Chapter 77: Awakening Reaches 10%, First Activation
Before Dong Haifeng could respond.
"Roar~" Two of the larger Moon Demon Wolves in the pack let out a low growl, ignoring Dong Haifeng completely, and began to flee.
"Howl~" "Howl~" The other Moon Demon Wolves hurriedly followed suit.
These Moon Demon Wolves were bloodthirsty but not stupid.
"Trying to run?"
"These are all points. You can't get away." Li Yuan's eyes narrowed, his legs instantly exerting force. His strong legs pushed off a large rock, propelling him several meters into the air, turning into a phantom chasing the fleeing Moon Demon Wolves.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!" The spear shadow continuously flickered, the spear in Li Yuan's hand seeming almost alive, suddenly bursting with incredible power.
"Bang~" "Bang~" "Bang~" One by one, the Moon Demon Wolves were caught by Li Yuan, their heads pierced directly by the spear.
As an advanced weapon, Li Yuan's spear was extremely sharp, with enough hardness and toughness.
In just over ten seconds.
More than ten of the twenty-odd fleeing Moon Demon Wolves were killed by Li Yuan. The rest scattered early, fleeing in panic through the ravine and forest, disappearing from Li Yuan's sight.
The forested wasteland, over a hundred meters long, was littered with wolf corpses, blood splattered everywhere, a shocking sight.
"They actually run?" Li Yuan muttered, stopping the chase.
Boom!
A few seconds later, Dong Haifeng, panting heavily, ran up to Li Yuan, unable to help but say, "Li Yuan, thanks."
"Thanks for what?" Li Yuan smiled.
"You saved me." Dong Haifeng said seriously.
"I should thank you." Li Yuan smiled faintly. "You lured them here; otherwise, I would have had to spend more effort finding them."
Dong Haifeng was taken aback.
"Hmm?" Li Yuan glanced at his positioning wristband, where the practical assessment data had already been updated:
Points: 46
Rank: 1
Note: Practical assessment target achieved.
"That Moon Demon Wolf was level 10.8, giving me 10 points for the kill?" Li Yuan smiled, thinking, "Well, at least I'm back in first place."
With the intelligence provided by Lin Lanyue and Li Yuan's own strength, his points skyrocketed.
However, every time he reached first place, 'Wu Dongdong' would quickly catch up.
"Wu Dongdong, 42 points?" Li Yuan opened the 'light screen' on his smart watch and saw the detailed rankings:
First: Li Yuan, 46 points
Second: Wu Dongdong, 42 points
Third: Lin Lanyue, 40 points
Fourth: Wang Yu, 32 points
...
Most students had less than 10 points, with fewer than 50 reaching 10 points.
Moreover, Li Yuan noticed that the number of participants had decreased to 745.
This indicated that more than 200 students had already ended their practical assessment.
Life-and-death combat wasn't easy for most elite students.
"Dong Haifeng, keep it up. You still have a chance to make it into the top 100," Li Yuan smiled, glancing at the stunned Dong Haifeng. "I'll be going now."
With a quick glance to orient himself, Li Yuan headed deeper into the 'Moon Demon Wolf No. 8 gathering area.'
According to the information, there should be more Moon Demon Wolves in a gathering area.
It's known that.
The Moon Demon Wolves in the practical assessment area were captured by the military base and fed regularly, so their numbers were significant.
Watching Li Yuan disappear into the forest.
Dong Haifeng stood in place, silent for a long time, before sighing, "I fear Li Yuan never saw me as an opponent."
"First place?"
"Lin Lanyue, third place?" Dong Haifeng's eyes dimmed as he looked at their rankings on his smart wristband.
"I've been a fool."
...
Saving Dong Haifeng?
Though he had inexplicably shown a trace of dislike and hostility on the way to Jiangbei Martial Arts University, Li Yuan never paid it any mind.
What could the so-called malice between classmates amount to?
How could it affect him?
...
In the war fortress of the Moon Demon Astral Realm, in the top floor's large meeting room.
Many officers were watching the dense projections on the meeting room's light screens.
"Too weak."
The burly officer shook his head. "These are just the most ordinary Moon Demon Wolves, with few advanced ones. In just a few hours, a quarter of the participants called for help."
"Look at that kid. His skills and physical fitness are good, but he can't fully utilize his sword techniques, being forced to retreat step by step." The burly officer pointed to one of the screens, shaking his head and sighing.
"Old Wang."
A tall, thin senior officer beside him laughed, "They're just kids. They've experienced many virtual battles, but you and I both know that real combat and virtual battles are completely different."
"The mindset alone is different," the tall, thin officer said. "In virtual battles, no matter how realistic the simulation, they know they won't get injured or die, so they're not afraid."
"In real combat, a single mistake can mean death or injury. It's normal to be hesitant the first time."
"After a few more real combats, they'll be fine."
Officer Wang shook his head and sighed, "I'm just anxious watching them."
Suddenly.
"Old Wang, look at that kid. Isn't he doing well?" The tall, thin officer pointed to one of the screens. "He's so calm, and his spear technique is beautiful."
"Even though his physical fitness is weaker, he dares to fight the advanced Moon Demon Wolf up close."
The screen showed Li Yuan saving Dong Haifeng and fighting a large group of Moon Demon Wolves.
"Oh?" Officer Wang looked over, his eyes brightening, and he couldn't help but nod. "Indeed, very good!"
Judging from the speed, they both could tell that Li Yuan's physical fitness wasn't very impressive.
Around level 9.
But in close combat, Li Yuan's every move, every strike with the spear, was frighteningly precise.
The Moon Demon Wolf leader, despite having far greater strength, was no match.
"Called Li Yuan?"
The tall, thin officer quickly checked the records, smiling. "Physical fitness at level 8.9? Spear technique at stage four? He's reached first place."
"The other students with better physical fitness and skills are hesitant in combat, their mental fortitude not as strong as his."
"Plus, he's been lucky, encountering more Moon Demon Wolves along the way," the tall, thin officer said.
"With such strength, it's normal to reach first place." Officer Wang laughed. "I like practical combat geniuses."
As soldiers on the front lines of war, they valued actual performance over 'paper strength.'
In their eyes, the strength one could actually demonstrate was what mattered.
"Old Ji, check his detailed records." Officer Wang said.
"Alright."
The tall, thin officer quickly clicked on the control panel in front of him, soon bringing up Li Yuan's detailed records.
"Ordinary family background."
"Oh? He was awarded the title of 'Youth Hero.' Old Wang, look at this."
"Youth Hero?" Officer Wang was even more surprised, looking at the records.
After reading for over ten seconds.
Suddenly, the two officers looked up simultaneously, smiling as if they had a tacit understanding.
"Well?"
"Give him a spot," Officer Wang grinned. "We didn't give out any spots last year, and we got scolded for it."
"I don't like giving these spots to those rich kids. Do they need it? Even if we give it, they won't appreciate it."
"This Li Yuan, though part of the Starlight Martial Hall and not joining our military, has achieved this much with his background. He fits my temperament."
"Moreover, anyone who can earn the title of Youth Hero must have good character," Officer Wang listed several reasons.
"Agreed."
"I also think he's good," the tall, thin officer nodded. "There's another one I think is good."
"Tian Dazhuang?" Officer Wang asked.
"You noticed him too?"
"Yes, his combat mindset is a bit weaker than Li Yuan's, but he was specially recruited by the Martial Arts Bureau. Maybe we can try inviting him to join our military."
...
Time passed.
In the 100-kilometer-long and wide practical assessment area, with its continuous mountains, many students were constantly fighting star realm creatures.
Many Moon Demon Wolves died.
Students were continuously forced to seek help, and with the combat drones' speed, they usually arrived within ten seconds to kill attacking Moon Demon Wolves.
However, no matter how fast the rescue, or how well the protective clothing shielded vital areas, occasionally, students were still injured or even killed.
This was unavoidable.
By 3 PM.
Less than 200 students remained in the practical assessment area.
In a rocky wasteland on the eastern side of Blade Mountain.
"Roar~" "Howl~"
"Roar!" Moon Demon Wolves roared, trying to surround a black-armored youth in the center.
Many Moon Demon Wolf corpses lay scattered on the ground.
The bloodshed was intense.
The black-armored youth stood in the center, unshaken by the tide of attacking Moon Demon Wolves.
His spear wasn't fast, but every strike was incredibly precise.
One by one, the Moon Demon Wolves fell.
He stood like a rock, unmoved by the assault of over a hundred Moon Demon Wolves.
"Roar~" On a distant rock, a large Moon Demon Wolf, over three meters long and nearly 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder, growled anxiously, staring at the black-armored youth.
It couldn't understand why the young alien before it, whose life force wasn't strong, was so terrifying.
Even it didn't dare to act rashly.
"Not sure if I should call it bad luck or good fortune."
"I actually encountered the 'No. 1 pack' mentioned in the intelligence." Li Yuan's mind was calm, his eyes cold. "A 12.1-level wolf king, three wolves over level 10, and over a hundred ordinary Moon Demon Wolves."
This force was enough to make ordinary advanced martial artists flee.
Li Yuan wanted to escape, but he couldn't.
In terms of running speed, his physical fitness wasn't great.
In the past 20-plus minutes of pursuit, Li Yuan had killed over 20 Moon Demon Wolves, including one advanced one.
In the end, he was surrounded.
"However, continuous killing has made my spiritual awakening skyrocket." Li Yuan thought, his eyes cold.
"[... Spiritual awakening reached 9.7%]"
"[... Spiritual awakening reached 9.9%]" As more Moon Demon Wolves fell, notifications kept flashing on the Divine Palace panel.
Suddenly, with another spear strike, two more notifications flashed in the corner of Li Yuan's vision.
"[... Spiritual awakening reached 10%]"
"[Spiritual awakening has reached 10%, allowing one-time source energy infusion]"
"Hmm? Source energy infusion? What's this? Isn't there supposed to be a spiritual guide at 25% spiritual awakening?" Li Yuan was startled.
Before Li Yuan could think more.
"Roar~"
On the distant rock, the large Moon Demon Wolf king finally couldn't hold back. With a low growl, it leaped, charging like lightning.