Swallowing the Stars: Starting with a Meteor Tear

Chapter 9 Martial Arts Combat Assessment

Time flies, and it's already July 31st.

In the martial arts training hall on the sixth floor of the Yangzhou City Extreme Club, two young men dressed in training clothes are engaged in a fierce battle.

One of the young men, dressed in a gray training uniform, held a black spear in both hands. As he shook his hands, a cold light flashed at the tip of the spear, and he quickly attacked the other side, turning into a series of afterimages.

Another young man dressed in black held a hexagonal shield in his left hand and a blood-red battle sword in his right. His figure was elusive in both offense and defense, yet he always managed to evade the opponent's attacks by the slightest margin.

After a long while, both of them stopped, drenched in sweat.

"Damn, Luo Feng, your microscopic movement technique is amazing! I've been swinging my spear so hard it's practically smoking, but I still can't hit you!"

Zhou Yang casually tossed aside the spear in his hand and slumped onto the floor of the training hall in a very unladylike manner, panting heavily.

Just like in the original story, Luo Feng quickly attracted the attention of the martial arts instructors after demonstrating his strength, and was also admitted to the Limitless Martial Arts Academy ahead of schedule after a series of assessments.

He had already moved to the Mingyue residential area in Yangzhou City almost a month ago.

The emergence of two young geniuses in Mingyue Residential Area who were recruited by the Extreme Martial Arts Academy ahead of schedule has caused quite a stir in the martial arts circle of the area.

Some mischievous martial artists even gave the two the title of "Twin Stars of Yangzhou City," leaving Zhou Yang and Luo Feng somewhat amused and exasperated.

For the past month, Zhou Yang has been practicing the Gene Origin Energy Cultivation Method every day. With the assistance of the Meteor Tear, his physical fitness has improved rapidly, and his punching power has now reached nearly 6,000 kilograms.

In terms of movement techniques and combat skills, with the guidance of his father Zhou Yong, he is also rapidly maturing.

Every now and then, he would occasionally invite Luo Feng to the Extreme Club to train and spar together.

He would use Lord Luo, this combat genius, as a human test subject to examine the results of his training.

However, his training time was still too short, and he was clearly at a disadvantage against Luo Feng, who had already reached the level of microscopic movement.

However, thanks to the mysterious effects of the Meteor Tear, his physical attributes improved rapidly, far surpassing Luo Feng's current level, and his speed and nerve reaction also increased significantly.

Therefore, it wouldn't be so easy for Luo Feng to completely defeat him.

"Don't even mention me, how did your physical abilities improve so quickly? One thrust from you, and even through the shield, my arm felt numb!"

Luo Feng also sat on the ground, but quickly assumed the posture of five hearts facing the sky.

Seeing his posture, Zhou Yang clicked his tongue and said speechlessly:

"Hey Luo, you crazy guy, the practical assessment is tomorrow, why are you still pushing yourself so hard? Shouldn't you get some rest?"

"Isn't it because you're putting too much pressure on me?" Luo Feng chuckled. "Besides, I just finished training and my body has used up a lot of energy, which is the best time to practice the Gene Energy Cultivation Method. I can't miss this opportunity!"

He stopped talking and quickly entered a state of refining cosmic energy into his body.

"Me? To put pressure on you?"

Zhou Yang curled his lips speechlessly. Why does it sound so strange coming from the mouth of you, the chosen one? You're the one who's been putting pressure on me all along!

Am I really that powerful now? Have I reached a point where I can put pressure on Lord Luo?

He shook his head, quickly sat up cross-legged, and after a moment entered a meditative state.

……

Early the next morning, Zhou Yang and Luo Feng, along with more than 30 other prospective martial artists, were led by a martial artist from the Limitless Club onto a train bound for the Northern Military Region of Jiangnan City.

Their purpose in coming here is to undergo this martial arts combat assessment.

Only by successfully passing the martial arts combat assessment can one become a formal martial artist.

Only then can some privileges exclusive to martial artists be opened up, such as a forum for communication that only martial artists can browse, and the right to purchase combat manuals!

"Kuchi—Kuchi—"

The train sped along the tracks, while the screens inside the carriages played recruitment advertisements from various factions, such as the Extreme Martial Arts School and the Thunder Martial Arts School.

However, Zhou Yang and Luo Feng had already joined the Extreme Martial Arts Academy in advance, so they didn't pay much attention to the publicity and simply closed their eyes to rest.

Soon, the train gradually slowed down, and the staff's announcement came over the loudspeaker—

"Attention all prospective martial artists, the train is about to arrive at the station. Please prepare to disembark."

"laugh!"

The train continued to slow down until it came to a complete stop.

Wow!

As the carriage doors opened, a large number of quasi-martial artists quickly poured out of the train.

Zhou Yang was astonished by the crowd of people around him.

"There must be over a thousand people. There are so many aspiring martial artists in Jiangnan Base City!"

"Yes, this is the first time I've ever seen so many aspiring martial artists!" Luo Feng exclaimed in amazement.

"Let's go, it's time to gather!"

The two followed the large group of prospective martial artists into the large military camp next to the station.

The military camp covers a vast area, especially around the perimeter, where a large number of heavy and thermal weapons are visible everywhere. Cannons are pointed directly at the outside of the camp, and many soldiers are armed with various sophisticated weapons.

"Look outside the military camp, there are so many monsters!"

As gasps of surprise rang out, Zhou Yang and his group of quasi-martial artists all looked around.

Outside the military camp's perimeter, some hungry monsters were roaring.

There were massive, tank-like iron-haired wild boars, packs of ocelots, and countless flying monsters whizzing overhead.

However, these monsters all kept their distance and dared not approach the vicinity of the military camp.

The sudden influx of so many aspiring martial artists into the Northern Military Region instantly made it incredibly lively.

After the military officers led them through lunch, they began distributing combat uniforms and weapons to these aspiring warriors.

These combat uniforms and weapons are provided free of charge by the military region according to the requirements of the prospective military personnel participating in the assessment, but they must be returned after the assessment is completed.

Zhou Yang quickly put on his combat uniform and alloy combat boots, holding a black long gun in both hands, with an alloy dagger at his waist.

Meanwhile, Luo Feng was still wearing the usual combination of a hexagonal shield and the Blood Shadow Battle Blade.

"Zhou Yang, Luo Feng, come with me."

Wu Tong's shouts could be heard from afar.

"It's Uncle Wu. What do you want with us?"

Zhou Yang and Luo Feng exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

Soon the group arrived at the second floor of a quiet little building.

In the living room on the second floor, several people were sitting together. Among them was someone Zhou Yang and Luo Feng knew, Zhuge Tao, one of the four giants of the Jiangnan City Extreme Club, who was their angel investor!

"Supervisor," Zhou Yang and Luo Feng both greeted respectfully.

"Okay, Zhou Yang, Luo Feng, you two sit with Wu Tong."

Zhuge Tao, dressed in a dark combat suit with subtle silver glitter, said with a faint smile.

"Zhuge, are these the two geniuses your Extreme Martial Arts Academy recruited this year? They don't look that great."

Opposite Zhuge Tao, a burly man in dark purple armor spoke in a voice that seemed to echo in his chest, "My Thunder Martial Arts Academy has also recruited two ahead of schedule this time. One has outstanding physical qualities, and the other is a genius in firearms."

The burly man looked at the two young men beside him, and the two young men immediately stood up as well.

Zhou Yang and Luo Feng both looked ahead and saw that one of the young men had a purple birthmark on his face and a slightly gloomy expression, while the other had a delicate and pretty face, like a woman.

"My name is Wan Dong," the young man with a birthmark on his face said.

"My name is Ma Xiao," another young man said with a smile.

"Zhou Yang".

"Luo Feng".

Zhou Yang and Luo Feng both smiled and nodded.

"Zhou Yang, Luo Feng."

The young man named Wan Dong spoke up, "Do you two dare to have a competition? Tonight's martial arts combat assessment, whoever gets the most points!"

A glint of light appeared in the eyes of this gloomy young man, as if he had seen the most delicious food, filled with longing.

However, the two people he was staring at showed little interest and casually said something.

"Not interested."

However, Luo Feng immediately looked at Zhou Yang and said with a smile:

"Yangzi, how about we have a competition?"

Over the past month, he and Zhou Yang have fought countless times, but the outcome has remained uncertain.

He won because of his exquisite and agile movements, while Zhou Yang won because of his strong physical attributes.

Neither of them can defeat the other; neither can completely overcome the other.

Luo Feng, with his strong personality, was now genuinely eager to compete.

"Oh?"

Hearing Luo Feng's words, Zhou Yang was slightly taken aback, as this part was not in the original work.

However, he then grinned and nodded, saying:

"Alright, let's have a competition!"

"Haha, whoever loses has to practice extra tonight!"

The two of them were singing in unison, while Wan Dong, the gloomy young man who had been left standing aside, looked even uglier.

He gritted his teeth and coldly snorted:

"Keep being arrogant, we'll see just how much you really are in a bit!"

However, Zhou Yang and Luo Feng had already turned around and walked towards where Wu Tong was sitting, leaving him with only the backs of their heads in response.

"Haha, those two little guys are interesting."

Zhuge Tao laughed upon seeing this.

The burly man from the Thunder Martial Arts School spoke up directly:

"Haha, you two little guys, interested in joining my Thunder Martial Arts School...?"

Zhou Yang and Luo Feng sat in a corner with Wu Tong, quietly listening to the big shots chatting and laughing on the second floor.

Meanwhile, the small town below, where the assessment was being conducted, was bustling with activity.

One monster after another was released into the town by the army, and the number of monsters in the town quickly reached an astonishing number.

Not long after, soldiers came to inform the officers below that the assessment was ready.

Zhou Yang and Luo Feng, along with more than 1,600 other aspiring martial artists, were led to the entrance of the town.

An officer began giving them his final instructions.

"This practical assessment will follow the same rules as before! It will start promptly at 6:30 PM tonight and end at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning!"

"The more monsters you kill, the more points you earn. For each monster you kill, cut off its left ear as proof."

"Remember, it is forbidden for prospective martial artists to kill each other. All your activities are under surveillance, and violators will be executed on the spot!"

"Remember, if you are seriously injured, you can press the SOS button on your communication watch. Someone will come to your rescue immediately... but that moment also marks the end of your martial arts combat assessment."

Finally, I wish you all the best in passing this assessment!

As the officer finished speaking, the martial arts combat assessment officially began!

(End of this chapter)