Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Recording Combat Styles

[Fourth Trial Cleared]

[Defeated] 40 Small Thunder Elements

[Time Taken] 9 minutes 50 seconds

[Score] 60 points

[Total Score] 223 points

[Rank] 48

This time it took a bit longer, nearly 10 minutes.

Although they were all small Thunder Elements this time, the Thunder Spiritual Techniques they used were quite powerful.

Each strike was no different from an iron hammer coming down—or was perhaps even stronger.

If two Thunder Elements attacked together, their power would increase, and a single strike could be deadly.

Zhao Chi preferred to take more time just to be safe.

As a result, however, his rank dropped by nine places.

But to Zhao Chi, it was worth it.

He still cleared the trial without any losses.

As the Thunder Elements repeatedly used their Spiritual Techniques, they consumed energy and their bodies steadily shrank.

Eventually, they all dissipated.

The Female Soldiers’ hair, which had been standing on end, fell back down, once again becoming smooth.

However, a few of the Female Soldiers had faint wisps of white smoke rising from their heads.

They had all been struck.

Including Tang Ruan.

They had all taken High Level Life Pills and their Life was now fully restored. Zhao Chi then gave them new Life Pills to replenish their stock.

Tang Ruan was standing far away, keeping her distance from Zhao Chi.

Zhao Chi, however, deliberately walked closer and asked with concern, "How are you? Are you okay?"

She smelled faintly of something burnt, and her hair was a mess, as if she had just woken up.

Tang Ruan nodded. "I’m fine. It’s just that my arm is blackened..."

There were a few black, circular marks on her fair, tender arm.

Zhao Chi subconsciously rubbed at one with his thumb.

Tang Ruan’s arm was soft, and his thumb sank deep into her flesh.

The black mark came right off.

"It’s nothing. After this is over, you can just wash it off in the shower."

Tang Ruan looked a little embarrassed.

"I’m sorry, my lord. I used up one of your High Level Pills. That Thunder Element’s Spiritual Technique is really hard to read. There isn’t much difference between dark gray and blackish-gray. If you dodge too early, the Thunder Element stops casting, but if you dodge too late, you get hit."

Zhao Chi waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t feel burdened about using medicine at all. And don’t take risks just to save it. Medicine is meant to be used. If you need it, take it. There’s no need to feel guilty. In fact, I should be thanking you for drawing the lightning and helping me pass the trial."

Gu Qing smiled. "Our lord is always so kind. We took a bit long this time. The next wave of enemies will be here in a little over ten minutes. Everyone, rest up."

Zhao Chi nodded. "Yes, everyone lie down and rest."

The Female Soldiers all lay down at once.

The air was filled with the scents of grass, gunpowder, and earth, along with the fresh, clean smell of ozone left behind by the lightning.

Zhao Chi looked at the rankings again.

[Live Test Rankings]

[1st Place] Class 5: Pei Yuanxiu

[2nd Place] Class 9: Zhou Lue

[3rd Place] Class 2: You Yu

[4th Place] Class 10: Yuan Zhao

[5th Place] Class 3: Xiao Liu

The rankings had changed again.

Pei Yuanxiu had taken the top spot.

’His Race probably isn’t one of the default ones either,’ Zhao Chi guessed.

’It was possibly some kind of Race immune to lightning.’

’Things like Golems or Puppets were all possibilities.’

Zhou Lue and You Yu had each dropped one spot, but their performance was still outstanding.

He continued to scroll down the list.

He found the few people he was keeping an eye on.

[19th Place] Class 4: Cao Feng

[38th Place] Class 4: Duan Yun

[44th Place] Class 4: Lu Yi

[48th Place] Class 4: Zhao Chi

[240th Place] Class 4: Yang Xiong

Cao Feng’s rank had climbed another three spots.

Shadow Leopards and Centaurs were both very fast, making them effective bait for the lightning.

’However, knowing Cao Feng’s personality, he’d probably made his subjects take risks to draw all the lightning at once, saving some time.’

Duan Yun and Lu Yi’s ranks had both fallen.

The two of them were like Zhao Chi and cherished their subjects, which was likely why they took longer.

As for Yang Xiong, his rank had dropped so much in the last trial that he’d naturally regained some ground, climbing to 240th.

The group chat was already a chorus of misery.

More students had given up on the exam and dropped out of the test.

Li Ke: [Damn it, Skeletons are too fragile! A single lightning bolt shatters them. I’ll see what the next trial is like, and if it’s too hard, I’m just giving up.]

Cao Feng: [You have so many Skeletons, who cares if one dies? Use one Skeleton to bait multiple Thunder Elements into striking at the same time. Totally worth it!]

Li Ke: [Sigh... you’re right. If I had known, I would’ve just had those few Skeletons pull them. I was too hesitant.]

Cao Feng: [What’s there to hesitate about? I didn’t even flinch sending my Shadow Leopard to pull. I pulled over 20 Thunder Elements to strike at once. They blasted a tree into charcoal. The sight was incredible!]

Shi Juan: [Brother Cao, great minds think alike! I also used one Soldier to pull multiple lightning strikes. It saved a lot of time. My rank jumped by more than 40 spots this time!]

Cao Feng: [Exactly! You’re a true student of my ways, Shi Juan!]

Shi Juan: [Hehe.]

Kong Xiang: [Brother Cao, someone’s flaming you in the main group chat.]

Cao Feng: [Huh? Which main chat? Why are they flaming me?]

Kong Xiang: [It’s the private chat for our year. People in there are saying your trash-tier skills aren’t good enough for 19th place. They say you must have sacrificed your subordinates to save time, and that you’re incompetent.]

Cao Feng: [Motherfucker, that’s called Efficiency! When has there ever been a battle where soldiers don’t die? There’s only ’worth it’ and ’not worth it!’ No sacrifice, no reward! Which son of a bitch said that?]

Kong Xiang: [It’s the people who hang with Yuan Zhao.]

Cao Feng: [...Dammit. Ignore those mutts. We’re not giving them the time of day.]

Kong Xiang: [No worries, I’ll go flame them for you.]

Cao Feng: [Flame my ass. Shut your mouth.]

Kong Xiang: [...Oh.]

「At the same time.」

In the proctoring area, Head Proctor Saint Monarch You asked, "Alright, the fourth trial is basically over. Is the data entry for the students’ combat preferences complete?"

Zhang Shouning replied, "Entry complete. On my end, 17% of the students prioritize Efficiency, while the majority prioritize their subordinates."

Jin Haibiao added, "About the same over here."

Li Yin said, "Huh? It’s the opposite for the group I’m observing. 61% prioritize Efficiency and are willing to sacrifice their subordinates."

Zhang Shouning said, "Really? Why is your number so high?"

Li Yin replied, "I don’t know, but the records are definitely correct."

Jin Haibiao said, "It doesn’t matter. The review process involves cross-referencing, so some discrepancies are to be expected."

Yue Chong chimed in, "I still have a few left to log, but for me, it’s also a vast majority who prioritize their subordinates. Fewer prioritize Efficiency."

Li Ruanyu did not speak.

She was currently entering Zhao Chi’s combat style.

The system presented several options.

[Student: Zhao Chi — Combat Style]

[1. Prioritize Efficiency]

[2. Balanced]

[3. Prioritize Subordinates]

Li Ruanyu selected [3. Prioritize Subordinates].

This was merely a designation of combat style.

There was no inherent "good" or "bad" to it.

The proctors were constantly confirming each student’s stylistic preference through real-time observation.

Later, when it came to assigning Magical Beasts or various missions, different tasks and beasts would be allocated based on these combat styles.

Students who prioritized Efficiency were those who would sacrifice their own subordinates to achieve a goal or for the sake of a greater benefit.

When handling certain tasks, this type of student was extremely efficient and thus the optimal choice.

Even if their Soldiers suffered heavy losses, they would be willing to proceed as long as the potential reward was great enough.

Conversely, students who prioritized their subordinates would be assigned tasks better suited to them.

But from another perspective, their subjects were also a weakness.

Perhaps they would be easier to control than the students who prioritized Efficiency.

The data entry was complete.

It was instantly transmitted to the city’s Central District.