Gao Wu: If this BOSS isn't nerfed, is it even playable?

Chapter 144 Entry Assessment: Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique!
The fighter jets cut through the clouds and flew steadily over Ninghai Province's capital.

Looking down through the porthole, Lin Ye saw a huge basin surrounded by mountains.

This basin is only one or two hundred kilometers away from the main urban area of ​​Ninghai.

In the center of the basin, there is not nothing but a lush and well-arranged group of buildings.

The plane began its descent.

Shortly after, the fighter jet landed on a flat area between the mountains in the basin.

The moment the hatch opened, a surge of pure and abundant energy rushed out.

[Ding! External energy injection detected. You have gained 4 experience points!]

The system sent a notification after just one breath.

Lin Ye's spirits lifted.

This energy is source energy.

But it was completely different from the violent and primal source crystal energy he encountered in the occupied territories.

The energy source here is as docile as a sheep, completely free of poison and radiation, making it suitable for all martial artists to cultivate!
"Such a rich source of energy..."

"I had heard before that the training camp was built on a huge energy conversion array, I didn't expect it to be true!"

"One day of cultivation here is probably equivalent to three or four days outside!"

"A sacred place for cultivation! No wonder my dad said that even if a dog were thrown into a training camp, it would still be able to open its meridians successfully after a month!"

"Hahaha……"

The other nine people traveling with them also felt the uniqueness of this place, and their faces showed shock and ecstasy.

The atmosphere became much more relaxed, and they even started joking around.

Beneath their feet lay a vast alloy helipad, and in the distance, the main gate of the training camp stood majestically.

Behind the gate are pavilions and towers arranged in a staggered manner, nestled among lush green trees, where the ancient and modern technologies blend perfectly, exuding an extraordinary atmosphere.

Just as everyone was filled with anticipation, a figure walked over from not far away.

The newcomer was dressed in a crisp, specially made military uniform, with no rank insignia on his shoulders and his armbands were not the standard type, but rather special badges.

On the badge, atop a majestic mountain, a burning star rises.

The Ninghai military even established separate organizational structures and military regulations for all the training instructors who participated in the Qiming Generals Training Camp!
The officer was tall and had a resolute face. He walked with a powerful stride, and although he did not exude any imposing aura, he gave people a sense of oppression like a mountain.

The man's gaze swept over Lin Ye and his group of ten with lightning speed.

Lin Ye felt a slight chill run down his spine.

Such terrifying fluctuations in qi and blood, far exceeding Shi Ruifeng's, possibly indicating that he has already reached the late stage of the Condensation Realm!

It might even be the peak of the Condensation Realm!
"Fellow students."

"My name is Zhou Yan, and I am your guiding instructor."

After a brief self-introduction, he pointed to the magnificent main gate.

"Do you see that door?"

Everyone nodded.

"Very good." Zhou Yan's lips curled into a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown.

"That's not for you to leave."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned.

Soon, some people showed their dissatisfaction.

They assumed that the instructors were treating them differently because they had only been selected to enter the training camp.

Zhou Yan seemed to see through their thoughts and added calmly, "Don't worry, it's not just targeting you winners of the selection."

"No one who participates in the training camp this year, regardless of their background or origin, is qualified to enter through the main entrance."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around.

"Follow."

Although the group was puzzled and even felt a bit aggrieved, they could only suppress their emotions and follow.

Zhou Yan led the group around to the side of a mountain and stopped in front of an inconspicuous rock face.

He raised his hand and pressed it on a spot on the rock face.

hum-

Accompanied by a low, mechanical hum, the hard rock wall slid open to both sides, revealing a deep, dark metal passage.

The passageway was dimly lit, filled with a cold, metallic feel, and the air felt oppressive.

Zhou Yan walked in without looking back.

Lin Ye and the others followed behind, feeling the road beneath their feet constantly tilting downwards.

A few minutes later, the view suddenly opened up.

They arrived at an incredibly vast underground space.

The entire space was of unknown size, with a dome so high that it seemed to reach the top. The walls and floor on all sides were made of an unknown alloy that shone with a dark light, forming a seamless whole without any visible seams.

Despite the vast and open space, it was filled with a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere.

Lin Ye's gaze sharpened, as if he had returned to the venue where he had participated in the practical test during the mock exam.

His intuition told him that there was more to this place than met the eye.

Dozens of people were already standing in the very center of the huge square.

These men and women were dressed differently and had different expressions.

Some had arrogant expressions, looking down on everyone around them.

Some remained silent as an abyss, closing their eyes to rest, as if isolated from the world.

Others gathered together, talking in hushed tones, forming their own little circle.

Without exception, when Lin Ye and his group of ten appeared, all forty pairs of eyes turned towards them.

A mixture of emotions: scrutiny, curiosity, and disdain.

Lin Ye and his group of ten silently merged into the crowd.

His spiritual energy quietly spread out, sweeping over the others.

The next moment, Lin Ye's mind also became a little more serious.

They truly deserve to be among the top fifty selected from tens of millions of martial arts reserves in Ninghai Province.

Everyone present possessed extremely profound and refined qi and blood fluctuations.

Even the weakest one has reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm, just one step away from entering the late stage.

In terms of skill level alone, Lin Ye felt that he was at the bottom of the pack.

Lin Ye's gaze lingered for a moment longer on the few people at the very front of the crowd.

【LV33】、【LV29】【LV30】

All three were standing at the front of the line, which meant that according to the training camp's rankings, they were also among the top.

The highest-ranking person was tall and strong, wearing a suit of silver-purple armor and carrying a large halberd on his back, exuding an aura of unfathomable power.

His vital energy had undergone a qualitative change, and every move he made carried a subtle yet sharp edge.

Lin Ye had experienced that feeling with Shi Ruifeng.

This is... the aura of malevolent energy!

Lin Ye understood.

It seems that the system's certification level of 30 and above represents the martial arts realm reaching the third stage of Condensing Qi.

No wonder Wang Lingchuan told himself that many prodigies had emerged in the province this year.

He is the same age as me, but his cultivation level has already reached the third realm. He truly deserves the title of a prodigy.

Just as Lin Ye was secretly assessing everyone's strength.

An alloy wall in front of the test field rippled like water, and a door silently appeared.

Three figures emerged from it.

The eyes of fifty geniuses instantly focused.

The leader was dressed in a loose-fitting, specially made military uniform. He was tall and had a ponytail with a few strands of hair hanging down beside his face.

Her features were delicate, but she had little expression, and her eyes carried a lazy and weary look, as if she hadn't woken up yet, and seemed to have no interest in anything in the world.

Standing to her left was a man with a tall and straight figure, like an ancient pine tree.

The man had sharp, defined features and eyes so piercing they seemed to see right through you.

On the right is a woman with a gentle and refined temperament. She has a faint smile on her face, and her eyes are so captivating that they make people feel warm and comfortable.

The three people have completely different temperaments, yet they form a wonderful balance.

The clamor in the room vanished the moment they appeared.

The lazy female officer with a ponytail at the head of the group glanced at the fifty people in the room, and a hint of impatience appeared in her seemingly lifeless eyes.

She yawned before slowly speaking.

"Yin Liulan".

"Unfortunately, he is the head instructor of your training camp this year."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

What does "very unfortunate" mean?

Is it our misfortune, or her own?
This opening was quite unexpected.

Before anyone could react, the cold-faced man beside Yin Liulan spoke, his voice steady and hoarse.

"Nie Cang, Comprehensive Combat Instructor."

It is concise and to the point, with not a single extra word.

Finally, the gentle female instructor stepped forward, her smile unwavering, her voice soft and pleasant.

"Don't be nervous, everyone. The fact that you can stand here means that you are all the elite of the elite."

"My name is Su Yunjin. I am mainly responsible for training everyone in battlefield first aid, identification and classification of the Tianyuan alien race, and survival skills in a source energy pollution environment."

"After entering the camp, there will inevitably be competition among everyone, but I sincerely hope that everyone can cherish life, whether it is their own or that of their opponent."

The three people finished introducing themselves.

Su Yunjin took the lead and gently clapped her hands.

"Everyone is welcome."

Nie Cang, standing beside her, raised his hand expressionlessly and clapped stiffly twice.

As for the head instructor, Yin Liulan, he was even more perfunctory, merely raising his hand and waving it as if he were clapping.

The fifty geniuses in the audience also joined in the applause, making the atmosphere much more enthusiastic.

Among the crowd, a young man with an extraordinary demeanor, who looked like a scion of a prominent family, spoke up loudly:
"Thank you for your guidance, instructors. We will do our best to live up to your expectations!"

His voice was loud and clear, full of confidence.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Yin Liulan let out a long sigh.

She looked as if saying another word would be a waste of her precious energy.

She glanced at the young man who had spoken first, her gaze indifferent, yet it sent a shiver down his spine.

"Don't rush to thank me."

"Did I say that you are now... qualified to receive our guidance?"

One sentence was like a bucket of ice water poured over my head.

The enthusiastic applause that had just been erupting came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone's face was filled with astonishment.

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly remembered what Wang Lingchuan had told him before: the head instructor of this year's Qiming General Training Camp was somewhat special...

And that meaningful remark before boarding the plane.

"Don't throw away those tickets you've barely warmed up!" Yin Liulan ignored the surprised and uncertain looks on everyone's faces and continued in her tone, which sounded like she might fall asleep at any moment:
"Normally, there are fifty places available for the Qiming General Training Camp each year."

"And you, now there are exactly fifty of you."

"But it's still too much."

"I get annoyed when there are too many people."

"Therefore, I made a last-minute decision to conduct a simple entry assessment before the official start of the camp."

This reason is utterly unreasonable.

She raised her wrist and checked the time.

It's nine o'clock in the morning.

"The first lesson of today's training camp will be taught by Lin Hanshan himself at 10:00 a.m. He will teach you a low-grade Earth-level cultivation technique for free during the lesson."

"Yes, there will also be a mental visualization class taught by Chang Siming, who will also teach a high-grade Xuan-level mental visualization method for free."

As soon as these words came out, the crowd exploded.

Lin Ye could clearly feel that many people around him were breathing heavily, and their eyes were blazing with intense light.

Even those geniuses who had already entered the Condensation Realm showed expressions of emotion.

Lin Ye's heart also warmed up.

According to the official rating system of the Great Xia Dynasty, cultivation methods and visualization techniques are divided into four major levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each level is further divided into three grades: Upper, Middle, and Lower.

According to Chen Meng, the Five Qi Guiding Techniques he is currently practicing is only at the upper level of the Yellow Rank.

Lin Ye is currently in dire need of a martial arts technique.

Otherwise, whether you're cultivating or killing monsters to level up, your experience points will be halved.

He feels very uncomfortable.

But now, as long as you join the camp, you can get a low-grade Earth-rank cultivation technique and a high-grade Profound-rank visualization technique for free!
What an astonishing feat!
Just by looking at the fervor in the eyes of those extraordinary geniuses around him, Lin Ye knew that the daily lessons in the training camp alone had a greater impact on cultivation than many people could imagine.

Yin Liulan seemed quite satisfied with everyone's reaction, and she continued:
"The first class will start promptly at ten o'clock."

"Those who didn't get into the classroom on time..."

"Sorry, you are the first batch of people to be eliminated when this training camp starts."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion erupted in the room.

"This is not fair!"

A young man with short hair couldn't help but shout, his neck stiff.

"This violates the rules! In previous years, even if there was to be elimination during the training camp, it was only after the comprehensive assessment in the first week!"

Yin Liu tilted his head, his lazy eyes quietly staring at the person who had spoken up in protest.

There was no murderous intent, no oppressive aura.

But the genius felt a chill run down his spine from being stared at, and couldn't utter a word.

"look."

Yin Liulan withdrew her gaze and surveyed the entire room.

"It's precisely because there are always these kinds of people... who don't even understand the situation that I find annoying."

"Now, here, I am the head instructor."

"I make all the rules."

"If you're not satisfied."

She pointed upwards and continued, "You can report me to the provincial headquarters, please feel free to do so."

The young man's face turned a deep purplish-red, his lips trembled, and in the end, he didn't dare to utter another word.

"Very good, it seems no one has any objections."

Yin Liulan clapped her hands.

"So, the entry assessment..."

"Officially begin!"

As soon as she finished speaking, countless red warning lights suddenly lit up throughout the entire massive underground space!

The piercing alarm sounded all around!
To everyone's horror, the passage they had come from was completely sealed off by an incredibly thick alloy gate!

Ahead, the only exit leading into the training camp had also had its gates lowered.

The figures of Yin Liulan and the other two who were originally standing in front of everyone turned into bubbles and data streams and disappeared.

All three of them were just holographic projections.

To everyone's astonishment, they found themselves trapped inside this enormous metal cage!

"I will only say the assessment criteria once."

Yin Liulan's voice then rang out from the loudspeakers in the arena.

"You need to defeat..."

"Ugh... this is so annoying... I don't want to talk anymore."

"Su Yunjin, you speak!"

A burst of static came from the radio.

Finally, a gentle voice rang out, continuing the explanation in place of Yin Liulan.

"Dear students, a large number of martial arts puppets will randomly appear in various places in the arena later. Defeating the martial arts puppets will earn you qualification points. The specific number of points will be displayed on the puppet itself."

"Those who score 20 points or more, please proceed to the four lanes on the sidelines. After being reviewed by the guiding instructors, those who meet the score requirements will be allowed to proceed."

"Fighting is strictly prohibited during this trial; violators will be disqualified from entering the camp."

At this point, the noisy static from the microphone came through the loudspeaker again.

Yin Liulan's voice rang out again: "I don't agree with that rule from before, so just pretend it doesn't exist."

After a moment of silence, Su Yunjin's voice, tinged with a sigh, continued.

"The number of puppets is limited, so please prepare for battle. Good luck to everyone."

The broadcast has now officially ended.

The next moment, cracks appeared in the ground of the huge testing field in front of everyone.

Accompanied by a tooth-grinding metallic scraping sound, one after another, humanoid puppets gleaming with metallic luster slowly rose from the ground!
These puppets are no different in size from ordinary people, and are made entirely of some kind of dark gold alloy, with intricate wiring connecting their joints.

The auras they exuded were all different.

Numbers were artificially drawn on the waist and abdomen of all the puppets.

These numbers start from a minimum of 2 and go up to 20, completely randomly.

Lin Ye felt that his intuition had been confirmed.

He had seen such things in the mock exams, but the ones before him, in terms of both material and the energy fluctuations they emitted, were far superior to the puppets in the early stages of the Meridian Opening Realm in the mock exams.

These puppets that rose from the ground, apart from the numbers hastily painted on their waists with red paint, showed significant differences in appearance, size, and even their standing posture.

Even more bizarrely, each puppet had a clearly etched name on its chest.

[Chu Jie], [Sun Wenbin], [Zhao Siyuan]...

Each vivid name, branded onto a cold, lifeless puppet, creates an inexplicable sense of incongruity.

The fifty people present were all watching and waiting, and no one dared to make a move.

In the midst of this oppressive silence, a scream filled with horror and disbelief suddenly rang out.

"elder brother……?!"

All eyes turned to it instantly.

A thin young man was pointing a trembling finger at a puppet in the arena.

His eyes were filled with shock and confusion.

Noticing the questioning looks from those around him, his lips trembled as he struggled to explain, "That...that puppet is my brother, Chu Jie! Why...why is it here?!"

His voice, sharp with excitement, echoed in the empty underground space.

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Using living people to make puppets?
How could the Qiming General Training Camp be so utterly depraved?

No, that's ridiculous. It's not like it's some kind of cult.

Soon, someone noticed that something was wrong.

Another young man frowned, staring at another puppet, and said in a deep voice, "I know that puppet named Li Mo! He was a very good playmate of mine when we were young. He's three years older than me. I heard that he also qualified to participate in the training camp three years ago, but he was eliminated in the second week of the assessment."

“Yes! My brother Chu Jie also participated in the training camp two years ago, but he… was eliminated in the first week.”

These two sentences, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved through the fog in everyone's hearts.

These are all former losers!
That's it!

These puppets are not modified from living people, but rather replicas of those who were ruthlessly eliminated from the training camp in previous years!
Once they understood this, the fear on many people's faces disappeared, replaced by a fervent enthusiasm.

Since they are all former losers, and puppets rather than real people, surely I can't possibly be no match for these fakes?

Just then, a figure finally couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly rushed out from the crowd.

Even though there were high-scoring puppets of seven or eight points, or even more than ten points, his target was still the four-point puppet named Chu Jie.

Perhaps in his view, securing 4 points first to secure the win is the wisest choice.

The young man who made the first move, wielding a heavy battle axe, charged fiercely towards his target like a raging bull as his blood surged!

hum!
Almost the instant he locked onto his target and unleashed his hostility, the puppet's eyes suddenly flashed with a crimson light.

It moved.

Its body sank slightly, and its feet stomped hard on the alloy ground. Surprisingly, it moved faster than the man wielding the battle axe!
The puppet's hands were empty, but its five fingers suddenly snapped together like knives during the charge.

A faint aura of energy appeared on the alloy shell of the arm.

That was a chop to the neck!

Clang! ! !
A piercing clang of metal clashing rang out!

The battle axe and the puppet's hand collided violently, sparks flying everywhere!

Everyone saw that the young man's battle axe was actually blocked by the puppet with its bare hands!

A tremendous force came from the axe handle, and the young man's face changed drastically. He felt a sharp pain in his hand, and the battle axe almost slipped from his grasp!

How can it be? !
This is just a 4-point puppet!
A loser who was eliminated!
Before he could recover from his shock, the puppet launched a fierce attack.

Its other hand, at an extremely tricky angle, transformed into a blur and pierced straight into the young man's chest and abdomen!
Startled, the young man could only awkwardly retract his battle axe and hold it horizontally in front of his chest to block.

boom!
With a dull thud, the young man and his axe were blasted backward, leaving shallow craters in the alloy floor beneath his feet.

The puppet, however, lunged forward, its iron fists transforming into a sky full of fist shadows, completely engulfing the young man!
Its fighting style is expansive and oppressive, with each punch powerful and heavy, yet concealing deadly intent in the details.

On the sidelines, Chu Jie's younger brother looked even more shocked.

He muttered to himself, "That's right... this is my brother's Raging Wave Fist. How could a puppet..."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the ears of everyone around him.

Everyone's hearts sank.

They finally understood completely.

These puppets are not merely imitations of the appearance of the defeated.

They carry the strength data and combat logic of those who lost!

Lin Ye stood at the back of the crowd, calmly observing everything.

In his mind, the image of Chief Instructor Yin Liulan's lazy and listless face, seemingly indifferent to everything, came to mind.

In this way, she gave all the proud and arrogant geniuses their first lesson at the opening ceremony.

A wise and capable leader will not tolerate idleness.

Yin Liulan's meaning is quite clear.

That means if you can't even defeat these former losers, then you don't deserve to stay here.

Get out of here now, don't waste precious resources!
　This chapter has 6 words. As usual, there will be another update at noon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)