"Martial artists are divided into three ranks: Warrior, War General, and War God. Those like you, who have just passed the assessment, are called Beginner Warriors..."
On the bus, the staff member leading the group talked nonstop, never letting the atmosphere fall quiet for even a moment.
"Instructor, how strong are War Generals and War Gods?" someone asked.
The staff member sighed in admiration. "Experts at the War General Level cannot be killed with firearms. War Gods are practically invincible on Earth. Every one of them can walk through a hail of bullets and destroy an apartment building with a single punch!"
As soon as he finished, Luo Xiaowei suddenly cut in. "What does a mere War General amount to? Even a War God is nothing but a firefly beside the bright moon compared to my family!"
Only Xiao Zi and the staff member knew the inside story. They exchanged smiles, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Annoyed by their unspoken understanding, Luo Xiaowei said indignantly, "Li Lezi, who knows if your physique even measures up to a Beginner Warrior's? You know perfectly well how you got here!"
Xiao Zi remained mild and courteous, showing no sign of anger or embarrassment. "Naturally, I can't compare to you, Mr. Luo. But we're all here to take the assessment. Isn't meeting the requirements enough?"
It was like punching a wad of cotton. No matter how he provoked Xiao Zi, he would not get angry. With nowhere to vent his frustration, Luo Xiaowei snorted and said nothing more.
Babata said, "That was outrageous! Are you just going to put up with it?"
Xiao Zi smiled. "A few words won't hurt me. Besides, he's Luo Feng's descendant."
Babata was still fuming and was about to tell on him when she suddenly received a message. Upon seeing the sender, the corners of her lips curled slightly.
This Martial Artist Combat Assessment had been arranged in a hurry, and very few people had signed up-only six. The bus soon arrived at Monster Town.
Ever since Luo Feng had become a Void True God, monsters had ceased to be a threat on Earth. Once rampant, they had now become rare species.
Upon arriving at the Northern Military Region, everyone collected their combat uniforms and weapons. Xiao Zi used his Second Martial Soul, the Destruction Scepter. From the outside, it resembled a walking stick, so it did not count as a violation in the Martial Artist Combat Assessment, where firearms were forbidden.
The fierce beasts in this Monster Town were all H-Class Monsters, equivalent to the Beginner Warrior Level. They had little intelligence but were even more bloodthirsty and brutal, and Quasi-Martial Artists were often killed or crippled.
An officer explained the rules. "This combat assessment has a three-hour time limit. The more monsters you kill, the more points you earn. Bring back their left ears as proof. Remember, martial artists are forbidden from killing one another. Violators will be executed by firing squad!"
Puzzled, Xiao Zi asked Babata, "Isn't the assessment a little too short? And they didn't mention a pass rate."
Babata gave him a knowing look. "Isn't that all to accommodate you? Do your best in the assessment. Don't disappoint Master."
"Thank you." Xiao Zi offered his thanks to the empty air. He had been receiving favors from beginning to end, and his debt of gratitude kept growing. Unable to repay it for now, he could only keep it quietly in his heart.
Generally speaking, killing two monsters was enough to pass. To achieve a more respectable result, Xiao Zi decided to give it his all rather than slack off because his success had already been arranged. It would also let him see where his strength stood.
Once the gates of Monster Town closed, the martial artists scattered, each searching for targets.
Like martial artists, monsters were divided into three ranks: Beast Soldier, Beast General, and Lord. The weakest H-Class Monsters were scattered throughout the town, and soon one came running toward him.
An Iron-Haired Wild Boar!
Its four thick hooves pounded the concrete, whipping up a foul-smelling gale as it charged straight at him like a speeding car.
Unfazed, Xiao Zi swung the Destruction Scepter sharply upward. The seemingly unwieldy weapon sliced a gaping wound in the boar's neck!
Only after the monster fell did Xiao Zi dare to gasp for breath. Though he had been a Supreme God King for hundreds of thousands of years, he had personally fought only a handful of times. This was his first time facing slaughter head-on.
Mages were naturally rather fragile. Luo Feng had clearly taken that into account, allowing him to skip the physical tests and go straight to actual combat to gain experience.
After cutting off the Iron-Haired Wild Boar's left ear, Xiao Zi actively sought out enemies, both to train himself and to avoid disappointing that person.
Time ticked away. As the assessment drew to a close, the martial artists gathered their spoils and returned to report.
"Li Lezi" was the only one missing from the group. Luo Xiaowei said disdainfully, "He still hasn't come out. Don't tell me he died in there?"
Not long after he spoke, a figure limped toward them. Blood dripped from the scepter in his hand, while more flowed steadily down his body.
Everyone who had looked down on him fell silent. Even Luo Xiaowei quieted, a complicated gleam flickering in his eyes.
The officer gave him an admiring look and had the medical staff stop his bleeding before beginning the count.
When Xiao Zi's turn came, he counted carefully. "Li Lezi, thirty-six left ears in total. You did very well!"
Luo Xiaowei was last. Upon seeing his haul, the officer was visibly more pleased. "Luo Xiaowei, fifty-one left ears. Excellent!"
The rankings were officially announced: Luo Xiaowei came first, and Xiao Zi second. Everyone else had killed at least three monsters as well, so all six martial artists passed.
Despite giving his all and failing to take first place, Xiao Zi was not discouraged. Luo Feng had not been the strongest in every competition back then, but that had not stopped him from climbing to the very top, one solid step at a time. He could do it too!
Back at the Limit Martial Arts School, when the staff asked what everyone planned to do next, they all made the same choice, including Luo Xiaowei: signing a contract with the school.
Now that Xiao Zi was an official martial artist, the Limit Martial Arts School assigned him a villa in Mingyue Residential Area. By coincidence, it was right next door to Luo Feng's home.
When he turned on the computer and entered Limit Home, which was accessible only to school personnel, an email automatically popped up. It was from Luo Feng-
"Xiao Zi, congratulations on passing the combat assessment and becoming a true martial artist. I've given you twenty million in Huaxia Currency as starting funds, along with a few privileges. Buy whatever you like!"
Babata took over the introductions from the Limit Martial Arts School's artificial intelligence, helping him choose suitable techniques and materials.
The Destruction Scepter possessed the Ultimate Lightning attribute, making it well suited to lightning techniques. Although the first three layers were priced at one hundred million in Huaxia Currency, Xiao Zi successfully purchased the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade without any money being deducted from his account. Clearly, the privileges Luo Feng had given him had come into play.
With his twenty million in Huaxia Currency untouched, he bought a multifunctional storage bag, a smart Communication Watch, and other small items. This time, the payment was successfully deducted from his account.
After spending a few days in Mingyue Residential Area and receiving the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade, Xiao Zi suddenly remembered the important business awaiting him in his main world...
"Babata, how have things been on the Douluo Continent during these days I've been away?"
Babata seemed to have only just remembered as well. After checking, she said somewhat guiltily, "Maybe, probably, perhaps it isn't too late?"
Her tone made Xiao Zi's heart lurch. After confirming that his business in Swallowed Star was finished, he immediately opened a spatial passage and returned to the Douluo Continent at the speed of light...