348: Confirm the target

Because he knew that only by qualifying would he have a chance to continue pursuing the martial path; if he couldn't even meet this most basic requirement, then he would truly fall into an abyss, with no hope of ever rising again.

When the crowd saw Xiao Ran step onto the stage, the noisy training grounds instantly quieted down a bit.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily focused on this former genius.

Some eyes carried curiosity, wanting to see how much strength he, who once shone brightly, still possessed; others were full of mockery and disdain, seemingly certain of his failure; and some eyes subtly revealed a hint of sympathy, for everyone had witnessed his past glory, and his current predicament was truly regrettable.

The scorching sun hung high, its intense rays mercilessly baking the training grounds, and a suffocating tension permeated the air.

Xiao Ran stood on the stage, facing the teacher responsible for the test.

The teacher pointed to a crystal-clear energy crystal placed on the table, its surface flowing with a mysterious light.

The teacher's expression was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority, as he slowly spoke.

“Student Xiao Ran, place your hand on it and release the qi and blood within your body.”

Xiao Ran nodded slightly, his throat feeling as if something was caught in it, too dry to speak.

He took another deep breath, trying to calm his wildly beating heart.

After the breath briefly lingered in his chest, he slowly extended his hand, as if this simple action had drained all his strength.

His palm trembled slightly, finally resting gently on the energy crystal.

Immediately after, he gritted his teeth, his brows furrowed, and he exerted all his strength, trying to release the meager power within his body without reservation. Every surge of qi and blood was like his final struggle against fate.

However, cruel reality struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

The light flickering on the energy crystal was weak and brief, and after only a moment, it returned to stillness.

The teacher looked at the result displayed on the crystal, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, then raised his voice and announced clearly and loudly.

“Xiao Ran, Body Tempering Third Layer, unqualified!”

“Heh…”

Hearing this pronouncement, Xiao Ran seemed to have all his strength drained, his body swaying slightly.

He subconsciously lowered his head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

That smile was full of helplessness, self-mockery, and deep despair.

At this moment, he felt as if the whole world was against him, and even the heavens seemed determined to completely block his martial path.

Xiao Ran looked dazed, his eyes hollow as if he had lost his soul.

He mechanically walked off the stage, his steps unsteady, each one seeming to tread upon his shattered dreams.

He slowly left the training grounds, the discussions of his classmates around him, like buzzing flies, circling in his ears, yet also seeming to be in two different worlds from him.

He no longer cared; what other people's gazes, what the future path, at this moment, all became blurry, leaving only a heart full of loss and confusion, following him like a shadow.

“Body Tempering Third Layer, what a pity. To think he was once a famous genius, but now he has completely become a good-for-nothing.”

In the crowd, a student couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, his eyes full of regret.

“Hmph, even if he could reach Body Tempering Fourth Layer, what then? With the way he is now, which academy would dare to take him? What if he's admitted, and his cultivation starts declining again on the first day of school? Then the academy would become a laughingstock.”

Another student's face was full of disdain, his words filled with mockery. The people around him listened and echoed his sentiments, breaking into a burst of laughter.

And all of this was observed by the Imperial Squad, hidden on a nearby rooftop.

They had activated an advanced stealth mode, like invisible phantoms, quietly observing everything happening below, without any fear of being discovered.

“Captain, look at that human named Xiao Ran, he's simply an excellent target!”

A Team Member's eyes lit up, and he excitedly pointed at Xiao Ran, lowering his voice as he spoke.

“That's right, Captain! He was once a genius, but now he's fallen so low. Doesn't this perfectly meet Captain Carter's requirements for the best candidate? He has a certain potential, and he urgently needs a change due to his current situation, so he'll definitely become strongly dependent on our A.I.”

Another Team Member also echoed excitedly from the side.

The Captain frowned slightly, not making a decision immediately.

He kept his gaze fixed on Xiao Ran's gradually receding back, and after a moment of thought, he slowly spoke.

“Let's go, we'll follow him and see. Although he currently seems to meet the requirements, we can't be careless about this kind of thing. We still need to investigate further to ensure everything is foolproof.”

With that, the Captain waved his hand and led the Team Members to follow cautiously.

Completely disheartened, Xiao Ran dragged his leaden legs back home, his spirit lost.

He collapsed onto the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, his gaze hollow, his thoughts tangled like a mess, yet his mind also seemed blank, not knowing what he was truly thinking.

The failed martial arts exam, the cold sarcasm of others, the confusion and helplessness of the future, all impacted his heart like a surging tide.

At this moment, outside the window, the night was deep, and the Imperial Squad was hidden in the darkness.

They skillfully utilized this civilization's network to quickly retrieve and obtain Xiao Ran's general information.

“Xiao Ran, from Jiang City, Daxia Federation, grew up in an orphanage, just turned 18 this year. In terms of interpersonal relationships, it can be said to be completely blank, with no attachments.”

A Team Member reported in a low voice to the Captain while browsing the data.

“Captain, look, this is simply the perfect candidate sent to us by the heavens! No parents, all alone, not even a friend, and a poor soul who fell from genius to rock bottom. Doesn't this perfectly meet all our requirements?!”

Another Team Member couldn't help but click his tongue, his tone full of excitement and surprise.

The Captain nodded slightly, a hint of certainty flashing in his eyes.

“Alright, he's the one. But we can't let our guard down. We'll act after he's completely asleep.”

“Yes!”

The Team Members responded in unison, then quietly lurked in the darkness, patiently waiting for the opportune moment.

Time slowly passed in silence, the night grew deeper, and the entire city fell into slumber.

Finally, through the window, they saw Xiao Ran's breathing gradually become steady, and his body stopped moving, confirming that he was completely asleep.

Seeing this, the Captain waved his hand, and the Team Members immediately sprang into action.

They activated collision avoidance mode, silently passing through the window like ghosts, entering Xiao Ran's home.

To ensure the operation was foolproof and to prevent Xiao Ran from suddenly waking up, the Captain also deliberately released a colorless, odorless gas. The gas instantly spread, capable of causing a person to fall into a deep coma without their knowledge.

After confirming that the gas had taken effect, the Captain tiptoed to Xiao Ran's bedside.

He carefully took out the capsule containing the A.I. from his Pregnant, gently unscrewed the capsule, took out the coin-sized A.I., and then slowly placed it on Xiao Ran's temple.