The Assessment Ends

Lu Yuan had barely touched down after flying back more than twenty meters when the Stone Armor Wild Bull was already on him again.

**Clang!!**

Metal rang against stone. The impacts came relentlessly, one after another. Each collision sent a wave of pins-and-needles surging up through Lu Yuan's arms and left a dull heaviness spreading through his chest. He couldn't help but wince.

*No question — this is a genuine Second-rank Boss Grade. Its raw strength edges out even my full-powered Black Steel Force.*

But deep within him, a small emerald seed pulsed steadily with vibrant life energy, its warmth already radiating outward, knitting the strained muscles back together. Within two breaths, the ache in his arms and the tightness in his chest had vanished entirely.

The Seed of Nature — Chief Grade Combat Technique. All it cost was a small measure of Spirit Power to plant it inside himself, and it would automatically mend any injury he sustained until its life energy was spent. He could also use it on others, if he chose.

*As long as something can't kill me outright, I can outlast it. My continuous Spirit Power absorption keeps me going indefinitely. The Seed of Nature handles the rest. All it ever becomes is a question of endurance.*

Earlier — in the Small World's central zone, elsewhere.

Yang Ping moved through the open wilderness with thin threads of wind circling his body, scanning for prey. He had just run his sword through an Elite Grade Jungle Python and was about to log the marker when he caught the faint sound of metal clashing from somewhere in the distance.

"A fight?"

He paused, then changed course and ran.

The closer he got, the heavier the aura pressing against him became. His expression tightened with every step. By the time he reached the edge of the fighting zone, the weight of it was unmistakable — and what he saw made his jaw go slack.

The Stone Armor Wild Bull was enormous, its presence filling the open ground. And there was Lu Yuan, trading blows with it head-on.

*That size... that aura... Second-rank Boss Grade?! He's actually fighting a Second-rank Boss Grade Feral Beast?! How can he be this strong?!*

He could see it plainly: Lu Yuan's defense and raw strength were both at a level that defied any rational explanation for his rank. That was the only way to account for him absorbing those impacts without crumpling.

Yang Ping had walked into this zone confident his score was ahead by now. That certainty had just gone cold.

Just as he was still trying to process the sight, another presence appeared beside him. He turned.

Min'er Ailan had jogged up, short-haired and sharp-eyed. She gave him a brief nod and locked her gaze on the battlefield, gripping her twin blades tighter. Quiet disbelief moved through her eyes as she watched Lu Yuan absorb blow after blow without falling decisively.

*Lu Yuan is this strong?*

"Looks like we underestimated him," Yang Ping muttered. Then, with a slight curl of his lip: "Too bad the bull still has the upper hand. Look at him — he's being pushed around."

Min'er glanced sideways at him. "Feel free to go stand in his place."

Yang Ping: "…"

The fight continued.

**Clang!!**

Lu Yuan and the Stone Armor Wild Bull collided again, and he was sent skidding back another ten-plus meters.

He had already made up his mind.

Although he'd been fully engaged with the bull, he hadn't stopped tracking the area around him. The moment Yang Ping and Min'er Ailan entered range, he'd sensed their presence.

*Just one test. No point showing everything I have — and letting the others see this much isn't wise either.*

After genuinely fighting the beast, he understood clearly: even burning every technique and every trump card he possessed, grinding a Second-rank Low-level Boss Grade down to nothing would take several hours. Time was already running short. With Yang Ping and Min'er watching, the calculation was easy.

He noticed, too, that he hadn't needed to absorb a single Spirit Crystal for the entire fight.

On the next impact — he took it, let the force launch him back, and the instant his feet found the ground, he turned and ran.

The Stone Armor Wild Bull had been coiling for another charge and froze for half a heartbeat in confusion. Then the fury set in. A thunderous roar split the air. It stamped the earth hard enough to send tremors rolling outward, then surged after him.

Not just the bull — Yang Ping and Min'er Ailan were equally caught off-guard. Neither had expected Lu Yuan to simply bolt.

The Stone Armor Wild Bull wasn't a speed-type Boss Grade creature, but it was still fractionally faster than Lu Yuan across open ground. They tore through the wasteland in a running chase, covering more than ten kilometers.

Far behind him, the enraged bellowing grew louder. Lu Yuan heard it and felt his mouth curve into a quiet smile.

The Seed of Nature worked steadily through him as he ran, erasing whatever minor strain remained with every breath.

*This is a genuine step up from before.* The thought settled in his chest with something close to excitement. A First-rank warrior, holding his own against a Second-rank Boss Grade Feral Beast by crossing tiers.

He spotted the forest ahead. His eyes lit up.

He poured on speed and dove into the tree line, his frame blurring into shadow between the trunks. His lean build was an asset here — the dense undergrowth barely slowed him at all.

Behind him, the Stone Armor Wild Bull crashed into the forest. Tree after tree splintered and toppled under its bulk, but each one bled a little more of its speed, and the canopy overhead had swallowed the light, dropping visibility to near nothing. That massive frame, built for open-field charges, became a liability among roots and branches.

It didn't take long. Barely into the forest, the bull had completely lost him.

The furious roar faded into the dimness behind him. Lu Yuan smiled to himself and kept running.

Elsewhere in the central zone.

Lin Wei stood in a clearing, robes swirling, Staff raised. She swept it forward and a water lance condensed from nothing, shot out like a bolt of white light, and punched cleanly through a Stone Armor Hunting Hound that had launched itself at her. The creature dropped.

She exhaled and checked her instrument.

*44,677 points. Can't say I'll take first, but I have to be ahead of that guy at least, right? Still some time left — push harder.*

She turned to retrieve the marker from the Jungle Python she'd downed moments before.

The ground trembled.

An enraged roar tore through the air from somewhere in the distance.

Lin Wei went rigid. She snapped toward the direction of the sound, every instinct primed.

Then she saw it — a massive Stone Armor Wild Bull charging at terrifying speed, a blurring shadow just ahead of it — and the trajectory aimed directly at her section of the map.

She didn't deliberate. Every ounce of energy she had went into running.

After covering a good stretch of ground, she looked back over her shoulder. The bull and the figure it was chasing had already swept through and were receding fast. She let out a slow breath, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and managed a relieved smile.

Yang Ping and Min'er Ailan jogged up to her shortly after.

"You alright, Lin Wei?" Min'er asked.

"I'm fine." She collected herself. Then she looked at the two of them with an odd expression. "You two? What's going on? Min'er?"

"You must have seen it — Lu Yuan and the Stone Armor Wild Bull," Min'er said. "We think he was trying to hunt it."

"I saw." Lin Wei nodded. "But why is the bull the one chasing *him*?"

Awkward silence. Min'er and Yang Ping exchanged a sideways glance.

Lin Wei's expression grew stranger. "So the two of you were following Lu Yuan and a Second-rank Boss Grade Feral Beast around... just to watch? You didn't think to use that time to hunt more Feral Beasts for points?"

Both of them went rigid.

Min'er laughed a little sheepishly. "I was just so surprised — I couldn't help wanting to see if it would actually catch him. Completely forgot about the other angle. Going hunting now."

She was already running.

Yang Ping: "…"

"Same. I'm heading out."

He turned and left without further ceremony.

Lin Wei watched them go, shook her head slowly, and went back for the Stone Armor Hunting Hound's marker.

Outside the Small World.

Li Qinghe and the other observers stared at the light screen with wide eyes.

"Looks like we underestimated this kid." The burly man's voice carried a low edge of disbelief. "He can actually hold his own against a Second-rank Low-level Boss Grade Feral Beast?"

Even Li Qinghe looked momentarily shaken.

"His defense and physical strength are both absurdly overdeveloped for his rank," the burly man continued. "That's the only explanation." He shook his head. "A First-rank warrior going tier-for-tier against a Second-rank Boss Grade — and coming out without a scratch."

*We really did underestimate him.*

Inside the Small World, the forest stretched on.

Time passed. Lu Yuan hunted.

Then — a soft electronic chime sounded through the air, followed by a flat mechanical voice:

"Assessment concluded. All candidates, please exit the Small World."

Lu Yuan glanced at his instrument.

**1st — Lu Yuan: 114,886 points.**

He held the number in his mind for a moment.

*114,886. Over 110,000... that's respectable, I suppose.*

He tossed his last marker aside and broke into a run for the exit.

The entrance to the Small World rippled like disturbed water.

Lu Yuan stepped through.

Li Qinghe was right there waiting. The instant he emerged, she slung her arm over his shoulder with a wide, warm smile. "Not bad at all, little Yuan — you can actually go up against a Second-rank Boss Grade now."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

She pointed to the nearby display screen.

"Sis Qinghe — were you all watching my fight out here?"

"Of course." Her smile didn't shift. "How else would we pull you out if something went wrong?"

He arched an eyebrow higher, then let it go.

The entrance rippled again. Yang Ping, Min'er Ailan, and Lin Wei filed out one after the other.

The moment all three emerged, the first thing they saw was Lu Yuan — standing there without a mark on him. Something flickered through each of their expressions.

They turned to the scoreboard.

**1. Lu Yuan — 114,886 points** **2. Min'er Ailan — 53,146 points** **3. Yang Ping — 46,887 points** **4. Lin Wei — 46,045 points**

The color drained from Lin Wei's face. She pressed her lips together without a word.

Yang Ping had walked out of that assessment fully convinced his score had to be ahead of Lu Yuan's. He stared at the numbers, and felt something in his chest sink entirely.

The burly man glanced at Yang Ping and let out a quiet sigh.

The tall, lean man walked over to Lin Wei and placed a hand on her shoulder. "One setback doesn't define anything," he said quietly, a small smile on his face. "There's plenty of time ahead."

Lin Wei came back to herself and managed a smile in return, though the effort was strained. She gave a subdued nod.

Min'er turned to the burly man, her tone low. "My Lord... I've failed your expectations."

"It's not your fault," he said simply. "Lu Yuan's strength is on a level you can't match right now."

She gave a small, serious nod.

After witnessing what he could do, she had already stopped hoping for first place.

Yang Ping knew the burly man was only stating fact. It still stung.

*His strength is just on another level entirely. If that were me out there...* He shuddered quietly to himself. *I'd be in far worse trouble.*

Lu Yuan looked at the scoreboard.

*I'm first?*

He checked his instrument one more time. 114,886. He had anticipated it, more or less, and yet seeing the confirmed number still gave him a small, genuine pulse of satisfaction. He turned to Elder Yu with a curious tilt of his head.

"So what's my ranking?"

Li Qinghe pointed at the display, still smiling.

"The rankings are right there. See for yourself."

Elder Yu chuckled and spoke:

"Alright. The assessment is concluded. All four of you performed well, clearing the passing threshold by a considerable margin. Per standard criteria, all four of you are eligible to join the Talent Camp."

A brief pause.

"First place: Lu Yuan — 100 credit points. Second place: Min'er Ailan — 80 credit points. Third place: Yang Ping — 50 credit points."

Yang Ping's expression went through several things and landed somewhere between flat and miserable.

The hardest hit of the four, without question, was Lin Wei.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, felt nothing but quiet excitement.

*A First-rank warrior holding tier-crossing combat against Second-rank Boss Grade Feral Beasts. My fighting power now is genuinely on another level compared to not long ago.*

And he hadn't needed to absorb a single Spirit Crystal for the entire fight.

Deep inside him, the small emerald seed brimmed with life energy, ready to activate at the first sign of injury. The Seed of Nature — Chief Grade Combat Technique. Planted with Spirit Power, healing automatically until its stores ran dry. He could even extend it to others.

*As long as no one can kill me outright, I can outlast any opponent. The moment a fight turns into a war of attrition, the outcome is never really in question.*

After genuinely fighting the Stone Armor Wild Bull, he had a clearer, more precise picture of where his limits lay. Even going all-out with every card available, grinding down a Second-rank Low-level Boss Grade would still take hours. He understood that now. And understanding it filled him with a particular kind of anticipation for what came next.

*It's only been two months since my Awakening, after all.*

He turned the thought over with satisfaction.

*Just one test today. Better to keep something in reserve.*

Elder Yu continued: "From here, Teacher Feng Zhou will take you through the enrollment procedures and arrange your dormitories."

The black-haired man who had been operating the instruments stepped forward, turned to face all four of them, and smiled. "Follow me, all four of you."

Yang Ping stole a sideways glance at the burly man. The burly man's expression was cold and unreadable. Yang Ping's mouth twitched. He lowered his head and fell into step.