Even the boss-level monsters were no match for Lin Moyu, falling in an instant.
His strength was undeniable to the examiners present. Although the monsters had been weakened for the test, they were still formidable enough that defeating them quickly should have been impossible. Yet, Lin Moyu made it seem effortless, while others struggled.
Xia Xue, for example, was constantly on the move, dodging attacks from the Wolf Orc leader while releasing her spells in retaliation. Wang Zihao, ever the fierce combatant, faced the beast head-on, with blood flying from his blade. His berserker instincts were in full force. Zuo Mei, on the other hand, was more tactical, using her abilities to control the battlefield, manipulating the monster's movements.
But Lin Moyu? He barely lifted a finger. His summoned skeleton warriors did all the work, swiftly eliminating the threat with just two powerful strikes. The battle ended before it even began, and Lin hadn't moved an inch.
"Honestly, I think he could solo low-level dungeons," one examiner mused.
"More than that," another chimed in, "he could probably handle a dungeon below level 20 on Nightmare difficulty."
"We haven't even seen the full extent of his power," a third added. "The fifth round will show us more. If he wants the provincial or even national championship, that round is where it'll happen."
The examiners speculated as they observed. They had no power to change the exam rules, which had been set by higher-ups in the empire. Only one person had that authority—Ning Xuanfeng, who had been quietly watching from the back. His focus was almost entirely on Lin Moyu, his interest clear.
The third round ended quickly, taking no more than 10 minutes. Candidates like Xia Xue, Zuo Mei, and Wang Zihao managed to defeat their opponents, earning the full 500 points. However, not everyone made it through. Some candidates were eliminated, either by giving up or being too injured to continue. Despite this, their efforts were enough to secure a spot in a good institution of higher learning.
Only 120 candidates remained as the rankings were announced:
1. Lin Moyu – 2105 points
2. Zuo Mei – 970 points
3. Xia Xue – 770 points
4. Wang Zihao – 765 points
5. Gao Yang – 302 points
Lin Moyu spotted Gao Yang's name on the list. Ranked sixty-seventh, Gao Yang had done well. With these results, it was almost guaranteed that he would be accepted into Jiangning Academy. Lin Moyu admired his determination. Gao Yang wouldn't give up easily—he would undoubtedly be in the fourth round.
Wang Zihao, still holding onto fourth place, knew that catching up to Lin Moyu was impossible after the third round. But his fighting spirit had not diminished. Gripping his saber tightly, his eyes burned with resolve. "The fourth round is coming, and so is my chance," he thought.
The examiner's voice rang out again, signaling the start of the fourth round.
"The fourth round will be more challenging and dangerous," the examiner announced. "You may choose to continue or give up now. Your current scores are already enough to secure admission into the empire's top 100 universities."
But no one backed down. Anyone who had made it this far was no coward.
The soft glow of white light enveloped the candidates, healing their fatigue and restoring their attributes to their peak condition. Even their skill cooldowns were reset.
The examiner continued, "For the fourth round, you will face 10 waves of monsters, with each wave consisting of 10 enemies. The waves will come at one-minute intervals, regardless of whether the previous one has been cleared. The final wave will be led by a boss-level monster. You must defeat all of them to pass."
"Each monster is worth 10 points, and clearing the round will double your score, for a potential total of 2000 points."
With the rules laid out, the light curtain in front of the candidates rose, revealing the first wave of 10 monsters. The enemies were level 13 Worf Orcs, with nine warriors and one mage in the back, making the challenge significantly more difficult.
Lin Moyu quickly analyzed the situation. The test wasn't just about strength; it was about speed. If a candidate couldn't eliminate the monsters quickly enough, they'd be overwhelmed by the subsequent waves.
This round was designed to test rapid clearing ability, following previous tests of endurance, duel skills, and basic combat power. The examiners had thought of everything.
Many of them had their eyes fixed on Lin Moyu.
"This is where it gets tough for summoners. The best strategy isn't to take down their summons but to target the summoner directly."
"I wonder how Lin Moyu will handle it."
Ning Xuanfeng, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "He'll manage. This round won't be a problem for him."
The other examiners were surprised by Ning Xuanfeng's confidence. Though some were skeptical, they chose not to argue. Soon enough, Lin Moyu's actions would show who was right.