8: If you want to live a long time, you have to learn to pretend to be confused

"A free-for-all?"

Upon hearing the Burly Man's words, everyone was stunned. They clearly hadn't expected the practical combat phase to be a free-for-all.

Mo Fan's eyes lit up at this. He felt that his chances might actually be better this way.

In a free-for-all, as long as one's luck was good and they knew how to fish in troubled waters, there was a hope of being the last one laughing!

Thinking of this, Mo Fan moved slightly toward an open area. Without hesitation, he connected his consciousness to the Virtual panel and quickly tapped the plus sign next to the cultivation column.

In an instant, a surge of strange energy rushed toward Mo Fan from an unknown space, rapidly washing over his body and making him feel as if he were soaking in a warm ocean.

Immediately after, his muscles tightened, and his lines became more defined, seemingly filled with explosive power.

Exhaling heavily, Mo Fan clenched his fists. He felt filled with strength from head to toe, as if he could kill two bulls with a single punch!

At this moment, his attribute panel had quietly changed.

[Name: Mo Fan]

[Cultivation: Body Tempering Second Level (+)]

[Cultivation Technique: Basic Body Tempering Art]

[Martial Skill: Nameless Fist Technique.]

[Storage Space: 1 cubic meter]

[Available attribute points: 0]

His cultivation had reached a Breakthrough to the Body Tempering Second Level.

His available attribute points had returned to zero once again.

In addition, a new Martial Skill column had been added to Mo Fan's attribute panel.

"Nameless Fist Technique? What a plain name. It seems to be the fist technique I comprehended in the previous round of testing..."

Meanwhile, after a brief moment of shock, someone reacted. Without a word, they executed the fist technique and struck out at the examinee beside them.

"Damn! You have no martial ethics!" The person who was sneak-attacked was startled. Subconsciously, they circulated their spiritual energy, coordinated it with the corresponding Breathing Technique, and threw a punch forward.

Bang!

The fierce wind howled and whistled.

A pig-slaughtering scream rang out. The attacker's chest caved in slightly as if they had been hit by a truck, and they were sent flying back like a kite with a broken string.

With a dull thud, the man landed directly outside the arena. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision blurred, and he nearly fainted.

He struggled to look up, staring blankly at the person on the arena he had sneak-attacked.

After seeing the other party's face clearly, his eyes instantly welled up, and he wanted to wail loudly.

What a disaster!

He hadn't looked clearly at who it was!

That was one of the four powerhouses who had completely comprehended the Test Fist Technique!

Of all people to sneak attack, why did it have to be him?!

Isn't this like carrying a lantern into a latrine—looking for shit?

With a loud sob, he could no longer hold it back and cried out in grievance.

On the arena, Mo Fan wiped away cold sweat, his heart still racing.

That's right, he was the unlucky bastard who had just been sneak-attacked!

He had almost been hit!

"Terrifying. Luckily I was smart enough to immediately add points and increase my strength, otherwise, I would have capsized in a gutter!"

Mo Fan patted his chest, looking lingeringly afraid. At the same time, he suddenly turned around and threw a punch, knocking a young man who hadn't reacted yet off the arena.

"Holy shit! You freaking sneak-attacked me! I wasn't ready!" The man scrambled up from the ground, filled with grief and indignation, wanting to duel Mo Fan.

Mo Fan grinned, turned around, and walked toward a more open area in the middle of the arena.

"The edges are too dangerous!

"But then again, this Test Fist Technique is actually quite powerful!"

Recalling the battle just now, Mo Fan sighed with emotion.

Judging by their auras, those two just now were both at the Body Tempering Third Level, one minor Realm higher than him!

But even so, they were still taken care of by him with one punch each!

"Is this the power of the Test Fist Technique? It's actually much stronger than I imagined!

"It seems if I play it safe, there's still hope of obtaining the generous Spirit Stone reward!"

Mo Fan encouraged himself and quietly chose an inconspicuous open space to stop. He looked around vigilantly, ready to cast the Appraisal Technique at any time.

If the opponent exposed their aura, it would be easy to judge their cultivation.

If the opponent hid their aura well, he would need the help of the Appraisal Technique to judge.

Mo Fan made up his mind: if he encountered those at the Body Tempering Third Level or below, he would strike like lightning and blast them off the arena.

If he encountered anyone above the Body Tempering Third Level, he would decisively run away and never engage!

However, very quickly, Mo Fan's expression became peculiar.

He stood there for a long time, but not a single person came to attack!

Not only that, these people were deliberately staying away from him!

Why was this?

With a second thought, he understood.

He was one of the four who had completely comprehended the Test Fist Technique!

In a situation where his cultivation level was unknown, he was naturally regarded as an expert, so others naturally didn't dare to act rashly.

Mo Fan was very satisfied with this.

It was best if they didn't attack!

It would be even better if he could win by doing nothing!

Of course, Mo Fan also knew this was unrealistic.

Experts usually met one of two ends.

One: being feared.

Two: being ganged up on.

And as time passed, one would quickly turn into two.

After all, no one was a fool.

Since you are strong,

then we will unite to take you down. Only then will we have a chance to be among the final five survivors, obtain the generous Spirit Stone reward, and get the authority to exchange for Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills without merit points.

Sure enough, before long, He Wuyi and Zhang Qiang, who had also completely comprehended the Test Fist Technique, were besieged by groups of people.

Because of their outstanding performance in the second round, the two of them had long been targeted.

Adding to that, as soon as the assessment began, the two of them decisively attacked others, which eventually triggered panic and led to them being ganged up on.

In contrast, Mo Fan and Lin Yiyi, who kept a low profile, had not been attacked for the time being.

Of course, Mo Fan also knew this was only temporary.

As soon as they finished off He Wuyi and Zhang Qiang, the next ones to be dealt with would be Mo Fan and Lin Yiyi.

"The situation is not looking good..." Mo Fan frowned.

If faced with a siege, with his meager strength, he most likely wouldn't be able to hold them off.

Just as Mo Fan was pondering, Lin Yiyi, with her high ponytail and curvaceous figure, walked toward him inconspicuously.

"Holy crap?!"

Seeing this, Mo Fan took a sharp breath, his muscles tensing as he prepared to bolt!

"Don't be nervous, I'm here to cooperate with you!" Lin Yiyi held her forehead and quickly explained her intention.

"Uh, there's no need, right? I'm just a little weakling..." Mo Fan said sheepishly.

"I saw your fight just now. Your use of the fist technique is so proficient, it's practically second nature—fluid and seamless. Even someone at the Body Tempering Fourth Level might not be your match!"

Lin Yiyi's eyes sparkled as she spoke quickly: "My comprehension of the Test Fist Technique is also very deep. My combat power when I explode isn't weak; dealing with the Body Tempering Fourth Level isn't much of a problem!

"If we join forces, there's a high probability of obtaining the final reward!"

Hearing this, Mo Fan frowned slightly.

Should they team up?

Although he didn't want to have too much contact with Lin Yiyi,

teaming up with her right now was indeed a good choice.

Otherwise, once others targeted him, he would likely be done for.

Although most of the examinees present were at the Body Tempering Third Level,

overall, there were still quite a few at the Body Tempering Fourth Level.

There might even be one or two hidden Body Tempering Fifth Level or even Body Tempering Sixth Level practitioners!

To seize the final reward among these people was clearly somewhat impossible!

"Don't hesitate anymore, there's not much time left. I have a strong sense of contract, so don't worry about me backstabbing you!" Lin Yiyi urged.

Although her true strength was very high,

she couldn't unleash a strength that was too absurd to avoid drawing attention.

Those two guys, He Wuyi and Zhang Qiang, weren't very bright and were targeted right from the start; now they could barely save themselves.

Now, only Mo Fan was left to cooperate with!

On this side, Mo Fan weighed it for a moment and finally nodded: "Fine, I agree!"

For the generous Spirit Stone reward... I'll risk it!

Hearing this, Lin Yiyi looked delighted.

This guy finally agreed to cooperate with her!

For some reason, Lin Yiyi always felt that Mo Fan was deliberately avoiding her!

When did my charm become so poor?

"By the way, when you said before that your cultivation was only at the Body Tempering First Level, you were fooling me, right?" Lin Yiyi focused her gaze and looked seriously at Mo Fan.

"Uh, it's indeed not the Body Tempering First Level..." Mo Fan scratched his head in embarrassment.

Seeing this, Lin Yiyi rolled her eyes.

Just as I thought!

This guy is too cautious!

If she hadn't carefully noticed his two clean and efficient punches, she would have been fooled by him!

Lin Yiyi felt like hitting someone.

As for what Mo Fan's cultivation level actually was,

and why his efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy was so absurdly low,

Lin Yiyi didn't want to probe further.

Everyone has their own secrets.

To live long, one must learn to play dumb.