Entrance Exam

Yang Rong's death caused quite a stir in the camp.

The whole process.

Luo Yan ate in silence, watching quietly.

As if he were an outsider.

In the end, the matter was classified as an "accident."

Afterward, Luo Yan also prepared himself for Di Zheng to suspect him.

When he went to sleep, he set up several "alarms" inside the tent.

He was prepared to flee at any moment.

But.

The waters remained calm.

The night passed.

The next day, the convoy continued on its way.

That day, they encountered giant beasts and a parasitic insect tide.

But they were driven back by Captain Di Zheng and another mecha pilot.

Luo Yan witnessed the entire battle.

Captain Di Zheng's mecha, mainly red and blue and known as Blue Edge, moved with incredible agility.

At times, it made high-speed movements beyond imagination.

Luo Yan heard the warrior beside him exclaim that this was the manifestation of Captain Di Zheng's Divine Treasure: Windwalk.

What was a Divine Treasure?

Luo Yan did not know.

He did not ask, either.

If he entered the Undercity successfully, he would learn everything he needed to know.

There was no need to rush.

The battle ended.

Some members of the convoy donned Protective Suits and busily dissected the beast carcasses, collected their blood, recovered their organs, and stripped off their scales and claws.

They stored everything separately.

Luo Yan remembered that two days ago, in Flower City, they had likewise dissected the corpses of Taotie and Lili.

He simply did not know whether the organs and blood recovered from these giant beasts were for research or served some other purpose.

Over the next few days.

The convoy encountered giant beasts almost every day.

This confirmed what those survivors had said back then.

The world outside the cities was even harder to survive in.

The earth had already become a paradise for giant beasts.

Several days later, Luo Yan noticed something strange.

The giant beasts attacking the convoy seemed to be targeting one particular truck.

That truck was carrying the mysterious object hauled from Taotie's lair.

Could it be that Taotie had stayed in the city center because it was attracted by that mysterious object?

This idea was confirmed that day.

The convoy was traveling along a broken highway when it suddenly came under attack by a giant beast.

A giant bird known as Quru descended from the sky.

The beast had a white head, three legs, and a human face.

It whipped up a storm, overturning the truck and sending the objects beneath the waterproof canvas rolling out.

Only then did Luo Yan see that the object was a seven- or eight-meter-long Deep Black Crystal, shaped like a miniature mountain.

Something seemed to stir within it, occasionally condensing into strange, ferocious beast faces.

Quru beat its enormous wings and tried to seize the strange stone with its three crimson claws and fly away.

But Blue Edge and another completely black mecha intercepted it.

During the clash.

The strange stone was caught in the artillery fire and blasted in half.

Luo Yan saw it clearly.

When the Deep Black Crystal shattered, fragments flew everywhere. One white rainbow streaked over his head, carrying a trace of holy aura, and fell into the distant outskirts.

Luo Yan found it strange. The strange stone looked sinister, so how could it contain something so holy?

Seeing that the battle was still continuing.

Luo Yan took the opportunity to run toward where the white rainbow had fallen, intending to investigate.

When he moved away from the highway and reached the nearby area.

He saw a patch of grass growing rapidly, with wildflowers blooming one after another.

It was as if they had been infused with infinite vitality.

This scene of a Flower Cluster stood in stark contrast to the withered grass and trees beside it.

Luo Yan's eyes lit up. He plunged into the newly grown grass and searched frantically.

In the end, he found a white diamond-shaped object.

Luo Yan picked it up. It felt warm and smooth like White Marble, with a faint chill.

He toyed with it for a moment.

Just as he was about to put it away and study it carefully.

Suddenly, the object released a hazy radiance from within.

Then, a pattern resembling the Tai-Chi Eight Trigrams emerged.

The Diamond White Jade immediately became illusory, losing its texture and form.

Only a mass of clear light wrapped around that strange symbol remained.

Then, with a whoosh, it shot into the space between Luo Yan's brows.

Luo Yan froze.

Then his heart sank.

This thing had flown out of that Black Strange Stone. Heaven knew what it was.

It had flown straight into his body. Who knew whether it would cause him any harm?

But after a while.

Luo Yan found that nothing seemed wrong.

Only then did he relax slightly.

By then, the battle on the highway had ended.

Quru had been injured and fled. At the scene, Captain Di Zheng was directing the warriors in recovering the strange stone and all its fragments.

From the warriors passing nearby, Luo Yan heard the term Abyssal Vein, which seemed to refer to the strange stone.

It looked as though this convoy had known what the object was all along.

Moreover, they had most likely come specifically for this Abyssal Vein.

Luo Yan watched Blue Edge walk toward the transport vehicle and wondered whether he should ask Di Zheng about the white jade.

But he was also worried that, having absorbed the jade, he would be taken by the Undercity and used as a test subject.

In the end, he abandoned the idea.

The convoy continued north.

A week after leaving Flower City, the convoy arrived in the region of a Great Lake.

When they reached the lakeshore, the water rumbled, and a tunnel rose from the lake and connected to the shore.

Luo Yan was left marveling at the sight.

Who would have thought that the entrance to the Undercity would be in the lake?

The convoy drove into the tunnel and continued deeper.

About half an hour later, Luo Yan looked out the window and saw a gigantic underground space.

The enormous space was large enough to hold an entire city. Luo Yan saw trains moving between the buildings and stopping beside high-rises.

Huge pipe-like objects connected the floor and ceiling of the space. They might even extend to the surface, though he had no idea what they were used for.

The convoy followed an elevated highway downward. As Luo Yan gradually saw the city more clearly, he realized that it was not much different from the surface cities that had existed before the Giant Beast Calamity.

The only difference was that every rooftop was equipped with artillery emplacements, while three or five tanks or armored vehicles occasionally passed along the roads.

"This is Guangling City, one of the Eighteen Northern Cities. New Undercities are still being built, but because of the Giant Beast Calamity, construction will take far longer than it did for these cities built in advance."

Di Zheng had appeared beside Luo Yan at some point and gave a brief introduction.

He then continued, "You're lucky. Today happens to be the day the Mecha Training Academy is recruiting new students."

"I've already registered you."

"But registering doesn't mean you'll be admitted."

"The Academy's recruitment is extremely strict. There is an entrance examination, the Academy Exam."

"Whether you can pass the Academy Exam and enter the Academy will depend on your own ability."

"If you aren't accepted, you'll have to be sent back to the surface."

Luo Yan nodded.

Di Zheng glanced at him and said, "Later, I'll have Little Li take you to the Academy."

"If you're lucky enough to enroll, I suggest you not spend your Credit Points directly on the Red Poison antidote."

"You can exchange some suppressants on schedule instead. They can alleviate your condition, allowing you to participate in various training sessions without your illness worsening."

"Use the Credit Points you save to exchange for cultivation resources. Only by improving your strength as quickly as possible can you gain more authority and resources."

Credit Points? Cultivation resources?

Luo Yan was utterly confused, but he committed Di Zheng's words to memory.

Di Zheng glanced at him again and said, "Also, the Academy—or rather, the Undercity—is different from the surface."

"There is still order here, so you need to rein in your 'wildness.'"

"Simply put, you can't kill people here as casually as you did on the surface."

Luo Yan spoke hoarsely. "What if the other person wants to kill me?"

"Normally, such a situation is impossible."

Di Zheng said decisively, "But if it happens, you may act first and report later!"

"I will grant you a certain degree of protection. But if you abuse my protection and cause trouble, the first person I kill will be you."

After casting Luo Yan a meaningful look, the cold-faced captain left.

Soon.

The convoy reached the surface.

One of Di Zheng's guards drove Luo Yan to the Academy.

Before long.

They arrived at the Academy.

Many new students were gathered outside the gates of the Hundred Battles Mecha Training Academy.

They were lining up to register and enter.

But Luo Yan's vehicle drove straight inside.

After entering through the school gates, Luo Yan saw a Stone Tablet bearing four powerful characters.

They read: Sword Points to the South!

A murderous aura seemed to seep from the characters.

At last, the vehicle stopped outside an Assembly Hall.

Warrior Little Li said, "Go inside first. I'll take Commander Di's letter of recommendation to the Academic Affairs Office, then come right back."

"All right." Luo Yan nodded, got out of the vehicle alone, and entered the hall by himself.

Quite a few people were already inside.

Most were teenagers of seventeen or eighteen.

There were more males, while the girls were relatively few.

Luo Yan looked around and instinctively wanted to find a corner to wait in.

"Move. You're in the way!"

Suddenly, a gust of wind rose behind his head.

He instinctively dodged to the side.

He avoided a large hand reaching to shove his head.

Luo Yan instinctively caught the hand and was about to twist it off.

But remembering Di Zheng's words, he changed the twist into a push.

The burly, heavyset figure fell flat on his face.

Bang!

The sound drew everyone's attention.

One after another, eyes snapped toward them.

First, they landed on the person lying on the floor.

Then they shifted to Luo Yan.

Soft exclamations followed.

Every new student in the Assembly Hall was dressed appropriately, cleanly, and neatly.

But Luo Yan.

He was still wearing his own tattered clothes.

At that moment, the man on the ground let out a roar and got to his feet.

He was a head taller than Luo Yan, with thick, round arms, though he looked chubby rather than muscular.

His forehead had been knocked open and was bleeding.

He was furious.

"Where did this savage come from? How did you get in here?"

"You even dared to throw me down. Are you looking to die?"

Luo Yan remembered Captain Di Zheng's warning and did not want to cause trouble.

So he said, "I'm a new student."

"You attacked first, so I threw you."

His answer was brief, sparing every word.

The fat, burly young man felt as though he had been scorned.

He was furious at first, but when he suddenly saw Luo Yan's red pupils, he staggered back three steps.

His voice turned shrill as he cried, "Red Poison! You've contracted Red Poison! Don't come over here! Stay away from me!"

The Assembly Hall instantly erupted into chaos.

The new students retreated one after another, as though Luo Yan were a flood or savage beast.

The fat man shouted again, "Guards? Gatekeepers?"

"Where have they all gone? Hurry up and drive this bastard out!"

At that moment, a dignified voice rang out.

"Silence."

Everyone looked over and saw a middle-aged man who looked like a teacher approaching with an armored warrior.

The teacher glanced at Luo Yan and calmly said, "This is the new student recommended by Captain Di Zheng. Who wants to drive him away?"

The fat man immediately lowered his head.

The teacher continued, "Besides, Red Poison cannot be transmitted from person to person. What are you afraid of?"

"You're even afraid of Red Poison, yet you expect to go to the surface and fight giant beasts?"

"What a joke!"

At those words, everyone flushed with embarrassment.

Then he took out a magnetic card and handed it to Luo Yan. "This is your registration card. If you pass the exam, it will become your student card."

He then looked around and said, "Get yourselves ready. The exam will begin in ten minutes."

"The test is to kill a Wolf Tick. The principal will announce the specific rules later."

With that, the teacher left.

The Assembly Hall immediately filled with complaints about how difficult it was.

Only Luo Yan found it strange.

It was just a Wolf Tick. Was it really that difficult?

As long as they did not move in packs, a single one of those things was not hard to kill.

Warrior Little Li came over with a smile. "I'm heading back first. Here, this has my number in it."

"If you need anything, contact me."

He handed Luo Yan a phone.

Luo Yan was surprised.

Little Li smiled. "This thing only works inside the city. It's useless outside."

Then he lowered his voice and said, "I just saw the list of this year's new students. There's someone called Luo Beichen on it. You need to watch out for him."

"His father is a mortal enemy of our Commander Di. That boy from the Luo family relies on his family's power and looks down on everyone. There's nothing he wouldn't do."

"If he passes the Academy Exam, you need to be extra careful."

After patting Luo Yan on the shoulder in encouragement, he left.

Luo Yan put away the phone. Just then, he heard quite a few whispers.

"Who is that guy? He actually got recommended by Commander Di."

"I'm so jealous. You should know that this year's written exam was insanely difficult. Just the written exam eliminated nearly eighty percent of the new students, yet that guy went straight into the Academy Exam."

"Could he be Commander Di's illegitimate son?"

"Shh! Do you want to die?"

Luo Yan remained unmoved.

He looked around and spotted the fat man.

He walked toward him.

The fat man was about to use something to wipe away the blood. When he saw Luo Yan approaching, he jumped in fright. "What are you trying to do?"

Luo Yan ignored him.

Rip.

He tore off a section of his own sleeve, pulled the fat man over, and used it to wipe the blood from his face.

The fat man froze for a moment.

He did not understand what was happening.

After wiping away the blood, Luo Yan left.

After a while, the fat man chuckled to the people beside him. "That boy may be savage, but he knows when he's in the wrong. He even took the initiative to wipe my blood away."

Before long, a somewhat aged voice rang out in the Assembly Hall.

"Hello, new students."

"I'm your principal, Pan Renfeng."

"The Academy Exam is about to begin."

"I'll now announce the rules."

"New students taking the Academy Exam may participate alone or form a team."

"A team may not have more than three members."

"In addition, weapons are available for everyone to choose from at the examination grounds."

"During the exam, the judges will grade your performance. An average score above eighty points will count as a pass."

"Those who pass will have their scores converted into Credit Points at a one-to-one rate, serving as your initial funds after entering the academy."

"Now, please follow the teachers at the venue to the examination grounds."

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the examination grounds.

The students were given ten minutes to decide what weapon to use and how they would take the exam.

As Luo Yan looked at a row of weapon racks, a voice said, "Hello. Would you like to team up with me?"

Luo Yan turned around.

A young man of about seventeen or eighteen stood before him.

He had black hair and a slightly slender build.

He wore rimless glasses, giving him an overall clean, scholarly air.

He extended his hand and smiled. "My name is Li Bohang."

Luo Yan glanced at him, shook his head, and walked toward the weapon racks.

He was used to acting alone.

Forming a temporary team would only get in his way.

Besides, it was only a Wolf Tick.

He chose a spear from the weapon rack.

It was very ordinary.

Its advantages were that it was long enough and sharp enough.

Most people chose firearms.

Luo Yan had only handled an automatic pistol before, and he was not proficient with it.

Naturally, he did not follow the crowd and choose a gun.

Besides, he already had a plan.

After registering, receiving his number, and completing the rest of the procedures, the exam began shortly afterward.

The students whose numbers were called entered a sealed arena.

There were no windows in the arena, so the students outside could not see what was happening inside.

Only the judges and students who had completed the exam could watch it on the large screen in another Assembly Hall.

One student after another entered the arena.

When they came out,

some cheered, while others wailed.

Some were even carried out covered in blood and sent for emergency treatment.

Soon, it was Luo Yan's turn.

In the Assembly Hall behind the examination grounds, the fat man whom Luo Yan had thrown down earlier was resting.

When he saw Luo Yan appear on the large screen, he could not help taking a few more looks.

Suddenly, he saw Luo Yan take a piece of cloth from his pocket.

The scrap was covered in bloodstains.

The fat man abruptly remembered that it was the half-sleeve Luo Yan had used to wipe his blood.

The fat man was bewildered.

He could not understand what Luo Yan was doing.

Inside the arena, Luo Yan tied the bloodstained sleeve to the tip of his spear, then nodded at the invigilating teacher.

Soon, a Wolf Tick was released.

The giant beast parasite, the size of a wolfhound, charged at Luo Yan like a mad beast the moment it entered the arena.

When it drew close, it leaped with all its might, rising three feet off the ground as it slammed into the spearhead.

The impact made Luo Yan's feet slide backward, but he still held the spear firmly against the collision.

However, the Wolf Tick had impaled its own body.

It struggled desperately.

But its movements gradually weakened.

In the end, it stopped breathing.

On the screen, Luo Yan lowered his spear and turned to leave.

The Assembly Hall fell silent.

The entire process

had taken less than ten seconds.

Moreover, rather than saying that Luo Yan had killed the Wolf Tick,

it would be more accurate to say that the creature had charged forward to its own death.

This...

"I see."

"Wolf Ticks go berserk when they smell blood and lose all reason."

"He used the bloodstained cloth as bait, luring the Wolf Tick into charging straight into the trap."

"Impressive."

"Brilliant."

The fat man turned his head and found a tall, slender young man wearing rimless glasses standing beside him.

He had revealed the secret behind Luo Yan's victory,

solving the doubt in the fat man's heart.

But...

The muscles on the fat man's face twitched.

"Wait, that boy wiped my blood away for me."

"He wasn't admitting that he had done something wrong."

"He was using my blood to fish for Wolf Ticks?"