Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 146 This is truly looking down on people.

"Damn it. What happened? At least let me see!"

Chen Yu was filled with immense curiosity and an indescribable sense of frustration.

He knew the gap in skill level was enormous, and being instantly defeated was inevitable.

But the crucial point is, they didn't even know how they died.
It's like playing an online game. You just enter a dungeon and see the final boss, then the screen goes black and it says "You have died." You didn't even see what skills the boss used. What's the point of playing like that?

He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

"Watching Yi Ge fight the Abyss Beasts is really exciting, and I always cheer '666'. But now that it's my turn to get beaten up, it's not exciting at all."

He shook his head. "Sigh, forget it. I can't fathom the level of Brother Yi right now. I'd better just follow the course requirements."

This time, Chen Yu chose the "Challenge Training Level".

The virtual screen content changed again.

[Basic Level Training]

There are 7 levels, but only the first level is highlighted and selectable. The remaining levels 2 to 7 are all grayed out and locked.

Stardust-level training is always in a grayed-out, locked state.

Chen Yu was not surprised.

"As expected, we can only start from the first level. That's the right way to go, step by step."

His inner gamer's thirst for exploration was reignited, and he muttered to himself.

"I'll clear the seven basic levels first, and once I'm stronger, I'll see how Brother Yi really makes his move."

Without further delay, Chen Yu focused his mind and chose the first basic level.

However, the pure white space in front of me did not change immediately; instead, a clear prompt box popped up first:
Please select the weapon to use in this challenge.

Several simple icons appear below: a sword, a longsword, a spear, gauntlets, and a bow and arrow.

"Oh? You can choose your weapon?"

"Why didn't Yi Ge give me a prompt to choose during the challenge? Did he think it wouldn't make a difference whether I chose it or not?"

While complaining, Chen Yu habitually chose his most frequently used battle knife.

Then, he felt a weight in his hand, and a simple-looking standard-issue combat knife instantly appeared in his hand, with a weight and texture that were simulated quite realistically.

After the weapon selection is complete, another notification message pops up:
[Level Information]

Opponent parameters: 200 energy points, no weapon, no martial arts skills.

Challenge requirements: Survive for 10 seconds without being defeated by the opponent's attacks.

Chen Yu stared at the words for a moment, then almost laughed in anger.

"Also 200 points of source energy? And he's a 'blank slate' who's unarmed and doesn't use any martial arts skills? The challenge requirement is just to survive 10 seconds against him?"

These conditions are so simple they're almost insulting!

Chen Yu was, after all, one of the best graduates of the first cohort of Dongfeng, with a Source Energy level of 200 points, rich combat experience, and the ability to take on elite Abyss Beasts one-on-one. Yet, facing an opponent of equal energy level who had restricted most of his abilities, he only let me last 10 seconds?

The frustration of being instantly defeated by that "full-power" Lin Yi mirror image just now has transformed into strong confidence.

He even felt that the first challenge was set up in a way that was a bit too condescending.

Then, he thought for a moment, "It seems these training levels start from the lowest and gradually increase in difficulty. That makes sense; usually, the early levels in games are free."

"Alright, let's get off to a good start and build some confidence."

Then, without further hesitation, he said to the little elf, "I'm ready to begin the challenge."

"Command confirmed. The first stage of basic training is about to begin. Good luck."

The familiar scene shifted again; the pure white space faded, and the huge cyan arena and the surrounding void reappeared.

On the opposite side of the arena, the mirror image of Lin Yi, dressed in training clothes and with a calm expression, reappeared. "Damn! It's Yi-ge again?"

Chen Yu was instantly startled.

Although he knew the numbers were the same and the opponent couldn't use martial arts, Chen Yu was still very nervous because the shadow of being instantly killed hadn't completely dissipated.

His eyes were fixed on Lin Yi's reflection, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.

At the same time, he gripped the battle sword tightly, adjusted all his muscles and energy to their best state, and assumed his most familiar starting stance.

This time, he was determined to avoid mistakes rather than seek merit, and to defend with all his might. Surviving 10 seconds would be victory.

The countdown above the ring reappeared:
3
2
1
The instant the number "1" disappeared—

Chen Yu's pupils suddenly contracted!
Lin Yi's mirror image on the opposite side did not have any fancy preparatory movements, just the simplest push-off!
"Oh!"

A very faint sonic boom rang out on the arena; it was the sound of someone moving at extreme speed, stepping on the air.

A flash of azure energy light appeared beneath the mirror's feet, and its figure transformed into a blurry afterimage that was almost impossible to detect with the naked eye. In an instant, it traversed a distance of ten meters and appeared directly in front of Chen Yu.

This speed far exceeded Chen Yu's understanding of the limits that "200 points of source energy" could unleash.

"too fast!"

Chen Yu was shocked, but his combat instincts, honed over this period, still made him react almost instinctively.

He didn't have time to think. He channeled his energy into his sword and, relying on his instincts, delivered a powerful vertical slash to the charging figure.

This strike is not intended to injure the enemy, but only to force them back, gaining time to catch their breath and adjust their stance.

This is his most common way of dealing with enemies who are advancing at high speed.

However, what happened next almost brought Chen Yu's mind to a standstill.

Faced with this fierce vertical slash, Lin Yi's calm face remained completely unmoved.

He didn't dodge or block; he simply raised his right hand seemingly casually, his index and middle fingers interlaced, the tips enveloped in a layer of condensed, azure-blue energy light, and flicked it lightly at the side of the whistling battle blade.

"when--!"

A clear, melodious sound, like the clash of metal and stone, rang out.

Chen Yu felt an overwhelming force that was completely irresistible coming from the blade. His hands, which were gripping the hilt tightly, went numb instantly, and the entire sword swung wildly to one side uncontrollably.

The middle door is wide open!

Lin Yi's mirror image's right hand, after deflecting the battle blade, continued its trajectory without the slightest pause, swinging forward smoothly.

The movements were simple, direct, and even somewhat nonchalant.

The finger, wreathed in blue light, gently brushed across his throat.

Immediately, everything went black.

All senses were once again stripped away.

"Challenge failed. Time taken: 1.5 seconds."

The cold system notification sound pulled him back to reality.

He returned to that pure white initial space, the battle sword in his hand had disappeared, and the little sprite floated quietly.

Chen Yu stood there blankly, unable to recover for a long time.

Two seconds
It only took two seconds from start to finish.

He, a first-term student of Dongfeng with 200 points of source energy and rich experience, couldn't even last a single move against Lin Yi's mirror image, who was of equal energy, unarmed, and without using any martial arts skills. He was "killed" in less than two seconds.

Recalling the lightning-fast exchange just now, Chen Yu broke out in a cold sweat.

It wasn't a matter of overwhelming strength or speed, but a despairing gap on another level.

(End of this chapter)