Two hours later, the Academy Exam ended.
The broadcast began.
"The Academy Exam results are out."
"This assessment had 68 freshmen with an average score above 80."
"Next, we will announce the passing list and scores."
"Students whose names are called, please return to the Assembly Hall."
"Those whose names are not called, please continue working hard."
"We will now announce the list. The rankings are not in any particular order."
"Li Zhe, 81 points, passed!"
"Xiao Yuan, 85 points, passed!"
"Zeng Shan, 87 points, passed!"
Luo Yan perked up his ears and listened intently to the broadcast.
Beside him, the students whose names had been called were all extremely excited.
For example, a tall male student named Zeng Shan was so happy that his eyes reddened. He raised his arms and cheered.
He drew quite a few sidelong glances.
Some people were more composed and mature.
For example, there was Li Bohang, who wore glasses and was tall, slender, and neat.
There was also a young man who was outstanding, yet gave off an overall gloomy impression.
There were quite a few "followers" around him.
"Luo Beichen, 91 points, passed!"
When the broadcast called this name, many people around the gloomy young man began cheering.
"Congratulations, Brother Luo! Ninety-one points—that score is truly incredible!"
"Exactly. In my opinion, Brother Luo is definitely first among this batch of freshmen!"
So this was "Luo Beichen"!
The son of Luo Tianyi!
When Luo Yan looked over, the gloomy young man also turned his gaze toward him.
Their gazes met in the air.
Luo Beichen smiled faintly.
As a gesture of goodwill.
But when Luo Yan shifted his gaze away, another kind of meaning flashed through Luo Beichen's eyes.
At that moment, the broadcast sounded again. "Li Bohang, 92 points, passed!"
Luo Beichen's smile immediately stiffened.
The followers beside him were also stunned.
Was this slap in the face not coming a little too quickly?
However, it was not over yet.
"Lin Wei, 95 points, passed!"
Ninety-five points!
The students instantly erupted.
That score was far too high.
Moreover, judging from the name, it was clearly a girl.
However, just as the students were searching for Lin Wei—
The broadcast rang out again. "Luo Yan, 98 points, passed!"
At that moment—
There was no expression left on Luo Beichen's face.
The entire venue had fallen deathly silent.
Ninety-eight points!
With a perfect score of one hundred, someone had actually scored 98.
Had the examiner entered the wrong score?
The students' bewildered, shocked, and doubtful expressions—
Were all noticed by an old man.
Academy, Principal's Office.
Principal Pan Renfeng chuckled. "The little wolf cub recommended by Di Zheng truly is no ordinary person. His survival experience on the surface is completely beyond anything those boys from the Undercity can compare with."
At that moment, the image on the screen had already frozen on Luo Yan.
The old principal was in his early sixties. He was short, and his white hair was tied into a small braid.
Behind him—
The teacher who had previously announced Luo Yan's identity in the Assembly Hall said gravely, "Principal, are you really planning to take in this student?"
"Di Zheng said so himself."
"On the way, a mech pilot threatened him, and he set a trap to kill that person."
"This could be a ticking time bomb."
Pan Renfeng chuckled. "What's there to worry about? I was even more ruthless than him when I was young."
"Or are you saying our Teacher Wei Fenghua is afraid?"
"Afraid of getting into trouble?"
The middle-aged teacher coughed several times before saying, "Principal, you don't have to provoke me."
"As long as you dare take him in, I'll teach this student."
"Giant Beast Invasion, Yanfu's emergence."
"We do indeed need some boys ruthless and vicious enough."
"Only then will we have hope of taking back the surface and reclaiming our homeland from those beasts' claws."
Pan Renfeng nodded slightly. "That was my consideration as well."
"Besides, Di Zheng said so himself."
"This wolf cub still has principles."
"Of the two who died, both were the ones who first harbored malicious intentions toward him."
"Otherwise, if he had simply killed innocents indiscriminately—"
"Even if he were an Innate Resonator, Di Zheng would never have let him live until now, much less brought him back to Guangling."
"Teach him well, Teacher Wei."
Wei Fenghua straightened his glasses, which had a fine crack in them. "I will."
After the names of all 68 students had been announced one after another, those who passed headed for the Assembly Hall.
Those who had failed returned regretfully.
Luo Yan walked among the crowd.
He stayed at the edge.
As usual, he maintained a state in which he could escape at any moment.
Three years on the surface—
Even this seemingly safe campus could not change the habits Luo Yan had developed.
Assembly Hall.
Luo Yan saw Wei Fenghua.
With his hands behind his back, Wei Fenghua looked around.
"My name is Wei Fenghua."
"I'm the Director of Academic Affairs."
"First, congratulations on successfully passing the assessment."
"From this moment onward, you are Reserve Mech Pilots of Guangling City, and will enjoy Fourth-Rank Treatment."
Cheers erupted from all around.
Many people were so excited that their eyes reddened.
Luo Yan did not know what Fourth-Rank Treatment meant.
But judging by the excitement of the students around him, it should be quite good.
Wei Fenghua continued, "Next, dormitories will be assigned to you according to your scores."
"You're all tired today."
"Return to your dormitories and rest well. Classes will officially begin tomorrow."
Wei Fenghua paused, then continued, "Your Academy Exam scores have already been converted into Credit Points. Credit Points can be exchanged for various supplies at the Logistics Department."
"In the future, excellent results in your studies will also be rewarded in the form of Credit Points."
"That is all I have to say."
After finishing his speech, Wei Fenghua glanced at Luo Yan before leaving the Assembly Hall.
After Wei Fenghua left, a female teacher stepped forward.
"Before heading to your dormitories, the Academy needs to collect everyone's physical data for a fitness assessment."
"It won't take up too much of your time."
"Students whose names are called, please head over there."
The teacher pointed toward a device resembling an airport security gate.
"Zheng Rui..."
"Liu Bing..."
"Chen Yongsong..."
One student after another lined up and passed through the Check Gate. Beside it, staff members entered their information on tablet computers.
When it was Luo Yan's turn, he walked through the Check Gate.
The light atop the gate suddenly lit up.
"It seems to have malfunctioned."
"Student, please walk through again."
Luo Yan did as instructed.
The light on the Check Gate remained lit.
At that moment, the female teacher came over. "What happened?"
The staff member said uncertainly, "This student seems to have practiced a Visualization Technique."
"The data shows that his Primal Energy has already reached 97 Jun."
"That is a level attainable only after completing basic cultivation."
"Additionally..."
"His Heavenly Aperture is already in an awakened state. He has completed Aperture Opening and awakened his Divine Treasure."
"His Divine Treasure is... Qi Gazing Eyes."
In an instant—
Dozens of gazes inside the Assembly Hall—
Swish, swish, swish—
All fell upon Luo Yan.
Those gazes contained surprise, envy, and jealousy.
Every conceivable reaction was present.
Luo Yan had no idea what they were talking about.
However, the name "Qi Gazing Eyes" did fit his strange vision quite well.
Someone spoke up.
"There's nothing unusual about completing basic cultivation."
"Basic Visualization Technique is everywhere. In our city, anyone who can afford a basic Visualization Technique starts practicing before entering the Academy."
Another voice chimed in.
"Besides, Qi Gazing Eyes isn't some remarkable Divine Treasure. Pupil Technique belongs to the Hyper-Sense System."
"If I remember correctly, Qi Gazing Eyes is the most common and least conspicuous type even within the Hyper-Sense System."
The students began discussing it among themselves.
The envious and jealous gazes from earlier had eased considerably.
Hearing that Qi Gazing Eyes was extremely common, Luo Yan would have been lying if he said he was not disappointed.
Especially when the female teacher looked at him with a trace of pity.
That made Luo Yan feel even worse.
But he said nothing.
He comforted himself.
Although Qi Gazing Eyes was very common, Di Zheng had also said—
He was an Innate Resonator.
A person could not take every advantage for himself.
Where there were gains, there would be losses.
At that thought, his mind cleared again.
He no longer felt regretful.
After the "physical examination" ended.
Next, the dorm supervisor led the new students to the dormitories.
"Students who ranked among the top three in the Academy Exam can receive private rooms."
"But these rooms do not belong to you permanently."
"Every quarter, the Academy will assess and rank the students."
"Once your score drops, you will no longer be entitled to a private room. So those in the top three must stay vigilant."
"Students who are falling behind need not lose heart. As long as you work hard to improve, you will also have a chance to move into a private room."
The dorm supervisor spoke as he walked.
His words sparked a hint of rivalry among the students.
Soon, Luo Yan entered his room.
The private dormitory was for one person.
The bedroom and living room were combined into one space.
It had a private bathroom.
The environment was elegant, more than ten thousand times better than his former doghouse in the sewers.
But...
Luo Yan frowned and thought, The bed is too close to the window.
The window has no railing, and it reaches all the way to the floor. It would be very easy to come under attack.
There are no escape measures at all. If an accident occurred, the chance of survival would be almost zero.
Based on his three years of experience living on the surface,
aside from its better environment and larger size,
this dormitory was even less safe than his doghouse.
Thinking of this, he decided to go to the Logistics Department later.
He would see if he could exchange some Credit Points for materials and tools.
He could use them to reinforce his dormitory.
Just then,
a vast expanse of white light suddenly appeared before him.
The light silently drifted about, outlining a pattern resembling Taiji.
Before you continue