Star Martial Era: From Mortal to Emperor

Chapter 8 Sweeping Away Powerful Enemies, Competing for Spots

Lin Chen's gaze swept over the motionless testing device before slowly settling on Wang Feng's face—the man was speaking eloquently to the surrounding crowd, a fake smile playing on his lips. With a few words, he shifted the blame for the device malfunction onto Wang Feng's own rule-breaking. His sanctimonious demeanor, used to incite public opinion, made Lin Chen instantly understand. From Zhang Hao's disruptive behavior at the hospital, to the testing device malfunctioning precisely when Lin Chen was on stage, to the blatant manipulation during the previous practical group assignments, everything connected—it was all a scheme orchestrated by the Zhang family. They bribed the proctors and altered the device data, all to block Lin Chen's path to the city-wide martial arts competition, nipping his budding martial arts future in the bud.

If it were an ordinary student, faced with such an irrefutable trap, they would be speechless and could only leave in despair.

But Lin Chen will never let anyone manipulate him!

Lin Chen showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, he slowly raised his head, looked calmly at Wang Feng, and spoke in a low but clear and powerful tone, overpowering the noise of the entire arena: "Why was I judged to be at the bottom and disqualified from the competition? That testing device was tampered with."

"Outrageous!" Wang Feng shouted angrily, his face instantly turning red. "The testing equipment in the examination room is professionally calibrated by the school, inspected monthly, and specially set up for the city-wide selection competition. How can you be allowed to slander it here! It's clearly your poor grades and incompetence that you're blaming the equipment. You're utterly absurd and show no remorse!"

"Whether it's a stain or not, let me test it and I'll know."

As soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, he ignored Wang Feng and suddenly exerted his strength, fully activating the Ancient Star Martial Body Forging Technique within his body!

The vast power of blood and qi that had been dormant within his body erupted like a surging river, unleashing its full force without reservation. The formidable aura of the peak of the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm swept across the entire training ground, centered on him!

The pure blood and qi, so refined it seemed to drip with power, surged through his meridians, eventually enveloping his limbs and bones, transforming into faint starlight. The air currents within the arena churned wildly, causing dust to rise slightly from the ground. Several students nearby were even forced to retreat repeatedly by this aura, their faces showing shock.

This aura was heavy and domineering, far exceeding that of ordinary eighth-level Body Tempering Realm cultivators. Even the top students in key high schools were only at this level! The noisy and bustling training ground just moments before seemed to have been suddenly put on pause, instantly falling into a deathly silence where you could hear a pin drop.

All the mockery and discussion abruptly ceased.

Wang Feng's stern expression froze instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, disbelief filled his eyes, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably. On the judging panel, the head of the school's martial arts department and all the teachers stood up abruptly, staring intently at Lin Chen in the arena, their faces filled with shock. Zhang Hao's smug smile froze instantly, his lips twitched, and deep terror welled up in his eyes. Zhang Kun, standing beside him, also abruptly raised his eyes, his brows furrowed, his previous contempt vanishing, replaced by shock and apprehension.

"This aura... it's definitely at the peak of the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm! It's even stronger than the top student in our school!" someone exclaimed.

"The instrument is faulty! Wang Feng tampered with it! Otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to measure a score of the third level of the Body Tempering Realm!"

"He's clearly qualified to participate in the city-wide competition! Someone is deliberately trying to frame him!"

After a brief silence, the entire arena erupted in a tremendous uproar. Everyone present now understood that with the strength Lin Chen was demonstrating, he was more than capable of securing a spot in the competition for No. 3 Middle School. The so-called bottom-ranking result was simply a fabrication!

Wang Feng's face was ashen, his eyes filled with panic. He was still making a last-ditch effort, shouting fiercely, "Impossible! This is all an illusion! You're just playing tricks!"

"Hmph, whether it's an illusion or not, we can have a real battle and then we'll see." Lin Chen's eyes were cold and his tone was indifferent. "According to the arrangements for this assessment, after the basic test, everyone will be arranged for a real battle. I'd like to see which classmate the school has assigned to my opponent."

As soon as the words were spoken, the training ground's loudspeaker blared, announcing the match group list: "Group 37, Lin Chen, vs. Zhao Hu!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the right gate of the central combat arena swung open, and Zhao Hu, tall and muscular like a coiled dragon, slowly stepped out. His martial arts team uniform accentuated his sharp physique, and the powerful aura of a beginner-level eighth-stage Body Tempering Realm cultivator emanated from him without reservation. His sinister gaze was fixed on Lin Chen. Just before stepping onto the stage, he subtly turned his head and gave Wang Feng in the stands a slight nod—clearly, this match had been pre-arranged.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire training ground tensed up, and everyone in the stands held their breath.

Everyone knows Zhao Hu's importance: he is a key player on the No. 3 Middle School martial arts team, consistently ranking among the top in the school, and is a top contender for a spot in the city-wide competition. Sending such a player to fight Lin Chen is clearly a deliberate attempt to target him, to keep Lin Chen firmly out of the selection process and eliminate his chances of participating in the main competition.

In a corner of the stands, Zhang Hao and Zhang Kun clenched their fists, their eyes fixed on the fighting stage, a sinister smile playing on their lips as they waited to see Lin Chen severely injured by Zhao Hu's punch, his cultivation destroyed, and him tumbling off the stage in a sorry state.

"Lin Chen, don't blame me for being ruthless. Blame yourself for being blind, offending someone you can't afford to mess with, and still foolishly trying to steal a spot in the competition!" Zhao Hu twisted his wrist, his knuckles cracking, his blood surging like boiling water. He slammed his foot off the stage, charging at Lin Chen like a tiger. His first move was a killing blow; his right fist, carrying a fierce gust of wind, aimed straight at Lin Chen's chest meridians, clearly intending to cripple his martial arts foundation in one strike, preventing him from ever participating in the selection again.

Despite the inevitable blow, Lin Chen remained calm and composed. He instantly used the Star Chasing Step, his figure moving as fast as a ghost to dodge, leaving only a faint afterimage in his place. He easily deflected Zhao Hu's full-force killing move.

"How is this possible?!" Zhao Hu's pupils shrank to pinpoints, his face filled with disbelief—his punching speed was already among the best in the school, yet Lin Chen had dodged it so easily?

Before he could retract his attack and change his move, Lin Chen had already closed in. He unleashed a Myriad Manifestations Fist, devoid of any fancy variations, yet imbued with the pure, ancient power of blood and qi. The immense force exploded from his fist, the whistling wind slamming straight towards Zhao Hu's chest.

Bang!

A deep, muffled thud echoed throughout the entire training ground.

Zhao Hu didn't even have time to defend himself before he was hit hard by the punch. He flew back several meters like a kite with a broken string and crashed heavily outside the fighting platform. He coughed up blood, felt excruciating pain in his chest, and felt as if his bones and muscles were falling apart. He could no longer get up!

one move!

With just one move, Zhao Hu, one of the top players on the No. 3 Middle School team, was completely defeated!

The entire room was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the young man on the stage, speechless with shock. The students who had mocked Lin Chen earlier blushed and lowered their heads in shame.

Lin Chen walked slowly to the edge of the battle platform, his cold gaze sweeping over Wang Feng, who was trembling and pale, before looking at Zhang Kun and Zhang Hao, who were panicking in the crowd. His voice was clear and firm, echoing throughout the entire training ground:

"My cultivation level was low before because I was born into a poor family and could only cultivate the common-grade 'Basic Body Tempering Technique' given by the school. I had no pills to take and no cultivation resources to use. I was by no means a born waste."

The data displayed by the instrument today is frozen. Someone secretly tampered with it and maliciously altered it in order to disqualify me from participating in the citywide martial arts competition. They framed me, and I have a clear conscience.

Zhao Hu's attack was a killing blow, clearly instigated by someone to try and destroy my martial arts foundation, making me completely unable to compete. I will remember this debt.

After speaking, he turned and stepped off the fighting platform, walking straight to the judges' table. He said to the head of the martial arts department in a deep voice, "Director, this assessment is crucial to my qualification for the city-wide competition. I implore the school to replace the testing equipment with brand new ones and reschedule my assessment. My strength, Lin Chen's strength, is sufficient to represent No. 3 Middle School in the city-wide competition!"

The head of the martial arts department had already seen through everything. He immediately nodded and sternly ordered the staff, "Replace the testing equipment with a brand new one, clear all preset parameters, and retest Lin Chen!"

The staff didn't dare to delay and quickly brought over a brand-new, unmodified testing instrument, placing it in front of Lin Chen.

Lin Chen raised his hand and pressed it on the sensor panel again, fully circulating his internal energy.

The next second, the tester screen shone brightly, and a clear, bright line of values ​​appeared:

Realm: Peak of the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm!

Qi and Blood Value: 1980!

Strength: 1200 kg!

Speed: 8 m/s!

His four scores completely outshone all other students, placing him absolutely first in this diagnostic test!

In the ensuing martial arts demonstration, Lin Chen displayed the "Ancient Star Martial Body Forging Technique." His moves were fluid and graceful, with his qi and blood perfectly aligned with his techniques, and star power swirling around him. All the judges on the panel unanimously gave him a perfect score!

The entire venue erupted in deafening applause and cheers that lasted for a long time. Everyone stood up, and the way they looked at Lin Chen had completely changed—from the previous disdain and mockery to the current respect and awe!

As a student in an ordinary high school, Lin Chen's strength has reached a level that can rival that of top students in key high schools, which is an unprecedented surprise for No. 3 High School!

The head of the martial arts department immediately stood up, pointed at Wang Feng who was panicking and trying to sneak away, and shouted sternly, "Guards! Seize Wang Feng! Thoroughly investigate this matter of cheating in the examination, harming students, and disrupting the city-wide competition selection. Punish him severely and never hire him again!"

The security guard immediately stepped forward and subdued Wang Feng, whose face had turned ashen.

Seeing this, Zhang Hao and Zhang Kun turned pale and turned to try to quietly escape the training ground, but Lin Chen's gaze was fixed on them.

Lin Chen walked forward slowly, his aura icy cold. Wherever he went, the students made way for him, and no one dared to block his way.

"The Zhang family bribed proctors, falsified data, disrupted the competition selection, and instructed others to commit assault. How do you think this debt should be settled?" Lin Chen stared at Zhang Kun with calm eyes, yet with an undeniable pressure.

Despite being a ninth-level Body Tempering Realm cultivator, Zhang Kun felt a sense of apprehension. Today's events had already been exposed; if they continued to harass him, the Zhang family would only lose face and become a laughingstock throughout the city. He could only glare fiercely at the trembling Zhang Hao beside him and grit his teeth at Lin Chen, saying, "What happened today was the Zhang family's fault. We will personally come to your door to give you an explanation!"

After saying that, he grabbed the absent-minded Zhang Hao and slunk away from the training ground, no longer displaying his former arrogance.

The head of the martial arts department immediately stepped forward and announced loudly to the entire audience: "Lin Chen has secured first place in this martial arts assessment! He has directly qualified for the city-wide high school martial arts competition, been included in the school's key training list, and will be awarded ten bottles of Qi and Blood Powder and three sets of basic body-strengthening herbs!"

He looked at Lin Chen, his eyes full of expectation: "Lin Chen, you are one of the most promising talents in No. 3 Middle School in recent years. I hope you will give it your all in the citywide martial arts competition and bring glory to our No. 3 Middle School!"

The audience erupted in applause and cheers.

Lin Chen stood at the center of everyone's attention, his posture upright, his eyes firm, and a faint starlight swirling around him.

Once a poor, good-for-nothing from a humble background, today, in the preliminary test for the city-wide competition, he uncovers conspiracies, dismantles traps, defeats powerful enemies, proves his strength, slaps the face of cheating teachers, crushes the Zhang family's power, and wins the city-wide high school martial arts competition!

He knew that this battle was just the beginning of his path to defying fate.

So what if Qingyang No. 3 Middle School is just an ordinary high school? So what if it has no resources or connections?

He will rely on his own strength to sweep away strong opponents in the city's high school martial arts competition, break the fate of No. 3 Middle School being at the bottom all year, fight for a brand new future for himself and the school, and steadily move towards a higher martial arts hall!

Sunlight streamed through the skylight of the training ground, bathing Lin Chen in a dazzling glow. From that moment on, the young man's extraordinary martial arts journey began its triumphant as he charged towards the city's final competition.