CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 35: SCRIMMAGE

As Fang Zhen went offline to rest, the entire livestream exploded.

"Why is he logging off so early today? I haven’t had enough yet!"

"Streamer, open the door! I still want to watch the goddess’s trembling figure during cultivation. I’ll pay you, just lie there like a corpse!"

"This is insane, they’ve all started official cultivation and are even ready to start wild dungeons, and we’re still stuck in the assessment tests. The key is I can’t even last three seconds. I’ll pay anyone who can carry me through, as soon as I pass, I’ll transfer a hundred thousand."

"A hundred thousand? Brother, don’t you know? A while back, a professional god-tier player was invited by a wealthy player to substitute play, and guess what happened?"

"Passed the test?"

"Well, that god-tier player did get through, but he got beaten so bad he was shouting. The money spent on deaths and revivals that day exceeded a hundred thousand. The wealthy player was furious and put out a reward of a million in the game surrogate industry, vowing to pass the assessment. Now many surrogate gods are frantically researching how to win."

"More than that, I heard that Su Wuming, the Lifeless Blade Saint of Pilgrimage, participated in Celestial Might’s entry test, which tested Descent of High Martial. The final result was he only lasted eleven seconds and didn’t pass. While he still joined Celestial Might, it became a joke within Pilgrimage."

"I heard too. It’s surprising that a saintly figure in Pilgrimage couldn’t even pass a test of a new game. Many doubt the claims of Su Wuming as the Blade Saint, so he declared that if any saintly figure could outperform him significantly, he’d retire from Pilgrimage and even leave Celestial Might."

"Yeah, because of his words, it seems that some saintly figures are also interested in trying it. After all, it’s rare for saintly figures in Pilgrimage to compete against each other—this is an opportunity, especially for other four major guilds, as it’s a good chance to strike against Celestial Might. Likely, many saintly figures will give it a try."

"Damn! If so many saintly figures from Pilgrimage come to take the test, someone will definitely pass. If we could study their method of passing, wouldn’t we see hope of passing too?"

With the audience in the livestream chatting back and forth, nobody cared whether Fang Zhen, the streamer, had stopped broadcasting; instead, they were filled with anticipation for the Descent of High Martial assessment.

Pilgrimage, being a masterpiece of martial arts, has saintly figures who are supreme experts, a group tackling the Descent of High Martial test should be a piece of cake.

Kurong City, Shadow of the Storm Club.

The morning sunlight barely reached the small building of the club, and a hundred people had already gathered in the club’s ground floor lobby, each wearing a uniform blue and white high-collar jacket, with the Shadow of the Storm’s three-headed wolf emblem on their arm.

"Captain, all six main members and one hundred and twenty reserve members are here."

A young man under twenty with a crew cut stepped forward, reporting loudly to the captain of Shadow of the Storm Team, Li Ranxing, while checking the time on his phone.

"The coaches have gone to welcome the Blue Demoness Team. They should arrive in about five minutes."

"Good, fall back in."

Li Ranxing glanced at the six main members present. Besides Fang Zhen, who seemed a bit off, the others were all in great spirits.

"Everyone, although today is just a mock match, it is a very precious match for us, Shadow of the Storm."

"Because today’s opponent is the Blue Demoness, a frequent top-four contender in the national tournament. Such opponents are hard to come by unless we make it to the top eight in the national tournament."

"So I hope you all perform well today. Based on today’s mock match performance, the coaches will likely readjust the roster, which is also the final list confirmation for the national tournament. Keep that in mind."

Following Li Ranxing’s words, both main and reserve members alike stood solemn, clearly having completely different attitudes towards this mock match.

Initially, everyone might have had a casual attitude, but now it’s time to go all out.

The exchange match between the two teams is divided into two parts: the first part is a formal mock match between the two teams, the second part is for Blue Demoness to observe the Shadow of the Storm’s reserve members group matches.

Originally, this exchange match didn’t matter to the reserve members, it was mainly for the main members. But now, hearing what Captain Li Ranxing said, the national tournament roster hasn’t been finalized yet.

The national tournament for Mecha Continent typically involves seven main players and three reserves. Each tournament features a five versus five team battle, and the lineup is adjusted based on the venue and opponent team each match.

Since the roster isn’t finalized, it means everyone has a chance to compete for a spot as a main player today.

"Little Zhen, are you alright? Why are you shaking?"

Li Ranxing looked at Fang Zhen, who was shaking in the main roster position at the front, furrowing his brows.

Today’s mock match can be said to be the one he values most, not just to see the overall disparity between Shadow of the Storm Team and Blue Demoness Team, but also to aim for a win against Blood Flame Gun Girl, Chen Ya.

After all, the reason Blue Demoness Team agreed to a mock match with Shadow of the Storm Team is primarily because Chen Ya sought revenge; otherwise, the two teams wouldn’t even have the chance for a mock match.

If this mock match were influenced by Fang Zhen, it would greatly impact the entire team’s confidence.

"Me? I’m fine." Fang Zhen quickly stopped his limbs from shaking upon hearing this.

"Fang Zhen, you’ll play the rear support role, and if I find you have any issues, I’ll replace you immediately!" Li Ranxing warned Fang Zhen with a somewhat grim expression, initially thinking this would be Fang Zhen’s last match, but with Fang Zhen’s attitude, he clearly isn’t taking the mock match seriously.

"Yes!" Fang Zhen responded promptly.

As Li Ranxing turned his gaze towards the seven members of Blue Demoness entering through the door, Fang Zhen let out a sigh of relief.

"What’s happening to me?"

Fang Zhen looked at his hands and legs with a puzzled expression.

Ever since logging off Descent of High Martial, Fang Zhen felt his body was strange, with a vague sensation that his body didn’t feel like his own.

This wasn’t a lack of control over his body; rather, it was the opposite. He had too fine a control over his body, enabling each of his ten toes to curl individually, and every muscle in his body seemed to move according to his will, moving whichever he wanted whenever he wanted.

Just because he tried it once, it made Li Ranxing notice him shaking, and he was shaking quite a bit.

On the other side, Li Ranxing had already approached the seven members of Blue Demoness.

"Captain Chen, I didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon." Li Ranxing greeted the striking woman before him, standing tall at 1.8 meters, her single ponytail swinging with her waist, looking stunning even with sunglasses on.

"Captain Li, long time no see indeed." Chen Ya removed her sunglasses, with a slightly teasing look in her eyes, "Three months have passed, I’m not sure if Captain Li’s skills have improved, if not much, then I’d be disappointed."

"Improvement is certain." Li Ranxing said confidently, "Since my debut, no one has caught up once I’ve surpassed them, and I won’t disappoint Captain Chen this time either."

"Let’s hope so." Chen Ya said, no longer looking at Li Ranxing, her eyes glanced directly at the game pods ready in the hall, "We’re in a rush, we need to exchange with the other top four teams later, let’s get started quickly."

The other six members of the Blue Demoness Team also showed no intention of following the Shadow of the Storm Team’s arrangements, moving to the virtual game pods on one side.

This scene made the club members who intended to showcase Shadow of the Storm’s prowess look grim, especially the coaches whose faces were so dark they could drip water, but could only signal everyone to directly start the mock match.

Although this exchange mock match was proposed by Blue Demoness, everyone knows they’re here for Li Ranxing. As for the others, they don’t even care.

In no time, both teams quickly selected five participants, all of whom laid down in the virtual game pods.

"You guys quickly handle those small fry, and leave Li Ranxing to me." Chen Ya instructed before directly clicking the Mecha Continent icon and entering the game.

The other four members of Blue Demoness also said nothing; a team of only national top thirty-two was not worth their seriousness, and swiftly entered Mecha Continent.

"Although I don’t know what’s happening today, but my mental state is unusually good!"

"Mecha Continent, start!"

Laying inside the Virtual Game Pod, Fang Zhen decided not to dwell on what was happening to him, clicked the icon, and entered Mecha Continent.