Harvest, and "Tang Monk Meat"

"The more I look at them, the more I can't stand them. A bunch of trash that isn't even worth as much as trash!"

In the dim, reddish-yellow light of the empty corridor, the trio of teaching assistants walked side by side.

The Otaku on the far left suddenly spoke up, "Look at them. Xiong Ba, you just lectured them about unity, unity! Hmph, look at that—was that what you call unity? What a joke. In my opinion, this Class 04 of Season 12 will likely be erased before long."

Xiong Ba said indifferently, "What does that have to do with us? After this week is over, we probably won't even have a chance to see them again. Or perhaps we'll die, or they'll die—who knows? Stop holding a grudge because they ruined the seniors' 'assessment.' You're just making yourself miserable by stewing over it."

Ji Wen added, "Xiong Ba is right. Otaku, just let that matter go. Didn't Senior Chong Ming say he'd give us two chances? Besides, what the seniors said last time... we should take these few days to prepare properly... Sigh!"

The Otaku let out a heavy breath, seemingly letting go of the knot in his heart, and said with a bitter smile, "I originally thought we'd only have to deal with 'joint exams' with other classes... I never expected... this damn 'University,' is it really trying to play us to death? I finally understand now why there are so many 'ultimate rewards'..."

"Don't worry," Xiong Ba said. "Aren't there still the juniors and seniors in their third year? Besides, based on past experience, the 'Headmaster' won't issue a mission that is absolutely impossible to survive. It all depends on how we find a way to live in the cracks. Also, I believe Senior Chong Ming and the others won't truly abandon us; after all, we are on their side..."

"Hey? Xiong Ba, tell me, who is more powerful—Senior Chong Ming or 'that person'?" the Otaku suddenly asked. "I heard some gossip that Senior Chong Ming and 'that person' used to be very close friends. It seems it was because of Senior Kong Ming that..."

Slap!!

Ji Wen fiercely slapped the Otaku on the shoulder, then looked around like a thief before saying viciously, "Do you have a death wish, daring to gossip about the seniors behind their backs?! If you want to die, I won't stop you—go ahead and die—but don't drag us down with you!" She then gritted her teeth and whispered, "Is 'that person'... someone we can even talk about?!"

Xiong Ba also nodded with a serious expression, saying, "Ji Wen is right. Otaku, put away your god of gossip; don't get us all killed... let's just focus on ourselves!"

The Otaku muttered a few times, "Fine, fine, I won't say it, I won't say it. I apologize. Let's go, let's go, let's go eat. Seeing those zombies again really ruined my appetite. Honestly, the 'Headmaster' is really coddling these rookies... Alright, alright, stop looking at me, I'll stop complaining, okay? I'm in a bad mood today, so this meal is on me! Just thinking about the elf girl's cooking makes my mouth water. Let's drink to our hearts' content today..."

As they spoke, the trio's backs disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Inside the classroom of Class 04 of Season 12.

Watching the trio of teaching assistants leave the room, the 30 men and women all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Then, the classroom, which had been quiet enough to hear a pin drop, instantly became noisy.

Some were crying, some were cursing, some were silent in deep thought—everyone was doing something different.

At this moment, Wei Ming dragged his chair over and asked Yin Kuang and Li Shuangmu, "What is going on with you two? You were fine before, so why did you start fighting the moment you saw each other? You didn't even hold back. Is there anything that can't be settled by sitting down and talking?"

Yin Kuang glanced coldly at Li Shuangmu and said, "I have nothing to say to him! Wei Ming, don't get involved in this; you wouldn't understand anyway. In any case, just be careful yourself..."

After saying this, Yin Kuang seemed unwilling to talk further. He touched the watch on his wrist and opened his Information Interface to look at it.

Only now did Yin Kuang have a real chance to see what changes had occurred after being modified by the G-Virus...

"That's exactly what I wanted to say."

Li Shuangmu said coldly, then touched the ring on his hand, seemingly summoning his own attribute panel. He looked at it carefully, and as he read, his expression grew grave...

Wei Ming looked at Yin Kuang, then at Li Shuangmu, sighed heavily, and asked Wang Ning, "Wang Ning, what happened later? How did they end up like enemies?"

Wang Ning shook his head helplessly and said, "It's complicated, and I can't explain it clearly. However, I think this is their business, and we outsiders shouldn't get involved. Otherwise, we'll end up being the bad guys on both sides. You should worry about yourself. You died as soon as you entered, so you barely earned any credits in this 'Entrance Exam.' We can't give you too many, as we need them too."

Wei Ming's face darkened as he said, "What else can I do? I can only exchange for some cheap but practical items first. I'll find a way to get more credits next time. Next time, I definitely won't make that kind of low-level mistake again. I was so stupid back there, trying to act noble for no reason."

Wang Ning smiled and didn't say anything more. He opened his own attribute panel and began to look through it, his expression also becoming very grave.

However, just as everyone was busy with their own affairs, a dazzling pillar of white light suddenly appeared out of thin air in the classroom, enveloping a male student entirely. The bright and intense white light blocked everyone's line of sight, preventing them from seeing what was happening inside.

"Whoa!!"

This sudden change immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. A pillar of light just appeared out of nowhere!"

"I know, he must have exchanged for something..."

"Sigh, I'm so envious. If only I hadn't died back then..."

"..."

"..."

The crowd began to chatter, all casting looks of envy and jealousy toward the pillar of light, curious about what powerful ability or bloodline he had exchanged for.

After a full five minutes, the pillar of light began to fade and thin out, gradually revealing the male student inside, and the light finally dissipated like smoke.

"Haha! Hahaha! This is so powerful! Am I dreaming!?" The male student shouted as if he had won a fifty-million-dollar lottery, laughing loudly, "I feel strength all over my body! This feeling is just too great, haha!! So cool! Yahoo!!"

"Hey, buddy, what exactly did you exchange for?"

A curious person nearby asked.

"Why should I tell you?" The male student raised his head, puffed out his chest, and said loudly, "If you've got the ability, go exchange for it yourself! Asking so many questions, what's your problem?" He looked incredibly arrogant, completely acting as if he didn't put anyone in his eyes.

The man was stunned for a moment, "Damn! You think you're something? If you're so capable, why don't you go show off in front of the teaching assistants? Damn it! Acting tough in front of me, what the hell is that for?"

Clearly, this person didn't have a good temper either.

The male student who had exchanged for the ability turned bright red, slammed the table, and cursed, "Little bastard! You want to say that again? Do you believe I'll slaughter you?!"

"Come on then!? I'm standing right here. If you've got the guts, try it?" The man stood tall, pointing at his own chest.

"You asked for this!!"

The boy gave a cruel, mocking laugh, then suddenly extended his hand with his fingers shaped into a "six" gesture. A shimmering beam of light shot from his wrist, and before everyone's eyes, a massive spiderweb enveloped the man, wrapping him tightly like a dumpling. The next moment, the boy flung him away, and he slammed hard against the blackboard!

This time, there was no "Jelly Wall" to cushion the blow; the man hit the board squarely and fell to the ground, wailing in agony as if every bone in his body had been shattered.

"Spider-Man!?"

Seeing the boy shoot a spiderweb from his hand, the crowd gasped in shock. The looks they directed at him became a mix of extreme envy and jealousy—and, of course, fear.

Wasn't the ability to shoot a spiderweb from one's hand exactly like Peter Parker from the Spider-Man movies?

General introduction as follows:

Bloodline: Spider-Man.

Rank: Freshman Passing.

Price: 500 Study Points, 1 F-rank Evaluation.

Upgrade: Freshman Good, 1000 Study Points, 2 F-rank Evaluations.

Stats: Health +10, Energy +5. Strength +3, Agility +4, Dexterity +4, Defense +3, Perception +5. Skills: Primary Spider Sense, Primary Tough Web-Shooting, Primary Wall-Crawling.

The boy who had exchanged for the Spider-Man bloodline laughed triumphantly, "Dare to provoke me? Hmph! You're just asking for death. Everyone, my name is Tang Zhaotian; you can call me Brother Tian from now on. Since we're all in the same class, we're classmates and peers. If you have any trouble in the future, I certainly won't ignore it. The teaching assistant just said we're all in Class One, so we should be united. As for you..."

Tang Zhaotian pointed at the man on the ground whom he had just thrown, saying, "Hmph, I don't want to hold a grudge against you. We can consider this a case of not knowing each other without a fight. By the way, what's your name?"

"I... Brother Tian," the man, clearly terrified by the beating, replied honestly, "My name is Lai... Lai Xiaolong..."

"Get up. Remember to be polite when you speak in the future, understand?" Tang Zhaotian walked over and pulled him up, acting every bit the elder lecturing a junior.

Lai Xiaolong could only nod timidly. Though his heart was filled with resentment and unwillingness, what else could he do?

Seeing this, most of the others looked at "Spider-Man" Tang Zhaotian with envy. Tang Zhaotian seemed to revel in it, his face wearing a proud expression; he looked as if he were trying hard to suppress a laugh, yet desperately wanted to burst out loud, a sight that was truly grating to watch.

Of course, a small minority didn't care about him at all and continued with their own business.

For instance, Yin Kuang, Li Shuangmu, Wang Ning, Zeng Fei, and others, as well as a tall girl whom the girls on either side of her called "Big Sister," and the pair of rivals Zhang Yaozong and Du Fang, who were bickering and on the verge of another fight. For various reasons, there were always some people who remained immersed in their own worlds.

At this moment, Yin Kuang was staring wide-eyed at his own attribute panel.

General stats as follows:

Name: Yin Kuang

Lifespan: 34 years

Health: 15+20=35 points

Energy: 11+10=21 points

Intelligence: 7+1=8

Strength: 3+7=10

Agility: 5+7=11

Dexterity: 5+7=12

Defense: 2+7=9

Perception: 6+7=13

Charisma: 4+10=14

The added values were the result of the G-Virus enhancement. Except for Intelligence, which only increased by 1 point, Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Defense, and Perception all increased by 7 points. Health increased by 20, and Energy by 10. As for Charisma, it increased by a staggering 10 points! Yin Kuang wondered, could it be that because he had become younger, he had become better looking, thus increasing his Charisma?

Additionally, in the center of the octagonal umbrella-shaped Information Interface, there was a holographic "Little Yin Kuang" figure, and the following information had appeared:

Character Enhancement--

Bloodline Enhancement: "G-Mutation Enhancement" (a name Yin Kuang gave it himself).

Bloodline Rank: Freshman Passing.

Enhancement Description: One of the millions of unpredictable mutations resulting from the injection of a semi-finished G-Virus; a new, unknown bloodline enhancement. Further details must be explored by the enhanced individual.

Bloodline Effects: Freshman G-Mutation Enhancement, +20 Health, +10 Energy, +1 Intelligence, +7 to Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Defense, and Perception, +10 Charisma.

Awakened Bloodline Skill: Dual eyes possess highly sensitive, strange vision; consumes Energy during use.

Awakened Bloodline Skill: G-Body Alienation Form. This form doubles your Health, Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Defense, and Perception. Energy is continuously consumed; once depleted, you revert to your original form and fall into a state of weakness.

Bloodline Evaluation: The G-Virus is a miraculous substance; it has completely altered your body, and you possess immense evolutionary potential... So, child, be grateful for the heavens' favor, and may you always keep your good luck.

Strong Recommendation: Use your own genes as a template to cultivate a finished G-Virus and inject it into your body to perfect the G-Mutation Enhancement!!

Extra Tip: This enhancement is a new bloodline type and cannot be upgraded through exchange; rank advancement must be explored by the enhanced individual.

Beyond this, he still had 770 (100+150+200+500+100-100-180=770) Study Points, 4 Comprehensive Evaluations, and 1 F-rank Evaluation. Although not much, it should be enough if he was frugal.

After reviewing all this, Yin Kuang felt that although his "Entrance Exam" had been full of twists and turns, all things considered, he had come out ahead.

He had lost the T-Virus, but gained the G-Virus. Even if it was only a semi-finished version, he had truly become much stronger!

Strength meant his capital for survival had become that much more substantial!

The only regret was that his "Special Skill"—Mystic Protection—had been inexplicably stripped away by the "Headmaster," and would not be returned for another 5 exam scenarios. What was this all about? Although Yin Kuang hadn't felt much about the existence of the "Mystic Protection" skill, being stripped of it for no reason was still quite infuriating!

At this moment, although Yin Kuang didn't know exactly how powerful Wang Ning had become after obtaining the T-Virus, he was at least confident in his ability to protect himself. As long as he used his head, Yin Kuang was certain he would be able to settle the score with Wang Ning properly!

However, the only thing that troubled Yin Kuang was that his lifespan remained stubbornly fixed at 34 years! Yin Kuang actually wanted to ask those teaching assistants what the standard for setting "lifespan" was, and why some people lived long lives while he was cursed with such a short one!

As he pondered, a thought suddenly flashed through Yin Kuang's mind: "If lifespan can be reduced, does that mean it can also be increased?"

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible! Thus, Yin Kuang hurriedly recited "Headmaster" in his heart to pose his question. The next moment, the Headmaster's androgynous voice rang in Yin Kuang's ears.

"Notification: Your clearance is insufficient to obtain the answer."

"Notification: You may search the exchange interface to see if you can find it."

"Exchange interface?"

With a thought from Yin Kuang, a light screen rose from the desk.

It was the same four major categories of the "exchange menu": Equipment, Bloodline, Legendary, and Auxiliary.

Yin Kuang thought for a moment and finally opened the "Legendary" category. He didn't even glance at the "Cultivation Techniques," "Magic Scrolls," or "Divine Weapons." With his brain, he knew without thinking that he couldn't afford those, and since he couldn't use them anyway, why torture himself by coveting them?

He clicked directly on "Spirit Herbs and Oddities" and kept his eyes peeled for anything with the word "lifespan," skipping over anything that didn't have it.

"Name: Water of Life."

"Rating: Rare."

"Effect: 1 year of lifespan / 1 drop. (One of the effects)"

"Price: 1,000 Study Points + 1 F-grade evaluation / 1 drop."

"Evaluation: This is the gift of the Tree of Life to the Elven race."

"Name: God-Bestowed Holy Water."

"Rating: Rare."

"Effect: 10 years of lifespan / 1 bottle. (One of the effects)"

"Price: 10,000 Study Points + 1 B-grade evaluation / 1 bottle."

"Evaluation: This bottle of water contains the intense love of the Father and the benevolent light of the Lord."

"Name: Nine-Turn Nine-Orifice Creation Pill."

"Rating: Rare."

"Effect: 20 years of lifespan / 1 pill. (One of the effects)"

"Price: 20,000 Study Points + 1 S-grade evaluation / 1 pill."

"Evaluation: The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, once tasted this pill; it is said to be apple-flavored."

The further he read, the uglier Yin Kuang's expression became. He had the urge to smash the table. "This... is this something a human can afford?! Headmaster, if you want me dead, just say so! Can't you just be straightforward?!"

Just as Yin Kuang was about to actually smash the table, his eyes suddenly lit up—but the next moment, he really did lift the table and slammed it violently onto the ground. "Screw you! Damn you, Headmaster!!"

Then, he stormed out of the classroom in a huff, leaving everyone stunned.

What had he seen?!

"Name: Tang Monk Meat."

"Rating: Unique."

"Effect: Eternal life, immortality, and eternal youth / 1 piece. (Unique effect)"

"Price: If you want it, it's yours for free."

"Evaluation: Do you know why the Tang Monk had to endure eighty-one tribulations to retrieve the scriptures? Because his meat is simply too fragrant, and it is said to be good for beauty."

"Warning: The Tang Monk is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, the head disciple under Tathagata Buddha, and possesses supreme merit and Buddhist dharma. If you eat his meat, you will indeed gain an immortal body, but the immeasurable merit on the Tang Monk will be converted into infinite karma, acting upon you. You will lose everything you possess. In the endless years to come, you will suffer infinite and boundless evil consequences. Use with caution, use with caution!"

Ask yourself, when hope suddenly descends and is even "given for free," only for you to be plunged into an abyss of despair the very next moment... ask yourself, how could Yin Kuang not be angry enough to smash the table?!