Chapter 302: Effortless Clearing

"I'll attempt the fifth level," Jiang Chen announced.

"What?" The presiding examiner nearly jumped. Starting straight from the fifth level — wasn't that far too reckless?

"The fifth level corresponds to the cultivation of a Spirit Realm Second Stage. Once you go in, you'll be facing a Mechanism Puppet at the Spirit Realm Second Stage. And you may only use the Qingming Seal of Life and Death. Are you sure about this?"

The examiner was actually being kind. He couldn't help but warn Jiang Chen, because he felt this choice was far too risky.

Generally speaking, any martial artist who could pass the fifth level was guaranteed to rank among the very best. Forget about the top eight thousand — even the top eighty would be well within reach.

Normally, the wisest first-time choice was to pick the first or second level chamber.

Those corresponded to Mechanism Puppets at the True Qi Realm. Even if it was just to warm up, to practice a few techniques and get a feel for combat, it was worth it.

Jumping straight to the fifth level difficulty was practically a joke — was he deliberately making things hard for himself?

Jiang Chen offered the examiner a warm smile of gratitude. He could genuinely feel the goodwill behind the warning.

But he nodded firmly: "Yes, the fifth level. I've made up my mind."

Since the examinee was this resolute, the examiner naturally couldn't override his will. He let out a soft sigh and nodded: "Very well. Here is the entrance to the fifth level. Go in on your own. Remember — the time you spend will also factor into your final ranking."

Though the examiner didn't know who Jiang Chen was, he couldn't help but admire the young man's nerve and boldness.

Jiang Chen stepped forward, pushed the door open, and entered. The chamber doors slowly closed behind him.

The presiding examiner watched the doors shut and shook his head quietly. "Since when did worldly martial artists become this reckless? In my memory, worldly martial artists have always been cautious and timid — limited resources, narrow horizons. This young fellow is a strange one."

By now, the other examiners had also gathered around.

Clearly, they were just as intrigued by this examinee who had comprehended a martial technique in only three hours. Seeing the presiding examiner, they couldn't help asking: "Which level did that examinee pick?"

"Take a guess?" The examiner deliberately kept them in suspense.

"I'd guess the first level — the lowest difficulty. He's probably using a low-difficulty stage to practice his real combat skills."

"Right! He probably wants to train in combat while continuing his comprehension. If he really did comprehend it in three hours, then his martial comprehension is absurdly powerful."

"Maybe he had practiced the Qingming Seal of Life and Death before?" one examiner said. He simply didn't believe that anyone could comprehend a martial technique from scratch in three hours.

"Heh heh..." The presiding examiner gave an odd smile, then said, "He chose the fifth level."

"What?"

"Fifth level? You're joking!"

"That's impossible! Three hours of comprehension, and his first attempt is the fifth level? Unless he has a death wish! A technique he's never practiced before — comprehend it for three hours and then go fight a Spirit Realm Second Stage Mechanism Puppet? That's absolute nonsense!"

The examiner shrugged with a bitter smile: "Believe it or not. Either way, he went into the fifth level chamber."

"Insane. Absolutely insane. Even if he really is that Panshi genius they were talking about — even with extraordinary talent, jumping the difficulty that drastically? He's going to regret it when he takes a beating!"

"Youthful arrogance, perhaps? Maybe everything went too smoothly for him earlier, and it's gone to his head?"

"Very likely! Young people are too cocky. The path of martial arts is ultimately full of hardships. A true genius still needs tempering."

"A worldly warrior, without a sect's guidance, ultimately lacks that certain calm composure."

The examiners sighed and commented one after another — clearly none of them held out much hope for Jiang Chen's decision.

The presiding examiner also sighed: "I tried to hint at it subtly earlier, but that young man was incredibly resolute. He didn't seem like someone who could be talked out of it."

"Well, if he can't be talked out of it, then maybe taking a loss will do him good."

"Mm. If he really is that Panshi genius, then even if he fails the trial, the Four Great Sects will still be fighting over him afterward."

That was unarguably true. A trial was a trial, and rules were rules.

But given Jiang Chen's monstrous performance thus far — exceptional mental fortitude, top-tier martial talent, and the fact that he had been the last one ejected from the Metallic Magnetic Mountain — his fate was already sealed.

He was destined to become one of the most sought-after prizes of the Four Great Sects.

While the examiners were still chatting, the chamber doors suddenly swung open.

Jiang Chen walked out with a perfectly composed expression, not a single crease on his clothes, as though he had gone inside for nothing more than a cup of tea.

"You—" The examiners' eyes went wide. "You... how are you already out?"

"The trial is over. Am I not allowed to come out?" Jiang Chen said, bewildered.

"What? It's over?"

It truly was over. Once the examiners verified this, their expressions became wonderfully complicated.

All their earlier doubts and dismissals — and in the blink of an eye, the young man had taken care of the fifth-level Mechanism Puppet. Not only that, he had done it with stunning speed and effortless ease, as casually as swatting a fly.

Cheating?

The mechanism chambers were monitored by countless sensors. If an examinee used any technique other than the designated one, they would be ejected from the chamber instantly.