# Chapter 17: The Evaluation
Dawn at the Blood Iron Stronghold arrived with the sound of cultivation practice—hundreds of hobgoblins moving through synchronized forms that channeled spiritual energy in patterns refined over centuries. Xìng Huáng had spent the entire night developing more sophisticated masking techniques, layering his divine heritage beneath increasingly complex spiritual camouflage.
The hidden Lord of Greed interface had been surprisingly helpful, providing guidance on how divine entities typically concealed their true nature when operating among mortals:
DIVINE MASKING PROTOCOL: MULTI-LAYER SUPPRESSION
LAYER 1: CLASS SIGNATURE PROJECTION *(Blood Seeker prominence)*
LAYER 2: TRAIT RESONANCE DAMPENING *(Divine Greed reduced to normal levels)*
LAYER 3: SPIRITUAL NOISE GENERATION *(Random fluctuations to mask underlying patterns)*
LAYER 4: PHILOSOPHICAL ALIGNMENT *(Perfect embodiment of Blood Iron principles)*
The technique was exhausting to maintain, but it created the illusion of a naturally talented Blood Seeker rather than someone carrying divine authority. As long as he could sustain the deception through whatever tests Valorka had prepared, his secret should remain safe.
A junior hobgoblin arrived at his quarters shortly after sunrise. "Senior Evaluator Valorka requests your presence in Training Ground Seven. Immediately."
The training ground turned out to be a circular arena similar to the one where they'd faced the realm's survival test, but this one was clearly designed for detailed observation rather than simple combat. Cultivation arrays surrounded the space, each one designed to monitor different aspects of spiritual development and technique application.
Valorka stood at the arena's center, her Platinum-level spiritual signature carefully suppressed but still radiating the kind of authority that made the air itself seem denser. Beside her were two other hobgoblins—both clearly advanced practitioners, though not quite at her level.
"Blood Seeker Xìng Huáng," she announced formally. "Today's evaluation will consist of three phases: combat proficiency, cultivation knowledge, and philosophical demonstration. Each phase will be monitored and recorded for tribal advancement consideration."
"I understand, Senior Evaluator."
"Excellent. Phase One: Combat Proficiency. You will face three opponents of increasing difficulty. Defeat or demonstrate clear tactical superiority over each to advance to the next phase."
The first opponent entered the arena—a hobgoblin warrior whose cultivation level matched his own Black Iron - High, but whose equipment and technique clearly represented years of formal training. Unlike the corrupted creatures or desperate human survivors he'd fought before, this was a proper martial artist with disciplined technique and tactical intelligence.
OPPONENT: GRUSK
Cultivation: BLACK IRON - HIGH
Specialization: WEAPON MASTER *(Formal Training)*
Equipment: SPIRITUAL-ENHANCED TRAINING GEAR
Threat Assessment: MODERATE *(Equal level, superior technique)*
"Begin," Valorka commanded.
Grusk moved with textbook precision, his spear work flowing through forms that had been perfected through decades of practice. Every strike was economical, every defensive position optimal, every movement part of a greater tactical framework.
But Xìng Huáng had advantages that no amount of formal training could replicate.
His Gaming Prodigy talent immediately began analyzing Grusk's movement patterns, identifying the micro-tells that preceded each attack sequence. His Divine Greed trait, carefully masked beneath his Blood Seeker class projection, guided his responses with supernatural precision. Most importantly, his Combat Evolution ability began learning from Grusk's superior technique even as they fought.
The engagement lasted exactly four minutes and seventeen seconds. Not because Xìng Huáng overwhelmed his opponent with raw power, but because he systematically dismantled Grusk's tactical framework through adaptive counter-strategies that turned the hobgoblin's own training against him.
"Fascinating," Valorka murmured, making notes on a cultivation array that recorded both combat data and spiritual energy patterns. "Your technique adaptation rate is remarkable. Most practitioners require months of sparring to develop effective counters to formal weapon mastery."
COMBAT EVOLUTION ACTIVATED
TECHNIQUE LEARNED: FORMAL SPEAR WORK *(Basic Level)*
DIVINE GREED ENHANCEMENT: TEACHING EFFICIENCY BONUS
MASKING STATUS: STABLE
The second opponent was significantly more challenging.
OPPONENT: VALORKA'S PERSONAL STUDENT TRALI
Cultivation: BLACK IRON - PEAK
Specialization: BLOOD SEEKER *(Advanced Training)*
Equipment: ACTUAL COMBAT GEAR
Threat Assessment: HIGH *(Superior level, matching specialization)*
"This opponent shares your class specialization," Valorka explained. "She has been training in Blood Seeker techniques for three years. Demonstrate that your rapid advancement represents genuine capability rather than fortunate circumstances."
The fight was brutal. Xìng Huáng's opponent knew every technique he could access through his class, plus several he hadn't yet unlocked. Her Worthy Opponent Detection was more refined than his, her Challenge Escalation more sophisticated, and her Combat Evolution had years of accumulated experience to draw upon.
But she didn't have divine heritage carefully hidden beneath mortal techniques.
The key insight came when Xìng Huáng realized he was fighting the encounter wrong. Instead of trying to out-technique a superior Blood Seeker, he needed to demonstrate the philosophical understanding that made his trait truly special.
He deliberately placed himself in disadvantageous positions, accepting minor injuries in order to create learning opportunities. Each tactical mistake became a chance to adapt, each successful counter from his opponent became data for his own improvement. Instead of trying to win quickly, he turned the fight into an accelerated training session.
His opponent's superior technique began working against her as Xìng Huáng's Divine Greed trait converted every exchange into maximum advancement opportunity. By the end of the eight-minute engagement, he was fighting at a level that matched her three years of formal training.
"Extraordinary," one of Valorka's observers commented. "He's learning her techniques in real-time. That level of adaptation shouldn't be possible at his cultivation level."
"Unless," Valorka said thoughtfully, "his understanding of Blood Seeker principles operates at a fundamental level rather than a technical one."
COMBAT EVOLUTION: MASSIVE ADVANCEMENT
TECHNIQUES LEARNED: ADVANCED BLOOD SEEKER FORMS *(Multiple)*
CULTIVATION PROGRESS: SIGNIFICANT *(Approaching Black Iron - Peak)*
DIVINE MASKING: STRAIN DETECTED
The third opponent made Xìng Huáng question whether the evaluation was meant to be survivable.
OPPONENT: SENIOR WARRIOR THRAKK
Cultivation: AZURE BRONZE - LOW
Specialization: BATTLE-TESTED VETERAN
Equipment: COMBAT-PROVEN ARTIFACTS
Threat Assessment: EXTREME *(Full cultivation tier advantage)*
"This opponent represents the next cultivation tier," Valorka announced. "You are not expected to achieve victory. Demonstrate tactical competence, learning capability, and philosophical alignment with tribal values. Survival with dignity is the primary objective."
Thrakk was everything the previous opponents were not—a grizzled veteran whose spiritual signature radiated the confidence of someone who had faced death countless times and emerged victorious. His equipment wasn't training gear but actual battle artifacts, each one bearing the scars of real combat.
The fight lasted thirty-seven seconds.
Not because Xìng Huáng was defeated, but because thirty-seven seconds was how long it took him to realize that this wasn't a combat test—it was a spiritual pressure test disguised as a fight.
Thrakk's Azure Bronze cultivation level created a spiritual domain that suppressed lower-tier practitioners. Most Black Iron cultivators would find their techniques degraded and their spiritual energy circulation disrupted simply by being in his presence. The test wasn't whether Xìng Huáng could fight an opponent a full tier above him—it was whether he could maintain his cultivation foundation under overwhelming spiritual pressure.
His divine heritage wanted to respond to the challenge with overwhelming force. The Lord of Greed class whispered possibilities for accessing deity-level power that would obliterate not just Thrakk but potentially the entire arena. But revealing that level of capability would expose his secret to every observer present.
Instead, he did something that surprised everyone, including himself.
He knelt.
Not in surrender, but in the formal posture of a student requesting instruction.
"Senior Warrior Thrakk," he said clearly, his voice carrying despite the spiritual pressure trying to crush his vocal cords. "I recognize that your cultivation level makes direct combat meaningless. But I would be honored to learn from your technique demonstration, even if I cannot match your power."
The arena fell silent. Even Thrakk seemed taken aback by the response.
Valorka's voice carried a note of genuine surprise. "Elaborate on your reasoning, Blood Seeker."
"The Blood Iron philosophy teaches that power must be earned through struggle and worthiness," Xìng Huáng replied, still maintaining the student posture despite the crushing spiritual pressure. "But it also teaches wisdom—recognizing when struggle becomes pointless pride rather than meaningful challenge."
He met Thrakk's eyes directly. "I cannot defeat you. But I can learn from you. And learning from a superior opponent embodies the Blood Seeker principle more purely than futile resistance."
For a long moment, the only sound was the ambient spiritual energy of the monitoring arrays. Then Thrakk began to laugh—a deep, genuine sound that carried approval rather than mockery.
"Well reasoned, young one. Your combat skills need work, but your understanding of cultivation philosophy is remarkably mature."
The spiritual pressure lifted, and Valorka made more notes on her recording array. "Phase One complete. Demonstrate combat adaptation, learning efficiency, and philosophical wisdom. Phase Two will commence after a recovery period."
As Xìng Huáng stood and moved toward the arena's edge, the hidden interface flickered with new information:
EVALUATION STATUS: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
MASKING INTEGRITY: 87% STABLE
OBSERVER ASSESSMENT: NATURALLY GIFTED BUT NOT SUPERNATURAL
WARNING: PHASES TWO AND THREE WILL TEST DIFFERENT ASPECTS
He had survived the combat evaluation without exposing his divine heritage. But two more phases remained, and Valorka was clearly growing more interested in his capabilities with each demonstration.
The path between advancement and exposure was becoming increasingly narrow.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, the Lord of Greed class was growing stronger with each challenge overcome through wisdom rather than raw power.