"Silence!"
A man in a heavy coat stepped forward. "I am Zhou Weiping, head of the joint exam's referee panel. Now, I will announce the exam rules. Everyone, maintain discipline!"
Zhou Weiping's voice was thunderous, cutting through the wind without any amplification, reaching every ear. His presence was overwhelming, reminiscent of the Bear Instructor's Tyrant Bear, instantly cowing the entire crowd.
Su Hao found him vaguely familiar. The name, too, seemed like he'd heard it somewhere. After a moment of thought, a resounding title flashed through his mind.
Zhou Weiping, the Wave-Treading Heavenly King!
'So it's him!'
A living... a Heavenly King he was seeing with his own eyes!
But could a mere joint exam really attract a Heavenly King? Did the school have that much pull?
Su Hao didn't know.
Around him, many students who recognized Zhou Weiping's identity wore excited expressions. Yet, under his imposing aura, they stood obediently, daring no rash moves.
Zhou Weiping began announcing the exam rules.
"At the start of the joint exam, everyone will draw lots to determine their positions and enter in batches through the twenty-three southern entrances of the Primitive Forest Zone. Your task is to reach the finish line eighty kilometers away within three days..."
Su Hao understood. It was exactly as they'd guessed—a three-day "wilderness survival."
But within the Primitive Forest Zone, there were towers stocked with supplies for examinees—food, daily necessities, everything. The main test was their combat and stealth abilities in complex environments.
A test of overall student capability!
Far harder than before, when they only had to command their spirits from a podium.
Many students looked grim. It wasn't about the strength of their spirits; just the thought of trekking that far on foot was despair-inducing.
But Zhou Weiping wasn't done. He continued, "In the Primitive Forest Zone, there are many wild spirits retaining their ferocity. Most are adults, untrained but still combat-capable. Moreover...
"Entry-level spirits may also be present in the zone.
"Besides wild spirits, all examinees are your competitors. Defeating a spirit earns 1 to 3 points, while defeating an examinee lets you take half their points... Failing to reach the finish line on time is treated like being defeated—you lose half your points.
"Finally, rankings are based on total points. For the top ten, I, on behalf of the Qinglan Spirit Breeding Base, will offer a surprise reward!"
Zhou Weiping paused after speaking. "Now, teachers from each school, distribute the exam equipment."
As he finished, Su Hao saw their homeroom teacher, Old Chen, open a box containing rows of vertical silver wristbands.
"This wristband is called a Defense Wristband. It simulates spirit guardian protection, forming a light shield around your body to withstand attacks to a degree..."
From a distance, Zhou Weiping's tone grew more serious. "Let me remind you again: wild spirits won't foolishly fight your spirits head-on. The wristband's purpose is to provide you protection.
"Similarly, the exam has no restrictions on combat rules. You can command your spirits to directly attack other students, draining their wristband energy.
"When the wristband's energy drops to 50%, it will warn you. At 30%, it means you're defeated and eliminated. Relevant personnel will escort you out of the exam area.
"There's also a distress button on the wristband. If anyone can't hold on or encounters danger, they can call for help, which also counts as elimination."
The rules were complex yet simple...
Su Hao summarized: start, head to the finish, defeat every student and wild spirit encountered along the way.
√.
Su Hao put on the wristband.
A thin light shield immediately formed around his body, as if isolating everything else.
At that moment, the distant Heavenly King Zhou Weiping said his final words, "...You can choose to team up, up to three people, splitting points equally, or go solo... You have five minutes to form teams and submit your lists."
As Zhou Tianwang finished, Su Hao felt gazes from all around fix on him.
Classmate A looked shy.
Classmate B's eyes burned.
Li Songting stared at him.
Gu Lingyao also seemed inclined to team up.
Liu Ren... felt immense pressure, seeing competitors everywhere. "Old Su, boss, don't abandon me—"
Su Hao reached out, stopping Liu Ren before he could start whimpering.
He said what dashed their hopes, "I'm going solo. You all do as you please.
"But I suggest you team up with Li Songting and Gu Lingyao."
In all of Ancheng No.1 High, aside from himself, only those three were worth mentioning. Their spirits were similarly developed, with complementary roles—teaming up was ideal.
As for himself?
Su Hao was aiming for the top three. Teaming up meant splitting points, which would definitely rule out a top-three finish.
Without hesitation, he chose to go alone.
Moments later,
The entrances for examinees were determined.
Su Hao was at Entrance 18, while Liu Ren's team was at Entrance 11.
Under the guidance of a referee panel spirit master, Su Hao and other examinees entering through Entrance 18 took a sightseeing vehicle to the designated spot.
Batches of examinees entered in order.
Interestingly, while the entrance numbers were random, the entry order wasn't.
Weaker students entered first, while those with highly cultivated spirits and notable records went later.
This order matched the deluxe edition intel.
And Su Hao himself was placed last.
"Next, examinee Su Hao."
The expressionless referee announced.
Su Hao adjusted his clothes, took his two spirits, and stood up to walk into the Primitive Forest Zone.
After a short walk, he looked around. Towering trees several stories high surrounded him, their dense foliage blocking the sky, leaving only scattered patches of dappled sunlight.
"Only ten minutes late, and there's no one in sight."
He knew the weaker contestants would have bolted as fast as they could.
Wild spirits were the average contestants' scoring opportunity.
Su Hao glanced around and noticed some trampled tracks.
But after studying them, he realized he had no clue how to track.
"Do you?" he asked Silkworm Baby.
"Gunu, gunu gunu!"
"Oh right, first find a supply point... I remember the supply points are towers... Little Fire Crow!"
Little Fire Crow flapped its wings, shooting up through the dense leaves.
Soon, it flew back.
"Ya ya."
Su Hao nodded and headed in the direction Little Fire Crow indicated.
...
Perhaps because they were still near the edge of the Primitive Forest Zone, Su Hao walked for over ten minutes before spotting a lone spirit.
He gently parted the grass.
"It's a Fluffball, a wild spirit. Let's sneak around from behind..."
Before he could finish, Silkworm Baby launched a miniature energy ball.
A ping-pong-ball-sized energy ball zipped out, BOOMing as it blasted the Fluffball away.
The silver wristband vibrated.
"Points +1."
Su Hao's face darkened. Just as he was about to say something, he heard Silkworm Baby calling.
Following its gaze, in the distance, a white tower pierced through the canopy, faintly visible.