Assessment Rules

Soon, the old man nodded to the people beside him. One of the academy teachers bowed respectfully to him, then walked to the front of the line.

The man looked to be in his forties, just past middle age. His immaculate black robe was pristine, and his voice was rich and resonant.

Unlike when he had faced the old man, the black-robed teacher showed no humility now. As he looked at the new students gathered there, confidence shone in his eyes.

"Being here doesn't mean you're especially outstanding. It only proves that you have an opportunity others don't. Because... the most crucial test is still waiting for you."

The middle-aged teacher's voice echoed across the plaza. Beyond that, all was silent.

No one who had made it here was a fool. They already knew the rules for admission, and no one would challenge the authority of Spirit Hall Academy at a time like this.

"My name is Matthew, and I'm the dean of academic affairs at Spirit Hall Academy. Today, I'll explain the rules of the assessment."

As Matthew finished speaking, the atmosphere grew even quieter.

The dean of academic affairs at Spirit Hall Academy held a rank equivalent to that of a White-Robed Bishop. The vice dean and dean above him were equivalent to Martial Soul Hall Elders, each possessing the strength of a Titled Douluo.

Mu Qian and Zhu Zhuqing listened just as attentively. The final assessment was held in Death Canyon every year, but its content varied, changing each time.

No matter how strong they were, understanding the rules was the most basic part of passing the assessment.

Matthew's gaze swept over the crowd, and an imposing aura radiated from him. "This year's entrance assessment will use a points system."

"A total of five thousand one hundred and three people passed the preliminary test and the subsequent assessments."

"First, you'll be grouped according to your cultivation. You'll be divided into groups of five, making a total of one thousand and twenty-one groups. The person with the highest Soul Power Level in each group will be its leader."

Mu Qian frowned to himself. This was something Spirit Hall Academy had never included in an assessment before.

Five thousand one hundred and three people, divided into one thousand and twenty-one groups...

That meant three people would be left over, forming an incomplete group.

Although the dean hadn't finished explaining the rules, nearly everyone understood one basic fact: larger groups had an advantage.

Of course, that wasn't always the case. A larger group could bring all sorts of problems, and they would have to consider how much effort each person contributed and how to divide the rewards.

But Mu Qian and Zhu Zhuqing didn't need to worry about any of that. Their strength was enough to pass the assessment even if they acted alone.

At the front of the plaza, Matthew continued speaking at length. "In the end, the five hundred people with the most points will pass the assessment and become this year's new students at Spirit Hall Academy."

"Distribute the items."

At his command, the senior students behind him sprang into action.

They moved with incredible speed, flashing past the crowd. Each person they passed found a silver bracelet in front of them, making the distribution far more efficient.

Mu Qian took the bracelet hovering in midair and turned it over in his hand. He released a trace of Spiritual Power and quickly figured out what it did.

It was a simple Soul Tool. It couldn't store items, but it could scan Spirit Beasts to determine their age and record it.

Even so, a Soul Tool like this was valuable.

More importantly, the techniques for making Soul Tools had been lost, so nearly every one was unique.

It was clear that Spirit Hall had spared no expense on this entrance assessment.

Once the items had been distributed, Dean Matthew didn't waste any more time. "Everyone has received one, right? Each of you now has a Soul Tool capable of recording the age of Spirit Beasts."

"That brings us to how you'll earn points. Every time you kill a Spirit Beast, use the Soul Tool to absorb the Spirit Ring it produces. It will then record the corresponding number of points."

"Spirit Beasts of different ages are worth different numbers of points. That is the content of this year's entrance assessment."

He didn't need to explain further. Everyone present had already understood.

The so-called entrance assessment meant sending them into Death Canyon to earn the points needed to pass by hunting those terrifying Spirit Beasts.

But out of more than five thousand people, only five hundred would make it through.

Everyone felt the cruelty of the competition settling over them.

Matthew paused, then continued with a knowing smile. "There's one more thing I need to remind you of."

"The points on each Soul Tool can be transferred between them. In other words, you can trade points or obtain someone else's through other means. The academy will only care about the final result."

"The assessment will last one month. The final day is the day points are tallied, and you must arrive at the designated meeting point on time. Anyone who fails to show up will be eliminated."

At that, the plaza could no longer remain quiet. The new students gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.

Some were excited, others uneasy. This rule might seem simple, but it concealed turbulent currents beneath the surface.

Mu Qian was similarly shaken. He murmured, "Only five hundred out of more than five thousand will be chosen. The pass rate is less than one in ten... And with the rules they just added, isn't this basically a battle royale?"

"No wonder Spirit Hall Academy has won the tournament so many times in a row."

"Although its admission requirements are more lenient than Shrek's, this final entrance assessment raises the bar to a terrifying degree."

Under these circumstances, anyone who passed the assessment and entered the academy would be one of the most outstanding geniuses among their peers.

Mu Qian felt her hand clasp his tightly. He turned to meet Zhu Zhuqing's eyes and reminded her, "Zhuqing, it looks like we won't just have to focus on hunting Spirit Beasts. We'll also have to stay alert for hostility from the other new students."

"There are five thousand of us, and every person is a competitor—even if they're assigned to the same group."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, looking somewhat uneasy. "A-Mu, what if we don't end up in the same group?"

She wasn't worried that her own strength would be insufficient to pass. She simply didn't want to be separated from Mu Qian.

Mu Qian relaxed and patted the back of her hand, reassuring her. "Don't worry. He said we'd be split into groups, but he never said that group members had to travel together."

"Every person is a competitor, even the people in your own group. If we're assigned to different groups, there's nothing stopping us from acting alone."

At Mu Qian's explanation, Zhu Zhuqing's worries finally eased.

"Now I'll announce the group assignments!" Matthew paid no attention to what the new students thought. His task today was simply to explain the rules for the first stage.

Only after these new students passed the assessment and entered the academy would they be of interest to him. For now, someone else would handle what came next.