Chapter 287: Didn't I Do A Pretty Good Job?

It was at this very moment.

A human figure appeared high above in the sky.

Wearing a military uniform, their aura was powerful.

Zong Heng.

Zong Heng swept a glance over all the examinees on the plaza, and the moment his gaze locked onto Yu Changsheng, he narrowed his eyes and looked toward the high sky in the distance.

Chen Changyuan.

Chen Changyuan had also come.

Zong Heng's expression was cold as he spoke:

"When you enter the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm, the Secret Realm will automatically scan your spatial rings.

Non-compliant spatial rings will be automatically confiscated and returned to you when you finish."

Among the examinees, some wore nervous expressions and began asking around.

Chen Yan, however, had already asked beforehand.

The things he brought were all fine.

The College Entrance Examination Secret Realm's scan was mainly targeted at things like poisons, hallucinogens, and other such methods.

Zong Heng continued:

"After entering the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm, the use of Dao-Enlightenment Seeds and Time Seeds is entirely up to your own will.

However, Dao-Slashing Seeds require Dao-Slashing Points to grow into Dao-Slashing Bamboo.

You can complete Secret Realm missions, or slay Ancient Beasts, to obtain corresponding Dao-Slashing Points.

Dao-Slashing Points will also be the sole criterion for the outside world to determine the rankings of all examinees."

Zong Heng looked toward the General Star faction:

"The General Star faction has the authority of proctoring upon entering the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm, which means you can also obtain Dao-Slashing Points by rescuing examinees who call for help."

The crowd had no objections.

The General Star faction's proctoring authority appeared to be a responsibility, but in reality, it was the Great Xia's allocation of resources toward the General Stars.

After all, the General Stars were the true prodigies belonging to the Great Xia Imperial Clan.

Zong Heng waved one hand, and countless balls of light scattered down.

The balls of light landed in front of all the examinees, turning into a pitch-black metal plaque.

"This is the Withdrawal Plaque; it has two buttons on it, a distress button and a withdrawal button.

But take note!"

Zong Heng's aura became murderous:

"Once you press the withdrawal button, a spatial formation will activate, and you can leave the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm.

However, the spatial formation takes ten seconds to activate, and ten days after entering the Secret Realm, the outside world will gradually lose contact with the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm.

The withdrawal button will become ineffective."

The crowd's expressions also turned solemn.

The College Entrance Examination Secret Realm is a place where people die.

The number of deaths and injuries each year is not small.

But the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm can be called a secret realm precisely because it contains a great many treasures that can help people rise to prominence.

Therefore, even though everyone knows they might die, they still have to enter.

How many people have risen to prominence overnight because of the College Entrance Examination?

Humanity's desire for power will always transcend the fear of death.

Chen Yan looked at his own Withdrawal Plaque; there was an extra display on it, a position display.

Once an examinee presses the distress button, the display can show their position.

This is a special privilege of the General Star faction.

All the rules were explained.

Zong Heng waited quietly.

Dong!

Suddenly, a deep bell toll resonated through the heavens and earth.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

The toll, sounding like a great resonant bell, grew louder and closer.

All the examinees' auras grew tense.

Dong!

The tenth toll!

Hum!

Surrounding the entire plaza, all light began to distort.

Pitch-black spatial rifts appeared beside Chen Yan and the others.

The next moment.

Boom!

Chen Yan only felt the plaza floor beneath his feet sink, and the light in the surrounding space vanished.

Everyone felt as if they were falling into an abyss in a state of relative stillness.

Until the next moment.

Bang!

Three giant door frames appeared before the crowd.

On the giant door frames were carvings of azure dragons, lifelike, standing just like that within the darkness.

In the middle of the door frames, white light rippled like a vertical surface of water.

"From left to right, they are the Slaughter Forest, the Dream Abyss, and the Seeking Sun Tower."

A crisp, soft murmur sounded; it was Zhu Lili speaking:

"You are on the path of physical tempering, and the treasures left behind by Lu Xunyang are inside the Seeking Sun Tower."

Zhu Lili looked at Chen Yan, her pair of eyes exceptionally quiet, as if waiting for Chen Yan's choice.

In the distance.

He Youtong and Jiang Yuan looked at Chen Yan.

According to Chen Xiyuan's arrangements, the three of them needed to enter the Slaughter Forest to search for the 【Nether Ripple】.

Quite a few examinees had already begun walking toward the three giant doors.

Chen Yan pondered slightly, then also walked toward the one for the Slaughter Forest.

Zhu Lili's gaze tightened slightly.

Chen Yan's choice took her by surprise.

Soon, Chen Yan arrived before the giant door of the Slaughter Forest; He Youtong swept a faint glance at Chen Yan and entered first.

And it was at this moment.

Tap, tap, tap...

Footsteps sounded, and the surroundings instantly fell silent.

A figure wearing mechanical battle armor walked toward Chen Yan.

Yu Changsheng.

Yu Changsheng's eyes were indifferent, as if he never cared about anyone within his line of sight.

Boom, boom, boom!

Sounds of Qi and blood exploding rang out.

Zhu Lili and the other Star Generals attacked instantly, appearing before Chen Yan, all of them extremely vigilant.

"Yu Changsheng, are you going to make a move?"

A low shout rang out.

Crack!

Clear, deep thunder surged, and a figure wearing white clothes appeared.

Zhang Luobai.

Yu Changsheng frowned; he looked at Chen Yan behind the crowd, then said to everyone:

"Get lost!"

In an instant, swords were drawn and bows were bent!

With a bang!

A roaring sound suddenly rang out.

A black light as vast as a long river slammed instantly into Yu Changsheng's abdomen.

Boom!

Yu Changsheng was instantly sent flying.

The crowd was stunned; the one who had attacked was a girl wearing a white dress with her hair in twin tails.

The girl held a long staff, looking exceptionally domineering at this moment.

San Jin.

The crowd was incomparably shocked; this girl's strength seemed to be extremely powerful.

"You're courting death!"

Yu Changsheng's low roar instantly resounded.

San Jin's figure was agile; she instantly rushed before Yu Changsheng and slammed another strike with her staff at the latter's head.

Crack!

The armor on top of Yu Changsheng's head shattered.

His entire body was smashed into the second giant door, instantly swallowed by the spatial ripples.

All around, everyone was shocked.

San Jin held her long staff, a few strands of dark hair at her forehead fluttering, as she looked at Chen Yan from afar:

"I... I did... pretty well, right?"

She revealed a smile, as if waiting for praise.

And it was at this moment.

With a slap.

Inside the second light door, a hand reached out from the spatial ripples, gripping the door frame tightly.

The reverse spatial ripples tore at his flesh; instantly, Yu Changsheng's skin cracked, and blood spilled out.

Yu Changsheng crawled out from the spatial ripples with an incomparably violent expression, growling hideously:

"If it weren't for my severe injuries..."

Boom!

San Jin instantly unleashed a kick, stomping her foot onto Yu Changsheng's face.

The latter was thoroughly blasted into the light gate.

San Jin frowned as she looked at the light screen before her, then looked at Chen Yan again:

"I... I will go in... there, and stop... him, you..."

She revealed a smile, her eyes as clear as crystal:

"Cultivate... well... well."

Having said that, she charged directly into the second light gate.

The second light gate was the entrance to the Dream Abyss.

This scene happened too abruptly.

Everyone had not yet reacted.

Was that Yu Changsheng who was knocked into the Dream Abyss?

Who was the one who made the move?

San Jin.

Right.

That girl with the number one aptitude.

If Chen Yan hadn't been so outstanding, everyone would never have overlooked that girl.

So strong!

Even if Yu Changsheng was severely injured, everyone thought that only Zhang Luobai could suppress him like that.

But this San Jin was too strong!

Zhu Lili slowly looked at Chen Yan, feeling choked with resentment at this moment:

"So, you had a helper all along, that's why you..."

She gritted her teeth; she had actually been quite moved earlier.

Because Chen Yan didn't want to drag her into the mess, he chose to face Yu Changsheng himself.

She had been moved for a long time and had intended to follow Chen Yan today.

As it turned out, this San Jin appeared.

Chen Yan pursed his lips; he hadn't expected it to be like this either.

The way everyone looked at Chen Yan changed.

That San Jin was clearly there to protect Chen Yan.

And this Zhu Lili, why did it feel like a legitimate wife discovering a mistress?

Suddenly, Zhang Luobai felt extremely conflicted.

He even felt a bit envious.

He waved his hand and walked toward the Dream Abyss:

"I will also go to entangle Yu Changsheng."

He had his own goal, which had been discussed with Zhang Ting long ago.

Everyone was speechless.

Yu Changsheng was just too damn pitiful.

Zhu Lili took a deep look at Chen Yan; at this moment, she had finally seen Chen Yan's true colors for the first time.

She simply walked toward the giant gate leading to the Seeking Sun Tower.

It was also at this moment.

A slightly speechless voice rang out:

"Is it possible that Yu Changsheng actually just wanted to go to the Slaughter Forest?"

Everyone looked over; the one speaking was Jiang Yuan.

Suddenly, it became quiet.

In the direction of the Aristocratic Family Alliance, Ma Tianyin and some other geniuses were almost furious.

They had known from the very beginning that Yu Changsheng was going to the Slaughter Forest.

Because of the 【Nether Orchid】.

Yu Changsheng's master, Chen Changyuan, needed the 【Nether Orchid】.

Even if Yu Changsheng were stupid, he wouldn't make a move against Chen Yan in front of so many people.

However, when he walked toward the giant gate leading to the Slaughter Forest.

Zhu Lili, Zhang Luobai, and San Jin all thought Yu Changsheng was going to make a move against Chen Yan.

How pitiful.

Everyone pondered; it seemed he really didn't want to make a move against Chen Yan.

The look in their eyes as they watched Chen Yan was changing.

"Why didn't he explain?" Someone revealed a grotesque smile.

Everyone suddenly realized, right, why didn't you explain?

"Because... he likes to put on an act," a girl whispered.

Suddenly, everyone was completely speechless.

Yu Changsheng was too pitiful.

The Yu Changsheng everyone feared had just gone to the Dream Abyss like that.

Chen Yan's expression was calm.

It had nothing to do with him.

He actually didn't know very clearly either.

He had always assumed San Jin was sent by Zong Heng.

Chen Yan sighed; Department Head Zong was indeed a bit too good to him.

This was because of Old Shen.

Chen Yan thought to himself as he entered the Slaughter Forest.

Behind him, a gloomy look appeared in Ma Tianyin's eyes.

Beside him, a young man wearing a peaked cap, with six long blades floating behind him like a fan, walked over.

A genius of the Aristocratic Family Alliance, ranked eighth on the College Entrance Exam Heaven's Pride List, Lü Guiwen.

"Just now, Chen Changyuan sent me a voice transmission, telling me to go to the Slaughter Forest first to find You Lan."

Lü Guiwen spoke, his expression sinister.

"He sent me a voice transmission too, telling me to finish off this son of a bitch Chen Yan first," Ma Tianyin growled.

Chen Yan was too vicious.

He had found so many helpers.

"Can the two of us beat him?" Lü Guiwen asked.

"Are you messing around? The two of us can't beat him?" Ma Tianyin growled, his rage peaking at the memory of being beaten into a pulp by Chen Yan.

Lü Guiwen pursed his lips:

"If we can't beat him, there's still Jiang Yuan."

He pointed to Jiang Yuan not far away.

Yet he saw Jiang Yuan laughing heartily:

"That's right, there's still me; we are teammates, after all."

Ma Tianyin gave a sinister laugh.

Jiang Yuan, ranked fifth on the College Entrance Exam Heaven's Pride List!

What did Chen Yan have to fight them with?

…………

The purple-red sky was like an overturned bottle of purple-red ink, its colors so rich they were almost eerie.

All around were deep, dark forests.

Hanging from giant trees that averaged a hundred meters in height were fruits that looked like human corpses.

On the fruits, human faces were either roaring, grinning strangely, or screaming, frozen just like that in the slightly salty, fishy air.

Chen Yan stood under a strange tree, extended one hand, and traced out Extreme Satin Patterns, converging them into an array disk imprinted with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

This was the communication array disk Chen Xiyuan had given to Chen Yan before he entered the college entrance exam.

Just as the array disk was created, a rustling sound came from within it.

"Chen Yan?"

He Youtong's voice rang out.

Chen Yan directly shifted the pointer of the array disk.

"Chen Yan." Jiang Yuan's voice rang out, carrying a playful tone:

"You really caused me to lose a lot of combat power; I need to spend quite a while to recover from my injuries."

Chen Yan was silent; without any substantive information, he intended to turn off the communication.

"There's one thing I have to tell you: Ma Tianyin and Lü Guiwen are going to join forces with me to kill you."

Jiang Yuan's giggling voice came through.

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows slightly:

"Got it."

"Aren't you afraid?" Jiang Yuan was surprised.

"Tell them to come; I'll join forces with you to wipe them out," Chen Yan said calmly.

"Don't, don't drag me into it; I can't bring myself to attack my own people," Jiang Yuan giggled.

Chen Yan turned off the communication.

As for this person Jiang Yuan, he had discovered when sensing with his Word Realm that this person's mind was extremely deep.

He continued walking forward.

Chen Yan soon walked out of the forest and was now standing before a cliff.

Below the cliff was a stretch of pitch-black scorched earth.

A massive wall of black light lay across the scorched earth, and in front of the giant wall, it was already packed with people.

They were all the examinees who had entered the Slaughter Forest earlier.

Chen Yan activated his protective patterns, concealed his own aura, jumped off the cliff, and did not approach the crowd at close range.

In front of the black light giant wall, there was a wooden hut, and on the door of the wooden hut, strange, pitch-black patterns were drawn.

Creak.

The wooden door opened, and a sleazy old man wearing tattered clothes with a huge tumor on his head walked out.

The old man bowed to the crowd:

"Respected examinee lords, I am the gatekeeper of the Slaughter Forest."

As the old man spoke, he took out a fruit the size of a walnut that looked like a miniature human head and said:

"This is called a Head Fruit, the food of us natives of the Slaughter Forest. Everyone who wants to enter the Slaughter Forest must find ten Head Fruits for me each."

The old man's voice fell.

Among the examinees, someone asked:

"If we find the Head-Fruit for you, will there be a reward?"

"Respected examinee, the reward is the qualification to enter the Slaughter Forest," the old man smiled.

"What if we can't find ten?" a new student asked again.

"If you can't find them, you can't enter," the old man smiled:

"Furthermore, only seventy percent of the examinees can enter the Slaughter Forest. If you all don't hurry up and look..."

The old man hadn't finished speaking.

Those new students were instantly shocked, and one by one, they rushed into the forest behind them.

They hadn't expected that there would be a barrier to entering the Slaughter Forest, and that it was an elimination system at that.

In an instant, the examinees in front of the wooden hut scattered and vanished.

Ma Tianyin and Lü Guiwen looked around.

"Didn't see Chen Yan," Ma Tianyin said in a low voice.

"Perhaps he hid, not daring to come see us," Lü Guiwen said.

A flash of anger crossed Ma Tianyin's eyes:

"Find the Head-Fruit first. We'll guard the entrance later; as soon as he enters, we'll follow him."

Lü Guiwen nodded.

To the side, Jiang always maintained an expression of agreement.

As for in front of the wooden hut.

The lecherous-looking old man watched the examinees one by one, his face always wearing a smile.

Time passed slowly.

Examinees arrived one after another, and immediately left in a hurry.

A quarter of an hour later.

Seeing that no more examinees were coming, the old man was just about to enter the wooden hut when he suddenly paused, turned around, and said to the person who had arrived:

"This examinee, to enter the Slaughter Forest, you need..."

The handsome youth wearing a General Star Uniform spoke:

"I can't find them."

The old man's expression stiffened slightly, then he smiled:

"It's still early. Generally, it takes a whole day to find ten Head-Fruits."

Chen Yan shook his head:

"I don't want to look for them."

He stared at the old man, a smile on his face.

The Word Realm was activated, constantly observing the old man's emotions.

The old man frowned slightly, but quickly returned to a gentle demeanor:

"Then why did you come to the Slaughter Forest? If you walk that way, you can go to the Dream Abyss, though it takes a bit longer."

He pointed in a direction.

"You aren't lying to me?" Chen Yan frowned.

"I wouldn't lie to you," the old man smiled, his eyes squinting, glowing with a dark light.

"Good."

Chen Yan nodded, then walked toward that direction.

In front of the wooden hut, the old man smiled, watching from afar.

Suddenly, Chen Yan stopped:

"Right."

The old man's face twitched:

"May I ask what else is the matter?"

The youth's eyes were clear, as if devoid of any emotion as he spoke:

"Your acting is quite good; where did you learn it?"

The old man's body trembled.

The next instant.

Boom!

A massive fist slammed over instantly.

Boom!

The fist stopped ten centimeters in front of the old man, a golden wave of Qi erupting from the back of the old man's head, a thunderous blast sounding like a clap of thunder on flat ground.

"Help me!!!"

The old man was so scared he sat directly on the ground, his entire face deathly pale.

Boom!

Chen Yan kicked the old man into the wooden hut.

"Inertial thinking; everyone who comes over and sees you subconsciously assumes you are the gatekeeper."

He calmly surveyed the dilapidated wooden hut:

"Added to your acting, it's actually quite effective."

Chen Yan kicked out once again.

The old man's body flew out and crashed into the wooden boards.

Ding!

A crisp sound rang out.

"Examinee Chen Yan, the first to pass the intelligence assessment."

A grand male voice rang out.

"Reward: ten million Dao-Slashing Points."