Chapter 135 - 111: Testing Skills 3
’My phase transitions, from the looks of it, are completely automatic.’
’They can only be passively triggered by taking damage.’
’I have no active control over them at all.’
’This has its pros and cons.’
’I wonder if the system will provide a way to switch actively later on.’
’After all, in the games I’ve played, many bosses don’t have to lose their first health bar to enter Phase 2.’
’Triggering it with special skills or based on the battle’s duration were both common mechanics.’
Lin Ye collected his thoughts and glanced at the clock on the wall.
There were still three days until the city-wide mock exam.
’Before I face real combat, I should use some virtual battles to get some good practice.’
He returned to his room.
He deftly logged into *Martial Arts Peak*.
Lin Ye glanced at his current rank.
Silver IV.
He clicked the matchmaking button for ranked play.
However, the matchmaking interface he expected didn’t appear. Instead, a bright red system warning box popped up.
[Warning! A significant discrepancy has been detected between the biometric data from your current session and your previous login record. A high-level anti-cheat mechanism has been triggered!]
[Please re-verify your identity via biometrics in the main menu within ten minutes. Failure to do so will result in a temporary suspension of your account!]
Lin Ye was taken aback for a moment.
In fact, he had been logging into *Martial Arts Peak* almost every day during this period.
After all, the "Grinding Teeth and Sucking Blood" daily quest was the most rewarding one, bar none.
His biometric data had been increasing incrementally every day, but it had never triggered an alarm.
And now, the system had issued its highest-level warning.
This just went to show how earth-shattering the boost from unlocking his second phase had been.
「A few minutes later.」
After Lin Ye re-scanned a series of biometrics, including his irises, fingerprints, and neural characteristics, the alarm was finally lifted.
[Identity verification passed. Anti-cheat warning lifted. Enjoy your time in the arena!]
Lin Ye opened the ranked play menu again.
As he entered the preparation screen, a thought struck him, and he swapped his usual weapon, the long staff, for a long spear.
However, he didn’t start matchmaking immediately.
Instead, he created a private custom room, a simulated combat space.
Lin Ye needed to verify one last, and most critical, question.
’Are the abilities I gained in reality just as effective in the virtual world?’
He summoned a few AI-controlled enemies, then stood in place and let them attack him.
Soon, his first health bar was depleted, and he successfully entered Phase 2 in the virtual world.
With a mental command, he activated [Frenzy]!
The various stats on his attribute panel instantly soared.
Then, with another thought, his figure vanished and reappeared five meters away.
’[Instant Body] works too!’
Finally, Lin Ye raised his right hand. An eerie purple light flashed, and his entire arm was instantly covered by a layer of brilliant, solid crystal.
’The [Crystalization] skill was perfectly replicated, too!’
Lin Ye pondered for a moment and instantly understood the key.
’Martial Arts Spirituality!’
Xiong Qihong had previously displayed Martial Arts Spirituality during a battle out of extreme anger.
Chen Meng had also told him that Martial Arts Spirituality was closely tied to one’s life index and the strength of their Spiritual Power.
’It seems the *Martial Arts Peak* system has classified all of these unique boss mechanics and skills I possess as my own personal Martial Arts Spirituality.’
This was undoubtedly fantastic news.
It meant he could use his full abilities in virtual battles without restraint, and without worrying about exposing his secret.
Lin Ye exited the custom room.
He clicked the matchmaking button for ranked play.
A pale blue ring of light spun in the center of the screen. A few seconds later, a match was found.
[Loading Battle Scene: Abandoned Factory]
Accompanied by a chime signaling the scene had finished loading, Lin Ye’s figure appeared on a rust-covered metal platform.
Across from him, a burly man wielding a giant axe had just finished materializing.
Lin Ye stood silently, holding his spear in one hand with its tip angled toward the ground.
He didn’t even assume an attack stance.
However, the countdown to the battle had just finished.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
[Battle Start!]
The instant the system’s announcement sounded, the burly man across from him looked as if he had just witnessed the most terrifying sight in the world.
The expression on his face froze, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks in an instant.
An immense, uncontrollable fear, born from primal instinct, seized his heart.
The giant axe in his hand fell to the ground with a CLANG.
He wanted to run, wanted to scream, but his body was frozen stiff, refusing to obey.
The next second.
[Warning! Player "Iron Fist Invincible" is experiencing extreme panic. Heart rate has exceeded safe thresholds! To protect the player’s physical and mental well-being, this match has been forcibly terminated!]
[You have won the match!]
The opponent’s figure dissolved into motes of light and vanished.
From start to finish, the entire battle had lasted less than three seconds.
Lin Ye stood where he was, somewhat dumbfounded.
He knew this was his [Crush] mechanic taking effect.
At his current Level 21, a Level 12 prospective Martial Artist wasn’t even qualified to meet his gaze.
The absolute suppression stemming from his higher tier of life would directly shatter his opponent’s will.
Lin Ye accessed the system and manually disabled the [Crush] effect.
His hands were itching for a proper fight.
Lin Ye just wanted to find an evenly matched opponent to have a proper fight with and test which tier his strength had now reached.