strokinit Chapter 72 Fighting to the Death, the Cheap Die
Chapter 72 Fighting to the Death, the Cheap Die
"What happened?"
"The competition had only just begun... and someone's already dead?!"
A commotion broke out in the courtyard.
The candidates waiting at the entrance paled and felt a chill run down their spines.
Although casualties were expected, no one anticipated that the first person would die so quickly.
The person who was just moments ago enthusiastically inviting people to a celebratory feast is now being dragged away like livestock to be slaughtered.
Not to mention, many people had just become acquainted with Xu Jing and had some degree of friendship with him.
This unexpected turn of events had a tremendous impact on everyone.
Chen Ye glanced at Xu Jing being dragged away and noticed a murmur of disapproval rising from the crowd, gradually spreading outwards.
The school instructor, seemingly accustomed to such scenes, calmly announced, "Next candidate in the 'Xuan' category, candidate number 64, prepare!"
The candidate whose name was called turned pale instantly, his lips trembling: "I...I'm not taking the exam anymore, I'm giving up!"
The school instructor sneered, "The life-or-death contract has been signed. Is the martial arts examination a child's play? You can't just come and go as you please! Take him in!"
There was absolutely no room for negotiation.
As soon as he finished speaking, two guards from the Xuanzi Room grabbed the man from either side and threw him into the training room without saying a word.
With a muffled thud, the door slammed shut.
"I beg for mercy, I beg for mercy... Ah..."
Another scream rang out.
In just a few dozen breaths, the door opened again.
Chen Ye saw that the examinee was covered in blood, his legs were strangely bent, and he crawled out with his hands.
A winding trail of blood was left on the bluestone ground, a shocking sight.
Subsequently, the remaining training rooms also closed one after another.
Those who emerged were all wounded and in a sorry state.
Only at this moment did everyone truly realize that this competition was far more rigorous than they had anticipated.
Serious injury, disability, and death are all normal occurrences.
Even seasoned martial artists who live on the edge of death find this atmosphere of unease difficult to bear, and some even feel a sense of fear.
"This is clearly intentional!" a furious voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
"The school administration is so strict with admissions at the beginning just to make room for the children of those with connections! They definitely think that those of us without backing are the easiest to bully and manipulate!"
Upon hearing this, the entire academy of examinees immediately stirred and echoed his sentiments.
One candidate took half a step forward, seemingly wanting to rush forward and argue.
The instructor maintaining order suddenly shouted, "Silence!"
He tapped the wall in the courtyard with the hilt of his knife, the rhythmic sound silencing everyone.
The instructor of the academy, his gaze sharp as a knife, swept over the crowd and questioned, "In previous years, the military examinations in the capital were entirely overseen by the Examination and Assessment Officer of the Ministry of Personnel, with examiners drawn from the military command. The list was also personally reviewed by His Majesty. Are you questioning His Majesty?"
A sudden, deathly silence fell over the courtyard.
"In the path of martial arts, it's simply a matter of the strong surviving and the weak dying. Why make so many convoluted rules? If you're simply inferior in skill, you shouldn't be making excuses!"
The school instructor sneered, "Besides, I warned you long ago that you would bear the consequences yourselves. Now that things are not going well, you're blaming fate and others? Hmph, no wonder you'll remain commoners your whole lives and never become scholars."
"I reiterate one point: this contest is a life-or-death struggle; the weak perish!"
"Prepare for the next batch!"
Chen Ye stood in the courtyard, his gaze falling on the door of the Xuan-character room.
At this moment, the door opened wide, and he could vaguely see an exaggerated figure standing inside the room, over two meters tall, with disheveled hair, like a heavy wall of flesh.
As time went by, fewer and fewer people remained standing in the courtyard.
Several exceptionally strong candidates emerged unscathed, achieving remarkable results.
"Number 68, Wang Baohe."
Upon hearing his name called, Wang Baohe shuddered and forced a smile at Chen Ye: "Brother Chen, I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, he staggered into the room with the character "Xuan".
Soon, a series of loud thuds of flesh colliding echoed from inside the room, before everything quieted down after a short while.
The door opened, and another body was carried out.
This is the second person to die today because of the competition.
The examiners in the Xuan-level room were clearly much more ruthless than those in the other rooms.
To date, everyone who goes in has either died or been maimed; no one has ever come out unharmed.
Chen Ye's usually calm face furrowed slightly, sensing that something was amiss.
He had a vague feeling that someone was deliberately targeting their team.
Unfortunately, he had no evidence and could not confirm the matter.
"Number 69, your turn!"
Chen Ye put aside his thoughts and, amidst the regretful and sympathetic gazes of the others in the courtyard, walked step by step into the Xuan-class martial arts training room.
After he entered the training room, the door behind him slammed shut.
Sunlight streamed through the window and onto the bluestone slabs of the room, forming beams of light in which tiny dust particles floated erratically.
Chen Ye looked up and saw that the training room was empty except for two figures.
The accountant in charge of recording the evaluation results, holding paper and pen in his hand, said indifferently, "Candidate number 69, please state your name."
"My name is Chen Ye."
The imposing figure opposite him, as tall as a mountain, suddenly opened his slightly closed eyes upon hearing the name, his eyes flashing with sharp light.
The randomly floating dust particles in the beam of light began to move violently, as if pushed outwards by an invisible force.
He slowly grinned, his eyes filled with undisguised amusement as he scrutinized him with interest, like a tiger that had been lurking for a long time, finally getting the prey it had been waiting for.
Chen Ye felt his hair stand on end.
He felt an inexplicable, intense, and almost tangible killing intent pressing down on him.
No, this person is after him.
Chen Ye's face darkened.
The accountant checked the roster in his hand, confirmed it was correct, and said calmly, "Alright, the exam can begin."
Chen Ye suddenly tilted his head and asked, "What level of achievement is needed to obtain an A grade?"
The clerk was taken aback, somewhat surprised by Chen Ye's calm demeanor; none of the candidates who had entered before him had been as composed as he was.
After a couple of breaths, he came to his senses and said, "Being able to hold out for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn is enough."
Chen Ye nodded, then turned his gaze back to Du Wang, looking him up and down before asking, "What if I kill him?"
The accountant was completely stunned and speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
"The instructors outside said that this competition is a life-or-death struggle, and those with lowly lives will die! Does the martial arts examination rule state that only the examinees can die, but the examiners cannot?"
"No... no."
"it is good."
Chen Ye said no more, met the other person's gaze, and took two steps forward.
The other person had eyes like copper bells and dark, yellowish skin.
The muscles on his two bare arms were twisted like the roots of an old tree.
Just standing there, he exudes a strong sense of oppression.
"You little brat, you've got some nerve... thinking you can kill me and steal my grades!"
Chen Ye shrugged and said, "Anyway, there's no rule against it. May I ask your name?"
"Du Wang!" The burly man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His laughter was deep and muffled like thunder as he reached out and slapped Chen Ye hard.
The movement seemed slow, but the hand was so large, like a fan, that it created a terrifying gust of wind with each swing.
A violent force, accompanied by a loud bang, slammed into Chen Ye's arms as he blocked.
The two forces collided head-on.
boom!