Chapter 96: A Test Where Wolves Outnumber Meat!

As Ji Huai strode toward the crowd, the students chatting in small groups fell silent.

After the roll call and confirming everyone was present, Ji Huai said in a low voice, "We are now heading to the base at the foot of Blue Mist Mountain; the team assignments for the probationary examinees will be announced there."

"The detailed rules for this examination will also be announced there."

"The buses are already at the school gate; now, everyone, board!"

Everyone responded in kind, closely following Ji Huai out of the school, a faint anticipation stirring in their hearts.

The buses carrying the examinees quickly left the school, and after a bumpy ride, arrived at the foot of Blue Mist Mountain.

At the foot of Blue Mist Mountain, a sentry post stood every ten meters; these posts linked together formed a circle encircling the entire mountain.

After the armed soldiers guarding the posts checked the documents and identities on board and let them through, following some hassle, the examinees on the buses finally disembarked at a large drill ground at the foot of Blue Mist Mountain.

Second High was not the first school to arrive; before they came, examinees in two different uniforms were already standing in clearly separate areas on the drill ground.

"It's First High and Fifth High." After just a glance, Xiao Pang familiarly introduced to Qin Chuan beside him, "This time, a total of five high schools—First, Second, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth—are participating in the practical examination."

Although Uncle Li and Xiao Pang have the same build, this father‑son pair have completely different personalities; given Uncle Li's abilities, it's normal for him to have found out these details.

"Thank Uncle Li for me."

Immediately afterward, he felt a faint warmth in his heart.

As the two spoke, a male student from First High's crowd walked over and addressed everyone from Second High, "Who is Qin Chuan?"

"Your information is really well‑informed." Qin Chuan was somewhat surprised.

Following the crowd's gaze, the male student didn't linger on Xiao Pang at all, but looked straight at Qin Chuan, "Are you Qin Chuan?"

"How could I possibly know?" Xiao Pang spoke bluntly, "My dad told me."

Uncle Li had no need to inquire about these things for his son who was still a probationary examinee, so he could only be gathering information for himself.

Qin Chuan gave Xiao Pang a helpless glance.

"It's me." Qin Chuan nodded. "What's up?"

"First High supposedly already has five official‑level examinees." Xiao Pang curled his lip, "No wonder it's the best school—there are truly many examinees from good families."

When his words fell, the Second High examinees fell silent for a moment, then pairs of eyes turned toward Qin Chuan's direction.

"You should handle this kind of thing yourself." Qin Chuan wore a black‑line expression.

Qin Chuan realized.

"Chu Zhou, let me introduce myself." The male student gave his name, then turned and left.

"Damn! Is he looking down on me!" Xiao Pang exploded in anger, "Qin Chuan, in this examination you must suppress him for me!"

"The official‑level examinees from Fifth High are just like us—two in number."

"That guy's a bit arrogant!" After the other walked away, Xiao Pang clicked his tongue and belatedly remarked, "We're standing together; why didn't he guess I'm Qin Chuan?"

"Seventh High has three, Eighth High has two." Xiao Pang raised his eyebrows at Qin Chuan, "That makes fourteen in total."

"Eh, no big deal!" Xiao Pang gave a hehe laugh.

"Can't do a thing." Xiao Pang shook his head shamelessly, "In the last practical examination, he scored full marks just like you."

"Huh?"

Qin Chuan glanced in surprise at Chu Zhou, who had already returned to his unit and stood there arrogantly.

In the last practical examination, three people scored full marks; was he one of them?

While speaking, another bus drove onto the drill ground, and soon the examinees wearing a different uniform disembarked in an orderly fashion.

"That's from Seventh High." Xiao Pang's eyes lit up as he slapped Qin Chuan's shoulder, "Look at the girl leading the front, the prettiest—she's the Seventh High school belle, Song Ling!"

"Do you have some school‑belle radar?" Qin Chuan's mouth twitched slightly; he had no intention of turning his head to look.

"She scored full marks last time."

Qin Chuan turned his head.

Song Ling appeared a delicate, frail girl, her face bearing a very affable smile, making it hard to imagine such a girl earning full marks in the practical examination.

Qin Chuan's expression turned solemn.

Usually, those with a harmless appearance are the most formidable.

A formidable rival!

He couldn't help but glance at her twice more.

After Seventh High, the examinees from Eighth High arrived shortly thereafter.

When nearly a thousand examinees from the five schools had taken their places on the drill ground according to their respective areas, a figure walked up to the makeshift podium.

He was a decisive, vigorous middle‑aged man.

"I am the head of the Special Affairs Group of Changxing City, Lan Cheng."

"It's actually the head of the Special Affairs Group?"

The crowd murmured, and Qin Chuan also showed a look of surprise.

"Is this practical examination receiving so much attention?"

"Today, I and the hundreds of staff from the Special Affairs Group will fully guarantee the safety of this examination." Lan Cheng said in a deep voice, "Now I will explain the rules of this practical examination to everyone."

"The two items currently being distributed should be carried throughout the examination."

"One is a safety helmet with a fixed camera mounted on it, used to record each of your examination kills; wear it at all times, or if lost, no scores will be recorded."

"The other is an emergency signal transmitter; this examination will not have safety personnel accompanying you to halt the test in case of emergencies, but safety staff are stationed at various points throughout Blue Mist Mountain."

"When danger arises, you yourselves decide whether to stop the examination; if you wish to stop, press the button on the transmitter, and the nearest safety staff will rush over immediately."

"Besides this, numerous concealed cameras have been installed throughout Blue Mist Mountain; if an emergency occurs and examinees don't have time to call for help, we will summon aid on their behalf."

As Lan Cheng spoke, the two items he mentioned were quickly handed out to each person by the staff.

The transmitter is a watch‑shaped device, with a button that has an anti‑mis‑touch structure on it.

After putting on the helmet and transmitter, Qin Chuan continued to listen to Lan Cheng's explanation.

"This examination will no longer use a percentage system, but will use a point system." Lan Cheng spoke slowly, "The examination lasts two hours, and points include survival points and kill points."

"Persisting for one minute in the examination earns 1 survival point; if you cease the examination, no further points are counted, and the maximum is 120 points."

"The demon beasts in Azure Illusory Mountain reach a maximum of Level 20; a Level 1 demon beast yields 1 kill point, each level increase before Level 11 adds 1 kill point, a Level 11 demon beast yields 20 kill points, thereafter each level increase adds 20 kill points, and a Level 20 demon beast yields 200 kill points."

"Level 1-10 demon beasts correspond to the strength of Juvenile Tier Spirit Beasts."

"Level 11-20 Advanced Demon Beasts correspond to the strength of Growth Tier Spirit Beasts."

"If survival points are less than 120, kill points are counted at only 90%." Lan Cheng spoke loudly, "The sum of the two is your final score."

"Now, candidates who have reached the official level, step forward!"

Qin Chuan and Zhu Yuxi strode out, standing shoulder to shoulder with the figures that emerged from the other four schools.

Altogether, fourteen official-level candidates instantly drew everyone's attention.

"There's not-so-good news." Lan Cheng chuckled.

"There are only ten Advanced Demon Beasts in Azure Illusory Mountain."

(End of chapter)