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

Chapter 171 Ultimate Skill Team Battle, Breakthrough of the Rising Stars

After Lin Yi deliberately let those Abyss Beasts with a source energy level below 10000 get close, Liu Yuan soon faced off against a "Shadow Hunter" with a source energy level as high as 8900.

This is a cheetah-shaped abyssal beast covered in black scales that absorb light.

It is extremely fast, its attacks are unpredictable and tricky, and the shadow energy attached to its claws can erode the source energy shield.

Liu Yuan, wielding a longsword, was skilled in swordsmanship but unable to truly injure his opponent. Instead, within a dozen seconds, he himself was slashed in multiple places and was in grave danger.

Liu Yuan felt that if he hadn't made significant progress in challenging the Stardust-level training levels during this period, he might already be dead.

However, these improvements cannot change the fact that he is at a significant disadvantage.

After a near-miss, the Shadow Hunter appeared behind Liu Yuan like a ghost, its claws aimed straight for his back.

In that instant, Liu Yuan even felt the chill of death.

"Are you going to die?"

Do not!
The daily study of the Dongfeng inscription and the countless failures in the virtual space were suddenly catalyzed by the immense pressure of being on the brink of life and death.

At this moment, the key points that he couldn't understand on ordinary days were like a blocked river channel being washed away by a flood, and a sudden enlightenment surged into Liu Yuan's heart.

The source energy that was originally flowing smoothly within his body suddenly surged into the longsword in his hand in an unprecedented way and at an unprecedented speed, following some mysterious trajectory.

Immediately, the sword burst forth with a dazzling blue light, and an incomparably sharp aura soared into the sky.

"Azure Sky—Break!"

Liu Yuan turned around almost instinctively and thrust out his sword with a backhand motion.

There was no grand display, only a thin, hair-like cyan sword light that flashed and disappeared in an instant.

"puff!"

With a soft sound, the Shadow Hunter, who was about to deliver a fatal blow, suddenly froze.

A tiny hole appeared on its hard, black head.

The next moment, the fierce light in its eyes disappeared, and its massive body crashed to the ground, slowly turning into ashes.

One sword strike, a fatal blow.

Liu Yuan stood with his sword in hand, his face pale, but his eyes were filled with wild joy.

He succeeded!

At the critical moment of life and death, he finally unleashed the ultimate sword technique that Principal Lin had long ago given him, but which he had been unable to master for so long—the Azure Sky-Piercing Sword.

High in the sky, Lin Yi, who had been paying attention to this side, revealed a hint of relief in his eyes.

"Finally, someone has taken this step."

Lin Yi sighed inwardly.

Learning a special skill means more than just mastering a powerful killing move.

This also means that the student has truly touched the threshold of the "rules," understood the way to use a certain kind of power, and has the potential to climb to the Star Core level.

Now, a second person on Earth has finally grasped the essence of the rules.

How much earlier than recorded in previous lives?
In my memory, Liu Yuan said that he mastered the ultimate skill 20 years after the apocalypse.

Some things are completely different in difficulty depending on whether someone teaches them or not. Lin Yi estimated that since Liu Yuan could master it, it wouldn't be long before someone with similar talent could do the same, given the right amount of pressure.

While thinking, Lin Yi turned his attention to the other side of the battlefield. There, Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, Zhao Gang, Adams, and another student known for his defense, Sun Lei, were working together to deal with a "Lava Giant Rhinoceros" with a source energy level of 6500 points.

Each of these five trainees had an energy level between 2100 and 2300 points. Facing this behemoth alone was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

"Sun Lei! Zhao Gang! Hold the line! Not even for a second, we can't let it charge!" Zhou Yuxuan spoke very quickly. In the virtual space, he had seen this type of abyss beast. Once it charged, it was enough to instantly tear apart the defensive line formed by the five of them, and even affect the ordinary troops behind it.

"Understood!" Sun Lei roared, and he and Zhao Gang took a step forward at the same time.

Sun Lei held a massive alloy shield, frantically pouring in source energy, causing the shield's surface to glow with a thick, earthy-yellow light. Zhao Gang slammed his tower shield heavily onto the ground, his muscles bulging, and earthy-yellow source energy covered his entire body like armor.

The two stood like two mountains that suddenly rose from the ground, blocking the path of the lava rhinoceros's charge.

“Adams, interfere with its senses, especially its eyes,” Chen Yu added immediately.

"Leave it to me!" Adams' figure blurred as he spun rapidly around the head of the lava rhinoceros, thrusting his rapier forward repeatedly. Not to cause damage, but to shoot out sharp blades that precisely targeted the rhinoceros's bell-like eyes and spark-spitting nostrils, forcing it to constantly close its eyes and shake its head, disrupting its rhythm.

"Chen Yu, let's attack its weak point!" Zhou Yuxuan, who was in charge of the temporary command, made the decision instantly.

In the analysis of virtual space, this heavy abyss beast has extremely high defense, but the connection between its neck and body is relatively weak.

"Roar!" Enraged by Adams's harassment, the Lava Rhinoceros suddenly stood upright, its forelegs covered in scorching rock stomping down with tremendous force.

"boom!"

Sun Lei's alloy shield emitted a teeth-grinding twisting sound, and he and the shield were shaken and slid backward several meters, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Gang's tower shield sank deep into the ground. His arms trembled violently, and his tiger's mouth split open. But the two of them managed to withstand this terrifying blow by relying on their tacit cooperation and their strongest defense.

At the same time, Chen Yu and Zhou Yuxuan made their move.

Chen Yu poured all his source energy into his battle blade, causing it to burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light. He charged towards the giant rhinoceros, skimming the ground as it lifted its forelegs, towards the exposed area where its abdomen and neck met. His blade flashed like a dragon, unstoppable!

Zhou Yuxuan appeared like a ghost behind the giant rhinoceros.

He abandoned the short spike, clenched his hands loosely, and condensed and compressed his source energy at an unprecedented speed, eventually forming a rapidly spinning spiral spike. Then, he aimed at the giant rhinoceros's hind leg knee joint and fired it directly.

The lava rhinoceros let out a deafening roar of pain, its massive body tilting violently due to the injury to its hind leg joints, its raised feet unable to land steadily.

Then, Chen Yu's blade followed closely, slashing fiercely into the gap in the carapace below the giant rhinoceros's neck, which had been completely exposed due to its unstable footing.

"puff!"

Its massive body swayed a few times before finally crashing to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, and then fell silent.

The five of them reunited, panting. Chen Yu wiped the sweat from his face and grinned, "Damn, that was even more exciting than taking down that 4000-point 'Thunder Rhino' in Endless Mode!"

Zhao Gang shook his numb arm and said in a deep voice, "This guy is really strong! But, when we lift him together, it doesn't seem so scary."

Adams gracefully sheathed his sword, a reserved smile on his face: "Perfect rhythm, gentlemen."

High in the air, Lin Yi took in the whole scene and nodded slightly.

Teaming up to take on challenges beyond their level and being able to quickly summarize and reflect on their experiences is exactly what he hopes to see.

Individual bravery is important, but on the broader battlefields of the future, commanders and soldiers who know how to trust their teammates and are skilled at teamwork are equally important.

The battle continues; steel roars, energy flashes, and blood is spilled.

But on this brutal battlefield, the rising stars are growing and transforming at a visible pace.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, silently recorded each name, selecting the future pillars of Blue Star civilization.

(End of this chapter)