Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Blood blossomed, a waist severed in two, viscera spilling out with a splash.

”Ah!”

The bloody scene elicited screams from many of the female students, who closed their eyes, while the male students also forced themselves not to tremble. Even many of the Qi Practitioners turned pale.

Although they practiced regularly, it was always with restraint, never as graphically bloody and direct as this.

By contrast, the students from No.7 High School were faring much better, with many of them wearing expressions of cold disdain. They looked down on Li Junhao with contempt; it was the first time they had witnessed such a feeble martial artist who didn’t even dare fight back.

”How did No.1 High School become the top school in Rongcheng City?”

A person beside Jiang Jinxian expressed doubt, ”This kind of student would be encouraged to leave our school within a few months, only to end up in trash schools like Ninth Middle School or No.10 Middle School.”

”Rumors are often exaggerated. No.1 High School has already declined. It’s time for our No.7 High School to become the top school in Rongcheng City...”

Some spoke excitedly, seeing hope.

If the school’s ranking improved, so too would the educational department’s funding, and everyone would benefit.

”We can’t say that, the cultural achievements of No.1 High School are still commendable.”

...

Inside the examination room, Zhang Dingjun frowned, ”Have you taken students outside to the Outer Realm for experience and seen bloodshed?”

The reaction of No.1 High School students was expected.

It’s everyone’s first time, after all.

After witnessing it enough times, they would naturally grow accustomed. This is the significance of constant examination and training.

”Yes, under the guise of winter vacation trips. The opponents were the dregs of humanity.”

Jin Dazheng, the head martial arts instructor of No.7 High School, spoke concisely.

He was an imposing Innate Martial Artist with a complete cultivation; it’s unlikely that he was an Eaglet Innate, or he would have already become a cultivator. In terms of strength, under a close-range surprise attack, he should pose some threat to a cultivator in the later stages of Qi refining.

However, when it came to knowledge of martial arts, nobody present could compare with him.

”Nonsense!”

Zhang Dingjun rebuked without any courtesy, ”Students at the age of sixteen or seventeen are at the stage of forming their basic values. We should give them as much warmth and care from society as possible, fostering their sense of belonging and pride in the Xianmen Sect.”

”What you’re doing could lead many students to develop extreme and dark personalities, which might pose a security risk for the Xianmen Sect in the future!”

”For the sake of mere practical combat performance, do you have no conscience?”

”After the examination, I will report this to the education department!”

”Suit yourself.”

Jin Dazheng couldn’t be bothered to argue.

”Teacher Zhang, please calm your anger for now.”

A teacher from No.7 High School spoke solemnly, ”At No.7 High School, most students don’t have a Spiritual Root necessary for cultivation. If they want to ascend to immortality, they can’t afford your easy-going approach; they must strive harder.”

”Heh.”

Zhang Dingjun did not agree with these words and was already formulating the content of his complaint.

...

Li Junhao was teleported out, his face pale as a sheet of paper; his body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes vacant.

Jiang Ding patted his back and offered a few words of comfort.

Such is the destined fate of Fairy Gate Citizens. While enjoying a relatively affluent life and stable environment compared to surrounding worlds, they must also take on the duty of fighting and defending the Xianmen Sect.

It is a right as much as an obligation!

”Zhou Zhong is victorious!”

Zhou Zhong returned outside, his long-handled axe smeared with blood, and he ridiculed loudly, ”You riffraff from No.1 High School, I could take on a bunch of you all by myself!”

”Bullshit!”

Amidst the fear and dread induced by the blatant gore, a student from No.1 High School was immediately provoked, glaring at Zhou Zhong.

A few female Qi Practitioners, trembling and frightened, unknowingly held a ball of orange flames in their hands, which was still growing larger.

Startled, Zhou Zhong took a quick step back, hiding among the Qi Practitioners from No.7 High School.

”Calling examinee number 1246875, Sun Xiao...”

”Please...”

One after another, student numbers were called out, and displays in the sky depicted various terrains in succession: jungle, bamboo forest, desert, snowfields, lakes, and so on—ten different battle terrains unfolding simultaneously.

Real combat does not consist of grand battles lasting hundreds of rounds; the human body is fragile, and the Inner Qi shield is as thin as paper against Magic Arts-Breaking Steel infused with Inner Energy, even for those with closely matched cultivation bases. A moment of carelessness could result in bloodshed on the spot.

Victory and defeat were quickly determined, and the cold weapon scores appeared one by one, rising or falling.

”Sun Xiao, victorious!”

Sun Xiao walked out with a solemn face, having used every trick he had to defeat a No.7 High School martial artist within the Small Circle of Vital Energy who had slightly less Inner Energy than him. The gap in practical experience was indeed significant.

This was also related to the ethos of No.1 High School.

Emphasizing cultivation realms and cultural classes, spending a set amount of time on cold weapons was sufficient; any more would be wasteful and could be better invested elsewhere for a higher return.

Sun Xiao glanced back at the rankings; almost all of the top ten were from No.7 High School, with only himself barely holding onto ninth place. But encountering anyone with Great Achievement of Inner Qi was bound to push him down the ranks.

No.7 High School had more than a dozen martial artists with Great Achievement of Inner Qi—there weren’t even enough spots in the top ten for all of them.

”We can’t have No.1 High School missing from the top fifteen in the Inner Qi cold weapons assessment, can we?”

Sun Xiao smiled ruefully. That would be too embarrassing.

The surrounding classmates who had already fought were equally ashamed, some unable to meet others’ eyes. They hadn’t done as well as Sun Xiao; they hadn’t won a single battle within the same realm.

”Jiang Ding, can you do it? Even a top ten finish would be good. Otherwise, we’ll have no face to show.”

Sun Xiao and the others turned to look at Jiang Ding, who had always been the top when it came to cold weapons among those in the Inner Qi Realm, a position he’d held since freshman year.

”I’ll do my best.”

Jiang Ding nodded.

”It’s okay,”

Hua Bing interjected reassuringly, ”Even if Jiang Ding loses, I might not be able to beat Li Tie, but Gongsun Ling, Ding Qi, and Wu Tianli should be able to thrash the remaining Qi Practitioners from their school.”

```

”Pfft!”

The surrounding female students burst into laughter, their faces brightening considerably.

”Examinee number 1246215, Jiang Ding, please enter the examination area.”

”Examinee number 1572357, Wu Jinqian, please enter the examination area.”

Jiang Ding clicked to confirm.

In a blur, the world around him changed color as time seemed to turn.

Before him now was a lush bamboo forest, water droplets falling from the leaves, the fresh scent of grass and trees filled his nostrils, and in the distance, a bright red sun was rising above the horizon.

He reached out to pluck a bamboo leaf, feeling its slightly sharp edge and the dampness of water droplets.

”...such grandeur...”

Jiang Ding marveled at how real everything seemed—if he hadn’t been informed beforehand, he would have mistaken this for an actual world just like any Liyun Sect cultivator would have.

”Are you Jiang Ding?”

About ten meters away, an average-looking young man appeared, smiling. ”I heard your aptitude was exceptionally poor, that you begged and pleaded, stealing Jiang Jinxian’s Qinghua Yunji Elixir to enhance your talents. How come you’ve only reached the Small Circle of Vital Energy with your Inner Qi?”

”At your No.1 High School, that might be considered not bad. Unfortunately for you, you ran into me.”

Jiang Ding’s expression turned cold.

But he did not rush forward impulsively due to the provocation; instead, he stepped back, and with a few quick movements, he disappeared from everyone’s view.

The bamboo forest was left empty, with only one person remaining.

Wu Jinqian was stunned.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t have guessed that upon entering the examination area and uttering a single sentence, his opponent would vanish.

”You think you can use an optical camo suit to buy time?”

Wu Jinqian quickly realized what was happening and sneered, ”Have to say, it’s quite imaginative. But you’re being too fanciful. Who told you a camo suit could fool a Xianmen warrior...”

It was not regular camouflage but Scout Camouflage, a superior Magic Tool.

Just as a Qi Practitioner using a Flying Sword Magic Tool to crush an Inner Qi Martial Artist wouldn’t be considered unfair, being a scout was difficult, and that was the reason.

”Show yourself!”

Wu Jinqian bellowed, swinging his spear in a sweeping motion. Bamboo stalks shattered, and countless sharp fragments laced with Inner Energy sprayed in all directions.

Many bamboo stalks as large as bowls were pierced through, and the ground was littered with small holes. Within a radius of several meters, nowhere seemed fit for human survival.

Yet not a single figure could be seen, nor any semi-transparent silhouettes.

His brow finally furrowed.

He had to admit, though the opponent was weaker, he had indeed found the most effective way to cope.

If he continued to be unable to locate his opponent and the thirty minutes of the examination ran out, it would definitely be deemed a tie.

A tie with someone who had only reached the Small Circle of Vital Energy in Inner Qi would be too much of a loss of face for him.

”Let’s see where you can hide now!”

A malicious glint flickered in Wu Jinqian’s eyes as he swung his spear again, sending more bamboo shards flying in all directions. Before they could penetrate anything, he rushed forward, swinging his spear yet again, and even more fragments flew out.

Over and over.

He tore through the bamboo forest like a wild beast, leaving empty circles where dense stands once stood.

Outside,

Sun Xiao and the others watched with astonishment as the scenery in the sky unfolded.

Wu Jinqian was like a human excavator, constantly destroying the bamboo forest.

Not far behind him, Jiang Ding clutched his longsword as he watched the other quietly, shifting occasionally to dodge the flying shards, completely unhidden.

Yet Wu Jinqian, seemingly blind, noticed nothing, hacking away, never once looking back.

”Jiang Ding... how far has he mastered the Art of Small Concealment?” Hua Bing and the others came to realize, ”At least to the level of a Xianmen scout.”

The students from No.7 High School also grew serious.

In the proctoring room,

”Your student has done well in training the Art of Small Concealment,” remarked Jin Dazheng, the chief instructor of No.7 High School, with a touch of surprise and pity. ”The only thing is, his cultivation base is a bit too low. Wu Jinqian is not an idiot; he won’t keep wasting Inner Energy.”

”Not necessarily,” Zhang Dingjun said with a smile.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Amidst the flying bamboo leaves and debris, Wu Jinqian’s Inner Energy depleted by more than half, and he finally stopped, frustrated. ”If you have the guts, keep hiding!”

Whoosh!

A beam of sword light broke through the air, swift as lightning—so fast and silent that not even the gentle breeze was disturbed.

”How dare you!”

Wu Jinqian was overjoyed and thrust his spear forward. The spear’s light was focused and refined, with three prepared follow-up moves ready. If he could just touch his opponent a little, he could make the turtle realize what happens when it doesn’t stay tucked away!

The spear hit its mark.

The sword light scattered like a phantom, insubstantial, and the momentum of the spear wavered slightly.

Just a slight waver, imperceptible to the average person.

”Not good!”

Wu Jinqian’s expression changed as he caught a glimpse of a vague semi-transparent shadow in the corner of his eye. A brighter sword light stabbed through a small opening in his spear technique, easily penetrating his Inner Energy defense and stabbing deeply into his throat.

”Damn it...”

A strong sense of regret flooded Wu Jinqian. He was clearly stronger! The painful sensation came, and threads of Sword Qi followed his throat into his brain, turning it to mush, and his defensive spear drooped powerlessly.

```