Chapter 115: Entrance Exam (Practice)

"The entrance examination is scheduled for this afternoon."

Gu Siyuan's words were like a bomb dropped on a calm lake, instantly splashing a huge spray of water.

"This afternoon?!"

"Too sudden, right? No preparation at all."

"Exactly, at least give us advance notice so we can have some mental preparation..."

Facing the complaints from the audience, Gu Siyuan simply tapped the podium lightly with his finger joints, his cold gaze sweeping over, and the clamor immediately quieted.

He pushed up his glasses, his tone laced with unabashed sarcasm.

"Mental preparation?"

He repeated the phrase as if he had heard some naive joke.

"If, in the future, you encounter Aberrant Species breaking through walls in the institute, or are ambushed by some terror organization, would the enemy send a notice a week in advance, telling you, 'Hey, we'll raid you next Wednesday at three PM, be ready to run'?"

That single sentence left all the complaining students speechless.

"Real accidents never give you time to prepare."

Gu Siyuan stopped paying attention to their reactions, cut straight to the point, his voice regaining its prior steadiness and order, and began to detail the rules.

"Now I'll explain the rules of this entrance examination in detail; listen carefully, I'll say it only once."

"Except for your Manufacturing Department, all other freshmen are randomly assigned to the Security Team or the Assault Team."

"Your task isn't much different from previous years: in the designated area, follow the schematics to complete the school‑assigned device fabrication and successfully activate it—that counts as success."

He shifted his tone, tapping the podium with his finger to emphasize the point.

"The key is that the Assault Team's mission is to use any means to 'kill' all Manufacturing Department students and prevent you from completing the task."

"Conversely, the Security Team's mission is to protect you, fend off assaults, and ensure the manufacturing process isn't disrupted."

Gu Siyuan surveyed the room and concluded:

"So for you, the exam has two points: first, don't make mistakes; produce the item correctly. Second, keep your eyes sharp and your legs quick—don't get 'taken out' while you're still foolishly screwing in bolts."

He deliberately slowed on the last two words, his gaze once again drifting faintly toward Ying Duo's direction.

"Specific details and the 'kill' criteria will be explained uniformly before the afternoon exam; for now you may dismiss class, you still have time for a last‑minute cram session."

"I hope this afternoon you don't give me any bizarre 'casualties' to see."

After Gu Siyuan announced dismissal, the students in the classroom dispersed; many began to exchange information or flip through class notes, doing a last‑minute cram as he described.

Ying Duo immediately stood up and chose to return to the dormitory.

When he got back to the dorm, Luo Jinyou still hadn't returned.

The empty room held only Ying Duo; he glanced at the clock, seeing several hours left before the afternoon exam.

Free time, of course, can't be wasted.

Ying Duo sat directly on the floor in the center of the dorm.

Like a magician, he pulled a heap of components from his backpack.

Faint Ying Guang Lu energy strands occasionally leaked from his fingertips, perfectly assembling the selected parts into the device he wanted.

【Modification Proficiency +21】

【Modification Proficiency +23】

Taking advantage of the time, he needed to replenish some ammunition.

The last time he went out with Su Jingchuan, most of it was story progression, but during the final brawl some supplies were spent.

This entrance exam sounds like a combat instance; he must be fully prepared.

After an indeterminate period, the dorm door was pushed open and Luo Jinyou returned.

He had just stepped through the door when he saw Ying Duo sitting cross‑legged on the floor, and the heap of half‑finished, dangerous‑looking parts beside him.

When his gaze landed on the tubular metal object in Ying Duo's hand, about to be completed, his pupils contracted.

He recognized that contraption all too well.

If he recalled correctly, the last time in the infirmary, Ying Duo used a similar thing to blast a huge hole through the wall.

Luo Jinyou felt a tingling on his scalp and instinctively softened his steps.

However, the previously absorbed Ying Duo sharply lifted his head, instantly locking onto Luo Jinyou's position.

The two stared at each other for a second; the caution in Ying Duo's eyes quickly faded, and he waved the dangerous metal object, extending an invitation.

"Wanna play a game?"

Luo Jinyou: "......"

He stared at the seemingly volatile contraption, his breath catching.

"Not playing. Also, that thing in your hand... be careful."

He stepped around the makeshift "armory" on the floor, went to his desk and set his things down, recalled the matter at hand, and turned to Ying Duo, saying,

"By the way, for this afternoon's entrance exam, I was assigned to the Security Team."

He paused, looking at Ying Duo still tinkering with parts, and, out of dorm‑room camaraderie, offered a reminder.

"Be careful this afternoon. I heard that because of the rules, the Assault Team has considerably more members than the Security Team, so the pressure's high. If you hold out, the Manufacturing Department only needs to survive to get a passing score."

Ying Duo heard that, didn't even lift his head, clearly not taking it to heart.

He thought it a good chance to test whether defeating NPCs in PVP would grant experience.

And he could also observe which NPCs have higher levels and which Aberrant Arts are useful, helping him scout candidates for forming a Mercenary Corps.

Luo Jinyou, seeing his indifferent demeanor, knew further words were futile.

He also needed to prepare for the afternoon exam; after putting his things away, he hurried out of the dorm.

The dorm was once again left with only Ying Duo.

As time slipped by quietly, more and more oddly shaped little devices littered the floor.

It wasn't until he saw that the assessment time was about to begin that Ying Duo, still lingering, finally stopped his hand.

He swept his hand, gathering all the completed "works" on the ground into his backpack, then stood up and brushed the dust off himself.

Without further delay, Ying Duo walked out of the dormitory with a light step, heading toward the designated venue for the afternoon entrance assessment.

By the time he arrived at the site, most people were already there; because Ying Duo had come precisely on schedule, he also drew a wave of attention.

The Manufacturing Department and the Security Team will enter together, first going to the outpost within the assessment venue to set up some defensive works and internal arrangements.

Half an hour after they reach the location, the Assault Team will set out; the Assault Team must locate the Security Team's outpost, and the Manufacturing Department's blueprint for the Rune device will also be released half an hour later.

Before then, the Manufacturing Department either stays plainly as a decoration, or helps with some defensive measures.