Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment

When Xu Xin arrived at the school gates and saw the banner, a glimmer of delight flashed in her eyes.

She tilted her head slightly, the corners of her mouth lifting unconsciously as scenes from her first year of high school came to mind.

"Luo Feng used to sneak peeks at me in class all the time during our first year, but he never dared to confess. I wonder if he'll choose the same university as me?"

Xu Xin had always excelled in her academic subjects, consistently ranking among the top students in the school. She had a clear plan for her future.

Now, the appearance of Luo Feng's name stirred unfamiliar feelings within her.

When Zhang Haobai saw the banner, his formerly arrogant expression instantly darkened.

A trace of malice flashed in his eyes. He couldn't help recalling how, not long ago, Luo Feng had knocked out his teeth during a sparring match at Limit Martial Arts Hall—a humiliation he could never forget.

"Luo Feng is just some poor kid whose academic scores are a little better than mine.

"Hmph. Once I become a Martial Artist ahead of him, I'll make sure to trample him underfoot."

Zhang Haobai thought bitterly. His narrow heart was filled with jealousy and resentment, and he secretly vowed to get even someday.

Class 5 of Senior Year—this was Luo Feng's class.

That day, as the students trickled into the classroom, they were surprised to find a crowd of outsiders waiting by the door.

They were all smartly dressed, and several wore gold-rimmed glasses. Their every movement carried the air of learned intellectuals.

They kept peering into the classroom. One moment they checked their phones; the next, they carefully scrutinized each student who walked in, as if waiting for someone.

In fact, they were all admissions representatives from the top universities in Jiangnan Base City.

They had heard that Luo Feng had become the Top Scorer of the College Entrance Exam and had come in hopes of recruiting the outstanding student early.

"Diplomas are here! The graduation certificates and university application forms are here. Come and get yours!"

Just then, three class officers hurried in from outside, carrying a stack of graduation certificates and university application forms to the podium.

"Hm? What's going on with Luo Feng? Why isn't he here on such an important day?"

The admissions representatives from the top universities were bewildered.

They had started handing out graduation certificates and university application forms, but Luo Feng was nowhere to be seen.

Standing at the podium, the class officers called out the students' names one by one, handing out their graduation certificates and application forms.

"Hua Wei!"

"Zhang Yuan!"

"..."

One name after another echoed through the classroom.

"Luo Feng!"

"Luo Feng!"

When they called Luo Feng's name, they waited for a long while, but no one answered.

"Class monitor, Luo Feng isn't here today," a student who usually sat beside him called from below.

Qu Lin shook her head helplessly and set Luo Feng's graduation certificate and application form aside.

Just then, Wei Wen hurried to the classroom door.

"Luo Feng asked me to pick up his graduation certificate."

Quite a few students in Class 5 recognized Wei Wen and knew he was Luo Feng's friend.

"Here you go."

Qu Lin handed Wei Wen the graduation certificate and application form.

Wei Wen took the certificate, glanced at the application form, then casually tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Luo Feng only needed his graduation certificate, not the application form. There was no point in keeping it.

The noisy classroom fell silent in an instant!

The students were all stunned. This was the application form they needed to fill out their university choices—who would dare throw it away so casually?

Before the students could react, the university admissions representatives who had been waiting outside for ages lost their patience and rushed in all at once.

"Why did you throw away Luo Feng's university application form? Don't you know how important it is to a high school student?"

"Exactly! How can you just throw something like that away? You have no manners."

"Do you have a grudge against Luo Feng? Are you trying to sabotage him?"

"..."

The admissions representatives were all seething, but their emphasis on civility kept them from swearing out loud.

Wei Wen was briefly taken aback by their accusations, but when he remembered the banner at the school gates, he quickly understood. Then he said, putting on an incredibly smug act,

"Fill out his university choices? Go to college? When would Brother Feng have time for that? He's about to take the Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment. What does he need college for?"

His words set off a commotion in the silent classroom.

"What? The Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment?"

"Luo Feng's taking the assessment? Seriously? He's that good?"

"Wei Wen's probably just bragging. Luo Feng only became an Advanced Martial Arts Student last year. How could he be taking the Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment already?"

Deep down, the students didn't want to believe that Luo Feng had already reached the physical fitness level required of a Martial Artist.

After all, as far as they knew, going from an Advanced Martial Arts Student to a Quasi-Martial Artist took years of hard work and exceptional talent. Making that leap in just one year was unbelievable.

"Maybe Wei Wen's telling the truth. Otherwise, if Luo Feng had become the Top Scorer of the College Entrance Exam and could choose any top university, would he really not care?"

"..."

The students chattered, all sorts of guesses and doubts rising and falling across the classroom.

Before long, July 1 arrived.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to Limit Hall in the city center. I might not be back for lunch today."

Early that morning, Luo Feng said goodbye to his parents.

Then he looked at his younger brother, Luo Hua, who was sitting in a wheelchair, his eyes full of brotherly affection.

"Little bro, I'm heading out. Wait for my good news."

Luo Feng winked at Luo Hua, a playful glint in his eyes.

Luo Hua grinned and gave him a thumbs-up in encouragement.

"Okay. Let us know as soon as you pass the assessment."

An hour later.

Luo Feng arrived at the entrance to Bright Moon Residential Quarter in Yangzhou City.

The residential quarter was home not only to Limit Hall, but also to the families of the Martial Artists under Limit Martial Arts Hall.

Security at the entrance was tight. As soon as Luo Feng approached, a guard stopped him.

Unfazed, Luo Feng produced his Advanced Martial Arts Student ID and explained why he had come. The guard let him in.

"So this is where I'll live in the future? Not bad."

As he walked, Luo Feng took in the surroundings.

Apart from Limit Hall, which towered over the center of the residential quarter, there were rows of detached villas scattered neatly throughout.

Rock gardens, ponds, and lawns complemented one another between the villas.

There were few people around, and the place was quiet and peaceful.

Luo Feng was very pleased with it.

At the heart of Bright Moon Residential Quarter, Luo Feng had just stepped into the lobby of Limit Hall when—

"Sir, are you here to take the Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment?"

A sweet-faced young woman at the front desk smiled professionally and asked him softly.

"Yes."

Luo Feng gave a brief reply.

"Please have a seat over there, sir. The assessment will be held together with the others at ten this morning."

She pointed toward the lounge beside the lobby.

Luo Feng nodded and headed where she had indicated.

"Oh, another newcomer. He looks so young."

The three people who had arrived early glanced at Luo Feng with curiosity.

Luo Feng politely nodded to them, then sat down on a nearby sofa.

None of them knew one another, so they didn't say much.

As time passed, more people came into the lobby.

They all seemed rather old for the assessment—probably over thirty, and some looked to be in their forties.

Among them, the young Luo Feng stood out like a crane among chickens.

"Ha, Luo Feng, you're here early."

A loud voice broke the stuffy silence in the lobby.

Luo Feng was startled and turned to look. A lean man with a hideous scar across his face was striding toward him.

"Brother Yang?"

Luo Feng quickly stood and went to greet him.

They were both from Yi'an District and both trained at Limit Martial Arts Hall, so they naturally felt close. They sat together and chatted.

A little while later.

"Everyone, quiet down."

Just as those taking the Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment were chatting among themselves, a sharp shout rang out from the center of the lobby.

Everyone turned to look. A middle-aged man in loose training clothes stood in the middle of the lobby, his stern gaze sweeping over them.

"Come on, all of you, follow me upstairs. The Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment is about to begin.

"Remember to behave yourselves upstairs. The chief instructor of Yangzhou City has an old friend visiting today. Don't offend him."

The middle-aged man spoke sternly.

"Yes."

Everyone answered respectfully.

"The chief instructor's old friend? Is it that Spiritual Telekinetic?"