.

An official Warrior.

From this day on, he was no longer a Quasi-Warrior. He was a true Warrior. That meant he could legally enter the Wilderness Area to hunt monsters, take missions from the dojo to earn contribution points, and learn more advanced Guidance Techniques and secret arts.

His journey had only just begun.

By the time he returned to Bright Moon Residential District, it was already evening.

Lin Yun pushed open the door. Lin Guodong was sitting on the living room sofa, waiting anxiously. The moment he saw his grandson walk in unharmed, the old man leaped to his feet, his eyes turning red.

"You're back! Are you all right? Were you hurt?" Lin Guodong circled Lin Yun twice, looking him up and down as if afraid he might miss a single wound.

"Grandpa, I'm fine." Lin Yun smiled. "I haven't even lost a single hair."

"Good, good..." Lin Guodong nodded vigorously, then remembered something. "Oh, right. Didn't you say you were going to invite Luo Feng's family over for dinner? I already called them. They'll be here soon."

Lin Yun nodded, went upstairs to shower, and changed into clean clothes.

As he came back downstairs, the doorbell rang.

Lin Yun opened the door. Luo Feng stood outside, his parents and younger brother, Luo Hua, behind him.

"Congratulations, Warrior Lin!" Luo Feng grinned and punched Lin Yun on the shoulder. "You're an official Warrior now. Impressive!"

"Give it a rest." Lin Yun laughed and pulled him inside. "Come on in."

Luo Feng's father, Luo Hongguo, was an honest, plainspoken worker. He wasn't much of a talker and only gave a simple, sheepish smile as he held a bag of fruit. His mother, Gong Xinlan, took Lin Yun by the hand and looked him over, affection shining in her eyes. "Xiaoyun, you're the pride and joy of our neighborhood. Your grandpa must be so proud."

"Aunt Lan, you're too kind." Lin Yun felt a little embarrassed. "Come in and sit down. Dinner will be ready soon."

Luo Hua sat in his wheelchair as Luo Feng pushed him into the living room. Four years younger than Lin Yun, he was eleven that year. He was cheerful and optimistic; though his legs were disabled, he never complained about his lot in life. He looked around the villa in amazement. "Lin Yun, this place is huge! It's bigger than ten homes in our neighborhood put together!"

"Come stay whenever you like." Lin Yun smiled. "There are plenty of rooms."

Lin Guodong brought dish after dish out of the kitchen and set them across the table. He had gone out of his way to cook his best dishes today: braised pork, sweet-and-sour ribs, steamed sea bass, greens with garlic... Their fragrance filled the whole dining room.

Everyone gathered around the table and dug in, chatting and laughing.

During the meal, Lin Yun and Luo Feng talked about their training.

"How strong are you now?" Lin Yun asked.

Luo Feng set down his chopsticks, pride flashing in his eyes. "Advanced Trainee. My punch strength has passed 800 kilograms, and my speed's almost at the Quasi-Warrior standard."

Lin Yun nodded, quietly pleased.

In the original story, Luo Feng didn't reach the Advanced Trainee level until he was seventeen. In this life, with Lin Yun's encouragement and guidance, he had reached it at fifteen—two whole years early. They had grown up together, trained together, and sweated together. Their healthy rivalry had helped Luo Feng progress far faster than he had in the original story.

"Not bad," Lin Yun said. "At this rate, you'll be able to take the Quasi-Warrior Assessment before you turn sixteen."

"That's what I think, too." Luo Feng grinned. "But I'm still nowhere near your level. What are you now? Intermediate War General? Or High-Level War General?"

Lin Yun didn't answer. He only smiled.

Luo Feng understood and shook his head with a sigh. "You're a freak."

They exchanged a glance and both laughed.

After dinner, Luo Feng's family said their goodbyes and left.

Lin Yun stood at the doorway, watching their figures disappear into the moonlight. Warmth welled up inside him.

He wasn't alone in this world. He had his grandfather, Luo Feng, and all the people who cared for and supported him.

He wanted to grow stronger not only for himself, but also to protect them.

Lin Yun turned and went back inside, then headed upstairs and entered his room.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, took a Level 6 Crystal Core from his Space Ring, held it in his palm, and closed his eyes as he began cultivating.

Genetic Origin Energy circulated slowly through his body. Life energy streamed out of the crystal core, nourishing every cell.

The peak of the High-Level War General Level.

Only one step away from the War God Level.

He wouldn't have to wait long to take that step.