When Earth Awakened, I Became a Sword Saintess

Chapter 77 : East Yushan Test A

77: East Yushan Test A

In the early morning at the entrance to East Yushan Mountain, the trees were thick and tall, and a faint mist drifted between the stone-paved mountain path.

The six participants in the test arrived one after another. Besides Yuyin, there was one other second-year girl with short hair.

"Xia Yuyin." Shenwu, dressed in a black, retro-style school uniform, walked over with a vigorous stride. "You’ve come very early."

"Hehe, you’re not late either, Senior."

"To be honest, I really wish you hadn’t participated in this test. This test is of great importance. Once it begins, even for a lovely Junior Sister like you, I won’t be able to hold back. I hope you can understand. To be honest, I still feel a bit reluctant." Shenwu’s gaze was straightforward, but his peripheral vision still swept over Yuyin’s chest and slender waist.

"Don’t worry about it. Since this is a test and a competition, there is no distinction between Senior and Junior." Yuyin said.

Shenwu walked away to talk with the other second-year students. Yang Ke came over, deliberately getting close to Yuyin, and whispered, "You probably don’t know much about this test, do you? East Yushan, twenty-four hours. I hope I run into you deep in the mountains."

In this private conversation, Yang Ke was even more audacious than in the Swordsman Department classroom. As he spoke, he even licked his lips. The meaning of his words was self-evident.

"If you have something to say, why not say it during the competition." Yuyin gave Yang Ke a cold, sharp look from above and walked to one side.

Just then, Chen Qian'ning, the tall, thin teacher, and Liu Xing approached from the direction of the campus. Two third-year students behind them carried two large black cases.

Today, Chen Qian'ning was still wearing her tight, dark blue teacher’s uniform skirt, her hair in a mature updo. Although Yuyin didn’t dislike this type of woman, she found it a bit difficult to combine her with the image of a sword arts master. She wondered what she looked like when she unleashed her true strength.

"I imagine everyone who wanted to sign up has done so. Very good. I have high expectations for this test." Chen Qian'ning said, seeming to glance deliberately at Yuyin.

"Liu Xing, hand out the equipment."

Liu Xing and the tall, thin teacher took six belts and six wristbands from the cases and distributed them to everyone.

"Wear the wristband on either wrist. It’s used to monitor and sense your physical condition. Put on the belt and turn on the switch on the device." Liu Xing explained as she handed them out, helping the six of them adjust their equipment.

Chen Qian'ning said, "Pay attention to the display screen on the device at your waist. The 100 on it represents your simulated life value. This test is designed to assess your comprehensive combat abilities in a mountain forest environment, your adaptability and resilience. However, I don’t want any of my best disciples to be killed or injured."

"Life value?" Yuyin was a little confused, but Shenwu and the others seemed to know about it.

"East Yushan Test A, let me explain the rules: In a moment, you six will set off one by one at five-minute intervals according to the order you signed up. You can move freely within the range specified on the device’s map. Your objective is to find the other test participants and defeat them. You are considered to have ‘killed’ an opponent when you reduce their life value to 0."

"Note that within the 24-hour period, the active area on the device will shrink every two hours. In the final hour, it will shrink to a range of only 100 meters. In the end, the person who survives will win this test. If, when the time is up, more than two people are still alive, then I will give up on accepting a Direct Disciple this year. I have no need for hesitant, weak disciples."

Chen Qian'ning continued, "This test, being an A-level test, will award 10 Academy Credits for defeating an opponent. Conversely, the defeated will have 10 credits deducted. The final winner will receive an additional bonus of 20 credits."

Hearing 10 credits, Yuyin and Shenwu were fine, but the other second-year students showed a pained expression.

"Now, Liu Xing will distribute the weapons. We are the Swordsman Department, so the weapons we use will naturally be standard practice longswords." Chen Qian'ning said.

With that, Liu Xing opened another large case containing six black longswords, which she distributed to the six participants.

"Be aware, although these are plastic-steel longswords, they possess considerable power. The reduction of life value will be calculated through a simulated judgment based on the force of your moves and the impact of your Primordial Energy. You don’t need to use your maximum strength to inflict the most damage. In sparring matches between students, you know when to stop. Do not intentionally injure others. Your actions must absolutely not endanger the other person’s life. Otherwise, not only will I not accept you, but I will personally expel you from the Lingdu Source Martial Academy. But having said that, accidents are unavoidable in competitions. As long as it’s not intentional or malicious, I will not pursue it. There will definitely be danger. If you have reservations, it’s best to withdraw now."

The six test participants listened to Chen Qian'ning’s warning. Obviously, none of them had any intention of withdrawing.

"In that case, since you have no objections, the test begins now. First to depart, Shenwu." Although Chen Qian'ning’s face was gentle and beautiful, her tone was extremely stern and merciless.

"Yes."

Shenwu bowed to Chen Qian'ning, turned, took a deep breath, and ran up the mountain path, quickly disappearing into the forest.

The six test participants set off one after another.

"Xia Yuyin."

Yuyin was the last to depart. By the time it was her turn, half an hour had already passed.

She glanced at Chen Qian'ning and saw that she gave her a slight nod. It seemed Chen Qian'ning was not opposed to this new student participating in the test. Yuyin slung the belt scabbard over her shoulder, the black plastic-steel longsword on her back weighing about the same as a real sword. She turned and ran up the mountain path.

After Yuyin set off, the devices on the waists of the six participants vibrated. The 24-hour timer had officially begun.

"Wait… no food or water?" Yuyin suddenly remembered. Although with her level of Primordial Energy, not eating for a day wouldn’t affect her combat ability. This was probably also part of the test. Yuyin didn’t dwell on it. She maintained a steady pace along the stone steps for about a hundred paces, then suddenly leaped lightly and ran into the pathless forest.

This was a competition to find and defeat other test participants. Although "killing" more people could earn more points, the ultimate goal was to win the test, not to earn Academy Credits. Surviving to the end was the most important thing. Although Yuyin had overwhelmed many new students in the water competition, she was not very confident in her ability to compete with these top-tier second-year students. Naturally, she had to hide herself first and wait for an opportunity.

Foolishly rushing along the stone-paved mountain path would likely lead to an ambush.

Running into the forest, Yuyin gradually quieted down, trying to make as little noise as possible. At the same time, she began to keenly sense her surroundings. She had a certain ability to detect the Primordial Energy around her, but if the other party was also calm and their heart was like still water, it would be difficult to detect them. Also, if the other party’s strength and realm were far superior to her own, they would have ways to avoid her detection.

The mountain was full of large trees, bushes, and rocks, with complex terrain. Sight, hearing, and Primordial Energy perception all had to be used in concert to search for the opponent’s location.

"Still 24 hours left. No rush. First, calm down and adapt." Yuyin used an earthen slope as cover and took out the device to check. It had a few simple function buttons that could display the map and the active range.

"About 1500 meters of mountainous terrain. For six people, that’s very large."

Yuyin noticed a text reminder on the device: "Life value will continuously decrease if you go out of bounds. Intentionally damaging the device is considered a foul."

"This isn’t just a competition with rigid rules; it’s also Chen Qian'ning’s test for selecting a disciple. If I repeatedly use despicable means, she probably wouldn’t approve of me even if I gained an advantage." Yuyin thought to herself.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

At that moment, on the back side of East Yushan Mountain, Shenwu was standing by a mountain stream.

He looked quite confident.

Of the five top second-year Swordsman Department students participating, including himself, three were members of the Student Council. Yang Ke had been his follower since high school. That made four of them his own people!

The remaining male student wasn’t a threat in terms of strength. This test was nothing more than a script he, Shenwu, had arranged in advance to perform for Teacher Chen Qian'ning.

"No, all of this is Senior Lian’s script." Shenwu smiled sinisterly under a large tree.