Blood-Energy Test

The convoy stopped beside the athletic field. The doors opened, and a group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms, armed with live ammunition, jumped down from the vehicles. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their presence imposing.

They swiftly erected protective barriers around the field, designating the entire examination site as a military restricted zone.

Two armed guards stood at every intersection, their sharp eyes sweeping over everyone.

Overhead, two armed helicopters circled at low altitude, the airflow churned up by their rotors making the roadside leaves rustle loudly.

Immediately afterward, several people in officers' uniforms stepped down. At their head was a middle-aged man wearing the rank of colonel on his shoulder.

He was tall and powerfully built, with resolute features. A scar ran from his brow bone to his jaw, left behind by a battle with a ferocious beast.

His blood-energy was restrained within him, yet he carried the iron-blooded aura of a man long tempered on the battlefield. Simply standing there inspired involuntary awe.

He was Colonel Chen Feng, staff officer of the Azure City Military Command and chief examiner for the Azure City examination zone.

"Everyone, silence!"

Chen Feng spoke, his voice resonant and forceful.

The previously noisy athletic field instantly fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"I am Chen Feng, chief examiner for the Azure City examination zone."

He stepped onto the podium, his gaze sweeping across every examinee below. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, as though they could pierce straight into the human heart. "From this moment on, every examinee must strictly obey examination-site discipline and follow the invigilators' commands. Anyone who disrupts the order of the examination site or cheats will have their examination qualifications revoked on the spot and will be barred from taking the martial examination for life!"

Chen Feng's voice was icy and piercing, devoid of the slightest emotion.

The examinees below did not even dare breathe loudly. The ease on their faces had completely vanished, replaced by unprecedented tension.

"Now, staff will begin setting up the testing equipment!"

At Chen Feng's command, the soldiers immediately sprang into action, carefully unloading one pitch-black instrument after another from the military transport vehicles.

These instruments were all the latest Type 99 High-Precision Blood-Energy Analyzers developed by the military. Each cost over a million Dragon Nation currency, with an accuracy error of no more than 0.01.

Fifty blood-energy analyzers were arranged neatly in the center of the athletic field, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen beneath the sunlight.

Soldiers nearby were also calibrating the surveillance equipment. Three-hundred-and-sixty-degree cameras without blind spots covered the entire examination site.

The examinees were led to the center of the athletic field.

Fifty pitch-black blood-energy analyzers stood in neat rows, with armed guards beside them. No one was permitted to approach.

Chen Feng circulated his blood-energy again, and his mighty voice rang out in every direction. "The blood-energy test begins now! Test in order according to your examination numbers! During the test, place your palm on the sensing area and circulate your blood-energy with all your strength. The instrument will automatically display your blood-energy value and corresponding score! Scoring rules: 1–9 points, base score of 30 points, plus 5 points for every additional point; 10–19 points, 100–180 points; 20–29 points, 180–250 points; 30–39 points, 250–310 points; 40–49 points, 310–360 points; above 50 points, 360–400 points! The assessment begins now!"

The examinees formed ten long lines according to their examination numbers.

The first to be tested was a boy ranked in the top hundred. He took a deep breath, placed his palm on the sensing area, and strained until his face turned red.

The number on the screen flickered a few times before finally stopping at 13.2.

"13.2, 132 points!"

The boy let out a sigh of relief and ran off happily.

The following examinees mostly scored between 7 and 20 points. Very few could exceed 20 points.

Whenever someone tested above 20 points, it drew a small burst of cheers.

"Next, Zhao Ritian!"

Zhao Ritian shot Lin Yun a smug glance, then walked forward with his head held high and chest puffed out.

He placed his palm on the sensing area and summoned all the blood-energy in his body.

A faint red mist of blood-energy rose around him as the numbers on the screen rapidly climbed.

At last, the number stopped at 22.7.

"22.7, 193 points!"

"Wow! Young Master Zhao is actually a second-level Martial Apprentice!"

"That's incredible! With this score, he's guaranteed admission to Jiangnan Martial Academy!"

Several of his lackeys immediately began flattering him.

Zhao Ritian became even more pleased with himself. He walked up to Lin Yun, folded his arms across his chest, and said in a strange, mocking tone, "Lin Yun, did you see that? 22.7 points! I'd like to see how much a piece of trash like you can test today. Don't tell me you can't even reach 10 points. That would be truly humiliating."

Lin Yun merely gave him an indifferent glance and said nothing.

There was no point arguing with someone who was about to get slapped in the face.

"Next, Wang Dalong!"

Wang Dalong took a deep breath, a confident smile appearing on his face.

He stepped forward and pressed his palm against the sensing area.

A dense faint red mist of blood-energy rose from his body, far thicker than Zhao Ritian's.

The number on the screen soared all the way upward. 20... 30... 40...

Finally, it steadily stopped at 44.0.

"44.0, 340 points!"

There was a trace of surprise in the invigilating officer's voice.

The entire field instantly erupted.

"My God! 44 points! A fourth-level Martial Apprentice!"

"Brother Long is awesome! He actually broke through to the fourth level of the Martial Apprentice realm!"

"Good heavens, fourth level of the Martial Apprentice realm! Could Wang Dalong also have a chance of getting into Imperial Capital First Martial Academy?"

"That's incredible! The Wang Family really is wealthy and powerful. Who knows how many resources they poured into him."

The surrounding examinees cast envious looks his way, their discussions rising and falling one after another.

Even the principal and the academy's senior staff looked at Wang Dalong with eyes full of gratification.

"In previous years, it was already good enough if our school had one person admitted to Imperial Capital First Martial Academy. But now, it seems that besides Su Nianhe, Wang Dalong also has a great chance this year."

Everyone nodded in wholehearted agreement.

Wang Dalong smiled smugly, but when he inadvertently caught sight of Lin Yun on his way back, a flicker of viciousness still flashed through his eyes.

"Next, Su Nianhe!"

The entire field instantly fell quiet.

Everyone's gaze focused on Su Nianhe.

She was Azure City's universally acknowledged number one prodigy, having displayed astonishing talent in martial cultivation since childhood.

She broke through to the trainee martial artist realm at twelve and became a Martial Apprentice at fifteen.

Just half a year ago, she had broken through to the fourth level of the Martial Apprentice realm, making her Azure City's youngest fourth-level Martial Apprentice in the past decade.

Su Nianhe nodded toward Lin Yun, then walked up to the blood-energy analyzer and extended her fair hand.

Surging faint red blood-energy mist instantly enveloped her, like burning flames.

The numbers on the screen jumped wildly. 30... 40... 50...

At last, the number froze at 55.0.

"55.0, 380 points!"

Even the invigilating officer's voice carried a trace of excitement.

Thunderous applause erupted across the field.

"My God! 55 points of blood-energy!"

"Goddess Su is amazing! She actually broke through another minor realm! With this score, she's absolutely guaranteed admission to Imperial Capital First Martial Academy!"

"As expected of Azure City's number one prodigy! She's leading by an entire tier!"

"Compared to Goddess Su, Wang Dalong's 44 points suddenly don't seem like much!"

Su Nianhe smiled at everyone, then quickly walked to Lin Yun's side and whispered, "Lin Yun, relax. Even if you don't do well, it's okay. I'll support you."

Though she said that, she was still somewhat worried inside.

She was afraid that if Lin Yun's score was too low, he would suffer a blow.

"Next, Lin Yun!"

It was finally Lin Yun's turn.

At this moment, not only the Azure City examinees, but even the invigilating officers and auditors nearby turned to look at him.

Everyone wanted to see what score this martyr's younger brother, this infamous good-for-nothing of the entire school, could actually test.