C10 The Examination!

The students made their way to the field in teams. Starfall Academy's field was expansive, with numerous arenas already erected.

This assessment was immense in scale, marking merely the initial phase.

The first step involved intra-class competition!

Each class would face off at an arena, with students vying for rank one by one.

Typically, an official assessment is divided into three tiers: Body Tempering Levels 1 to 3, Levels 4 to 6, and Levels 7 to 9.

However, due to their younger age, there were only two tiers: those below Body Tempering Level 4 and those above. Starfall Academy emphasizes real combat, offering lower-tier individuals the opportunity to challenge those in the higher tier. Victory would place them in the ranks of Level 4 and above. A defeat would ensure their ranking remained at the top of the previous tier.

Beyond the opportunity to challenge higher tiers, each person had only one shot. A loss was a loss, and a win was a win—after all, luck is a component of strength.

In actual combat, it's not guaranteed that one will face an opponent of equal cultivation. While this assessment might seem inequitable, it's actually the epitome of fairness, ensuring everyone is ready to confront stronger adversaries at any moment.

"This assessment employs a scoring system, with three teachers evaluating student performance. You can choose to concede when facing higher-tier challenges to conserve energy for your own tier's challenges. Although... there's no one left in your class at the second level of Body Tempering like you, by saving your strength and enduring longer on the stage, you can still aim for a higher score with some impressive maneuvers. Perhaps, your attempts to challenge Levels 3 and 4 could even earn you bonus points."

Luo Shuining provided a side analysis of the situation.

"Absolutely, the class monitor makes a good point," Chen Xing agreed, nodding vigorously. Yet, internally, he was torn between amusement and dismay. When had Luo Shuining become so attentive towards him? Had she, perhaps, recognized his unique allure during the recent days they'd spent together?

Luo Shuining, noticing his apparent lack of concern, let out a soft huff. Her gaze shifted as she realized something was amiss.

The teachers responsible for their class's assessment were the demanding physical education instructor, Big Yong Li, the theoretical studies teacher, Dongyun Cai, and the Fellbeast course instructor, Wei Feng Wang. These teachers were known for their strictness and their particular disdain for Chen Xing.

"This kid is definitely in for it today..."

Luo Shuining couldn't help but facepalm. Chen Xing was known for his lack of stamina, always the first to drop from exhaustion in physical education classes, and Big Yong Li had taken a strong disliking to him. Dongyun Cai, the theory teacher, might not mind physical weakness, but Chen Xing had fallen asleep in his class on multiple occasions, each time getting caught. And the Fellbeast instructor had bluntly stated that someone like Chen Xing wouldn't last more than a few days in the Fellbeast Mountain Range to the northwest of Traessey City before becoming beast fodder!

Now, all three teachers who had it out for him were assembled to grade him. It was inconceivable that they would be unbiased.

Lost in thought, Luo Shuining was jolted back to reality as Yan Ruhong announced from the stage, "The assessment begins! The first match, Chen Xing versus Lee Qing!"

"What?"

Luo Shuining was taken aback. It seemed fate was conspiring against Chen Xing today! What were the odds of such a coincidence?

The other students couldn't suppress their snickers. A second-level Body Tempering practitioner against a seventh-level? The outcome seemed painfully clear, especially considering the well-known animosity between Chen Xing and Lee Qing.

Lee Qing, shaking with excitement, stood up and strode confidently onto the stage. He gestured provocatively at Chen Xing, challenging him to step forward.

Provocation!

"Looks like Lee Qing is out for revenge!"

"Of course! Can Young Master Lee's pride be so easily trampled?"

"This time, he's determined to beat Chen Xing black and blue."

"Well, that's not a sure thing. Whether Chen Xing even dares to step onto the stage is another matter!"

"I think you're all putting too much faith in Young Master Lee. What if Chen Xing has another explosive moment and leaves Young Master Lee grasping at air, his pride smashed on the arena floor?"

The student who spoke burst into laughter before finishing.

Grasping at air?

This was the arena, with limited space! There was no room for evasive maneuvers. In such a confined space, Chen Xing was bound to lose!

"Chen Xing, get on the stage. The assessment is about to start. You don't want to be seen as a coward, do you?" Lee Qing sneered menacingly.

Chen Xing narrowed his eyes.

Luo Shuining pulled at his sleeve, "Remember what I said. Pass on the first challenge."

Lee Qing, already harboring resentment towards Chen Xing, would surely not hold back. Even if the arena rules forbade maiming or killing, Chen Xing would be too battered to face any subsequent challenges.

"What's the matter? Chen Xing, scared now? Weren't you full of bravado before? When your father and uncle were executed by Charstand, did you cower just like this?" Lee Qing taunted mercilessly, his sneer growing wider. Truth be told, he was worried that Chen Xing wouldn't step forward. Though Lee Qing would regain some face if Chen Xing admitted defeat, it would feel like punching the air, leaving him unable to release his frustration.

Yan Ruhuang gave Lee Qing a sharp look and furrowed her brow, but she restrained herself and spoke up, "Chen Xing, are you coming up or not? Make your decision quickly. There's a long line of students waiting for their assessment. Don't waste everyone's time."

Down below, Chen Xing chuckled and bowed his head.

When everyone assumed he was about to give up, he slowly rose to his feet.

"It seems, Lee Qing, that you've invested quite a bit of effort into this opportunity."

"If you lack such manners and are eager for a thrashing, then I'll reluctantly grant you this chance to learn some respect."

He brushed the dust from his knees and walked slowly toward the arena. Instantly, he became the center of everyone's gaze.

"Chen Xing!" Luo Shuining clenched her teeth in frustration.

A few girls nearby paused, one remarking, "Doesn't Chen Xing look kind of handsome?"

"Pfft! You girls always judge by feelings. I bet he'll look even more handsome when he's knocked down."

At a distance, in the senior class's assessment area, a student nudged the elegant young man beside him, pointing toward Chen Xing's class's assessment area.

"Yinghao, look, your sweetheart is over there taking the test!"

"Pang Qing, cut it out. I don't have any sweetheart," Mao Yinghao chuckled, his eyes like calm waters as he glanced in the direction Pang Qing indicated.

He saw Luo Shuining standing out in the crowd.

"Wow, it's no wonder she caught the eye of our Young Master Mao. She stands out, even in such a large crowd," Pang Qing mused. "But it looks like your sweetheart is pretty tense."

It wasn't just Luo Shuining who noticed; they all sensed something off about the atmosphere at the assessment.

Everyone watched the figure in white slowly ascend the stage.

Across the arena, a handsome young man with a fierce look in his eyes glared at the figure approaching the stage, as if he wanted to tear him apart!

"It looks like there's some bad blood between those two on stage," Mao Yinghao said, shaking his head before turning away. "As the class monitor, Shuining is always so responsible. It's natural for her to be concerned about her classmates' conflicts."

"Tsk tsk, Young Master Mao, you're so broad-minded. I couldn't stand it," Pang Qing said, shaking his head.

Broad-minded? Mao Yinghao offered a faint smile, his confidence radiating. Luo Shuining was the one he had his eye on! Who could possibly take her away from him?

Chen Xing stepped onto the stage.

He regarded Lee Qing with a detached expression.

"You're not worth my effort. But since you've gone to such lengths, I'll indulge you with one move," he said, lifting a single finger. "Just one move."

The crowd erupted into commotion.

"That's a bit over the top. While your bravery is admirable, such ostentation will only provoke your opponent to strike harder," Lee Dabong commented, shaking his head.

"Courage?" Cai Dongyun chuckled dismissively. "I'm afraid that what we're seeing is nothing more than conceit!"

"No, I beg to differ," Wang Weifeng interjected, shaking his head before breaking into a smile. "He's probably right. He'll likely only have time for a single move."

Lee Dabong and Cai Dongyun both snickered, but upon remembering their roles as judges and the poor impression their laughter might give, they quickly composed themselves.

"One move?" On the stage, Lee Qing found the idea laughable. A mere second-tier Body Tempering weakling dared to claim he could take him down in one move? That was suicidal!

"There's no room for evasion in this ring!" he declared.

With limbs grounded, he lunged forward in a Back Connecting, Fierce Tiger Fist! It was the same move that had left holes in the ground and his reputation tarnished that day. Now, he was determined to redeem himself with it.

"Really?" Chen Xing responded with a light laugh. As Lee Qing performed his monkey and tiger antics before him, Chen Xing casually stepped back, hands behind his back, and split into two forms. Lee Qing's shadow charged past, failing to even graze a hair on Chen Xing's head.

He dodged with ease!

Lee Danyong, Cai Dongyun, and Wang Weifeng's grins stiffened. This turn of events was unexpected!

The students watching from below, having anticipated something, let out a collective hiss. They had just been told there was no room to dodge, yet Chen Xing had effortlessly sidestepped the attack. It wasn't a good look for Lee Qing.

"Hmph! Slippery as an eel, aren't you? But do you really think you can keep dodging?" Lee Qing, refusing to be humiliated again, arched his body back, legs in a tiger stance and upper body shifting to an ape stance, as he swung his palm toward Chen Xing.

He had learned from his previous embarrassment. Besides honing his focus to pinpoint Chen Xing's true form, he had diligently practiced a new technique, combining the tiger's lower stance with the ape's upper, to launch a split-body attack. It was a subtle yet challenging modification, and executing such rapid-fire combinations left his opponent with scant time to react.

"Huh?" Chen Xing was momentarily taken aback. This guy's transformation was quite intriguing, far more entertaining than the repetitive antics of monkeys or tigers dancing!

He misstepped, and yet another blue apparition streaked by, allowing him to effortlessly evade Lee Qing's assault once again.

"Humph! I wonder how many times you can dodge!" This time, Lee Qing had managed to control the lower half of his body that had executed the Fierce Tiger move and was now aiming a kick at Chen Xing.

"This sequence of attacks is like deconstructing the Penetrating Fierce Tiger Fist. Though it lacks the ferocity of a combined strike, the connections and frequency have increased significantly," observed Cai Dongyun, his eyes gleaming with approval before he shook his head in reconsideration. The Penetrating Fierce Tiger Fist is all about locking onto a target for a swift takedown! This approach, however, seems to diminish the overall potency of the technique. Yet, given his current level of skill, it's an effective adaptation. After all, he doesn't have the ability to lock onto a target's energy flow. In this way, it poses a greater threat to those adept at evading.

But even so... it proved futile.

Chen Xing, hands still casually clasped behind his back, conjured one blue phantom after another, breezing through the barrage of attacks with an air of ease.

Watching him, one got the impression he could keep this up for a year without breaking a sweat.