Chapter 37: Communication with Chen Chen is Impossible; His Brain is Full of Water
"Qualification Assessment? I know this one!"
Hearing this, Zhou Mingxuan immediately leaned in, patting his chest as he spoke.
"It's basically lying down in an assessment pod, and then you get thrown into a virtual space."
"Fierce beasts will randomly spawn inside. As long as you defeat the beasts within the specified time, you pass."
He glanced at Ling Wenhe beside him, paused, and added with a face full of admiration, "This virtual space is spearheaded by Family Head Ling and manufactured by Zero Heavy Industries. The technology can be called epoch-making!"
"It's extremely realistic inside. The attacks and auras of the fierce beasts are exactly the same as the real ones."
"Family Head Ling, awesome!"
Ling Wenhe pushed up his glasses. "Mayor Zhou's son has also learned to flatter?"
Zhou Mingxuan gave an awkward laugh. "Mainly, I'm craving an Ability Fruit."
"Hahahaha, at least you speak your mind."
"But keep dreaming."
After rejecting Zhou Mingxuan, Ling Wenhe added details: "The level of the fierce beasts will be matched according to the candidate's realm. There won't be cases of vast disparity in strength."
"It's mainly to let Awakeners adapt to the rhythm of fighting fierce beasts in advance. After all, military training itself is high-intensity combat training. You can't do it without some foundation."
Hearing this, Chen Yu frowned slightly and asked softly,
"Then what happens if you die in the space?"
Ling Wenhe replied, "First, if you really can't hold on, you can press the emergency button on your wristband to exit, but that counts as failing the assessment."
"Second, every virtual pod has a protection mechanism. If it detects that the candidate's brain waves fluctuate too much, it will automatically terminate the assessment, which also counts as a failure."
After listening, Chen Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.
"Sounds like it isn't hard, just a combat simulation."
He looked at Ling Yue and raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Ling, does someone like Ling Yue with two SSS-ranks really need to take the assessment? Isn't that unnecessary?"
Ling Wenhe shrugged.
Ling Yue answered before him, "In the virtual space, I can use my abilities freely without worrying about going berserk. I haven't used my abilities recklessly for a long time!"
Hearing this, Chen Yu realized.
"True. I feel uncomfortable holding back just one fruit ability. You have three; it must be really uncomfortable."
____________
Time flew by, and three days passed.
Outside the Awakener's Association Lanjiang Branch, the noise was deafening.
Awakener students from all over Lanjiang gathered here, ready to participate in the Military Training Qualification Assessment.
Everyone's face carried a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Most people were chatting to relieve the tension.
"You know Lanjiang has a dragon, right?"
"I knew that ages ago. I think it should be a divine beast from some Secret Realm."
"Fierce beast, definitely a fierce beast!"
"A fierce beast is too ridiculous. The whole of Lanjiang wouldn't survive a few breaths from it. It might be a powerhouse secretly nurtured by our Alliance."
At this moment, the Azure Dragon himself, Chen Yu, arrived at the entrance with Ling Yue.
They immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Not because Chen Yu was conspicuous, but because behind him followed Ling Yue, a beauty who looked like a fairy descended from the nine heavens.
The people participating in the assessment were mostly teenagers, exactly the age when hearts start fluttering.
"Holy crap, goddess!! I'm in love."
"Three minutes, I want all her info!"
"Bro, wipe your drool. You have no chance."
"That's the Ling family's eldest miss from the capital, Ling Yue! SSS-rank Natural-type Talent Ability! You can't climb that high!"
"Damn, why did the goddess come to this corner of Lanjiang? And why is she following that guy?"
Ling Yue was shy and felt distant toward strangers, yet right now, she was obediently following Chen Yu's side.
This immediately sparked speculation among the crowd.
"Who is that guy? To let Ling Yue follow him like that... is he a young master from some big family? Her brother?"
"He looks a bit familiar... like I've seen him somewhere?"
Discussions rose and fell. Everyone's gazes landed on Chen Yu and Ling Yue like searchlights.
Ling Yue sensed the surrounding gazes, frowned slightly, and leaned closer to Chen Yu.
Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, "I recognize him! He's Chen Yu!"
"The one who rejected the SSS-rank Flame-Flame Fruit and specifically chose an F-rank piece of trash!"
"Oh, him! Rumor has it he forced his mother to kneel during the Awakening Ceremony and caused a scene at his brother Chen Chen's coming-of-age ceremony."
This sentence was like a bomb, instantly detonating the audience.
"He's Chen Yu? It's said he didn't rely on himself to awaken his ability at all, but piled it up by eating Awakening Potions for three months."
"Choosing F-rank was because he couldn't control an SSS-rank ability!"
"So it was him. No wonder."
"Making trouble at the Chen family ceremony, and now getting close to Ling Yue... is he trying to cling to the Ling family?"
"Truly shameless. Relying on drugs to awaken an ability, yet he dares to appear here. If it were me, I'd have found a crack in the ground to hide in long ago!"
"Hiss, I heard from my friend that there's an inside story here. Chen Yu doesn't seem to be that kind of animal." Some insiders tried to express their views.
They were instantly drowned out by accusations, people claiming their moms had flown away (insulting them).
Rumors stop at the wise, but unfortunately, there are too many idiots.
Ear-piercing ridicule came incessantly. Chen Yu's face turned cold.
He knew very well that the claim of "eating Awakening Potions to awaken an ability" was definitely a rumor deliberately spread by the Chen family.
Zhang Li had always regarded him as a thorn in her side; naturally, she wouldn't let go of any opportunity to smear him.
Ling Yue wanted to speak up to refute them, but Chen Yu held her back.
Chen Yu shook his head and whispered, "Don't dirty your hands. I'll handle it."
Just then.
The crowd suddenly parted to form a path. Chen Chen, wearing a gorgeous Awakener uniform, walked over surrounded by a group of people.
Seeing the intimate manner of Ling Yue and Chen Yu, Chen Chen's eyes instantly threatened to split with rage.
But a fake smile still appeared on his face. "Chen Yu? Long time no see."
"I didn't expect you to come for the assessment too. Do you really think you can muddle through just by relying on the Ling family?"
Chen Yu's eyes went cold. He knew deeply that communication with someone like Chen Chen was impossible.
His brain was full of water.
What needed to be done was to beat his eyes into rear-view mirrors.
Chen Yu used Shave directly, flashing in front of Chen Chen.
Chen Chen's pupils dilated, and he subconsciously took two steps back.
But in the next instant, he remembered they were in public, and this was the Awakener's Association—his home turf!
He couldn't show cowardice!
He coughed lightly a few times and puffed out his chest to embolden himself. "What? You want to fight?"
Chen Chen raised an eyebrow, looking provocative. "This is the Association Headquarters. If you dare to make a move in public, believe it or not, I'll make you squat in a cell!"
"Oh, you motherf*cker!" Chen Yu raised his fist to step forward.
A majestic voice suddenly rang out: "Quiet, all of you!"
"The assessment is about to begin. Everyone, line up according to the list and enter the assessment room!"
Everyone looked toward the voice. They saw Feng Kai wearing a black uniform, standing at the entrance of the Association Headquarters, a formulaic smile on his face.
His gaze swept over Chen Yu. A trace of imperceptible ruthlessness flashed in his eyes before he returned to calm.
Feng Kai cleared his throat. "Let me introduce myself first. I am Feng Kai, Secretary to the Vice President of the Alliance Eastern Awakener's Association."
"I will be supervising the conduct of the assessment today."
He continued, "The assessment rules are simple. Enter the combat simulator and defeat the target in the simulator to pass."
"The display screen above the hall will monitor your assessment process throughout. Don't think about cheating. Once discovered, your military training qualification will be immediately canceled."
"Now, according to the list order, enter the assessment room one by one!"
Saying this, Feng Kai took out a list and began to read names.
"First one, Ling Yue."
(To be Continued)