Chapter 116: Can This Be Cheating? (Laugh)

The assessment arena is a vast simulated abandoned industrial zone, with ruined factories, rusted pipes and overgrown mutated vegetation forming a complex terrain.

New students of the Manufacturing Department and the randomly assigned members of the Security Team, under the guidance of a expressionless supervising teacher, were the first to enter their "tower‑defense base".

It is an underground site, possibly a replica of an old‑era air‑raid shelter, and is quite concealed.

The heavy metal gate behind them slowly closed, emitting a dull thud, cutting off this place from the outside world.

The interior of the site is not small, but rather dim and damp; only a few old emergency lights provide illumination, and the air is thick with the smell of rust.

After leading them here, the teacher left; the metal gate sounded a muffled "clang", and in an instant a sense of isolation and oppression fell over the freshmen, who could only stare at each other in bewilderment.

They are completely unfamiliar with the place; they know they must prepare defensive works to repel the Assault Team, yet they have no idea where to start.

Gradually, faint chatter rose from the crowd as they instinctively sought familiar faces and whispered, but no one dared to take the first step.

"Classmates, please be quiet!"

A clear, steady voice broke the chaos.

Shen Zexi stepped onto a discarded machine tool, his gaze gentle yet powerful sweeping the whole area.

He naturally exudes a warm, approachable aura; at this moment of initial confusion, everyone subconsciously obeyed his command.

"I am Shen Zexi; you've all heard my name. Time is short, so we won't waste words."

Shen Zexi's voice was clear, his speech rapid yet orderly.

"We have all been assigned to the Security Team; there are only two tasks: first, ensure the absolute safety of the Manufacturing Department students; second, make sure they can complete the prescribed equipment."

"And now we have less than thirty minutes to set up defensive works."

"If you trust me, I would like to assume command for the time being."

He paused briefly, his eyes slowly scanning the many classmates below; in this somewhat dim environment, Ying Duo's luminous green head stood out.

That's good; at least he can spot people at a glance and won't worry about anyone disappearing.

Seeing no objection, he steadied himself and quickly issued orders.

"Students with defensive Aberrant Arts or strong physical techniques, check and reinforce the entrance, and if possible, camouflage it."

"Students with keen perception, form patrol squads to covertly sweep the perimeter of the site, staying alert for the Assault Team's advance."

"Everyone else, assist the Manufacturing Department students in clearing a spacious work area so they can operate smoothly."

His plan was logical and efficient; the previously bewildered freshmen seemed to find a backbone and immediately sprang into action.

Luo Jinyou walked to the slightly thin metal gate of the site, pressed both hands against the cold metal, and activated his internal Aberrant Arts.

A faint yellow‑brown light spread from his palms like living soil, quickly covering the door and surrounding walls, noticeably thickening them and making the structure sturdier.

He then applied the same method to reinforce several key load‑bearing columns and ventilation‑pipe junctions.

Shen Zexi watched Luo Jinyou's actions, nodded slightly, and his gaze immediately swept the crowd, soon locking onto that luminous green head.

At that moment, Ying Duo was idly leaning against an idle toolbox, eyes vacant, seemingly uninterested in the surrounding bustle.

He was waiting for the mission to be issued; now was the time to prepare defenses, and the blueprint for the equipment had not yet been released, so he just kept AFK State.

As long as this guy is still…...

Shen Zexi felt an inexplicable calm settle in his heart.

He had seen, even "experienced", Ying Duo's talent for fleeing.

With him around, even if the situation gets terrible, there may still be a chance to turn things around.

Under the class monitor's organization, the Manufacturing Department students also began to familiarize themselves with the environment, sorting their own tools while awaiting the blueprint's release.

They occasionally glanced curiously at Ying Duo, the classmate whose school‑year had been filled with "legendary" stories, but no one dared to assign him any task.

Ying Duo happily continued his idle AFK State, waiting for the blueprint to be announced after half an hour.

While the Security Team and Manufacturing Department hurried to set up defenses, members of the Assault Team gathered at the opposite end of the assessment arena.

They had received a clear mission order: at any cost, "eliminate" all Manufacturing Department students and prevent them from completing the equipment.

Qi Hengyu looked at the map of the assessment zone displayed in his hand, rubbed his brows, and felt a headache coming on.

"The area is too large, like looking for a needle in the sea; it seems we'll have to split into groups and sweep the net, hoping luck is on our side and we don't wait until the assessment is almost over to find a spot."

His suggestion received many nods; after all, it is the simplest yet most reliable method.

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft, sweet voice rang out, unusually clear amid the noisy discussion.

"Classmate Qi, perhaps the Young Master has a way to locate them faster."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Meng Kexin in a princess dress, pink hair cascading like a waterfall.

She looked out of place in the surroundings, not seeming to attend an assessment but rather a gathering.

Meng Kexin gently tugged at the sleeve of Chen Mo Zhi beside her, her fair face showing a perfectly timed hint of shyness and dependence.

Chen Mo Zhi still wore that aloof, unapproachable aura; his dark‑green short hair framed half‑closed eyes that seemed indifferent to the surrounding chatter.

In an instant, most eyes focused on this starkly contrasting pair.

Yet more eyes remained disdainful; they had heard some rumors about Meng Kexin.

The daughter of a nouveau‑rich family, with a decent face, had earned the favor of the Chen Family's young master, clinging to him like a parasitic vine.

Under the gazes of the crowd, Meng Kexin seemed even more nervous, her voice softer yet clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The perfume I'm wearing today is a special fragrance made by the Chen Family; it's very distinctive and lasts a long time…."

"When we gathered in the square earlier, I said a few words to some Security Team classmates; they should have picked up some of the scent."

She slightly turned, moving Chen Mo Zhi to the front, her posture respectful.

"The Young Master has an extraordinary sense of smell, tracking this fragrance is as easy as pie."

Qi Hengyu was startled by the words and blurted out instinctively.

"Tracking by scent? Does that… count as cheating? Is it allowed by the rules?"

Meng Kexin blinked her utterly innocent big eyes, offering a gentle smile that oddly chilled Qi Hengyu's back.

"The Academy lets us know each other's identities in advance precisely so we can gather intelligence, learn opponents' traits and weaknesses, right?"

「They, knowing that the young master was in the Assault Team, yet did not take precautions regarding this point— isn't this their fatal mistake? 」

Her words were gentle, yet they carried an irrefutable logic.

Chen Mo Zhi's brows furrowed slightly, he glanced at Meng Kexin, his lips moved but he ultimately said nothing, acquiescing to her words.