The Examination

"Does anyone else wish to challenge?" The black armor's voice reverberated across the surroundings, leaving everyone pale and bloodless. Challenge? What kind of joke was that! A single puppet had easily crushed a divine power expert without suffering a scratch. Such combat strength was at the very least equivalent to a five-discipline divine power, was it not? Setting that aside, the real issue was that their fines were not a mere hundred thousand! They were in the millions! Among everyone who had taken part in the battle, Hou Xiaochen had caused relatively little damage due to his mental spear intent. But the rest—who among them was not facing a fine of over a million? Divine powers inherently wielded immense destructive force! Qian Wanhao had been fined a staggering 1.5 million stones. Because he possessed a four-discipline divine power, his attacks had spread across a broad area. Li Hao and his companions had fought using divine character divine powers, so their destructive force was concentrated entirely on their enemies rather than causing widespread devastation. As for the little tree, it had engaged in aerial combat. Although the shockwaves were fierce, the resulting campus damage was manageable, earning it a fine of two million. Clearly, the black armor was scrupulously fair. The fines were levied strictly according to the extent of destruction each party had caused. At the thought of facing fifteen puppets, where failing to defeat even one would double his penalty to a monstrous three million cultivation energy stones, Qian Wanhao was plunged into utter despair. Clinging to a shred of hope, he called out, "Report..." "Speak!" "I... if I do not have enough cultivation energy stones, may I settle the fine with other items of equal value?" The black armor replied calmly, "You may! At a martial arts university, everything can be converted into cultivation energy stones!" Qian Wanhao fell silent. Li Hao's thoughts turned swiftly, and he piped up as well: "Report! We are not students—" "Non-students trespassing upon Yuanping Martial Arts University shall be executed without mercy!" Before Li Hao could even finish his sentence, he blurted out, "We are students!" What a joke! Non-students executed without mercy? He had wondered whether not being students might grant them more lenient treatment, but reality proved he had been overthinking. Right then, Hou Xiaochen transmitted his voice: "These puppets... are all forged from unimaginably formidable treasures. What if I attempt a challenge to see whether the God-Splitting Spear can shatter them...?" His fine was five hundred thousand. Doubled, it would be a million, which did not seem like an insurmountable difference. Li Hao was struck speechless. Could he really pull it off? It would be one against five! Judging by defense alone, these puppets were likely on par with the Peak Realm of the ancient civilization, incomparably tough. Li Hao doubted he could break one himself. As for the little tree... could the Imperial Palace manage it? Perhaps! Yet the little tree would have to fight twenty puppets! Don't be ridiculous! If it failed to defeat a single one and the fine doubled to four million, Li Hao's head would explode. At this moment, very few living souls remained on the field. There were four on Li Hao's side. On Qian Wanhao's side, only four directors, three men from the City of Superpowers, and the Mount Futu Master remained alive—eight experts in all. Twelve living humans, one dog, and one tree. Over a hundred people had entered earlier, and now they were all gone. This ruin was sealed for five days, and only half an hour had elapsed. Yes, a mere half hour. From the outbreak of battle to now had taken only an eye-blink. Nearly five full days remained before the martial arts university would unseal. Under such circumstances, how could they escape? Stalling for time was impossible! All twelve individuals remained utterly quiet. Pay the fine? How could they afford it? Even the weakest among the group from the City of Superpowers was fined two hundred thousand, which equated to two million divine energy stones. Now that they had reached the divine power level, who among them hadn't poured countless resources into their cultivation? At that moment, an idea struck Li Hao, and he ventured cautiously, "Report! How much of the fine can one drop of the Spring of Life offset?" "The Spring of Life?" "This!" Li Hao revealed a single drop. The black armor glanced at it. "Oh, that... Let's say five hundred stones. Cultivating demon plants is no easy feat, so a premium purchase is warranted!" Everyone was stunned. How much? Did their ears deceive them? Five hundred stones. That meant five thousand divine energy stones, and that was considered a premium buyback? For people facing fines of hundreds of thousands or millions, a drop of the Spring of Life could only offset a measly five hundred stones! What kind of joke was this? Even Qian Wanhao's face turned green! Truly green with dismay. Earlier, he had asked whether other items could be used for deduction, and the armor had said yes. In truth, before setting out on this expedition, Qian Wanhao had pawned almost everything to stabilize his four-discipline divine power, ultimately carrying fifty drops of the Spring of Life as a lifesaving reserve. Their market worth was three million divine energy stones! Indeed, because the demon plants had traded quite a lot this time, the price was relatively reasonable, costing sixty thousand stones per drop, even if that was still rather high. Yet now, for three million divine energy stones' worth of treasure, this entity's buyback value was a paltry twenty-five thousand cultivation energy stones—a mere two hundred and fifty thousand divine energy stones. Not even a tenth of its worth! Qian Wanhao's expression darkened to the extreme. Just how exorbitant a markup had those demon plants taken? The little tree said nothing. At this moment, it did not dare make a peep. A buyback of five hundred stones was actually quite good. In reality, it could condense a drop for three hundred stones, so the valuation was decent. But now, its bottom line had been laid bare by the black armor. Previously, it had charged Li Hao ten thousand divine energy stones per drop! Li Hao, however, did not mind too much. Thinking fast, he sent a mental voice to the little tree: "Senior Tree, how much does it cost you to condense a drop?" "Well..." "Don't worry. I'm thinking that if we really have to pay the fine, this might save us a bit!" The little tree's heart stirred. That made sense. "Well... um... it takes four hundred cultivation energy stones!" At this stage, the little tree did not dare claim three hundred stones. For one thing, it had its own consumption; for another, bumping the number slightly would make Li Hao feel better, knowing he hadn't lost quite so much. Li Hao continued to ponder. The black armor grew impatient. "Choose quickly! To dawdle is to waste life, and to waste life... If no choice is made within a quarter of an hour, all fines will be doubled!" At these words, everyone's faces changed again. Li Hao hurriedly asked, "Report! I... well... if someone possesses a special identity, can their fine be reduced or waived?" The armor looked at him and said impassively, "No identity confers an exemption! Even supreme experts must abide by academy rules here! Unless... you are a descendant of the Human King!" Well then! Pretend I never asked. He had hoped that being a descendant of the Li family, a scion of the Sword Venerable, and a division commander of Battle Heaven City might grant him some leniency or at least a slight discount. In the end, it turned out that unless one was the offspring of the Human King, no backdoor was available. What a pity! Fifty-five million divine energy stones converted into the Spring of Life would yield 1,100 drops, which the little tree could produce for forty-four million stones. Saving over ten million in one stroke... Li Hao felt that was fairly acceptable. As for challenging the puppets, he deemed it hopeless. Could he currently fight ten puppets at once? However, the little tree needed time to condense the liquid. He wondered if he could buy some time. "Make your choice quickly!" the black armor urged impatiently. "Refusal to choose will result in immediate execution for all!" Li Hao remained impeccably well-behaved, abandoning any thought of acting tough. "I choose to pay the fine..." The black armor appeared satisfied and nodded. "Very good! A wise decision!" Li Hao added, "Then... may I defer payment briefly? If I have a demon plant convert them into the Spring of Life, I can pay slightly less and save a bit... Is that permitted?" "Permitted. You have up to three days!" Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Qian Wanhao's eyes flickered. "Report, My Lord, may I—" "You may not. Do you possess a demon plant?" The black armor's voice was completely indifferent. "Or do you believe you can conjure a demon plant out of thin air within three days?" He was no fool. Li Hao had a demon plant by his side, so converting resources into the Spring of Life was perfectly fine, and he supported the plan. But this man before him—did he take the academy for fools? Could he convert anything? Qian Wanhao's face flickered, and he dared not speak another word. He glanced at the puppets and finally conceded, "I... I choose to pay the fine!" With that, he gritted his teeth and produced a storage ring, emptying out an abundance of Origin God Armaments, drops of the Spring of Life, divine energy stones, and a miscellany of treasures. "My Lord... how much can these fetch?" A crimson light gleamed in the black armor's visor as he scanned the pile. "Mostly trash... but given the quantity, by the rules of the exchange office, they may be redeemed for four hundred thousand cultivation energy stones!" That was a substantial amount! Yet Qian Wanhao nearly broke down. Only four hundred thousand? His fine was 1.5 million! Aside from a few core treasures, this was everything he owned. As the Director of the Commerce Department, he was easily one of the wealthiest individuals in the present age, yet now... He gritted his teeth. What else could he do? There was no alternative! After a moment's agonizing thought, he ventured, "Can... can I owe the remainder?" "You cannot!" The black armor seemed deliberately intent on pressing everyone to the wall. "Be swift. Do not squander time!" Qian Wanhao sighed and said no more. An object floated before him—a small sword that appeared unremarkable. The black armor glanced at it and nodded slightly. "A decent item! This is a Floating Sky Sword personally forged by Minister Lü Zhen. To think it ended up in your hands. Not bad!" Li Hao's heart stirred. Lü Zhen? "This counts as a genuine treasure, second only to the creations of the Cast-God Sovereign in the Neo-Martial era... It will count for one million energy stones!" Qian Wanhao knew it was precious, but he had not expected it to fetch a full million. This item was somewhat similar to the sword Li Hao had encountered previously that unleashed stream sword intent—one of the trump-card divine armaments guarded by the Nine Departments. Even Qian Wanhao could not fully unleash its potential. He had not expected it to be worth so much. Instantly, he realized he was probably taking a colossal loss, yet what choice did he have? In the blink of an eye, he had scraped together 1.4 million stones. After another struggle, another divine armament surfaced, gleaming like a gold coin. This was the weapon he used regularly, unlike the hidden heirloom from before. The black armor nodded slightly. "Decent as well. Let us value it at one hundred thousand, which rounds out your fine!" Before Qian Wanhao could even respond, blood suddenly sprayed from his lips. All the divine armaments and treasures vanished into thin air, and even the divine power connections tethered to them were severed in an instant, erasing his spiritual imprints. In a single moment, Qian Wanhao seemed to age considerably. He said nothing. Witnessing this, the others let out long sighs and spoke up one after another: "We... choose to pay the fine!" Treasures and lifesaving items were brought forth without reservation. The Mount Futu Master brought out drops of great demon blood essence, his personal divine armament, and everything he owned... yet it was not enough! Still far from enough! Finally, his eyes flickered, fixing upon the three people from the City of Superpowers. He blurted out, "Report, may I... borrow items from others?" The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his blunder. Because at that very instant, the eyes of Li Hao and his group across the field flashed dangerously. The Mount Futu Master's heart gave a violent jolt! In his desperation to save himself, he had contemplated attacking the three men from the City of Superpowers, forgetting that if such looting were allowed, Li Hao's group was far stronger than he was! The three experts from the City of Superpowers turned ashen-faced. Fortunately, the black armor stated calmly, "Students may not slaughter one another... Sparring is permissible, of course, but consider the consequences: if you cause destruction knowingly, your fines will be doubled once more!" At this, the murderous spark in everyone's eyes died down. If they caused further destruction, it would be over. The Mount Futu Master furrowed his brow. Even after surrendering everything, he fell short of the fine. What was he to do? His fine was the same as Sky Sword's: one million stones. Yet having emptied his reserves, he could only muster five hundred thousand. With a heavy sigh, he looked at the black armor. "I choose to challenge!" He had nothing left to lose! There was simply no other way. "Very well!" Ten puppets materialized in an instant. Without another word, the Mount Futu Master armed himself and launched an all-out assault. *Boom!* A thunderous crash shook the air. In a single instant, the combined strike of the ten puppets sent him flying. A massive cavity was blasted into his chest, though they had not killed him, only inflicting grievous wounds. A single move! A single coordinated blow from the puppets had critically wounded him. The Mount Futu Master crashed to the ground, coughing blood incessantly. His face was drained of all hope, blank as ash. Meanwhile, the others gradually scraped together enough treasures. The three department directors miraculously met their totals, though looking at them, they had even surrendered ancient golden texts, reduced to utter destitution. Among the three experts from the City of Superpowers, two could not assemble enough. Only the one with the two-hundred-thousand-stone fine barely managed to pay it off. At that moment, the two who fell short looked at the Mount Futu Master, then turned their desperate gazes toward Li Hao's group... They knew Li Hao had an enormous hoard of divine energy stones. A young woman from the City of Superpowers pleaded, "Governor Li, please lend us some divine energy stones... We swear that once we get out, we will keep silent and place ourselves entirely at your command..." Challenging the puppets offered no hope. Borrowing was their only salvation. Li Hao remained completely cold, saying nothing and refusing to even look at them. "Governor... we bear no deep-seated enmity! If you help us, you help the City of Superpowers! We hold some standing in the city, where many ancient family powerhouses reside, along with a million supernatural beings... If we assist you, it will be enough to pacify the world!" Li Hao still ignored them. A savage gleam flashed across the eyes of the two. Gritting their teeth, they lunged violently toward Li Hao! They roared, "If you won't save us, we will drag you down with us! We'll tear this entire place apart and see how you repay the damage!" Driven to madness, they saw no other way out. Perhaps only this would force Li Hao to intervene! Qian Wanhao and the others retreated rapidly, wanting no part in the fallout. Li Hao frowned slightly and glanced at the black armor. "Someone is attacking me... May I strike back?" "You may... on the condition that... you cause no destruction..." The moment the words left the armor's mouth, the four characters *Water*, *Fire*, *Metal*, and *Extinction* blazed into existence. A strand of sword intent pierced the heavens, and before the two divine power cultivators could even reach Li Hao, their eyes glazed over, their spirits snuffed out instantly. Li Hao reached out, retrieving the divine characters, and the Starry Sky Sword vanished. "Lifeless sword intent?" The black armor seemed to notice it only now and sounded somewhat surprised. "The Sword Venerable's heritage?" Yet it felt slightly different—reminiscent of the ultimate techniques of Star Suppressing City, yet diverging from them. Surprised as he was, the black armor said nothing further. Watching the two die, he did not intervene. He knew these people were not true students, so their survival meant little to him. In a true martial arts university, killing under such circumstances would never be permitted! Li Hao did not stand on ceremony. Pointing at their corpses, he asked, "May I claim their belongings?" "Naturally!" the black armor replied calmly. "The victor is entitled to the spoils of the vanquished... That sword of yours is quite extraordinary!" A flicker of genuine interest showed in his demeanor. "If you are willing to surrender that sword, it can offset all the fines of your group!" What a joke! How could Li Hao possibly agree? He shook his head. "Out of the question. It was left by my ancestors. The sword stays with my life!" "Absurd!" the black armor remarked indifferently. "In his day, the Sword Venerable snapped countless blades. Did his life end with every broken sword? A sword is nothing more than an external object! It is merely a question of whether the offer is high enough. If you are willing to hand it over, I can grant you a reward." "No!" Li Hao refused outright. The Starry Sky Sword had been his greatest reliance on his journey thus far; there was no way he would part with it. The black armor dropped the subject. It made no difference to him. A fair transaction. If the boy refused, so be it. Such were the rules of Yuanping Martial Arts University; he would not take it by force. Finally, he turned back to the Mount Futu Master. "Can you pay the fine in full?" The Mount Futu Master's face was deathly pale. "I fear... I cannot..." "Then it is regrettable... The Vanguard Battalion no longer exists, nor are you a genuine student. You were given the chance to atone for your transgression through service, but you failed to seize it..." With a wave of his hand, the black armor struck. The Mount Futu Master tried to flee, but in an instant, he looked down at his chest—his five viscera were crushed to powder! He turned his head toward Li Hao's group, then looked back at the black armor with a lingering gloom. He had never imagined he would meet his end here, let alone perish in such a manner—struck down by an ancient existence within a ruin! His corpse crashed heavily to the ground. All his previous treasures vanished, claimed by the black armor as his rightful spoils. Li Hao and his companions stood in absolute silence. The death of the Mount Futu Master was not in itself surprising, but the manner of his demise stirred a chilling sense of empathy. Though they were enemies, Li Hao could feel the cold ruthlessness of these ancient ruin entities. They did not belong to the same era. In Battle Heaven City, the ancients had looked after Li Hao, so he had felt comfortable. Today, however, he witnessed the cruel reality: fail to pay your fine, and death was the only outcome. No exceptions, no fortune. The black armor looked back at Li Hao. "All of you will pay your fines using life essence?" "Yes!" "Very well. In three days, I expect to see the full amount!" With that, he looked at Li Hao again, hesitating slightly. "Are you part of the military?" Li Hao's eyes flickered, and he nodded, allowing his golden armor to manifest. "I belong to the Battle Heaven Army!" "The Battle Heaven Army, is it..." The black armor sighed with feeling. "The Sword Venerable's heritage, Battle Heaven City... That makes you part of a Sovereign's branch lineage. There is also another Sovereign descendant... and a guardian of an Emperor's traveling palace..." He glanced over the group, his gaze ultimately landing on Hou Xiaochen. "And the heritage of that Sovereign from the First Military Academy..." This group truly had extraordinary backgrounds. Of course, no background held sway here. This place was unlike any other, yet these individuals were connected to vast lineages—touching upon Emperor Cang, the Heavenly Emperor, the Longevity Sword Venerable, the God-Splitting Sovereign, and even the Blood Sovereign... It had to be said that even he felt a moment's hesitation. Yet on second thought, it mattered little. These people had just collected an enormous haul of energy stones and could easily afford their fines. Li Hao and his companions said nothing. In the span of a breath, three more had perished. Safety was nonexistent in this place; death could arrive at any moment. They had no choice but to endure, uncertain whether they would make it out alive. "Enough. The matter of fines is temporarily settled!" The black armor spoke once more. "Entering Yuanping Martial Arts University is both your fortune and your calamity! Whether it brings blessing or disaster depends entirely on yourselves..." Everyone stiffened, listening intently in silence. "Yuanping Martial Arts University was established here for many reasons, the foremost being this land's abundant energy. Later, heaven and earth shifted, the Star Gate was sealed, and the energy of the Silver Moon region plunged into rapid decline..." "In the blink of an eye, this place entered the End-Martial era!" He looked around at them. "Nevertheless, Yuanping Martial Arts University bears a grave responsibility, having been established to nurture apex experts for the front lines... Today, heaven and earth remain locked away. You are not yet true students... To become genuine students, you must undergo an examination!" Li Hao frowned immediately. "Report! What if... someone fails the examination, or... chooses not to take it?" "Then they are invaders!" The black armor replied calmly, "The fines earlier were merely minor reprimands. Only by passing the examination and becoming formal students may you depart this place. Otherwise... the academy will remain sealed... I shall not punish you further, but... you can forget about leaving!" At these words, everyone's expressions changed. They wouldn't be able to leave! "This is the path every newcomer must walk upon joining a martial arts university... It is not targeted at you specifically," he said evenly. "Yuanping Martial Arts University maintains high standards. In past years, only those at the half-step Peak Realm were eligible to enroll. Though you fall somewhat short... the gap is not insurmountable, so this cannot be called an unfair trial!" "Pass the three trials, and you shall be admitted!" Three trials! Li Hao felt a headache coming on. "Then..." "No bargaining. You hold the heritage of the Sword Venerable, but you must understand that among those who joined the martial arts universities in ancient times, Sovereign descendants were legion, and direct disciples were everywhere. You are merely a distant descendant..." Who knew how many years had passed? His bloodline was diluted; did he still expect special favors? Back in the day, even if a Sovereign's own son showed up, he had to take the test! The armor could not be bothered to waste words. "Refusal to sit for the examination... shall be deemed an invasion, punishable by immediate annihilation!" Right! There was no room for discussion! Li Hao and the others felt deep trepidation. What kind of test was this going to be? A brawl? Or running a gauntlet? Just as the thought crossed their minds, the world shifted around them, and they vanished from the sports grounds. In an instant, they found themselves sitting inside a classroom, each occupying a desk—including Black Panther and the little tree. Instantly, an examination paper materialized before each of them. "This is the entrance examination of the martial arts university. First trial: the cultural examination!" "..." Everyone was dumbfounded! Li Hao was utterly stunned. A cultural examination? Sure enough, an exam paper lay before him. Looking closely at it... Damn, it really was an academic exam! It was practically unbelievable. "As students of a martial arts university, you must be skilled in both pen and sword! A pure brute of a martial artist has no future! Even the Human King gained entry to Modu Martial Arts University through the martial cultural exam! The esteemed minister of the Ministry of Education placed even greater emphasis on cultural studies... All of you... must pass this cultural examination!" Li Hao had a pounding headache. Beside him, Hong Yitang glanced at the paper and frowned slightly. "Report. Times have changed, and some of the questions on this paper... are things we have no way of knowing. An examination should not aim for obscurity; as an educational legacy, it should focus on universal knowledge rather than esoteric questions that deliberately trip up examinees. Deliberately making things impossible is mere formalism." Li Hao also picked up the paper and looked at it, his vision swimming. What on earth was all this? Leaving aside the fact that it was all written in ancient script—which he could read, though the others were in dire straits—many of the questions left him completely baffled. Of course, having read many ancient texts, he recognized a few concepts. For example, there were calculations involving vital blood, the Gates of the Triple Burner, and even passing mentions of the origin path. Yet... could one actually earn a passing score on this? He had never expected that after dropping out of school, he would end up sitting for an exam here. The black armor looked at Hong Yitang and seemed to consider his words. Conceding the point, he nodded slightly. "What you say makes sense. Education must evolve with the times! The era is different now... Very well, we shall simplify it. Each of you shall expound upon your own martial path! I shall grade you! What is the martial path? What is its core? What is its goal? You may speak freely on these matters... As for the specific livelihood and affairs of your current age, I know nothing of them and cannot judge them... so for this examination, those can be set aside." Everyone let out a collective breath of relief! Thank goodness! Otherwise, they would have been in deep trouble; who could possibly answer that original test paper? As for expounding on their martial path, everyone had their own perspective. There were no fixed answers, so it all came down to whether the black armor would deliberately dock points. "Report, what score... counts as a pass?" "There are only two grades: pass and fail!" Everyone understood. Nine experts, one tree, and one dog sat obediently in their seats, utterly helpless and forced to comply. Paper and brush materialized in their hands... Black Panther looked on with a lost, innocent gaze, staring at the black armor. The armor glanced at the dog and said evenly, "The demon race also possesses its martial path. If you cannot write..." He pondered for a moment before adding, "You may articulate your path using spiritual power. However... as the descendant of a demon race Sovereign, unable even to write... It is fortunate this is not the Neo-Martial era, or else... you would suffer a grim fate!" As for why the fate would be grim? This fellow's ancestor of ancestors had experienced it firsthand—locked away in a dark room, forced to study for countless ages, an utterly miserable period. The black armor then looked at the little tree. "As a demon plant and the sole practitioner of the origin path present, you have likely merely inherited the path of your predecessor... Use your spiritual power to expound your thoughts as well!" Like a teacher, he sat at the podium, gazing down at the students below as if genuinely prepared to hear their discourses on the Great Dao. The scene felt profoundly bizarre to everyone present. Yet, helpless, they could only comply. Black Panther barked, merely a dog's yip, seemingly protesting that it did not know how to convey its thoughts via spiritual power either. The black armor looked on with mild disdain. "Do not claim you cannot... Fine, then use the demon language. If you bark, I can understand it!" This black armor was truly extraordinary. Li Hao and the others were unsure what to write at first. After brief consideration, they set their minds to it and put brush to paper. In a terrifying, perilous ruin, they sat like diligent schoolboys, writing away—a spectacle that would have seemed utterly surreal to anyone outside. The little tree sent forth waves of spiritual power, while Black Panther barked incessantly. The black armor nodded at times and shook his head at others, leaving it impossible to tell whether he truly understood or not. As Hou Xiaochen wrote, he suddenly chuckled softly. "Good thing Southern Fist isn't here..." "No whispering!" the black armor barked coldly. "Silence!" Hou Xiaochen looked slightly embarrassed. He had only spoken on impulse, yet he had actually been reprimanded like an errant schoolboy. He found it almost humorous. How many years had it been? When had such a thing ever happened to him? No one dared speak further. Heads bowed, they bent over their desks, writing away. After about half an hour, each set down their brush. The examination papers floated up one after another, settling into the black armor's hands. He inspected them one by one with utmost seriousness. After reviewing them, his gaze swept across the room before resting on Li Hao. "Why does your martial path... differ from the others?" Li Hao replied in a steady voice, "All Great Daos converge at the same destination; only the journey differs. What I do is not wrong. Senior has seen that my strength is not weak. In an altered era, one need not strictly walk the path of ancient martial arts..." The black armor pondered this before saying, "That makes sense. Consider yourself passed!" Turning to Hong Yitang, he said, "You remind me of someone. Though the gap between you is vast... harboring such aspirations is commendable. You pass as well!" Next, he looked at Sky Sword. "You are pure-minded, though in my eyes, you resemble a pure martial brute... Perhaps a military academy would suit you better... but... acceptable enough. You pass!" Sky Sword breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The armor turned to Hou Xiaochen, this time hesitating slightly. "You harbor too many conflicting thoughts; your mind is cluttered and clings to the old ways... You must realize that the God-Splitting spear intent is an exceptionally pure martial intent! If you were to swap paths with that swordsman beside you... you might achieve remarkable results! Ah, never mind. You pass as well!" Hou Xiaochen looked somewhat embarrassed, but said nothing. Finally, the black armor looked toward Qian Wanhao and his companions, his brow furrowing slightly. He pointed at Qian Wanhao. "Perhaps you deliberately crafted your answer to cater to my preferences... It diverges somewhat from what I sense from you. However... an exam is merely an exam. As long as you used clever tactics rather than outright cheating, you pass!" Qian Wanhao let out a massive sigh of relief! Indeed, he had played an angle. Knowing the temperament of these ancient civilization experts, the martial path he expounded was actually drawn from his convictions eighty years ago—his ideals from the time of overthrowing the imperial family. As expected, the armor found it acceptable; his gamble had paid off. "You..." The black armor pointed at Hu Mingfa of the Penal Law Department, his tone displeased. "You claim to be an enforcer of the law, that law is the foundation and that you forge your path through law. Yet between the lines, every word speaks of social hierarchy... Law and social hierarchy are inherently contradictory. Utter nonsense! Fail!" Hu Mingfa's face turned white with terror! Ignoring him, the black armor turned toward the remaining expert from the City of Superpowers, scowling even more deeply. "You have blindly copied the Neo-Martial path without a shred of innovation or adaptation. Yet the origin has scattered, leaving you with zero future prospects! Fail!" The divine power expert's face shifted, and he could not help but protest, "B-but... that demon plant also walks the origin..." "It possesses the path of origin and can continue walking it, you fool!" the black armor snapped with a cold grunt. "Fail!" The supernatural expert turned deathly pale. Failing meant he could not become a student, which meant... would he be trapped here for the rest of his life? Fortunately, failing did not incur immediate death. The directors of the Department of Personnel Evaluation and the Department of Foreign Affairs looked up anxiously at the black armor. The black armor remained silent for a moment. "The two of you are mediocre, showing neither distinction nor glaring flaws. You could either pass or fail... Under normal circumstances, either would be fine... However... quite a few have already passed. You fail!" The two directors went pale! What kind of reasoning was that? "My Lord, if... if our answers could either pass or fail... is that not unfair?" The black armor said evenly, "Quite the contrary, it is entirely fair! This is a premier institution of higher learning, not some mediocre trash academy. The two of you simply lack the qualifications!" Turning to the little tree, he said, "You are an origin path cultivator... In expounding the origin, you pass!" Then he looked at Black Panther. "You are gluttonous and lazy, just like your ancestor... Enough, your ancestor was one of the Sovereigns and should not be lightly mentioned... You fail!" Black Panther panicked! *I failed?* *Does that mean I can't leave either?* "Woof! Woof, woof!" "Silence!" Black Panther shrank back in terror, yet remained filled with despair as it looked at Li Hao. *I failed—what am I going to do?* Even the little tree had passed! In this round, five people and one tree made the cut. The next instant, the world spun wildly once more. Everyone was struck with shock. Just how was this magic performed? "Students of a martial arts university must also possess genuine combat prowess!" Six puppets materialized in the center of the field. "I have adjusted their power to match your own, calibrated to the standard strength of martial artists in the Neo-Martial era. Defeating one opponent of your tier constitutes a pass. Defeating two earns a rating of good. Defeating three... earns a rating of excellent!" "Those who pass will proceed to the next trial! Those who achieve 'good' will receive a reward, and those who achieve 'excellent' will receive a special reward!" The eyes of Li Hao and his allies gleamed. The same tier? Everyone present was an apex figure of the contemporary era; matching ancient martial artists of the same rank shouldn't be too difficult, should it? Li Hao spoke up: "May... one person test the waters first, and then... depending on the outcome, add more opponents?" "Permitted. The puppets know no fatigue and consume little energy; they can be replaced at any time without diminishing combat efficacy!" Li Hao felt relieved. They could challenge one puppet first to gauge the waters and add more if feasible. Sky Sword stepped forward without hesitation. "I shall go first!" Refusing to yield the initiative, he stood out directly. Instantly, a puppet appeared, slashing its blade toward him. Sky Sword let out a low roar, his greatsword sweeping across the void with a thunderous roar! Undaunted, Sky Sword unleashed strike after strike in a ferocious flurry! His sword intent was majestic and domineering! In the blink of an eye, the puppet was forced back step by step. "Bring another!" A second puppet appeared swiftly, joining forces with the first in an earth-shattering clash. The black armor observed in silence, offering no commentary. After a moment, Sky Sword sent one puppet flying with a mighty slash. Once defeated, it withdrew from the fray. After a brief struggle, Sky Sword blasted the second puppet away with another blow. It looked effortless, yet Sky Sword had refrained from calling for a third opponent. As he lowered his sword, the observers saw his true state: his body was crisscrossed with sword wounds, blood flowing freely, and he panted heavily with a furrowed brow. Clearly, he felt that defeating merely two puppets was somewhat humiliating. These were merely two ordinary combat puppets of the ancient martial era. Yet he had nearly been defeated! "Be careful, they are exceedingly strong... Best take them on one at a time!" Sky Sword retreated, transmitting a warning to his companions. These puppets possessed terrifying prowess; taking on two simultaneously had pushed him close to his limit. Li Hao and the others nodded and stepped forward together. "Start with one!" Several puppets manifested, assigning one to each combatant. Without hesitation, Li Hao unleashed his divine power and struck with his sword. Yet his opponent vanished in an instant. Li Hao's face shifted. *So fast!* He currently wielded five-discipline divine power, an elevation he had achieved only recently. Yet the black armor would not assign him a four-discipline opponent; this puppet matched him with full five-discipline strength. Within seconds, Li Hao exchanged dozens of sword techniques with his foe. With a muffled *bang*, Li Hao was forced back a step, bewildered! *I can't even defeat one?* *How is that possible!* *I was planning to take on three!* His thoughts racing, Li Hao frowned, struck by an idea. The next moment, his sword momentum erupted—this time relying not primarily on sword intent, but on various forces! *You can't use 'force', can you?* Divine characters surfaced, unleashing wind, lightning, water, and fire. Sure enough, the puppet found its movements severely constrained. A thunderous roar erupted as lightning flared, followed by a fierce tiger's claw striking out with a sharp *crack*, batting the puppet away! "Bring more!" Instantly, two puppets appeared—not merely one additional, but two attacking simultaneously! In other directions, thunderous explosions rattled the air as well! The black armor watched silently, monitoring their performance. When he saw the little tree summon the Imperial Palace, he could not help but shout, "You pass... rated as excellent! You..." This was practically cheating! Who among their peers could withstand a corner of the Imperial Palace? Yet he had not forbidden such methods beforehand, and the phantom projection of the Imperial Palace was part of the tree's inherited power... There was no arguing against it. The black armor cursed silently at the cheat. The little tree retreated obediently. It had no choice; in a genuine clash, it could not outfight the puppets, leaving it no option but to play its trump card. The most unfortunate pair were Hou Xiaochen and Qian Wanhao. Qian Wanhao had just broken through to four-discipline divine power, while Hou Xiaochen had newly shattered his supernatural locks. Both had gained a surge in strength—ordinarily a blessing, but here it meant their opponents were correspondingly stronger! In the blink of an eye, Qian Wanhao was utterly routed! As Hou Xiaochen appeared on the verge of defeat, he let out a furious roar. With a resounding *crack*, divine energy surged wildly, and a single spear thrust blasted his puppet away. The black armor sounded displeased: "A breakthrough mid-battle... Fine, it counts!" Hou Xiaochen had severed another supernatural lock. While this bordered on exploitation, there was no rule forbidding mid-battle breakthroughs. Hou Xiaochen said nothing. Having defeated only one puppet, he chose to withdraw. His face was grim and silent. He could have continued challenging two or three at once, but in this moment, he felt deeply humiliated. He had nearly lost to a single opponent. Nearby, Qian Wanhao looked utterly devastated. He had failed; evidently, he was the sole person among them unable to pass this trial. Plunged into despondency, he glanced at Li Hao's group in despair. These people were truly formidable. At the same cultivation level, they were all stronger than him, yet... how could he swallow this defeat? He sighed internally. Was he truly doomed to remain trapped here for the rest of his days? Li Hao, meanwhile, was growing increasingly engrossed in the fight. Divine characters materialized one after another. He discovered that these puppets possessed little resistance against divine characters. Under the relentless weaving of these characters, the puppets seemed at a loss on how to counter. Overjoyed, he soon found himself encircled by three puppets. The black armor observed him silently for a long moment. *The ultimate techniques of Star Suppressing City.* *Yet altered!* They integrated energy, vital blood, spirit, and spiritual power, infused with a distinct Dao of their own. It was quite unexpected! Looking at Hong Yitang, that man was intriguing as well. Different from Li Hao, he too employed special characters, though his seemed derived from variations of a single core word. How peculiar—these two walked what could be considered the same path, yet fundamentally differed. Both were rather fascinating! After a while, the three puppets were sent flying one by one by Li Hao. Hong Yitang, panting heavily, also repelled three puppets, though he shook his head ruefully. He, too, had relied on clever tactics. Like Li Hao, he had worn the puppets down by exploiting their unfamiliarity with divine characters before finally knocking them back. "Not bad!" the black armor declared coolly. "Better than expected. To have developed novel variations on the ultimate arts of Star Suppressing City... is acceptable!" "Three achieved excellent, one achieved good, one achieved passing, and one failed!" Sky Sword had defeated two puppets, earning 'good.' Hou Xiaochen had defeated only one, earning 'passing.' Expectation mounted in the hearts of the victors. What would the third trial be? And what were the special rewards? "The third trial is very simple..." At this moment, the black armor seemed to smile. "Pass it, and you shall become formal students of Yuanping Martial Arts University! Fail it... and you shall all be eliminated!" The next instant, he announced the requirements for the third trial. Li Hao and the others froze, momentarily dazed.