5: Chapter 5: On the Eve of the Trial

Early morning.

Today's Jiangcheng University was completely different from before; the air was thick with tension.

On the road outside the school gate, nearly twenty buses were parked, their engines lowing and exhaust pipes emitting white smoke.

"Yangyang, Mommy will be waiting for you to come back. Once you get there, don't try to be a hero, do you hear me?"

"Son, be careful on the road. Keep your wits about you. If there's danger, just run. Don't worry about losing face; keeping your life is what's most important."

"Yueyue, Grandma made dumplings for you and is waiting for you to come back and eat them. You must come back..."

On the road, parents seeing their children off were a mess of tears and snot, making for a truly touching scene.

Inside the campus, students wearing uniform combat suits could be seen everywhere. Several teachers were directing a group of students to load supplies onto the buses.

Everything around clearly indicated that the trial to Nanling was about to begin.

Lin Mo wove through the crowd, heading toward his class's assembly point.

Along the way, most students he saw had tense expressions, speaking in low voices.

Fear of the battlefield was visible in the eyes of most students; it was as if an invisible string was pulled taut in the air.

"Xiaxia, did you hear about what happened yesterday? Over by Laoshu Alley in our West District, Purple Cloud Descent appeared!"

Lin Sisi, dressed in a tight combat suit, spoke with a face full of envy.

"Purple Cloud Descent? For real? That's a phenomenon that only appears for Purple Traits!"

Beside her, another girl exclaimed with an exaggerated expression.

"You didn't know? It really was Purple Cloud Descent. My cousin is a clerk at the Bureau; their entire department had to work emergency overtime until midnight last night!"

"Sigh, I wonder which lucky soul it is. They're going to soar to the heavens now..."

Several familiar voices of discussion reached his ears. Lin Mo looked up to see a few girls gathered together; some were from Class 3 of the Enhancement-type, others were from different classes, and Lin Sisi was among them.

Lin Sisi was also an old neighbor from Laoshu Alley and had always looked out for Lin Mo. His predecessor had quite a favorable impression of her.

"That's why I say, don't look at Purple and Blue as being only one grade apart—they are worlds apart!"

The speaker was Ye Zhixia, an Awakener from Class 1 of the Elemental Department. She was the owner of the Blue-quality trait [Winters Touch], possessed considerable strength, and was a great beauty, ranking fourth on Jiangcheng University's school beauty list.

At this moment, Ye Zhixia was educating the others, her tone carrying obvious envy.

"A Blue trait is a complete crush against a White trait, but compared to a Purple trait, the gap is even larger..."

"Do you know? The Awakener with the Purple trait [Lava Overlord] who appeared in Qingyun City last year was able to briefly change the terrain and climate of a small area right after awakening. I fought him during the college entrance exam, and I didn't have the slightest power to fight back..."

Ye Zhixia lamented.

It couldn't be helped; one was Ice-type and the other was Fire-type. They countered each other, so whoever had the stronger trait held a crushing advantage.

"Wow... that powerful? Even you were no match, Sister Xia?"

"Yeah, I was completely crushed..."

"Ah... doesn't that mean a character that powerful appeared in our Jiangcheng yesterday?"

Ye Zhixia nodded and sighed.

"That's why I said that person from yesterday is lucky to the extreme."

The group all looked envious.

Just then, Lin Sisi saw Lin Mo walking over and immediately called out to him.

"Lin Mo?! You... you really came?"

"Yeah."

Lin Mo nodded.

Lin Sisi pulled him to the side and lowered her voice.

"Are you crazy? That Bait Post... it has a 92% mortality rate! Don't go to your death!"

Lin Mo smiled relaxedly. "It's fine. Isn't there still an 8% survival rate?"

"You're really making me angry. Don't you know those are just average statistics? You only have one White trait, and your cultivation isn't high. If you really reach that chaotic front line, the mortality rate will likely be much higher than 92%!"

"Take my advice, it's not too late to back out now! Even if you get disciplined, it's better than losing your life!"

Her concern was sincere; Lin Mo could feel it.

"Sisi, thanks. I know everything you've said, but I must go."

"Why? Is it just about the credit blacklist? Can that be more important than your life? Or are you just being stubborn with the homeroom teacher?"

Lin Sisi didn't understand. If your life was gone, everything was gone. How could anything be more important than life?

The commotion between the two caught the attention of Ye Zhixia and the others nearby.

Ye Zhixia walked over with her arms crossed. Because she was always pampered by those around her and was quite tall, she always gave off a condescending vibe.

She looked at Lin Mo, her brow furrowing slightly as she spoke.

"Sisi, so he's the unlucky guy from your class who was assigned to the Bait Post? He doesn't even appreciate your kindness!"

Her words resonated with the other students, and someone whispered.

"Exactly, he's too full of himself, acting like he's playing the hero."

"An Awakener with a White trait talking so big is just too stupid!"

"Sisi, stop trying to convince him. Good advice can't save a ghost determined to die."

Lin Mo glanced at Ye Zhixia and the others, saying calmly.

"I have my reasons, and I have my certainties. It'll be fine."

"Certainties?"

Ye Zhixia acted as if she had heard a joke and gave a contemptuous smile.

"What certainties could you have? Running a bit faster than the average person? Even I don't have certainty about this trial, and you, a White trait Awakener... haha..."

The surrounding girls also started to snicker.

"Haha, Sisi's friend is too funny. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was some peerless master!"

Lin Sisi didn't laugh. She just stared at Lin Mo with a serious expression and continued to urge him.

"Lin Mo, please face reality. Where we're going isn't a school combat simulation; it's a real battlefield. Vicious beasts won't reason with you, and they won't let you escape just because you can run."

"When the time comes and a beast tide surges across the mountains, how will you run? Do you think you're that mysterious genius who awakened a Purple trait yesterday?"

Lin Sisi wanted to say more, but the assembly whistle blew at that moment.

"Class 3 of the Enhancement-type, assemble at the meeting point immediately. Our class departs in ten minutes!"

The homeroom teacher, Wang Yan, shouted through a large megaphone.

His gaze swept through the crowd, lingering on Lin Mo for a brief moment.

His eyes seemed to say: "Kid, your time of death is coming soon. Just watch how I play you to death!"

The students immediately began to move, each looking for their class's assembly point.

Class Monitor Zhao Fansheng, leading the group that had heckled him yesterday, swaggered past Lin Mo.

He intentionally stopped and put on an exaggerated act, looking surprised.

"Lin Mo, you really came?"

"I knew it! You, Lin Mo, aren't someone afraid to die. No, a hero—you're a hero!"

The others around him suppressed their laughter, looking at Lin Mo as if he were a dead man. If not for the tight schedule, they probably would have tried to settle yesterday's score with him.

...