Chapter 38: Ling Yue: Chen Yu is... Uniquely Gifted!
Upon hearing his words, Ling Yue shot Chen Yu a reassuring glance before stepping into the assessment room marked "No. 1."
Although Ling Yue was worshipped as a goddess, her interaction with Chen Yu caused the crowd to curse inwardly.
What does that kid have that we don't?!
Sure, Chen Yu is handsome, but he's an F-Rank!
Goddess, please don't get abducted by that pretty boy!
Chen Chen, in particular, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
The person being envied and hated should have been him!
If Chen Yu hadn't interfered, he would still have his engagement with Ling Yue!
At that moment, the massive display screen in the center of the hall lit up, projecting a crystal-clear view of the virtual space.
It was a desolate wasteland.
A lizard-like beast was facing off against Ling Yue.
The screen displayed the beast's data: Second Order (Mid) · Split-Earth Lizard.
The noisy chatter in the hall came to an abrupt halt, followed immediately by a collective gasp of cold air.
"Second Order (Mid)?! Is that a mistake?"
"Goddess Ling Yue is at the Beginner (Peak) realm. According to the rules, the beast shouldn't exceed Beginner (Peak)!"
"The Split-Earth Lizard has scales as hard as refined iron and can spew mud to create advantageous terrain. For a Beginner Awakener to face it alone... that's a death sentence!"
Everyone's eyes were glued to the screen.
The Split-Earth Lizard's thick tail swept out, carrying the sound of breaking wind.
Ling Yue's figure flickered. A faint white halo appeared around her, shaped like a soft, elastic paw pad.
Borrowing the kinetic force of the tail sweep, she drifted backward as light as a feather, perfectly evading the fatal blow.
For the next ten minutes, Ling Yue repeated this strategy.
Relying entirely on the Paw-Paw Fruit's ability, she maneuvered effortlessly.
No matter how frantically the Split-Earth Lizard attacked, it couldn't even touch the corner of her clothes.
"This is..." someone muttered, their tone filled with worry. "Is the Goddess's ability not suited for offense?"
"If she doesn't fight back soon, she'll run out of stamina!"
"Yeah, looking at her ability, it seems focused on mobility. She probably can't break the lizard's defense."
Amidst the discussions, the corners of Chen Yu's mouth curled up.
He had personally explained the Paw-Paw Fruit's offensive capabilities to Ling Yue.
Compressing air to release shockwaves... that kind of attack power could tear through ten Split-Earth Lizards with ease.
He knew exactly what Ling Yue was doing.
She had been stifled for so long, unable to use her powers freely.
Now, in the virtual space with no restrictions, she was simply enjoying the freedom. She was purely having the "zoomies."
Time ticked away. Only 30 seconds remained.
Everyone was already feeling sorry for Ling Yue.
"Failing the assessment isn't the Goddess's fault; it's just terrible luck!"
Suddenly, Ling Yue, who had been in a constant state of evasion, stopped moving.
Seeing that she was no longer dodging, a vicious glint flashed in the Split-Earth Lizard's eyes. It opened its massive maw, spewing a torrent of mud.
Ling Yue frowned, her eyes showing visible disgust. The mud reminded her of a certain annoying person.
She raised both hands. Huge paw-shaped air bubbles popped out from the pads on her palms, completely repelling the incoming mud cascade.
Five seconds remained.
Ling Yue exhaled a breath of white mist. A bone-chilling cold suddenly manifested around her, covering half her body in ice.
"Ice Age!"
Instantly, silver-white frost surged toward the Split-Earth Lizard like a tidal wave, spreading from its limbs to its entire body.
In less than two seconds, the ferocious Second Order (Mid) beast was frozen into a lifelike ice sculpture, completely motionless.
Almost simultaneously, the notification sound for the end of the assessment rang through the hall.
As the screen went dark, the hall fell into a dead silence, followed by an uproar even more violent than before.
"Was that... an Ice Element ability?! A Logia type?!"
"Dual Devil Fruit talents? Paramecia and Logia?!"
"She waited until the last second... she was obviously holding back! Her strength is definitely above Trainee (Mid)!"
"A Beginner (Peak) crushing a Second Order (Mid) beast... that talent is terrifying!"
Chen Chen stared at Ling Yue's calm victory on the screen, his mind drifting back to her affectionate attitude toward Chen Yu.
His fingernails dug into his palms, jealousy burning in his eyes like a wildfire.
He blamed everything on Chen Yu.
He suddenly raised his voice, his tone dripping with deliberate scorn: "Chen Yu, did you see that?!"
"Ling Yue is worlds apart from you. I advise you to drop any wicked thoughts you have. It will never happen between you two."
The crowd's attention instantly shifted back to Chen Yu, bringing a fresh wave of speculation and mockery.
"No wonder he crashed the Chen family's coming-of-age ceremony; he wanted to climb the social ladder!"
"I heard from a friend who was there that Chen Chen and Ling Yue were engaged."
"But Chen Yu interfered, causing the Ling family to break off the engagement!"
"Hilarious. An F-Rank toad wants to eat the SSS-Rank swan meat!"
Ling Yue had just walked out of the assessment room. Hearing these words, her brow furrowed instantly.
She clenched her fist, ready to step forward and explain, but Chen Yu reached out and held her shoulder.
His gaze was calm. "Let me teach you the basics of Conqueror's Haki ahead of time."
The next second.
An invisible pressure suddenly radiated from Chen Yu. It was the release of Conqueror's Haki.
However, not wanting to delay the assessment, Chen Yu controlled it, preventing a full-blown outburst.
Simultaneously, he revealed his cultivation aura.
In an instant, everyone in the hall felt their hearts sink, as if crushed by an invisible boulder.
The hall went silent. Even breathing became cautious.
Chen Yu spoke clearly, "The Ling family wanted to break the engagement purely because Chen Chen is trash."
"If you speak nonsense again, I will make you pay the price."
Chen Yu's voice wasn't loud, yet it traveled clearly into everyone's ears, carrying a chilling warning.
The person who spoke earlier shrank back like a quail, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion.
How is Chen Yu also at Beginner (Peak)?!
And this aura... did it come from him?! Why do I feel like I absolutely cannot disobey him?!
Damn legs, stop shaking!
Just then.
Feng Kai's voice rang out, breaking the eerie silence. "Next, Chen Chen."
Chen Chen glared viciously at Chen Yu, suppressed his unwillingness, straightened his uniform, and walked into the assessment room feigning calm.
The screen soon displayed his assessment. He was facing a Beginner (Peak) Shadow Wolf.
Chen Chen wielded the Seven Star Sword, wrapped in green demonic fire, while simultaneously turning the surroundings into a swamp to restrict the Shadow Wolf's movement.
He precisely dodged the wolf's lunges, seized an opportunity, and slashed the beast's vitals.
The demonic fire burned. The process was clean and efficient. The assessment ended in less than three minutes.
"So strong! Natural elemental abilities are amazing!"
"Young Master Chen's swordsmanship isn't bad either! He broke the Shadow Wolf's defense easily!"
"Top-tier combat IQ too. The Shadow Wolf is fast and tricky, but Young Master Chen used the swamp to restrict it, grasping victory firmly!"
"This is a true genius. He and Miss Ling Yue are truly a match made in heaven!"
"If it weren't for that trash Chen Yu... never mind, I won't say it."
Hearing the praise, the corners of Chen Chen's mouth curled into a triumphant smile.
As he passed Chen Yu, he deliberately cast a provocative glance.
At this moment, Feng Kai's eyes flickered slightly before returning to his formulaic smile. He called out: "Chen Yu, enter Assessment Room 3."
Chen Yu exchanged a nod with Ling Yue and turned to enter Room 3.
The moment his figure disappeared behind the door, Chen Chen straightened his lapel and walked up to Ling Yue with a feigned gentle expression.
"Miss Ling Yue, don't be deceived by Chen Yu."
"He's just an F-Rank. He caused trouble at the ceremony and is posturing now simply to cling to you."
Ling Yue glanced at him coldly, her tone firm. "Chen Yu is uniquely gifted. He is much stronger than you."
Chen Chen laughed. "He's only F-Rank, what kind of talent could he..."
Chen Chen's words stalled, his body stiffening.
"...Uniquely gifted? Miss Ling, do you mean..."
Ling Yue nodded heavily. "Only those who have seen Chen Yu's talent know how good it is."
Only those who have seen it know...
Chen Chen stumbled back a few steps, feeling as if the sky had darkened.
These words were overheard by those pricking up their ears nearby, and the crowd instantly exploded.
"Uniquely gifted? What talent can an F-Rank have?"
"Holy crap?! Could it be that?!"
"Shut up! Don't say it! Impossible! My Goddess wouldn't give it to him!"
(To be Continued)