Inside the training room, Ling Xiaoxiao led the two directly to the highest-level testing area. This top-tier testing zone was almost never used. It was a defensive structure capable of withstanding a nuclear blast, reinforced with the most advanced materials and personally inscribed with arrays by Ling Xiaoxiao herself. So far, only one person had ever required the use of this facility for testing, and that person was Ling Xiaoxiao.
Because of this, the soldiers of the Special Powers Unit had nicknamed this testing area “The Iron Fortress.” They all regarded being able to enter the Iron Fortress for testing as a major goal.
Those who had witnessed Ling Xiaoxiao’s test last month already viewed her as a transcendent immortal. The methods she displayed during her test were nothing short of miraculous. Descriptions like ‘moving mountains and filling seas’ felt inadequate to describe her. Some, who read a lot of novels, described her like this:
“What are mountains and seas to her? Even the sun, moon, and stars—if she wished it, she could toy with them in the palm of her hand. Senior Ling, truly terrifying!”
This evaluation spread like wildfire, causing another wave of heated discussion within the base. While some were skeptical, the thought that Ling Xiaoxiao had never shown her full power made it seem entirely possible.
This, in turn, sparked everyone’s curiosity about Ling Xiaoxiao’s true strength. After all, she was a genuine legend, the founder of the Special Powers Unit, and even similar awakened organizations abroad held her in great respect.
Her reputation alone dispelled much of the doubt. Recently, video footage from the international joint special forces operation during the vampire nation founding event, which showed them battling a Primeval vampire, completely erased any remaining skepticism.
That Primeval vampire, ambushed by hundreds of high-level awakened individuals, was forced into a desperate struggle under the sunlight. With the assistance of five nuns from the Sacred Inquisition and hundreds of elite soldiers bolstered by sacred blessings, they were still utterly routed by the Primeval vampire.
In the end, the joint forces suffered heavy casualties, losing more than half their number. Only one of the five nuns who came to assist survived. This outcome directly enraged the Matriarch of the Sacred Inquisition, who openly declared war on Cain’s Vampire Nation.
The fact that a single Primeval vampire could perform so formidably in sunlight stood in stark contrast to Ling Xiaoxiao’s feat three years prior: she had soundly defeated Dracula—another Primeval, along with all his familiars—forcing him into a miserable retreat in the darkness of night.
Seeing Ling Xiaoxiao enter the Iron Fortress testing area, everyone unanimously followed, immediately crowding around the fortress until it was packed tight.
Seeing their anticipation, Ling Xiaoxiao asked Xueji and Shaya for their opinion.
“Would you mind if we turn the cameras on during the test?”
“Whatever, hurry up, hurry up! I’m hungry!” Shaya said.
“I don’t mind either. It’s fine to turn them on,” Xueji said, before she and Shaya entered the testing area.
And so, their test became a live broadcast.
…
The testing area was far larger inside than it appeared. From the outside, it looked like a sealed room of about fifty square meters, but inside it was at least a thousand square meters. The floors and walls were reinforced with the most advanced materials and inscribed with energy-absorbing arrays, providing ample space for the two to fully demonstrate their abilities.
As Xueji and Shaya walked in, the entire silvery-white space activated. Green streams of light flowed across the walls, giving it a highly technological feel.
While the two were examining the space, Ling Xiaoxiao’s voice came through.
[Test Begin. Phase One: Physical Capability Assessment.]
A “Ling Xiaoxiao” dressed in red and black training clothes walked forward slowly, clasping her hands in a traditional greeting towards the two.
Shaya made a sound of surprise, and only after Xueji’s explanation did she understand this was a puppet left behind by Ling Xiaoxiao for testing purposes.
“Let’s fight,” the puppet said, adopting a combat stance, prepared to face them using pure martial arts.
Hearing this, Shaya grew exceptionally excited. Opportunities to hit Ling Xiaoxiao didn’t come often!
“I’ll go first! A’Ji, you stay back!” Shaya shouted, partially transforming and charging towards the puppet.
She took a running start, then leaped powerfully, instantly appearing near the hundred-meter-high ceiling.
With a long cry, she unleashed her full physical power. Her vital energy surged dramatically. Then, she kicked off violently against the ceiling. The arrays on the ceiling activated, giving the material liquid-like properties. Ripples spread across the ceiling, successfully dissipating Shaya’s force.
Then, Shaya shifted her posture mid-air and executed a stylish flying kick aimed at the puppet Ling Xiaoxiao.
The observers outside only saw a silver meteor smash into the puppet. Upon impact, the resulting shockwave shook the entire testing room. The blow drove the puppet waist-deep into the ground. This display made everyone gasp in unison. The icy air entering their lungs caused a wave of coughing.
“Why is it so cold? Damn!”
“Zhang Shan, stop using your power! It’s freezing!”
…
Before the puppet could get up, Shaya hauled it out, shoved it to the ground, and straddled it.
This scene caused a stir among the onlookers outside. They all glanced surreptitiously at the real Ling Xiaoxiao, trying to gauge her reaction.
But Ling Xiaoxiao’s face showed no reaction; she just watched the scene inside coldly.
“Isn’t this a bit excessive?” a bystander commented.
“Right! How can she hit the face like that! It’s too much.”
Ling Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and said coolly, “It’s fine. It’s just a test. Don’t get too worked up.”
Straddling the puppet and looking at the face identical to Ling Xiaoxiao’s, Shaya felt an almost irresistible impulse.
She punched the puppet in the face. The feedback from the punch was surprisingly soft, just like hitting real flesh.
This discovery gave Shaya an indescribable feeling of exhilaration. Ever since meeting Ling Xiaoxiao, it felt like a mountain was pressing down on her heart. She couldn’t beat her in a fight, and didn’t dare to curse her out. The frustration was unbearable.
Now, she had a chance to settle this personal grudge under the guise of public duty. How could she let such a golden opportunity slip away?
The puppet threw a few stiff punches at her, all of which Shaya nimbly dodged. While dodging, she never stopped her own attacks, continuously hammering the puppet’s face.
Shaya saw an opening, grabbed the puppet’s hands, and froze them solid with her cold energy. Then she began pummeling the defenseless puppet.
Shaya’s fists moved faster and faster, becoming a blur—hundreds of punches thrown in a single second. The relentless force of the punches transmitted through the puppet’s head into the ground below, causing cracks to spread outwards.
Shaya unleashed her power once more, stood up to build momentum, and delivered a perfectly executed punch squarely to the puppet’s face. The impact from this blow created a large crater in the surrounding area.
“Ura! Ura! Ura!” Shaya chanted, pounding the puppet’s head deeper into the ground with each punch.
Shaya vented her frustrations on the puppet Ling Xiaoxiao for nearly half an hour.
Finally, she stood up, looked at the thoroughly disheveled puppet, and felt a sudden wave of inspiration.
“Ha ha ha!” She planted a foot on the puppet, placed her hands on her hips, and laughed wildly and arrogantly.
The people outside gasped in amazement at Shaya’s formidable physical and psychological strength.
Just as everyone was about to gasp in shock again, they were met with a wave of scorchingly hot air that made their noses run.
“Who is it this time? Stop using powers randomly!”
“Li Si, is that you?”
“Not me! I’ve got mine under control.”
“Then who could it…”
The person speaking trailed off as they noticed the dark expression on Ling Xiaoxiao’s face beside them and immediately shut their mouth.
Ling Xiaoxiao turned and walked towards the testing room entrance.
The people around her quickly tried to hold her back, urging her,
“Senior Ling, it’s just a test! Calm down!”
However, their attempts to stop her were futile. She still entered the testing room.