Austin moved ahead, attacking the dummies at the second level of the Energy Gathering Realm with
ease. He surged at them with his fists, slamming into them without hesitation.
His cultivation base was at the sixth level of the Energy Gathering Realm. To Austin, dealing with the
dummies of the second level of the Energy Gathering Realm was akin to an adult dealing with children.
Witnessing the invincible power of Austin's fists, the grunt disciples stood stock-still, stunned. The
dummies Austin had just confronted were no match to him. They could hardly hinder his movements for
even a moment.
Austin advanced about twenty-five meters when a dummy, wielding a long spear with a fluttering red
tassel perched atop, materialized in front of him and rushed forward.
The dummy was at the third level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
Austin narrowed his eyes into slits. The dummies within the first twenty-five meters had all been at the
second level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
But as he crossed farther, it became apparent that the dummies stationed here belonged to the third
level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
It hardly mattered to Austin. He still gathered his vital energy into his fists and punched the attacker in
front of him.
Pow!
The long spear snapped into two and the punch threw the dummy sideways. He landed
unceremoniously on the ground. The sand traced a haphazard path as his body sidled across it.
With only one punch, the dummy had been bested.
Wow!
The grunt disciples on the sidelines gasped in surprise. They gawked at Austin with their wide eyes
open, as if he was a ruthless monster.
"Austin!"
Suddenly, the keen sound of a girl rang out in the air.
Austin turned around and saw Denali's slender figure come into view. Her body was a mesmerizing
silhouette against the deep green lights coming from the passageway where he had fought the
dummies.
She ambled over to him confidently and Austin's face cracked into a smile. He nodded at her in
acknowledgment.
They had met on a few occasions now, and Austin's fondness for her only grew each time. He was
especially touched last time when Denali had stepped forward and spoken up in defense of Evan. He
had felt grateful toward her.
Of course, such fondness was not the kind between lovers, but was the affection of friends.
Austin belonged to a modern world. He was mature and experienced, and not as impulsive and ardent
when it came to love as most adolescents his age were. They tended to believe they loved someone
after only a few encounters, but Austin knew better.
Denali quickened her pace and caught up to him. The distinctive scent that characterized her filled his
senses as she came closer.
The rest of the grunt disciples participating in the assessment noticed Denali take the initiative to
approach Austin and even walk alongside him.
Their eyes bored into the pair with envy, jealousy, and hate.
Austin touched his nose and smiled wryly.
The old legend about Helen of Troy couldn't be truer. Beautiful women came with great trouble.
Suddenly, a dummy at the third level of the Energy Gathering Realm sprang up in front of them, a large
steel mace in his hand. He moved to lunge at Denali fiercely.
At the same time, another dummy at the third level of the Energy Gathering Realm charged at Austin
with double halberds.
Denali let out a high-pitched shout and a sword flashing milk-white light appeared in her hand. The
sword drew an unfathomable curve in the air, and with the sharp sound of blade meeting steel, it
stabbed at the chest of the dummy.
The dummy, now injured, halted in his tracks and retreated.
Austin swung his fist at the dummy that came at him, forcing him to back down. "Good
swordsmanship," he praised Denali sincerely. "The strength of the spiritual weapon is indeed unusual."
Austin had recognized the sword in Denali's hand at first sight. It was a low-grade spiritual weapon.
Denali parted her lush lips and stuck out her tongue at him mischievously. She smiled at him smugly
before saying," Thanks for the compliment. Of course, you must know you are not the only one who
can beat the dummies."
"Hah! It surprises me that the dummies haven't yet ripped you into shreds and turned you into ashes. It
seems you have nine lives," a cold voice sounded through the air, loud and clear.
The expression on Matias's face was dark as he stepped up to them from behind.
Seeing Austin and Denali walk side by side, not to mention talk and laugh during this battle, Matias was
green with envy. He shot Austin a warning glance.
"Denali, you'll soon find out who's worthy of you, between me and Austin."
Looking at Denali's lithe and elegant figure, Matias swallowed hard.
The color in Denali's soft cheeks rose to a light crimson as anger overcame her.
"It's none of your business who I talk to or who I am with!"
Denali turned her head away from Matias. She had no interest in interacting with him.
"We'll see. You better not die here before I get to you, Austin, because I'll be the one turning you into
ashes," Matias sneered at Austin as he strode forward with noticeable confidence.
Suddenly, a dummy flashed into Matias's sight from the left side of the passageway, pouncing onto him.
The energy emanating from the dummy told him that the former was at the third level of the Energy
Gathering Realm.
Matias flexed his palm and a dagger, haloed by bright orange light, materialized in his hand.
It was a spiritual weapon.
Matias neared the dummy stealthily, growling," Cape Knife!"
The knife blades flashed with radiant light. With a crisp sound, the knife cut through the belly of the
dummy, leaving behind a shallow white trace on his dark iron belly.
The wounded dummy froze, his bodily movements halting mid-air. He slunk back to his original position
slowly.
Pleased, Matias glanced at Austin provocatively.
"I don't understand why the sect arranged for such a simple test. Someone might find themselves
fishing in troubled waters soon," he said as he smiled at Austin lopsidedly.
Ignoring this verbal hit, Austin continued walking forward with Denali.
Given the cold shoulder, Matias fumed silently and followed behind. From time to time, his gaze would
occasionally lock on Denali's attractive, curvy figure, and he would swallow hard.
The further they advanced, the fewer grunt disciples there would be left as most of them were unable to
pass the test and go forward.
Along the way, they constantly confronted dummies at the third level of the Energy Gathering Realm.
The dummies continuously jumped out from the periphery of the passageway and flanked them.
Denali's swordsmanship was quite advanced, even mysterious. Matias's knife skills were extraordinary.
They struck back the dummies with ease.
Austin saw that Denali had reached the fourth level of the Energy Gathering Realm. She must have
made a breakthrough recently; it required hard work.
For Austin himself, it was a piece of cake to fight the dummies at the third level of the Energy Gathering
Realm.
He didn't have to rack his brains for a line of attack. As soon as he saw a dummy, Austin punched him
with his fist and the dummy vanished right away. He hardly had to employ a second strike to defeat
them.
Austin's extraordinary strength had captured Denali. She stared at him in wonder now and then, her
eyes twinkling with admiration.
Matias's face darkened even more. He was no longer insulting and taunting Austin, for it didn't escape
his notice how his rival defeated the dummies even more effortlessly than he himself did.
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