Chapter 694: Preparations Before the Final Joint Exam
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 694: Preparations Before the Final Joint Exam
"No way... isn't this final exam a bit too hard?"
"You think so? Maybe you just didn't study."
At this moment, the lower-year students who had finished their theory assessments were gathered together. The Final Joint Exam began with each academy conducting its own theory tests, followed by the practical combat tests.
"Let's not talk about that. I heard you can actually make money during this final exam. Is that true?"
"Didn't you listen to the mentor? The materials you hunt can be sold back to the academy at market prices, or you can choose to keep them for yourself. Of course you can make some extra cash on the side."
"I didn't hear that part clearly; I thought I was dreaming. The academy is actually opening an official channel for side hustles?"
"Are you guys not even worried about the exam location? We're going to that Expansion Realm. I heard that anyone with a course exemption this semester was allowed to go in early! Those grinders have pulled ahead of us by a huge margin again!"
"For real? There's one in our class. I heard she came back recently, but when I asked her, she said she was just working as an apprentice for a senior sister in the Expansion Realm. Are you sure about that?"
"Maybe that's just an isolated case?"
The lower-year students continued to discuss the upcoming final exam with heated intensity.
This final exam—the Expansion Realm hunt—would last for seven days. Many were looking forward to it.
Furthermore, it was a hunting-style exam. They had experienced this mode before at the Afuhemi Academy hunting grounds, but since that was only a monthly exam, the scale was small—at least compared to the Expansion Realm.
Besides, they weren't allowed to take the prey they caught at the Afuhemi Academy hunting grounds; the Forest Elves would return them to the forest according to their "customs."
However, despite the many restrictions, the hunting mode was indeed very popular.
The Forest Elf hunt at Afuhemi Academy tested hunting instincts: agility, strength, reflexes, identification, and protection. For Forest Elves, these were instincts carved into their very race, and this kind of situational simulation could stimulate and strengthen their innate abilities.
But the hunt in the Expansion Realm... would test much more.
"I heard this assessment uses a method that's never been used before. Something about a network?"
"You weren't paying attention in class, were you? It's the Power Network! We have to set aside our mana sources and spellbooks and use a different, fair kind of power. Everyone starts on the same level!"
"What do you mean? What do you mean everyone is the same?"
"It means from now on, it doesn't matter who has more mana sources or whose spellbook is more powerful. It's all about technique! The art of combat!"
"Wait, why are you guys still hanging around here? Didn't you hear the announcement? We're supposed to head back to class immediately after the theory exam. The counselor is about to announce something very important!"
As the crowd chatted, someone gave a reminder, and those still gossiping began to saunter toward the teaching building.
Once inside, under the direction of their respective counselors, the students began receiving and activating their Knowledge Seeds while listening to explanations on how to use them.
Currently, the promotion of the Knowledge Seeds faced little resistance, and the failure rate was extremely low.
With a failure rate this low, if someone actually failed, they shouldn't reflect on whether there was a problem with the Knowledge Seed, but rather whether there was a problem with themselves.
After the step-by-step tutorial on the most basic functions of the Knowledge Seed, the lessons on the Power Network would begin.
However, since this was their first time encountering it, the Power Network training would wait until they arrived at the Expansion Realm.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Class 14.
As the most unique class among the lower years, Class 14 had once produced figures that made people's hair stand on end. Even though that particular individual had left, the remaining experts in this class were still numerous.
More importantly, this class enjoyed the one-on-one professional service of a single counselor. Other classes usually had one counselor for every four or five classes. The only pity was that this counselor was usually too busy to be seen.
Thus, after the theory exam ended, Class 14 was the first to complete the granting of Knowledge Seeds to the entire class without any accidents.
With a wave of her hand, Ji Niang immediately led the group toward the Expansion Realm teleportation channel.
Ji Niang intended to arrive early to let her students acclimate and to go over the precautions for the Power Network.
Consequently, while other classes were still busy in the large lecture halls setting up their Knowledge Seeds, Class 14 had already finished and was rushing to the Expansion Realm.
At this stage, many were curious about the Knowledge Seeds, constantly fiddling with the functions and trying to sync their existing phone accounts.
Of course, they were most fond of teasing the Knowledge Shadow—the "Artificial Retardation." The responses from the Knowledge Shadow were simply too amusing; even if everyone asked the same question, they might all get different answers.
If they knew that this "Artificial Retardation" was actually a response from their own subconscious... one wondered if they would still be laughing like that.
However, Class 14's rapid completion spurred other classes to speed up. If they weren't fast enough, they would have to wait in line to enter the Expansion Realm on a first-come, first-served basis!
Regardless, Class 14 seized the opportunity to be the first to enter the Expansion Realm.
For many, this was their first time here. Although they hadn't mastered any power that truly belonged to them yet, the invisible pressure of being suppressed by the Great Weakening Spell vanished the moment they crossed the inter-dimensional channel. It was a truly refreshing sensation!
Seeing the scene before them, many were shocked. This was the legendary Ninglan New City!
"Wow... so this is Sister Qiuyue's Ninglan New City? That plaza is huge!"
"By the way, does Sister Qiuyue not have to take the final exam? Where is she?"
"While Ninglan Qiuyue is a student in our class, she is also the City Lord of Ninglan New City. This semester, she earned a final exam exemption through her outstanding performance," Teacher Ji Niang explained to the group. "Also, since we were in a hurry earlier, I've already sent the basic information regarding Ninglan New City to you. Remember to check it via your Knowledge Seeds."
"I will say this one more time because it's important: In the Ninglan Territory, only Ninglan New City, the three shelters, and the three sanctuaries—seven locations in total—are safety zones. No form of brawling or use of transcendent power is allowed within the city. Violators will have points deducted at best, or fail the course at worst."
"Memorize which academy corresponds to which city, shelter, or sanctuary. Supply points differ by academy, and their focus varies. For example, Sixth Shelter has very few supply resources for our Witch Academy, and they're expensive. Understand?"
"Understood!" the students shouted in unison.
Hearing their synchronized response, Ji Niang didn't waste any more words and led them directly out of the city from Ninglan Plaza.
Since the use of power was forbidden inside the city, Teacher Ji Niang needed to take them outside to teach them how to use the Power Network.
In any case, a large area outside the city was considered a safe zone. One shouldn't underestimate the slaughter of mutant beast groups carried out by students over the course of this semester!
"Let's stop here. Everyone, do as I do and open the Power Network module in your Knowledge Seed. No one should have trouble finding it; the icon is huge and obvious."
Teacher Ji Niang demonstrated as she spoke. Once she was sure there were no objections, she continued.
"Once you're on this interface, it will show that you need to create a personal account for the Power Network. But don't mess around on your own; the academy hasn't authorized you to create new accounts. There is a ready-made test account for our year's final exam at the bottom. Everyone, click on that, and then don't move! Listen to my explanation!" To ensure no accidents, Ji Niang made sure everyone could hear her clearly and that no one was clicking randomly.
"After clicking this account, it will automatically perform real-name authentication. If your Knowledge Seed isn't synced with your phone's personal info, you'll need to manually authenticate using your student card now."
"Teacher! What if I didn't bring my student card?" someone asked.
"If you didn't bring it, did you bring your phone?"
"Yes."
"If you have your phone, just sync the info between your phone and the Knowledge Seed. It will verify automatically."
"Oh, okay..."
"Teacher, what if I didn't bring my phone or my student card?"
"Then it'll be a bit more troublesome. You'll have to follow the manual verification process. Either way, we won't let you miss the exam."
After finishing that series of procedures, Teacher Ji Niang began explaining other matters.
"You've all set up your accounts, right? You can ignore the nickname field. If you leave it blank, it will just display your real name. But if you do change your nickname..."
"Uh... what happens if we change it?" several quick-handed students asked hesitantly.
"Then please make sure the nickname looks like it belongs to a human being. Your nicknames will be displayed on the rankings based on your points. Also, this final exam follows tradition and will be live-streamed. Please, have some self-respect for my sake."
Hearing Teacher Ji Niang say this, the students who hadn't intended to change their nicknames silently opened the nickname field.
"The next part of the process is also very important. You should see it now, right? Many of you have a choice of professions appearing before you."
"These professions correspond to the clash of power systems between the various academies participating in this joint exam. For example, the classic Mage profession is the typical representative of our Witch Academy's power. If you choose this profession, it will unlock the Mage's professional equipment slots and the Mage skill tree."
"Professional equipment is the medium through which you use skills. The skill tree contains the spells you can use and their development paths. This is the only transcendent power you can rely on during this joint exam."
"In principle, each academy should choose the profession corresponding to their own school, but there are no hard rules for this joint exam. If you say you want to experience a different power system, that's up to you. You're responsible for yourself; just don't regret it later. Once you choose a profession for this exam, it cannot be changed—at least not for the duration of the exam."
"Then... Teacher Ji Niang, can we form teams for this exam?"
"Of course. There are no restrictions on that. If you can convince the whole class to team up with you, that's fine too—provided you can lead them and perfectly handle the distribution of points... I'm telling you all this because I don't want you to take this exam for granted."
"Oh, I almost forgot. The reason the cities are called safety zones and resource points is that specific assessment areas have been designated within them. Those areas sell specific professional weapons and other supplies."
"Of course, you need to spend points to buy them; no currency other than points is accepted. The more powerful the weapon, the more points it costs. As for how to balance your final grade with having good weapons, that's something you need to consider."
"Also, food, water, housing, and so on all require points. If you're unwilling to spend points on city housing, you can exchange them for a portable tent and camp out. Additionally, I don't recommend eating the meat of mutant beasts; be careful not to get sick. Of course, if you're truly starving, you can use an appraisal spell to see if the beast you hunted is edible. If it is, go ahead."
Teacher Ji Niang explained the specific details and precautions while demonstrating.
Once she was mostly finished, she began describing the ability tendencies of each profession.
In the end, not everyone in the class chose the Witch Mage profession.
Through this brief introduction, many already had a plan in mind. Since this was a very "balanced" power system, cooperation was inevitable, likely in a squad format.
A basic squad would follow the "Tank, Mage, Healer" model, perhaps adding an Elf Ranger or a Wizard for interference and weakening.
At least, that's how they thought it should work.
A melee warrior from the Beast Academy, a Mage from the Witch Academy—though Elves and Wizards had mages too—and as for the healer... that would naturally be the Holy Angels.
Their Holy Light power was the best for dispelling, capable of removing a Wizard's curses or hindering witchcraft, and they could use Holy Light spells for healing.
However, what a race or academy excelled at couldn't be perfectly expressed through a single profession and skill tree. Because of these professional limitations, they would specifically use professions from other academies to compensate for a team's needs and deficiencies.
"Need a healer! Has anyone not picked a profession yet? Join my team, we're missing a healer. The point distribution is pretty good too."
"Anyone want to join our pure Mage team? Pure Mages are viable too... the skill tree has offensive, defensive, and healing spells... and the firepower is insane..."
"Holy crap... I picked the wrong branch for the Beast Academy. I chose the Cat-person branch. Anyone willing to take me? I'm willing to be a scout."
"Then why wouldn't we just take a Ranger? A little kitty can't tank damage."
"Wait, do you guys really think melee professions are just for tanking? This is just a profession, it doesn't actually turn you into an Orc. Where are we girls going to get thick skin and meat?"
As the students discussed and organized their groups, Teacher Ji Niang spoke up again. The moment she spoke, everyone fell silent.
"Alright, quiet down. I hate to interrupt, but I must remind you: this is a formal hunt, not a game. Do not joke around with your lives by bringing a gaming mindset into this!"
Ji Niang watched their playful attitudes and issued the warning. She had given the necessary caution; the rest was up to them. She still had rules to finish.
"Next, let's talk about the additional rules. In this hunt, besides hunting mutant beasts for points, there are other channels."
"Within the city and shelter safety zones, special bounty targets deployed by our academy will refresh periodically. These targets are usually special creatures distinct from mutant beasts. They might be powerful individuals requiring a group effort to kill, or massive biological swarms requiring a coordinated hunt."
"Additionally, we must mention a special group of prey: the Marked Special Participants. They are composed of senior students from various transcendent academies—or rather, they are almost all Teaching Assistants."
"Yes, including the one you're familiar with, our former classmate Yang Yuehan. During the joint exam, hunting that group of Teaching Assistants will grant you a massive amount of points."