East Sea Science and Technology Park

Wang Jinxi hesitated for a long time before finally gathering his courage and stepping forward. "Teacher Wu, I've decided. I'll give up the chance to cultivate with Tang Wulin."

Wu Changkong looked at him. "Have you really thought this through?"

Wang Jinxi nodded forcefully. "Perhaps cultivating with Tang Wulin would bring me greater achievements in the future than cultivating with Yangzi, but those would only be my own achievements. Zhang Yangzi and I grew up together. We played together and cultivated together, like real brothers. I don't want to affect him because of my own reasons. Otherwise, no matter how great my future achievements were, I would never be at peace. So, I've decided to give up cultivating with Tang Wulin."

He paused, then looked at the classmates he had spent the past few months with, clearly struggling inside. Gathering his courage, he said, "Teacher Wu, thank you for teaching us this semester. Zhang Yangzi and I have decided to transfer away from here together. Tang Wulin's bloodline aura affects me far too strongly. Even if we don't cultivate together, I can still clearly feel that he has been influencing me all along. So, I've decided to leave."

Hearing that Wang Jinxi wanted to transfer schools, Tang Wulin looked at him anxiously. "I didn't know my influence on you was this great. I can stay farther away from you from now on. You don't have to transfer schools."

Wang Jinxi looked at Tang Wulin and shook his head. "Don't be silly, Wulin. This isn't your fault. The effects of bloodlines are subtle and gradual; neither of us can decide them on our own. Though we're leaving, it won't affect our friendship. We just won't be cultivating together anymore."

Then he turned to Wu Changkong. "Teacher Wu, we'll have to trouble you regarding the contract with the academy. I've discussed it with my father. Zhang Yangzi and I will compensate the academy with a sum of money for the resources we used this semester."

Wu Changkong remained as expressionless as ever. "Since you have already decided, I respect your choice. I'll speak with the academy about this afterward. As for the contract, have your families handle it properly. So, are you still coming with me to take today's Final Exam?"

Wang Jinxi shook his head, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Teacher Wu. In our current state, I'm afraid we can't take it. An Ping, Xie Xie, Wulin, Gu Yuena, do your best. Even though we're leaving, I believe we'll definitely meet again someday."

After saying that, Wang Jinxi lowered his head as though he had exhausted his last bit of strength. Tang Wulin rushed forward, hugged the two of them, and began sobbing uncontrollably.

"The exam will be held tomorrow." Seeing the scene before him, Wu Changkong tossed out those words and strode out of the classroom.

Gu Yuena looked at the few of them embracing, poked the calm-faced An Ping beside her, then pulled him toward the exit. "Don't you feel anything at all?"

An Ping said, "Feel anything? Does it count if I say that eight or nine things out of ten in life never go as one wishes?"

"Of course it counts. But how old are you? You're already talking about life? I think you're just heartless." Gu Yuena shoved An Ping irritably.

An Ping said speechlessly, "Didn't you ask what I felt?"

The next day, Wu Changkong led the remaining four members of Class Zero out of the academy. They took a Soul Tool Bus all the way to East Sea Science and Technology Park.

Tang Wulin asked quietly, "Do you know this place?"

Xie Xie said, "I've heard of it. Eastsea City's high-tech companies seem to all be gathered here. I heard there are even factories that manufacture mecha."

Wu Changkong seemed quite familiar with the place. Without saying a word, he led the way ahead. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie discussed mecha as they walked.

The park covered a vast area. Under Wu Changkong's lead, they walked for a full half hour before entering a smaller park within the main complex.

They did not stop until they reached a small dark-blue building. Its exterior had a mirror-like effect, making it appear as though it had been pieced together from sheets of glass.

Wu Changkong led them straight to the Gate and pressed his right hand against the dark-blue glass door. A blue glow flashed and vanished. A projection lit up on the glass door, and a teasing voice sounded. "Yo, long time no see, Eastsea Little Changkong."

Hearing the projection's voice, Xie Xie could not help laughing. But when he heard Wu Changkong snort coldly, he hastily held it in.

Wu Changkong said coldly, "Open the door!"

"Still as boring as ever." Accompanied by that helpless voice, there was a soft ding, and the glass doors slid apart to either side.

Upon entering the small building, they found themselves facing a white hall. The spotless hall was completely empty. As they entered, a circular platform floated over, carrying several metal wristbands.

"Put them on." Wu Changkong's words were as concise as ever.

They obediently put on the wristbands. Xie Xie could not help asking, "Teacher Wu, what are these for?"

Wu Changkong said, "Identification. Wearing them ensures that you won't be treated as enemies and destroyed by the Defense System."

"That sounds really high-tech." Xie Xie looked awed.

Wu Changkong said no more and led them farther inside. After winding through the building and passing several more glass doors, a flash of light appeared as they went through one of them, and he vanished.

Seeing Wu Changkong disappear, Xie Xie exclaimed, "Spatial Technology?"

"Forward." Hearing Wu Changkong's voice, the others, who had instinctively paused when he disappeared, stepped through the door as instructed.

With a single step, space shifted. One after another, they appeared in a dark-blue space. Dark-blue crystals covered both the ceiling and floor, while the walls were made of silvery-white metal.

Seeing their arrival, Wu Changkong ignored their curious looks and walked straight to one side of the wall. He summoned a Big Screen and a keyboard, then tapped rapidly on the keys as he operated it.

"Identity confirmed: Eastsea Little Changkong."

"Test difficulty: medium."

"Test participants: four."

"Ten-second countdown to entry."

"Ten!"

"Nine!"

"What's going on? Why did the countdown start right away?" Xie Xie cried out.

Wu Changkong said coldly, "If it didn't start immediately, how much time did you think you needed to prepare?"

With the sound of "Start," several beams of Blue Light descended from above and shone upon them. The Blue Light flashed, and they vanished without a trace.

An Ping only felt space fluctuate once more. In an instant, he had been transferred to another location. He appeared directly in midair. Silver Light flashed as he darted down to the ground, quietly waiting for the so-called trial to begin.

"Welcome to Hero Hall. Initial trial, intermediate difficulty. Name: An Ping. Age: ten."

"Test requirement, first round: hold out for thirty seconds."

As the electronic voice ended, a flash of light appeared, and a figure materialized directly in front of An Ping. It was a youth with dark-blue hair, a faint smile on his handsome face.