Outside the Training Field...
With orbs clutched in their hands, several stewards in charge sensed what was happening in the Training Field.
One of them said," Two more disciples have reached the fifty-meter line." "The speed at which they performed is quite impressive," another one remarked. "It seems there are several talented grunt disciples in this batch,” he added.
Suddenly, one steward saw something unusual. "Something's wrong. Why is that disciple walking back? He was the first to reach the fifty-meter line. He has only reached a distance of fifty-three or fifty-four meters. Why is he giving up?" Someone agreed with him. "Right. Judging from his performance just now, | think he can walk a distance of at least sixty meters." All the stewards shook their heads in pity.
Based on his earlier performance, they thought Austin would further surprise them and make this promotion test of grunt disciples different from all others.
No one expected the young disciple to walk back after reaching fifty-three or fifty-four meters.
"Is he not aware that if he wants to give up, all he needs to do is throw the token and leave either side of the corridor? This guy may have a good cultivation base, but he doesn't appear to be thinking clearly," one steward sighed in disappointment.
His fellow stewards shared his sentiment.
They continued to watch the field. Then almost at the same time, many of them felt something was not right.
Something strange was happening in the field.
"What is that disciple doing?" one of them said.
Another one started to say something but paused.
"Is he provoking the dummies on both sides of the corridor? That's rather strange. Instead of moving, he's resorting to doing something boring?" the steward voiced his concern.
Suddenly, one steward called out,” The dummy he provoked has reacted!" "He has defeated that dummy!" another one declared.
"Twenty vital energy crystals for his maneuver!" one steward said in awe.
The first one announced," He's provoking the second dummy." "He got twenty more vital energy crystals!" another one shouted.
Now, all the stewards were focusing on every move Austin made in the Training Field. Now and then, a voice would cry out in surprise to break the concentration.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAt the sound, the stewards would look at one another, their faces suddenly filled with awareness.
Did this guy provoke the dummies, one after the other, in order to take the vital energy crystals from them? The stewards in charge of the promotion test knew very well that dummies in the corridors would be annoyed and react when attacked by a vital energy force.
They had yet to figure out what Austin was planning to do few moments ago, and they were now longing to beat him themselves.
He continued to mystify everyone.
The word that came to all the stewards’ minds was ‘weirdo’, which best described Austin.
In the corridor of the Training Field...
One dummy received a hard punch from Austin.
"Hey, man! Wake up! It's time to work!" Aside from speaking loudly, the young cultivator talked endlessly to express his excitement.
The vital energy spurred the dummy, which reacted and was about to jump up and attack Austin.
But the guy was too quick for the dummy and pummelled its chest ruthlessly until the vital energy force smashed its chest and left a gaping hole.
As a result, the dummy opened its mouth to spit out twenty vital energy crystals, enveloped in flashing light.
Wasting no time, Austin managed to provoke ten dummies to react and defeat them, gaining a total of two hundred vital energy crystals.
Many brainless dummies stood on both sides of the corridor. Austin quickly decided to beat the ones on the left first, then go on with those on the right side. He vowed not to pass anyone.
"Austin, what are you doing?" a slightly out of breath Denali, demanded.
She had likewise reached the fifty-meter line. Looking at Austin, who stood not far from her, Denali had a confused look.
"Nothing!" Austin snapped. "Go on with your training," he added.
He was making so much money that the young disciple did not want any distractions.
The female disciple rolled her beautiful eyes in exasperation as she continued to watch Austin's actions before shaking her head.
She continued walking towards him.
"You underestimate your strength. You will be too tired and just drop dead sooner or later," someone huffed.
Meanwhile, Matias reached the line at the same time as Denali, much to her surprise.
He was more powerful than Denali, but Matias purposely slowed down his pace to keep up with the female disciple instead of walking ahead.
Like everyone else, Austin's actions confused Matias momentarily before finally understanding the cultivator's intention.
Having grown up in a rich family, Matias didn't lack in cultivating resources. Having never lived in poverty, the man didn't thirst for wealth as Austin did.
He was more concerned with gaining rank in this promotion test and was secretly elated when he saw Austin stop to provoke the dummies.
‘With the strategy, it wouldn't be too long before Austin consumed all his vital energy and body strength if he continued provoking dummies, ' Matias thought.
As long as he stayed ahead of Austin and continued walking towards the deeper area, he would end up traveling the longest distance in the corridor.
Therefore, Matias didn't linger and passed over Austin to continue breaking into the deep end of the corridor.
By the time Denali crossed the line of fifty meters, she had consumed a lot of vital energy.
After passing the line, all the dummies coming out were at level four of the Energy Gathering Realm, which was the same level as she was. The female grunt disciple had to battle with every dummy of the same level using all her strength.
So as she reached fifty-eight meters while defeating a dummy with two crutches in hand, Denali felt like most of her body strength had been used up.
Breathing deeply, she paused and looked back, her brows slightly wrinkled.
Her eyes rounded as she saw Austin releasing his power. At the impact, he defeated a dummy at level four of the Energy Gathering Realm with only one or two moves and provoked more dummies, one after another.
Alook of surprise filled her pretty eyes as Denali covered her mouth lightly with a slender hand while watching something magnificent unfold before her.
She never imagined that the former outer disciple possessed such an incredible, but horrible, fighting power.
Should he become an outer disciple again in the future, Austin would probably regain his lost glory before long.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAnd Denali was one of those expecting that day to come.
After regaining her composure, Denali threw the token in her hand decisively, and a small door beside the corridor opened immediately. She quickly walked in and disappeared.
At that moment, several other grunt disciples had reached the line, but all were tired and out of breath. Some even had injuries all over their bodies.
They were also petrified with Austin's crazy strategy.
After the battle where Austin taught Matias’ follower a lesson, he had gained a bad reputation among other grunt disciples, and now they were witnessing an even more malicious style employed by him.
Some of these grunt disciples had bullied Austin in the past, and were now restless, fearful that he would get even with them in the future.
On the other hand, those who didn't browbeat the young man in the past resolved never to get on Austin's bad side.
These days, no one thought of Austin as an idiot that other grunt disciples could bully or look down on after he beat Matias" follower.
"Tin, what are you doing?" It was Evan who called out. He had likewise reached the fifty-meter line and passed the first test successfully.
But his whole body was black and blue. He obviously went through a very tough fight.
"Nothing! Can't you see that I'm making money? Get out of here if you've passed the test!" Austin said impatiently.
He continued with what he was doing and was annoyed at being bothered.
Having little strength to forge ahead, Evan scratched his head before throwing his token and leaving the field.
Other disciples were just overjoyed at reaching the fifty-meter line and passing the test. No one else chose to move on.
After a while, only Austin and the dummies in rows were left in the gloomy corridor.
By this time, Austin had defeated every dummy standing between the fifty and sixty-meter mark.
There were forty dummies in level four of the Energy Gathering Realm, and Austin got eight hundred vital energy crystals in all.
Matias, meanwhile, decided to give up after defeating two dummies at level five of the Energy Gathering Realm, once he reached the distance of seventy-five meters.
At this point, only Austin was the remaining human in the Training Field!