But as Luo Sheng walked through the vast hall, the rainbow-colored attribute orbs were still there, still dropping from the training martial artists. But they were noticeably smaller. Dimmer. Less potent.
He approached a cluster of trainees practicing their punching forms and collected the orbs that had accumulated around them. Text flashed before his eyes:
[Strength +5 kg]
[Defense +6 kg]
[Strength +4 kg]
Yesterday, the orbs had granted him 20 or even 22 kilograms of strength at a time. Now they were giving him only 4 to 6 kilograms.
He moved to another section where trainees were running speed drills on the track.
[Speed +0.2 m/s]
[Defense +5 kg]
[Strength +5 kg]
[Speed +0.3 m/s]
[Defense +4 kg]
Luo Sheng's excitement dimmed slightly as understanding dawned on him. Of course. the higher my cultivation level, the less effective attribute drop rate become. I've already absorbed so much from these Junior Trainees that their orbs barely move the needle anymore.
It's like trying to fill a basket with drops of water. Each drop still adds something, but the impact is still small.
He spent the next hour methodically walking through every section of the training hall, collecting every orb he could find. But the gains continued to shrink with each collection:
[Strength +3 kg]
[Strength +2 kg]
[Defense +3 kg]
[Speed +0.2 m/s]
[Strength +1 kg]
[Defense +0.5 kg]
[Speed +0.1 m/s]
After more than hour of diligent collection, the attributes had become so weak they were almost not worth the effort. Single-digit strength gains. Fractions of defense improvements. Speed increases measured in decimals.
System, show status panel.
The translucent panel materialized before his eyes:
---
[Personal Attribute Panel]
Name: Luo Sheng
Rank: Apprentice Level (Intermediate Student)
Strength: 567 kg
Speed: 21.6 m/s
Defense: 563 kg
Cultivation Method: None
Skills: None
Storage: Empty
---
Luo Sheng studied the numbers thoughtfully. He'd gained some improvement—his strength had increased to 567 kg, and his speed had increased to 21.6 m/s.
The Junior Trainee building had served its purpose completely. Now it was time to move forward.
I need access to the Intermediate Student building, he thought decisively. The attribute orbs from Intermediate Students will be more potent, and there are fewer people at that level, meaning less competition for the orbs that drop.
But there was a problem: he couldn't simply walk into the Intermediate building. Access was restricted to those who had officially passed the assessment and earned the rank.
Luo Sheng took a deep breath and made his decision. There was no point in hiding his advancement—this world wasn't like the cutthroat cultivation stories where every genius was hunted down by jealous rivals. In a world where humanity faced extinction from mutant beasts beyond the walls, every strong warrior was an asset to civilization, not a threat.
He walked across the training hall toward the assessment area, where several instructors supervised the students and occasionally evaluated those seeking rank advancement.
One instructor stood out—a middle-aged man with a muscular build and weathered features that spoke of countless battles. He wore the distinctive black and red uniform of a senior instructor, and his cultivation aura suggested he was at least at the warrior level. He was currently observing a group of students training.
Luo Sheng approached respectfully and waited for the instructor to finish his guidance.
The instructor noticed him after a moment and turned. "Yes? Do you need something, student?"
"Instructor," Luo Sheng said with a polite bow, "my name is Luo Sheng. I'm currently registered as a Junior Student, but I believe I've made sufficient progress to advance. I'd like to request an assessment for Intermediate Student rank."
The instructor raised an eyebrow, sizing up the young man before him. "Luo Sheng? I saw you many times. How long have you been training here?"
"Five years, sir. But most of that time was spent at the lower levels. My progress has accelerated significantly in recent weeks."
"Five years to go from beginner to Intermediate Student would be... quite respectable," the instructor said, though his tone suggested mild skepticism. Most students who showed that kind of improvement were naturally talented individuals. This young man's aura didn't suggest anything particularly special.
Still, the instructor had seen enough surprises in his career not to judge prematurely.
"Very well. Before I schedule your formal assessment, let me verify your basic capabilities. Head over to the strength testing machine and show me your punching power."
"Yes, sir."
Luo Sheng walked to the familiar machine—a reinforced metal pillar with a padded striking surface and a digital display. He'd used these machines countless times over the years, watching his numbers climb with agonizing slowness from 150 kg to 200 kg to 250 kg to finally 288 kg just days ago.
He took a moment to center himself, rolling his shoulders and loosening his joints. Then he settled into the standard horse stance that every martial trainee learned in their first week—feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight distributed evenly.
Let's see what I can really do. he reminded himself
He drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs completely, then released it slowly, relaxing every muscle in his body. For a moment, he stood perfectly still, as calm as a statue.
Then his eyes sharpened with focus.
His spine tensed like a bowstring being drawn taut, every vertebra aligning perfectly. The force generated from his planted feet traveled upward through his calves, exploded through his waist and hips, and channeled through his now-rigid spine. His right fist shot forward like a cannonball released from its barrel, tracing a perfect arc through the air.
BOOM!
The impact resonated through the training hall with a sound like thunder. The striking pad absorbed the force with a violent shudder, and the entire machine rocked backward slightly despite being bolted to the floor.
The digital display flickered for a moment, processing the data, then displayed the result in bright red numbers:
「567 kg」
A stunned silence fell over the immediate area. Students who had been training nearby stopped what they were doing and stared at the display in disbelief. Even the instructor's eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"Five hundred and sixty-seven kilograms?" one student whispered to his companion. "That's... that's not just Intermediate Student level. That's approaching Senior Student strength!"
"Who is that guy? I've never seen him before."
"Did you see that punch? The technique was flawless!"
The instructor recovered his composure quickly, though his expression had shifted from mild skepticism to keen interest. He walked closer to examine the display, confirming the reading was accurate and not some malfunction.
"Impressive," he said, genuine approval in his voice. "Very impressive. Your strength clearly exceeds the Intermediate Student threshold of 300 kg. In fact, you're well into the 400-600 kg range that defines that level."
He paused, studying Luo Sheng more carefully. "Now let's test your speed. Follow me to the speed track."
The gathering crowd of curious students parted as the instructor led Luo Sheng to the 60-meter sprint track designated for testing. The track had sensors positioned every few meters to calculate precise velocity measurements.
"Run at your maximum speed through the measurement zone," the instructor directed. "Don't hold back."
"Understood."
Luo Sheng positioned himself at the starting line, settling into a runner's stance. He focused on his breathing, feeling the power coiled in his legs like compressed springs waiting to be released.
"Go!"
He exploded forward with tremendous force. His legs pumped with perfect rhythm, each stride covering an enormous distance. The wind rushed past his face as he accelerated through the measurement zone like an arrow released from a taut bow. His enhanced body moved with fluid efficiency, every muscle working in perfect harmony.
He crossed the finish line and gradually decelerated, coming to a smooth stop.
The instructor checked the display on the speed measurement device, and his eyebrows climbed even higher.
"21.6 meters per second," he announced, his voice carrying across the training hall.
"Young man, you're not just Intermediate Student material—you're approaching the requirements for Senior Student rank!"
The murmur of the crowd grew louder. This was unprecedented. A complete unknown suddenly appearing with Senior Student-level capabilities? It was the kind of thing that happened once in a generation, if that.
Luo Sheng maintained his calm exterior, but internally he was celebrating. Perfect. This level of progress is impressive enough to grant me access to higher training areas, but not so shocking that it would seem impossible. In a world where genetic mutations can create prodigies overnight, rapid advancement is unusual but not unheard of.
The instructor nodded decisively. "I'm recommending you for the formal Intermediate Student assessment immediately. If you perform like this in front of the official assessors, you'll pass without question. You might even qualify for Senior Student rank if your neural reaction test is equally impressive." He pulled out a small electronic tablet and began entering information. "Head to Assessment Room 3 on the second floor. Present this authorization code to the receptionist."
He showed Luo Sheng a six-digit code on the tablet screen.
"Thank you, Instructor."
"No need for thanks. You've clearly earned this through hard work and dedication." The instructor smiled slightly. "What's your name again? I want to remember the next rising star of our dojo."
"Luo Sheng, sir."
"Luo Sheng..." The instructor's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Wait. Are you related to Luo Feng? One of current Senior Students?"
"He's my younger twin brother."
"Ah!" Understanding dawned in the instructor's eyes. "That explains the similar features. Interesting. Two talented brothers in the same generation. Your family must have excellent bloodline genetics."
If only you knew, Luo Sheng thought wryly. My brother got the protagonist template. I got a heaven-defying system instead.
He bowed respectfully to the instructor and made his way toward the stairwell leading to the second floor, acutely aware of the dozens of eyes following his departure.
---
Assessment Room 3 was located in a quieter section of the building, away from the chaos of the main training halls. The area had a more professional atmosphere—clean white walls, polished floors, and efficient lighting. This was where the official evaluations took place, where a trainee's capabilities were formally measured and recorded.
Luo Sheng approached the reception desk, where a young woman in the Extreme Martial Club's administrative uniform sat working on a computer.
"Excuse me, I'm here for an Intermediate Student assessment. Instructor Wang sent me with this authorization code." He recited the six-digit number.
The receptionist typed the code into her system, and her screen displayed his basic information. "Luo Sheng, age seventeen, current rank Junior Student, five years of membership. Assessment authorized by Instructor Wang Hai." She looked up at him with professional courtesy. "Please have a seat in the waiting area. An assessor will call you shortly."
"Thank you."
The waiting area contained several cushioned chairs and a few other students who were presumably also waiting for various assessments. Luo Sheng found an empty seat and settled in, using the time to mentally prepare himself for the evaluation.
After approximately half an hour of waiting, during which two other students had been called and processed, a clear voice finally called out his name.
"Luo Sheng, age seventeen?"
He stood and approached the woman who had called him. She was in her late twenties or early thirties, dressed in a form-fitting black martial uniform that emphasized her athletic build.
Her long dark hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, and her eyes held a mixture of professionalism and kindness. Despite the authority in her bearing, her expression was gentle and welcoming.
"Hello," she said with a warm smile. "I'm Assessor Lin Mei. I'll be conducting your evaluation today. I understand you're applying for Intermediate Student rank?"
"Yes, ma'am," Luo Sheng replied calmly.
"Hmm..." She reviewed the information on her tablet, her eyebrows rising slightly. "I see Instructor Wang's notes here. He measured your preliminary strength at 567 kilograms and speed at 21.6 meters per second. Those are quite impressive numbers." She looked up at him with renewed interest. "Are you certain you want to test for Intermediate Student rank? With statistics like these, you might qualify directly for Senior Student assessment instead."
A few students in the waiting area overheard this and turned to stare at Luo Sheng with expressions of shock and envy. Skipping an entire rank wasn't unheard of, but it was rare enough to be newsworthy within the dojo.
Luo Sheng considered the offer for a moment. Jumping straight to Senior Student rank would grant him even better access and training resources. But it might also draw too much attention too quickly.
"I appreciate the suggestion, Assessor Lin, but I'd prefer to proceed with the Intermediate Student assessment first. I want to ensure I have a solid foundation before advancing further."
It was a diplomatic answer that made him seem humble and thoughtful rather than overly ambitious—qualities that instructors appreciated in students.
Lin Mei nodded approvingly. "Very well, let's proceed with the Intermediate Student assessment. Follow me, please."
She led him through a security door into the testing facility proper—a large, well-equipped space divided into different zones for various types of evaluation.
"Our assessment consists of three standardized tests," Lin Mei explained as they walked.
"First is punching power, which measures your raw strength. Second is sprint speed, which evaluates your movement capabilities. Third is neural reaction testing, which assesses your combat reflexes and ability to respond to threats."
She gestured to a sophisticated machine that looked similar to the one in the training hall but more advanced.
"This is our official strength testing apparatus. It's calibrated to much higher tolerances than the training equipment. Please approach the target and deliver your maximum-power punch.
Don't hold back—this machine can handle force outputs well beyond what you're capable of producing."
Luo Sheng stepped up to the machine, settling into his stance once more. This time there was no crowd watching, no distractions—just him, the machine, and the assessor taking notes on her tablet.
He drew in a deep, centering breath, relaxed his entire body, then channeled every ounce of power he possessed into a single devastating strike.
BOOM!
The impact echoed through the testing chamber. The reinforced striking pad absorbed the force with barely a tremor—this machine was indeed built to withstand far more powerful blows than his.
The display showed the result clearly:
「567 kg」
"Perfect consistency with the preliminary measurement," Lin Mei noted, making a mark on her tablet.
"Your strength has definitely reached the Intermediate Student standard. In fact, you're in the upper range of that bracket. Excellent."
She led him to the next testing zone, which featured a 60-meter sprint track with advanced sensor arrays positioned along its length.
"For the speed test, you simply need to run at your maximum velocity through the measurement zone. The sensors will calculate your average speed across the measured distance. Please begin when ready."
Luo Sheng took his position at the starting line. This time he knew exactly what his body was capable of. He didn't need to warm up or prepare mentally—he simply...ran.
His legs pumped with explosive power. The world seemed to blur around him as he accelerated through the measurement zone. Each stride covered meters of ground, his enhanced physique operating at peak efficiency.
He crossed the finish line and decelerated smoothly.
Lin Mei checked her tablet and smiled. "21.6 meters per second, exactly as preliminarily measured. Very impressive for someone applying for Intermediate Student rank."
She gestured toward another door. "The final test is neural reaction assessment. Please follow me to the Neural Reaction Testing Chamber."
The chamber was a spacious room, approximately one hundred square meters in area, with white walls and a rubberized floor. In the center stood an intimidating piece of equipment—a mechanical apparatus with dozens of firing ports arranged in a circular pattern, resembling a high-tech multi-barrel cannon.
"This device will fire rubber bullets at you from multiple angles at varying speeds," Lin Mei explained. "You must remain within the 3.6-meter diameter circle marked on the floor. If you step outside the circle, you automatically fail the test. The red light barrier around the circle's edge will activate during the test—touching it results in point deductions."
She walked to the control panel and began adjusting settings. "I'm setting the test to Intermediate Student difficulty level. You'll face 60 seconds of continuous fire. Your goal is to dodge as many projectiles as possible while maintaining position within the circle. Ready?"
"Ready," Luo Sheng confirmed, stepping into the marked circle.
"Begin!"
Lin Mei pressed the activation button.
Click!
The edge of the 3.6-meter circle immediately illuminated with a misty red light that rose upward like a gauze curtain, enclosing Luo Sheng in a clearly defined boundary.
The multi-barrel apparatus began spinning, its dozens of firing ports rotating with increasing speed. Then, without warning, rubber bullets began launching from multiple angles simultaneously.
Thu-thu-thu-thu-thu...!
Luo Sheng's eyes sharpened with focus. His enhanced perception, boosted by the attributes he'd absorbed, allowed him to track the incoming projectiles with remarkable clarity. His mind processed trajectories and calculated safe positions in fractions of a second.
He moved like water flowing around rocks, constantly shifting his position within the limited space. A bullet came from his left—he swayed to the right. Two came from above—he dropped into a crouch. Three came in a converging pattern—he twisted his body, letting them pass through the space he'd just occupied.
His movements were fluid and economical, wasting no energy on unnecessary flourishes. He couldn't dodge everything—some bullets were simply too fast or positioned too cleverly to avoid completely—but he minimized the hits through superior positioning and timing.
The barrage continued for the full 60 seconds, a relentless assault that would have overwhelmed most Intermediate Students. But Luo Sheng's enhanced mental processing, courtesy of the defense and speed attributes he'd absorbed, gave him an edge that few at his apparent level possessed.
Finally, the firing ceased. The rubber bullets stopped flying. The red light barrier dimmed and disappeared.
Lin Mei checked her tablet, and her eyes widened slightly with pleasant surprise. "Within 60 seconds, you were hit 17 times, with zero contact with the red light boundary. That's an excellent result—well above the passing threshold for Intermediate Students. Most people at this level average 20-30 hits."
She stepped forward with a genuine smile. "Luo Sheng, congratulations. You have successfully passed all three components of the Intermediate Student assessment with flying colors. Officially, as of this moment, you are now an Intermediate Student of the Extreme Martial Club, Jiangnan Branch."
She retrieved a sleek credential from a secure drawer—a metallic badge with the Extreme Martial Club's emblem engraved on its surface, along with his name and new rank.
"This is your Intermediate Student certificate," she said, personally approaching to pin it onto his training uniform. "Wear it with pride. You've earned it through hard work and exceptional ability."
The badge clicked into place on his chest, its polished surface catching the light.
"Thank you, Assessor Lin."
"You're very welcome. Present this credential at any Extreme Martial Club facility worldwide, and you'll be granted access to Intermediate Student training areas and resources. The second floor of this building is now fully accessible to you." She paused, her expression becoming more thoughtful. "I should mention—your performance today was truly outstanding. If you continue improving at this pace, I expect you'll be taking the Senior Student assessment within a few months at most."
Luo Sheng offered a humble smile. "I'll continue working hard."
"I'm sure you will. Now, unless you have questions, you're free to go. Welcome to your new rank."
Luo Sheng bowed respectfully and made his way out of the testing facility, his new credential gleaming on his chest.
As he walked back into the main building, he couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. The Intermediate Student training areas were now open to him—spaces filled with martial artists whose dropped attribute orbs would be significantly more potent than those in the Junior building.
From now on, he thought with quiet determination, I can collect attributes from Intermediate Students. And once I've exhausted those gains, I'll take the Senior Student assessment and gain access to even better training grounds.
Step by step, rank by rank, I'll climb this ladder.
---