It was almost 10:00 AM.
The waiting hall of the Hero Association was nearly full. A quiet atmosphere, laced with whispers.
An indescribable tension filled the air, which seemed to grow thick and cold.
Wang Xi noticed that most of the exam candidates around him looked restless. Some were constantly taking deep breaths, lightly stomping their feet, or patting their cheeks to ease their nerves.
He, on the other hand, felt nothing.
His mind was at peace, steady as a rock.
Soon, at 9:50 AM, three smartly dressed Hero Association staff members in suits came to the front of the hall. One spoke in a flat tone, their voice amplified by a headset and broadcast through the hall's speakers:
"The first round of the exam is about to begin. Please enter in an orderly fashion according to your assigned number."
The hundreds of people in the waiting area all rose to their feet. No one dared to speak, simply following the staff's directions down the corridors on either side of the hall.
