"Follow me."
Teacher Shen Yi waved a hand and turned to walk out of the classroom.
"The next assessment will not be held in the classroom."
The thirty pus students hurriedly stood up and followed behind Teacher Shen Yi.
The corridor was spacious and bright, with Spirit Tool lights embedded at regular intervals along the walls, their soft light spilling onto the youthful, energetic faces of these boys and girls.
"Virtual space..."
Wang Dong'er walked among the crowd, quietly mulling over these four words, a flicker of confusion passing through her pink-blue eyes.
This term felt quite unfamiliar to her.
Although she came from the Clear Sky Sect, was doted on by top powerhouses like Big Dad and Second Dad, had consumed no shortage of rare treasures, and read numerous cultivation manuals...
But something that sounded so full of technological flair? This was truly the first time she had heard of it.
"Big Dad and Second Dad, really..."
Wang Dong'er pursed her lips, grumbling silently in her heart:
"They didn't even tell me how the outside World has developed."
"It seems they really are a bit old-fashioned, can't keep up with the trends of the times."
However, even though she thought this, Wang Dong'er's face still maintained that haughty expression.
She kept her hands in her pockets, her chin slightly raised, exuding an air of 'what haven't I seen in this World'.
She called it a virtual space, but it was probably many rooms, right? They would fight in those rooms. After all... having never seen it, she couldn't imagine at all what a virtual space was like, only roughly understand it.
The group passed through the teaching building and arrived in front of a circular, silver-colored structure.
As Teacher Shen Yi swiped a card to verify her identity, the metal doors slowly slid open to both sides, revealing an overly spacious circular hall inside.
The hall's floor was paved with an unknown silvery-white metal. In the very center was a large circular open space, surrounded by rings of white patterns.
"Alright, everyone stop here."
Teacher Shen Yi walked to the center of the hall and turned to face the group.
"Now, let's take a headcount."
Her gaze swept quickly over the entire class.
"Our class has a total of thirty-two students."
"Excluding Wu Siduo, Luo Guixing, Yang Nianxia, Xu Xiaoyan, and the newly designated Huo Yuhao..."
"These five students, because they already hold positions as committee members for specialized technical roles, do not need to participate in the upcoming free-for-all."
"So, that leaves twenty-seven people."
"Next, from these twenty-seven, we will decide on one class monitor and three Vice-Class Monitors."
At this point, Teacher Shen Yi paused, her tone softening slightly as she asked with a suggestive lilt:
"Of course, if anyone feels their strength is insufficient, or is afraid of getting injured, they can choose to withdraw now."
"Does anyone want to withdraw?"
The room fell completely silent.
Not one of the twenty-seven students took half a step back; not even their eyes showed the slightest waver.
Are you kidding?!
Those are Contribution Points!
Having just learned that Contribution Points are the ticket to the Spirit Ascension Platform, the shortcut to becoming stronger, who would be foolish enough to give up now?
"Very good."
Seeing the burning desire in everyone's eyes, Teacher Shen Yi nodded in satisfaction.
If someone really had backed down, Teacher Shen Yi would have questioned how they had even passed the entrance assessment.
"Since everyone is participating, let's begin."
Teacher Shen Yi pointed at the ground beneath her feet.
"Everyone, step back outside the white circle on the floor."
The students complied, stepping back and clearing the large central open area.
Teacher Shen Yi walked alone to a metal wall of the hall and reached out, seemingly operating a few controls at random.
"Beep—"
A crisp electronic sound rang out.
Immediately after, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded occurred.
On the originally smooth, mirror-like silver wall, complex deep-blue patterns suddenly lit up.
The light rapidly spread from the wall onto the floor.
"Clack-clack-clack—"
Accompanied by a low rumbling of mechanical gears turning, the originally flat metal floor in the center of the hall actually began to slowly split apart! The ground flipped open to the sides.
Then, one silvery-white oval metal pod after another slowly rose from beneath the floor.
These metal pods were about two meters long, their surfaces flowing with a faint light. The upper half was a transparent semi-circular canopy.
"Wow—!"
An uncontrollable gasp erupted from the crowd.
"This... what are these things?!"
"So cool!"
"Is this also a Spirit Tool? How come we've never seen it before?"
In their understanding, Spirit Tools were, at most, things like turrets, ray guns, and storage devices.
Something of this massive scale, intricate structure, and even rising from underground? It completely overturned their worldview!
Even Wang Dong'er, who had been pretending to be calm, couldn't help but slightly open her mouth now, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
"This Shrek Academy... just how many good things are hidden here?"
Teacher Shen Yi said with a light laugh:
"These are virtual pods. They can perfectly replicate your body data, Spirit, and Spirit Abilities, allowing you to engage in practical combat in an absolutely safe virtual World."
"Here, you don't need to hold back. Go all out. If you die in the virtual space, you will be eliminated. Of course, you will still feel pain, so... don't get too curious."
"Alright, enough talk."
"You have three minutes."
"In these three minutes, you need to decide on your tactics."
"You can fight alone or form teams. Those who want to cooperate should choose virtual pods that are closer together."
"Remember, only the last four standing can become Class officers."
"Time starts now!"
With Teacher Shen Yi's command, the previously quiet crowd instantly erupted into chaos.
Although it was called a free-for-all, everyone understood that in this kind of melee mode, fighting alone would definitely get you killed the fastest!
Unless you possessed the absolute strength to take on the entire field alone, finding reliable teammates was the way to go!
"Quick! Who wants to team up with me? I'm attack system!"
"Looking for a team! I'm support system!"
For a moment, calls for teams and shouts rose and fell.
Wang Dong'er still stood in place, unmoving.
Although she was proud, she wasn't foolish.
Glancing at the students around her who were quickly forming groups, she slightly frowned.
She was new here, didn't know anyone, and had acted a bit too aloof earlier. It seemed no one dared to approach her?
Did she really have to take on the whole class alone?Although she had confidence in her own strength, even a fierce tiger couldn't withstand a pack of wolves. What if she got focused down and eliminated? Wouldn't the class monitor position go up in smoke?
Just as Wang Dong'er was hesitating whether to take the initiative...
A petite figure slipped through the crowd and came to stand timidly before her.
"Um..."
Wang Dong'er looked at the girl slightly shorter than herself.
She was very cute, with long, dark green hair, looking gentle and delicate, like the girl next door.
"You are?"
Wang Dong'er raised an eyebrow.
"My name is Xiao Xiao."
The girl mustered her courage and looked up at Wang Dong'er's striking, beautiful face.
"I... I want to team up with you, is that okay?"
As if afraid Wang Dong'er would refuse, Xiao Xiao quickly rattled off her credentials, speaking rapidly:
"My Spirit is the Nine Phoenix Auspicious Flute. It's a mutated Spirit."
"And... I'm a two-ring Spirit Grandmaster, Control System."
"Two rings? Control System?"
"Fine, you're in."
Wang Dong'er readily agreed.
"Great!"
Xiao Xiao let out a sigh of relief, a happy smile appearing on her face.
Just then, another figure approached.
This was also a girl, tall and slender, with neat purple hair.She glanced at Xiao Xiao, then looked at Wang Dong'er, seeming a bit embarrassed, but still spoke up:
"My name is Xier."
"If you don't mind, could you add me too?"
Wang Dong'er looked at her and asked directly:
"Spirit? Rank? What type of Spirit Master?"
Since they were teaming up to compete for class monitor, they needed elites. Dead weight was unacceptable.
Xier pursed her lips, as if finding her Spirit a bit embarrassing to mention, but still said softly:
"Scythe."
"Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
Scythe?
Wang Dong'er was momentarily stunned. The name of this Spirit sounded quite ordinary, nothing special. Still, she had come forward herself. Wang Dong'er agreed. Three against three shouldn't put them at too much of a disadvantage.
With her teammates confirmed, Wang Dong'er's mood improved considerably.
She looked around, wanting to see the team formations of others.
With this look, her gaze instantly froze.
Not far away, beside a virtual pod, stood three boys.
One of them was precisely Tang Wulin, who gave her a sense of familiarity.
"Boss, don't you worry!"
Another youth, Xie Xie, was currently saying to Tang Wulin with a beaming smile:
"With the three of us joining forces, we'll definitely sweep the field!"
Xie Xie patted his chest, his voice so loud he practically wanted the whole hall to hear.
"The class monitor position is definitely yours, boss!"
Tang Wulin smiled wryly and was just about to say something.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze carrying a chill shoot towards him.
He instinctively turned his head and met Wang Dong'er's large pink-blue eyes.
"The class monitor position is definitely his?"
Wang Dong'er snorted coldly in her heart.
"What big talk!"
She would make Xie Xie her first target later!
By now, the three minutes were up.
"Time's up!"
Teacher Shen Yi's voice sounded right on time.
"Everyone, enter the virtual pods immediately!"
The students didn't dare delay, quickly finding their positions.
Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Xier chose three virtual pods right next to each other.
Looking at the metallic hatch, Wang Dong'er took a deep breath.
She stepped into the pod and lay down on the soft, comfortable inner lining.
"Hum—"
As the translucent canopy slowly closed, the outside light and sound gradually became cut off.
----------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Thank you.