Chapter 6: On the Eve of the College Entrance Exam

Thunderbolt Martial Hall · Special Training Zone

Su Qingyue and her group walked toward the source of energy fluctuations. Turning a corridor corner, they nearly collided with Lin Ye who was walking toward them.

"Are you heading back now?" Su Qingyue asked, observing Lin Ye.

"Yeah, training's done. Need to prepare," Lin Ye replied brusquely as he strode past them.

"Lin Ye." At Su Qingyue's call, he paused mid-step. "When danger comes tomorrow, don't play hero. Run as far as you can...there's no shame in that."

"Got it." Lin Ye's expression remained neutral though warmth flickered in his heart. He resumed walking without looking back.

Su Qingyue sighed softly before continuing toward the energy source. They soon reached the demolished training chamber. The group froze at the apocalyptic scene.

Her gloved fingers traced molten alloy droplets dripping from the warped doorframe, the high-temperature resistant layer of her tactical gloves emitting faint scorching smells. Ozone and molten metal stung their nostrils. Twelve shattered spirit energy probes smoked on the floor.

"This destruction...only a peak first-tier Esper could achieve this. No, perhaps even second-tier." The earring-clad boy's psychic detection ability activated automatically, golden patterns glowing beneath his skin. He knocked on the spiderwebbed crystal floor, "This strike's energy output must have exceeded 8000...no, 10000 Hertz to cause such damage."

"A second-tier Esper? Among high schoolers? Impossible!" Ke'er objected vehemently.

"Must be an outsider who broke protocol," Su Qingyue reasoned. "Some Esper unfamiliar with third-floor regulations testing their abilities here."

"Exactly," agreed the polo-shirted boy. "No teenager could reach such destructive levels."

They collectively exhaled in relief. These privileged youths, despite their family resources, hadn't even advanced from Awakened to full Espers. The thought of a peer reaching second-tier was intolerable.

Ke'er nudged charred cables with her combat boots. Her holographic visor analyzed lightning patterns on walls. "Energy residue confirms electric-type abilities. None of the known Esper-level students specialize in electricity..."

"Look here!" Su Qingyue's command drew their attention to the central molten pool - the remains of a Xuan Iron force-measurement pillar slowly regenerating via the hall's memory alloy. When fractured screen fragments suddenly glowed red, Ke'er gasped. "An intact data packet!"

Su Qingyue activated the console's computing core. Blue beams scanned chip fragments as holograms reconstructed partial waveforms. Violet lightning patterns in peak regions made her pupils constrict - the flickering silhouette bore unsettling resemblance to Lin Ye.

"Could it be...?" Ke'er began.

"Don't be absurd!" The earring boy kicked aside scorched wood debris. "That human 'power bank' couldn't even break a pillar's protective shield! This requires at least A-class abilities with second-tier mastery!"

"Right," the polo-shirted boy snapped. "That E-class trash could never achieve this." The notion of their "waste" surpassing them was unbearable.

"True," Ke'er conceded. "E-class Awakened advancing to Esper level is rare enough among adults, let alone high schoolers."

"Still...something feels off." Su Qingyue stared at the fading hologram, lost in thought.

Lin Ye's Apartment

Dawn illuminated Lin Ye fastening his F-class black combat suit. The beast-hide armor creaked as he pulled on Xuan Iron gauntlets.

"Martial Arts College Exam...I'm coming."

His eyes hardened like tempered steel. The apartment door slammed behind him with finality.

Azurewater Garden Villas, Qingyang City

"Will you be in the same testing zone as Xiao Ye?" Her mother fastened an ice crystal pendant around Su Qingyue's neck. Frost energy from the Northlands relic raised goosebumps. "Crush this if danger finds you."

"Don't worry, Mom." She touched the chilling gem. "Same venue, but thousands will be there. Unlikely we'll meet."

"Help him if you do." Her mother's eyes clouded. "That child lost his parents young. With E-class abilities...this exam could be deadly."

Su Qingyue swallowed her rebuttal. "Understood."

After final equipment checks, she boarded the family's armored limousine.

Qingyang Third High Main Gate

Dozens of bulletproof buses idled in formation. Lin Ye navigated through tearful parents clutching talismans and trembling farewells:

"Check your weapons and armor!"

"Class 5 assemble here!"

"Son, don't engage high-level beasts..."

Lin Ye's throat tightened. "If my parents were here..."

"Lin Ye! Over here!" Teacher Xu Haiping waved an electronic roster, tactical glasses scanning students.

The instructor's hand hovered mid-pat. "Remember...surviving is victory. Run when necessary."

Snickers erupted from Class 7. Zhao Meng hefted his alloy battleaxe, D-class badge glinting. "Some 'power banks' should quit now." His voice carried mock concern. "Don't piss yourself dragging us down."

Lin Ye ignored him, fingertips drumming gauntlets. His glacial glance silenced Zhao Meng mid-taunt - primal fear choked the bully's throat.

"Wait...is that Lin Ye? Looks different in combat gear."

"His aura...it's like those elite Espers!"

"Damn, he's kinda hot!"

"Class 7, move out!" Teacher Xu's command scattered the whispers.

As the bus departed, lightning thrummed in Lin Ye's meridians. "Nine Heavens Thunder Prison...tonight we roar."