Chapter 103: Physical Fitness Test

The identity cards were quickly processed, one for each of us, with every detail—gender, age—clearly filled in, except for the absence of photos. Then, the young woman led us to the adjacent physical fitness testing hall. The so-called fitness test was housed in a nine-story tower, nothing like the novels described with enchanted stones or fully automated scanners. At least, the building before us was not so advanced. She explained that each floor, from one to nine, held beasts of varying levels. Although the World Alliance had a vast population, no one had ever passed beyond the sixth floor—except for Chu Jun. This tower was also built by Chu Jun, and the beasts were captured by him and his team from outside. Rumor had it that the ninth floor imprisoned a divine beast.

The tower was surrounded by railings forged from refined steel, and two soldiers stood guard at the entrance. Unlike usual guards, these soldiers carried no weapons. The young woman told us they were magic cultivators who needed no arms; their attacks were ranged, and to be assigned to guard beasts within the nine-story demon tower, their abilities were naturally extraordinary. After checking our identity cards, the soldiers prepared for the tests. At that moment, Qin Tian was still unconscious, but I had already arranged an identity card for him. I had hoped he could take the test as well, but it seemed I would have to wait until he woke up. Yu Jing went first. We waited outside, and with each floor passed, a red cloth strip would drop automatically from the tower, corresponding to the level cleared.

“I wonder how far this brat Yu Jing can get,” the Nine-Tailed Fox said, gazing at the nine-story demon tower. I was equally curious how many floors Yu Jing could conquer, and how many I myself could reach. I believed Yu Jing could at least pass the third floor, while the Dragon and Tiger sisters and Wang Gui would be lucky to get past the second.

“He’s reached the third floor! He actually made it to the third floor!” The young woman, responsible for reception, opened her mouth in surprise. Judging by her expression, it seemed reaching the third floor was quite challenging. I thought to myself, wait until I reach the sixth floor; then I’ll show you. I didn’t dare be overconfident, though—after all, the young woman had said that since the founding of the World Alliance, no one but Chu Jun had ever reached the sixth floor of the demon tower. Today, I intended to break that record.

“Fourth floor—wow...” Her astonishment was plain to see. By then, a crowd had gathered. Seeing someone reach the fourth floor drew everyone in, even the patrolling soldiers came to watch. Suddenly, someone grabbed my calf. My first reaction was to assume a zombie attack and prepare to strike, but when I looked down, it was Qin Tian. The fellow was already fine, struggling to stand but unable to get up despite his efforts. “Old Li, why don’t you give me a hand?” he called out.

“Haha, Brother Qin, why are you acting like a turtle?” I bent down and helped him to his feet. It seemed his injuries had fully healed.

“What’s all the commotion here?” Qin Tian lit up a cigarette as soon as he woke, provoking complaints from those around us. I ignored them, took the cigarette from him, and drew a few puffs. Let them complain—I believed smoking was a man’s right. Who was I to blame if they lived centuries behind the times and had never seen a cigarette before? After a smoke, Yu Jing emerged from the tower. The crowd looked at him with reverence; to them, reaching the fourth floor was an incredible feat. The two guards at the entrance quickly inscribed markings on Yu Jing’s identity card before announcing, “Post-World Martial Artist, Level 4.”

“Wow, who is this guy? So powerful!”

“He’s handsome too!”

For a time, the crowd buzzed with excitement until the soldiers motioned for silence. Yu Jing returned to our group and said, “The beast on the fourth floor was too cunning. I was seriously injured and nearly died, but when I got out, I was fine.”

At this, the young woman spoke again. “Do you know why this nine-story demon tower is called a demon tower? Legend says it was built by a great god from the Heavenly Realm. The beasts inside are not real but illusions, not the true forms of the creatures. That’s why injuries sustained inside are only illusions.”

“So that’s how it is. Who’s next?” Yu Jing stretched his limbs, clearly recovering from the intense fight.

“I’ll go,” Qin Tian said eagerly.

“No, you just woke up; your stamina hasn’t recovered. I’ll go first.” I wanted Qin Tian to rest, but he insisted on going. Unable to stop him, I let him proceed.

“Next candidate: Qin Tian, civilian,” the soldier at the entrance announced. Soon, Qin Tian entered the nine-story demon tower. More spectators gathered, pushing us to the railing. Within half an hour, he had reached the third floor. Unable to see inside, I didn’t know what creature awaited there, but from the crowd’s chatter, the third floor housed a bloodthirsty beast—a ferocious demon whose entire body was crimson like fresh blood. Its attack came from bone spikes on its back, which, unlike other creatures, could be fired remotely. It could shoot two spikes simultaneously and could reload and fire again almost immediately, endlessly. How these bone spikes functioned as ranged weapons baffled me.

Soon, Qin Tian reached the fourth floor. I silently held my breath—Yu Jing had struggled against the fourth floor’s beast; I wasn’t sure if Qin Tian could handle it.

“Wow! He actually passed the fourth floor!”

Another chorus of exclamations rose. I looked up and saw the red cloth for the fourth floor had dropped. Qin Tian had reached the fifth floor. I had always thought Qin Tian and Yu Jing were roughly equal in strength, but after this test, it was clear Qin Tian was slightly stronger, likely because he possessed the magic martial body. The trial ended soon after; Qin Tian had reached the fifth floor.

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