49: A brilliant start

Three days later.

The sunlight dispelled the last trace of darkness, casting light upon the world.

Dongling City, a third-tier small city in Dragon Country, became bustling after the sunrise.

It was not yet eight o'clock, but the main road outside Dongling No. 1 High School was already jammed with pedestrians and vehicles.

Everyone gathered around the School, their faces filled with anticipation as they looked at the sky.

There, a massive projection screen hung high in the sky, displaying a scene of over a thousand young boys and girls with tender appearances standing solemnly.

The onlookers varied in identity; they were either reporters from major news media, recruiters dispatched by large guilds and prominent Schools, or parents hoping their children would become Dragons.

And the over a thousand young boys and girls on the screen all shared the same identity.

They were the students taking the college entrance examination in Dongling City for this year's Dragon Country College Entrance Examination Grand Competition.

At this moment.

On the sports field of Dongling No. 1 High School, a bronze gate radiating a mysterious glow stood silently, and the expectant and anxious gazes of over a thousand examinees were all focused on it.

This bronze gate was the entrance to the Dragon Country's super-large College Entrance Examination Secret Realm Dungeon. All examinees would enter it to battle monsters and clear stages, striving for their future.

Three years of effort.

Would they be a Dragon or an insect?

Would they soar to the sky, or fall to the dust?

It all depended on today!

At the same time.

The College Entrance Examination Grand Competition was not only a grand event for these examinees but also an opportunity for countless families to cross class barriers.

Since the awakening of the will of the heavens, the power of Awakeners has returned to themselves, creating a situation where the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker.

In some small countries on Blue Star, powerful Awakeners even dominated everything, monopolizing all resources.

Although Dragon Country, as a top-tier powerful nation in the world, had abundant national strength and, with great resolve and courage, promoted compulsory education for Awakeners nationwide.

However, under various pressures and the threat of monster armies, it could only provide a path for advancement to everyone as fairly as possible.

The College Entrance Examination Grand Competition.

Only by passing the College Entrance Examination Grand Competition and entering a good university could one continue to obtain resources for advancement.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!!

The bronze gate trembled, and its clear light reflected on the faces of over a thousand examinees.

Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, the principal of Dongling No. 1 High School and a middle-aged man with an aura as vast as the sea appeared one after another before all the examinees.

“The College Entrance Examination Grand Competition is about to begin. All examinees, please prepare yourselves.”

A deep voice echoed across the sports field, instantly igniting the Battle Intent of the examinees present.

Everyone looked at the tall figure beside the principal, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation.

They revered Guardian's Rank 4, Rank 120 strength.

They anticipated that they too could become such a strong person in the future.

And in the crowd, Wang Chen, influenced by the surrounding emotions, also felt a surging Battle Intent rise in his eyes.

“A great Roc soars with the wind in a single day, ascending ninety thousand miles!”

Thinking of a line of poetry he once loved dearly, Wang Chen's face broke into a smile.

Below the bronze gate, Situ Haonan looked at the examinees brimming with Battle Intent, nodded with satisfaction, and then loudly continued:

“The College Entrance Examination Grand Competition will officially begin in ten minutes. Now, please check your equipment and find your teammates.”

After his words fell, the light emitted by the bronze gate became even more intense, and streaks of information appeared in the minds of all examinees.

【College Entrance Examination Secret Realm Dungeon: Lava Cave!】

【Secret Realm Dungeon Grade: Bronze!】

【Secret Realm Minimum Admission Rank: None!】

【Secret Realm Difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, Hell.】

【Secret Realm Number of Entrants: Minimum one person, maximum three people.】

【Secret Realm Introduction: The Lava Cave is inhabited by dark and evil Orcs. Brave challengers, facing them requires not only strength but also wisdom. Please act within your capabilities, and do not let your passion become a delicious drink for the Orcs!】

...

“Bronze-grade Secret Realm Dungeon?!”

After reviewing the information in his mind, a sharp glint flashed in Wang Chen's eyes.

Although it was his first time seeing a Secret Realm Dungeon, he had already learned a lot about it from textbooks.

The classification of Secret Realm Dungeons was similar to equipment Ranks; starting from the lowest Black Iron Rank, the higher the Rank, the more rewards could be obtained within the Secret Realm Dungeon.

A bronze-grade Secret Realm Dungeon yielded at least double the rewards of a Black Iron Rank one.

Moreover, starting from the Bronze Rank, one could choose the difficulty when entering a Secret Realm Dungeon. Easy represented the minimum rewards, and Hell represented the maximum rewards.

The difference in rewards between them was calculated in multiples.

It could be said that choosing which difficulty to enter the Secret Realm Dungeon basically determined the examinee's final score.

Clearing Normal difficulty would grant admission to a third-tier university.

Clearing Hard difficulty would grant admission to a second-tier university.

Clearing Hell difficulty would grant admission to a first-tier university.

As for top-tier universities, only those who perfectly cleared Hell difficulty and ranked among the top examinees who chose Hell difficulty in the entire province would have the chance to choose.

Wang Chen wanted to enter one of Dragon Country's four top-tier universities, so he had no choice but Hell difficulty.

Therefore, after understanding the information about the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm Dungeon, his gaze swept around.

At this moment, when the information about the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm Dungeon was released, the atmosphere on the sports field instantly became boisterous.

Many examinees gathered in groups of two or three, discussing how to deal with the instance after entering.

These people all intended to form teams to enter the instance.

By cooperating as a team, they could challenge higher difficulties, obtain higher scores, and thus enter their desired universities.

However, among the crowd, there were also some examinees standing quietly in place.

These people were confident in their own strength and intended to solo the Secret Realm Dungeon to achieve even better results.

Wang Chen's gaze scanned these people and quickly found his target.

A girl who was 1.7 meters tall, with an aura of 2.8 meters, and a beautiful appearance, standing out like a crane among chickens.

As if intimidated by the girl's powerful aura, a large empty area formed around her.

The girl was Situ Yu.

“Hey, you've been missing these past two days. You didn't go for a class change, did you?”

Walking up to Situ Yu, Wang Chen asked the girl with curiosity.

At this moment, the aura around this girl was completely different from when she first emerged from the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. If Wang Chen's perception wasn't far beyond ordinary people, he wouldn't have discovered the extremely restrained power within her.

“Hmph!”

Hearing Wang Chen's words, Situ Yu snorted coldly, appearing aloof and arrogant, as if she couldn't be bothered.

However, the slight curl of her lips betrayed her current smugness.

“Of course, this girl is now a 2nd Rank, completely different from before.”

Situ Yu, who had been trying very hard to hold back, finally broke character under little Ice Purity's adorable pounce.

“Don't provoke me, or I'll beat you up before the College Entrance Examination Grand Competition starts.”

Hugging little Ice Purity, the girl triumphantly waved her fist.

Seeing this, Wang Chen rolled his eyes.

Good heavens!

You just reached 2nd Rank, and you're already trying to fly to the heavens?

Do you believe I can defeat you with one hand?

Muttering to himself, he didn't expose Situ Yu's boasting. Instead, he smiled and asked:

“Since you're so strong...”

“Want to team up? The kind that's two short for a trio?”