31 Just Playing the Fool
Among the hundred or so examinees, only five were freshmen. The rest were senior students who had spent a year in the Outer Academy and failed the Dragon Gate Selection.
For them, the special examination was a “second chance.” If they failed again, they would have to wait another year, so they were all highly motivated.
As the proctor explained the rules, the examinees stepped forward to choose their boats.
All the available boats were small, single-person skiffs; the others had been removed.
Yan Zhen boarded the nearest boat, number 86. Huangfu Wenqing chose the one next to him, number 87.
Inside each boat was a groove that acted as an “accelerator.” By stepping on it and channeling Mystic Power, the boat would move forward. Steering required shifting weight and using the other foot, making it difficult to control.
Therefore, this exam tested the examinees’ Mystic Power control and balance.
Yan Zhen looked around and saw that the other three new student representatives were far away from each other, clearly not intending to clash during the exam. However, Yan Zhen knew that Shan Ben would definitely come looking for trouble.
Shan Ben also noticed Yan Zhen’s gaze and gave him a thumbs down, his expression saying, “You’re dead.” Yan Zhen ignored him and was about to look away when he noticed Younger Aunt Dean and Aunt Shui Bailan watching him.
He immediately put on a bright, sunny smile and winked charmingly, even more exaggerated than a boy band member.
Dean Yu Qing shuddered. “What’s… what’s wrong with that brat? Is he sick?”
Head Instructor Shui Bailan blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. She actually found Yan Zhen’s behavior a bit… cute.
“Ahem, perhaps he’s trying to reconcile with you, so he’s acting cute.”
“Reconcile? We were never on good terms!” Dean Yu Qing snorted. “Just wait until he enters the Inner Academy. My sister will deal with him—death to all scumbags!”
“But doesn’t Elder Yu Yan like obedient children?”
“He’s not a child! Just because he has a pretty face?”
“Elder Yu Yan treats all of us like children, especially Yan Zhen.”
“…”
Remembering how her older sister always patted her head in a motherly way, Dean Yu Qing was speechless.
After sufficiently annoying the Dean and the Head Instructor, Yan Zhen returned to his usual expression.
All the examinees had chosen their boats. After confirming this, the proctor announced, “Alright, everyone, take your positions. I hereby declare the special examination officially begins!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the hundred or so boats shot forward like released fish, the examinees channeling their Mystic Power.
With a group of hotheaded youngsters participating, it was predictable what would happen. Soon, boats began colliding, and fights broke out.
You block my way, I block yours.
[Ding! Key plot triggered]
[Current plot progress – Chapter 400: Special Examination]
[Acting requirements: ① When provoked by Shan Ben, show no mercy, defeat him, and knock him into the water; ② Leak your Evil Dragon aura to attract the ancient Jiao at the bottom of the river and converse with it; ③ Before the time limit, use Starry Sky Dance to fly directly to the other side, shocking everyone.]
Seeing the system’s instructions, Yan Zhen felt the urge to just fly across the river with Starry Sky Dance.
In the script, he thought he had to use the boat, so he obediently rowed, only using Starry Sky Dance at the last minute when he was about to run out of time.
Yan Zhen, while thinking about this, enveloped his boat with Spiritual Power, precisely controlling its speed and direction. He and Huangfu Wenqing were neck and neck, quickly pulling ahead of the others, becoming the leading group.
The other three new student representatives were also skilled and part of the leading group.
The two proctor instructors hovered in the air, following the boats.
Suddenly, a wave taller than a person rose from the calm water’s surface and crashed towards them.
According to the script, a thousand-year-old Jiao, the Sacred Ground Academy’s guardian beast, dwelled within the Dragon Gate River.
The Jiao slumbered in the depths, highly sensitive to unfamiliar auras. Anyone using Mystic Power on the river’s surface would trigger its vigilance, causing it to create waves.
Only students and instructors with Inner Academy badges could safely pass through the Jiao’s territory.
Clearly, this group of examinees was considered an “unfamiliar aura.”
As the wave approached, Yan Zhen tilted his boat upwards, accelerating and soaring over the wave, landing ahead.
Huangfu Wenqing, seeing this, mimicked his actions, following closely behind.
The other examinees also used their various skills to avoid the wave, but some lost their balance and fell into the water.
The proctor immediately announced their elimination!
However, this was just the beginning. As soon as Yan Zhen landed, an even larger wave crashed down, pushing him back nearly ten zhang, returning him to his original position. He was quickly overtaken by Huangfu Wenqing, Qi Yuxuan, Chu Nan, and the others.
Just as he was about to accelerate and catch up, he sensed an aura rapidly approaching from the side. Without thinking, he punched.
Bang!
A burst of force exploded, rocking his boat violently.
He saw Shan Ben charging towards him in his boat, a ferocious look on his face.
“I’m here to eliminate you, student Yan Zhen!”
Yan Zhen snorted and turned his boat, facing the charging Shan Ben.
“Bring it on!”
Their boats collided, and both of them leaped into the air, throwing a punch simultaneously.
Shan Ben cultivated Earth Mystic Power, his limbs covered in Mystic Power armor, like a stone skin technique. His massive fist was also clad in a high-grade gauntlet that amplified his Mystic Power and the impact of his attacks.
However, Yan Zhen cultivated an Emperor-level technique, and with the enhancement of his three Extreme Flames, his Mystic Power was comparable to a Mystic General’s.
Eight Extremities Burst, Second Stage, Ninth Burst!
His fist, wreathed in gold and silver flames, collided with Shan Ben’s gauntlet-clad fist. To Shan Ben’s horror, his black-gold gauntlet ignited, and an overwhelming force shattered his Mystic Power armor, followed by an explosion of internal force within his arm.
Pfft! Blood sprayed from his arm, the intense pain shooting through his brain. Shan Ben screamed.
He couldn’t understand. He had tempered his body and was wearing a Tier 4 gauntlet, a four-star Mystic Scholar, yet a single punch from a three-star Mystic Master had almost crippled his arm!
—This brat must be cheating!
Shan Ben, shocked and enraged, clutched his injured arm and retreated. But Yan Zhen wasn’t about to let him off. Still in the air, he stepped on… nothing, starlight appearing beneath his feet, propelling him forward.
Sensing the approaching danger, Shan Ben’s scalp tingled. He unleashed all his Mystic Power, creating a small mountain around himself, trapping him within.
“Immovable like a mountain!”
Yan Zhen clenched his fist, the gold and silver flames replaced by the Great Crimson Skyfire and his Blood Qi. The combined power exploded as he struck the mountain.
The mountain instantly crumbled, and Shan Ben was sent flying, coughing up blood as he landed on his boat, unable to get up.
He glared at Yan Zhen, filled with resentment. “You… you cheated! I don’t accept this!”
Yan Zhen landed back on his boat, shaking his slightly sore hand, and said calmly, “I didn’t cheat. I was just playing the fool.”
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