Preparing to Enter the Specter World

Just as Xin Yang finished the breakfast Ning Shiyao had bought for him, Bi Zhenglin, the vice dean of the Defense Academy, walked in.

"Students, I'll be taking you to the Specter Origin Pod storage area next..."

"Many of you in our class don't know me, so let me introduce myself first. I'm Bi Zhenglin, vice dean of the Defense Academy. The school has assigned me as your Calamity Class instructor for your monthly trips into the Specter World."

"Once we reach the Specter Origin Pod storage area, feel free to ask me anything before entering the Specter World!"

The Calamity Class students then followed Bi Zhenglin to the tenth underground level of Glory University.

Xin Yang's first impression upon reaching the tenth underground level of Glory University was that it was enormous—boundlessly enormous—with countless rooms. Blinding white lights filled his vision. The familiar blue sky was gone, replaced by a pure white ceiling.

The white walls around them had an icy metallic texture and were full of futuristic flair. Each room resembled an intensive care unit, with anywhere from over a dozen to several dozen metal platforms inside.

Black metal pods rested atop the platforms. Xin Yang happened to see a bare-chested man sitting up from one of the metal pods, several instrument wires connected to his body.

Several lab-coated figures who looked like researchers surrounded him, their faces filled with delight.

"Student, did you make any new discoveries during this trip into the Specter World?"

"Hurry and notify Director Wang! Student Yang from the Logistics Academy has awakened!"

"Student Yang, you spent five days in the Specter World this time. We thought you wouldn't wake up." The lab-coated figures cried out excitedly.

"We're truly so happy that you made it back!"

"Teachers, I hid in the Specter World in soul form for five days... I'm exhausted now. I want to rest!" the man said listlessly.

"Alright, Student Yang... We'll arrange a recovery room for you immediately," the lab-coated figures said happily.

Although Xin Yang could not hear what the people in that room were saying, their movements and expressions told him that the lab-coated figures were especially excited after the man woke up.

Before long, Xin Yang and the other eleven students were brought into a room.

This room was somewhat different from the others.

There were dozens of lab-coated staff in this room, each stationed at their own instruments.

The lab-coated staff in the ordinary rooms they had passed earlier did not have such sophisticated equipment.

The walls surrounding the room were black and glimmered with a dark sheen. Twelve Specter Origin Pods stood in two rows at the center of the room. However, these twelve pods were blood-red and looked somewhat like coffins.

"Students, these are your Specter Origin Pods!"

"If none of you have any questions, then we'll officially begin!"

Xin Yang finally came back to himself and asked solemnly, "Teacher, what are the chances that we won't make it back?"

Bi Zhenglin did not hesitate. "For ordinary students, the mortality rate for their first entry into the Specter World is ten percent!"

"However, since you are members of the newly established Calamity Class program this year, you will be provided with the best Specter Origin Pods, as well as Essence of Soul. Essence of Soul can protect you during your first entry into the Specter World and allow you to return immediately at any time."

"We do not provide Essence of Soul to other classes."

"That is because Essence of Soul is extremely difficult to extract, and can only be obtained from specters at the Calamity Soul tier or above."

"However, the twelve of you are the most talented twelve students of Glory University's class of 12222. The Glory Class program cannot afford any mishaps, so the school will provide you with Essence of Soul free of charge for your first trip into the Specter World!"

"From your second trip into the Specter World onward, if you want Essence of Soul, you can only exchange credits for it." Bi Zhenglin's gaze was cold as he explained everything.

Everyone frowned and pondered for a moment.

Bi Zhenglin sneered. "What's wrong? Are the twelve most talented students of the class of 12222 afraid of the Specter World?"

Shen Lingman responded, "I'm not afraid. I just think it's unfair for me to have one more Essence of Soul than ordinary people."

"I request that I not receive Essence of Soul!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!" Shen Lingman answered without hesitation.

"Good! As expected of City Lord Shen's daughter. You've got backbone. Then as you wish. Staff, remove the Essence of Soul from Pod No. 2!"

When the other students saw that Shen Lingman did not want the Essence of Soul, they followed her example.

Only Xin Yang stood silently to one side.

After a while, Xin Yang asked, "Vice Dean Bi, if an Essence of Soul were exchanged for Disaster Ghost-tier Ghost Energy Liquid, about how many vials would it be worth?"

Bi Zhenglin glanced at Xin Yang. Though puzzled by the question, he still answered seriously, "It could be exchanged for about twenty vials of Disaster Ghost-tier Ghost Energy Liquid!"

"Then I think I still need the Essence of Soul! I don't want to give it back to the school." He scratched his nose awkwardly and continued.

"Vice Dean Bi, if I return alive from the Specter World this time, can I take this Essence of Soul with me?"

Xin Yang thought that he could be indifferent toward anything else, but when it came to resources, he would fight with everything he had to secure them for himself. After all, he now had too many specters to support.

He also wanted to act cool and tell Bi Zhenglin that he did not need Essence of Soul, but he was genuinely poor...

Reality had defeated him. That was twenty vials of Disaster Ghost-tier Ghost Energy Liquid. He could not bear to turn them down...

Everyone was stunned!

This was the mindset of the top scorer in the freshman assessment?

If Xin Yang knew what they were thinking right now, he would definitely snap back at them.

"Yes. As long as you return from the Specter World this time without using the Essence of Soul, you may take it with you."

Upon hearing Bi Zhenglin's reply, the corner of Xin Yang's mouth lifted.

"Then I have no more questions, Teacher!"

"I request to be the first to enter a Specter Origin Pod..."

"Approved."

Under the staff's direction, Xin Yang then lay down inside the blood-red "coffin."

After Xin Yang had completely entered the Specter Origin Pod, a staff member beside the "coffin" began to remind him softly.

"Student, your first entry will cause pain and dizziness. It'll get better after you try it a few times, so please endure it this first time!"

Inside the Specter Origin Pod, icy restraints secured Xin Yang's hands and feet, while a silicone helmet fixed his head in place. Various mechanical arms automatically extended from all around the pod, perfectly attaching wires to Xin Yang's body. Once Xin Yang lay down and was secured, he stared straight ahead at the pitch-black coffin lid.

The staff member activated the switch, and a blue screen appeared on the coffin lid, displaying Xin Yang's various information!

[Countdown to entering the Specter World begins]

Ten...

Nine...

...

One...

After the countdown ended, Xin Yang felt the scene before his eyes constantly shifting and changing shape, colors rapidly flashing and transforming. The violent visual impact and intense discord made him instinctively uncomfortable, and his head swelled with pain.