Chapter 18
The scholarship examination began.
The moment Lin Yan arrived at the examination grounds, pressure crashed down on him like a physical force. The open arena stretched endlessly, filled with thousands of candidates. Some wore family crests embroidered with gold thread. Others radiated confidence so strong it made the air feel heavy.
These were not ordinary students.
They were genius children from powerful martial arts families.
Lin Yan could hear whispers everywhere.
"That one is from the Iron Fist Clan."
"She broke through to Early Ki Stage at fifteen."
"He killed his first beast at fourteen…"
Lin Yan quietly swallowed.
Out of thousands, only three hundred to five hundred would be accepted.
The scholarship was funded by the government. It did not exist to help the weak—it existed to select monsters.
First Test: Written Examination
The exam papers were distributed.
The questions were brutal—strategy, battlefield judgment, Ki circulation theory, emergency survival logic. One mistake could cost everything.
Lin Yan took a deep breath.
He answered calmly.
Star silently assisted, filtering distractions, sharpening focus, suppressing panic.
Around him, candidates began sweating. Some cursed under their breath. Others trembled so badly they couldn't write.
Lin Yan finished early.
When he submitted his paper, several elite candidates glanced at him in surprise.
Second Test: Punch Capacity
A massive metal machine stood in the center of the arena. One by one, candidates stepped forward and struck it. Numbers flashed.
1,200 kg.
1,850 kg.
2,300 kg.
Cheers erupted when a genius from a famous family broke 3,000 kg.
Then it was Lin Yan's turn.
He stepped forward slowly.
Star's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"Recommended output: 30%. Higher values may attract attention."
Lin Yan nodded slightly.
He punched.
The machine shook violently.
The number froze… then climbed.
2,980 kg.
The arena fell silent.
"That's… just under three thousand?"
"Who is he?"
"He's not from any major family!"
Lin Yan flexed his fingers casually, pretending his hand hurt.
Inside, his heart pounded.
Third Test: Dexterity and Agility
The candidates were thrown into a shifting obstacle field—moving platforms, falling blades, collapsing paths. Some sections were deliberately lethal.
A scream echoed as someone misstepped and vanished into the void below.
Blood stained the arena floor.
This was no longer an exam.
This was survival.
Lin Yan moved.
Not too fast. Not too slow.
When platforms collapsed, he jumped just early enough. When blades swept past, he twisted with perfect timing. Every movement looked ordinary—but none were wasted.
Star constantly warned him.
"Danger left."
"Fatal drop ahead."
"Reaction window: 0.3 seconds."
Lin Yan passed.
Dozens failed.
Some were injured.
Some were carried away unconscious.
Some… were not carried away at all.
As Lin Yan reached the end of the test, he finally understood.
This scholarship was not about talent.
It was about who could live through it.
And for the first time—
Lin Yan felt confident.