Starry Sky Professional

Fang Xing's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and the other students erupted in an uproar.

Many began to regret not withdrawing from the exam earlier upon realizing the dangers involved.

"Wait a moment... Director Wei, I'm a bit confused..."

Fortunately, each student here was exceptional, and they had teachers accompanying them for protection.

A martial arts instructor immediately raised his hand to ask, "Isn't the secret realm a means of attack from the outer evil gods? Does this third round really require students to enter the battlefield? It's far too dangerous!! I cannot agree, and I'm sure none of the teachers present will agree either... We will collectively petition against this exam outline!"

"What's the big deal about entering the battlefield now?"

Wei Shentong's expression turned cold as he began explaining, "In fact, a secret realm is just a space bubble technique that our Federation is gradually mastering... The secret locales on the Trial Star now are, naturally, not controlled by the outer evil gods but are spaces we have simulated... The danger level is much lower than on a real battlefield..."

"Oh, I see. I have no further issues."

The instructor's expression eased considerably.

"However, to help students better adjust to the battlefield, some evil god minions have also been deployed within the secret realm..."

Wei Shentong's next words caused a change in everyone else's expression: "The exam process has already been sent to you..."

Fang Xing looked at his phone and found a document indeed had arrived.

"Each student will be provided with a special communication device. Once inside the secret realm, you can engage freely according to the Federation's established rules. Those on the brink of death will be transported out... Defeating others earns points, killing evil god minions grants substantial points, and surviving longer also brings rewards... Finally, results will be assessed based on a comprehensive score..."

"This practical test is indeed intriguing!"

He reviewed the rules, noticing some similarities to the battle royale games like "PUBG" he had been playing daily at Qinglin Market.

"Director Wei!"

At this moment, a teacher from Youling Star also raised a question: "The secret realm rejects technological creations. What about Cadet Zhong's mech?"

"As I've stated, this is a man-made space bubble. We set the rules; those near death will be transported out. Of course, mechs can be brought in... As long as it complies with the exam regulations, with a personal contribution rate over 50%, as for weapon modules, laser guns are certainly not allowed..."

Wei Shentong explained one by one.

'Truly, although humanity is not adept at space technology, the years of defensive resistance have borne fruit.'

'Now, being able to simulate secret realms... in the future, offsetting the spatial dominion of outer evil gods, even bringing in large quantities of weapons and mechs, has become possible.'

Fang Xing was internally moved, silently marveling at the rapid advancements of technology.

The other teachers and students, realizing what was happening, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

At this moment, a series of proctors were distributing special silver wristbands.

"In the secret realm, communication with the outside is completely cut off. What you have on your wrists are scorekeepers... and you can also choose to withdraw from the exam by entering this code..."

After explaining the rules of the test, Wei Shentong forced a smile on his square face, "May your martial prowess endure, students!"

He extended his right hand, and it was only then that Fang Xing noticed, in the palm of his right hand, a shimmering, multi-colored 'bubble of soap'!

No!

It was a space bubble!

The bubble expanded in an instant, enveloping tens of thousands of people across the entire square before suddenly bursting open.

By the time Xia Long and the others came to their senses, the students around them had already vanished without a trace.

"Alright, teachers, let us all take this moment to appreciate the efforts of our students!"

Wei Shentong stood tall, a graceful wave of his hand as firm as a pine tree.

In the void above, countless screens materialized, each displaying the image of a student.

Clearly, during the spatial transmission, they had been transported into the secret realm and assigned to different areas...

...

"This sensation is somewhat similar to traversing other worlds..."

Standing on a barren plain, Fang Xing checked himself, discovering that his phone remained outside and his nano-suit was nowhere to be seen—only the silver wristband remained.

"Could Wei Shentong actually control space? No...a mere Vajra realm shouldn't possess such power. This must be the authority of the War Fortress..."

"Indeed, when individual strength combines with the might of a collective, it shines ever brighter!"

"In the end, martial artists still cannot avoid piloting mechs, huh?"

He stamped his foot on the ground, feeling the murky softness of dead grass and muck.

The sky was a leaden gray, with clouds hanging so low it seemed the firmament was within reach.

"The battle royale...has begun," Fang Xing murmured.

According to the exam rules, as long as candidates are constantly eliminated, victory can essentially be secured.

Of course, the presence of those evil god followers is considered a bonus.

"Lower servant level... is roughly equivalent to a martial artist at the fourth realm. A single martial artist might not be able to kill one... It must be someone who has mastered advanced martial arts."

"In the secret realm for the second-year exams, encountering a lower servant-level evil god follower is already slightly beyond the syllabus. Surely there aren't any upper servant levels around?"

He crossed his arms behind his back and casually chose a direction to proceed.

Before long, a candidate came into view.

The person wore a white school uniform and was a male student. Initially startled upon seeing Fang Xing, he then mustered the courage to rush forward.

The candidate spread his arms wide, mimicking a frenzied eagle flapping its wings.

The technique was the Frenzied Eighteen Strikes—Eagle Style!

"Idiot!"

Fang Xing scoffed at this move, forming his right hand into a knife-hand and casually chopping forward.

Though he didn't carry a blade, after mastering the Dragon Elephant Technique, his body was comparable to a mid-grade magical artifact.

In other words, his current hand-chop was much stronger than a Tiger's Fury Blade!

With one chop, the air was directly stirred, as if spirits and deities were dancing chaotically!

Ghost Deity Blade, Strike the Ghost Deity!

*Screech!*

With a single blade in hand, the frenzied eagle broke its wings!

The dazzling blade light shredded the Eagle Style, then heavily split against the student's chest.

Although the candidate reacted immediately, unleashing a burst of innate true energy that materialized into protective armor, it had no effect whatsoever. The armor was torn to shreds like paper!

"A polished jade at perfection level... In the cultivation world, it's stronger than many who are innate."

Fang Xing made a judgment in his heart, watching the blood flower bloom from the opponent's chest as he fell to the ground.

Had Fang Xing not intentionally held back, this unlucky soul would have ended up in two halves under the knife-hand.

"Yet at this rate, he'll soon bleed out and die, won't he? Are the promises from outside accurate or not?"

Just as he hesitated whether to offer assistance, a flash of silver light whisked the severely injured student away instantaneously.

“So it seems the rule of this secret realm is... those on the brink of death are directly transported out? It's a pity... it seems there are loopholes, like if someone dies in an instant, there might not be a chance to react... That’s why there are still fatalities, but it’s definitely safer than a real battlefield.”

Fang Xing glanced at his silver bracelet:

【Points gained: 1!】

【Rank: 872】

“In such a short time, more than eight hundred students have already encountered opponents?”

Fang Xing was a bit surprised.

However, it’s normal in a martial contest where the outcome is decided in just a few moves.

He nodded and continued in a certain direction.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

“I already said... I hate it when people call me uncle!”

Song Jingang erupted in a golden blaze, resembling a small golden deity as he furiously pursued several examinees.

Although they were all at the same Raw Jade level, employing A-level martial arts, those examinees struggled to breach his defenses.

Such is the power of the 'Vajra Body,' its defense nearly peerless at the same level!

Bang!

Finally, as the last examinee fell, the phenomenon around Song Jingang gradually dissipated.

He glanced around him and then peered at his bracelet: “Rank fifty-two? Not bad... but not enough for me. Where's Ross? I need to teach him a lesson! And Fang Xing...”

Suddenly, the surrounding sounds inexplicably vanished, plunging everything into dead silence.

A dense mist emerged, within the dark fog, countless scarlet eyes opened!

Their number seemed to reach thousands!

Under their gaze, Song Jingang's thoughts started to turn chaotic...

“Ah!”

He shouted suddenly, his figure retreating swiftly, “A member of the Evil God's brood! Attracted by our recent battle, was it? It's... the 'Thousand-Eyed Demon,' a lower servant rank... Thankfully, it’s not a higher servant with tens of thousands of eyes...”

Despite Song Jingang mastering an A-rank martial art, with a simulated sense of intent for protection, it wasn’t the true power of that intent, and he hadn't unlocked the Niwan Palace to awaken any psychic abilities.

His mental defenses were certainly his weak spot.

With his A-rank martial arts, he could barely withstand the corruption of a lower servant, but should he face a higher servant, escape might be impossible.

Seeing Song Jingang turning to flee, the mist emitted a screeching noise and relentlessly pursued him.

“Damn it... can't shake it off, need to find someone to take it down together!”

Song Jingang gritted his teeth.

Even if he had utmost confidence in his capabilities, he didn't think he could tackle a lower servant alone now.

Even on a real battlefield, encountering such an adversary would require a group of brave martial artists to join forces and kill it.

But among these ten thousand examinees, how many possess such skill?

To slay this kind of lower servant, many may have to risk their lives!

...

In the sky.

Qi Lingzhen wore windproof goggles, piloting her pterosaur and entangling with a group of bizarre birds.

Suddenly...

She seemed to recall something and looked up at the sky.

Above the sky, a massive black jellyfish had appeared, its appearance unnoticed.

Glowing threads were being cast down from the jellyfish, connecting with the strange birds.

“A lower servant rank—'Netherworld Jellyfish'?!”

Qi Lingzhen suddenly spoke to the person nearby, “Let’s team up and split the points equally!”

“Agreed!”

A crisp voice responded, and an exoskeleton armor crashed into the battlefield—it was Zhong Yuxiu!

She still had a hint of baby fat on her face, but her fighting style was ferocious. After tearing through several monstrous birds, she charged directly at the enormous body of the jellyfish...

]

(End of Chapter)