Chapter 73: No-Brainer

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: No-Brainer

A few minutes later.

The last three Extraordinary Contactors in line also finished their Physical Strength tests one by one.

And with that,

all twelve Extraordinary Beings had completed the test.

Gu Qing, an Extraordinary Contactor, had utterly crushed two Extraordinary Awakeneds in the Physical Strength test.

He had completely stolen the show.

He astonished everyone present.

However, the shock was fleeting, and everyone soon calmed down.

No matter how explosive Gu Qing’s performance was, he was ultimately just an Extraordinary Contactor with a low potential ceiling.

He was just relying on his prematurely developed physique to bully some Extraordinary Awakeneds who hadn’t hit their growth spurt yet.

He was just taking the opportunity to put on a spectacular show and dazzle everyone.

It wouldn’t be long before he faded into mediocrity, completely overshadowed by the Extraordinary Awakeneds.

Therefore,

at most, people would only gasp in amazement for a moment when he did something outrageous.

Once the excitement died down, they would quickly go back to treating Gu Qing as nothing special, mentally slapping a label on him: ’Just an ordinary guy who’s a bit strong.’

"Everyone, with me!"

The staff member called out to the group of testers, "Next up is the final test. It’s a challenge course in the woods over there!"

As she spoke, she pointed a finger at the woods not far from the door.

Gu Qing followed her gaze. What met his eyes was a vast expanse of forest.

The woods were dense and layered. Towering ancient trees blotted out the sun, while low-lying shrubs grew in thick clusters. Vines snaked wantonly up the tree trunks, their roots gnarled and tangled. It all gave off the impression of a primeval forest.

In fact, calling it a primeval forest wouldn’t be wrong.

After all, nearly half of the Night Court’s base was built right into the mountainside.

That so-called patch of "woods" was, in reality, a natural forest.

It hadn’t been planted by the Night Court at all.

Led by the staff member,

the group quickly left the physical testing center and headed toward the forest outside.

...

On the second-floor hallway.

Seeing the testers leave the physical testing center for the woods, Lin Tianyang also headed out, intending to watch the upcoming comprehensive test.

Before watching the Physical Strength test, he hadn’t actually been very interested in the day’s recruitment trials.

He would have rather found a place to have a smoke and play on his phone than follow them to watch.

But after witnessing Gu Qing’s power,

he was suddenly completely engrossed in the test.

He was looking forward to seeing Gu Qing continue his incredible display in the comprehensive test and absolutely demolish those two Extraordinary Awakeneds.

He couldn’t wait to see the look on He Haikun’s face—it would be uglier than if he’d just eaten shit.

Just as he walked out of the physical testing center’s main entrance,

his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

Lin Tianyang pulled out his phone and saw it was a call from his partner.

He answered, and his partner’s voice came through immediately.

"Ahyang, get back here, quick. We’ve got a situation."

"Details."

"I just got a report. A large number of abnormal rats have appeared in an abandoned factory near Hai University. Someone also reported seeing a hairy, humanoid monster. It’s very likely the Ratman we’ve been tracking. We need to go investigate on-site."

"Alright, I’m heading back right now."

With that, Lin Tianyang hung up. He habitually flicked his side-swept bangs, revealing the right eye they always covered, and strode toward the parking lot with one hand in his pocket.

He Haikun glanced at his retreating figure and couldn’t help but mock him inwardly.

’It’s 2026, and he’s still rocking a 2010 emo haircut. So lame!’

...

Upon reaching the parking lot,

Lin Tianyang walked over to a black, official field vehicle.

He expertly pulled open the car door,

slid into the driver’s seat, and buckled his seatbelt.

He slammed on the accelerator.

And sped off toward Hai City University.

He drove extremely fast, speeding nearly the entire way, and reached their post at Hai City University in under forty minutes.

After parking the car,

Lin Tianyang looked at his partner, who had been waiting for him at the entrance to the post, and asked,

"Did you bring the Antitoxic Pills?"

"Got ’em."

His partner, a balding man in his early forties, pulled two sealed pills from his pocket and tossed one to him.

He caught the pill, stuffed it in his pocket, and flicked his eye-covering bangs.

"Get in. We’re heading out now."

"..."

Soon, the car left the post and headed toward the abandoned factory.

In just a few minutes, the two arrived at the abandoned factory from the report.

As soon as they got out of the car and drew near, a mixed stench of mold and decay wafted over on the wind, making both of them instinctively wrinkle their brows.

The stench was familiar.

It was the putrid odor of the abnormal rats.

They exchanged a glance, their steps becoming incredibly light as they cautiously approached the factory.

"I’ve been waiting for you."

Suddenly, a low, raspy voice rang out.

Hearing the voice, the two of them immediately froze.

"That’s strange. I hear the enemy’s voice, but I can’t see them anywhere."

As Lin Tianyang spoke, he casually slipped a hand into his pocket, took out the Antitoxic Pill, and tossed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole.

The balding man also took out his Antitoxic Pill and swallowed it, forcing a relaxed smile.

"Up in the tree to your right. Just flick those bangs of yours and unveil your long-sealed ’Eye of the Evil King,’ and you’ll see it."

"Let me see now."

Lin Tianyang flicked his bangs aside, revealing the right eye that rarely saw the light of day. He quickly spotted a burly figure in a large tree to his right.

It was a monster with the head of a rat and the body of a man. It stood an estimated two meters tall, its body covered in gray-black fur. Beneath the fur, bulging muscles rippled with explosive power, exuding a feral and deeply oppressive aura.

"Damn, that’s one big rat!"

"Sure is. First time I’ve ever seen a rat that big."

Lin Tianyang and the balding man said, one after the other, with a laugh.

Their words were casual, but in reality, every nerve in their bodies was taut. Their energy surged as they prepared for a vicious fight.

Seeing the two still had the heart to joke around, acting as if she were nothing, Huang Xiaoyue—now completely transformed into the Ratman—couldn’t help but laugh.

"Go on, laugh. Laugh all you want. You won’t be laughing much longer."

As soon as she finished speaking, Huang Xiaoyue leaped. Her massive figure plummeted from the tree, landing heavily on the ground with a THUD that sent dead leaves and dust flying.

Seeing their opponent was about to attack, the balding man’s smile vanished. His expression turned grim as he said,

"This Ratman lured us here on purpose. It must be completely confident it can take us."

"I just requested backup from Zhang Peng and the others on my phone. Barring any surprises, they can be here in ten minutes, tops."

"Let’s play it safe for now. We’ll focus on defense and evasive maneuvers, try to stall for as much time as possible."

The "Zhang Peng and the others" he mentioned were two Night Court colleagues stationed in the adjacent sector.

Lin Tianyang frantically channeled the energy in his body and replied in a low voice,

"No problem. It’s only ten minutes. A walk in the park."

"Stall for time?"

Huang Xiaoyue’s voice was raspy and cold, full of mockery and contempt. "How laughable. As if you two are even worthy."

The moment her voice fell,

wisps of gray mist began to seep from her gray-black fur.

It was a virulent rat poison, carrying a pungent, rancid odor that dissipated on contact with the ground.

The next second,

the color drained from Lin Tianyang and the balding man’s faces.

They were poisoned. They immediately felt their bodies go limp and weak, their energy flow becoming sluggish.

The Antitoxic Pill they had taken earlier was completely useless against this poison.

Or at least, it wasn’t completely effective.

The balding man frowned. "This rat poison is stronger than anything we’ve faced before. The Antitoxic Pills we just took won’t hold out for long. We have to fall back."

Lin Tianyang gritted his teeth. He was reluctant, but he knew it was the right call.

So, without a second thought, he said,

"Let’s move!"

They were in perfect agreement. They turned and fled.

Huang Xiaoyue snorted coldly. "Neither of you is getting away today!"

With that, she exploded forward, her two-meter-tall frame hurtling straight toward them.

Her speed was astonishing.

...