High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Xu Wuyi retracted his fist, his expression as calm as ever. ”What’s the next test?”

”Speed and reflexes.”

For the next hour or so, under Lin Lan’s guidance, Xu Wuyi completed a series of basic tests.

His peak instantaneous directional change acceleration exceeded 20 standard units of Gravity. During the reflex test, he faced a barrage of fifty Energy projectiles per second on random trajectories, achieving an astonishing evasion rate of 96%.

The Spiritual Power fluctuation test showed that his Spiritual Strength was stable at a level 39 standard, but the ”Golden Crow” imagery characteristic contained within the fluctuations caused the testing instrument’s readings to spike abnormally multiple times.

Lin Lan went from initial surprise, to subsequent numbness, and finally to excitement.

The datapad in his hand was already filled with three whole pages of notes.

”Your basic stats have all exceeded expectations. No, they’ve far exceeded them.” Lin Lan pushed up his glasses and took a deep breath. ”No wonder Star Martial was willing to grant you clearance... With your current abilities, you’re more than qualified to undertake A-level missions.”

Xu Wuyi wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. The high-intensity tests had consumed a fair amount of his Qi and Blood, as well as his Spirit.

”When does the combat test start?”

”Rest for half an hour and recover your stamina.” Lin Lan glanced at the time. ”The combat testing grounds are next door. We need to prepare the test Star Beast first. By the way, what weapon are you accustomed to using? The testing grounds can provide a standard-issue weapon, or you can use your own.”

”I use a long spear.”

”Alright, I’ll have one prepared.” Lin Lan tapped a few times on his datapad, then looked at Xu Wuyi, his tone turning serious. ”The Star Beast for the combat test is a variant of an ’Iron-Armored Rock Rhino,’ internal designation T-77.”

”It was originally a mid-tier Commander Level beast. After genetic modulation and special conditioning, its actual combat power is close to that of a High Tier Commander Level, and its defense is especially outstanding.”

”Its weak spot is at the junction of its neck and abdomen, where there’s a palm-sized area of thinner carapace. However, it’s very intelligent and will make a point to protect that spot.”

Xu Wuyi nodded to show he understood.

「Half an hour later.」

Xu Wuyi followed Lin Lan into the adjacent combat testing grounds.

The testing ground was a circular space about a hundred meters in diameter and thirty meters high, enclosed by a transparent Energy barrier. Outside was an observation area where seven or eight researchers in white lab coats were already seated, talking in low voices.

In the center of the arena, a behemoth lay prone.

It was a Star Beast shaped like a rhinoceros, but it was more than three times the size of an ordinary one, with a body over eight meters long and a shoulder height of nearly four meters.

Its entire body was covered in a thick, blackish-gray carapace, the surface of which was studded with jagged protrusions, like a suit of natural stone armor.

At the front of its head, a dark-red horn, fully two meters long, pointed diagonally forward, its tip glinting with a cold, metallic light.

It was dozing, its breathing heavy and ragged. Each exhalation caused a faint tremor on the ground.

”T-77, the Iron-Armored Rock Rhino variant. Its Life Energy Level is roughly equivalent to a level 38 Martial Artist, and its actual defense can withstand the conventional attacks of a Martial Artist below level 40,” Lin Lan explained in a low voice.

”It’s been injected with a mild sedative, so it won’t go truly berserk, but its desire to attack is still very strong. Once the test begins, you need to display your combat abilities as much as possible without killing it. We’ll score you based on your performance.”

”I can’t kill it?” Xu Wuyi asked.

”Correct. It’s an important and very valuable specimen,” Lin Lan nodded. ”But you can attack without holding back. Its Life Force is very strong. As long as you don’t destroy its core, we can bring it back.”

Xu Wuyi’s maximum attack power had already reached level 43 or higher. Although he couldn’t compare to a true Innate Martial Artist and lacked the full bonus of a Heart Image, it was still quite astonishing.

If it were an ordinary Martial Artist, Lin Lan wouldn’t have made a point of reminding them, because they would have no chance of killing T-77.

Xu Wuyi asked no more questions.

Lin Lan retreated to the observation area and announced through a loudspeaker, ”Test subject Xu Wuyi, the combat test is about to begin. Please enter the arena and prepare.”

A gateway opened in the transparent barrier.

Xu Wuyi walked through.

He held a standard-issue long spear provided by the testing grounds. It was made of an alloy and was hard enough, but it lacked the familiar, connected feeling of his Meteor Iron Spear.

The moment he stepped into the arena, the Iron-Armored Rock Rhino seemed to be startled.

It slowly lifted its head, its huge, bell-like eyes turning toward Xu Wuyi. A vicious, dark-red light glinted in the depths of its pupils.

Its thick limbs pushed its body up, and the ground shook.

”ROAR—”

A low growl rumbled from the depths of its throat, carrying a foul-smelling wind.

Xu Wuyi stood holding his spear, his gaze calm.

’I need to display my combat abilities without using any killing moves.’

’That means I have to control my power, but at the same time, I need to let the researchers see my techniques, my adaptability, and my use of a Mental Realm.’

’Interesting.’

The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino moved.

It didn’t charge directly but instead took heavy steps, slowly closing in on Xu Wuyi.

With each step, the ground trembled slightly. Its eyes were locked firmly on Xu Wuyi, and its dark-red horn began to glow faintly—the unique Energy condensation of a Star Beast.

The distance closed to thirty meters.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen meters—

The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino suddenly accelerated!

Its massive, eight-meter-long body exploded with a speed that defied its size, hurtling toward Xu Wuyi like an out-of-control heavy tank!

The dark-red light on its horn flared, and a spiraling blade of Energy condensed at the tip, tearing through the air!

Xu Wuyi didn’t meet it head-on.

Executing the Instant Shadow Step, he floated lightly five meters to the left.

The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino brushed past him, its horn carving a deep furrow in the ground.

Missing its target, it swung its head, its horn sweeping sideways. The Energy blade carved a crescent-shaped arc of light, slashing toward Xu Wuyi’s waist.

Xu Wuyi tapped the ground with his spear, using the force to leap into the air and evade the arc of light.

While in mid-air, the tip of his spear was already stabbing downward.

”CLANG!”

The spear tip struck the Iron-Armored Rock Rhino’s back, letting out a crisp clanging sound.

It only left a white mark on the carapace’s surface, not even a crack.

’Such tough defenses.’

Xu Wuyi landed and retreated lightly.

The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino turned, the vicious light in its eyes growing even more intense.

It seemed to have been angered by the last attack. It pawed the ground with its front hooves, and a dark-red mist began to seep from the gaps in its carapace.

This was its unique ”Rock Toxin Mist,” which could corrode Qi and Blood and paralyze the nerves.

The mist spread rapidly, blanketing an area of more than ten meters.

Xu Wuyi held his breath and circulated his Qi and Blood, forming a thin protective layer over his body.

The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino charged again, faster this time. The Energy blade condensed on its horn had turned dark red, clearly imbued with the properties of the Rock Toxin.

Xu Wuyi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’I can’t keep dodging.’

’I need to show my offensive capabilities.’

In a flash of thought, he shifted his footing. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward to meet the charging Iron-Armored Rock Rhino.

He raised his spear, and a dark-golden flame quietly ignited on its tip.

It wasn’t the complete Golden Crow Sky Splitting, but merely a thread of the Golden Crow Intention and the Undying Flame integrated into his Spear Technique.