Preschool Assessment

Lan Ning seemed stumped by Xia Ming's question. He stared hard at the crystal ball for a while, as though trying to make it bloom into a flower under his gaze, but after a long while, he gave up helplessly and said dejectedly, "Brother Xia Ming, it's not that I won't help you. It's just that your fate is far too strange. The first twenty years are completely blank, while everything after twenty years is blurred. I simply can't see it clearly!"

"Even with my skill, I can only make a vague prediction. And besides, besides, it consumes an enormous amount of mental power... Brother Xia Ming, shouldn't you at least show a little sincerity..." Lan Ning made that lecherous hand gesture again.

Xia Ming was speechless. He truly could not tell whether Lan Ning was an expert or a swindler, but Xia Ming had no intention of becoming a sucker for no reason. "Let's forget it this time. I'll come find you when I actually need divination."

If Lan Ning's divination was truly useful, it would not be too late to seek him out when the critical moment came.

Lan Ning stroked his beard, nodding while waggling his brows. "All right, it's settled then, Brother Xia Ming! If you run into trouble, come find your big brother. You can't go wrong!"

Xia Ming nodded, said goodbye to Lan Ning, and left.

Watching Xia Ming's departing back, Lan Ning rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "I really can't see through him. Who knows where this little monster came from? There's something strange about him everywhere..."

After pondering without result for a while, Lan Ning said carelessly, "Who cares? Watching the beauties on the street is more important." As he spoke, the crystal ball in his hand lit up again, reflecting the figures of beautiful women...

In an inconspicuous corner of the street, an obscene old man could be seen drooling at a crystal ball. Whenever he reached an exciting part, he would occasionally let out a strange, sleazy cackle...

The following evening.

The setting sun melted like gold; twilight clouds fused with jade.

Azure Flame Academy beneath the dusk was exceptionally beautiful, yet the new students had no mind to appreciate it, because they were about to face a brutal pre-admission assessment.

All the new students had gathered in the plaza north of the academy. It was secluded and spacious, enough to hold tens of thousands of people. These students came from kingdoms and empires across the continent, and some were even from other races. They were divided into several sections, each containing several hundred to over a thousand people.

Xia Ming had been assigned to the second section. By coincidence, his neighbor Sigru had also been assigned there, and was standing right behind Xia Ming.

"Hey, Sigru!"

Xia Ming waved at the cheerful young man.

"Ha, Xia Ming!" Sigru was also pleasantly surprised. "We actually got assigned to the same section. What fate!"

Xia Ming smiled and asked quietly, "Sigru, do you know what this assessment involves?" Azure Flame Academy's pre-admission assessment was of great importance, tied to the credits for the entire school year, so Xia Ming had no choice but to take it seriously.

"I'm not sure of the specifics, but I heard there are three parts..." Sigru had only gotten halfway through before suddenly shutting his mouth, his eyes seeming to fix on something. Following Sigru's gaze, Xia Ming saw a burly, dark-faced man approaching. He wore black armor, his expression stern.

"Shut the hell up, brats!"

The dark-faced brute shouted, his voice dull as thunder and seemingly infused with a trace of battle aura. The deafening roar instantly silenced the once-noisy plaza.

The moment Xia Ming saw the dark-faced man, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"Listen up, rookies! I'm your training instructor, Mamba! But most people prefer to call me by my nickname—Black Mamba. I know every last one of you rookies is proud and arrogant, and that in ordinary people's eyes, you're all gifted beyond measure. But right now, you're nothing but rookies!"

"In the coming training assessment, I'll show you what hell truly means! And let me remind you little rookies of one thing—don't think getting into Azure Flame Academy makes you so impressive. If anyone dares disobey my orders from here on out, I'll expel him!"

Black Mamba!

The new students were already wailing inwardly. Black mamba was a continental slang term for a kind of extremely venomous snake. This instructor's nickname was actually "Black Mamba"—one could only imagine how terrifyingly strict he was.

"Rookies, your pre-admission assessment has three parts. First, I'll announce the first one—weighted running!"

Weighted running?

Upon hearing this test, most of the new students breathed a sigh of relief, especially those from the warrior department. Most of them had decent physiques, so weighted running should not be too difficult.

However, once they heard Black Mamba announce the rules, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

"Each person will carry fifty kilograms. No magic or battle aura allowed. Run twenty laps around the entire academy!" Black Mamba's voice was like a verdict being pronounced.

"Damn! Fifty kilograms, and we can't even use magic enhancement? I'm dead!" The new students groaned and complained. The people of this world had physiques different from those on Earth, so fifty kilograms was not an overwhelming burden. Of course, it was still enough to make these new students suffer.

"Are you kidding? Twenty laps around the academy?" As the foremost academy, Azure Flame Academy covered an unimaginably vast area. Running twenty laps around it was practically asking for their lives.

"Quit whining and run as ordered!"

At Black Mamba's command, the new students had no choice but to start running, fifty kilograms strapped to their backs as they gritted their teeth and charged forward with all their strength.

Xia Ming was naturally among them. Fortunately, ever since arriving in this world, he had constantly trained and tempered himself like mad. In addition, the Ice Lotus Flower juice Bluebeard had given him had improved his physique, so he could endure it.

Sigru behind him was something of a madman. The fifty-kilogram load seemed like nothing to him as he caught up with light, brisk steps.

"Sigru, you've got quite the physique," Xia Ming praised.

Sigru scratched his head. "Hehe, I'm half barbarian. My body is much tougher than an ordinary person's!"

Xia Ming understood. Sigru actually had half barbarian blood. Barbarians were a race born with brute strength, so Sigru's talent could indeed be considered blessed by heaven.

"Hehe, I'm going on ahead. I'm aiming for first place in this weighted run!" Sigru sprinted away.

Xia Ming gave a wry smile. It seemed he still needed to strengthen his body. Even as a mage, he could not let himself become too frail!

After the fifth lap, nearly all the warrior department students had reached the front. The magic department students, meanwhile, were in a miserable state, gasping for breath with faces pale as earth. Quite a few had even fainted midway and been sent to the infirmary.

Xia Ming was doing fairly well, clinging tightly behind the leading group and relying on sheer willpower to hold on.

As he ran, Xia Ming's eyes narrowed. He discovered a blond young man catching up to him!

The blond youth was also a mage, dressed in a mage's robe. His face was slightly pale, clearly showing that he too was running out of strength. When he caught up to Xia Ming, he gave a cold snort.

Solomon!

Xia Ming recognized the young man at once. He was Solomon, the one with ninth-level talent from the aptitude test!

Solomon seemed to harbor deep hostility toward Xia Ming. He glanced at him with a cold smile and sneered softly, "Isn't this the genius student Xia Ming? How come so many people have passed you? This so-called super genius with twelfth-level talent is nothing special after all!"

Xia Ming's eyes narrowed at those words, his icy gaze sweeping over Solomon.

This guy was clearly trying to provoke him.