Assessment

Li He headed for the testing pod. Wang Hao had just finished registering and stood nearby, watching expectantly.

The hatch closed, and white light filled the pod. A moment later, the numbers on the display outside began to race upward.

6.9...7.4...8.9...10...11.4!

"11.4?" a young examiner exclaimed.

"First-Rank Martial Artist level!"

"Such a solid foundation?"

But when the bone-structure assessment appeared on the screen as well, the surprise on the examiners' faces froze.

"Five-grade bone structure?"

"His vitality is 11.4, and yet... How many resources must have been poured into him?"

"Ah, no need to look any further. Another rich kid."

"His bone structure is too poor. Forcing him up to this level has already exhausted his potential."

The examiners exchanged glances and shook their heads slightly.

Zhao Xiong, the deputy hall master, stood in the middle of the control room. He had only been supervising as a matter of routine, but now his attention had been drawn to the scene.

He looked at Li He's vitality reading and bone-structure assessment, then furrowed his brow. For someone his age, the results were indeed impressive—on par with some of the freshmen at top Martial Arts Universities.

But a five-grade bone structure... That was certainly rare.

Remembering the old friendship between the hall master and Wang Zhengyang, he decided to take a personal interest in Class C Number 8.

Li He stepped out of the testing pod.

The examiner in charge of registration recorded his results in a rote manner, his attitude noticeably cooler than before.

Wang Hao stood to one side, taking in the examiners' reactions. The admiration on his face gave way to embarrassment and a trace of unease. He opened his mouth to say something, but when he saw Li He's composed profile, he swallowed the words.

The next part of the assessment was a martial arts demonstration.

One by one, the candidates took the circular platform and performed their techniques. Some were powerful, some swift, others fierce, each with a distinct style. Most demonstrated Federation martial arts, while very few performed Ancient Martial Arts.

"Class C Number 7, Li He, please come up and demonstrate!"

Li He rose calmly and stepped onto the platform.

He took his place in the center, keeping his aura restrained, and chose the Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms, which he had practiced to a high level of proficiency.

His movements flowed in smooth circles, his force held within, the form full of spirit.

The examiners behind the control room reacted in different ways.

The older examiner watched, mesmerized, and praised him. "What exquisite control of force. He's already grasped the essence of Cloud Hands. His power flows freely and smoothly. Such insight at such a young age is truly impressive."

The younger examiner shook his head slightly as he delivered his assessment. "His bone structure is too poor, and Ancient Martial Arts have a low ceiling. Forcing himself to practice Federation martial arts will bring twice the effort for half the result. He won't get far. What a waste of talent."

Zhao Xiong watched the entire demonstration without comment.

"The next event is a combat simulation. Candidates whose names are called, please enter the combat pods!"

"Class C Number 7, Li He, enter Combat Pod Number 7!"

Li He stepped inside. His consciousness sank, and the scene before him changed in an instant.

He appeared on a square alloy platform.

Opposite him, a virtual martial artist wielding an alloy saber took shape. Its vitality was around 10, and its eyes were ferocious. It brought its saber down in a vicious slash, its attack fierce and swift.

Li He slid lightly to the side, skimming past the sharpest part of the blade.

At the instant the enemy's swing was nearly spent, Li He's arm darted out like a spirit snake and caught the wrist holding the saber. With a gentle twist, he sent Silk-Reeling Power into his opponent's body.

Hiss!

The virtual martial artist's arm, shoulder, and even half its body were rapidly infiltrated, twisted, and torn apart by the invisible force!

A web of cracks spread across its skin, and unstable light flickered through it.

Seizing the opening, Li He struck with a Crushing Fist.

Thud!

A muffled boom rang out.

The virtual martial artist's head burst apart. Its headless body twitched a few times, then dissolved into a rain of energy particles.

The battle was over.

Time: 5 seconds.

Rating: S-rank.

The hatch slid open, and Li He emerged calmly, his breathing even.

The huge screen in the control room displayed his combat data and rating, along with a shocking replay of the five-second fight.

The young examiners stared, dumbfounded. "Five seconds, S-rank? That reaction and timing are ridiculous."

"He deflected the force, redirected it, tore his opponent apart from within, then followed up with a lethal strike. The whole sequence was seamless, without a moment's hesitation. He's unquestionably a First-Rank Martial Artist."

"Looks like it wasn't just a matter of piling on resources. By the way, what kind of force did he just use?"

Zhao Xiong leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the combat replay.

"Silk-Reeling Power!" Zhao Xiong said. "It seems the Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms aren't his limit. Anyone who can master Silk-Reeling Power has a foundation in Ancient Martial Arts. To learn this kind of martial art at his age makes him an Ancient Martial Arts prodigy. More impressive still is the ruthlessness and decisiveness of his strikes. He's a real talent. What a shame..."

Some time later.

All the candidates had completed their assessments and were guided to the waiting area for the final results.

About half an hour later, the examiners finished compiling and reviewing the scores. Zhao Xiong personally checked the scoring details for Li He and Wang Hao, then signed the review form.

He walked to the control panel and announced loudly, "The final list of candidates accepted into Evergreen Martial Arts Hall this year is as follows. When your name is called, please come forward to collect your admission letter."

One name after another was read aloud.

"...Class C Number 7, Wang Hao!"

Wang Hao froze when he heard his name, then broke into wild joy. "Big brother! I got in! I made it!" As a former street thug, he was especially moved by the recognition.

But when the list was finished, the name "Class C Number 8, Li He" had never been called.

A flash of surprise crossed Li He's eyes.

He was sure he'd done well in every part of the assessment, especially the S-rank combat simulation. How could he have failed?

The large public display scrolled through the final scores of all the candidates, arranged by number.

Li He quickly found his results:

Class C Number 8: Li He

Vitality: 11.4 (S-rank)

Bone-structure potential assessment: Fifth-grade, lower tier (E-rank)

Martial arts demonstration: Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms (Technique: A-rank. Use of force: A-rank. Practicality in combat: B-rank.)

Combat simulation: 5 seconds (S-rank)

Overall score: 79.5

Passing score: 80.0

Above him was Wang Hao's information:

Class C Number 7: Wang Hao

Vitality: 6.9 (B-rank)

Bone-structure potential assessment: Second-grade, upper tier (A-rank)

Martial arts demonstration: Federation Body Forging Fist (Technique: B-rank. Use of force: B-rank. Practicality in combat: B-rank.)

Combat simulation: 60 seconds (C-rank)

Overall score: 80

Li He understood at once.

It wasn't that he wasn't strong enough. The evaluation system had long ago carved an insurmountable gulf between bone structure and the path of martial arts.

His martial arts meant nothing in the face of his bone structure.

In the examiners' eyes, even his vitality was probably just the result of resources being piled onto him. His potential was already exhausted!

He took a long look at the scores on the screen, then turned and left the noisy assessment area with steady steps.

The elation on Wang Hao's face froze.

He watched Li He walk away in silence, and the stark contrast filled him with guilt and unease.

He opened his mouth to call Li He back, but his throat felt blocked and no sound came out. Then the excited crowd and the staff coming to congratulate him swept him away.

Zhao Tianying stood on the platform, watching Li He's retreating figure, his eyes troubled as he sighed inwardly.

He had just looked up Li He's records and discovered that Li He came from an ordinary family. The so-called resources piled onto him were simply an ordinary family doing everything they could for their child.

"His character and insight are both top-notch. What a shame that forcing his vitality higher has already exhausted his potential."

"If this had been a few years ago, I could have taken you in. But this year, all the martial arts halls are undergoing a major restructuring... With the competition and resource allocation at Evergreen, you have no future here. For your family's sake, it's better to cut your losses now."