Chapter 1366: Trial Zone! I Saw a Vast Amount of Source Points!

Golden lightning carved a graceful arc across the sky.

Xu Jingming's figure shot through the air above the Eternal Star Alliance headquarters like a bolt of lightning.

Beneath his feet stretched the vast complex of Star Dome Academy, while distant towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds.

High above, other students occasionally flew past, all carefully avoiding one another.

"This is the gravity environment of the Eternal Star Alliance headquarters..."

Xu Jingming sensed the gravitational field around him—hundreds of times stronger than that of an ordinary life planet.

An ordinary Starlight-tier cultivator here would struggle even to fly.

But for him, this level of gravity had little impact.

"Indeed, many have already broken through to the Star Tier."

Xu Jingming naturally noticed the change in Yue Ying's aura.

In fact, it wasn't just her.

At the aerospace port just now, at least half of the eight hundred new students had already entered the Star Tier.

This was perfectly normal.

Everyone at the Genius Tournament was at Starlight Peak.

Many even deliberately suppressed their breakthroughs just to participate in the Genius Tournament.

Now that the competition is over, they've all broken through.

"Star Tier..."

Xu Jingming's gaze flickered slightly.

As long as he had enough Source Points, breaking through was no challenge for him.

How many Source Points he could obtain depended entirely on the upcoming Trial Zone.

"One, pull up the data for the Beast Trial Zone."

As he flew, he spoke to the silver bracelet on his wrist.

Eva had returned to her main body, so he simply made One his personal AI.

This was a benefit granted to him as a Special-Level permit holder of Star Dome Academy.

In fact, One's intelligence level was far higher than Eva's.

"Understood, Master."

One's elegant voice sounded, and a holographic screen unfolded before Xu Jingming.

"The Beast Trial Zone is located in the northwest quadrant of the academy."

"It covers approximately six hundred million square kilometers, designed as a live combat zone to hone students' fighting skills."

The screen displayed a vast expanse of rolling mountains and forests, with faint outlines of ferocious beast shapes visible.

"Six hundred million square kilometers!"

Xu Jingming's eyes gleamed slightly.

It was larger than the surface area of Blue Star!

Even far larger than the Beast Trial Zone of the Noah Sanctuary!

Of course, compared to the vast continental area of Star Dome Academy itself,

this region wasn't particularly large.

"The Trial Zone hosts a large number of beasts."

"Yet the vast majority of students choose to hone their combat skills in the Virtual Universe,"

One's voice carried a hint of surprise. "I've never encountered a student who heads straight for the Trial Zone upon arriving at the academy, like you, Master."

"The Virtual Universe is still virtual. Only true life-or-death combat can unlock potential."

Xu Jingming smiled.

He was here to harvest Source Points—killing countless times in the Virtual Universe was useless.

"What kinds of beasts are in the Trial Zone?" he asked next.

"The Trial Zone beasts are primarily low-tier Star Tier, with very few Starlight-tier."

One replied, "Additionally, a small number of Cosmic-tier beasts roam freely."

Here, her tone turned serious: "Master, I must warn you:

The Trial Zone simulates completely real combat conditions and provides no protective measures whatsoever.

If you encounter a high-tier beast, death is real death—the academy will only offer compensation to the student's family."

Xu Jingming, still flying, raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes: "So brutal?"

He had assumed that, as humanity's top academy, Star Dome Academy would guarantee student safety like the Noah Sanctuary.

"If you wish to hone combat skills, enter the Virtual Universe."

"Entering the Trial Zone is about experiencing the thrill of walking the edge between life and death."

One answered calmly. "If the academy provided protection, the Trial Zone would be indistinguishable from the Virtual Universe."

"Moreover, the academy provides a platform for cultivation—it is not a nanny."

"Every student must take responsibility for their own choices, including missions they undertake later."

"True enough."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, as One continued immediately:

"Compared to the God-Slaying Martial Temple, our Star Dome Academy treats geniuses with relative gentleness."

"They select geniuses by dumping countless students onto a planet teeming with beasts or other alien races."

"Only those who survive on that planet after ten years are absorbed by them."

In terms of cruelty, our Star穹 Academy cannot match them.

But we must admit, that method truly unlocks the potential of geniuses.

Among our universe's human race, the powerhouses from the God-Slaying Martial Temple are also famously renowned.

Among peers, their talent may not be the best, but their combat power is undoubtedly among the strongest.

"There's even such a training method?" Xu Jingming mused.

Looking at it this way, the God-Slaying Martial Temple seems better suited for me.

But the Eternal Star Alliance isn't bad either—as long as there are places to hunt beast monsters.

As they spoke, a vast primordial forest appeared at the edge of their vision.

Above the forest hung a faint blood-colored mist, and faint roars of beast monsters could be heard.

"We're here."

Xu Jingming landed at the entrance of the Trial Zone.

There stood a black stone stele, inscribed with blood-red characters warning:

【The Trial Zone is riddled with dangers; life and death are your own responsibility!】

"Life and death are my own responsibility? Perfect."

Xu Jingming smiled and stepped into the Trial Zone.

"Roar—!!"

"Howl—!!"

"......"

The moment he crossed the boundary, the air around him suddenly grew thick.

A heavy stench of blood surged toward him, and distant, chilling roars of beast monsters echoed.

"Here it is! The Beast Monster Trial Zone!"

Xu Jingming was not alarmed—he was delighted.

He saw countless Source Points waving at him.

"This Trial Zone seems to have some kind of barrier set up?"

"Of course—it's home to Universe-Class beast monsters.

Without restrictions, chaos would have erupted long ago."

"But this feeling... it's been so long."

Excitement flashed in Xu Jingming's eyes as golden Lei Ting began to dance around his body.

In a flash, he became a streak of golden lightning, racing deep into the forest.

Of course, compared to flying above Star穹 Academy, his speed was much slower.

He had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Though most beast monsters within the Trial Zone were Star-Low Class and within his capability, caution was still wise.

Soon, the first beast monster appeared in his vision.

It was an eight-meter-tall giant wolf, its entire body covered in silvery-gray fur, with a single horn on its forehead.

"Star-Class Two, Spirit-Blood Tier Silver Moon Wolf King? Perfect for warming up!"

Xu Jingming's lips curled slightly.

He poured furious Doushen Shenlei into his spear and charged forward without hesitation.

With the physical strength of the third layer of Zi Yan Demon Body and the enhancement of Thunder Law...

As long as he didn't encounter a King-Blood Tier or higher Star-Class Three beast monster, he could handle them easily...