Chapter 168: Chapter 159: Throwing Bricks
The students watching were mostly silent, rarely making any comments.
They carefully observed all the details of Zhou Leng, trying to find any flaws in him.
But after observing over and over again, they couldn’t find anything at all.
His steps were steady, his breathing was stable, his actions were smooth, his expression was calm, and his demeanor was unwavering... whether he was climbing up or jumping down, whether running or crossing water, he was steady in every aspect.
Soon, Wei Xiangqian and the others couldn’t even see Zhou Leng’s silhouette.
When the examiner called "Extraordinary" for the second time, everyone sighed deeply.
"The people from West Sea Martial Arts Academy will have their martial hearts shattered..."
"That may not necessarily be the case. Out of the seven tests, this is only the second one. Perhaps, to perform well in the earlier ones, he overdrew his True Qi or stamina..."
The rest of the students were too lazy to argue.
Everyone present was an expert. If someone had overdrafted their True Qi or stamina, wouldn’t they be able to tell?
"The third test is a 400-meter sprint with weight, which is Wei Xiangqian’s strong suit, so there might be a chance for a comeback."
"After all, Zhou Leng is young, and his Lightweight Skill realm may not be that high. There’s hope."
"I’m not planning to test today. I’m afraid of leaving a shadow, making the Innate realm unattainable."
"I’m canceling too."
"You all are quite sly. I’m canceling now..."
The veteran students who previously wanted to test Zhou Leng’s capabilities stepped forward to find the examiner or soldiers to cancel the tests.
Afterwards, they looked at the four slowly running toward the finish line.
For some reason, everyone felt that the silhouettes of the four were particularly poignant.
"Before they finish, let’s not mention we’ve withdrawn from the tests to avoid demoralizing them."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The group returned to the regular test site.
The examiner said: "Third test, bear a weight of 2000 kilograms, a 400-meter Lightweight Skill sprint. Utilize your Lightweight Skills to the fullest and sprint to the finish as fast as you can. Get ready..."
Five people stood at the starting line, lightly kicking their legs.
Four students from West Sea Martial Arts Academy, with three of them looking grim.
Only Wei Xiangqian had a calm expression.
"We... still have a chance," one student from West Sea Martial Arts Academy said quietly behind the starting line.
"Sprint is our chance!"
"Go for it!"
"Go for it!"
The three encouraged each other.
"Ready... Run!"
With the examiner’s order, the five of them, fully burdened with 2000 kilograms, darted out like leopards.
Zhou Leng stepped on the Flying Crane Technique, his True Qi surging, covering ten meters in one step, moving elegantly yet swiftly.
All five gave their best sprint, with very little difference in the first hundred meters.
But after a hundred meters, Zhou Leng suddenly accelerated again, taking the lead.
By two hundred meters, the four others’ speed visibly decreased.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhou Leng accelerated for the third time.
Zhou Leng, as if riding the east wind, roared around the circle, crossing the finish line first.
"Extraordinary."
Behind him, the four used Speed Light Skill desperately but could only watch Zhou Leng reach the finish first.
"Amazing!" A student couldn’t help but shout loudly.
"Impressive!"
"Eye-opening!"
With three consecutive extraordinary performances in three tests, no further explanation was needed.
A potential rising star comparable to Yunhua Jinjing was emerging.
Someone sent a message to the Lieutenant Camp group.
"Quick, come to the test site, the most incredible freshman of the Lieutenant Camp this year has been born..."
"Newcomer from the Martial Arts Hall, the first day of tests, extraordinary in three events, so thrilling..."
The students and instructors who hadn’t arrived immediately replied.
"Whose subordinate is this? So fierce?"
"I didn’t expect Rucheng to have another expert besides Mountain and River Origin this year?"
"Hold on, I’m coming right away."
Members of the Lieutenant Camp headed over.
Even some instructors from other camps came upon hearing the news.
The fourth test moved into the Martial Arts Dojo.
The first three tests were about speed; the next three tested strength.
Five candidates stood before the weightlifting platform.
The examiner said: "Fourth test, no flashy moves, No True Qi Weightlifting. Step forward in reverse order of the previous test’s rankings."
The student ranked fifth heaved a sigh of relief, knowing if the tests were conducted in order, his confidence might be crushed by Zhou Leng.
He took off his Gravity Cultivation Armor and moved to the weightlifting platform.
With a "beep," the No True Qi Weightlifting was completed.
Everyone looked at the display screen.
kilograms.
The veteran students gave a nod at this number.
"Early Stage of Body Refining, without True Qi, after three tests, his body is nearly exhausted, this number isn’t low."
"Those from West Sea Martial Arts Academy are indeed extraordinary."
Others went up one by one.
Soon it was Wei Xiangqian’s turn.
He walked to the weightlifting platform, glanced at everyone, and looked at Zhou Leng.
He couldn’t help but recall the rumors of Zhou Leng insulting West Sea Martial Arts Academy at Eighth Middle School and the talented junior from the Boxing Association severely injured by Zhou Leng on the betting stage.
Wei Xiangqian took a deep breath, raised his arms, supporting the Demonized Steel Plate above.
Buzz...
The Demonized Steel Plate weighed down.
Wei Xiangqian’s whole body turned red, especially his face, with red mixing into purple.
The muscles on his arms became clearly defined, with veins bulging prominently.
He seemed to lift a piece of heaven for West Sea Martial Arts Academy with his life.
Beep...
Wei Xiangqian stepped down from the weightlifting platform, turned to look at his score.
kilograms.
The veteran students familiar with him praised him.
"Standard," the examiner said.
Zhou Leng removed his Gravity Cultivation Armor and slowly walked to the weightlifting platform.
Many squinted their eyes, staring intently, because Zhou Leng’s skin tone was different from ordinary people, having a slightly matte steel-like appearance.
Zhou Leng harnessed his power and lifted the Demonized Steel Plate.
At the moment the steel plate pressed down, everyone saw Zhou Leng’s muscles swell simultaneously.
His shoulders broadened, his chest thickened, his body forming a distinct inverted triangle.
The explosive power surged forth, resisting the demonized steel plate.
Beep...
The entire venue was silent.
kilograms.
No True Qi Weightlifting.
"Exceeded." The examiner’s voice echoed.
"This..."
Many couldn’t find words to speak.
For Early Stage of Body Refining True Qi Weightlifting, only just over five thousand kilograms is typical.
Zhou Leng, with just his physical body, lifted over four thousand kilograms.
"Is he still human?"
"Mountain and River Origin has the Giant Bloodline, it’s understandable, but Zhou Leng looks like an ordinary person..."
"Even the Jinjing Yunhua First Echelon isn’t this impressive."
"In the entire Rucheng Freshman Chart, aside from Mountain and River Origin, no one should be able to lift this weight."
"Should be ’One Hundred Million Body’ level."
"No, at least ’Three Hundred Million Body’."
Zhou Leng looked at the numbers on the screen, then down at the bulging biceps on his upper arm.
Following body refinement, the Light of the Ancient Gods, Steel Skin, Original Demon Power, Ten Reversed Beast Fist, Medicinal Fruit, Pill, and other powers are being continuously activated.
"Fifth round, True Qi Weightlifting, same as before, proceed by rank from back to front."
The fifth student took a deep breath, gathering True Qi.
Beep...
kilograms.
Although it didn’t break six thousand kilograms, it’s considered very good for Early Stage of Body Refining.
Before entering the dwarf world, Zhou Leng’s True Qi Weightlifting barely reached around 5500 kilograms.
"Not qualified." The examiner’s words felt like cold water poured over their head.
Others stepped forward one after another.
Soon, Wei Xiangqian approached the weightlifting platform to see his result.
kilograms.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
"Qualified."
Everyone turned to look at Zhou Leng.
Zhou Leng lifted the demonized steel plate, Qi Blood flowing through his body, nourishing his skin, making his skin faintly glow.
Beep...
Everyone stared at the screen, Zhou Leng also walked out to look at it.
kilograms.
"Exceeded." The examiner calmly announced the result.
Wei Xiangqian and the other four, their eyes twitched.
Before it was just a race, they couldn’t feel that overwhelming difference.
Now, seeing it, even the strongest Wei Xiangqian lagged behind by over three thousand six hundred kilograms of strength.
The students looked at the exaggerated data, whispering among themselves.
"His strength has already surpassed the Mid-Stage Body Refining..."
"Even Early Stage Body Refining beastmen might not be this strong, he must be a demigod’s offspring."
"Reaching ten thousand kilograms in True Qi Weightlifting means that daily No True Qi weight training can use a 2000 kilograms demonized barbell."
"For Wei Xiangqian and the other four, a 2000 kilograms Gravity Cultivation Armor is a challenge. For Zhou Leng, it’s just routine training."
Wave after wave of people entered the Martial Arts Hall to watch.
Soon, hundreds gathered.
Even two Innate Majors stood beside Elder Song, whispering to each other.
"Sixth round, brick breaking."
A group walked out of the Martial Arts Hall, to the edge of the Martial Arts Dojo where many red bricks were laid out.
Not far from the bricks, stood several waist-high stone platforms.
The stone platforms were covered in remnants of brick dust.
Walking while talking, the examiner said, "This test is simple, use all your strength to strike the brick, achieving the ’brick turns to powder’ standard to qualify."
Many students heard the word "simple" and scoffed.
Here, each student has smashed at least a thousand bricks, and few might qualify.
Zhou Leng looked at the red bricks.
Just like ordinary bricks, but far larger than a palm, breaking a whole brick into powder isn’t easy.
"Stand in front of the stone platforms."
Five people each walked to a stone platform, soldiers took out five bricks, placing them before the five.
"Ready... Strike!"
Five people exerted all their strength and True Qi, striking the red bricks in front of them simultaneously.
Four of the bricks shattered upon impact.
Everyone looked, the brick in front of the fifth-ranked student turned to powder at the center, with uneven particles at the edges.
Walking while commenting, the examiner said, "Not qualified... Not qualified... Not qualified... Qualified."
Everyone looked towards Wei Xiangqian’s brick, which had turned into fine powder, just coarser than flour.
Everyone nodded in agreement, the top echelon didn’t disappoint.
Then, everyone looked toward the brick in front of Zhou Leng.
The brick remained unchanged before Zhou Leng, looking as if there was no change at all.
Some thought of other possibilities, their expressions tightening.
Nearby, the expert instructors didn’t even glance at others; they watched the brick before Zhou Leng the whole time.
With a light sigh, the examiner said, "Exceeded."
As he finished, he waved his right hand, causing a slight breeze.
They watched as the unchanged brick collapsed, turning into fine red dust, floating away like mist, leaving no trace.
Brick turned to powder, a breeze scattered it away.
Everyone praised and applauded.
Previously, the weightlifting tested brute strength.
But breaking a brick into powder tests not only physical power but also True Qi strength and True Qi manipulation.
Preventing deformation after striking proves True Qi manipulation at its peak.
"Seventh round, Nine Bends Flowing Water."
The examiner led, everyone followed, heading towards another Martial Arts Hall.
"The seventh round is Wei Xiangqian’s last chance."
"Wei Xiangqian probably completes three rounds of the Nine Bends in ten tries; as long as he doesn’t fail this time, he should win."
"Zhou Leng has come to the Competition Camp for the first time, never experienced Nine Bends Flowing Water. Even if his True Qi level is high, he can’t possibly qualify."
"That Mountain and River Origin were so strong, but failed the True Qi control test, relying on sweeping the Captain’s Camp top echelon, only to traverse the camp in a day."
"Yet his brick turned to powder and a breeze scattered it, showing superb True Qi control..."
"Hard to say..."