Chapter 240: Start Climbing the Rankings! Surge Up!

The entire Magic City Institute of Psychic Abilities had just over four thousand two hundred students.

Xu Jingming's ranking of four thousand one hundred something was undoubtedly at the bottom.

As for the other eighty or so students ranked lower than him, their combat power was also zero—clearly they had never attempted the virtual trial.

"No wonder they think Kong Shi is stronger than me; the gap in combat rankings is just too huge."

Perhaps it was meant to motivate Magic City students to train harder.

The entire stone pillar displayed vastly different effects depending on the ranking.

The names of the top three glowed with golden light.

Their characters were much larger than the others, even handwritten signatures.

Kong Shi, ranked first, had a crown hovering above his name, looking utterly magnificent.

In contrast, Xu Jingming's name at the bottom used a standard font.

The font was minuscule and dull as gravel, standing in stark contrast to Kong Shi's brilliance.

Keep in mind,

every student who entered the virtual trial could see this ranking pillar.

Each time they came in, they saw Kong Shi's glittering name at the top—over time, this became an unquestioned assumption.

"But that first place of yours is mine now."

Looking at Kong Shi's name at the very top, Xu Jingming's lips curled slightly.

"Welcome, S-Class student Xu Jingming, to the virtual trial!"

At that moment, a vast, divine-sounding voice echoed from the sky.

Immediately, a girl's figure condensed in midair.

The girl stood barely one meter fifty tall, with a cute doll-like face and long twin braids tied behind her.

Unlike ordinary people's black hair, her hair was green.

Yet the green hair didn't look out of place—it instead accentuated her fair skin.

"Huh???"

Staring at the girl, Xu Jingming was filled with confusion.

Such a solemn voice, yet the one who appeared was a petite loli?

"You're... Eva?"

Though her appearance had changed, Xu Jingming couldn't imagine anyone else appearing in this virtual space except Eva.

"You're smart, S-Class student," Eva smiled sweetly.

Her voice was no longer divine—it was now clear and melodic, like an ordinary little girl's.

"Why aren't you in your ball shape?" Xu Jingming was surprised.

The little ball form could be interacted with; this girl form, though pretty, couldn't be squeezed at will.

"Hmph! You want to pinch my cheeks again, don't you?"

Eva crossed her arms and pouted, but then explained:

"The ball form saves the most computational power. Since you're an S-Class student,

I was allocated 1% extra computational power to simulate a more realistic virtual space, so I switched forms.

If you prefer the ball, I can change back right now."

Hum—

The petite loli transformed into the familiar little ball.

"Never mind, go back to your original form."

After seeing the loli just now, Xu Jingming could no longer treat her like a cute, mindless ball.

"By the way, do AIs have gender?" Xu Jingming was curious.

AIs were ranked from Level 5 to Level 1 based on computational power.

But no human had yet created an AI above Level 1.

Today's top-tier AI hosts, including Eva,

were all excavated from ancient civilization ruins.

Xu Jingming had only heard this secret from Deputy Principal Ling Shuang by chance.

He hadn't expected AIs might have gender preferences.

"Of course not. I just prefer a female form. If you like male, I can change."

As she spoke, Eva transformed into a burly man with a full beard, her voice deepening.

"Cough—your original form was fine," Xu Jingming choked, quickly saying.

"I knew boys preferred girls."

Eva giggled and reverted to the petite loli.

Then she waved her right hand, and a set of battle suits surrounded Xu Jingming:

"Everyone must choose one B-Class battle suit and one B-Class weapon for the virtual trial.

Take a look—whichever you want, just touch it lightly to equip."

Xu Jingming carefully examined them.

After a few minutes, he selected a black battle suit produced by Extreme Tech.

This suit favored lightness and speed, with weak defense.

But with his S-Class defensive technique, " Mingyuleikai," Xu Jingming didn't need extra defense.

Hum—

He reached out and lightly touched the hovering suit—it vanished.

Instantly, his casual clothes and sneakers were replaced by the black battle suit and combat boots.

"Next, weapons. Weapon weight can be freely set."

Eva seemed to know what weapon Xu Jingming used.

She waved her hand—the battle suits vanished, replaced by dozens of spears, each with a unique design.

"That one. I want it at 1000 kilograms."

Xu Jingming chose a spear about two meters one long, resembling the Black Obsidian Spear.

As he gripped it, he felt its astonishing weight.

"Battle suit and weapon selected. You have one minute for final preparation.

After one minute, the virtual trial will begin."

Eva's clear voice rang out; Xu Jingming nodded slightly and began stretching his body.

He tried running, jumping, thrusting his spear—all movements.

To his surprise, every motion was impossibly smooth—he felt no hint of being in a virtual space!

"Truly astonishing virtual reality technology," Xu Jingming marveled inwardly.

Then, with a thought, brilliant SS-Class Doushen Thunder surged forth, swirling around his body.

"No wonder the teacher said the virtual trial would satisfy me—my psychic ability is perfectly simulated!"

Xu Jingming thought to himself.

He gripped the spear tightly and thrust it forward.

A sharp tearing sound echoed—he could even feel air resistance.

"This is the S-Class exclusive reality simulation tech. Others only experience 80% of the effect."

Eva, with her twin braids, smiled gently and tilted her head.

"Ready? The virtual trial is about to begin.

Since this is your first trial, you'll start at Level 1."

"No problem. Go ahead."

Xu Jingming took a deep breath, gripped the spear, and golden thunder surged violently around him.

"Countdown: 3... ... ... Virtual Trial Level 1 begins!"

As Eva's countdown ended, the ancient gate ahead burst open with a crash!

Boom!

The entire silver-white space transformed instantly into a lush green meadow, centered on the ancient gate.

Xu Jingming could even smell the fragrance of soil and grass in the air.

"Roar—"

"Roar—"

With deafening roars, twenty one-meter-long rhinoceroses, each the size of a small car, charged out of the gate!

Their thick hooves crushed the grass, leaving deep pits.

"Twenty Level 1 Mid-Rank rhinoceroses—challenging for a typical freshman,

but nothing to me."

Xu Jingming didn't even feel the need to use his spear.

Violent Doushen Thunder surged forth, instantly devouring and killing all twenty rhinoceroses.

"Level 1 trial cleared. You have one minute to rest. Would you like to rest or continue the trial?"

The petite twin-braided loli Eva floated in midair, her clear, melodious voice echoing through the entire space.

"Continue." Xu Jingming did not hesitate for a moment.

"Trial Level 2 begins!"

Crackling—

Thunder surged, instantly obliterating again!

"Continue!"

"Trial Level 3 begins!"

"Continue!"

"Trial Level 4 begins!"

"Continue!"

"......"

Given Xu Jingming's current strength, only fourth-tier ferocious beasts could resist the devouring power of the Dou Tian Divine Thunder.

Thus, these low-tier ferocious beasts were instantly obliterated upon encounter.

Under this terrifying kill efficiency, Xu Jingming's combat power surged rapidly from zero!

His ranking also skyrocketed at a terrifying pace!