Second Assessment

"Student instructor?" Chen Chuan looked thoughtful. Ni Xixi glanced around and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Get in the car, and I'll drive you back to the academy first." The two walked out and settled into the car. Once she started the engine, Ni Xixi said, "You probably know about those external students—they're students recruited by the academy to fight in arena tournaments. "To put it simply, a student instructor is someone who guides and spars with these external students, and the academy awards a certain number of evaluation points for it. "That's hardly a good thing. "Once you accept that arrangement, getting out of it is difficult. On top of that, you're treated by default as one of the fighters for the arena tournaments, which is essentially pushing you into that ring through the back door. "For instance, what if an external student gets injured or killed and there's a temporary opening? A commercial operation can't just grind to a halt—after all, it's backed by so many interests and factions. So when they need a temporary substitute, who's the best fit? "That's right, the student instructor. Perfectly logical, isn't it?" After speaking with a trace of mockery, she turned to Chen Chuan with a serious expression. "Brother Chen, I remember your evaluation was thirty-five percent. You're among those on the list. If you get sent there, it's entirely possible they'll push you into the ring as a temporary substitute. But once you step onto that stage, don't even dream of getting out again. By then, you'll be tied down to it. And don't think about slacking off, either—not unless you don't care about your evaluation score. "A score that's too low means risking expulsion or being demoted straight to an external student—most likely the latter. Quitting won't be an option; certain people in the academy will cite school regulations and take legal proceedings against you. "That's just what I can think of off the top of my head. There are bound to be plenty more underhanded methods I don't know about. So whatever you do, you must not go!" Chen Chuan looked out the car window. Without him noticing, rain had started to fall outside. The raindrops blended with the play of lights outside the car, blurring the towering buildings and his own reflection on the glass. He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Sister Ni, if regular Wuyi students are being arranged into commercial arena tournaments, wouldn't the Disposal Bureau and the upper authorities intervene?" Ni Xixi sighed. "The Disposal Bureau keeps an eye on students in whom resources are invested, but they can't interfere with the school's internal administration. Besides, Pang Yixing... your vice principal, the main person Assistant Ling answers to—when he took office, word was he came with a crucial mission. "In the three years since he took charge, he really has brought tangible profits to Jibei Circuit Wuyi Academy. These past few years, not only has Wuyi Academy required no funding from above, it's generated its own profits and even provided substantial financial support to the Disposal Bureau. Because of that, the higher-ups have tacitly approved many of his moves. Even when he steps out of line, he has ways to suppress it. "Never mind you—even if a student has influential backing, targeting them wouldn't be difficult for him. "In fact, there were already rumors about using regular students for arena tournaments, but nothing came of it until now. Bringing it up now probably means they're preparing to officially push it forward." Chen Chuan couldn't help recalling what Instructor Wu had once told him. It seemed the man hadn't been entirely lying; there was some factual basis to his words. Watching the road illuminated by the headlights ahead, Ni Xixi said, "There's only one way out now: find a way to raise your evaluation for entering the third limit. That'll save you a lot of trouble down the line." Chen Chuan considered this. He had three assessment opportunities this semester, and he had only used one so far. At that time, having just entered the academy and not knowing the details, he had tested while keeping himself at his lowest state. Things were definitely different now. Though only a little over a month had passed, his strength had increased dramatically. Even in a suppressed state, he was far beyond what he had been before. He said, "Once I get back, I'll take the test." "Are you confident?" Ni Xixi suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Ah, listen to me asking silly questions. Seeing how you performed just now, how could you not be? Still..." She looked at Chen Chuan intently. "You need to raise your score as high as possible. If it's too low, they can still make an issue out of it." Chen Chuan felt that a score that was too high might not necessarily be a good thing either. His low state should be enough to manage. Even if this assessment didn't cut it, he still had one more chance. He said, "Thank you for the warning, Sister Ni. I understand." The rain steadily grew heavier. Under the dim sky, the red sports car swept along the straight avenue, threading between the high-rises lining both sides, all the way back to the Xuan Palace Building. After parting with Ni Xixi, Chen Chuan returned to his dormitory. He went to the washroom to clean up, then brought out a box of precious paste, taking it and absorbing its medicinal essence. Now that he had made up his mind, there was no need to hesitate. Taking it required physical activity anyway, so he might as well use the assessment as an opportunity to move around. As for preheating the Xuejun Saber, there was no need against Hongfu. With his current ability, he couldn't harm Hongfu regardless; whether the blade was heated made no difference. Once everything was ready, he stepped into the training room, drew the Xuejun Saber from its scabbard, and said aloud, "Hongfu, I want to take my second assessment." A flutter of red shadows appeared, and Hongfu manifested inside the room. Glancing at the Xuejun Saber in his hand, she reached out, and a yanling saber with a red tassel appeared in her grasp. A sudden intuition struck Chen Chuan. Looking up, he found himself standing before an ancient temple. Bells swayed beneath the eaves, the stone shrines were mottled, and fallen leaves carpeted the ground. Ancient trees loomed thick and dense around him as shafts of light filtered through gaps in the leaves, falling onto the open clearing ahead. The songs of birds echoed from deep within the quiet woods, and a faint, elusive scent of sandalwood seemed to tease his nose. Hongfu said nothing, her lively eyes above the veil merely watching him. Chen Chuan took a breath. Slowly lowering the Xuejun Saber, he gripped it with both hands at his side, fixing his gaze on Hongfu. A moment later, his body shifted. He stepped forward and slashed down with his saber. Hongfu turned gracefully. Amidst the swirl of crimson, she raised her blade to block his strike with an ethereal, effortless poise. During this period studying under Instructor Zheng, though Chen Chuan had yet to engage in true combat, he had largely mastered the command of jin. He now knew that the assessment was meant to express the skills and capabilities one possessed as thoroughly as possible; winning or losing was irrelevant. Moreover, Hongfu already knew everything he could do in his suppressed state, so he held nothing back. Right from the start, he unleashed his mutated tissue, letting all sorts of emotions surge into his mind. Every piece of mutated tissue across his body engaged in unison, ensuring that every strike was unleashed to its maximum potential. Hongfu raised her saber to parry. No matter where the blade arced from, she parried it effortlessly. Her forms were not only exquisite, but imbued with immense grace. Yet the force she exerted was indistinguishable from that of a real human being. Everything she performed seemed to be well within what a fighter could achieve. In the clash of the two sabers, that undeniable physical power made it impossible to think of her merely as an active conscious entity. Chen Chuan paid none of that any mind. Casting aside all stray thoughts, he threw himself into the fight with absolute focus. He completely forgot about victory and defeat, striking again and again, each slash seemingly striving to surpass his previous self. The potency of the precious paste continually took effect, sustaining his unrestrained output in this state. Hongfu's strength and speed consistently matched his own line for line. As their sabers clashed and collided relentlessly, the two seemed to shift out of the forest and onto a massive boulder. With a deafening roar, an enormous waterfall suspended in midair appeared not far away, its thunderous rumble washing over them. The spraying droplets of water seemed to splash onto their cheeks and the tips of their hair, pattering against the colliding blades and shattering into crystal flecks that refracted arcs of prismatic rainbow light. Chen Chuan was undisturbed by his surroundings. Just as if he were back in the training hall that day, he focused solely on exhausting everything he had to force his opponent back. He lost track of time until he finally felt he could advance no further. His saber paused. Hongfu remained poised in a parrying stance, her red robes fluttering in the wind, her vibrant eyes gazing at him. *Clang.* The slow, reverberating chime of a temple bell drifted from the ancient shrine. A flock of birds took flight from the woods, soaring into the distant sky. The surrounding scenery slowly receded. Both of them were standing once again in the training room. The light of the morning sun shone through the window, draping over them. Without realizing it, an entire night had passed. Hongfu sheathed her saber and stepped back, while a voice sounded by his ear: "Trainee Chen Chuan, Second Assessment results as follows: Strength Performance: High Speed Performance: High Technical Performance: Mid-High Combat Reaction: High (slight increase) Tactical Decision-Making: Top (as before) Comprehensive Evaluation Score: 84 Potential Assessment: Omitted Third Limit Success Rate Estimate: 81%" Chen Chuan skimmed past the earlier items, his gaze locking directly onto the final line. "Eighty-one percent..." This figure had comfortably crossed the threshold. And this was merely the result he produced in his suppressed state. He didn't know what his true strength would score, but crossing the third limit based on this should be entirely unimpeded. And turning this result over to the academy was more than enough. He cupped his fist toward Hongfu. "Thank you." Hongfu raised her saber in return. With a swirl of red robes, she gracefully departed. Meanwhile, in the principal's assistant office on the top floor, Assistant Ling soon received a new test evaluation. "Eighty-one percent..." He muttered to himself, "Only a little over a month after entering the academy, and he's improved this much? Or rather... is this your true strength? Hmm..." He connected via his boundary credential. "Yes, got it. Right after the word was leaked, he came to take the assessment. The result? Eighty-one percent." The person on the other end pondered for a moment. "With numbers like that, the likelihood of reaching the third limit is very high. His background is quite suitable too. Are you planning to invite him?" Assistant Ling said, "I think we should observe a little longer. If Wu Ruo's death really was related to him, then perhaps this still isn't his true strength. We need to test him again." The person on the other end asked, "What do you plan to do?" "Very simple." Assistant Ling turned around, looking down upon the countless high-rises outside the building. "I'll find a way to leak his assessment results to Zhao Qian. Once he sees Trainee Chen's evaluation, he'll handle the trouble of this matter for us." "Zhao Qian? I see what you mean. But if you plan to invite him later, he'll definitely find out about this eventually." Assistant Ling smiled. "No matter. Once he understands how the real world works, he will understand us."