What Makes a Strong Person

"I refuse to believe that a Freelancer could make it this far in the trial!?"

The crowd cried out in shock.

Who would have thought that after such intense slaughter and confrontation, Ling Zhan had still been holding back?

Soloing a thousand monsters alone, and he was still hiding his strength?

Was he even human, or was he a monster?

Inside the trial.

Ling Zhan continued wandering around the outskirts of Sewage City, occasionally even approaching the inner areas, where the monsters were more numerous and far stronger.

As time passed, people gradually sensed that something was off.

"What ambition."

The moment King Yama Zhou spoke from the podium.

The principals and directors around him were all slightly startled.

Everyone knew that the assessment requirements announced at the beginning of the Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination—such as killing one thousand ordinary Sewage Poison Crabs—were merely the passing requirements.

After passing, one naturally had to strive for bonus points.

How could one earn bonus points?

Kill more monsters and exceed the mission requirements.

One thousand ordinary Sewage Poison Crabs meant 60 points.

Then...

What about two thousand?

What about three thousand?

Ling Zhan gave them the answer through his actions.

Ding.

"Congratulations. You have killed 3,000 ordinary Sewage Poison Crabs."

"Phase One mission complete!"

"Mission score: 90!"

Within the trial, only Ling Zhan could hear the score notification.

Ling Zhan frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with that score.

Ordinary examinees who completed the basic assessment requirements were considered to have passed. They could then choose to continue clearing the trial or leave and receive their score.

Completing only the passing requirements meant they could only attend relatively poor colleges.

But at least it preserved their spot and prevented them from becoming ordinary people again.

If they wanted to attend an excellent college, however, they had to fight for mission points.

Besides...

Ling Zhan's goal was not merely to perform well.

Outside.

Countless new students were already dumbfounded.

"He's a monster! He killed 3,000 Sewage Poison Crabs. His score has to be at least above 85, right?"

"Maybe 90."

Because Ling Zhan had not withdrawn from the trial, the Phase One mission score would not be announced publicly.

Yet he had soloed 3,000 Sewage Poison Crabs.

Such a result was rare among examinees throughout the years.

Unless they were geniuses among geniuses.

"He's already exceeded the mission requirements, so why is Senior Ling Zhan still wandering around the outskirts?"

"This... I don't know."

"Could it be that even an excellent rating isn't enough for him!?"

"..."

Outside the trial.

Everyone was shocked and confused by Ling Zhan's actions.

Even though it was only the first phase of the trial.

If Ling Zhan withdrew now, a score close to 90 would be enough to place him among the best in the city!

Some people who had already disliked seeing Ling Zhan steal the spotlight could not help jumping out to make snide remarks.

"These days, anyone with a little skill just loves showing off and seeking attention. Do they not realize people can die in the Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination?"

"Under normal circumstances, Trial Proctors are not allowed to save students, even if that student is facing death. Ling Zhan keeps wandering around the outskirts without recovering his condition. He's simply courting death!"

"Some people really think too highly of themselves. So what if his first-phase score is high? If he dies now, his score will still be reset to zero."

"..."

Listening to those sarcastic remarks.

Many younger students who had originally admired Ling Zhan could not help frowning.

Clearly, they had to admit that Ling Zhan was being far too reckless this time. After all, every one of his battles seemed seamlessly connected.

Other people lured monsters, killed monsters, recovered their condition, and healed their injuries. Then they lured more monsters and killed more monsters...

But him?

He slaughtered his way straight through.

He bulldozed forward.

No one could endure endless exhaustion, not even an iron man.

That said, someone had already vaguely guessed what Senior Ling Zhan intended to do!!

I wonder if I'm right. If it really is what I think...

As though a chain reaction had been triggered, the others guessed it too.

"Holy shit!"

"N-No way."

"Senior Ling Zhan's ambition is that terrifying?"

Everyone avoided saying the truth aloud!

There was an unwritten rule in the Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination throughout the years—those who achieved a perfect score could compete for provincial rankings.

What counted as a perfect score?

Killing over 10,000 monsters in the shortest time possible.

That was simply a fantasy.

Especially for a Freelancer.

It was that veteran teacher who solemnly voiced his understanding.

Then, he looked coolly at the students making sarcastic remarks.

"You may choose not to think highly of Ling Zhan, and you may think he is arrogant and conceited."

"But you should not look down on him!"

"What is a strong person? Does someone deserve to be called strong only because they have high combat power and great strength?"

"No! Someone who dares to challenge the gods with the body of an ant is a true strong person!"

"You label Ling Zhan's actions as 'arrogant' and 'conceited,' but in my eyes, I see a towering strong person who dares to compete with the sun even in his weakness!"

"If it were you, would you dare climb toward such heights like Ling Zhan?"

The veteran teacher's words.

Were like pounding drumbeats, striking heavily against every student's heart.

They lowered their heads in shame.

Even the principals and directors on the podium nodded deeply in agreement.

Even King Yama Zhou's cold face revealed a faint smile. "This teacher has spoken very well!"

"A true strong person possesses a Tenacity that will break through all hardships and obstacles at any cost!"

"If everyone retreated when faced with difficulty, if everyone acted timidly and cautiously, where would there be any strong people in this world?"

"Ling Zhan's actions may seem impatient and driven by quick success, but in truth, he yearns greatly for his goal."

"All of you know that the monsters in the inner areas are more terrifying than those in the outskirts. Do you think Ling Zhan, as a current Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination candidate, does not know that?"

"But precisely because he knows, he still continues onward. Even at the risk of death, he fights for the goal in his heart!"

"This is the example we should learn from!"

King Yama Zhou's words settled the matter.

They defined Ling Zhan's actions.

No one dared mock Ling Zhan or make sarcastic remarks about him anymore.

"Enough. There is no need for everyone to argue so intensely here."

"Let us wait and see how far this first-ever Jobless Freelancer candidate in the Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination can ultimately go."

King Yama Zhou said with a faint smile.

Sewage City Trial.

As Ling Zhan advanced, he organized his condition.

Everyone could view their own information panel.

[Name: Ling Zhan.]

[Health: 1000/1000.]

[Mana: 2200/3000 (continuously recovering).]

[Talent: 62.]

[Age: Eighteen.]

[Race: Human.]

[Level: 11.]

[Class: None.]

[Strength: 35; Physique: 35; Intelligence: 35; Agility: 35.] (No bonuses from any items or equipment.)

[Innate Talents: Equipment Controller (F), Mana Controller (E), Omnipotence (F).]

[Class Skills Possessed: Prairie Fire (F+), Freeze (F+), Shield-Breaking Sword Sweep (F+)...]

[Distributable Four-Dimensional Points: 20.]

[Distributable Skill Points: 980.]

"Distributable Skill Points: 980. What would happen if I put all my skill points into a minor passive skill that restores mana?"

Inside the trial, Ling Zhan muttered to himself.

Of course, he was merely saying it casually. If he really did that, he might have infinite mana, but without any offensive ability, what the hell would he even play?

That said, these 980 skill points needed to be considered carefully.

And there were also those 20 four-dimensional points.

They were all rewards from the system's daily challenge missions.

They were also Ling Zhan's trump cards.

Normally, after changing classes, everyone would allocate their four-dimensional attribute points to attributes that suited their class.

Skill points, meanwhile, could be used to raise skill levels.

But some skills could not be upgraded.

For example, beginner class skills were fixed at F-rank. No matter how many skill points you allocated to them, they could not break through F-rank.

Only class-exclusive skills could be upgraded with skill points.

But some skills also had an upgrade limit.

"Trump cards can't be used recklessly."

Ling Zhan had never done something as idiotic as playing four twos and two jokers at once.