Chapter 131: Assessment and Counter-Kill

In the darkness, Qin Ming did not know how long he had been walking with the main group.

The road underfoot was no longer a straight staircase.

It became crooked and winding, as if entering a huge and complex maze.

The decaying scent in the air grew heavier, mixed with a lingering smell of blood that burrowed into the nasal cavity, making one nauseous.

After a long while.

The long procession finally stopped.

"We have arrived."

The bearded man's cold voice rang out ahead.

"Take off their hoods."

A rough hand grabbed Qin Ming's hood and yanked it upwards forcefully.

Dazzling light poured in, and Qin Ming instinctively narrowed his eyes.

After he briefly adapted to the surrounding light, his pupils suddenly constricted.

They were currently in a huge natural stone chamber.

On the rock walls, a burning torch was inserted every few meters, its flames flickering, illuminating the entire stone chamber with dim and fluctuating light.

The stone slab ground beneath their feet was covered with large areas of dark brown marks.

Those were long-dried bloodstains.

Their dozens of newly recruited members were arranged in two loose rows, standing in the center of the stone chamber.

Opposite them was precisely that bearded man.

Behind him stood a row of team members wearing special black combat uniforms, each expressionless, with eyes like stagnant water.

Watching the undisguised tension and fear on everyone's faces, the bearded man's mouth split open, revealing a cruel smile.

"Next is the test of your strength."

He extended a finger and shook it casually.

"I will send a team member to battle against you."

"What you need to do is to hold out for two minutes in his hands."

"Those who pass will stay."

"Those who fail will be eliminated."

He withdrew his hand, his voice suddenly raising.

"Zhang Hu!"

"Here!"

Following his order, a medium-built, ordinary-looking man stepped out from behind him.

That person had no expression on his face, only quietly standing in the center of the venue.

Two men in black stepped forward, untied the handcuffs of the man at the very front of the queue, and rudely pushed him out.

The pushed-out man staggered a few steps before barely standing firm, his face full of bewilderment.

"This… what on earth is going on?"

"Why are we fighting?"

The bearded man didn't seem to mean to explain, only lifting his hand indifferently.

"Save time, quick battle, quick decision."

"Timing, start!"

The moment his voice fell.

The team member named Zhang Hu moved.

His entire body was like a hunting cheetah, his feet exerting sudden force, and his figure instantly turned into an afterimage, pouncing toward the still-dazed man!

The man changed color in great shock, wanting to summon a weapon in panic, but his action was half a beat too slow.

Zhang Hu's fist, wrapped in powerful wind, slammed fiercely into his chest.

"Puff!"

The man spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, smashing heavily onto the ground.

Before he even had time to crawl up, Zhang Hu's attack was already shadowing him like a phantom.

Fists, elbows, knees, kicks.

The storm-like attacks all fell onto the man's body.

The bone-cracking "crack" sound was clearly audible in the empty stone chamber.

The man couldn't even make a decent counterattack, able only to issue painful wails.

Seeing that his health bar was about to bottom out, he finally collapsed.

"I surrender! I surrender! Stop hitting!"

He knelt on the ground, tears and snot streaming down, desperately begging for mercy.

Yet Zhang Hu's movements didn't have any hesitation.

With a whip kick, he accurately lashed onto the man's temple.

"Bang!"

The man's head exploded in response like a ripe watermelon.

Red and white splashed all over the ground.

On the training ground, a chorus of gasps instantly sounded.

Everyone's complexions turned as pale as paper.

Qin Ming stood in the queue, his expression solemn.

Now he finally knew where those dried bloodstains on the floor came from.

In the queue, someone mustered up courage and asked with a trembling voice.

"You… didn't you say failure means elimination?"

"He… he already surrendered, why kill him?"

The smile on the bearded man's face grew increasingly cruel.

"Sorry."

"Here, elimination means death."

He glanced around the crowd, his eyes icy.

"Therefore, you'd better bring out all your strength."

"Otherwise, go accompany him."

Soon, the second person had their handcuffs removed and was pushed out.

There was a fierce glint in this person's eyes, obviously prepared to fight to the death.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

With an angry roar, he took the initiative to charge toward Zhang Hu.

However, the gap in strength cannot be made up for by courage.

In less than half a minute, his corpse also fell within the pool of blood.

Next.

One.

And another.

Screams and wails rose and fell one after another.

Someone tried to escape in despair.

But in this stone chamber surrounded by rock walls on all four sides, where could they run?

Before running a few steps, their heads were slashed off with a single blade by the men in black guarding on the side.

Zhang Hu's efficiency was very high.

In the blink of an eye, the ten people in the first row had already finished their "assessment".

Only two people, under the condition of exhausting all their strength and suffering severe injuries, barely managed to hold out for two minutes.

They were dragged to the side, lying on the ground like two dead dogs, on the verge of death.

Finally, it was Qin Ming's turn.

The cold handcuffs were unlocked.

Qin Ming took a deep breath, without the slightest hesitation, stepping out in one stride.

He didn't even look at the man named Zhang Hu.

Swish!

A pair of epic-grade daggers [Night Shadow Fangs] flashing with cold light suddenly appeared in his hands.

Strike first to gain the upper hand!

Exerting force under his feet, Qin Ming's figure instantly became blurred, actively charging toward Zhang Hu!

A trace of surprise flashed in Zhang Hu's eyes, which immediately turned into a sneer.

"A bit interesting."

Without dodging or avoiding, a heavy battle axe emerged in his hand, chopping down head-on toward Qin Ming!

Clang!

The daggers and battle axe collided in the air, sparking a string of dazzling sparks.

A huge force came from the daggers, and Qin Ming only felt his tiger's mouth go numb, his figure sliding backward uncontrollably for several meters.

The gap in Rank was still too obvious.

However, it was still night, and the "Night Demon" status on his body was still playing a role.

All attributes doubled!

Although still slightly suppressed, it was already enough for him to maneuver with the opponent.

Qin Ming stabilized his figure, his gaze growing increasingly calm.

He no longer went head-to-head with the opponent, instead bringing out the assassin's advantage, his figure fluttering, constantly wandering around Zhang Hu to look for flaws.

Zhang Hu's attacks were open and close, powerful and heavy, yet they repeatedly missed.

"Only know how to hide? Trash!"

With an angry roar, his offensive grew even more violent.

Qin Ming was unmoved, only calmly dodging and parrying, the daggers in his hands leaving bloody gashes on the opponent from time to time.

Time passed minute by minute.

Just at the moment when the two minutes were about to end.

Zhang Hu chopped the axe into empty air once again; his old strength had just faded, and his new strength had not yet been born.

Right now!

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Ming's eyes as he seized this fleeting opportunity!

He suddenly closed in, the daggers in his hands striking viciously at an tricky angle against the shaft of the opponent's battle axe!

Crack!

That extraordinary quality battle axe was actually knocked out a crack by force!

Zhang Hu was greatly alarmed.

Yet Qin Ming would no longer give him any chance.

With a turn of his body, he wrapped around to Zhang Hu's back like a phantom.

[Backstab]!

[Eviscerate]!

[Shadow Strike]!

A series of fatal combo moves poured out in an instant.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The sounds of daggers piercing flesh sounded one after another.

Zhang Hu's body suddenly stiffened, and he lowered his head in disbelief, looking at the tips of the two daggers protruding from his chest.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only a gush of blood welled up.

Qin Ming slowly pulled out the daggers and kicked him down to the ground.

For a moment, the entire stone chamber was dead silent.

Everyone widened their eyes, looking at that lean figure slowly standing straight up.

They actually saw… someone counter-killed the examiner?

Watching this scene, the bearded man's face didn't have the slightest anger; instead, his eyes revealed a deep look of appreciation.

Clap, clap, clap.

Abrupt applause rang out in the stone chamber.

"Not bad, not bad."

"Congratulations, you have passed."

He looked at Qin Ming and asked.

"What is your name?"

"Qin Ming."

Qin Ming's voice was calm and hoarse.

The bearded man nodded.

"I remember you."

Two men in black stepped forward, made a "please" gesture toward Qin Ming, and led him away from this bloody stone chamber.

Passing through a long and narrow, oppressive corridor.

The scenery before their eyes suddenly opened up.

Looking at the scene before him, Qin Ming couldn't help but widen his eyes, his eyes filled with undisguised horror.

This was an incomparably huge underground cave.

The dome was so high it was out of sight, inlaid with countless glowing crystals that illuminated the entire cave as bright as day.

Inside the cave, several thousand people were actually stationed!

Like worker ants, they were busy on the huge venue.

People constantly walked out from the deeper mine tunnels, carrying or hugging various nameless Ores and Materials on their backs or in their arms.

Qin Ming even saw someone carrying a complete basin-sized magic crystal as they walked out from inside!

On both sides of the venue, there were also many men in black wearing the same uniforms, holding weapons, patrolling back and forth, and monitoring all of this.

Qin Ming looked along the path where those people transporting supplies were advancing.

At the deepest part of the cave, he saw it.

A… small mountain piled up by magic crystals.