Chapter 10: Breaking into the Top 50! Is This Lin Ye?

Inner Ruins Zone – Radiant Jungle 

Lin Ye offered no reply. Mimicking the aloof posture of legendary masters from his past-life movies, he crossed his arms and stood atop the Ironhide Rhino King's carcass with his back to Yang Xueman's squad—radiating an undeniable aura of supremacy.

Yang Xueman activated her wrist interface. The points ranking seared her retinas:

[34th: Lin Ye (Third Municipal Academy), 685 Points]

Qin Xue vomited violently—neurospasms from shock overload. Yang Rui's sniper rifle clattered to the ground, his past mockeries now corrosive shame. "So I'm the clown after all…"

——

Examination Observation Zone

The holographic megascreen outside the testing grounds flickered, replaying Lin Ye's rhino-shattering punch in slow-motion analysis. The spectator stands erupted into tsunami-like clamor. Live-stream bulletins flooded:

Is this guy hacking? How's he this OP?

Why does one punch obliterate the Rhino King's armor?

Mom's asking why I'm watching this on my knees!

Seated in the VIP section, Qingyang City Education Director Liu Fang leaned toward his assistant Xu Feifei. "Which academy's candidate is this? Intriguing."

Xu Feifei studied the screen. "The emblem suggests Third Municipal Academy. Shall I contact Principal Zhang?"

"Not yet. Keep monitoring."

Behind them, Third Municipal Academy Principal Zhang Tianming frowned at the display. How peculiar. A student of this caliber, and I don't recognize him? He mentally catalogued the academy's known elites—none matched.

Class 7 homeroom teacher Xu Haiping gaped at the broadcast. "Lin Ye's an E-Class Esper! Since when…? Unless he's been sandbagging all along?"

Inner Ruins Zone – Radiant Jungle

Lin Ye stepped over the Ironhide Rhino King's charred skull, tactical boots crushing bioluminescent fungi underfoot. Flexing his wrists, he relished the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison's crackling flow through his meridians before advancing toward the ruins' core.

Yang Xueman suddenly seized his cloak. "Wait, Lin Ye! Are you heading to the core zone? Don't—it's suicidal!"

"I've got this." He yanked his cloak free, meeting her gaze. "Regroup here, Squad Leader. Don't follow." The core zone lay beyond the outer, inner, and central sectors—a gauntlet few examinees dared attempt.

The squad watched his receding figure, emotions churning too turbulently to articulate.

——

Central Ruins Zone – Corridor of Death

Lin Ye strode through the Corridor of Death, analyzing his recent battles. Since leaving the inner sector, he'd lost count of slaughtered beasts.

Enhanced Physique allowed him to forgo the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison, relying solely on Thunder Fist's Tenth Stance—Thunder Surge·Piercing Sun—to smash through hordes with ease.

[28th: Lin Ye (Third Municipal Academy), 1,036 Points]

His wrist interface's update drew a smirk.

"Well, if it isn't Third Municipal's human battery!" Mockery echoed behind him. Su Qingyue's squad emerged from collapsed overpass debris. Chen Zixuan, the earring-clad youth, pulsed golden psychic energy. "The core zone's no place for deadweight. Got a death wish?"

Su Qingyue frowned at Lin Ye. "You shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous." Hesitation flickered. "I promised Mother I'd look after you. Stay with us."

"Bad call, Captain," Chen Zixuan objected. "He'll drag our ranking down."

Ke'er's tactical visor scanned Lin Ye's bloodstained combat suit, holographic projections flickering. "28th on the leaderboard? How's his score so high?"

"Probably mooching off some elite squad as their pack mule," Wang Lei sneered, adjusting his casual shirt. "Bet they kicked him out as bait."

Lin Ye ignored them. His gaze pierced through 800 meters of shattered glass where three Tier-3 Shadowblade Panthers cornered examinees. One figure froze his blood—Li Qiang, his left arm dangling uselessly as his Gale Flash ability faltered.

"Move." Violet lightning crackled around him.

Chen Zixuan's psychic aura flared gold. "What did you—"

"Don't." Lin Ye vanished in a thunderclap, Nine Heavens Thunder Prison's pressure crushing Chen's retort. "Make. Me. Repeat."

When the squad regained vision, Lin Ye was already a stormfront away. Su Qingyue clutched her mouth. Is this the same boy who tripped over his own Esper uniform last month?

——

Li Qiang slumped against rubble, his Gale Flash shield fracturing under panther claws that warped space itself—their innate Rend ability. Fumbling for the defense orb at his belt, he froze at familiar thunder.

"Thunder Surge·Mountain Crusher!"

Lin Ye descended like wrath incarnate. A lightning-wreathed whip kick scythed through the pack. The lead panther split midair; its companions cratered into pillars. Li Qiang's visor short-circuited from sheer disbelief.

"Ye?! How—"

"Still kicking, Qiang?" Lin Ye hauled him up.

Li Qiang wheezed laughter. "Not dead yet! You weren't bullshitting about the provincial championship!"

"Told you I don't bluff." Lin Ye propped him against a wall. "Rest. Your 135th rank's safe."

"Safe? You're lapping me!" Li Qiang grinned weakly. "Swallow some god-tier energy pill or what?"

Lin Ye facepalmed. "Worst. Comrade. Ever." 

——

Examination Observation Zone

The holographic megascreen zoomed in on Lin Ye's panther-slaying blitz. Spectators erupted.

Live-stream bulletins detonated:

DID U SEE THAT LIGHTNING SPEED?!

MINIMUM B-CLASS ESPER!!!

A-CLESS OR I EAT MY VR HEADSET!!!

NEW GOD MODE UNLOCKED—WORSHIP HIM!!!

Homeroom teacher Xu Haiping's thermos trembled. "Lin Ye…what else are you hiding?"