Chapter 53 - Challenged

Chapter 53: Challenged

“Probably Tan Fengying…”

Xu Ning replied to Tao Qingyuan’s question.

This question didn’t mean much to Xu Ning. He was already in the mortal realm fourth stage, so he did not have any worthy opponents in Camp Site Three.

“I heard that Tan Fengying has been working hard in martial arts recently, and has made great progress. He is only one step away from the qi realm, so I’m afraid he’s not easy to deal with.”

Tao Qingyuan suggested to Xu Ning. “There is another yellow plate holder in Tan Village, named Tan Chang. Her strength is weaker, so you should challenge her instead.”

“Tan Chang?”

Xu Ning knew the existence of this person. During their brawl back in the dining hall, Tao Jin and Tan Chang fought back and forth fiercely.

“I’ll see tomorrow.”

Xu Ning did not care who his opponent was.

Tao Qingyuan looked suspiciously at Xu Ning.

‘Could it be that Xu Ning…’

Tao Qingyuan felt that Xu Ning might have improved even further.

‘But Xu Ning had just been promoted to the inner enrichment realm not long ago.’

“Cyan…”

Tao Qingping interrupted the conversation between the two of them. “How are the other people in the village faring?”

Tomorrow was the assessment. Even Tao Qingping’s heart was beating fast, he had no confidence in his own strength at all.

“Everyone is around the same, everyone is nervous.”

Tao Qingyuan chatted and joked around with everyone tonight, and the purpose was to relieve everyone’s nervousness.

As the most central figure in their community, this was his responsibility.

After chatting with Xu Ning in Tao Qingping’s yoom, Tao Qingyuan was about to head out.

He had to find Tao Jin.

Tao Qingyuan felt that Tao Jin was not in the right condition. It seemed that she had reached a bottleneck in her martial arts practice.

Tao Qingyuan would have to figure it out himself tomorrow.

“Xu Ning…”

Before leaving, Tao Qingyuan sighed. “You have become an acting lieutenant in less than two months since you joined the Black Armored Guards. You’re the most successful person out of the Tao Village.”

Xu Ning knew Tao Qingyuan well. He had a very open mind and was not jealous at all.

“I was just lucky to be chosen by Captain Qu.”

Xu Ning waved his hand dismissively as he replied.

Tao Qingyuan noticed that Xu Ning was still humble like before, which was quite admirable.

Their relationship had not changed because of Xu Ning’s promotion.

It was rare for a person with a foreign name such as Xu Ning to be able to fit into the Tao Village circle.

“Alright then, good luck with the assessment tomorrow.”

Tao Qingyuan bid farewell to Xu Ning and left to find Tao Jin.

…

The next day.

The newcomers at Camp Site Three all got up early.

After eating at the dining hall, they all went to the school field.

Three wooden arenas have been set up on the school field, with weapons of different styles placed next to them.

These weapons were real swords and knives, but they were not sharpened.

After everyone waited for a while, Wei Changqing and Master Qu Dayou finally arrived together.

There was also a team of Black Armored Guards who would be responsible for their evaluation today.

These Black Armored Guards were not newcomers from Camp Site Three; they were instead subordinates of Master Wei Changqing.

The assessment venue had been prepared, and the staff responsible for the assessment had already arrived. At last, the assessment was about to begin.

Wei Changqing was already sitting down on a platform next to the school field.

Qu Dayou stood beside him.

After seeing that everything was ready, Qu Dayou began to shout.

“I’m sure you all know the rules of the assessment, but I will repeat them again.”

“Firstly, the form of the assessment is actual combat. I know that some of you are weaker in strength but are talented, so you might think that this assessment is unfair.”

“But in fact, if you fight against an enemy, they don’t care about your talent, they only care about how to kill you. In the end, converting your talent to your strength is the most important thing.”

“Moreover, over the past three months, those of you who are relatively talented, holding cyan and yellow plates, also enjoyed more resources. If your plates get downgraded this time, you can only blame yourselves.”

Master Qu Dayou’s words triggered some people in the crowd.

But at the same time, it also gave hope to those who were initially identified as having mediocre potential, but had made progress through hard work.

“Secondly, about the challenge. Today, everyone has a chance to challenge those above you. If the challenge is successful, you will obtain the plates and resources of your opponent. If your challenge is unsuccessful, you will stay at your current plate level. Note that if you demote to a lower rank plate, you will no longer have a challenge opportunity.”

“Also, as long as you have been challenged once today, you can refuse additional challenges, that is, unless all other members from your plate have already been challenged as well. At the same time, remember that you cannot challenge a person two plates above you.”

This rule was beneficial to the challenged to a certain extent.

Because after being challenged once, they could reject all subsequent challenges, so they wouldn’t have to worry about their stamina.

“Okay, the assessment has officially begun!”

“Next, starting with the gray plates, draw straws to determine the challenge order.”

Qu Dayou gave a Black Armored Guard a gesture, indicating that it was time to start.

The school field, which had more than one hundred people on it, was completely silent. The atmosphere was intense.

Xu Ning was in the crowd. He saw a hint of nervousness on everyone’s face.

He noticed that Tao Jin, who was at the back of the crowd, had been clenching her fists with a serious expression on her face.

“The first gray plate challenger, Tao Qingping, the second gray plate challenger, Tan Fenglu…”

The Black Armored Guard took out three paper strips from a gray wooden box.

He opened them one by one and read the names of three people.

Three challenges were conducted at once, which was why there were three wooden arenas on the school field.

“The first one is me?”

After Tao Qingping’s name was pronounced, his expression was nervous, with a hint of joy.

According to the rules, the person who went first had the largest selection of opponents.

In this case, he could choose a relatively weak opponent and leave the stronger ones to others.

The three men walked out at the same time and arrived in front of the arenas.

“Name the cyan plate holders you want to challenge.”

The Black Armored Guard asked them.

“I choose Tan Fenghe from the Tan Village.”

Tao Qingping was the first to select his opponent.

Tao Qingping did his homework before this, and he chose the weakest cyan plate holder in the Tan Village.

“I choose Xu Ning from the Tao Village!”

As for the second gray plate challenger Tan Fenglu, his chosen opponent was Xu Ning.

Xu Ning felt that everyone from the Tao Village had their attention focused on him.

He really didn’t expect to be selected already.

But Xu Ning didn’t panic at all. He just walked to the arena calmly.

‘Tan Fenglu must know how strong Xu Ning is right…’

Tao Qingyuan was a little suspicious: “I’ve asked around before this. This Tan Fenglu guy is not weak. After entering the Black Armored Guards, he practiced together with Tan Fengying, causing his strength to greatly increase. His chances of defeating a cyan plate holder is high… However, he just happened to challenge Xu Ning, what a waste of opportunity.”

Tao Qingyuan suddenly noticed that Tan Fenglu, who was on the stage, glanced at Tan Fengying in the crowd.

Tao Qingyuan realized instantly that Tan Fenglu was following Tan Fengying’s instructions.

‘He’s giving up a cyan plate, in order to help Tan Fengying figure out Xu Ning’s strength… The Tan Village is so cunning.’

Tao Qingyuan thought to himself.

Xu Ning also noticed the eye contact between Tan Fenglu and Tan Fengying.

But in Xu Ning’s opinion, none of this meant anything.

The gap between the qi realm and the inner enrichment realm was too vast. Unless his opponent was in the perfection realm of an external skill, he would not be able to compete against Xu Ning at all.

Xu Ning looked forward to the fight.

This was the first time he would fight someone after reaching the qi realm.

He would use this fight as an opportunity to test his qi realm strength.