Chapter 172: Chapter 161 Demon Lake
The students of the West Sea Martial Arts Academy look at Zhou Leng, look at the two water spheres that haven’t fallen, and remain silent.
The examiner was stunned for several seconds before saying, "Exceeded expectations!"
"How did you do it?"
"Zhou Leng, tell us!"
"Am I blind?"
Everyone was puzzled.
Song Juesi and the two Innate Instructors nodded emphatically, with only these three people knowing the truth.
Zhou Leng placed the water in the empty beaker.
Not a drop was lost.
The examiner couldn’t help but cough lightly and said, "Student Zhou Leng, tell us how you managed to complete that thrilling move."
Everyone stared intently at Zhou Leng.
As Zhou Leng walked back, he said, "Actually, it’s nothing much."
"While observing the Ninth Bend, I discovered a problem."
"What should I do if I’m suddenly attacked by a giant fist while in mid-air?"
"I spent the most time at the entrance of the Ninth Bend just thinking about this problem."
"Eventually, I came up with the most likely method. It might not necessarily work, but there’s a chance."
"To be blunt, it’s not particularly difficult."
"I first assumed that every time I jumped high, I would inevitably be hit and fall."
"Therefore, every time I jumped, I should observe the environment around me, remember all the stones, rotating cylinders, and all changes."
"Because several people were repeatedly hit by the giant fist before, I could estimate roughly the strength of the giant fist."
"Once the giant fist appeared, I could judge roughly where I would land after being hit."
"Before being hit by the giant fist, I threw the two water spheres toward the landing spot. Of course, I also considered the path of nearby stones to avoid the water spheres being hit."
"When I fell, I was already prepared. The cylinder was no different than flat ground to me, so I could stand up immediately."
"After that, it became much simpler: brush away the stones and catch the water spheres."
All the students were silent.
One student said, "This process is just like a math teacher’s problem-solving method. I understand every word he says, but when I do it myself, I can never get it right."
Song Juesi said, "Zhou Leng’s combat awareness far exceeds body refinement; it should be no less than the Late Stage of Life Force. If it were you, you might not succeed even once in a hundred attempts."
"No wonder..." Everyone instead felt relieved.
Neither martial arts will nor combat awareness is martial arts, but they often have a greater impact.
"Wait a minute, he’s a freshman this year. How does he have such strong combat awareness?"
"Celestial Ladder."
"No wonder..."
The examiner said, "In all seven of Zhou Leng’s basic tests, he exceeded expectations, thereby earning one of the graduation qualifications. After passing the practical and ladder tests, he will successfully complete the camp and graduate directly."
The Competition Camp has three tests: basic measurement test, practical combat with demons, and defeating at least three people on the first ladder.
However, the requirement to clear the camp in one day is to defeat everyone on the first ladder.
"Zhou Leng, do you really want to clear the camp in one day?" a student couldn’t help but ask loudly.
The room was silent.
The examiner looked at Zhou Leng and said, "The normal practical test involves facing real demons, going out once a week for battles, and accumulating experience. Additionally, there must be at least one real battle in West Sea Demon City."
"If you clear the camp in one day, you will be sent to ’Demon Lake Prison,’ where Sea Sirens are held, to complete their hunt."
"The Sea Sirens in the prison are used for training and research, and a few are used for exchanges. Knowing they are doomed, they become even more ferocious, and since it’s a solo battle, it’s far more difficult than regular demon combat."
"If you apply to clear the camp in one day, we’ll arrange for you to fly to Demon Lake Prison."
"Otherwise, you must accumulate experience steadily."
Thinking back to the mid-term exam in January, Zhou Leng said, "I want to go out as quickly as possible; I apply to clear the camp in one day."
"Alright! Rest up and gain strength now; we will apply for a Demonized Helicopter to take you to Demon Lake Prison."
The examiner said as he used the Demonized Watch to apply to the higher-ups.
The students whispered among themselves.
"What do you think, can he pass the practical test?"
"Hard to say. In ordinary practical combat, even if you go to West Sea Demon City, you might not necessarily go underwater; you can just fight on the fringes. But in Demon Lake Prison, you must fight at the water’s edge or even in the water."
"It depends on his cultivation technique. If it’s a Water Element technique, it will be better, yet still limited."
"If he succeeds in the practical test, then... those of you on the first ladder, prepare to be challenged."
The students looked at five mid-stage body refining students on the first ladder.
All five were elites.
One from the West Sea Martial Arts Academy, one a disciple of a Grandmaster, and three top military experts.
"I’m excited to face a talent like this."
"Wei Xiangqian, you should fight last to observe more and increase your chances."
"Among the five of you, your strengths are evenly matched, so the order doesn’t matter much, but it matters a lot for Wei Xiangqian."
Everyone silently watched Wei Xiangqian and the students of the West Sea Martial Arts Academy.
The seven tests earlier greatly affected their mindset.
Amid everyone’s quiet discussion, the examiner led Zhou Leng away, boarded the Demonized Helicopter, and flew to Demon Lake Prison.
As the helicopter just left, a tall young man entered the test site. His face was long and thin, with a slightly narrow chin, but he was robust and full of youthful energy.
He saw the students and instructors leaving.
Li Yuanhe stopped a familiar instructor and asked, "Was a student named Zhou Leng just taking the test?"
"Yes, it’s a pity you didn’t see it."
"Where is he?"
"He’s gone."
"What do you mean, gone?"
"He wants to clear the camp in one day, so he’s already gone to Demon Lake Prison."
"Hmm? He met the standards for seven tests? Wasn’t he a new recruit today?" Li Yuanhe exclaimed incredulously.
"No, not just met the standards."
Li Yuanhe breathed a sigh of relief but felt even more puzzled.
"Why go to the Demon Lake Prison if he didn’t meet the standards? What happened?"
"He surpassed the standards in seven tests."
"Hmm?" Li Yuanhe didn’t immediately react, staring blankly for a moment before he understood.
Li Yuanhe asked, "The person you’re talking about is Zhou Leng, the newcomer at the Great Martial Arts Hall?"
"That’s him. He’s the only newcomer today. It’s said he’s friends with Elder Song, saved him, and Elder Song is full of praise for him."
Li Yuanhe stood there stunned, unable to connect the young neighbor he grew up with to surpassing seven tests and completing the camp in a day.
"Could this kid be a talent on par with Zhang Xinglie?"
Li Yuanhe thought for a moment and sent a message to Zhang Xinglie, inquiring about Zhou Leng’s recent situation.
The three grew up together, and back in the day when Zhang Xinglie was bullied, Li Yuanhe helped him several times.
Zhang Xinglie quickly replied, briefly mentioning how Zhou Leng progressed at Ruda, entered the Celestial Ladder, and became the United Senior Brother of the eighteen schools.
When it came to the dwarf world, he skipped the details and only mentioned generally.
After reading, Li Yuanhe smiled pleasantly.
He never expected Zhou Leng’s experiences in the past six months to be even more tumultuous than his own in the last four or five years.
"Uncle Zhou, Auntie Ma, and Uncle Ma..."
Li Yuanhe gazed at the distant sky, silently reflecting.
In his mind appeared the figure of Ma Xingkong, Zhou Leng’s uncle, whose guidance and encouragement allowed him to truly grasp the threshold of martial arts, leading to breakthroughs.
Especially after enrolling in military school, he accumulated strength, poised to reach Innate.
Unfortunately, he could no longer see Ma Xingkong’s face, always bearing a radiant smile.
Li Yuanhe gently clenched his fist and sent a message to Zhou Leng.
"Congratulations on surpassing seven tests! But make sure to act within your limits; don’t rush to succeed, and proceed step by step. Your potential isn’t just Innate, but at the Grandmaster level, even Martial Saint!"
Li Yuanhe was candid, without any flattery.
Over the past two years, he had spent considerable time in the military, encountering numerous masters and geniuses like fish swimming in the Yangtze River.
A newcomer completing a full-day camp in six months signifies at least Grandmaster potential.
The demonized helicopter left Rucheng, flew over the Yangtze River, heading southeast for a hundred kilometers, and gradually slowed down behind the Sea Suppression Army line.
The rotor hummed loudly, blowing dust off the ground as it landed at the Demon Lake Prison.
Led by the examiner and the prison guards, Zhou Leng headed towards Demon Lake.
The examiner explained along the way.
"Demon Lake is massive, housing numerous Sea Sirens, even half-blood Sea Sirens. If you enter directly, they’ll all rise against you."
"So, during the journey, the prison has already introduced three mid-stage Body Refining Sea Sirens and ten early-stage Body Refining Sea Sirens into the artificial lake."
"You might find it difficult, but that’s the challenge of completing the camp in a day."
"Additionally, I’ll remind you that Sea Sirens in water and on land are two different demons."
"You still have time to retreat."
The examiner and the guards looked at Zhou Leng.
Three mid-stage Body Refining Sea Sirens and ten early-stage Body Refining Sea Sirens are, not to mention in water, extremely troublesome even on land.
Zhou Leng narrowed his eyes slightly, then relaxed and said, "I’ve always wanted to kill Sea Sirens; too bad the opportunity never arose. Today’s the perfect moment."
"Just prepare to get hurt, and when you’re overwhelmed, raise your hand to signal for help. If you’re too severely injured, we’ll intervene directly."
"Understood," Zhou Leng replied.
The guard asked, "Do you know about Sea Sirens?"
"I’ve flipped through the Sea Siren anthology since childhood, no less than twenty times. Familiar with all Sea Siren information," Zhou Leng said calmly.
The nearby guards looked at each other, subtly guessing a possibility.
Many children near West Sea Demon City are like this.
"Among the Sea Sirens tested this time, there’s one half-blood Sea Siren, and one mutated Sea Siren. Be mentally prepared," the examiner stated.
Zhou Leng nodded.
Half-blood Sea Sirens are generally hybrids of humans and Sea Sirens, occasionally demons mixed with Sea Sirens.
Mutated Sea Sirens grow in polluted ocean areas.
Before long, the group arrived at the artificial lake.
The lake surface was approximately two hundred meters wide, neither too big nor too small, and the water was murky.
Surrounded by electric fences, Sea Suppression Army guards stood fully armed at the entrance.
After some checks, they opened the gate to the artificial lake.
"Once inside, you’re responsible for your own life and death," the examiner declared.
"Certainly." Zhou Leng showed no fear, his breath even slightly quickened, Qi Blood flowing rapidly, and a strong fighting spirit.
"Alright, go ahead," he said.
Zhou Leng stepped through the gate, towards the artificial lake.
This artificial lake’s edge was built with cement, the slope gentle, leading down to the lake bed.
Swish...
The peaceful surface of the lake churned with waves, a large swath of chaotic water appearing, rushing towards Zhou Leng.
Through the murky water, a faint large shadow could be seen below.
Zhou Leng slowly advanced, standing by the water’s edge.
As he neared the shallows, the shadow rose.
It was a group of grotesque Sea Sirens.
More than half of the Sea Sirens were purely fish-like, except they were larger, with more developed fins, vicious heads, and razor-sharp teeth.
The smallest early-stage Body Refining Sea Siren was at least three meters long, its scales like iron.
The largest Sea Siren was eel-like, six to seven meters long, as thick as a man’s embrace.