Assessor No. 1 had a burly, imposing physique. He brandished a Silver Spear, his Spear Technique fierce and powerful as he charged forward with strides like a meteor.

Lin Qi was very familiar with the Spear Technique he was using; it was the same as his own, the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*.

’Are they testing my Spear Technique Realm by having me fight an opponent who uses the same Secret Manual?’

Lin Qi instantly figured out the mechanics of the Martial Arts assessment and simultaneously burst into motion, his figure flashing as he charged forward.

SWOOSH~

He shot out like an agile cheetah, the Black Great Spear in his hands a blur as its sharp tip pierced the air with several sudden thrusts.

Cloud Picking!

SWISH SWISH~

A flurry of spear shadows, smooth and flowing, filled the air. Within the dazzling Spear Technique lay an endless killing intent.

CLANG CLANG~

The two great spears collided in mid-air, and Lin Qi felt a tremendous force from the impact.

He pressed on, thrusting his Long Spear forward. Seizing the opening as his opponent transitioned between techniques, he swung his spear decisively.

PFFT~

Before the Assessor could react, the Long Spear pierced through his chest, and he dissolved into the Void.

Lin Qi’s expression was calm. In his eyes, the Assessor’s Spear Technique was crude and riddled with openings.

He could have defeated this opponent back when he had first learned the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*.

It was similar to how Zhang City had looked at him when he had just learned the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*—seeing flaws everywhere.

[Assessor No. 1 has been defeated!]

A message popped up on the panel, and an intelligent female voice made an announcement.

A few seconds later, at the exact same spot, the white-clad Assessor reappeared, holding a Silver Spear. Nothing had changed, except the number on his chest was now a "2."

[Please defeat Assessor No. 2!]

Assessor No. 2 charged out, still using the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*. To the naked eye, his Spear Technique had become smoother and more Proficient.

But in Lin Qi’s eyes, the Assessor’s Spear Technique was still crude.

He charged forward again, swinging his Long Spear. After two techniques, he thrust it out fiercely.

Beng Ci!

PFFT~

The Long Spear pierced the opponent’s throat, and Assessor No. 2 collapsed, dissolving into the Void once more.

’If I want a higher score, I’ll have to defeat more Assessors.’

Lin Qi understood. Facing the newly appeared Assessor No. 3, his eyes began to brighten. He brandished his great spear, which struck like a dragon, its tip glinting with a cold light...

...

「In the Virtual Room.」

"In the Martial Arts assessment, there are a total of ten Assessors. They use the same Secret Manual as you."

"Their mastery of the Secret Manual gets stronger and stronger."

"The more Assessors you defeat, the higher your score. If you don’t defeat any, your score is based on how long you last, broken down into finer points."

"Theoretically, the stronger you are, the more Time you’ll spend in the Virtual Cabin."

Zhang City explained the rules to the crowd of onlookers while sitting in his chair.

"Someone’s finished the assessment!" someone suddenly shouted.

A door to one of the Virtual Cabins slowly opened. The person inside opened his eyes and stood up.

It was Liu Yiheng. He looked at the crowd in confusion. "Why is everyone looking at me like that?"

"Looks like Liu Yiheng is the weakest," someone suddenly remarked.

Hearing this, Liu Yiheng’s face changed drastically. He blushed, the color visibly rising in his cheeks. The comment had cut him deep.

"Next person, get in a Virtual Cabin. When someone comes out, the next in rank goes in," Zhang City reminded them from the side.

"With Brother Qi’s strength, I wonder how many he can get through."

Jiangtao watched from the side, growing curious. He wasn’t the only one; Zhang City was also very curious about how many Assessors Lin Qi could actually defeat.

...

「In the Martial Arts Assessment.」

CLANG CLANG~~

On the metal floor, one silver and one black figure clashed violently. Their great spears met, sending sparks flying.

Endless spear shadows concealed a terrifying killing intent. Both sides’ Spear Techniques were fierce and domineering, their presence overwhelming.

’Time to end this!’

Lin Qi tilted his head to dodge the Assessor’s strike. Seizing the momentary opening, he flipped his wrist, channeled power into his arm, and infused his Long Spear with strength, sending it spinning forward in a sudden thrust.

Vortex Break!

CLANG CLANG~

PFFT~

The powerful rotation knocked Assessor No. 6’s Long Spear from his grasp. After sending it flying, Lin Qi’s spear pierced his chest.

[Assessor No. 6 has been defeated!]

Lin Qi exhaled a breath of stale air, withdrew his spear, and waited quietly.

This was the sixth Assessor he had defeated. Their strength had been increasing, and their Spear Technique was becoming more and more refined.

Even he had to use his full strength to defeat this last one.

Compared to the testers in the man-machine test, these Assessors possessed a higher level of intelligence.

Their mastery of the Spear Technique grew stronger with each one.

They had no emotions, made no mistakes, and were immune to psychological pressure. Once their Spear Technique Realm reached a certain level, they became exceptionally difficult to handle.

「A moment later.」

The Assessor reappeared, the number on its chest now a "7."

[Please defeat Assessor No. 7!]

SWOOSH~

The white-clad Assessor brandished its Silver Spear and charged forward. Its movements were fluid, its spear striking like a dragon.

Lin Qi’s expression turned serious. The moment it attacked, he could feel that this Assessor’s strength had risen by a huge margin.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

’The stronger, the better. I want to test my own strength, too.’

With this in mind, he brandished his great spear and charged out. A continuous stream of power surged forth as his Long Spear thrust out, carrying the overwhelming momentum of a Mountain Collapse.

BOOM!!

CLANG CLANG~~

The wind howled as their Long Spears shot out like sharp arrows, kicking off a fierce clash.

Cloud Picking!

After a series of collisions, Lin Qi suddenly leaped high into the air, channeling power through both arms for a ferocious downward thrust.

Sky Jumping!

A leap and a strike from above. The Long Spear tore through the air, stabbing down viciously as if to pierce through everything.

The Assessor remained expressionless. It changed its Gun Technique, its spear shaft vibrating and tip spinning to form a defensive circle.

CLANG CLANG~~

The Long Spears clashed in an instant—the Silver Spear defending, the black spear attacking!

The collision was over in a flash, sending sparks flying. Lin Qi’s attack had failed to break through the Assessor’s defense.

Seeing this, Lin Qi executed more Techniques.

Rapid Spear Charge, Backward Gun Sweep, Pointed Spear Breaks the Array...

He unleashed the twelve Techniques of the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique* one after another.

And his opponent did the same.

The two executed the same Spear Technique, constantly switching between offense and defense, but throughout the prolonged battle, Lin Qi was consistently at a disadvantage.

’So this is probably the true level of my Spear Technique.’

Lin Qi’s mind raced. An ordinary person would find it very difficult to win in this situation.

The opponent’s Spear Technique was slightly better than his. In terms of data, it was likely approaching the Tier Two Spear Technique Realm.

It would still be very difficult to defeat it.

An Ordinary person might give up, but Lin Qi wouldn’t. The stronger the opponent, the more excited he became.

’I can win!’

His gaze sharpened. His Spear Technique shifted, and his aura underwent an intangible change.

SWISH SWISH~

With a single movement, his entire body seemed to transform into a bolt of Lightning as he rushed toward the Assessor.

He swung his Long Spear, its speed increasing continuously, and his entire presence changed dramatically.

The Assessor, running its program, launched its own attack the moment it saw Lin Qi make his move.

Lin Qi’s gaze focused, veins bulging on his arms. The great spear in his hand thrust out at extreme speed, like a raging torrent in a furious sea.

At that moment, his body displayed astonishing coordination, converting the kinetic energy of his advance into the Attack Power of his spear thrust.

SWISH SWISH~~

The Long Spear tore through the air with a piercing shriek.

The *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*’s Killing Technique—Furious Sea Bursting Stab!

Assessor No. 7 was completely unable to react to the sudden, powerful blow.

It could only swing its Long Spear in a horizontal block to defend itself.

CLANG CLANG~

PFFT!

The two clashed in the center of the arena. Their sharp great spears met, and in an instant, immense force sent the Assessor’s Long Spear flying.

The spear struck like a dragon, powerfully piercing the Assessor’s chest as blood sprayed wildly.

[Assessor No. 7 is dead!]

[You battled a strong enemy. *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique* proficiency has increased. Spear Technique +1%.]

[You fought fiercely with an opponent. Body Technique proficiency has increased. Body Technique +2%.]

[Spear Technique: Tier One 91% → 92%]

[Body Technique: Tier One 85% → 87%]

...

Lin Qi stood in place, pulled out his Long Spear, and savored the feeling of that last moment.

’Using a Killing Technique in actual combat for the first time... this feeling is really something else.’

In nearly half a month, he had progressed at lightning speed. His Spear Technique had improved drastically, and he had even learned the first Killing Technique of the *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*.

’Next, let’s see what Assessor No. 8 is capable of.’

Lin Qi’s gaze narrowed, locking onto the newly appeared Assessor No. 8 across from him.

...