The Long Spear Thrust from the Cave

Before long, Lin Xi, bearing a black-horned bow on his back and wielding a long knife of the border guards, appeared before a gate in the yellow wall. 

This yellow wall stretched for miles, with a grand entrance every thousand meters or so. Just prior to reaching this gate, Lin Xi had caught sight of a fellow student marked with a hawk insignia in a grove bordering the wall. However, upon noticing the five golden star insignias adorning Lin Xi's attire and the black-horned bow slung across his back, the student chose to flee at once. 

Having achieved a five-star combat record, Lin Xi did not pursue him. After all, the area within the yellow wall was not a free combat zone; engaging in conflict there would result in a deduction of credits. Thus, with a sense of ease, Lin Xi stepped through the open gate ahead. 

The comprehensive testing area enclosed by the yellow wall spanned several hundred acres, roughly the size of a high school from Lin Xi's previous world. Nestled within the mountainous landscape were a dozen or so structures reminiscent of Greek temples, supported by sturdy stone columns that rose to three or four stories, forming a series of simple yet imposing square halls. 

Behind the gate Lin Xi passed through stood a plain square stone tablet, inscribed with the words: "Entry into training must be sequential; only upon completing and passing the first stage can one enter the second stage. Failure to comply will result in a deduction of one credit. The southern side is for the first stage, while the northern side is for the second stage; further details are provided on the stone tablet at the hall's entrance." 

Lin Xi looked up, using the setting sun and the distant peaks of Qingluan Academy to easily discern north from south. Following a gravel path, he arrived before the first hall on the southern side. 

Faced with the grandeur of the massive square stone hall, supported by colossal columns that could only be embraced by several individuals, Lin Xi couldn't help but marvel internally, pondering how someone from his previous world, who was thrilled by even the sight of a few dilapidated structures, would react in this valley surrounded by such magnificent edifices. 

The exterior of the temple-like stone hall bore no ornate decorations, save for a simple stone tablet inscribed with the words: "First Stage." 

What awaited inside? 

Curiosity piqued, Lin Xi stepped into the hall, which featured a long, wide corridor extending roughly two hundred paces, with a tightly shut bronze door at the rear. 

Several simple windows pierced the surrounding walls, allowing beams of sunlight to filter into the hall. The uneven earthen floor was marked by deep square holes in the thick walls. 

At the entrance, a small leather scroll was affixed to the wall, displaying elegant script that read: "Direct Hit Spear: Proceed through the hall to reach the back door to complete the training. Current records: Medicine System, passed in seventy-three breaths with three hits; Culture System, passed in seventy-five breaths with four hits; Peace System, passed in sixty-one breaths with two hits; Spirit Ritual System, passed in seventy breaths with three hits; Internal Affairs System, passed in fifty-four breaths with one hit; Craftsmanship System, passed in seventy-two breaths with four hits." 

"Direct Hit Spear... Could it be that the square holes conceal spears that will strike out?" 

Lin Xi furrowed his brow in contemplation. In this world, a breath equated to a second, covering roughly one hundred sixty meters; it was inconceivable that anyone would need over fifty seconds to traverse this hall, especially given that the shortest record, set by a student from the Internal Affairs System, took fifty-four seconds to cross this open space with a clear endpoint. 

Thus, "one hit" likely indicated being struck by a spear once. 

The Peace System prioritized combat prowess, intentionally placing certain "border savages" within its ranks during the selection of new students. Interestingly, the records left by previous students in the Peace System did not surpass those of the Internal Affairs System, suggesting that the student who set that record was indeed formidable. 

After a moment's reflection, Lin Xi concluded that his bow would be of little use here. He removed the black-horned bow and quiver from his back but retained the long knife, reasoning that it might serve to block incoming strikes. He cautiously advanced into the vast, silent hall, holding the knife at the ready. 

As anticipated, after taking five or six steps into the hall, the thick stone walls reverberated with the sound of heavy metal hinges shifting. 

With a resounding "thrum!" a black spear, gleaming with a chilling sheen, shot forth from the left wall, aimed directly at him. 

Forewarned, Lin Xi leapt forward, narrowly evading the spear's thrust as it plunged into the earthen floor, quivering slightly. 

Before he could assess the spear, another one hurtled toward him from his right rear. 

He managed to dodge this spear as well, but a chilling realization struck him: a black spear was descending from above. 

Though clad in a black suit of armor featuring a helmet with formidable protective capabilities, being struck on the head by such a spear would be excruciating. 

In a flurry of movement, Lin Xi stumbled forward, only to feel a sharp pain in his lower back as yet another black spear pierced his left shoulder blade, sending him tumbling to the ground. 

The dual agonies elicited cold sweat all over him; the force of these spears was significantly greater than that of the black lance wielded by the student marked with a rose insignia, driving deep into his very bones. 

Instinctively, he tried to push himself up from the ground, but as he arched his back, a spear struck him heavily from behind, pinning him to the earth and nearly robbing him of breath. 

Lying still on the ground, the onslaught of spears ceased, though the sound of metal clinking continued to echo within the hall's stone walls. 

Gasping in pain, Lin Xi opted to remain motionless, contemplating his predicament. 

Uncertain whether the mechanisms within the hall were controlled by an instructor or triggered automatically, he was sure that the spears emerging from the square holes in the walls could adjust their angles. With each step taken, at least five or six spears would indiscriminately strike from various directions. 

The force of these black spears was akin to the full weight of a regular soldier in a formal army. 

Thus, this scenario was designed to simulate being trapped in a battlefield, facing the chaotic thrusts of enemy soldiers wielding spears. 

In the midst of a chaotic clash involving hundreds or even thousands, the surrounding adversaries would likely number only five or six. 

Given the recent events, despite having entered the ranks of practitioners, Lin Xi realized that even without fellow practitioners, a group of ordinary soldiers armed with spears could easily overwhelm him. 

The records left at the entrance noted the number of spear strikes, and combined with the power of these black spears, it was clear that to surpass these records, one could not simply rely on speed to dash through while enduring the pain of spear strikes. 

Reflecting on the positions of the spears during his previous steps, Lin Xi suddenly noticed that sometimes multiple spears would strike simultaneously from different angles. This meant that even if he managed to evade one, his body would be positioned awkwardly, making it impossible to avoid the spears coming from below. 

The speed of these black spears was not particularly fast... 

Suddenly, a flash of insight illuminated Lin Xi's mind; he comprehended the simulation! 

This was a complete imitation of charging into a melee, where no matter the direction one charged, there would always be five or six soldiers thrusting spears at them! On the battlefield, soldiers and cavalry occupied the space for movement, necessitating constant dodging and attacking to break through! 

Thus, he could not abandon the long knife in his hand; he must continuously maneuver while using the knife to parry the incoming spears. 

The essence of this arrangement was to train practitioners to navigate through a tumultuous battlefield, either to fight their way out or to carve a path to freedom! 

Therefore, even if this exercise bore no relation to credit accumulation, it undeniably served to hone practical combat skills. 

Realizing he could not break the record this time, Lin Xi remained quietly on the ground until the pain subsided enough for him to move. Gripping the black long knife tightly, he sprang to his feet. 

"Thrum!" 

As he leapt forward, spears shot from the walls, lunging toward him. 

"Clang!" 

In the dimly lit hall, the metallic sound echoed, releasing a shower of sparks. 

Charging ahead, Lin Xi cleaved a spear aimed at him, but in that brief moment of hesitation, a spear from behind struck him hard in the right side. 

He stumbled, only to be struck again by another spear, causing him to fall to the ground. 

... 

In the empty, shadowy hall, Lin Xi repeatedly fell, only to rise again, the sounds of knife and spear clashing resonating throughout. 

After a lengthy struggle, Lin Xi decided to conclude the training, lying on his back, gasping for breath like a weary beast. 

Within his black armor, he felt as though he had been pulled from water, his body drenched. 

The warmth within his dantian had vanished entirely, leaving him with a body wracked by excruciating pain. 

His gaze fell upon the cold spears embedded in the ground, a shiver coursing through him as memories of the pain from their strikes resurfaced in his mind. 

Yet, this training, which so closely mimicked the reality of combat, provided him with profound insights: always assess which direction offers the greatest chance for evasion, never allow his form to stagnate, and wield the long knife to strike at the most favorable angles, aiming to deflect the spears rather than clash with them head-on, ensuring that each cut does not impede the next movement.