In the end, he chose not to investigate the heart-pounding ultimate secret at the top of the energy tower.

His Primordial Spirit’s power was severely depleted, and the sluggishness from the virtual wounds on his back and left arm felt incredibly real.

Most importantly, an icy countdown pierced his mind: 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

[Remaining Assessment Time: 00:02:17]

’Two minutes left... I just have to get through this!’

A sharp glint flashed in Li Wen’s eyes. His body, like a coiled leopard, no longer charged toward the core. Instead, he began to race along the edge of the ruins.

[Absolute Focus] was pushed to its limit. The light of his jade-like Primordial Spirit was dim, yet it still scanned his surroundings with precision.

He was like the most precise hunting machine. His goal was no longer to challenge the peak, but to—maximize his harvest.

Two Middle Tier purple-robed figures, who had relaxed slightly due to the top-level battle erupting ahead, were hiding behind a window on the second floor of a half-collapsed shopping mall, trying to ambush low-point examinees passing by.

’Found you,’ Li Wen thought with a low growl.

He kicked off a broken wall, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow, shattering the fragile glass curtain wall.

[Sunpiercer]!

The blade’s light, carrying its remaining power, came crashing down. The purple-robed figure’s hasty block was futile; his saber shattered, and his body disintegrated!

[Points +700!]

The other purple-robed figure was shocked. Just as he raised his saber, Li Wen spun and followed the motion with a slash of [Shadowskim], which slid across his neck like a phantom.

[Points +700!]

Without a moment’s pause, he burst through another window and dropped down. On the street ahead, three High Tier blue-robed figures who had just failed to corner an examinee were clustered together.

[Startling Goose]!

[Skycross]!

[Long Rainbow]!

Three streaks of blade light, swift as lightning and angled viciously, arrived in an instant.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

The three blue-robed figures didn’t even have time to coordinate a defense before they turned into streams of light, one after another, in the span of a breath.

[Points +50 * 3 = +150!]

...

Li Wen was like a tiger pouncing on a flock of sheep, moving efficiently through the shadows and corners of the ruins, reaping every "high-value" target revealed by his Primordial Spirit’s scan.

In the final dozen or so seconds before the countdown hit zero, his figure became a terrifying flash of death at the edge of the battlefield.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP—!!

"Assessment time is over! All combat is forcibly terminated! Battlefield settlement in progress..."

A piercing buzz echoed throughout the virtual space.

In the Doomsday City District, the smoke of battle, the glint of blades, and the fluctuations of energy froze in an instant.

Whether it was the examinees scrambling for cover or the ferocious virtual pursuers, all of them stopped as if a pause button had been pressed. The next second, they began to dissolve into countless streams of data.

「Reality. The viewing areas for Bluestone County’s high schools.」

As the chime signaling the end of the assessment sounded, all the battle scenes on the massive light screens froze and dimmed.

A brief silence fell, so profound it felt as if even breathing had stopped.

Then—BOOM!!!!

The Third Middle School’s viewing area absolutely erupted. It was a total explosion of pent-up tension, wild joy, and utter disbelief!

"AHHHHHHHHH—!!!"

"He held on! Li Wen held on!"

"He survived! And he kept on killing! Oh my god!!"

"Did you see that?! He was still racking up points in the last ten seconds!" someone roared, pointing at Li Wen’s score on the leaderboard.

That young and resolute face, that figure who kept turning the tables in a desperate situation, had completely ignited more than a decade of the Third Middle School’s hopes and pride.

Countless students shouted themselves hoarse, teachers embraced in excitement, and some first-year students were even moved to tears.

In the viewing areas for First Middle School, Second Middle School, and the other schools, there was only a dead silence born of confusion, shock, and speechlessness.

Jiang Lingyun had been eliminated.

Tang Jin had been eliminated.

Qi Yuqing had been eliminated.

All of Bluestone County’s top, well-known geniuses had been taken out one by one under the terrifying hunt of the black-and-white duo.

In the final scenes, only the boy from the Third Middle School remained, reaping lives frantically right under the Grim Reaper’s nose, maintaining his heart-stopping battle posture until the very last second.

He was the only examinee from Bluestone County left standing on the virtual battlefield!

「On the main platform.」

The representatives from the four major powers were no longer in their seats.

Director Sun of the Fire Hall, Minnie of the Virtual Company, the bald brute from the Mercenary Alliance, and the female representative from Galaxy Bank all now stood at the very front of the light screen.

They leaned forward, their gazes locked onto the final leaderboards that were about to refresh—the Bluestone County regional rankings, the Changning City municipal rankings, and the Jiangnan Province provincial rankings.

Fang Chengwu still wore his usual gentle expression. ’A Primordial Spirit possessed only by a Marquis Level expert would cause an absolute massacre in a low-level realm, even if only used for support functions.’

The mayor of Bluestone County and the head of the Education Bureau didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly, their palms slick with sweat.

WHOOM—

The light screen refreshed. Bluestone County Rankings (Top 10):

1. Li Wen (Bluestone Third Middle School) — Points: 7,230

2. Jiang Lingyun (Bluestone First Middle School) — Points: 4,250

3. Tang Jin (Bluestone Second Middle School) — Points: 2,980

4. Shadow (County Vocational High) — Points: 2,670

...

Changning City Rankings (Municipal Top 10):

1. Luo Zhen (Municipal First Middle School) — Points: 18,200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one member of the black-and-white duo)

2. Li Wen (Bluestone Third Middle School) — Points: 7,230

3. Ye Ziwei (Xinglan Middle School) — Points: 6,150

4. Lei Lie (Affiliated High School) — Points: 5,580

...

9. Jiang Lingyun (Bluestone First Middle School) — Points: 4,250

...

"Second! Second in the whole city!!" The Bluestone Third Middle School viewing area went completely insane!

Li Wen’s name shone like a meteor on Changning City’s most prestigious leaderboard.

"7,230 points! Just how many High Tier enemies did he slaughter in that last stretch of time?!"

WHOOM—!

Just as the city-wide rankings were announced, an even larger, more magnificent leaderboard materialized.

Jiangnan Province Rankings (Provincial Top 100):

The top of the list was like a realm of gods and demons, with a point gap so vast it was suffocating.

1. Chu Feng (Provincial City First Middle School · Intent Realm) — Points: 89,500 (Note: Single-handedly killed eight members of the black-and-white duo)

2. Nangong Xue (Provincial City Second Middle School · Intent Realm) — Points: 77,400 (Note: Single-handedly killed seven members of the black-and-white duo)

...

5. Lin Dong (Provincial City First Middle School · Intent Realm) — Points: 56,800 (Note: Single-handedly killed five members of the black-and-white duo)

...

39. Luo Zhen (Changning City First Middle School · Intent Realm) — Points: 18,200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one member of the black-and-white duo)

...

47. Li Hao (Lishan City First Middle School · Intent Realm) — 15,200 (Note: Single-handedly killed one member of the black-and-white duo)

48. Li Wen (Bluestone County Third Middle School · Unity Realm) — Points: 7,230

...

50. Wang Hao (Yonglin City First Middle School · Intent Realm) — Points: 6,950

The forty-eighth spot in the provincial top fifty!

This ranking was like a nuclear bomb, detonating in every viewing area.

"The... the provincial top fifty?!!!" The principal of Third Middle School cried out, almost thinking his eyes were deceiving him.

"Bluestone County... produced someone in the provincial top fifty?!"

"My heavens..."

Sharp hisses of indrawn breath were heard all around.

Everyone instantly understood what that point gap meant—it was the absolute, insurmountable chasm in power between the "Intent Realm" and the "Unity Realm"!

Li Wen, at a realm where he had not yet comprehended "Intent," had forced his way into a list dominated by geniuses of the "Intent Realm."

Although he was only ranked at forty-eight, this achievement was absolutely monumental.

He was the only examinee in the entire province who had entered the top fifty without comprehending "Intent."

The assessment ended. Exiting the virtual battlefield.

Li Wen’s figure appeared in the starting plaza.

What greeted him was a tsunami of cheers and looks of adoration.

The students and teachers of Third Middle School surrounded him like a triumphant hero returning from battle.

But the representatives of the four major powers were faster.

"Make way! Make way!" The bald brute from the Mercenary Alliance strode forward with an imposing gait, his voice booming.

"Li Wen, I’m Lu Xiong, the head of the Mercenary Alliance’s Bluestone branch! Congratulations on your earth-shattering results! Come to the Mercenary Alliance! A warrior’s true calling is living life on the edge of a blade! We’ll give you our best A-rank contract..."

"Lu Xiong, what’s your hurry!" Director Minnie from the Virtual Company strode forward with a professional, confident smile, the light glinting off her gold-rimmed glasses.

"Li Wen’s Extraordinary insight and calculative talent are exactly the kind of treasures we in the virtual technology sector dream of! An A-rank contract with the Virtual Company, access to our core laboratory resources..."

"Director Minnie, data analysis is important, but only resource investment can build a Divine-Demonic Foundation!"

The female representative from Galaxy Bank cut in elegantly yet forcefully, looking at Li Wen with utmost grace.

"Li Wen, Galaxy Bank’s financial power is beyond question. With an A-rank contract, we can promise to provide the most generous..."

"Enough." A steady voice, carrying an unquestionable authority, rang out.

Director Sun of the Fire Hall pushed through the crowd and walked up to Li Wen.

His gaze was as sharp as lightning. He gave Li Wen a deep look, then glanced at the pleased expression on Fang Chengwu’s face in the distance.

Finally, his eyes returned to Li Wen. All his previous reservation and restraint had vanished, replaced by pure admiration and fervor.

"Li Wen," Director Sun’s voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly cut through all the noise.

"I am Sun Zhenshan, a director of the Fire Hall’s Jiangnan Province branch. Congratulations on creating a miracle in a desperate situation, seizing this honor, and proving your unparalleled potential."

His attitude became incredibly solemn.

"On behalf of the Fire Hall, I formally extend to you our highest-spec A-rank contract invitation. This is our utmost sincerity for a true prodigy."

"First, this is a ’Firewood Seed’ promotion contract," Sun Zhenshan said, his voice resolute.

"As long as you meet any of the following conditions—one, comprehend Blade Intent within three years; two, reach the Diamond tier in the Infinite Arena; or three, place in the top three in the second provincial mock exam—the contract will automatically be upgraded to S-rank! You’ll enjoy resources equivalent to the absolute top figures at the provincial level!"

"Second, Divine-Demonic Foundation Establishment!" Director Sun’s gaze was scorching. "We will tailor-make a plan of foundational treasures for you, the strongest possible, aimed directly at building a Divine-Demonic Foundation!

It requires a total of eight cosmic treasures. The Fire Hall will provide the four rarest and most difficult to obtain ones upfront.

As for the other four, we will provide a list. They are relatively easier to acquire, but still priceless."

"Third, funds and resources:

Huaxia Coins: A-rank standard, five million per year for a six-year contract, totaling thirty million.

Fire Hall Points: Equivalent to the Fire Hall’s internal hard currency, can be used to purchase rare materials and so on. Five million points per year, also for a six-year contract, totaling thirty million points.

Cultivation Points: Can be used to directly purchase the Hall’s exclusive Secret Techniques, technologies, information, and more, with an extremely wide range of applications. They are specifically for supporting core Martial Dao cultivation resources.