Chapter 67: Gap, Scoring

After listening to the scoring competition's rules for a while, Zhang Yu generally understood the format.

"Sensors will be affixed to various parts of my body and also to the Yellow Turban Warrior. Each time a sensor is hit, the strike will be recorded."

"For instance, hitting a sensor on the Yellow Turban Warrior's back earns 5 points, the chest 3 points, and an arm 1 point."

"Conversely, if a sensor on my back is hit, 5 points will be deducted..."

"The final score will be calculated based on one minute of combat."

"Naturally, there's also an alternative: knocking the Yellow Turban Warrior directly out of bounds instantly adds 300 points."

Zhang Yu understood that the scoring competition's purpose was to prevent high-scoring participants from being grouped together in the upcoming group stage, thus avoiding their premature elimination.

"This means powerful competitors are unlikely to intentionally conceal too much of their strength, as doing so might land them in the same group as another formidable opponent."

Pondering this, Zhang Yu nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward the Yellow Turban Warrior.

It was a humanoid figure, over two meters tall, clad in golden armor and wearing a golden mask. Its exposed muscles resembled marble and were intricately carved with dense runes.

"Hmm... it feels like something's missing..."

As Zhang Yu was thinking this, staff members sprayed slogans onto the Yellow Turban Warrior. Its chest now displayed "Oasis Food: Healthy Eating for All Kunxu Citizens," and its back read "Microlan Medicine: Super Energetic, Super Wild, Absolutely Dominant."

Seeing this, Zhang Yu finally nodded, muttering to himself, "I knew something was missing; this feels right."

He remembered that Oasis Food was a company promoting synthetic food, backed by the Underworld Palace, one of the Ten Great Sects.

Microlan Medicine, unlike Ziyun Pharmaceuticals, specialized in combat-enhancing drugs and was a sponsor of this martial arts competition.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen, observing the Yellow Turban Warrior, remarked, "Songyang High is simply inferior to Bailong High. Look, they use Yellow Turban Warriors for exams and competitions, while we still make students fight each other."

Zhang Yu nodded, saying, "This Yellow Turban Warrior is incredibly realistic; it looks just like a real person."

Bai Zhenzhen, who was also seeing a Yellow Turban Warrior in person for the first time, agreed, "That's typical of rich people; they enjoy making expensive things look worthless."

"For example, turning designer clothes into something resembling a trash bag, or making a Yellow Turban Warrior look human, like this."

Zhang Yu suddenly had an idea: "So, do you think our school could hire someone to play the Yellow Turban Warrior?"

Just then, Lei Jun, their martial arts combat teacher and the organizer of Songyang High School's combat exams, spoke with a dark expression: "Someone who can perform as a Yellow Turban Warrior... do you think their labor costs would be cheap?"

"Who do you think would pay to hire such a person? Do you want to pay monthly fees just to take your monthly exams?"

With a cold snort, Lei Jun gestured towards the arena with his chin: "The first round of the scoring competition is about to start. Watch carefully and learn well; don't embarrass me when it's your turn."

Earlier, when the participants gathered, Bailong High School, as the host, had already distributed contestant numbers and badges. Soon, they would take turns entering the arena to face the Yellow Turban Warrior according to their assigned numbers.

Under everyone's gaze, the host ascended the stage and walked over to the Yellow Turban Warrior.

"Welcome everyone to this year's Songyang City Freshman Martial Arts Championship, proudly presented by Oasis Food and Microlan Medicine."

"Delicious and all-natural, promoting natural wellness. All meals at this venue are provided by Oasis Group."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen simultaneously spat in disdain.

Synthetic food? Not even a dog would eat that.

The host continued, "With a thousand years of heritage, a must-have for any outing, Microlan Medicine is your trusted companion, whether for arena duels or street brawls... Competitors, if you require any medication, please feel free to purchase it at the pop-up pharmacy beside the arena."

Finally, after the host concluded all the commercial announcements, the first round of the scoring competition was set to begin.

"Next, please welcome our first competitor!"

A competitor wearing a Bailong High School uniform stepped onto the stage. As the countdown reached 3, 2, 1, they immediately engaged the Yellow Turban Warrior in combat.

Zhang Yu could see that the Bailong student's strength and speed were on par with the Yellow Turban Warrior, which boasted a physical strength level of 1.98.

Every punch and kick exhibited an unyielding and fierce style, as they rigidly blocked the Yellow Turban Warrior's blows while simultaneously striking its sensors to earn points.

From a distance, it appeared as though two massive bears were tearing into each other on the stage, each impact resounding like clashing metal, truly breathtaking.

After one minute, the Bailong student had accumulated a total of 128 points.

The next few competitors to enter the arena were from either Bailong High School, Ziyun High School, or Hongta High School.

The more Qian Shen watched, the more astonished he became: "These top students from the three major high schools—each of them would undoubtedly be the strongest among Songyang High's freshmen in terms of physical strength. Is the gap truly this wide? Are Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen expected to fight opponents like these today?"

He Dayou, however, showed no surprise: "Unless they can join our school's athletic competition team and undergo a special training program, it's impossible to surpass the physical strength of these strongest 'monsters' from the three major high schools."

"Not to mention the disparities in other aspects like magic power, martial arts, spiritual roots, and so on. When all of that is combined in actual combat... it becomes even more disheartening."

As the son of the school board director, He Dayou was intimately aware of the disparity between Songyang High School and the three major high schools.

For instance, when it comes to the highly coveted spots in the top ten universities each year, Songyang High's most brilliant students often only get to contend for them with Bailong High's second-tier talents, after Bailong High's absolute top students have claimed their shares.

Just then, a Bailong student, towering over two and a half meters tall like a Titan, slowly ascended the stage.

Standing before this student, even the Yellow Turban Warrior appeared significantly more slender.

With this student's entrance, the Bailong students who had been sitting primly in the audience suddenly rose to their feet, erupting in applause and cheers.

Zhang Yu, however, was more focused on the opponent's current hairstyle: "Isn't that Song Hailong? Why did his hairstyle change?"

Song Hailong was Bailong High School's top-ranked student, the competitor whose uniform prominently displayed a large '1' on both the chest and back.

Zhang Yu recalled that during his last participation in the magic competition, Song Hailong had long, spiky hair.

Today, however, it was a short, spiky crew cut.

Song Hailong gave a slight smile, then extended a hand and made a calming gesture towards the audience. Instantly, the Bailong students, who had just been cheering and applauding, resumed their seats and fell silent.

Witnessing this, Zhang Yu suddenly recalled the rumored "low-score slavery" system at Bailong High School; those Bailong students in the audience truly obeyed Song Hailong's every command without question.

Bai Zhenzhen, scrutinizing Song Hailong's new hairstyle, commented, "He must have changed his external spiritual root again!"

"His previous external spiritual root was clearly for influencing spiritual energy and cultivating magic power."

"Since this is a martial arts combat competition, Song Hailong must have switched to a combat-oriented spiritual root."

With that, Bai Zhenzhen turned to Zhang Yu, urging, "Yu Zi, Yu Zi, quickly get out your 100,000-value talisman scroll and use the Sky Eye Talisman to examine Song Hailong's true nature."

Over the past two weeks, besides focusing on martial arts, Zhang Yu had also familiarized himself with the talisman scroll from time to time.

However, he dared not touch any of its other features, only utilizing his one free daily usage to practice spells.

The two spells he practiced most frequently were the Arrest Talisman and the Sky Eye Talisman, both taught at school.

At that moment, Zhang Yu cautiously took out the talisman scroll, his fingertips gliding quickly across its surface. As the Sky Eye Talisman activated, he immediately perceived the world differently.

For non-clerics, this was the equivalent of a "recharged" vision.

Evaluation tags appeared above everyone's heads. Zhang Yu, having practiced several times, was already accustomed to this vision and focused intently on Song Hailong on the stage.

Elephant Tendon Physique (expand details)Elephant Tendon Physique, Demon Slayer, Heavenly Spirit Embodiment, Undefeated Fighting Spirit, Bailong Slave Master Family Son, King.

Meanwhile, on the stage, Song Hailong let out a wild laugh, grabbed the Yellow Turban Warrior's large hand, and then, to the shock of everyone present, bellowed and flung the Yellow Turban Warrior away with a powerful heave.

In less than a single second, the battle was over.

Song Hailong scored 300 points.

The Bailong students in the audience immediately burst into fervent applause and cheers.

As they watched Song Hailong slowly descend from the stage, many competitors felt they were not observing a person, but rather a ferocious giant beast.

Qian Shen, witnessing this scene, gasped, "Song Hailong, 683 points in the last monthly exam... seeing him in action firsthand is indeed as astonishing as that score."

Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing, who had just arrived at the venue and was still searching for Qian Shen in the audience, suddenly witnessed the scene on the stage: "That's too brutal. Are Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen going to fight a monster like that?"

A hint of worry surged through him: "Will they really be alright? They won't get severely injured, will they?"

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu looked at the long string of evaluation tags above Song Hailong's head: "What is all this?"

After Zhang Yu read them aloud, Bai Zhenzhen explained, "I know 'Heavenly Spirit Embodiment.' It likely refers to an Embodiment Spiritual Root, which is a combat-oriented root among the Heavenly Spiritual Roots. The spiritual pathways formed by this root envelop the entire body, comprehensively boosting the user's strength, speed, stamina, and resilience to attacks."

Zhang Yu couldn't help but steal another glance at Bai Zhenzhen: "Ah Zhen, this guy, even recognized the external spiritual root at first glance last time."

"He clearly can't afford a spiritual root, yet he knows so many of them?"

When Bai Zhenzhen was uncertain about the other evaluation tags, Lei Jun, who was behind them, suddenly interjected, "Implanted with elephant demon muscles, long-term combat experience with demonic beasts, minimal negative emotions, a top Bailong student, and the Song family's ace son of this generation."

Zhang Yu was surprised: "Old Lei, you understand the Sky Eye Talisman too?"

Observing their surprised looks, Lei Jun calmly stated, "If Daoist arts could be used for free like yours, they would indeed be quite useful."

Old Lei! You've betrayed martial arts!

With Lei Jun's explanations, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen gained even more insight from this scoring competition.

On the stage that followed, more formidable competitors began to showcase their strength.

First, Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School unleashed a torrent of punches and kicks, completely overwhelming the Yellow Turban Warrior, whose physical strength was maintained at level 1.98, scoring an impressive 261 points.

Shortly after, a student from Hongta High School, who resembled a brown bear, entered the arena. He instantly tackled the Yellow Turban Warrior to the ground, then flung it away, scoring 300 points.

Not long after, Le Mulan from Ziyun High School made her appearance. With just one hand, she pinned the Yellow Turban Warrior to the ground, completely subduing it.

Then, she repeatedly kicked the sensor on the Yellow Turban Warrior's back, continuing until her score reached 305 points—just surpassing Song Hailong's 300. Only then did she stop, cast a glance at Song Hailong, and descend from the stage.

However, from the moment Le Mulan appeared, the Ziyun students in the audience remained completely silent.

Zhao Tianxing found this peculiar.

Upon hearing this, Qian Shen explained in detail, "Ziyun High School's scores are updated daily based on students' classroom performance, and grade rankings are also refreshed every day. The top student of the grade each day can establish a school-wide rule for all students that lasts for one day, provided it doesn't disrupt academic order."

"As far as I know, Le Mulan has consistently held the top rank in Ziyun's freshman year since the first day of school."

"The daily rule she set has never changed."

"That is, all freshman students must remain silent in her presence, and 'commoner' students with scores below 650 are not permitted to speak to her without her explicit permission."

"Commoner students with scores below 650?" Hearing this, Zhao Tianxing instantly felt personally insulted.

However, recalling that Qian Shen, who was speaking, also scored below 650, he promptly adjusted his mindset.

Zhao Tianxing asked, "How do you know so much?"

Qian Shen smiled faintly, "I've conducted a fair bit of research into matters concerning the three major high schools."

Meanwhile, in the competitor's area, Song Hailong, clearly provoked, burst out laughing and declared, "Le Mulan, I'll be waiting for you in the finals!"