Rewards

"The first round of assessment has ended. All students who made it onto the leaderboard are considered qualified. The next round of assessment will begin shortly."

As Vice Principal Zhou Dongbo's voice rapidly spread across the entire wilderness, many of the surviving students let out sighs of relief.

Yang Mao even let out a loud cheer, crawling out of the dirt with a filthy face, tongue hanging out as he panted heavily.

"What a pity." Tang Jian lowered the instrument he had aimed at the terrified Hu Lingli. He sensed the surrounding environment beginning to fade as this energy-based virtual world rapidly shifted.

He immediately looked at the instrument in his hand, pulled out an Energy Card, and tried to absorb it.

The Attribute Template appeared before his eyes.

His current energy fluctuated.

"Current Energy: 12960+"

The remaining sixty points of energy within the Energy Card were absorbed into his body.

Sure enough, in a virtual world formed from energy, every object was also constructed from energy. Energy Cards like this truly could be devoured and absorbed.

Tang Jian was about to reach for the Fireball Card in the card slot again.

However, the wilderness around him completely vanished, including the instrument on his arm.

Tang Jian instantly found himself in a tranquil, dark space. There was a faint point of light ahead, somewhat like a burning candle.

Zhou Dongbo's voice sounded beside Tang Jian's ear.

"The second round will test your vitality, willpower, and card energy. It is further divided into card-making ability and survival ability.

"Students who choose card-making ability must create a white-quality, one-star card or higher before the candle burns out.

"Students who choose survival ability, please walk in the direction opposite the candle. Before the candle goes out, I hope you can survive.

"Next, in this dark environment, the gravity around you will gradually increase. This will be your final assessment.

"The combined results of the two assessments will determine whether you are admitted into the Rocket Class training program, and they will also be tied to your final assessment rewards."

"Card-making or survival?"

Tang Jian looked at the candle not far ahead, then at the seemingly boundless darkness behind him.

Compared with the faint light ahead that offered a trace of hope, the terrifying darkness behind him was like a beast that wanted to swallow both body and soul, bringing an overwhelming sense of oppression.

It seemed the school placed greater importance on students' vitality and willpower.

As for what the first assessment tested, it was not merely vitality, but combat talent as well.

But to become a card cultivator, what mattered most was still vitality and card energy.

During the first battle, although some students had performed exceptionally well and others terribly, that did not mean the latter lacked the talent to become card cultivators.

Not everyone was especially skilled in combat.

At the very least, in the first assessment, many students were not familiar with the initial cards assigned to them.

Although they had learned to identify cards in their usual classes and understood their functions and properties, when it came to actually using them, how many could truly wield cards as naturally as their own hands?

It was like how everyone knew a kitchen knife could be used to chop vegetables, and had watched others do it.

But when they actually picked up a kitchen knife themselves, they would realize, damn it, they had not chopped the vegetables and nearly chopped off their own fingers!

Therefore, in this second assessment, the school was more focused on testing vitality, willpower, and card energy.

Whether it was survival ability or card-making ability, both were connected to those three aspects: vitality, willpower, and card energy.

"If I'm not mistaken, survival on the side facing darkness probably won't involve any fighting either. It tests one's willpower when faced with endless darkness, as well as one's resilience under the pressure of a gravity-filled environment.

"If one's vitality or willpower is insufficient, it should be difficult to endure. As for card-making..."

Tang Jian looked toward the faint candlelight ahead.

At that moment, Zhou Dongbo gave another prompt, telling everyone to prepare to make their choice.

Gao Yang, Gu Du, and the others who had been eliminated in the first stage of the assessment were revived again for this round.

If they performed outstandingly in this round and were not eliminated, while people like Tang Jian, who had performed well in the first round, were eliminated here, then they would still have a great chance to turn things around.

Tang Jian did not think for long and walked straight toward the faint candlelight ahead.

Obviously.

Everyone had been separated into an independent dark space. This round would not gather them together.

"Survival or card-making, huh? Fine. In this assessment, I'll see whether that Tang Jian can still contend with me!"

Wu Chun looked at the candlelight ahead, his eyes sharp and resolute as he stepped forward.

In the first round, he had originally been far ahead of everyone else, yet at the final moment, he had unexpectedly been overtaken by an unknown nobody.

Tang Jian. He had never even heard that name before and had no idea which class Tang Jian was from. Perhaps he did not realize that he had not only met Tang Jian before, but had directly overlooked him at the time.

Not only Wu Chun—at this moment, Wang Ba also regarded Tang Jian as a formidable enemy. Grinding his teeth, he said, "Wu Chun, I know your card-making ability is extremely strong, but my survival ability is stronger. And that Tang Jian—I refuse to believe you can still stand above me this time!"

He rushed straight into the depths of darkness, choosing the survival assessment.

After being killed by Tang Jian, Gu Du was revived with a gloomy expression and chose the survival assessment.

Hu Lingli, who had narrowly survived, looked dazed, as though she had much on her mind. Only after a long while did she grit her teeth, calm herself, and choose card-making.

Inside the science museum's conference room.

Nearly ninety images were displayed on the large screen, divided into small sections before all the teachers and school leaders.

"Tsk, tsk, Teacher Sun, your student Tang Jian actually chose card-making. Hehehe, has he not heard of Wu Chun's card-making ability in our class?"

After being mocked by Sun Yiying earlier, Jiang Zhendong had paid special attention to Tang Jian, hoping to win back some ground.

Now that he saw Tang Jian choosing card-making, he immediately glanced at Sun Yiying with a trace of ridicule on his face.

Wu Yu, beside him, chuckled. "Even if Tang Jian had not chosen card-making and selected the survival ability assessment instead, he still would not be able to compete with Wang Ba from our class.

"His combat talent was quite good in the first assessment, which was why he took first place. But this second assessment tests vitality, willpower, and card energy.

"Under the gravity-filled environment of boundless darkness, the test of willpower and vitality is truly harsh. But Wang Ba from our class has undergone a similar test before. His family has the means for it, so he should take first place in this assessment."

Sun Yiying smiled calmly. "A melon seller praising his own melons. Wait until your students actually take first place before talking."

"Hahaha, you three teachers are already competing? How about this: whichever of these three students takes first place in this round, I'll make the call and reward them with a case of Sunshine Group's Low-Grade Nutrient Solution, Nutritional Express!"

Vice Principal Zhou Dongbo said with a smiling expression.

He did not want to see three outstanding teachers damage their harmony.

Besides, whoever could take first place in this round would indeed be one of the school's top students and worth cultivating. It would not be a waste of resources.

"Fine." Sun Yiying agreed without a moment's hesitation.

Whether Tang Jian could take first place or not, she would accept the benefit first.

Moreover, she had some confidence in Tang Jian's card-making ability, though Wu Chun seemed likely to be a little stronger.

Many thanks to Gentle Brother, "Luffy丶s," "Young Master丶LOST," and "Blood Clan Nightblade" for the rewards!