An Unfair Assessment (3)

Now!

Seizing the fleeting opening while the snake venom disrupted Zhao Wuji's rhythm, Tang San discreetly reached toward the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist and precisely pinched three Dragon Whisker Needles between his fingers. Each was as fine as an ox hair and glinted gold from end to end.

These were the secret Hidden Weapons he had kept as his trump card. Nothing could withstand them; they were designed to pierce Soul Power defenses, and once inside the body, they traveled along the meridians, causing tremendous damage.

"I can still fight!" Tang San shouted in a low voice, charging forward again.

Blue Silver Grass swept out once more, filling the air and blocking Zhao Wuji's view to provide perfect cover. With his Soul Power disrupted by the poisonous mist, Zhao Wuji reacted a fraction too slowly. He instinctively raised a hand, ready to shatter the vines and crush his attacker.

But just as his Soul Power surged and he began to gather his strength, three almost imperceptible streaks of gold shot through gaps in the Blue Silver Grass. They came at tricky angles, precisely targeting the two major Soul Power acupoints in Zhao Wuji's shoulder and chest. They were so fast that there was no way to dodge them.

Zhao Wuji's heart jolted in alarm, and he instinctively twisted aside. But the snake venom had slowed both his movements and his reactions, and he was a step too late.

Two Dragon Whisker Needles pierced the muscles in his shoulder. Their tips vanished into his flesh in an instant, drilling swiftly along his meridians.

Sharp, piercing pain spread through his entire body, followed by numbness along his meridians. Zhao Wuji's shoulder went numb, his surging Soul Power abruptly faltered, and his assault came to a complete halt.

"How dare you!" Zhao Wuji was both shocked and furious, his anger fully ignited. All seven of his Soul Rings blazed with brilliant light, his sixth Soul Skill poised to strike. His terrifying pressure surged again as he prepared to crush them all in one blow.

But just as his Soul Power was about to erupt, a clear gong sounded from outside the courtyard, cutting through the wind pressure that filled the air and ringing throughout the grounds.

"Time's up! The incense stick has burned out! The assessment is over!"

The four of them relaxed at once and slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. Ning Rongrong had exhausted her Soul Power and could no longer maintain her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda; the wound on Tuo Mushuo's arm was still bleeding; Zhu Zhuqing ached all over and lacked even the strength to raise a hand; Tang San was little better off, his forehead covered in cold sweat and his Mysterious Heaven Skill somewhat disordered.

Despite the overwhelming disadvantage of the gap in their levels, they had relied on perfect teamwork to force their way through the grueling incense-stick-long assessment and pass.

Zhao Wuji pulled the Dragon Whisker Needles from his shoulder and examined them in his hand, clicking his tongue in amazement. "That Hidden Weapon technique is truly ingenious. All right, the four of you have passed."

He waved a large hand and turned to leave. "Classes officially start tomorrow. Don't be late."

Tang San finally breathed a sigh of relief. All the strength drained from his body at once, and he slumped onto the yellow earth, his palms covered in cold sweat.

The decisive strike at the very last moment had succeeded without mishap only thanks to Tuo Mushuo's precise defensive cover and the disruption caused by his poisonous mist.

Ning Rongrong looked at Tang San beside her, breathing weakly but still composed. The disdain in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by profound surprise and approval.

A flicker of emotion also passed through Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes. Tuo Mushuo panted heavily and wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling deeply moved as well.

Dusk deepened into night, the last light faded completely, and darkness shrouded the outskirts of Suotuo City.

Zhao Wuji was drinking in his small courtyard, still mulling over the Dragon Whisker Needle from earlier that day.

Suddenly, an utterly terrifying pressure descended without warning.

Zhao Wuji's expression changed drastically, and he sprang to his feet. Before he could release his Martial Soul, a dark figure was already in front of him. The figure said nothing, simply raising a hand and throwing a punch.

Bang! Zhao Wuji felt a crushing weight in his chest, and his entire body flew backward like a kite with its string cut. He slammed into the courtyard wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Shocked and furious, he was just about to activate his Soul Rings when the dark figure closed in, fists raining down on him. Every punch was as heavy as a mountain, leaving him unable to catch his breath, let alone circulate his Soul Power.

From beginning to end, he never even saw his attacker's face clearly, much less had a chance to fight back.

A moment later, the dark figure stopped. A low, raspy voice rang out with unquestionable authority. "The next time you bully children, weigh your own worth first." With that, the figure flashed away and vanished into the night.

Zhao Wuji slumped on the ground, his face bruised and swollen, every bone in his body feeling as though it had come apart.

A figure drifted over the courtyard wall. It was Flender, Shrek's dean. He looked at Zhao Wuji's miserable state, then sniffed the faint trace of the Clear Sky Hammer's presence lingering in the air. His expression abruptly grew grave.

"It was Clear Sky Douluo," Flender said in a low voice. "Tang Hao... Why would he come here?"

He suddenly remembered the boy named Tang San from the day's assessment. Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, rank twenty-nine, twelve years old... Blue Silver Grass... Could it be... Flender drew in a sharp breath.

No wonder... No wonder Xiao Gang went out of his way to write a letter recommending him.

This year's freshmen really did have an extraordinary figure hidden among them.

Deep in the mountains behind Heaven Dou Royal Academy lay the academy's most essential training resource-the Mimicry Training Ground.

The entire training ground was built along the mountainside and covered by an enormous Soul Power array. Inside, it was divided into dozens of separate areas, with every kind of environment, including swamps, dense forests, mountains, and ice fields. It could also simulate phantom Soul Beasts of different ages, ranging from a hundred to ten thousand years, making it an excellent place to hone practical combat skills.

Ordinary students could enter for only six hours each month. Only Lin Chen and Xiao Wu, as chief core disciples, had unlimited access.

At that moment, a figure was locked in combat with a simulated thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider in the dense forest mimicry zone.

Lin Chen was bare-chested, his muscles lean and taut, a faint gray glow playing over his skin. Without releasing his Martial Soul or activating any Soul Skills, he fought the Man Faced Demon Spider on even terms using only his physical strength and the instinctive enhancement of his Chaos Soul Power.

A spider leg swept toward him. He turned sideways to dodge, then slammed his fist into its armor with a dull rush of wind, producing a crisp clang like metal striking metal.

Bang! The Man Faced Demon Spider staggered back several steps, fine cracks spreading across its simulated armor. Lin Chen, however, frowned slightly and lowered his fist.

"Still a little short. The Chaos Pearl has only fused sixty percent with my body." His path of cultivation was different from that of ordinary Soul Masters.

While others fixated on the age of their Soul Rings and the power of their Soul Skills, he placed greater importance on his foundation-the Chaos Pearl's tempering of his body and the compatibility of the Heaven-Slaying Sword with his Martial Soul. Those were the foundations that would allow him to go further in the future.

The Soul Beast projections in the Mimicry Training Ground posed no danger to his life, making them ideal for honing his hand-to-hand combat and improving the fusion between his Martial Soul and his body.

After another two hours of tempering, Lin Chen wiped away his sweat and left the mimicry zone.

At the exit, Xiao Wu was sitting on a stone bench, swinging her legs and holding a food box. When she saw him emerge, she immediately sprang up. "Brother Lin Chen! You're finally out. I brought you some osmanthus cakes."

She wore a pink ruqun that day, her long hair arranged in two playful buns. As she ran over, her skirt fluttered around her like a dancing butterfly.