Chapter 79: Absolute First Place
After hunting down and killing more than twenty fleeing Moon Demon Wolves, Lin Lanyue and Wu Dongdong returned.
"Li Yuan, you're incredible!" Wu Dongdong exclaimed, marveling at the massive, now lifeless body of the Moon Demon Wolf King. "This Moon Demon Wolf King must be level 12."
"I thought we were going to have to save you," Wu Dongdong continued, baring her small white teeth in a grin. "But you managed to kill it even under the siege of the wolf pack? You're more impressive than I thought."
"Just luck," Li Yuan said with a smile.
"How are you? Not hurt?" Lin Lanyue crouched next to Li Yuan, her eyes scanning the bloodstains on his body, a hint of concern in her gaze.
"This blood is all from the Moon Demon Wolves," Li Yuan shook his head, smiling. "I'm just a bit exhausted."
Their faces were quite close for a moment.
"If you two hadn't come, with so many Moon Demon Wolves left, I might have had to call for help," Li Yuan changed the subject discreetly.
"We were just lucky," Lin Lanyue smiled and stood up. Seeing that Li Yuan was indeed fine, she let go of her worries.
"Hey, Li Yuan. I really think you're lucky, encountering the Wolf King," Wu Dongdong sighed softly. "I can't catch up to your score now. The 2 million Blue Star Coins are yours. You owe me a big meal."
"Is that so?" Li Yuan smiled and looked down at the ranking on his locator bracelet:
1-Li Yuan, 188 points
2-Wu Dongdong, 129 points
3-Lin Lanyue, 94 points
4-Wang Yu, 76 points
5-Tian Dazhuang, 66 points ...
Li Yuan's score was originally only a dozen points ahead of Wu Dongdong. But after this battle, he had far surpassed her. The key was the final Wolf King, whose life level exceeded 12.0, giving Li Yuan a full 50 points.
"Yue Yue, should we go find more Moon Demon Wolves?" Wu Dongdong turned to Lin Lanyue.
"Li Yuan is a bit exhausted. I'll stay here with him," Lin Lanyue said. "We don't want another Moon Demon Wolf pack to appear."
"No need," Li Yuan said. "I'll rest for a bit, and I can still fight at most of my strength. You two continue the trial."
"Li Yuan, it's not just about staying with you," Lin Lanyue smiled. "We've been fighting for over six hours. We're tired too."
"Besides, there's only half an hour left until the test ends. Do you think our rankings will drop out of the top ten?"
"As long as we're in the top ten, the rewards are the same," Lin Lanyue said seriously.
Li Yuan was at a loss for words and couldn't argue further.
"Alright then."
"Yue Yue, I'll listen to you," Wu Dongdong said, spreading her hands and shrugging, then plunging her spear heavily into the ground and sitting down. "I can't surpass Li Yuan anyway. Let's wait for the test to end together."
The three of them stayed put.
Li Yuan rested while observing his divine palace panel.
_____
[Life Level: 8.9 (Not yet entered stage)]
Physical Fitness Index: 93 (A comprehensive measure of explosive power, endurance, speed, constitution, mental power, etc.)
Punching Force: 991 kg
Speed: 19.9 m/s
Mental Power: 15.1
Spiritual Awakening Level: 12.8% (Current max 20%, can guide source energy into the body once)
Body Training Method: "Rock Solid Training Method"
Mind Training Method: "Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra"
Skill Realm: Spear Technique (Stage 4, 4%), Footwork (Stage 4, 1%), Fist Technique (Stage 4, 7%)
[Note: Spiritual awakening at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% will progressively provide spiritual guidance.]
...
The over six-hour field test, especially the fierce battle with the Moon Demon Wolf King, had led to Li Yuan's footwork breaking through to stage four, marking his overall martial arts skills entering the fourth stage. His spear and fist techniques had also improved slightly.
However, Li Yuan was most concerned about his spiritual awakening level: "Awakening level 10%, source energy into the body?"
This change was something he had never considered before. At this moment, calming his mind, Li Yuan vaguely sensed a certain transformation inside his spiritual palace, waiting for him to explore.
"I'll try it alone after the test ends," Li Yuan thought.
Half an hour later.
"Beep~" "Beep~" The locator bracelets on the three of them vibrated slightly, reminding them that the field test had ended.
"Second place, second place!" Wu Dongdong exclaimed with a laugh. "Yue Yue, when I get my flying motorcycle, I'll take you for a ride."
"Alright, I'll be waiting," Lin Lanyue smiled.
Li Yuan smiled at the scene. A flying motorcycle? That would be a bit extravagant for him.
Eight minutes later.
"Boom!" A small aircraft descended rapidly, its hatch opening to swiftly pick up Li Yuan, Lin Lanyue, and Wu Dongdong, heading towards the war fortress.
...
The aircraft soon arrived at the metal plaza outside the war fortress, where dozens of other aircraft had already landed. Students were constantly disembarking from the aircraft.
Li Yuan, Lin Lanyue, and Wu Dongdong disembarked, carrying their weapons.
"Yue Yue, Li Yuan, look over there," Wu Dongdong pointed into the distance.
There was a row of stretchers covered with white cloth.
"Bodies?" Li Yuan's pupils shrank slightly, and he felt a pang of emotion.
Eight stretchers, representing eight bodies. Although they had been informed about the death rate of the field test, seeing it in person still made Li Yuan feel a bit sad. In the morning, these companions were alive and well. By afternoon, they had become cold corpses?
Li Yuan was still a seventeen-year-old boy. The joy of winning first place in the field test was largely dispelled.
"The field test was just a skirmish with some weak Astral Realm creatures, and it was already so dangerous with so many deaths," Li Yuan thought to himself. "What about the future?"
"Will I also die on the battlefield someday?" Li Yuan unconsciously gripped his spear tighter.
Strength!
He needed more strength to ensure his survival.
...
"Li Yuan, you might be approached by the military base's commander," Lin Lanyue whispered suddenly.
"Me?" Li Yuan was puzzled.
"Yes," Lin Lanyue's voice was low, only audible to the two of them. "If they offer you something reasonable, accept it first to get the benefits."
"Benefits?" Li Yuan was even more puzzled. Wasn't the reward 2 million Blue Star Coins? What other benefits could there be?
But with many eyes around, Li Yuan didn't ask further. He followed the team to the distance.
"Look, Li Yuan is here!"
"The first place in the field test."
"188 points, amazing! He must have killed over a hundred Moon Demon Wolves."
"That's incredible." Many students noticed Li Yuan approaching, their eyes full of admiration.
Li Yuan was already quite famous. With his decisive first place in the field test, his reputation soared even higher. Many students watched his score rise rapidly, especially in the last hour.
The score represented the number of enemies killed! It indicated that Li Yuan had likely faced a siege from the Moon Demon Wolves and had survived till the end, earning everyone's respect.
"Li Yuan is awesome! If I were as strong as him, my dad would praise me for peeing on his head."
"I fought hard to kill 5, almost got injured, and he killed about 180!"
"Don't talk about it. I killed 8, but in the last ten minutes, I ran into a wolf pack... and my score dropped to 4. Failed the test!"
"Li Yuan is fierce, and Wu Dongdong too."
"Is that beautiful girl beside Li Yuan, Lin Lanyue? She's in third place, even higher than Wang Yu."
Compared to Li Yuan and Wu Dongdong, Lin Lanyue was less well-known, but her beauty added to her fame.
In the bustling crowd.
"Li Yuan, you're amazing." Gu Qianghan suddenly charged over from a distance, punching Li Yuan's chest excitedly. "You even beat Wu Dongdong! That tyrant couldn't beat you, you're my brother!"
Li Yuan was stunned, motioning to Gu Qianghan with his eyes.
Lin Lanyue gave a sly smile.
"What?" Gu Qianghan hadn't realized.
"Gu! Qiang! Han!" Wu Dongdong emerged from behind Li Yuan, her face furious, her eyes wide like bells.
"Oh no, Dongdong, you're here?" Gu Qianghan's eyes almost popped out, and he turned to run.
"Thud~"
Wu Dongdong tackled him to the ground, shouting, "Sister, Li Yuan, help me."
Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue exchanged smiles and walked away.
...
Ten minutes later.
Nearly a thousand students, regardless of whether they passed the test, gathered in the plaza, their eyes on the podium.
"First, I ask all students to observe a minute of silence for the eight fallen classmates," the tall, thin officer surnamed Ji said slowly, his gaze sweeping over the students.
All the students' eyes dimmed.
A minute of silence.
For a long minute, the vast plaza was silent, only the sound of the wind blowing.
"Opportunities for real combat training are rare," Officer Ji continued. "In the future, if you enter the battlefield, it will be ten times, a hundred times more dangerous than today."
"I hope you all will reflect on today's experience and train harder, so that in the future, there will be fewer sacrifices."
"I also wish you all to become source warriors soon, truly becoming the blade of human civilization!"
"Next, congratulations to the 293 students who successfully passed the field test," Officer Ji said. "Finally, special commendations to Li Yuan, Wu Dongdong, Lin Lanyue... and the other top ten students."
All the students listened attentively.
After a pause, Officer Ji continued, "Especially Li Yuan, who, alone, managed to kill the level 12 Wolf King under the siege of the Moon Demon Wolves. This was the only case in the entire test, and he is specially commended."
Instantly, there were exclamations of awe.
Even though many had speculated based on Li Yuan's soaring score, hearing it confirmed was still shocking.
A level 12 Astral Realm creature!
Most students knew that Li Yuan's physical attributes weren't particularly remarkable.
"Li Yuan, you're really famous now, more so than Tian Dazhuang and the tyrant," a bruised Gu Qianghan whispered.
"Keep your voice down, or you'll get beaten again," Li Yuan smiled.
Gu Qianghan instinctively shrank his neck.
"Fame?" Li Yuan thought to himself, not caring much about fame.
He was thinking about when he would receive the 2 million Blue Star Coin reward.
Secure the bag first!
...
After the ceremony, all the students boarded the vehicles in order to return.
Li Yuan and Tian Dazhuang, however, were invited by two officers into a meeting room in a small building next to the plaza.
"Just me and Tian Dazhuang?" Li Yuan thought, recalling Lin Lanyue's reminder.
"Li Yuan, this way," the guiding officer smiled. "Tian Dazhuang, your room is next door."
Li Yuan nodded, feeling calm.
Entering the room.
Li Yuan immediately saw the tall, thin officer who had spoken earlier sitting inside.
"Li Yuan, hello. My name is Ji. I am the head of this war fortress base," Officer Ji said with a smile. "Congratulations on achieving first place in the field test."
"Please, have a seat."
"The head?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised.
According to the video Lin Lanyue had shown, there was only one war fortress in the entire Astral Realm.
In other words, the person in front of him was the head of the entire Moon Demon Star Realm?
His authority was undoubtedly immense!
"Hello, Senior Ji," Li Yuan said respectfully, taking a seat.
In the martial world, those who were strong and older were respectfully addressed as seniors.
"Do you know why we didn't call Wu Dongdong?" Officer Ji smiled.
Li Yuan shook his head.
Not only Wu Dongdong, but also Wang Yu wasn't called.
"I've read your file. The title of 'young hero' is very rare. You have a strong sense of justice."
"You have high talent and are excellent in combat."
"Would you be willing to join our military?" Officer Ji asked with a smile. "Our military loves combat geniuses with a sense of justice like you."
"In my eyes, out of all the students this time, you are the absolute number one! Wu Dongdong and the others are far behind you," Officer Ji said firmly.
Li Yuan was stunned.
Absolute number one? They think so highly of me?
...
Next door.
"Tian Dazhuang, you are very outstanding. Coming from an ordinary family, you have trained incredibly hard and truly changed your family's fate," the burly officer surnamed Wang said.
Tian Dazhuang's eyes showed a rare hint of pride.
"Just from your file, I admire you... In my eyes, you are the absolute number one among these students, far surpassing Li Yuan."
Officer Wang spoke sincerely, "Would you be willing to join our military?"
"You will receive the best training our military can offer."