Chapter 45 - 43: The Third Round of Assessment

Fang Chong, Li Wanran, and Lv Zi all felt somewhat unfulfilled when they returned to the hotel. Today, they had experienced what it felt like to be the center of attention, and even the usually quiet Lv Zi couldn't help humming a tune on the way back. "Mr. Geng," Fang Chong immediately went to Geng Qianxing's room and knocked loudly on the door as soon as he returned. Geng Qianxing didn't answer the door, but the doors of the two adjacent rooms opened. "No need to knock anymore. Mr. Geng isn't here, he must have gone out," Li Wanran said, sticking her head out. "Yes, we also knocked earlier and no one responded," Lv Zi nodded. "Let's go back to sleep then, get some rest. We still have the third round of assessments tomorrow," Fang Chong could only tell Li Wanran and Lv Zi to go back to their rooms and rest. Saying it was rest, they really went back to their rooms to cultivate the QiLuo gene technique. The QiLuo gene technique allowed them to quickly enter a state of meditation, enhancing their inner qi and expanding their meridians. The next morning, Li Wanran and the others all came out looking refreshed and energetic. "Something isn't right, usually Mr. Geng is up earlier than us and he even wakes us up. Today we have the third round of assessment, how come there is still no word from Mr. Geng?" Lv Zi was the first to notice something unusual. Fang Chong reapproached the doorstep of Geng Qianxing and knocked, but still no one answered. "I'll go get the room card," Li Wanran hurried downstairs. They all felt that something was amiss. Soon after, Li Wanran returned with Geng Qianxing's room card. To the hotel front desk, the three of them were celebrities at the hotel. The presence of these four people had elevated the status of the Tinghuan Hotel, already making it among the most famous hotels in Pu Hai. So when Li Wanran went to fetch Geng Qianxing's room card, the receptionist didn't even ask any questions. Upon opening Geng Qianxing's room, they found that Mr. Geng was not there, but his belongings were still in the room. Fang Chong quickly went over to Geng Qianxing's bedside cabinet and picked up a handbag. "This is Mr. Geng's wallet, Mr. Geng wouldn't go out without his wallet, right? Eh, there's also a letter here," Fang Chong picked up another letter lying on the coffee table. "His phone isn't here either," Lv Zi picked up a mobile phone from the table. "Could something have happened to Mr. Geng?" Li Wanran started to worry. The three of them fell silent, no one suggested calling the police. They probably knew what had happened. After Mr. Ding left, the Genetic Alliance had issued a warrant for him. Mr. Geng had been somewhat disconcerted since then. "Could it be possible that the Genetic Alliance took Mr. Geng?" Fang Chong remarked. "There's no doubt, it must have been the Genetic Alliance who took Mr. Geng. Do you remember what Mr. Geng told us a few days ago?" Li Wanran said. Fang Chong and Lv Zi both nodded. A few days before, Geng Qianxing had told them, if he suddenly left, they shouldn't worry, just continue participating well in the assessments. "Regardless, Mr. Ding and Mr. Geng's situation isn't something we can intervene in, all we can do now is one thing, that is to strive for good results in the third round of the assessment," Lv Zi said. "Right, only if we are admitted into one of the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges can we qualify to talk to these people in the future and give Mr. Geng justice," Li Wanran added. Fang Chong clenched his fists. ... Though there were only ten thousand participants in the third round of assessments, Pu Hai Martial Arts Square was even more crowded than before. The first two rounds were merely tests of genetic potential and feasible heights of development, but the third round could truly determine whether this potential had partly materialized. In the initial years of its establishment, Blue Star Ten Great Colleges did not have a third and fourth round of assessments. The reason these rounds were later added was because many students, who had potential that tested through the roof, eventually faded into insignificance. Simply because the potential could not be fully unlocked, or due to various limitations, their potential was as good as none. Thus, the third round of assessment became crucial, even more important than the fourth round's arena competition. The third round tested strength, speed, and agility. This type of test required a foundation in Martial Arts. If a candidate had performed exceptionally well in the first and second rounds but fumbled during the third, they still wouldn't get admitted. In an era of changes in the natural environment, even without a master to teach them, students with enough potential wouldn't perform too badly in terms of strength, speed, and agility. Ten thousand students, who had passed the previous two rounds, entered the waiting area one by one, leaving it more empty than before. This was even after the waiting area had been reduced again, otherwise, filling a hundred such waiting areas with ten thousand people would be even less impressive. When Fang Chong, Li Wanran, and Lv Zi entered, they were still the focus of everyone's attention. However, it quickly became apparent that something was amiss when they saw no signs of Geng Qianxing. "Why hasn't Mr. Geng come?" "Where is Mr. Geng?" "Students are all entering the arena, how can the supervising teacher not be here?" People kept asking these questions aloud in the crowd; it was certainly no minor issue. If during the first and second rounds the supervising teachers weren't present, it might still be excusable. After all, it was about testing capabilities and potential, and the teachers could only offer encouragement. This third round was completely different, as it assessed strength, speed, and agility. In such a situation, the presence or absence of a teacher made a huge difference. If the teacher was present, they would remind their students how to unleash their strength during the test, as well as how to enhance their speed and agility. Even if something had been said many times, it was different from being reminded right before the test. Tan Bei also noticed that Geng Qianxing was not present, and he panicked. During the first two rounds, Mr. Ding had left, and now Mr. Geng had also mysteriously disappeared—this was not acceptable. He wanted to rush into the waiting area to inquire from Fang Chong and the others but quickly remembered that he wasn't allowed to enter the waiting area. Anxious like ants on a hot pan, Tan Bei grabbed the phone and dialed frantically, but no one answered. Tan Bei stomped his foot in frustration, cursing the three students for not even notifying him, the principal, when their teacher was absent. This was a complete disaster. Inside the assessment area, Dean Li Chuan of Blue Star's Guardian, one of the Ten Great Colleges, frowned and said, "Dean Nong, something's fishy. At Yujiang University, before the assessment, Mr. Ding suddenly disappeared. Now, during the third round of the assessment, Mr. Geng Qianxing has disappeared too. I refuse to believe there's no issue here, even if you kill me." He was speaking to Dean Nong Yizhen of True Universe Academy. Nong Yizhen, upon hearing Li Chuan's words, frowned as if in deep thought and didn't immediately respond to Li Chuan's remarks. Seated next to him was the white-haired Dean Zhang Yongcheng from Da Han Yi Academy, who snorted coldly upon hearing Li Chuan's words, "This is too much by the Genetic Alliance. Geng Qianxing is the team leader for this assessment, and the third round is still ongoing. Do they really think they can cover the sky with one hand? To take away the assessment teacher at this critical juncture? This matter cannot be dropped by us at the Ten Great Colleges of Blue Star. Otherwise, nurturing talent and protecting humanity would become a huge joke." "Old Dean, you shouldn't make careless remarks." A woman's voice interrupted Zhang Yongcheng's speech, "You haven't even investigated; how can you know Geng Qianxing's disappearance is related to the Genetic Alliance? When the Ten Great Colleges of Blue Star were established, the Genetic Alliance gave a lot of support. Wouldn't they know not to take Mr. Geng away at this time? So, it's better to investigate everything before making any claims." The speaker was Dean Qin Qiang from Martial Vein Mountain. Li Chuan coldly said, "Dean Qin makes a good point, but Dean Qin seems to have forgotten that you are one of the directors of Genetic Alliance. Isn't it inappropriate to speak like this without avoiding any conflict of interest?" "What do you mean, Li Chuan?" Qin Qiang suddenly stood up. Before Li Chuan could speak, Nong Yizhen abruptly interjected, "Let's discuss this after the assessment ends. This enrollment by the Ten Great Colleges of Blue Star is crucial; we cannot afford the slightest error or negligence." ... The duration for the third round of the assessment significantly increased, with only ten thousand participants, so the speed of the third round was also faster. Although Geng Qianxing didn't show up, Fang Chong and the others were not particularly nervous, having participated in two rounds of assessments already. Fang Chong was the first to be called up. "Fang Chong! Good luck." As Fang Chong entered the assessment, Li Wanran and Lv Zi both cheered for him. Taking a deep breath, Fang Chong also clenched his fists tightly. He was a student, lacking social experience, but that didn't mean he was foolish. The early departure of Mr. Ding and the disappearance of Geng Qianxing vaguely let him know that it was very likely related to the three of them. Because their scores were outrageously good, attracting the attention of many interested parties. To make those shameless creatures back off, he needed to become stronger. Recalling senior Yan Xia, when he had just started out, anyone dared to lecture him. Later, as Yan Xia obtained opportunities, his strength continually ascended. Whether Yan Xia was a real Innate or an Earth-level, he was now an existence no one dared provoke. What if their mentor was senior Yan Xia? Would the Genetic Alliance dare to make a move? Thus, he must become a strong person to let the Genetic Alliance know not to mess with his, Fang Chong's, teachers. The venue for the third round of the assessment had been rearranged; upon entering, Fang Chong immediately saw a hall about thirty meters long and about six meters wide. To the left of the hall was a power testing platform; Fang Chong, having almost daily tested his punching power at Yujiang University, recognized it at a glance. "Are you Fang Chong?" Upon seeing Fang Chong enter, the examiner abruptly asked. Fang Chong was startled, then nodded immediately, "Yes, I am Fang Chong." He was somewhat puzzled, as these examiners generally did not ask their names; even if verification was needed, at most, they would check his exam number. "Not bad. First, test your speed. Run ten laps back and forth," the examiner then praised. "Yes." Fang Chong didn't hesitate for a second and immediately stood in front of the starting block on the runway. After adjusting his state, his left rear foot touched the starting block, and his body shot forward like a slingshot. This running test needed no starting pistol. As soon as your foot stepped on the starting block, the system would automatically time you. After running ten laps back and forth, as long as you weren't on the track, the system would automatically display the total time taken. The ten laps were six hundred meters, and after practicing the Thousand Gene Technique at Yujiang University, the six hundred meters were incredibly easy for Fang Chong. After completing the six hundred meters, he didn't even gasp for breath. The examiner was also secretly impressed. Indeed, a student who had consistently scored an S grade could not have accomplished this support of inner Qi.