Martial Arts Exam Begins

"Assemble! Assemble! Move it!"

Today was the official start of the martial arts exam.

Early in the morning, Wang Tianyu and the others gathered under Su Pengfei's command.

Standing among the group, Wang Tianyu was not particularly nervous.

Wang Tianyu's Basic Fist Technique had already reached its maximum level.

The Basic Cultivation Method's effect in strengthening his body had also grown weaker and weaker.

Wang Tianyu had asked Su Pengfei about it, and Su Pengfei had explained the reason to him.

The Basic Cultivation Method was the most basic cultivation art, and its ability to strengthen the body was limited.

Only by gaining access to more advanced cultivation arts could Wang Tianyu further improve his strength.

And the path to obtaining advanced cultivation arts lay right before him: getting into a martial arts university.

Wang Tianyu could hardly wait to enter a martial arts university and begin a new chapter of martial arts cultivation.

"Tianyu, my right eye has been twitching all morning. Do you think it means something?"

Unlike Wang Tianyu's calm composure, Chen Yongguo was far from tranquil at the moment.

In truth, Chen Yongguo's comprehension was not bad. He had already cultivated the Basic Fist Technique to the fourth level.

He had not neglected his cultivation of the Basic Cultivation Method either.

Chen Yongguo's current strength had improved by an unknown amount compared to before he entered the martial arts class.

Although he could not compare with Wang Tianyu's progress, Chen Yongguo's strength was already considered average within the martial arts class.

"What are you overthinking for? Your strength has improved so much lately. What could possibly go wrong with a little exam like this? Who are you? You're Brother Fei, the muscle-bound hunk."

Knowing that Chen Yongguo was somewhat nervous before the exam, Wang Tianyu cracked a small joke to ease the mood.

"Only one hundred people will make it. Who knows how many people they'll choose those hundred from. Five hundred? A thousand? Or two thousand?"

Wang Tianyu's joke did not reassure Chen Yongguo. He was still filled with anxiety over the martial arts exam ahead.

Faced with Chen Yongguo's nervousness, Wang Tianyu had no good solution either. He patted Chen Yongguo on the shoulder.

"Relax. If there's a chance, I'll help you."

Wang Tianyu was not speaking without basis. Su Pengfei had explained the rules of the competition earlier.

A group of people would eliminate one another in the same location. If he got the chance, Wang Tianyu would definitely lend Chen Yongguo a hand.

"No, absolutely not. Never mind whether you can even do that. Even if you get the chance, don't help me. Focus on your own exam. You can't let it affect you."

Chen Yongguo hurriedly waved his hands. He regarded Wang Tianyu as a true friend and did not want Wang Tianyu to have such thoughts.

Never mind whether this idea could be carried out— even if it could, Chen Yongguo would not let Wang Tianyu do it.

First of all, Chen Yongguo had his own pride. His pride would not allow him to pass the martial arts exam that way.

The other reason was that Chen Yongguo was afraid it would affect Wang Tianyu.

Although Wang Tianyu was already the undisputed number one among their group.

Who knew whether other martial arts classes had even more powerful geniuses?

"Do your best on the exam and try to bring back first place. Don't worry about me. I'll handle my own problems."

Afraid that Wang Tianyu would cling to that idea, Chen Yongguo hurriedly spoke up again to persuade him.

"Alright, then. Do your best. See you at martial arts university."

Wang Tianyu did not insist any further. Chen Yongguo had his own thoughts, and as his friend, Wang Tianyu would not force the issue too much.

"Alright. See you at martial arts university."

There were not many of them, and a single coach bus was enough to hold everyone.

The bus sped toward the outskirts of the city. With traffic restrictions in place, there were few cars on the road, and the bus moved quickly.

About forty minutes later, the bus stopped at a large camp.

The camp covered a vast area, and banners were hung at the entrance bearing slogans about the various years of martial arts exams.

After the bus came to a stop, Wang Tianyu got off.

The camp had been built beside a massive mountain.

Many trees grew across the mountain, and from afar, it was a lush expanse of green.

The foot of the mountain was surrounded by iron fencing over two people tall, its bars as thick as fists.

"You're from Qingjiang No. 2 Middle School, right?"

The moment Wang Tianyu and the others got off the bus, a woman wearing a work badge came over to greet them.

"Yes."

Su Pengfei nodded and answered the woman's question.

"This way. Follow me."

The woman did not waste a single word. After receiving a definite answer, she immediately led the way.

"This is the area for your school. Your school's marker is on the ground. I'll only lead you here once, so remember where you are."

That reminder was probably part of the standard procedure.

Because Wang Tianyu had spotted the large white words on the ground from far away.

"Qingjiang No. 2 Middle School!"

Each character was as large as a car, and with the striking white color, it would have been impossible to miss them unless one was blind.

At the very center of the camp stood a podium. Behind it were rows of empty seats, which appeared to be the guest seating area.

A bottle of water, a nameplate, and a tablet computer had been placed on every table in the guest seating area.

"The martial arts exam starts at ten o'clock. You still have one hour of free time."

Wang Tianyu and the others had set out early, leaving shortly after seven. It was still a few minutes before nine.

That was only to be expected. Although traffic restrictions were in place.

They had not planned to arrive right on time, after all. They needed to leave some room for emergencies.

One group after another continued entering the camp.

Qingjiang No. 1 Middle School was to Wang Tianyu's left, while Qingjiang No. 3 Middle School was to his right.

"So they're from No. 3 Middle School."

Wang Tianyu spotted Huang Lei, Gao Bin, and the others on the right. This was the second time Wang Tianyu had run into Huang Lei.

Although all the martial arts classes trained in the Martial Arts Building, their training times and areas differed.

Aside from that gambling match, Wang Tianyu and Huang Lei had not crossed paths again.

Today was a special day, and Su Pengfei and Gao Bin did not glare daggers at each other as they had before.

The two even nodded to one another in greeting. Afterward, Su Pengfei and Gao Bin each stood quietly at the front of their respective groups.

"Class leaders, check your headcounts. The martial arts exam will begin in five minutes."

Time passed quickly. The woman who had led them here earlier came over again and instructed Su Pengfei and the others to confirm their numbers.

As Su Pengfei and the others began checking their headcounts.

People also gradually began taking their seats on the previously empty podium and in the guest seating area.

At exactly ten o'clock, the man seated in the center of the podium picked up the microphone in front of him and stood up.

"Hello, examinees participating in the martial arts exam! I am Li Wan, mayor of Qingjiang City. Today, together with Director Zhang of the Martial Management Bureau and Director Wen of the Education Bureau, I will preside over this martial arts exam."

The director of the Martial Management Bureau sat to Li Wan's left, while the director of the Education Bureau sat to his right.

As Li Wan introduced them, the directors of the Martial Management Bureau and Education Bureau beside him promptly stood up as well.

"Of course, everyone in the guest seating area also has a task. You will serve as proctors for this martial arts exam, ensuring its fairness and impartiality."

Wang Tianyu did not know the mayor or the two directors, but he spotted someone he recognized among the guests.

The only person Wang Tianyu knew was the principal of Qingjiang No. 2 Middle School. Wang Tianyu recognized him because he had seen him during the martial arts class selection.

"According to this year's martial arts exam policy, every examination site consists of one thousand examinees and one thousand Gray Wolf beasts."

"Because Qingjiang City has only 982 martial arts examinees, eighteen examinees have been transferred over from a neighboring city."

What Li Wan was saying at the moment was extremely important. The atmosphere was utterly silent, and no one made the slightest sound.

"One Gray Wolf is worth one point, while the other examinees around you are worth two points. Both the giant wolves and the examinees will have scoring devices. Obtain their scoring devices, and you can seize their points."

"When your points are reduced to zero, your exam ends. The final one hundred martial arts examinees remaining in the examination site will be the qualified candidates for this martial arts exam."

After Li Wan finished explaining the detailed rules, several cries of surprise rose around Wang Tianyu.

Although their respective class leaders had previously explained the general rules of the competition.

When the exam truly arrived, some people still could not help being shocked.

"This exam has only two rules. First, teaming up is forbidden. Once team action is discovered, you will be directly disqualified from the exam."

"Second, intentional killing is forbidden. Once an examinee voluntarily admits defeat or loses the ability to fight back, you must not continue attacking."

After listening to Li Wan's speech, Wang Tianyu thought of many things.

The thousand examinees in the arena would not only have to fight the giant wolves; the other examinees around them were also potential opponents.

The competition format was absolutely inhumane. It encouraged examinees to fight savage beasts, and it also encouraged them to compete and battle against one another.

"The path of a martial artist is drenched in blood. Without the courage to face life and death, one has no right to become a martial artist."

Li Wan was clearly a martial artist himself. When he said those words, the aura he gave off was extraordinarily imposing.