CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 15: SHADOW RACE

[Physique: Mortal Body (B Level)]

[Talent: Newborn]

Jiang Ye looked at the top of Zhao Qingli’s head, thinking to himself, "Just like me, she has a B Level physique, and she’s a second-year student, but her total score has already reached 700 points."

Her current score is 700 points, but it doesn’t mean her college entrance exam score will be the same.

There is still an entire year before the college entrance exam.

Next year, Zhao Qingli will only far exceed this score.

"Right now, there is still a significant gap between me and these newly talented geniuses."

Jiang Ye sighed, but his mindset was very calm.

There’s a long road ahead, and one day he will catch up!

Of course, he also knew very well that even if he surpassed the new talents, it would only be the beginning.

In this era, geniuses are as plentiful as fish crossing the river.

As the cultural class teacher said.

Talent is divided into four levels: Original, Newborn, Tao Bone, Extraordinary.

The outstanding among the Newborn talents can break through the First Break in the third year and become a Star Sky Martial Arts Master.

While the Tao Bone talents, becoming a Star Sky Martial Arts Master in the third year is just basic, breaking through the Second Break before the college entrance exam is not deemed difficult.

But even so, they are not considered true geniuses.

What is a true genius?

Starting cultivation from the age of ten, the First Break at twelve, the Second Break at fifteen, reaching the Third Break by the time they turn eighteen!

This is Extraordinary Talent!

Also the true darlings of the world.

Ordinary people can only start cultivating at fifteen, but those with this born Extraordinary Ability start five years earlier, naturally far beyond comparison with ordinary people.

However, even this kind of genius is not the strongest. It is said there are even stronger talents above, but that level is too far from An City.

The realm of Martial Arts is endless.

Prodigies shine like the stars!

"Someday, I might reach that level too."

Having lived two lives, Jiang Ye’s blood is still hot, filled with yearning.

At this moment, the group from Class 9 had already walked into the spherical building.

In front of them was a vast metal hall.

In the center of the hall, there were rows of metal seats, each with a silver-white metal helmet placed on it.

And at the front of the hall, a giant screen displayed the ranking for the whole grade.

[First place: Zhao Qingli: 710 points]

[Second place: Lin Miaomiao: 652 points]

[Third place: Wang Ziang...]

Nearly all of the top one hundred rankings consisted of students from the special classes.

Occasionally, a few students from regular classes would squeeze in, usually at the bottom ranks.

"Strange, the special class includes students with Lower A level physique, but the first place is an individual with a B Level physique like Zhao Qingli?"

Jiang Ye glanced at the surrounding special class students and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Logically, an A Level physique far surpasses a B Level one.

But as far as he knows, Zhao Qingli’s name has been firmly in the first position since the first year.

"Is it because of her talent, or other factors?" Jiang Ye thought thoughtfully.

As he pondered, it was already time for Class 9 to start their assessment.

...

"Now, let’s start the numbering!"

Zhang Jianwu stood at the front of Class 9’s team and spoke loudly.

Everyone became excited at once.

They weren’t here for the first time; occasionally, during normal classes, they would experience this.

The Virtual Starry Sky practical assessment involved forming groups of five.

The assessment content consisted of team combat within a virtual world against the ’Shadow Race.’

The scoring of this assessment was based on the number of ’Shadow Race’ killed and the casualties of the team.

Team formation wasn’t random; the school system would number them to ensure that each team had equivalent strength.

Of course, this numbering was done class by class.

So the students from the special classes definitely scored higher on this assessment, as the average quality was better.

"Jiang Ye, Xia Qing, Tao Xiaogang, He Hua, Li Xuan."

Jiang Ye was a bit surprised to hear his group.

Xia Qing, the girl who often brought him water.

As for the other three, they were mid to lower-level students, not very close to him.

Yet at this moment, the three quickly gathered around Jiang Ye.

"Brother Jiang, please carry us!"

"Yes, Brother Jiang, among us you’re the strongest, we’ll rely on you to lead us."

Jiang Ye smiled slightly and said, "This is a team effort; everyone is important. Let’s work hard together."

"Yes, let’s work hard together."

The group said in unison; they naturally obeyed Jiang Ye, who was ranked second in the class.

Jiang Ye glanced at Xia Qing, who was secretly looking at him and suddenly said, "Xia Qing, be careful not to get taken out by the monsters immediately."

"Ah?" Xia Qing was momentarily stunned, then her face turned slightly red, and she quickly nodded, "I will be careful."

Tao Xiaogang, seeing this, immediately said, "Brother Jiang, don’t worry, Xia Qing is the only girl on our team; we’ll definitely protect her!"

Jiang Ye nodded, not saying much.

He definitely had to protect Xia Qing since having a girl on the team granted him a 35% attack speed bonus, and there was even a chance to trigger a 50% damage boost!

"I wonder if I can rely on this ability to take first place."

Jiang Ye silently glanced at Li Zhichao in the distance.

First place came with a thirty thousand yuan poverty aid scholarship, which he very much coveted.

...

Team assignments were complete.

Li Zhichao remained calm, still confident in maintaining his first place position.

On the other side, Xu Sisi clenched her fists, a hint of determination flickering in her almond-shaped eyes.

"In this assessment, my speed is my advantage; whether I can reclaim second place depends on this time," Xu Sisi thought to herself.

This was when Zhang Jianwu spoke, "Each group, proceed in order to your seats, and begin the Virtual Starry Sky assessment!"

Everyone started to move.

Jiang Ye walked to his seat and put on the silver-white virtual helmet.

The virtual helmet, also called the "Brain Nerve Connector," communicated with brain waves through neutrinos, allowing people to instantly fall into a sleep-like state.

As he put on the helmet.

Jiang Ye’s consciousness sank.

The next moment, he found himself in a corner of a virtual city.

Together with Jiang Ye were Xia Qing, Tao Xiaogang, and two others.

The moon was high, the wind howling.

The streetlights were dim yellow.

"It’s so real..."

Jiang Ye looked around at the environment, still unable to help but marvel, even though he had been there before.

The Virtual Starry Sky could recreate reality in a 1:1 ratio, and it could even fully restore pain sensations.

In other words, any injuries here would immediately affect one’s combat ability.

"Huff!"

Right then, in front of them, within a shadowy area.

A pitch-black figure, resembling liquid, slowly solidified from the shadows.

As the shadow solidified, a chilling and bone-piercing cold wind suddenly rose.

"Shadow Race—Infant Body!"

Jiang Ye’s eyes sharpened as he shouted, "Prepare for battle!"

The other four tightened their expressions.

The Shadow Race was exceedingly powerful.

An Infant Body stood between one and a half to two meters, while a Juvenile Body could reach over three meters.

Facing a Juvenile Body required at least a First Break Martial Arts Master to handle.

While the Infant Body before them was about one and a half meters, the weakest among its kind, it still took the strength of five to manage.

"Hiss!"

The black shadow emitted a hiss, lunging toward them suddenly.

However, just as Jiang Ye and the others put in their full effort, the shadow mysteriously vanished.

Tao Xiaogang and the others were momentarily stunned.

Jiang Ye shouted, "Watch your backs!"

The Shadow Race favored possessing shadows.

Jiang Ye remembered, Chen Zilu repeatedly emphasized the need to always keep shadow positioning in mind during combat.

At the start of the battle, Jiang Ye noticed his shadow was behind him.

He suddenly turned around.

There it was, a gaping mouth lunging straight at him.

35% attack speed boost!

Farmer’s Triple Punch!

Bang, bang, bang——

"""