C22 Examination Ended

Liu Tianqi addressed the two individuals beside him, "Lin Chengye's onslaught is formidable. I'll confront him head-on shortly. You two seize the chance to strike when the moment arises!"

Before he could finish, the ground beneath Lin Chengye erupted with a dull roar as he surged toward Liu Tianqi like thunder, trailing several afterimages. Liu Tianqi was evidently well-versed in Lin Chengye's method of attack. With calm precision, he drew circles with his hands, erecting several walls of fire around him. The Liu family had long-standing battles with the Lin family and would invariably seek to curb the Lin family's speed before combat. In terms of offensive capabilities, the Liu family was on par with the Lin family. By restraining Lin Chengye's speed and with the support of his two allies, Liu Tianqi was confident that he could subdue Lin Chengye today.

Contrary to Liu Tianqi's expectations, Lin Chengye didn't slow down. Transforming into a living thunderbolt, his speed only intensified. He brushed aside the fire walls and the assaults from Qiu Ziang and Liu Tianqi, resolutely bearing down on Liu Tianqi. Lin Chengye's strategic acumen in battle was exceptional. He realized that if his speed were hampered and he was encircled by Liu Tianqi's aides, he would be dragged into a war of attrition, leaving him at a severe disadvantage—much like a frog being slowly boiled alive. To claim victory, he needed to leverage his strengths and swiftly unravel the complex situation. By eliminating Liu Tianqi, the other two would pose no significant threat. Hence, he willingly expended a vast amount of Spiritual Energy to become a thunderbolt, rendering himself impervious to the fire walls and further boosting his velocity as he unleashed a thunderous offensive on Liu Tianqi.

While Liu Tianqi marveled at Lin Chengye's resolve, he remained unflustered. His current objective was to withstand Lin Chengye's ferocious assault. If he could just hold off this charge, Lin Chengye's relentless advance would surely be hindered. Then, in collaboration with Qiu Ziang and the other companion, the scales of victory would likely tip in their direction.

Liu Tianqi let out a shout, channeling strength into his legs as he transformed into a being of fire, and raised his hand to meet Lin Chengye's full-powered strike. Amidst the clash of lightning and flames, Liu Tianqi was sent flying backward by more than ten meters. Lin Chengye seized the upper hand and relentlessly pursued his opponent, launching another punch at Liu Tianqi. Meanwhile, Qiu Ziang and another's attacks hit Lin Chengye, but his body, charged with lightning, absorbed the blows without faltering.

Dozens of exchanges later, Liu Tianqi could no longer withstand the onslaught. The Lin family's approach was relentless; once they gained an edge, their offensive was unyielding like a tempest.

After Liu Tianqi sustained a severe injury from Lin Chengye's punch to the chest, Qiu Ziang and his companion were further devastated when Lin Chengye shattered the protective membrane of their wristwatches, resulting in their elimination from the contest.

Lin Chengye's smile remained intact as he taunted, "Liu Tianqi, it seems you've made no progress. Do you still have the dignity to lift your head in my presence when you return to the capital?"

Without responding, Liu Tianqi gazed steadily at Lin Chengye and declared, "Lin Chengye, I admit defeat. I have nothing more to say. But I vow to repay you twofold for the disgrace you've inflicted upon me today."

Suddenly, an amused voice exclaimed, "What an entertaining spectacle!"

The two turned to see a figure supported by a thick vine slowly approaching the battlefield. It was Lin Hann, his face concealed by a disguise. Hovering in the air, he grinned down at them and said, "Liu Tianqi of the Liu family, Lin Chengye of the Lin family, your recent clash was truly thrilling. I'm still craving more."

Lin Chengye's gaze turned icy as he demanded, "Are you a disciple of the Lau family? If you recognize me, then why haven't you left already?"

Liu Tianqi was equally puzzled, having never encountered this member of the Lau family before. Yet, given today's circumstances, it was clear that the newcomer bore malevolent intentions. His timing, emerging only after Liu Tianqi and Lin Chengye had finished their duel, suggested a deeply calculating character.

Lin Hann's laughter boomed, "My notoriety in the capital pales in comparison to yours, so it's understandable that you're unaware of me. However, today, you both will fall at my hands..."

After finishing his statement, Lin Yi unleashed a burst of Spiritual Energy within him, causing all the plants around the trio to grow wildly. Under his command, the vegetation lashed out at the other two. Liu Tianqi and Lin Chengye had just finished a fierce battle, with Lin Chengye emerging victorious despite depleting most of his Spiritual Energy. He put up a token resistance before being struck down. Liu Tianqi fared even worse; already severely injured by Lin Chengye, the plant lashes knocked him unconscious.

With both men incapacitated, Lin Hann ceased his assault. He paid no attention to Liu Tianqi and approached Lin Chengye directly. His smile gone, he stared coldly at Lin Chengye and said, "Don't worry, Lin Chengye. We'll be seeing each other again very soon." With that, he knocked Lin Chengye out with a punch, then placed his hand on his forehead to copy his abilities.

Lin Hann then activated the wristwatches belonging to Liu Tianqi and Lin Chengye and departed from the forest.

Having completed his tasks, Lin Hann checked the time; it was already 5:30 PM. He sat atop a large tree, silently reviewing the past ten days.

Despite numerous unexpected events, Lin Hann was quite content with the outcome. For starters, he had knocked out over ten people with the Staggering Blow Mad Devil, concealing his identity as the wielder of the Qi family's Spirit Connecting Staff. Posing as Liu Tianqi, he used the Fire Talisman to eliminate over thirty competitors in one fell swoop. These individuals would likely conclude that the Staggering Blow Mad Devil's prior actions were meant to provoke their anger, and then, using Qi Xiaosheng as bait, draw everyone together for Liu Tianqi to trap and eliminate them with the Liu family's setup.

The crux of the issue was that after these thirty-plus individuals were ousted, Liu Tianqi and his companions remained in the woods and didn't immediately confront the others, inadvertently taking the blame.

Later, disguised as a member of the Lau family, he eliminated both Liu Tianqi and Lin Chengye. Once Liu Tianqi was out, Qi Xiaosheng shared his suspicions with him. The Liu family would surely believe that the Lau family was orchestrating everything from behind the scenes, redirecting the blame onto them. Meanwhile, the Ye family and Ye Hann, whom Lin Hann impersonated, due to their stellar performance and early exit for Qi Xiaosheng's sake, would never suspect him.

On the final night of the assessment, Lin Hann went to bed brimming with pride.

As the night gave way to a new day, Lin Hann emerged from the woods and made his way to the military base nestled in the valley. The four instructors were already there, hands clasped behind their backs, awaiting his arrival.

The robust military officer allowed a rare smile to cross his face as he addressed Lin Hann, "Kid, you've done very well! To persevere on your own until the very end is truly remarkable. We haven't seen such an achievement here in twenty years!"

Lin Hann, who had been quite self-satisfied, was taken aback by the officer's comment. "Someone managed to pass this test on their own twenty years ago?"

The officer nodded affirmatively, "Indeed. The individual who accomplished that feat two decades ago was named Lin Jingtian!"