However, since the recorder's job was only to arrange and record the results of the test, he had no right
to interfere with the choices of the participants taking the test. Therefore, upon hearing Rocky's
request, he signaled the staff to bring a pillar-shaped stone that was about thirty centimeters high.
Then, it was put in the center of the test spot where Rocky was.
The Strength Testing Stone was refined using a special technique, and thus it could remain in a fixed
volume although the weight varied. The range of power it could endure would depend according to a
specific need, so it was usually used for this kind of advanced test.
"You just need to hit the pillar in front of you with your strongest strength. Then, if you were able to
release a strength that is greater than or equal to one thousand pounds, the stone will break," the
recorder informed Rocky.
Rocky nodded slightly to acknowledge what the recorder said. Then, he stood in front of the stone and
began condensing his spiritual power. After a moment, he stretched his palm out and pushed his
spiritual power into the stone.
Upon seeing Rocky's unimpressive movements, the people in the crowd shook their heads. In their
opinion, a palm strike as weak as that would never be able to break a thousand-pound stone.
However, just after Rocky's strike landed on the stone, something big caught their attention.
Boom!
The stone suddenly let out a muffled explosion and a strange light flashed from within it. One could
faintly feel that the impact that was received by the stone was constantly increasing.
Eventually, cracks appeared on the surface of the stone.
"That's impossible! His casual palm strike is that strong?"
"I'm also surprised. It seems that we have misjudged his strength at all."
"But can he really break the record with only that move? It will be very impressive if he can!"
Just as the audience was thrown into an uproar, the cracks became larger as if the stone could break
at any time.
At this time, everyone's eyes were focused on the stone as they held their breaths. They were waiting
for the final moment that it would break.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the entire stone was shattered into ashes.
Seeing this, the people could not help but gasp in shock. They did not expect that Rocky would really
be able to easily break the record that Moore and Holden had set. Moreover, the stone did not simply
break. It was turned to ashes. Hence, it was obvious that Rocky used excessive strength to destroy it.
'Hmm. It seems that I miscalculated the strength that I released...' Rocky took a look at his palm and
shook his head lightly. After gaining his new-found power, he hadn't been able to completely control it.
Right now, he didn't know his limit yet. Hence, the blow he unleashed just now was a bit beyond his
expectation.
At the same time, Holden had failed to break the stone weighted one thousand and two hundred
pounds. After his failed attempt, he left the test area with a dejected face. That was when he heard that
someone was able to level the record that he had just set. Of course, this made him even more
disappointed. Out of his curiosity, he checked who it was and found out that it actually Rocky. At first
glance, he was already able to recognize Rocky. He was a bit taken aback because he did not expect
that he would be the one to level his record.
"Why is that guy here? So, he is also a Spiritual Emperor? I did not expect that." Then, Holden
immediately squeezed into the crowd to get a closer look. This time, he also fixed his eyes on Rocky.
Even the recorder was stunned at what just happened. He did not expect that multiple low-grade
Spiritual Emperors would be able to break the thousand-pound stone.
"So, what do I do now?" Rocky asked the recorder who was still in a daze.
"Um, you can still continue the test by challenging heavier Strength Testing Stones. Otherwise, you can
stop here and you will be graded by your current performance," the recorder said. According to the
rules of the first round, the participants could have three chances for each test. For Rocky, who had
only used his first attempt, he could still try it twice.
"I see. Then, let me try the stone of one thousand and five hundred pounds," Rocky said after thinking
for a while. He thought that if his rank was too low, he might eventually get kicked out of the contest.
Usually, the top fifty spots would be occupied by the premium-grade and middle-grade Spiritual
Emperors. So, Rocky deemed that it was necessary to land at least within the top eighty spots to
ensure that he could retain his position in the contest. Therefore, he wanted to earn more points in this
test for the time being.
At the same time, when everyone heard that Rocky wanted to directly challenge the stone of one
thousand and five hundred pounds, their eyes widened, and they could just look at each other with their
mouths wide open. After all, this was already a level that was for the medium-grade Spiritual Emperors.
Soon enough, the Strength Testing Stone of one thousand and five hundred pounds was brought and
placed in front of Rocky.
As he took a deep breath, Rocky launched another palm strike toward the stone. From the eyes of the
spectators, it was not that different from what he did previously.
"Ha! I'm sure that he cannot break this one," Holden snorted coldly. Seeing how ordinary the palm
strike seemed, Holden was confident that Rocky would have no way of breaking the stone.
Even the people present felt the same. They shook their heads and shared the same opinion. It was a
level that was for the medium-grade Spiritual Emperors. Hence, a palm strike as weak as what Rocky
unleashed would be insufficient.
Sure enough, after Rocky landed his palm strike, the stone did not react at all.
However, just when everyone thought that Rocky had failed, something unexpected happened again.
In the blink of an eye, the stone suddenly burst out without any warning. The broken pieces of rubbles
splashed around with great momentum. In fact, if there wasn't an enchanted barrier that covered the
test area, the fragments of the stone might have flown directly to the audience.
Of course, the spectators were flabbergasted after witnessing this.
"The one thousand and five hundred pounds stone broke... He actually has the strength comparable to
the medium-grade Spiritual Emperors! With this, he has broken the highest record for the low-grade
Spiritual Emperors!"
"Who is this guy? Why haven't we heard of him before? He is so damn powerful!"
"I don't think anyone here knows him! I wonder where in the Ethereal Region this guy is from."
For a moment, Rocky's remarkable performance caused a major sensation.
At the same time, Holden glared at Rocky with a livid face. He knew that Rocky would be a thorn in his
flesh in this contest. Moreover, he was so pissed off because someone had just taken the limelight
away from him.
The recorder was also astounded as he looked at Rocky. Then, he asked as he stammered, "A-are you
still going to try again?"
"No. I think that would be enough," Rocky said as he waved his hand. He felt that upon breaking the
one thousand and five hundred pounds stone, he was already able to get enough points for that test.
Of course, he knew that he could still do better. But in order not to expose his real strength and identity,
he decided to stop for now.
Hence, as Rocky refused to continue the challenge, the recorder finally verified his test result.
"Humph! That is not such a big deal! If I used my full strength earlier, I could also do the same!" Holden
talked loudly on purpose so that the people could hear him. It was just his way to save his dignity.
The people who heard him looked at him. They could see that Holden was not convinced of the
outcome of Rocky's test. However, everyone saw that he could not even break the one thousand and
two hundred pounds stone. Hence, no one believed that he could compete with Rocky.
Of course, Rocky also heard what Holden just said. As he looked in Holden's direction, he saw that he
was staring back at him with overflowing hostility. However, Rocky did not really care about him, so he
just left the test area and headed to the other ones.
Seeing this, Holden immediately followed him.
Rocky eventually noticed that Holden was tailing him. But since he did not have the time to deal with
Holden, he just ignored him.
However, soon enough, Holden was able to catch up to Rocky. Upon seeing that no one was around,
he seized the opportunity to stop in front of Rocky. Then, he asked, "Hey, brat. Who the hell are you?
Tell me now!"
"Why are you yelling at me? Do I know you?" Rocky asked as he feigned ignorance.
"Don't play dumb with me! We have already met each other before. How dare you play a trick on me at
that time?!" Holden shouted as he fumed in anger.
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