August 1, 2056, the day of the Martial Artist Combat Assessment.
Bai Yang headed to the train station early that morning.
Everyone from Jiangnan Base City taking the assessment this year would board the train there and travel together to the Wilderness Zone.
Before reaching its destination, the train would pass through the city's main district and each satellite city, picking up everyone scattered throughout the area.
Bai Yang had not been waiting long when Luo Feng and Yang Wu boarded as planned and came over to him.
He smiled and greeted them. "You're both here."
Luo Feng and Yang Wu's eyes lit up when they saw him, and they hurried over to chat.
Whenever they had spare time lately, they had discussed cultivation questions on their phones.
Luo Feng's footwork had improved rapidly during this time. He had already broken through the bottleneck of the Micro Realm, and naturally had gained quite a lot.
Yang Wu had been far behind in terms of strength, but that was precisely why Bai Yang's guidance had been so effective.
With just a few pointers, Bai Yang could pinpoint the crux of Yang Wu's problems, explain them from a higher perspective, and offer advice.
Over the past month, Yang Wu had actually benefited more. His strength had increased at an incredible pace.
It had helped far more than training alone and asking the Dojo's various instructors for advice.
Yang Wu was grateful and even more impressed by Bai Yang's abilities. So, quite naturally, he went out of his way to stay on good terms with him.
The three of them chatted casually as the train began playing the usual recruitment ads for the major organizations.
Luo Feng listened to a few, but the other two already knew all about them and couldn't be bothered to pay attention.
"Quasi-Martial Artists, the train is about to arrive. Please prepare to disembark."
The group of Quasi-Martial Artists entered a large military camp.
The camp covered a vast area. Heavy weapons of all kinds were positioned along its perimeter, with artillery barrels aimed beyond the camp.
Large numbers of soldiers held an array of high-quality weapons.
Luo Feng and the other Quasi-Martial Artists looked around. This was the Wilderness Zone!
The land beyond the Base City, where all kinds of monsters roamed!
"Everyone!"
A booming voice reached every Quasi-Martial Artist's ears. "Welcome to the Jiangnan City North Military District. Your Martial Artist Combat Assessment will be held here. There are 1,681 of you this year. I hope most of you pass, and I hope every one of you makes it through this practical assessment alive!"
After resting for a while and having lunch, it was time to collect their equipment.
An officer handed Bai Yang a set of gear and checked each item against the list.
"Combat suit, boots, and a Communication Watch, which has positioning and communication functions. And finally, the Type 2 'Long Edge' sword you chose... Uh, you didn't pick a shield?!"
Bai Yang smiled and nodded. After confirming that was all, he turned and left.
The officer shook his head helplessly. There was always some young hothead who didn't care about defense.
Fortunately, the monsters in Monster Town had been carefully selected and weren't too dangerous.
They would teach the candidates a good lesson. Better to learn it here than die for nothing in the Wilderness Zone.
When Bai Yang returned, he saw a crowd gathered around Luo Feng.
The news that Limit Dojo had recruited Luo Feng in advance had already spread through their circles.
Of this year's group of 1,681 candidates, only three had been recruited in advance by Limit Dojo or Thunder Dojo!
Everyone knew those three were sure to have bright futures.
"Luo Feng! Luo Feng!" a voice called from farther away. It was Wu Tong, the chief instructor of the Yangzhou Limit Hall.
"Uncle Wu."
For nearly a month, Luo Feng had been living in Bright Moon Residential Quarter. Naturally, he had grown close to Wu Tong, the chief instructor, who lived there too, and had become very familiar with him, calling him "Uncle Wu."
"Luo Feng, come with me." Wu Tong had barely spoken when his pupils suddenly contracted. He had spotted Bai Yang beside Luo Feng!
Bai Yang had noticed him too. He grinned at Wu Tong, looking downright delighted and friendly.
Wu Tong hadn't had an easy time over the past couple of weeks. Zhuge Tao had been acting like a madman, picking on him whenever he got the chance.
At first, Wu Tong hadn't even understood why.
Then he had secretly managed to find out some details about what had happened at the assessment that day.
It had all been because of this kid!
Zhuge Tao had lost face, so of course he'd taken it out on Wu Tong—and made an example of him at the same time.
Wu Tong could only suffer in silence. There was no way he could take it out on Bai Yang, either. He led Luo Feng toward a small building, where representatives from the major organizations wanted to meet him.
Truthfully, they wanted to see what Bai Yang was like too, but for certain reasons, they knew the time wasn't right yet.
Bai Yang knew what they were going to do. With nothing better to occupy himself, he decided to give Yang Wu a few more pointers.
They had only communicated online before; this was their first time meeting in person.
Bai Yang didn't stand on ceremony. He examined the joints, muscles, and bones throughout Yang Wu's body.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Brother Yang, you're older than us and you've been through a lot. You've built a fairly solid foundation.
"But like many people, you've pushed your limbs too hard to meet the strength and speed requirements. You've neglected your core strength and have quite a few lingering injuries.
"Don't be afraid of the pain. Just bear with it, and I'll adjust your body."
Yang Wu knew this was an opportunity that came once in a lifetime. How could he care about pain?
Even if the pain affected his performance in this assessment, he wouldn't mind.
After all, the practical assessment was held twice a year, and there were so many candidates here.
The proportion of repeat candidates was astonishingly high. He'd have plenty of chances to try again.
"Go ahead, brother! I can take it!"
Bai Yang didn't waste words. He reached out and gripped Yang Wu's shoulders, channeling the Genetic Origin Energy in his hands into Yang Wu.
Yang Wu hadn't mastered the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method. Little did he know, this would be his last appearance in the original story.
He felt a terrifying, powerful energy tear apart some of his muscle tissue in an instant.
Then it seemed to carry a force that could restore and transform him, coursing through his body and adjusting it.
Genetic Origin Energy! This had to be the legendary Genetic Origin Energy!
Bai Yang had mastered it in such a short time—and had grown strong enough to help someone else!
Yang Wu fought through the pain. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped from his head, and his eyes bulged so wide it seemed they might burst from their sockets.
Yet he stubbornly held back his cries, letting out only muffled groans.
Seeing that Yang Wu could endure it, Bai Yang felt satisfied. Yang Wu's hard work deserved a better fate.
The Earthling Enhancement Project he was still considering would need people like him.
Luo Feng would eventually buy all kinds of medicines from the universe and make them available to everyone.
But why not do even better?
Then I might as well give you one more push!
Bai Yang suddenly increased the flow of energy!
An ordinary person who had just mastered the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method absorbed cosmic energy at no more than a trickle.
Although the Genetic Origin Energy Bai Yang was channeling had been processed and was relatively mild, its intensity in that instant exceeded what Yang Wu could have absorbed from the universe!
Yang Wu could hold out no longer. He suddenly let out a scream.
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