Outside the town, Wu Tong and Zhuge Tao stood together, watching the Quasi-Martial Artists depart.
"I wonder how many Quasi-Martial Artists will fall to demonic beasts this time?" Wu Tong remarked.
"The demonic beasts here are only the lowest H grade, equivalent to Beginner Warriors among martial artists. In terms of physical ability, quite a few of them are superior to the demonic beasts.
"But humans have far more comfortable lives than demonic beasts from childhood. These beasts grew up fighting and killing. Although many Quasi-Martial Artists have outstanding physical abilities, they may not have the courage to fight demonic beasts to the death. When they encounter one, they can't even bring out half their strength.
"That's also why every genius is required to undergo a combat assessment. No matter how talented a genius is, if they immediately lose their nerve when faced with a demonic beast, they're nothing but an embroidered pillow, better off discarded!
"In Zhang Junbao's eyes, I saw a calmness found only in high-level martial artists. That wasn't the fearlessness of ignorance, but the composure of someone who had seen through everything after countless battles. I really can't understand why a high school student would have a look like that," Zhuge Tao said.
"Everyone has their own encounters. I heard from Jiang Nian that Zhang Junbao said he often fought people in his dreams. Perhaps that's his fortuitous encounter."
"Hahaha, I hope he can bring us a miracle. It's just that becoming a Wargod is far too difficult, let alone becoming an existence Beyond War God," Zhuge Tao remarked.
Inside the enclosed town, 1,768 Quasi-Martial Artists quickly scattered and began their hunt.
"Brother Yang, I want to go alone." Zhang Junbao and Yang Wu stood in front of a dilapidated little shop.
Yang Wu nodded. "Junbao, this Martial Artist Combat Assessment isn't just an assessment. It's also a trial that tempers and transforms your courage and character. If you don't dare brave even this alone, how will you survive when you enter a real Wilderness Zone, where the danger is millions of times greater?
"I was just about to suggest the same thing. I didn't expect you to bring it up first.
"Let's split up for now and have a good fight with these demonic beasts!"
"Good. Brother Yang, I admire your fighting spirit. Be careful," Zhang Junbao said.
"Yeah. Seize this chance to transform and temper your combat skills. I'll see you outside the town at daybreak!"
With that, Yang Wu surveyed his surroundings, then raced off alone.
Zhang Junbao also quickly climbed to a high spot and carefully surveyed the area.
Night fell, and the searchlights outside the town swept back and forth, bringing a rare measure of light to the abandoned place.
According to what Instructor Jiang Nian taught me, demonic beasts are divided into Beast Soldier, Beast General, and Lord-level, corresponding to human martial artists' Warrior Level, War General Level, and War God Level.
Even an ordinary Beast Soldier's physical abilities are already comparable to those of a first-rate expert in my previous life. Yet here, that level of strength belongs to the most basic cannon fodder.
Holding his longsword, Zhang Junbao hid in a dark corner of a rooftop. He had already gained a basic understanding of the town.
There are quite a few demonic beasts here, but mainly three types: Shadow Cats, felines that rely on speed; Ironfur Boars, which rely on strength and defense; and Tiger Mastiffs, canines with astonishing speed and strength.
They're obviously just cats, dogs, and pigs. In this era, even ordinary animals have become so powerful.
Speed, defense, and a balance of strength and speed: these are also three different paths for martial artists to advance along. It seems whoever designed this assessment not only wanted to test the Quasi-Martial Artists' combat abilities, but also to guide them in a particular direction.
For low-level martial artists, it's hard to cover every aspect of speed, strength, and defense. Prioritizing an advantage in one area really can allow a martial artist's strength to grow quickly. I wonder how many Quasi-Martial Artists can understand that.
My movement technique was tempered in battles against humans, but demonic beasts have entirely different body structures and ways of fighting. I can use them to refine my movement technique.
One night isn't long. I'll first temper my movement technique and adapt to the way demonic beasts fight, then find a chance to test my strength and speed.
Zhang Junbao had already picked his targets: a group of four Shadow Cats.
Though they were called cats, Shadow Cats could grow over a meter long. Their muscles were streamlined, well-proportioned, and supple, making them look like little leopards.
The four Shadow Cats had just worked together to kill a lone Tiger Mastiff. Two smaller ones were busily tearing at it, while the other two kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Clearly, they had divided their duties.
Longsword in hand, Zhang Junbao approached silently from the shadows. Sneak-attacking a speed-type demonic beast like a Shadow Cat was no easy task. He flicked a small stone at a fallen leaf in the distance, and the two watchful Shadow Cats immediately looked in that direction.
But the moment they turned their heads, disaster struck!
Zhang Junbao burst from the shadows, his longsword becoming a dark streak that caressed one Shadow Cat's neck in the night.
"Pfft."
Under the other Shadow Cat's puzzled gaze, its companion fell limply. A slit throat did not kill it instantly, but its struggles were futile, and its life was rapidly draining away.
The other Shadow Cat finally became alert. Its fur bristled all over, including every hair on its half-lowered tail. Ready to pounce at any moment, it let out a hissing growl.
The two Shadow Cats that had been eating also noticed something was wrong and assumed attacking stances.
"Not bad. I thought I could take the chance to kill two of you! Since you've spotted me, come on!"
Zhang Junbao turned and attacked without hesitation. His longsword collided with a cat's claws, striking sparks in the night.
Although he was considerably stronger than the Shadow Cats, Zhang Junbao did not rely on his strength to crush them outright. Instead, he kept his punching force at the 1,000 kg level and used the Shadow Cats surrounding him to hone his fighting skills.
The Shadow Cats were indeed seasoned hunters who worked together. While the first one held Zhang Junbao at bay, one of the other two had already silently moved behind him, while the last one blocked his flank and pounced.
Zhang Junbao used his sword to push the cat's claws upward and kicked at its exposed belly. A Shadow Cat's belly was its weakest point; if Zhang Junbao's kick landed, it would lose the ability to fight.
But it clearly knew its own weakness. The moment its belly was exposed, it curled its body upward, using its supple frame to react quickly. Its two hind legs met Zhang Junbao's foot, and it used the force to quickly break away from the fight.
"Wow, what strong fighting instincts."
Rather than being startled, Zhang Junbao was delighted. He lightly tapped the ground with his other foot, and his body slid an eerie meter to the side. He escaped through a gap in their blockade, narrowly dodging the pounce of the two Shadow Cats behind him.
If he had still been in his original position, the back of his neck would already have been in a Shadow Cat's jaws.
But his movement exposed the weakness of the Shadow Cat behind him.
Zhang Junbao swung his longsword upward. Carrying a thousand jin of force, the blade slashed across the belly of the nearest Shadow Cat, opening a long wound in its abdomen and nearly cutting it in two.
"Pfft, pfft."
The two halves of the corpse fell limply, and terror showed in the eyes of the two remaining Shadow Cats.
The fight had lasted only two or three exchanges, yet two of their companions had been killed. The two Shadow Cats were already hesitating over whether to retreat.
"Just a few Shadow Cats that haven't been together long can actually launch such a threatening coordinated attack. If I hadn't killed one beforehand, there would have been four of them surrounding me just now!
"They would have blocked me in from front, back, left, and right. You really can't underestimate these demonic beasts.
"But now, you two little kitties, it's my turn to have some fun with you!"
With that, a faint smile appeared on Zhang Junbao's face, and he suddenly vanished from the two Shadow Cats' sight.
The two Shadow Cats heard only the ring of a sword beside their ears, and then they heard nothing more.
Zhang Junbao's longsword had entered the Shadow Cats' ears from the side and pierced straight through their brains. The two Shadow Cats were skewered together, the whole family neatly reunited.