Martial Artist Combat Assessment (Part 1)

According to common logic, a Spirit Reader is generally two ranks higher than a martial artist, but Tang Ping's spiritual force originated from system rewards rather than being released from solidified energy within his own sea of consciousness, so he only possessed exactly what he was awarded.

Currently, among his "tools," only the chubby Li Ze was a Spirit Reader. Even though Tang Ping had set his reward distribution ratio higher than the other brothers, he felt that if things continued this way, his martial artist rank would soon surpass his Spirit Reader rank.

Forget it, I'll just take it one step at a time. Once I bind City Lord Luo, perhaps my Spirit Reader rank will shoot up. Becoming a Spirit Reader was an unexpected windfall to begin with, so Tang Ping certainly wouldn't mind a few minor flaws.

Besides, in his view, since they had all become martial artists, crossing between base cities was simple enough. When the time came, he would head straight to Jiangnan Base City to bind City Lord Luo as a tool; as for the Spirit Reader rank, it was only a matter of time.

Two months passed in a flash. During this period, the brothers all revealed their strength at the martial arts hall. While they shocked the instructor Zhu Xiong one after another, they also signed with the Limit Martial Arts Hall ahead of schedule.

Their main goal, naturally, was to obtain a Guidance Technique earlier to accelerate their cultivation speed. Furthermore, the brothers also became neighbors, all moving into the Oriental Residential District.

On the morning of August 1st, led by a martial artist from the Limit Pavilion, more than forty Quasi-Martial Artists, including Tang Ping and his brothers, headed to the train station.

Inside the carriage, a large number of Quasi-Martial Artists were seated.

The large screen in the carriage was broadcasting recruitment videos from various major factions, but since the five brothers had already signed with the Limit Martial Arts Hall, they were just watching for the spectacle.

A moment later.

"Attention, Quasi-Martial Artists, the train is about to enter the station. Please prepare to disembark." The voice came from the carriage speakers, and the train gradually slowed until it came to a halt.

With a whoosh, the doors opened, and the Quasi-Martial Artists in each carriage stepped out one by one.

Soon, the massive crowd of Quasi-Martial Artists entered the large military camp, and Tang Ping's group looked around with curiosity.

They saw that beyond the military cordon, some monsters, hungry to the point of growling, were letting out roars, yet these monsters dared not approach the camp at all.

"The books say that once you leave the base city, you can see all kinds of monsters everywhere. It seems the books were right," Li Ze said, his eyes shining. Having awakened as a Spirit Reader, he was eager to fight those formidable monsters.

Of course, not today. He hadn't decided whether to expose his identity as a Spirit Reader yet; only his brothers knew, and he hadn't even told his family.

"Everyone..."

A loud voice reached the ears of every Quasi-Martial Artist. "Welcome to the South Military Region of South China City. This time, your Martial Artist Combat Assessment for the 1,860 of you will be held here in my South Military Region. I hope most of you pass the assessment, and I hope all of you can survive this combat assessment!"

The military region was very lively, and a sumptuous lunch had been prepared for the Quasi-Martial Artists participating in the assessment.

In the afternoon, the 1,860 Quasi-Martial Artists stood on a vast square. On the podium at the front stood the high-ranking officials of the South Military Region of South China City, as well as some executives from the Thunder Martial Arts Hall and the Limit Martial Arts Hall.

"Next, those whose names are called, come up to collect your combat uniforms and weapons."

"Tang Ping."

Soon, Tang Ping heard his name called and immediately ran to the front.

Clutching the equipment he had received, Tang Ping and his brothers returned to their resting area to change into their combat uniforms, boots, and other gear.

After everyone was dressed, the massive group of 1,860 Quasi-Martial Artists, led by soldiers, walked for more than half an hour before arriving at the outskirts of a small town. It was already evening, and the sun had set.

Various heart-stopping roars of monsters drifted from the town. The outskirts of this small town were surrounded by barbed wire, and a large number of soldiers were patrolling the area with firearms.

"Everyone."

The loud voice reached every Quasi-Martial Artist. Tang Ping and all the others looked up to see an officer standing on the roof of a small building in the town, addressing them. "This combat assessment follows the same rules as in the past! It starts promptly at 6:30 tonight and ends at 6:30 tomorrow morning!"

"The more monsters you kill, the more points you get. For every monster killed, cut off its left ear as proof."

"Remember, Quasi-Martial Artists are forbidden from killing each other. All your activities are under surveillance, and violators will be executed by firing squad immediately."

"Among you 1,860 Quasi-Martial Artists, the top 60% will earn the qualification of a martial artist, while the bottom 40% will fail and must wait for the next Martial Artist Combat Assessment."

"A word of advice: generally, hunting three monsters is enough to pass. If you only get two, it will depend on your luck."

After explaining all the precautions, the officer leaped from the roof of the small building and landed outside the town.

"All Quasi-Martial Artists, move out! Enter the Monster Town!" The officer waved his hand.

The 1,860 Quasi-Martial Artists surged into the Monster Town like a turbulent tide.

"Close the gate!" the officer ordered.

Rumble... The only gate slammed shut.

The Martial Artist Combat Assessment had officially begun.

Inside the enclosed town, the 1,860 Quasi-Martial Artists quickly dispersed to begin hunting their prey.

Tang Ping and his four brothers stood by the wall of a dilapidated small building.

"Are we brothers acting together, or hunting on our own?" Li Zhongyun asked, casually spinning his blade.

"Let's stay together. With our strength, these low-level monsters won't provide any real training effect. We might as well finish the mission quickly and find a place to rest; it's more convenient if we're together." Before anyone else could speak, Tang Ping stepped forward to suggest.

They were kidding themselves if they thought otherwise; after two months of cultivation and the system's reward bonuses, the weakest among them was at the level of a Primary War General, and he himself had reached the strength of an Intermediate War General nearing an Advanced War General. Tang Ping was afraid others would laugh at him for killing these weakest H-level monsters. It was only because the assessment required it that he bothered; otherwise, he would have been embarrassed to kill them.

"That's true. With our strength, killing these monsters is a bit like bullying them. Let's stick together, finish the mission, find a place to rest, and take turns keeping watch," Jiang Yang agreed immediately after thinking it over.

The other brothers hadn't intended to go solo anyway, so they naturally agreed to act together.

Five War General-level martial artists walking together were practically invincible in this town filled only with Primary Beast Soldiers. Soon, the five brothers had each killed five or six monsters. With their overwhelming strength, it was completely effortless; the only real significance was that they had taken the opportunity to see some blood.