102: Chapter 102: Combat Strength Assessment Rules

Above the plaza of the Qingheng Sect, the golden monitoring array, which had been shining brightly, suddenly dimmed.

Immediately after, four lines of massive, eerily glowing blue characters plunged into everyone's field of vision like four sharp swords.

This was the first phase of The Grand Exam: Combat Assessment.

But the moment the rules were read out, the entire plaza fell into a deathly silence.

The monitoring Elder stood on the high platform, his voice echoing among every peak through the amplification array:

"This Combat Assessment will not count the total number of kills, nor will it rank based on sequence."

"Only one thing will be counted—the Comprehensive Efficiency Score."

He waved his hand, and the text in the air lit up line by line, each character seeming to mock those brutes who only knew how to fight recklessly.

[Combat Assessment · Scoring Dimensions (V3.0)]

1. Target Completion (Weight 40%): Complete the task instructions issued by the examiners on time and in full (e.g., guarding strongholds, clearing Yao Beasts from specific areas).

2. War Loss Rate (Weight 30%): Core indicator. After the assessment ends, the number of surviving Disciples / number of Disciples deployed.

One death, one point deducted; one serious injury, 0.5 points deducted.

3. Action Efficiency (Weight 20%): The proportion of tasks completed per unit of time.

The longer the delay, the heavier the point deduction.

4. Collateral Damage Control (Weight 10%): Protection of terrain, vegetation, and civilian facilities within the assessment area.

Blowing up mountains, destroying forests, or polluting water sources will all result in point deductions.

The wind seemed to have stopped blowing.

In the formation of Tianjian Peak, that Elder Zhao suddenly stood up from his seat, staring in disbelief at the "War Loss Rate 30%".

"What... what kind of ghost rule is this?!"

The Disciples below looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.

"Didn't we used to count heads? Whoever chopped off the most heads won."

"War loss rate counts for points too? Then do we even dare to charge?"

"Collateral damage control? Isn't that the business of the Artifact Refining Peak and the Architecture Peak? What does it have to do with us Sword Cultivators?"

Shen Xingzhou stood at the forefront of the Hengchuan Peak formation, looking at those four lines of blue text.

At that moment, he heard the sound of his own heartbeat accelerating.

It wasn't because of nervousness, but because of... ecstasy.

Because the moment the rules popped up, the System interface had already finished parsing and matching the rules like a supercomputer.

[System Rule Parsing Complete]

[Analysis Conclusion:]

The current combat rules = The ideal battlefield for the "Hengchuan Peak SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Mode".

[Dimension Comparison:]

Target Completion: Although Hengchuan Peak's individual combat power is weak, relying on detailed division of labor and assembly-line operations, expected result: High.

War Loss Rate: Hengchuan Peak's core competitiveness. Relying on "Survival First" tactics and unified protective gear, expected result: Extremely low (First in the entire sect).

Action Efficiency: After a month of devilish training, instruction transmission has zero latency, expected result: Medium-High.

Collateral Damage Control: Because they use mass-produced, low-power standard Magical Artifacts, they can't even blow up a mountain, expected result: Extremely low.

[Comprehensive Prediction:]

If executed according to Hengchuan Peak's existing standards, the score for this assessment will far exceed that of the traditional main combat peaks.

On the System panel, a green prediction curve soared high, almost breaking through the ceiling.

This was more than just a score.

This was the greatest affirmation of Shen Xingzhou's month of "Performance Hell".

The rules had changed.

From "who is fiercer" to "who is steadier".

And this was exactly what this bunch of "workers" from Hengchuan Peak were best at.

"Nonsense!"

On the high platform, Elder Zhao of Tianjian Peak finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

He pointed at the projection of the rules, furious:

"Cultivators fighting Yao Beasts is a matter of life and death! If you don't inflict a thousand casualties on the enemy while suffering eight hundred yourself, how can you win?"

"Setting the 'War Loss Rate' so high, and then having to assess 'Collateral Damage'?"

"Is this asking Disciples to go to war, or asking them to do embroidery?"

"This kind of sissy rule..." He glanced pointedly at Shen Xingzhou, "Who exactly was it tailor-made for?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place was in an uproar.

Everyone's eyes focused on Shen Xingzhou.

Indeed, no matter how you look at it, these rules seem prepared for Hengchuan Peak, which was born to survive.

Isn't this clearly opening the back door for Hengchuan Peak?

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou sat in the main seat, his expression as calm as water.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping coldly over Elder Zhao.

"Elder Zhao."

"Are you questioning the intent of the Heavenly Dao Audit by saying this?"

Elder Zhao choked, his Aura suddenly shrinking by half.

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou looked at the stage below, his clear voice spreading throughout the entire venue:

"The rules were not set for any one person."

"Nor were they set for any one peak."

"They were tailor-made for those who—survive."

"The Qingheng Sect has lost too many people."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou stood up, the cloak behind him flapping in the wind.

"Past glory was built on the flesh and blood of Disciples."

"But today, the Heavenly Dao tells us to change."

"Who can kill the enemy without risking their life?"

"Who can complete the mission while protecting themselves?"

"That is the true powerhouse."

Beside him, Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai frowned deeply.

He looked at Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Rationally speaking, he agreed with this direction. Resources were indeed being wasted, and too many people were dying.

But emotionally and instinctively, he felt resistant to this approach of writing "survival" into the rules.

Cultivation is inherently a Heaven-Defying act, and taking "staying alive" as the primary principle... is this still cultivation?

"The rules are good rules..." Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai muttered, "But can this bunch of monkeys really execute them well?"

At this moment, in the Hengchuan Peak formation, the atmosphere was unusually calm.

Because Shen Xingzhou had just performed a data retrieval in his mind.

[Hengchuan Peak · Combat Assessment Preparation Results Verification]

[Data Source: Past 30 days of actual combat simulation records]

[Statistical Sample: 17 matches · 2000 person-times]

[Core Indicator Performance:]

Average War Loss Rate: 2% (Tianjian Peak's simulated war loss during the same period was 35%).

Simulated Target Completion: 96% (Although killing power is insufficient, relying on stalling and tactical cooperation, all mission points were held).

Civilian and Environmental Damage: Extremely low (Our broken blades can't even shave tree bark, it's hard to destroy anything even if we wanted to).

[System Comment:]

Has reached the standard of "small-scale special operations".

Although individuals are sheep, the crowd control capability is extremely strong.

This rule environment is like a fish in water for Hengchuan Peak.

Shen Xingzhou looked at that "2%" war loss rate, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.

This month, the forms the Disciples filled out, the scoldings they endured, and the sweat they shed, were not in vain.

Others were practicing killing techniques.

They were practicing... how to survive while killing.

Now, it was time for the inspection.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the live broadcast array.

Su Ciyao looked at the complaints in the barrage, such as "I don't understand these rules" and "It's too complicated", and turned on the microphone with a smile.

"Fellow Daoists, don't panic."

"These rules are actually very simple if translated into words we can understand."

She tapped her finger, and four cartoon characters appeared on the screen, representing the four indicators.

"Listen up—"

Su Ciyao's voice was sweet, but carried a sharp, honest truth.

"First, Target Completion."

"It means if the boss asks you to move bricks, you have to move the bricks to the right place."

"Second, War Loss Rate."

"It means when you are moving bricks, you can't get yourself killed. The fewer deaths, the higher the score."

"Third, Action Efficiency."

"It means you have to move quickly, don't slack off."

"Fourth, Collateral Damage Control."

"It means don't smash the boss's floor, and don't trample the flowers by the roadside."

She gave a thumbs up to the camera.

"To summarize."

"The core purpose of this Combat Assessment is—"

"To see who fights quickly, steadily, and without messing around."

"The more you fight like a professional team, the higher the score."

The barrage instantly flooded the screen.

[Barrage (Loose Cultivator): Holy crap, I get it! Isn't this the "battlefield leadership" we dream of?]

[Barrage (Worker): In the past, those officials only knew how to send us to die, never caring about our lives. These rules... are actually a bit humane?]

[Barrage (Passerby): Hengchuan Peak wins! This is clearly tailor-made for their "assembly-line operations"!]

[Barrage (Tianjian Peak Hater): Hahaha, those brutes from Tianjian Peak are done for. They only know how to blow up mountains, they never look at the grass on the roadside.]

Shen Xingzhou stood in the wind, listening to the discussions coming from afar.

He knew the wind had changed.

Not just the wind of the assessment rules.

But the wind of the entire cultivation world's perception of "what is strong".

Just as he was about to order the team to set off.

The gray small text at the bottom bar of the System interface, which always liked to pour cold water, appeared again.

[System Warning: Game Theory Analysis]

[Note:]

If Hengchuan Peak performs too prominently in this assessment, even crushing the main combat peaks in certain categories.

[Consequence Prediction:]

1. This Grand Exam: Hengchuan Peak gets a high score, gaining both fame and fortune.

2. Next Grand Exam: This rule will likely be revised or abolished.

[Remark:]

Because you have proven that "low combat power + high management" can defeat "high combat power + low management".

This touches the Foundation of the vested interests, and they will modify the game rules to maintain their sense of superiority.

"So, take this chance..."

"Win thoroughly."

Shen Xingzhou looked at that line of text, his eyes instantly becoming extremely sharp.

"Revise the rules?"

"Then let them revise it."

"At least for this one."

"I have decided on this score."

"And I have decided on this first place."

He drew the long blade from his waist, the blade pointing directly at the assessment space crack ahead.

"Hengchuan Peak, listen to my orders!"

"Execute according to Article 101 of the 'Combat SOP Manual'!"

"Everyone—!"

"March!"

"Yes!"

Two thousand Disciples roared in unison, the sound shaking the heavens.

Not for glory, but to prove:

That the people wearing cloth armor and carrying punch-in cards.

Are the fiercest soldiers on this new era's battlefield.