High Martial Arts: From Mechanic to Sword Immortal

Chapter 80 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Talent Assessment

Wang Defa forcefully shoved the large, ring-backed machete, stained with poisoned blood, into the mud and beckoned to several fully armed guards.

"Put on a high-end gas mask and use a high-temperature flamethrower to burn this pool of purple pus completely dry."

They dug it up along with the three feet of soil underneath, put it into isolation barrels, and hauled it to the abandoned mine pit outside to fill it in.

Pointing to the headless, shriveled corpse, he continued, "Pour strong acid on the body and dissolve it. Notify the families of those in Warehouse No. 3 and grant them the maximum possible compensation."

The guards immediately began to work in an orderly manner, their gas masks emitting a muffled hissing sound from their breathing valves.

Wang Meng slumped down on the broken wooden box next to him, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his thick palms. His arms were still trembling uncontrollably.

"Brother Meng, I've been given a second chance at life today."

Gu Yun slung the assault rifle behind his back, his face pale.

The series of terrifying scenes that had just occurred to him had a huge impact on this usually refined young master from the inner city. For the first time ever, he did not utter a word of mockery for Wang Meng's disheveled state.

"As long as everyone is alright, that's all that matters."

Zhang Hao tore open a roll of first-aid bandage and tightly wrapped it around the web of his right hand, which had been shattered by the shock.

He raised his wrist to check the time. "That's all for tonight's unexpected situation. Everyone, go back to the barracks and get some rest."

Tomorrow morning I'll also be responsible for perimeter security, escorting harvesters and transport convoys back to the city.

Once the highly tense nerves relaxed, extreme fatigue instantly overwhelmed everyone.

Han Feng, in particular, activated his [Spiritual Vision] talent tonight in order to locate the hidden evil cultists.

At that moment, he felt his brain throbbing and even his steps became heavy.

The night wind blew through the living area, carrying with it the unique smell of dust and sand from the wasteland, as well as a faint smell of ozone.

On the way back, Zhang Hao deliberately slowed down, lagging behind the group at a leisurely pace, walking side by side with Han Feng.

The two walked through two dimly lit alleyways, and Zhang Hao suddenly lowered his voice and said, "That shot you just fired was definitely not something that could be done simply by shooting skills."

Han Feng turned his head to look at him, not replying immediately, waiting for the other party to continue.

"That terrifying penetrating power, and the high-frequency spiraling killing force that bursts out the moment the bullet hits the target's shield."

Zhang Hao put his bandaged right hand into his pocket. "Ordinary Body Tempering Realm martial artists simply cannot perform such precise micro-management with their Qi and blood."

Even among martial artists at the Meridian Opening Realm, very few could control their released internal energy to such an unbelievable degree.

Zhang Hao paused for a moment, then said with great certainty, "Besides the extraordinary perception you showed before, you must have awakened other abilities as well."

If I'm not mistaken, it should be an extremely rare talent related to energy control.

Han Feng knew in his heart that he had made too much of a commotion, and anyone with eyes could see that there was something wrong with it.

He simply went with the flow and threw out the set of arguments he had prepared beforehand.

"I did have a strange feeling lately when I was hunting those low-level monsters in the wilderness."

Han Feng raised his right hand, pretending to feel the flow of air, "and I felt that the blood and qi in my body became particularly obedient."

The moment they were propelled through the rifle barrel, I could clearly feel them swirling and drilling outwards on the bullet's surface, as if they had eyes, hitting exactly where they were pointed.

"That's right."

Zhang Hao nodded emphatically. "This is a typical sign of the awakening of an energy control talent. Your body is spontaneously adapting to and developing this new ability."

Zhang Hao stopped and turned to look at Han Feng, his face serious: "After the mission is over and you return to Donghai Martial Arts University, the first thing you should do is go to the school's talent assessment center and take a formal level test."

Han Feng frowned slightly and voiced his concerns directly: "Captain, Foreman Zhao Yu from the First Laboratory reminded me of this before."

Because I participated in the development project of the "Yuji 3rd Generation" fighter jet, my name has been put on the "watch list" of some financial tycoons.

"If we go to the talent assessment center now and make a big fuss about taking the test, won't that attract the attention of those forces lurking in the shadows?"

"Do you think you can still hide it in your current state?" Zhang Hao retorted.

Han Feng fell silent.

"There is never absolute safety in the wasteland, only absolute strength."

"The way to deal with risks is never to hide yourself, but to become stronger as quickly as possible."

You're afraid of being targeted by conglomerates, but have you ever considered that Donghai Martial Arts University itself is the biggest protective umbrella in this fortified city?

Zhang Hao held up one finger: "At Wuhan University, the higher your talent rating, the more the school values ​​you."

If you can get a B or even an A rating, your name will be directly put on the school board's priority protection list.

Within the confines of Donghai City, even Tiangong Group or Xinghai Technology would absolutely not dare to openly harm a genius highly regarded by Wuda University.

"That's a slap in the face to the entire Donghai Martial Arts University, and also a slap in the face to the military."

"These tycoons may be greedy, but they're shrewd and definitely not stupid," Zhang Hao added.

"Even more crucial is resources."

Zhang Hao then added, "All the high-level public resources in the school are allocated according to individual talent ratings."

Only when you quickly convert your talent into real combat power will you be qualified to talk about how to save your life.

Han Feng nodded after listening.

"However, there is one thing you must remember very well."

Zhang Hao's tone suddenly became extremely stern.

Han Feng looked up.

"Once you get an advanced talent certification at the assessment center, the big tycoons in Donghai City will immediately swarm around you like sharks smelling blood."

Zhang Hao sneered, "Xinghai Technology, Tiangong Group, and even some special R&D departments of the military will come to you with conditions that will make you envious."

Millions of Alliance Contribution Points, rare spiritual plants of Tier 3 or higher, luxurious multi-level apartments in the inner city's core area, and even exclusive high-tier customized fighter jets.

Zhang Hao said, emphasizing each word, "They'll put all these things in front of you and then have you sign a seemingly very respectable talent sponsorship agreement."

Han Feng astutely grasped the core issue in that statement: "There's no such thing as a free lunch. What's being bought with this money?"

"I'll buy your life." Zhang Hao's answer was crisp and decisive.

Han Feng's facial muscles tensed slightly.

"Those tycoons spend money on you not because they're out of kindness, but because they need sophisticated guinea pigs."

Zhang Hao curled his lip in mockery, "These kinds of funding agreements usually contain some extremely hidden additional clauses."

For example, they might require you to unconditionally cooperate with their cutting-edge research projects, or you might be required to participate in the testing of certain extremely dangerous new equipment.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath of the slightly chilly air of the wasteland and continued, "Three years ago, a commoner genius emerged from the outer academy, who awakened an extremely rare A-level physical enhancement talent."

At the time, a large biotechnology conglomerate directly spent eight million contribution points, plus a villa in the inner city with a spirit-gathering array, to sign him.

Back then, he was incredibly successful, and even we senior students in the inner courtyard were extremely envious.

"And then?" Han Feng asked.

Six months later, in a so-called deep gene recombination experiment, the genius's genes completely collapsed, turning him into a pool of rotting flesh oozing acidic fluid.

Zhang Hao spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"He signed the funding agreement voluntarily, and the risk clauses are clearly written on page 63 of the contract."

That biotech conglomerate not only escaped any substantial punishment.

Instead, they used the death experiment data extracted from him to successfully launch a new type of second-order gene drug, making a fortune in the market.

Han Feng felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

This kind of ruthless, exploitative approach by conglomerates is far more cruel than the monsters in the wilderness that devour people alive.

"The legal teams of these conglomerates are extremely professional; they can handle everything clearly within the existing legal framework of the alliance."

Even if Wuhan University wanted to investigate afterward, they wouldn't be able to find any legitimate grounds.

Zhang Hao patted Han Feng heavily on the shoulder: "In Donghai Fortress City, the parliament, financial groups, the military, and powerful families are all deeply entrenched."

Once you step outside the gates of Wuhan University, many things are far more complicated than they appear on the surface.

You can use their rules to access free public resources provided by the school.

But no matter how tempting the terms are offered by those tycoons, you absolutely, positively should not sign any contracts of servitude.

"I understand, Captain. Thanks for the reminder."

Han Feng nodded solemnly.