The graduation trial doesn't just involve the Seventh Safe Zone where Wang Xu resides. Students with exceptional talent and strong abilities from the First Safe Zone, Second Safe Zone... all the way to the Sixth Safe Zone will come to participate in the graduation trial.
At that time, geniuses from all over the world will start competing for the limited slots in the battle groups.
This is a grand trial, a confrontation with global geniuses, which for Wang Xu, feels more like a cultivation journey, breaking through layers of encirclement with bloody determination!
"Tier Three, go this way, enter Channel B for the Elite Battle Group assessment. Tier Four, go this way, enter Channel A for the Genius Battle Group assessment."
The person guiding the Seventh Safe Zone was a thin man, dressed in military attire, carrying a green military backpack, wearing hiking boots, and was directing the students from the Genetics Academy into the channels.
Following the man's instructions, Wang Xu walked towards Channel A, which seemed exceptionally deserted compared to Channel B. Besides Wang Xu, there were a few young people whom Wang Xu had never met before.
"Are you Wang Xu?" a young man with fiery red hair asked, a smile on his face as he approached.
"Yes." Wang Xu looked at him in confusion.
"Haha, it's really you! I admire you so much for killing a student during the trial. That's incredible!" the red-haired man laughed heartily, extending his hand. "Let me introduce myself. I'm from the 'Inner Courtyard' and my name is Li Ming. Everyone calls me 'Red Hair.'
From the Inner Courtyard?
Wang Xu was secretly surprised. The Inner Courtyard was different from the Outer Courtyard. It's said that everyone there has extraordinary talent. This Li Ming in front of him seemed younger, yet his abilities appeared to surpass Wang Xu's own.
"I won't introduce myself. You should be more familiar with me." Wang Xu said.
"Haha, that's thanks to my senior brothers and sisters. They're much stronger than I am and are one of our competitors," Red Hair said.
Wang Xu glanced at the men and women in front of him, secretly alarmed. No one from the Inner Courtyard was weaker than him.
"The one in black at the front with a stern face is our senior brother. He's already a Tier Five Genetic Warrior, doesn't need to participate in the trial, and was directly recruited by the Genius Battle Group!" Red Hair whispered.
Tier Five!
Wang Xu's gaze fell on the man in black at the very front. He was quite handsome, with a cold demeanor, and arrogance in his eyes.
Seemingly feeling Wang Xu's gaze, the man in black turned to look at Wang Xu.
Wang Xu nodded amicably, but the man in black just glanced at him and turned away.
"Don't mind him. Our senior brother is like that. Even though he always has a stern face, he's very helpful to us," Red Hair said.
At the end of the passage, a high-speed train rested on the tracks, surrounded by a faint green aura. Its entire body was made of S-Level minerals. Such a train would cost at least several billion Earth Coins!
The graduation trial differs greatly from the academy trials. You can't use the Jump Room to enter; you must arrive via this old-fashioned method of transport.
After confirming their identities, Wang Xu and Red Hair boarded the train.
"Hi! Wang Xu!" Upon boarding, a pleasant and melodious voice called out. Wang Xu followed the voice and saw Tang Yan.
Tang Yan had changed from her usual gentle appearance, cutting her long hair short, with bright eyes and white teeth. Energetically waving, she greeted Wang Xu.
Wang Xu smiled slightly. He had grown tremendously, no longer the shy boy whose heart raced and cheeks burned at the sight of Tang Yan. He walked straight over and sat opposite her.
"Congratulations," Wang Xu said.
"You said it! When I advanced to Tier Four, so many classmates came to congratulate me, but you didn't show up," Tang Yan pouted.
Wang Xu sheepishly scratched his nose. For the past half year, he had been wholly immersed in cultivation in the Extreme Ancient Hall, unaware of external matters. He only learned of Tang Yan's promotion from Li Lian.
"Brother Zhang," Wang Xu greeted Zhang Xinglin, who was resting with eyes closed in the corner.
Although Zhang Xinglin didn't accomplish what he promised during the trial, in retrospect, they weren't close to begin with. Why should Zhang Xinglin help him?
Having come to terms with this, Wang Xu cheerfully greeted Zhang Xinglin.
Zhang Xinglin opened his eyes, nodded to Wang Xu, and then closed them again.
Wang Xu could sense the battle intent in Zhang Xinglin's eyes. Clearly, he was discontent that Wang Xu had advanced to Tier Four before him, perhaps planning to challenge Wang Xu one day for a duel to determine superiority.
After looking around, Wang Xu noticed that despite the train's length, only three students from the Outer Courtyard, six from the Inner Courtyard, and attendants were present.
The carriage was quiet. Wang Xu chatted with Tang Yan while those from the Inner Courtyard spoke in low tones, leaving only the whistling wind to fill the carriage.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a suit addressed everyone on the onboard screen in the carriage.
"In another two hours, you will arrive at the location of your graduation trial. I am the person in charge of this trial, 'Lin Fengxiao', and I will now explain the rules of the graduation trial to you."
"Please remember, the purpose of this trial is simple: to hunt Insect Beasts. When you kill an Insect Beast, you only need to bring back a part of its body. Of course, for this trial, Space Rings are not allowed."
Hearing this, Wang Xu frowned; no Space Rings allowed?
"We will grade you based on the level and difficulty of hunting the Insect Beasts. You can rest assured of the fairness."
"Secondly, we will provide each participant in the trial with a Help Signal Flare. If you encounter danger, you can shoot it into the sky, and we will send someone to rescue you. However, at the same time, you will lose your trial qualification."
"Thirdly, the trial will run from twelve o'clock today until noon tomorrow. You must return to the train's terminal station by noon tomorrow. We will not delay for one or two people, and if you don't make it, you will be declared dead."
"The rules have been explained. Everyone, you have two hours to prepare. Strive to survive this trial."
After speaking, the middle-aged man smiled, and the screen went black.
Wang Xu also felt a heaviness settling in his heart. Without Space Rings, they couldn't set up radiation outposts and had to battle Insect Beasts in the dark... This would greatly increase the mortality rate!
Moreover, the middle-aged man didn't mention three critical points.
First, the trial did not specify the level of the Insect Beasts, which means encountering Tier Five or even Tier Six Insect Beasts outside the Safe Zone is not impossible.
Second, even if you fire the Help Signal Flare, rescuers may not be able to reach you quickly, and by that time, you may still be unable to escape danger.
Third, and the most terrifying and crucial point, the middle-aged man did not expressly forbid students from killing each other, meaning the graduation trial area is a lawless zone where strength reigns supreme!
All the conjectures pointed to death; Wang Xu's face turned serious; the graduation trial was indeed not easy.
......
Elsewhere, several dozen powerful figures gathered, their eyes fixed on a large screen that displayed the trains from all the Safe Zones heading to the trial site.
Among these formidable figures, one was recognized by Wang Xu, the white-bearded dean with a purple cane.
"Quite the lineup this time, White Sword old man. I heard your Extreme Ancient Hall invited an Tier Four Genetic Warrior ahead of time?" a bald man with three bloody marks on his face said to the dean.
"Oh? Did the White Sword old man invite someone himself? Is it a monstrous genius?" a handsome man in Silver Armor holding a Great Saber said.
"Three-Eyed, Silver Armor, stop teasing me. This kid has some talent, and I just happened to have three spare slots available." The dean chuckled.
The bald man called Three-Eyed pouted and said, "If someone else said this, I'd believe it, but since it's coming from you, White Sword old man, I don't believe it."
The Silver Armor man also laughed, "Exactly, I remember last time when the White Sword old man personally invited someone, they were only Tier Three. In no time, they entered the Inner Courtyard and advanced to Tier Five. Your sharp judgment is unmatched."
The dean chuckled, not responding.
"Hmph! People from your Extreme Ancient Hall sure love to chat." An incongruous voice spoke up; it was a man in yellow Battle Armor, looking at the dean and his group with a hint of animosity.
"Yellow Dragon, what our Extreme Ancient Hall people talk about is none of your business, so stay out of it!" Three-Eyed's face darkened as he shouted.
Three-Eyed's harsh tone drew the attention of those around them.
"It's none of my business, but in this graduation trial, our Freedom Alliance has absorbed five Tier Five talents. How about your Extreme Ancient Hall? Only three. When the points ranking comes out, don't blame us if you're not even in the top ten." Yellow Dragon sneered.
"Do you want to test my patience, Three-Eyed?" Three-Eyed stared at Yellow Dragon, battle intent boiling, seemingly ready to fight at any moment.
The graduation trial was a competition both between students and forces. Whoever could claim higher positions in the rankings would naturally have more influence and better recruitment opportunities for talent. Naturally, geniuses would choose the stronger force.
"Alright, alright." An elder in a yellow robe stepped out, smiling widely, "Let's put these things aside. Humanity should stand united against the outside threats, setting aside internal grudges and conflicts."
"Robe, were you a monk in a past life? You're always the peacemaker everywhere you go." Yellow Dragon frowned.
"Haha, for the sake of this old man, let's just drop it here." Robe cupped his fists, and Three-Eyed and Yellow Dragon exchanged a sharp look before ignoring each other.
.........
Two hours later, the high-speed train slowed to a stop.
"Alright everyone, hand over your Space Rings to the person in charge, and you can leave the train. Remember, be sure to return by noon tomorrow." Following the order, Wang Xu took a green backpack, handed in his Space Ring to the person in charge, and walked off the train.
Taking a deep breath, he found himself amidst a wilderness outside the suburbs. Random glances revealed buildings reduced to ruins, along with a few destroyed skyscrapers among them.
"The trial has begun!"