Song Chuan gazed up at the enormous, illusory light screen, his eyes shining.
Qin Zhixue had ranked first in the attack test, Wu Qingyang first in the support test, and Wang Yan first in elemental mastery...
And as for the top rank in defense, that belonged to him, Song Chuan.
Actually, Song Chuan knew a few things behind the scenes about today's ability tests.
The senior officials of Cloud Sea City would help the Class Changers who ranked first in each test form a team!
After all, this was the first time the Alliance had arranged a Special Assessment during the Grand Exam.
For the sake of the bigger picture, Cloud Sea City's senior officials would naturally have to put aside their differences and make sure the team representing Cloud Sea City was made up of the strongest candidates.
And now, Song Chuan had successfully made the cut.
He would very likely be teamed up with the SS-Rank Qin Zhixue and two S-Rank Class Changers, Wang Yan and Wu Qingyang!
The more he thought about it, the more excited Song Chuan became. He could barely keep the corners of his mouth from curling up.
After being rejected again and again when he tried to team up with Qin Zhixue, he had taken quite a blow.
"This test couldn't have come at a better time. It's absolutely perfect."
It was a double blessing.
At that moment, Song Chuan felt that his future was bright.
Meanwhile,
Chen Ming headed toward the testing platform.
All around him, one gaze after another fixed on him.
As for which two abilities Chen Ming had chosen to test...
There was no need to say more. He didn't even have to think about it.
At the foot of the platform, Chen Ming registered his information with a staff member.
Just then, he caught sight of a graceful figure coming down from another platform.
At the same time, a chorus of gasps rang out around him.
"Qin Zhixue's elemental mastery score surpassed Wang Yan's! She's taken first place!"
"Tsk, tsk, 900 points in light-element mastery!"
"Of course. In front of an SS-Rank class, even S-Ranks can only get thoroughly thrashed."
"I bet if she hadn't been allowed to test only two abilities, Qin Zhixue would've ranked first in everything!"
"Come on, man, that's a bit much. Her support abilities can't possibly be better than those of Wu Qingyang, an S-Rank Light Priest. At least let people specialize in what they're good at..."
"Speaking of which, why isn't Wu Qingyang teamed up with Qin Zhixue? They both wield the light element. They'd make a powerful team, right?"
"Because Wu Qingyang's in the Abyss Squad, and Qin Zhixue's in the Morning Light Squad."
"Tell us something we don't already know..."
"Hey, I actually have a bit of insider gossip. I heard a few of the principals in Cloud Sea City are thinking of merging the Morning Light Squad and the Abyss Squad."
Merging the Morning Light Squad and the Abyss Squad?
Hearing the comment from the crowd, Chen Ming paused briefly.
Then he shook his head and gave a faint, unconcerned laugh.
No one could dictate or arrange his choices.
They couldn't before, and they certainly couldn't now.
Chen Ming watched Qin Zhixue come down from the platform and walk straight toward him.
When she reached him, she got right to the point:
"Busy man, you stood me up all day yesterday. So, did you solve your health problem?"
Despite her words,
there wasn't the slightest hint of reproach in Qin Zhixue's voice.
She knew Chen Ming had been absorbing resources, so she hadn't sent him a single message yesterday to bother him.
"It's taken care of. Don't worry, I'll definitely have time today."
Chen Ming assured her.
"Good. Wait until you're done with your tests, then. I haven't used the Dungeon Rune Stone yet," Qin Zhixue said.
Chen Ming nodded and then stepped up onto the stairs ahead.
Tap, tap...
Chen Ming's footsteps rang especially clearly on the metal stairs.
The enormous border district seemed to have fallen unusually quiet.
Ever since Chen Ming had arrived at the border, countless people had been watching him.
It couldn't be helped. Chen Ming had stirred up far too much buzz just by showing up.
And now, seeing him step onto the platform for his tests instantly drew everyone's attention.
Some people had even finished their tests but stayed behind at the border district specifically to wait for Chen Ming.
On the defense testing platform,
Chen Ming stood still and looked ahead.
Across from him stood a mechanical machine nearly ten meters tall, gleaming with a deep, dark sheen.
"The test is beginning. Class Changers, prepare your defenses!"
"Note: This is a defense test. At each stage, the Class Changer must withstand ten attacks!"
The machine clanked loudly.
Then the metal on its surface began to twist.
Next, it spat out a four-legged mechanical creature a meter tall.
[Mechanical Beetle]
[Level: Lv. 2]
Below the platform,
countless people watched Chen Ming's every move, afraid they might miss some crucial detail.
What exactly was the secret of this C-Rank Shield Guard who had soloed the Exotic Beast Forest?
Was he a dual-class holder, or did he have a hidden class?
One fight would be enough to find out!
After all, it was relatively easy to recognize a class from the characteristics it displayed in battle.
And the more powerful the class, the more obvious its traits.
Soon, they saw it...
Chen Ming rolled his neck and rubbed his wrist.
And then...
Nothing.
After finishing that little routine, he simply stood there without moving.
He didn't use a single skill.
He didn't take out a single piece of defensive equipment.
He didn't even make the slightest move to defend himself.
He was just...
taking it easy.
"What's he doing?"
"I have no idea..."
"Wait, did he come up here to play around?"
"Why does it feel like he thinks defending himself is beneath him?"
"Chen Ming's already level 6. Is he looking down on a test that starts with a level 2 creature?"
"Uh, no matter how much he looks down on it, he could at least bother to block."
A wave of confusion and skepticism rose from below the platform.
At the same time,
in a tall building behind the plaza,
the Inspector and several principals stood by the windows.
They all turned their gazes toward Chen Ming below.
Naturally, they were somewhat curious about Cloud Sea City's highest-ranked C-Rank Class Changer.
The Inspector in particular had taken a keen interest in Chen Ming after learning about him.
But at that moment, a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes.
"Overconfidence isn't a good trait..."
In the struggle between human Class Changers and Exotic Beasts, the worst mistake was to underestimate the enemy.
In a fight against a truly powerful Exotic Beast, one wrong move could plunge you into a perilous situation.
On the defense testing platform,
the Mechanical Beetle had already begun its attack.
A sharp metal spike jutted from its head, gleaming coldly as it shot toward him at high speed.
Clang—
A slightly grating sound rang out.
The metal spike struck Chen Ming squarely in the chest... or rather, his shirt.
Its razor-sharp tip had caught on one of his shirt buttons.
It couldn't advance even a fraction farther.
[-0!]
Chen Ming stood silently in place, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.
A level 2 mechanical creature couldn't even meet the threshold required to damage him.
It wasn't fit to tickle him.
"Can you hurry it up? I'm in a rush."
His voice wasn't loud, but countless people below heard him clearly.
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