The Department of Education had spared no effort in organizing this pre-exam training.
The team was led by Principal Fang of Third High School, with military experts stationed at the Guanyun Base serving as instructors and military personnel escorting the students into the Wilderness.
The seven instructors sent by the Military were especially handpicked. They were genuine Martial Artists, each proficient in at least one basic school martial skill.
Monument-Splitting Palm, Nine-Shadow Step, Iron Wire Fist, Cloud Piercing Finger, Heart-Piercing Kick, Mountain Leaning Back, and Eagle Claw Technique—they had every skill covered.
With conditions like these, the hundred students taking part in the training could choose instructors suited to their needs and study the martial skills they wanted to learn.
Colonel Huang said little. After going over a few precautions for the Wilderness, he left on his own.
Although the students would be entering the real Wilderness, the area was near the base, and the soldiers stationed there could provide support at any time. The students would be kept safe.
"Move out!"
At Principal Fang's command, the hundred students boarded the military vehicles that had been prepared for them. The convoy skirted the Hunting Ground and took them to a Fortress on the edge of the base.
This was the first line of defense for the Guanyun City Base. It had not only a hundred-meter-high, reinforced city wall, but also several layers of Energy Light Walls. Troops patrolled the wall around the clock.
Their camp for this training was on the wall. They would eat and live alongside the Military Department soldiers stationed there, and go out with them on various reconnaissance and hunting missions.
"Students, only by surviving real combat in the Wilderness can you become soldiers who bring honor to our country."
"This will also be the most important course you take after entering university."
"Of course, at this stage, you'll still have protection. The main goal is to give you experience and broaden your horizons."
"Every year, the College Entrance Exam's Combat Assessment takes place in a different Hunting Ground. So you should take this opportunity to encounter more Exotic Beasts and improve your ability to respond to danger."
"When there are no missions, you can train on your own at the Fortress camp, or practice martial skills under the instructors."
After Principal Fang reiterated the rules for the training, he handed the students over to the seven instructors.
Before leaving, however, his voice sounded in Lu Chong's mind. "Lu Chong, come see me after classes tonight."
Telepathic transmission!
Only those who had reached the Martial Ancestor realm could use this ability.
Lu Chong couldn't understand why the principal of Third High School, whom he had never met before, wanted to see him alone.
"Students, I'm Cheng Dongye, a Seventh Stage Martial Artist, and I specialize in Monument-Splitting Palm."
"I'm Lian Yunfeng, a Sixth Stage Martial Artist, and I specialize in Nine-Shadow Step."
"Liu Ziqiang, a Sixth Stage Martial Artist, specializing in Mountain Leaning Back."
After Principal Fang left, the seven instructors from the Military Department introduced themselves one by one, each mentioning the basic school martial skill he specialized in.
There was no denying that the Military Department was full of experts. Even at a single garrison in a third-tier base city, they could easily gather masters proficient in all kinds of basic martial skills.
The 108 high schools in Guanyun City, by contrast, would have struggled to find seven teachers like them.
Of course, teachers had greater theoretical knowledge and a broader understanding of martial skills than ordinary soldiers.
Take Head Teacher Wang Tong, for example. As far as Lu Chong knew, although he hadn't mastered any of the school's martial skills, he had reached the Microscopic level in all seven.
"Over the next month, we'll give you a taste of real military life, toughen your will, and let you get close to real Exotic Beasts."
"Listen carefully: this won't be like playing house in the Hunting Ground. The Exotic Beasts you encounter won't be captive animals with their fangs pulled, either."
After Cheng Dongye and the other instructors delivered another sharp-tongued lecture, the students were taken to their lodgings.
Each student was assigned a tent. The attendants who had accompanied them could also stay at the camp, but they had to follow the instructors' arrangements.
By the end of the day, the students had gained a basic understanding of the Fortress.
After dinner, the other students returned to rest or train. Lu Chong went alone to Principal Fang's quarters.
"Come in."
Before Lu Chong could knock, Principal Fang's voice came from inside.
Lu Chong pushed open the door and saw Principal Fang in a long robe, his face kind and gentle.
"Good evening, Principal Fang," Lu Chong said, bowing politely.
"Mm. No need to be so formal. Just call me Teacher Fang."
Principal Fang smiled at Lu Chong and continued, "Looks like Old Wei didn't tell you."
"Here's the situation: you stood out in the Hunting Ground, so I suggested to your principal, Principal Wei, that I teach you a Tiger Roar Skill I created myself."
"After all, First High School and Third High School are both in Guanyun City. When the national college entrance exams come around, we need to stand together and compete against the other bases."
Principal Fang's words sounded very polished, but Lu Chong didn't believe the whole story. He thought a more likely explanation was that Principal Wei had secured a new martial skill for him.
Still, whatever the reason, Lu Chong was short on martial skills and very interested in this so-called Tiger Roar Skill.
"Thank you, Teacher Fang."
Lu Chong asked curiously, "What grade is this Tiger Roar Skill?"
With a hint of pride, Principal Fang replied, "Human-tier Top Grade. Nothing special—just a little better than your Principal Wei's Golden Cicada Robe."
Lu Chong's spirits lifted at once.
Human-tier Top Grade was the most powerful level of martial art that could be practiced by someone who hadn't become a Martial Artist.
He hadn't expected Principal Fang, who looked so unremarkable and liked to exaggerate, to have created a martial art of that caliber.
Ahem...
Principal Fang looked a little embarrassed as he added, "Of course, in terms of practical combat power, the Tiger Roar Skill might not be better than the Golden Cicada Robe."
"My Tiger Roar Skill is rather special. It focuses not on offense, but on tempering the spirit," Principal Fang said with conviction.
"Tempering the spirit?" Lu Chong was surprised. He had only heard of martial arts like that; he had never seen one.
"It's not as mysterious as you think. It's simply a martial art that trains your willpower and improves your neural reaction speed," Principal Fang said, putting it another way.
It wasn't that he wanted to downplay it. That kid would surely ask Old Wei about it once he got back, so he'd better not brag.
A mix of truth and lies was what it took to fool the boy.
"Willpower, neural reaction speed..." Lu Chong thought back to the simulation test.
During that test, he had found that his neural reaction score wasn't particularly impressive. It had been fairly average.
"I didn't expect to find a martial art that could improve my neural reaction speed so soon."
Lu Chong was secretly delighted. "Principal Wei really understands me."
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