Martial Saint!
Chapter 58 - 0058 Assessment

Chapter 58: 0058 Assessment

"Junior brother, you’re taking the test for the Void Blade qualification certificate? That requires Fourth Rank... Wait, you’ve broken through Fourth Rank already?" Shi Ruyu approached with a look of surprise on her petite face.

"Yes, he’s at Fourth Rank now, how about that, quick, right?"

Ji Xuantong somewhat proudly said, feeling the fulfillment and sense of achievement that others wouldn’t understand, seeing the talented individual he had discovered grow and evolve.

Shi Ruyu showered Lu Chenzhou with continuous praise.

"Fast, junior brother is too fast! I really didn’t expect it... I thought he’d reach Fourth Rank in his second year, I really underestimated junior brother’s speed."

Ji Xuantong stood up and said,

"Alright, tell Lu Chenzhou about the test, I’m going to call my teacher and see if I can get Lu Chenzhou on the potential genius list."

"Teacher, are you talking about the ’Key Focus List’?"

"What, you’re already on it?"

"I just got in not long ago, I was about to tell you."

"..."

Ji Xuantong paused for a moment, then smiled,

"The school’s efficiency isn’t bad, pretty good, you won’t be lacking in basic Martial Arts Supplements for cultivation anymore, strive to break through to Fifth Rank by the first semester of your second year!"

As long as he maintained a pace of one rank per semester, Lu Chenzhou would be at Eighth Rank before the college entrance exam, not falling short of his daughter Ji Feiyan, perhaps even having more potential.

He always felt that Lu Chenzhou had the potential to awaken the Martial Bone Dao Embryo.

Old Ji was internally delighted and excitedly went to report his achievements to Qingtian Cang.

Inside the Martial Arts Room, only Lu Chenzhou and his senior sister Shi Ruyu were left.

"The basic requirements for the novice certificate test are all on the official website, first is actual combat, second is martial virtue, third is basic knowledge about Void Things... Let me share with you my insights from passing the test, the hardest part is the actual combat, because it’s not just a test of physical fighting skills, but even more so a test of your spiritual will. If your will is not firm, facing the Void Things and having your mind eroded, having a Void Blade will be of no use."

...

By five o’clock in the afternoon, Lu Chenzhou left the Martial Arts Hall.

"Chenzhou, keep a calm mind, and you’ll pass."

Ji Xuantong stood at the door with his arms folded.

"Junior brother, do your best."

Shi Ruyu smiled slightly.

Someone said,

"I’m envious, Brother Lu already has the qualifications to face Void Things directly; from now on, he won’t have to worry about bumping into them on a night walk... Just chop them down with one slice!"

Du, recalling his own experiences, felt more resolute in his heart.

Old Zhang too was smiling; Lu Chenzhou had already agreed to join his app, and when the time came, he planned to package and promote Xiao Lu, aiming to attract new users.

His target audience was ordinary people with Low Class root bones.

"Don’t let root bones be your shackles! Martial Arts, where everyone can be as powerful as a dragon!"

He had even thought up the slogan, determined to prove something very cliché in front of those so-called talented individuals with superior root bones:

Do not underestimate the youth who is poor!

Qin Zheng watched Lu Chenzhou’s retreating figure, planning to persuade his family to invest in Lu Chenzhou and buy him a Void Blade in advance. Knowing Lu Chenzhou’s character, he would surely not accept it, so it would be "lent for temporary use," and he could pay it back when he had the money.

He had witnessed the rise of his brother firsthand.

If not now, when would be the time to bet? His family’s only connection in Su City’s Martial Arts world was Ji Xuantong, and with the addition of Lu Chenzhou, they would be even more secure.

...

As evening approached.

The Void Management Office of Su District.

Under the sunset glow, Lu Chenzhou stepped out of the car.

"It’s five thirty, they close at six."

He had hurried along and finally made it in time. He had already booked today’s test in advance with the citizen’s all-in-one card, and the guard uncle glanced at it and let him pass.

The guard uncle was also a Third Rank martial practitioner.

Looking at Lu Chenzhou, he exclaimed,

"Coming for the test at such a young age? You’ve got guts."

Although the requirements for the test stated that one must be at Fourth Rank, not many had dared to participate so far, because the actual combat test meant... facing Void Things directly!

...

"Name."

"Lu Chenzhou."

"Age."

"16 years old."

"Affiliation."

"Dragon City High School."

The registering staff member looked up.

"A high school student?"

"Can’t I take the test?"

"You can... but since you’re still a minor, even though you’re a Fourth Rank martial artist, strong enough to wrestle lions and tigers, you still need a guardian’s consent."

The staff member said with a smile.

Lu Chenzhou handed over the consent form that his foster parents had prepared in advance. To persuade them, he had put in a lot of effort over the past few days.

The staff member confirmed it was correct.

"Hold on a moment, we need to inspect the testing venue."

Shortly after.

"All examinees, please follow me."

A uniformed young lady led Lu Chenzhou to a circular building with a peculiar design that was quite different from conventional structures. Shi Ruyu had said the exterior was wrapped in a special material that could prevent Void Things from escaping.

The circular building had a diameter of about a hundred meters and only two doors connecting it to the outside world. Examinees had to enter through the front door and then exit through the back door to be considered successful.

"Are you ready?"

"I am."

The young lady introduced:

"Just step into the light curtain in front of the door, and you’ll enter the simple maze we’ve designed. There might be Void Things hidden in some areas, but don’t worry, they’re just the weakest Floating Level Void Things, and we have them under control. With your Fourth Rank cultivation, your life is not in danger.

There are challenges set up in certain parts of the maze, and if you pass them, you can obtain different types of low-level civilian Void Blades. You can use these blades to defend against Void Things in the maze and gain opportunities to escape. If you perform exceptionally, there are additional rewards.

Remember, making it through the maze is victory!"

Lu Chenzhou took a deep breath.

"I’m going in."

It was impossible to be completely calm. But knowing Void Things were present somehow lessened the fear of the unknown, and Lu Chenzhou wasn’t very afraid.

The round alloy door slowly opened, and a blue light screen enveloped the entrance.

"This seems similar to the devices on the Taihu side."

Lu Chenzhou stepped inside, and a chill hit him. It felt as if he had suddenly entered a dark, damp basement reeking of decay from a sunny place.

Ordinary Void Things could only survive in such an environment.

"It looks almost like a haunted house in here."

Lu Chenzhou looked at the dilapidated and gloomy ancient house before him. The wind blew through the collapsed wooden gate, leading to an overgrown courtyard, creaking eerily...

Bang!

The door through which he had entered was now closed. He looked at the communicator on his wrist. If he couldn’t hold on anymore, he could call for help.

He walked into the courtyard.

Wood piles accumulated in the corners, the kitchen walls blackened with soot. And between two jujube trees, a swing moved slightly, as if someone had lived here for a long time.

Swoosh!

Lu Chenzhou felt a cold breeze.

His back tensed like a tiger ready to pounce, and his hair stood on end! With his Fourth Rank aura erupting, he twisted his body, his right hand cleaving through air, turning to strike at the heart if someone was behind him!

Slap!

"Huh? There’s nothing there?"

Lu Chenzhou looked at the empty space around him, the creaking sound ringing in his ears, causing irritable feelings; the unknown was the most terrifying.

"Sigh..."

Lu Chenzhou regulated his breathing slightly.

He went straight to the main room, which felt the most eerie. Just as he entered, the broken door, seemingly touched by the wind, swung shut leisurely – surely some mechanism had been triggered. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a white shadow flitting beneath the dust-laden bed.

Lu Chenzhou remembered Du’s experience; he had been chased by an unknown white shadow that seemed capable of creating illusions, awakening one’s deepest fears.

Lu Chenzhou didn’t look under the bed; instead, he surveyed the room and spotted a pair of gloves in a corner. Keeping an eye on his surroundings, he picked up the gloves and dusted them off.

[Test Equipment, do not take away, violators will be prosecuted.]