Chapter 34

Xu Jintang dispensed with the pleasantries and went straight to the point. "How did you do in the additional assessment?"

Song Duoduo instantly deflated like a punctured ball. "I did kill a few demonic beasts, but compared to the other candidates, I definitely couldn't measure up."

"Besides, I happened to be in the same area as Xu Bohan and Yao Wenna. I saw that they both lasted longer than me, so they must have killed more demonic beasts too."

"It's fine. It was just an additional assessment. It won't affect the official joint examination," Xu Jintang reassured her.

Just then, Yao Wenna slowly came into view. She approached expressionlessly, pausing when she saw Xu Jintang, but soon walked around them and continued toward the banquet hall's exit.

Xu Jintang glanced at her curiously. "Why is she alone? Isn't she with Xu Bohan?"

Song Duoduo snorted, leaned toward Xu Jintang's ear, and whispered, "After Xu Bohan ambushed me that time, she fell out with him. I guess she couldn't stand his dirty tricks either."

"So that's what happened." Xu Jintang rubbed her chin, responding thoughtfully.

Once they finished chatting, the two wandered around the banquet with their arms around each other's shoulders, hunting for food. After eating and drinking their fill, they said goodbye and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

A day and a night soon passed.

"The aircraft will land at the hub station in five minutes. This journey is about to conclude. We wish all candidates every success."

Xu Jintang rubbed her hands in anticipation and left her room, ready to disembark.

After waiting in line for a long time, Xu Jintang shuffled down the steps and finally made it out of the cabin.

Not long after leaving the hub station, she saw the buildings of the Federation's main city.

Warm sunlight fell on her face. Xu Jintang closed her eyes in contentment and breathed in the fresh air. "Finally here."

She slowly opened her eyes and turned to survey her surroundings.

Suddenly, Xu Jintang froze, staring in bewilderment at the electronic screen hanging above the Federation's main city.

An exclamation came from beside her. "Holy crap! Two of the top ten in this additional assessment actually came from a lower star region?"

"How are these points calculated? Based on the number of demonic beasts killed and how long they stayed in the combat zone?"

The screen floating above the Federation's main city displayed the top ten candidates in this additional assessment.

Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan ranked ninth and tenth respectively, with FM795 Lower Star Region marked before their names.

Another aircraft arrived in the Federation Star Region at the same time. All the candidates aboard it came from another intermediate star region.

As they entered the city, they naturally saw the rankings on the screen too, and were all astonished.

"This FM795 Lower Star Region actually produced two candidates in the overall top ten at once?"

"I think the aircraft next to ours was responsible for transporting candidates from that star region. Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan are probably among them. Why don't we go ask around?"

"That's terrifying. The overall top five are all elite students from the Federation Star Region, and our intermediate star regions only took three places this time. The competition in this joint examination is so fierce."

All sorts of discussions rose around her. Xu Jintang cleared her throat and hastily quickened her pace out of the hub station, keeping a low profile.

Before long, Wei Zixuan caught up. For some reason, he didn't dare call Xu Jintang by name, only calling out, "Sis, wait for me!"

Xu Jintang turned and saw Wei Zixuan, then paused. "What's wrong?"

Wei Zixuan looked as though he were facing a formidable enemy, his lips trembling slightly. "Let's find somewhere private to talk."

Xu Jintang immediately guessed that his reaction was probably related to the two of them accidentally making it into the additional assessment's top ten.

She nodded and discreetly pointed at a small teahouse ahead. "Let's talk there."

The Federation Star Region's main city was prosperous and bustling.

The most immediate impression was that the main city's entire street was wider than those in the lower star regions, with a squad of city guards stationed at regular intervals to keep watch.

The whole main city exuded an air of order, completely unlike the noisy streets of the lower star regions.

Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan soon turned into the small teahouse and specifically requested a secluded private room. After closing the door, they sat down at the tea table.

"What exactly is wrong?" Xu Jintang looked up at Wei Zixuan.

Wei Zixuan picked up his cup and took a large gulp before saying worriedly, "Jintang, we're done for. You saw that overall top-ten ranking in the sky too, right? I asked the staff, and they said the ranking would stay up there for everyone to see. Candidates from the other star regions will be arriving in the Federation over the next two days. In other words, every candidate who comes here will see that ranking."

Xu Jintang pursed her lips in thought. "It is a bit conspicuous."

In the official joint examination, the candidates' rankings determined which military academy they could attend. Competition was extremely fierce, and every candidate was a rival to every other.

Yet the list of the additional assessment's top ten was now constantly displayed outside. This was undoubtedly drawing aggro onto those ten people like crazy.

Wei Zixuan took another large gulp of tea and continued in despair, "And we stand out way too much. The first eight all came from the Federation or intermediate star regions. We're the only two who fought our way up from a lower star region. On my way here, loads of people were talking about us."

The tallest tree caught the strongest wind. Everyone knew that standing out too much was no good.

Xu Jintang remained fairly calm. She picked up her cup and took a small sip. "The ranking doesn't have my photo. If I don't say my name is Xu Jintang, who'll know it's me?"

Wei Zixuan froze, then slapped his forehead in sudden realization. "Right! As long as we don't say anything, no one will know who we are."

After some thought, Wei Zixuan decided to temporarily change his name to "Wang Tieniu."

"Jintang, what are you planning to call yourself? I think Zhao Cuihua is a good name. No one would ever connect it to you," Wei Zixuan suggested helpfully.

Xu Jintang said, "...That's too rustic."

"A rustic name keeps you under the radar. Safe and reliable! Don't look down on my Wang Tieniu," Wei Zixuan protested.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Jintang quietly offered a name. "Xu Lanxing. That's what I'll use."

Wei Zixuan hesitated. "Lanxing?"

"Yes." Xu Jintang stood up. "Let's go. It's time to assemble."

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Jintang and Wei Zixuan arrived at the Federation military academy command center base.

This year's All-Star-Region Joint Examination would be held here.

The command center base covered a vast area, divided into four major sections: the main building, the dormitory area, the teaching center, and the simulated battlefield area. Each section's buildings had a different style.

In the main building's lobby, five military academy teachers stood in a row.

Zhuang Silin stood in the very center, her hands behind her back and her posture straight.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Zhuang Silin, the chief examiner for this All-Star-Region Joint Examination, from Leikdasi Military Academy."

Then Shi Lekang stepped forward. "Hello, students. I'm Shi Lekang from Clifford Military Academy, one of the lead examiners."

The remaining three military academy teachers also stepped forward to introduce themselves.

There wasn't a student who didn't aspire to attend the five great military academies. At the sight of the five lead examiners, all the candidates present grew excited.

Xu Jintang stood among the crowd, silently watching Zhuang Silin.

Zhuang Silin raised a hand and pressed it down, signaling for silence.

Only after the discussions died away did she continue. "All five of us lead examiners followed your performances throughout the additional assessment. Before entering the Federation's main city, you should all have seen the list of the additional assessment's top ten hanging above the city."

"We call it the joint examination red ranking. Despite how suddenly the assessment began, the top ten candidates managed to stay calm, fight hard, and persevere until the very end. That deserves praise."

"So, for the coming period, the joint examination red ranking will remain above the main city until the joint examination ends, serving as an example and model for all candidates to learn from."

A clamor of discussion immediately rose around them.

"What's that supposed to mean? Those ten did well in the additional assessment, but that doesn't mean they'll keep it up in the official joint examination. Isn't keeping their ten names up there like that looking down on the rest of us?"

"Exactly. In the additional assessment, lots of people were killed by demonic beasts before they could even react. If we'd known in advance, those people might not have made the top ten."

Complaints rose from all sides, clearly showing some resentment toward the ten on the ranking.

Seeing this, Wei Zixuan felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, he'd already thought of changing his name to deal with this. Otherwise, if the people around him knew he was tenth, he would definitely become a target of resentment for quite a few of them.

Xu Jintang suddenly raised her hand. "Ma'am, I have a question."

The discussions stopped, and everyone's gaze landed on Xu Jintang at once, some curious and others appraising.

Wei Zixuan swallowed nervously and quietly shifted a step sideways, trying to distance himself from Xu Jintang, the focus of everyone's attention.

Zhuang Silin looked over. "What is it?"

Xu Jintang continued, "You said the joint examination red ranking would stay up until the joint examination ends. Does that mean this ranking will also appear on the examination grounds during our official joint examination?"

"Correct." Zhuang Silin nodded. "But the joint examination red ranking isn't fixed. Based on the scores from the additional assessment, the ten currently listed have the highest point totals. Once the official joint examination begins, if lower-ranked candidates earn more points, the top ten places will change accordingly."

Only after hearing this did the candidates' complaints lessen.

So it updated in real time. In that case, it didn't matter.

Once the official joint examination began, everyone could earn a place on the ranking through their own ability.

After this brief explanation, Zhuang Silin arranged for staff to take the candidates to settle into the dormitory area.

As the candidates were dismissed, Zhuang Silin singled out Xu Jintang. "Xu Jintang, stay behind a moment. We teachers have a few things to ask you."