Chapter 41: Tests II

The young man’s expression changed.

He tried to dodge its next strike, but the golem’s fist caught the edge of his sword and knocked it out of his hand.

The sword spun through the air and landed several meters away.

The young man retreated quickly.

He was still capable of fighting, but his earlier attacks had drained too much of his energy. The golem was now faster and stronger than he could comfortably handle.

He tried to recover his sword, but the golem closed the distance.

A heavy punch struck his chest.

The young man was thrown backward and hit the ground. The barrier prevented him from being thrown outside the arena, but he was unable to stand.

The golem stopped.

"Participant twenty-three. Combat score: 461. Failed."

The young man was carried out by the attendants.

Ben looked at the arena thoughtfully.

The test wasn’t simply about having greater combat power. A participant also needed to maintain control over their energy and respond to the golem’s changes.

The instructor continued calling names.

More candidates entered the arena.

Some passed. Others failed.

As the examination progressed, the participants waiting outside became increasingly tense. The results were displayed on the large screen, and every new score gave the remaining candidates a clearer idea of what they needed to accomplish.

Ben remained calm.

He had already decided how he would approach the test.

He would avoid using White Ruination, his Ruination Beasts, or any ability that could reveal too much about his true strength. Instead, he would rely on his physical abilities, swordsmanship, and the energy he had cultivated.

His Supreme Celestial Art had strengthened his body through countless cycles of cultivation. Even without activating his innate ability, his physical strength and endurance were far beyond what an ordinary Silver Realm cultivator could possess.

He also had experience fighting opponents stronger than himself.

The Combat Golem would not be an easy opponent, but Ben was confident he could survive the five minutes.

After another participant completed the test, the instructor looked down at the registration list.

"Participant thirty-eight, Ben Parker."

Ben stood up.

Amanda glanced at him. "Remember to control your strength. You still have four parts left."

"I know."

Maya smiled. "Good luck."

Ben nodded to both of them before walking toward the arena.

As he passed the other candidates, several turned to look at him. His cultivation was clearly at the First Stage of the Silver Realm, which was higher than most of the participants who had taken the test so far.

Some expected him to pass easily.

Others watched with curiosity, wondering how much of his strength he would reveal.

Ben entered the testing area and stopped in front of the Combat Golem.

The dark metallic figure stood several meters away. Its energy core glowed faintly in its chest.

Ben examined it for a moment.

The golem’s strength was appropriate for his cultivation. Its energy output was stable, and its movements appeared to be controlled by a precise combat system.

He could probably destroy it with White Ruination.

However, that would reveal too much.

Ben lowered his stance and prepared himself.

The instructor looked toward him.

"Participant thirty-eight. Are you ready?"

"Ready."

The energy barrier activated around the arena.

The instructor raised his hand.

"Begin!"

The Combat Golem’s core lit up.

It charged toward Ben.

Its fist came straight at his chest, carrying enough force to shatter stone.

Ben did not retreat.

He shifted his body slightly to the side, allowing the punch to pass close to him. At the same time, he stepped forward and struck the golem’s arm with his palm.

A dull impact sounded.

The golem’s attack was redirected, and its body shifted off balance.

Ben followed with a short punch to its torso.

The strike landed against the dark metal, producing a heavy sound. The golem slid backward by several steps.

The candidates watching from outside the barrier were surprised.

Ben had not used a visible technique, yet he had redirected the golem’s attack and forced it back with a simple counter.

The instructor looked toward the screen.

Ben did not pursue the golem.

He returned to his original position and waited for its next attack.

The Combat Golem regained its balance and charged again.

This time, it launched a series of rapid strikes.

Ben moved calmly between them. He avoided each attack with small movements, conserving his energy while keeping the golem within his sight.

Whenever the golem left an opening, Ben used a controlled strike to redirect its movement.

He did not try to destroy it.

He only needed to demonstrate that he could handle the challenge.

The first minute passed.

The Combat Golem’s energy core brightened as its combat power increased by ten percent.

Its movements became faster.

Ben noticed the change immediately.

The golem launched a punch toward his shoulder. Ben raised his arm and blocked it.

The impact pushed him back half a step.

He looked at the golem’s fist.

Its strength had increased, but it was still manageable.

Ben shifted his stance and continued the fight.

As the second minute began, the golem’s attacks became more forceful. Ben was now required to use slightly more energy to defend himself, but he continued to avoid unnecessary movements.

He moved around the arena, allowing the golem to pursue him while keeping enough distance to react.

At one point, the golem swung its arm in a wide arc.

Ben ducked beneath the strike and stepped behind it. He placed his palm against its back and pushed.

The golem stumbled forward.

Ben immediately moved away.

The candidates watched in silence.

He was not overpowering the golem through raw strength. Instead, he was using its own momentum against it.

The third minute began.

The golem’s core glowed again.

Its combat power increased by another ten percent.

The next attack came faster than before.

Ben moved aside, but the force of the punch still created a strong shockwave that swept across the arena. His clothes fluttered as the attack passed.

He narrowed his eyes.

The golem was becoming more difficult to handle, but the increase was still within his expectations.

He continued moving.

For the next several exchanges, Ben relied on his footwork and precise movements. He avoided the golem’s attacks and occasionally struck its joints to disrupt its balance.

He was careful not to use too much energy.

The fourth minute arrived.

The golem’s power increased once more.

Its speed and strength were now considerably higher than at the beginning of the test.

It charged toward Ben and launched a heavy punch.

Ben raised both arms to block.

The impact forced him backward several meters.

His feet dragged across the arena floor, leaving two shallow marks.

For the first time, the golem had managed to push him back with a direct attack.

Ben lowered his arms and looked at the machine.

"Not bad."

He adjusted his stance.

The golem continued attacking.

Ben avoided its next strike, then moved to the side as it attempted to grab him. He struck its elbow, forcing its arm away, and stepped back before it could counterattack.

His breathing remained steady.

The candidates watching from outside the arena had begun to realize that Ben was not struggling in the same way as the earlier participants.

Even after the golem’s fourth increase in power, he remained composed.

The final minute began.

The Combat Golem’s core shone brightly as its combat power increased by another ten percent.

Its aura spread through the arena.

The golem moved toward Ben with greater speed than before.

Ben’s expression remained unchanged.

He could feel the increase in its strength, but he had already prepared himself for this moment.

The golem threw a punch.

Ben dodged to the side.

It followed with another attack, then a sweeping strike aimed at his legs.

Ben jumped over it and landed a short distance away.

The golem turned and charged again.

This time, Ben met it directly.

He stepped forward and struck its incoming arm with the side of his hand. The attack was redirected, and the golem’s body tilted.

Ben followed with a controlled strike against its chest.

The golem staggered backward.

Ben did not continue attacking. He retreated and waited for it to approach again.

The timer continued counting down.

Thirty seconds remained.

The golem launched another series of attacks. Ben avoided them one after another, using his footwork to keep himself out of danger.

His movements were precise and economical.

He had no need to waste energy.

Ten seconds remained.

The golem made one final attempt to strike him.

Ben shifted to the side and let the punch pass.

The timer reached zero.

A bell rang through the arena.

The Combat Golem immediately stopped moving.

Ben stood in front of it, breathing evenly.

The energy barrier deactivated.

The instructor looked at the screen, then announced the result.

"Participant thirty-eight, Ben Parker. Combat score: 912. Passed."

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.

A score of 912 was far above the required 500.

Ben had survived the full five minutes without revealing his strongest abilities, and he had done so with considerable control.

He turned and walked out of the arena.

Amanda watched him return with a small nod of approval.

Maya smiled. "That looked easy."

"It wasn’t difficult," Ben replied. "But the golem became much stronger near the end."

Amanda glanced toward the arena. "You managed your energy well. That will matter in the remaining tests."

Ben looked at the large screen.

His result had already been added to the list of successful participants.

The first part of the entrance examination was still underway, and many candidates remained. However, Ben had completed the opening test without exposing White Ruination or his Ruination Beasts.

He had passed the first step.

Now he needed to prepare for the second part of the examination.