Chapter 70: Chapter 68: 1,000 Kills!
7:00 PM.
After dinner, Jiang Ye walked to his room, ready to begin a night of cultivation.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, his wristband vibrated.
"A file from Director Zhang?" Jiang Ye’s expression changed slightly as he opened the wristband’s projection.
Beep~!
The file opened.
"Preparatory Star Profession Assessment Plan?"
Seeing this title, Jiang Ye couldn’t help but feel a surge of energy as he began to read it carefully.
Soon, he had skimmed through the document.
"This assessment will last seven days."
"The first five days, go to the designated area to hunt the Shadow Race."
"Within five days, you must kill 1000 heads of the Shadow Race; those who don’t meet the kill count will be eliminated."
"On the sixth day, rest for a day."
"On the seventh day, those not eliminated will gather at the Examination Bureau for the Prep Star Profession specialty assessment."
As he quickly finished reading.
A look of shock appeared on Jiang Ye’s face.
"To kill more than 1000 heads of the Shadow Race in five days?"
This...
Even slicing through melons and vegetables isn’t that fast, right?
"Buzz buzz!"
The communication watch vibrated.
Jiang Ye answered the call.
On the other end, Zhang Jianwu’s voice came through: "You saw the assessment plan, right?"
"I saw it." Jiang Ye was a bit surprised: "Director, in five days, we have to kill 1000 heads of the Shadow Race?"
"Yes, I was also a bit surprised." Zhang Jianwu sighed: "Normally, for the Prep Star Profession Assessment, such a level of Shadow Disaster only requires killing 500 heads."
"500 heads?" Jiang Ye furrowed his brow.
That’s not a small number either.
But compared to 1000 heads, it certainly feels much more lenient.
"Why is it so strict this time?" Jiang Ye couldn’t help asking.
Zhang Jianwu said: "I looked into it and heard that starting this year, the Federation has increased the benefits for Preparatory Star Professionals and Star Professionals."
"So the assessment standards have also been raised considerably."
Jiang Ye’s expression changed, realizing that this statement could also be interpreted in reverse.
Because the assessment standards have been raised, so have the benefits.
After all, Star Professionals face many dangers, and the Federation likely needs more elites, rather than just anyone.
"Jiang Ye, this might not necessarily be a bad thing for you either."
Zhang Jianwu laughed: "Haven’t you always wanted to apply to the Eastern Domain’s top ten provinces? Originally, universities there only offered a maximum of 10 extra points."
"But now, maybe it can be over 20 points, or even more."
Jiang Ye nodded.
In the university entrance exam, an extra ten points could potentially mean surpassing tens of thousands of people.
"Of course, the prerequisite is successfully passing the assessment." Zhang Jianwu added: "Killing 1000 heads of the Shadow Race in five days is a bit challenging for you."
"It is a bit challenging." Jiang Ye nodded in agreement.
Zhang Jianwu said: "Don’t be discouraged. Tomorrow, I’ll give you something, and by then your combat power will have an incredible boost."
"An incredible boost?!" Jiang Ye slightly bewildered.
What could it be for the Director to use such a description?
"You’ll see by tomorrow." Zhang Jianwu laughed: "Have you refined all your Star Energy?"
"I have." Jiang Ye nodded.
During the Star Sky Refinement, he had already refined nearly ten thousand strands of Star Energy completely.
But Zhang Jianwu didn’t know about this.
He still thought Jiang Ye needed like an ordinary person, to take more than half a month to refine it.
"As long as it’s refined."
Zhang Jianwu continued: "Once I give you that item, you’ll also have a means of defending yourself."
"A means of defending myself?"
A vague guess surfaced in Jiang Ye’s mind, but he wasn’t sure.
"Oh, Director, what exactly is the specialty assessment?"
According to the assessment plan.
On the seventh day, those not eliminated must gather at the Examination Bureau for the specialty assessment.
"It’s mostly related to the Star Profession." Zhang Jianwu said: "Usually, it consists of two to three assessments."
"You need to defeat most of the participants and secure one of the top three positions to pass."
Jiang Ye listened attentively.
"For this Prep Star Profession Assessment, besides students from Cyan Yang High School, there will also be students from Cyan Yang Martial Arts University and some high school students from nearby small cities." Zhang Jianwu shared the information he had.
"University students are participating too?" Jiang Ye showed a look of surprise.
Cyan Yang University is a Martial Arts University located in Cyan Yang City.
Though it isn’t part of the Twenty-Five Schools Alliance, it’s ranked in the middle among the hundred ordinary martial arts universities.
Zhang Jianwu chuckled: "For the Prep Star Profession Assessment, as long as someone is below the Second Break, they can participate. Naturally, university students can too."
"But don’t worry."
"At that time, the Examination Bureau will suppress you all to the same level." Zhang Jianwu added.
Jiang Ye nodded.
Fairness and impartiality are the priorities of the Examination Bureau, so there’s no need to worry about that.
"Thank you for the reminder, Director." Jiang Ye expressed his gratitude.
He knew that much of this information was gathered by Zhang Jianwu from various sources.
Even if it wasn’t considered confidential, it wasn’t something an average person could know.
Having this much information about such an important exam ahead of time already put him ahead of many others.
"No need to thank me."
Zhang Jianwu sighed: "I have just this one recommendation quota, and if you can truly become a Prep Star Professional, it benefits me as well."
"Jiang Ye, good luck!"
"Yes, good luck!"
Jiang Ye nodded firmly.
...
After disconnecting the call, Jiang Ye moved to the center of the room.
He briefly sorted through the information he had gathered.
"Killing 1000 heads of the Shadow Race in five days... and then competing with students from Cyan Yang High School and even Cyan Yang University for the top three spots?"
Jiang Ye took a deep breath: "Is this how challenging the Prep Star Profession Assessment is?"
It’s truly difficult!
Indeed, no matter in which world, the path to establishment is fraught with challenges.
However, Jiang Ye has always believed that there’s no such thing as something good falling from the sky.
Only through arduous effort can one reap substantial rewards.
"Cultivation."
Jiang Ye assumed a fist stance and began cultivating the "Eight Thunder Sounds Fist."
"Hoo~"
A wisp of breath traveled through his body following his breathing.
Currently, this high-level Art Technique is nearing Great Success.
A surprising amount of breath he inhaled—and as much as thirty to forty percent—could enter his meridians.
In the beginning, it had only been one percent.
This meant his control over his breath had increased by thirty to forty times.
This leap forward also made him more adept with this Art Technique.
"Hoo!" "Bang!"
Jiang Ye continued his cultivation, each move blending steel with tenderness, becoming more adept.
Eight Thunder Sounds Fist: Minor Success (80%→81%)
Unconsciously, this high-level Art Technique had once again made substantial progress.
...
At 1:00 AM, Jiang Ye again entered the Second Layer of the Martial Arts Celestial Ladder for grueling training.
For this entire month, he had never stopped honing his skills in the Illusion Realm and through grueling training.
Although his Martial Arts Will was already strong.
Martial Arts has no limits.
Martial Arts Will is no exception and has no upper limit.
Jiang Ye had heard that those martial arts powerhouses standing firm in the Starry Sky had Martial Arts Will so powerful that it was visible to the naked eye.
This has always been the direction he pursued.
...
7:30 AM.
Jiang Ye got up and went to the living room.
Li Anping and Jiang Ting were already seated at the table having breakfast.
"Brother, you finally woke up!" Jiang Ting saw Jiang Ye and ran off the table to greet him.
"Little girl."
Jiang Ye smiled, ruffled her hair, and carried her to the dining table.
"Mom, why hasn’t Dad been home for the past few days?" Jiang Ye asked Li Anping confusedly.
Although Jiang Dahai worked the late shift at the Shadow Hunting Bureau.
He usually came home for breakfast in the mornings.
But these past few days, Jiang Ye hadn’t seen his adoptive father’s figure.
Li Anping smiled and said, "Your dad went on a business trip to Cyan Yang City a few days ago, didn’t he tell you?"
"Cyan Yang City?" Jiang Ye’s face suddenly froze.