The buses rolled to a stop one after another.
Starfall City—capital of Starfall Province.
The exam center dominated the district like a small city of its own. Wide plazas, layered walkways, reinforced arenas carved directly into the ground. Massive holographic screens hovered above the central square, rotating the insignia of the National College Entrance Examination.
Thousands of examinees filled the area.
Some stood confidently with arms crossed.
Some whispered nervously to teammates.
Some pretended not to care at all.
More than a hundred schools had already arrived—uniforms of every color and design marking different regions of the province.
Teacher Han Qiu led Jin and the others off the bus.
"Stay together," he said calmly. "Follow me."
They moved toward the registration hall, where schools were lining up at long counters. Floating panels displayed names as registrations completed.
Jin's eyes flicked across the crowd.
Near the front—
Starfall First Academy
Radiant Sky Institute
Northriver Combat School
The top three schools of the province.
Their students stood closest to the main arena, posture relaxed, expressions composed. Some were already being observed by scouts stationed along the upper balconies.
Han Qiu guided them past.
As they moved farther in, the atmosphere subtly changed.
The farther from the stage, the less attention the schools received.
When Jin's group finally stopped, they were almost at the edge of the gathering zone.
One of the distant lines.
Their school's name appeared briefly on the display—plain, unremarkable, quickly forgotten.
A few students from a nearby elite academy glanced over.
"Huh?" one of them muttered loudly. "There's a school with that name?"
Another snorted. "Outer-zone trash, probably."
"Did they get lost?"
Jin's classmates stiffened.
Zhao Chen clenched his fists, jaw tight. Another student shot the elite group an angry glare.
Jin kept walking.
He'd expected this.
Low-ranking school. Weak background. No reputation.
Normal.
Teacher Han Qiu stopped once they were in position and turned around.
"Don't mind them," he said evenly. "This is exactly why rankings matter."
He looked down the line of his students.
"In this world, strength decides everything. Complaints won't change that."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"So if you're dissatisfied—prove it."
He gestured toward the arena ahead. "At least make it into the rankings this year. Show them what you have."
The students straightened.
Teacher Han Qiu raised his hand as the main screens flickered.
A clear, mechanical voice echoed across the plaza.
---
[ NCEE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ]
Exam Structure — Finalized
Phase 1: Gene Energy Adaptability Test
Phase 2: Dungeon Team Assessment
Phase 3: Individual Combat Ranking Tournament
---
[ Phase 1 Details ]
Test Type: Gene Energy Adaptability
Measurement Scale: 0 / 10
Passing Threshold: 6 / 10
Note:
Failure to pass Phase 1 will result in immediate disqualification.
Only qualified candidates may enter Phase 2.
---
[ Phase 2 Details ]
Test Type: Team-Based Dungeon Combat
Team Size: Assigned (5 Members)
Evaluation Criteria:
• Combat Effectiveness
• Coordination
• Adaptability
• Survival Rate
---
[ Phase 3 Details ]
Test Type: Individual Combat Tournament
Format: Elimination Brackets
Purpose: Final Ranking Determination
Note:
Phase 3 performance heavily influences:
• College Scouting Priority
---
The screens dimmed slightly as murmurs spread across the plaza.
Zhao Chen swallowed. "Six out of ten… they really raised it."
Teacher Han Qiu nodded. "Last year was five. This year, they're filtering harder."
Jin looked toward the testing halls ahead.
Phase one started.
The arena lights shifted.
A low hum spread through the exam center as the Gene Energy Adaptability Test officially began.
Teacher Han Qiu turned back to his students one last time. His expression was calm, but his voice carried weight.
"Good luck," he said simply. "No matter the result—stand straight."
Then he stepped away, ascending to the instructor platform overlooking the testing floor.
At the center of the arena stood the testing apparatus.
A tall crystal pillar with a translucent Gene Orb embedded at chest height. Energy lines pulsed faintly inside it, reacting to the presence of examinees.
A staff member's voice echoed.
"Schools will be tested in order of registration."
The first group stepped forward.
Starfall First Academy.
A boy in a silver-trimmed uniform approached the orb without hesitation. He placed his hand on it.
The crystal flared brightly.
[ Gene Energy Adaptability Result ]
Candidate: Lu Shen
Purity Index: 9.3 / 10
A wave of murmurs swept the arena.
"9.3?"
"That's insane."
"Isn't that the highest in years?"
The staff member's voice remained steady, but even he paused for half a second before calling the next name.
Another student from Starfall First Academy stepped up.
Candidate: Han Yue
Purity Index: 9.1 / 10
Two above nine.
Whispers grew louder.
Next came Radiant Sky Institute.
A tall girl with sharp eyes pressed her palm to the orb.
Candidate: Shen Lian
Purity Index: 9.2 / 10
Applause broke out this time, barely restrained.
Then Northriver Combat School.
Candidate: Qiao Ren
Purity Index: 9.0 / 10
Four names.
Four monsters.
The highest scores recorded in the past few years—and they had all appeared this year.
Teacher Han Qiu watched from the platform, eyes narrowed.
"This year really is different," he murmured.
The testing continued.
Scores gradually dipped.
8.7.
8.5.
8.2.
Still strong. Still elite.
Then came the mid-tier schools.
7.9.
7.6.
7.3.
Occasionally—
Purity Index: 5.8
Status: Disqualified
The announcement was cold.
Students with scores below 6.0 were escorted out quietly. Some clenched their fists. Some stared blankly. Some couldn't hide the shock.
Jin's classmates watched in silence.
Their turn was approaching.
"Next school," the staff announced. "—registered Starfall tenth academy."
A few snickers came from the front rows.
Zhao Chen exhaled slowly.
"Chen Zhao," the examiner called.
Chen stepped forward.
He looked nervous—but steady.
He placed his hand on the orb.
The crystal flared brighter than most expected.
[ Gene Energy Adaptability Result ]
Candidate: Chen Zhao
Purity Index: 8.3 / 10
A small ripple ran through the arena.
"That's high."
"For a school like that?"
"8.3 isn't bad at all."
Teacher Han Qiu allowed himself a faint smile.
One by one, Jin's school followed.
7.1.
6.8.
7.4.
All passed.
Then—
"Wei Jin."
The name echoed across the arena.
Jin stepped forward.
The noise faded slightly—not because of recognition, but because no one expected anything.
Another low-ranked student.
Jin stopped in front of the orb.
For a brief moment, he hesitated.