Lin Yuan City, Assessment Square.
Sunlight poured over the granite-paved square, where two hundred candidates lined up neatly.
Today is the first round of the Longxia Country entrance exam—School-Level Assessment!
Only the top 50 can qualify for the next round.
"Candidates, please take note, the assessment is about to begin. Please step on stage for the competition according to the draw order."
"This assessment is divided into two rounds and will select the top 50 for advancement."
"Advancing candidates must participate in subsequent matches; final results will be an important basis for comprehensive entrance exam evaluation. Please take this seriously and perform at your best."
After the staff read the rules aloud.
On the big screen, the list of candidates began to scroll quickly.
In the crowd, Shen Ruoxue tightly griped her school uniform hem, her gaze continually shifting between the screen and the entrance passage.
Behind her, in the class contingent, a spot was conspicuously empty.
"Class rep, God Gu still hasn't arrived? Could he miss the assessment?"
"Yeah, with God Gu's strength, getting the first place is a breeze. If he gets disqualified due to tardiness..."
"Class rep, can you contact God Gu? Urge him a bit!"
Those voices were from classmates saved by Gu Xing during the novice trial.
Hearing these voices, Shen Ruoxue also felt a dilemma.
Since the trial ended, she had been searching for Gu Xing to thank him in person, but had never found any trace of him.
"Everyone, please don't panic."
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"I believe Gu Xing will surely arrive on time. During the match, try to gain as much extra time as possible."
The group exchanged glances and ultimately nodded with resignation.
Low Tier Beast Master battles are often decided swiftly.
On the stage, a match between two Guardian Beasts usually concluded within thirty seconds.
Although Shen Ruoxue asked her companions to delay as much as possible, the screen's duel list continued to scroll quickly.
[Gu Xing VS Wang Wu]
As this line appeared, Wang Wu's face on the stage instantly turned pale.
Though rumors spread in Lin Yuan City that Gu Xing's SSS-Class evaluation was bought, a scrawny camel is bigger than a horse; he, a Tier Three Beast Master, dared not oppose him.
"Gu Xing, please come on stage!"
The referee's loud voice echoed across the square.
Time passed second by second, yet the other side of the stage remained empty.
The referee frowned at the timer, raising his voice:
"Is Gu Xing here? If not present, it will be considered abandoning this match."
No one responded on-site!
The referee frowned again, sweeping his gaze over the entire site, still failing to discover Gu Xing's presence.
"Since Gu Xing is not here, then I declare..."
Shen Ruoxue was about to object.
"Hold on."
A slightly cheeky voice suddenly interjected.
Chen Ziming approached, draped with an Enchanting Demon, whose tail curled ambiguously around his waist.
"Referee, how about making this match the finale? After all..."
He deliberately elongated his tone:
"We're all eagerly anticipating this 'SSS-Class genius's performance."
These ten days, he practically lived in Alternate Space, striving to boost the Enchanting Demon's level.
Just to crush the youth who stole his spotlight today!
But now...
The protagonist is absent?
How could he be content?
The referee sweated slightly on his forehead.
Rules clearly state—late arrivals result in disqualification.
But this individual...
"I'll explain the situation to Vice Principal Chen."
Chen Ziming casually added, fingers ambiguously stroking the demon's waist.
Upon hearing Chen Ziming mention the Vice Principal's name, the referee relaxed significantly.
"Fine, the match is delayed! Gu Xing versus Wang Wu's match will be held last."
As the referee's voice sounded, the scene exploded into chaos.
"Gu Xing didn't show up? What's happening?"
"Didn't he receive an SSS-Class evaluation? Is he afraid it won't pass this time?"
"Don't you know? Gu Xing supposedly spent 20 million to clinch first place in the novice trial assessment!"
"Moreover, his contracted Guardian Beast is believed to be a Wasted Angel, possibly afraid of exposure, hence he dared not participate this time."
Rumors spread like toxic fog throughout the venue, white knuckles deep in Shen Ruoxue's palm.
She desperately wanted to stand up and tell everyone—that the boy who had descended like a god-saved her during the novice trial is the genuine genius!
Yet ultimately, she released her fist dejectedly.
Her voice held little weight, even if spoken, no one would believe.
Moreover, during this period, intentional rumors dispersed by the Chen Family.
Almost everyone in Lin Yuan City now agreed Gu Xing's SSS-Class evaluation was secured through cheating.
Moreover, since the novice trial, Gu Xing hadn't appeared to explain the situation.
This led everyone to accept that this was indeed the truth!
"Next match, Chen Ziming versus Li Si!"
With the referee's announcement, Chen Ziming approached the stage leisurely with the Enchanting Demon.
His opponent, Li Si, was deathly pale; possessing Tier Four Awakening among the graduates was already top-notch, yet now he seemed like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Chen, Chen Ziming..." Li Si's voice trembled, "Please, show mercy....."
Chen Ziming's mouth curled into a cruel smile; in his arms, the Enchanting Demon's vermilion tongue lightly teased its fangs.
"Profound Armor Turtle! Water Flow Impact!" Li Si reluctantly issued the order.
"Splash—"
A column of water surged forth but eerily halted three feet from the Enchanting Demon.
As the demon lazily raised its delicate hand, the water column disintegrated as if striking an invisible wall.
"Ah!"
Purple light exploded within the demon's eyes, releasing visible spirit ripples sweeping through.
The Profound Armor Turtle collapsed without even a cry.
Li Si appeared struck by lightning, nose and mouth bleeding before passing out.
"Hiss—"
Gasps echoed intermittently from the crowd.
"Whoa, a Tier Four beast got defeated in one move by Chen Ziming's Guardian Beast?"
"What level has he reached now? Could he have Awakening Tier Six?"
"I think even higher! Maybe Awakening Tier Seven!"
"No way, it's been ten days since the novice trial, and he's reached Tier Seven already, how can we compete?"
Chen Ziming's icy gaze roamed the crowd but couldn't find the figure he most wanted.
Could he have really escaped?!
If true, then the "gift" he prepared for Gu Xing had no use!
Note, these ten days he spared no expense hiring twenty professional leveling teams, painstakingly elevating the Enchanting Demon to Awakening Tier Eight!
Coupled with an Epic Level talent Guardian Beast, he was confident to sweep the floor...
Especially the one who cheated to acquire an SSS evaluation, Gu Xing!
The following matches were lackluster until Shen Ruoxue took the stage.
The Awakening Tier Five girl purposely didn't defeat her opponent, prolonging the match for ten whole minutes.
Chen Ziming squinted, observing her deliberate time-wasting, his mouth stretching into a dangerous curve.
"Next match, Gu Xing versus Wang Wu!"
The referee's voice silenced the crowd.
When Gu Xing remained absent, Chen Ziming's smile grew colder.
This time, he wouldn't extend another chance!
"Gu Xing disqualifi..."
However, before the referee finished—
"Boom!!!"
A golden meteor suddenly descended, crashing heavily onto the center stage.
...
...