221: Start testing

"There are a total of 137 teleportation channels here, leading to the assessment points of various Tower of Knowledge..."

"The central stone tablet will record your academic credit rankings. The left side shows the last ten thousand years, and the right side shows the overall ranking of all past examinees..."

"The specific rules are on the notice board over there. You can get a wristband in front of it, which will record your assessment progress..."

"Also..."

The guiding maiden casually brushed her hair aside, tilted her head, and lowered her voice, saying:

"Mr. Zhang Huaiyuan, as long as you achieve thirty academic credits in one tower's assessment, you only need to gather enough credits from the simpler assessments in the other towers..."

A remark identical to what Scholar Buli had said earlier reached his ears.

"I understand. Thank you, miss."

Zhang Huaiyuan politely returned a smile.

"You're welcome. I wish you a smooth assessment."

The guiding maiden smiled slightly, then turned and walked towards the study.

"Why does this guy have someone specially escort him in?"

To the side, a group of examinees gathered in front of the notice board, seemingly acquainted, spoke with some surprise.

"It's my first time seeing it too. I heard that those who guide are elites from the Time Traveler Association's affiliated academies, always looking down on others. Yet, she seemed so polite just now?"

"Could he be another peerless genius?"

"Can he be more talented than Sister Qingran? She didn't get this treatment."

Though there was a hint of dissatisfaction in their words, no one stepped forward to provoke him. They merely whispered a few words amongst themselves.

The Level 39 white-robed woman, who faintly heard the discussion, paused her steps towards a teleportation channel and subtly glanced sideways.

"A human male with a rather delicate and unremarkable appearance."

Seeing nothing special, she withdrew her gaze and stepped into the teleportation channel, disappearing from sight.

On the other side, Zhang Huaiyuan naturally didn't care about the discussions of the crowd.

As long as they didn't seek death by provoking him, it was fine.

He took a few steps forward to the notice board.

The few people who were originally gathered there unconsciously retreated, sensing an invisible aura of suppression from a true academic master.

"Hmm... it's about the same as what Scholar Buli said. No need to look further."

After a brief glance, Zhang Huaiyuan understood.

He took a wristband and put it on, then turned to look at the rankings.

The highest record within ten thousand years was 412 total academic credits and 39 single-subject academic credits.

The historical overall ranking was a bit terrifying: 3632 total academic credits, 49 single-subject academic credits, achieved by a fellow named Vilandir.

However, the second place was more normal, with 961 total academic credits and 43 single-subject academic credits.

"Terrifying."

Zhang Huaiyuan's heart couldn't help but tremble.

A single-subject score of 40 represented the level of a junior Scholar of the Association, not to mention 49. That was almost close to a mid-level Scholar!

Even with the help of True Sight, he couldn't say for certain that he could reach 40 in a single subject.

"There's always someone better. I wonder who this guy named Vilandir is, to be so terrifying. I also wonder how many points I can achieve."

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

Without further delay, he walked straight towards the more than one hundred teleportation channels.

He found the marker for the Virtual Tower and stepped in without hesitation.

In a single step, the world instantly changed.

One second he was on an island, the next he seemed to be in endless void.

Even a gigantic black hole was approaching not far away, devouring all light.

Infinite gravity was pulling his body, making him unable to move, only able to watch himself step by step towards darkness.

"Huh, has the assessment already begun?"

If it were an ordinary person seeing this scene, they would probably be scared out of their wits on the spot.

However, Zhang Huaiyuan had already reached Level 36 in the research of intelligent lifeforms.

Even without relying on True Sight, he could tell at a glance that these were merely illusions, similar to a virtual projection world.

"Time is limited, so I'll use the fastest method."

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Huaiyuan's eyes, and instantly, the composition of the entire virtual world was clearly fed back into his mind.

Countless intricate symbols formed a complete world with almost no flaws.

He pointed his hand into the void.

Lines of data materialized out of thin air and embedded themselves into the intersection points of various program links.

Soon, the black hole that devoured everything began to disintegrate from within.

The originally stable space also peeled away in an instant like a shattered mirror.

"Oh, 17 seconds. It seems this examinee's skill level is quite good."

A peculiar being came into view; its entire body was covered in countless tentacles, and its head was especially large.

Upon seeing Zhang Huaiyuan emerge, it suddenly grinned:

"Little one, wait on the side for the others."

"Alright, senior."

Zhang Huaiyuan naturally wasn't intimidated by this appearance.

He knew that many powerful individuals would evolve or modify their bodies into forms most suitable for research.

Multi-tentacled structures like this, capable of changing form, were especially popular.

Moreover... he always felt that the gaze of the being before him was a bit strange, and his eyes couldn't help but flicker slightly.

[Kraft]

Category: Modified Lifeform.

Profession: Scholar.

Professional Level: Not yet analyzed... Affiliated Force: Time Traveler Association Virtual Tower.

Fortune Value: Not yet analyzed... "Cannot analyze?"

Zhang Huaiyuan's expression remained unchanged, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

After arriving on the island, he had met many Scholars, some of whom were intermediate Scholars, and he could fully see their data.

This meant that the person before him was at least an advanced or even higher terrifying existence.

His expression immediately became more cautious, and he stood to the side, waiting patiently.

"Current number of passed assessments: 1. Total academic credits: 1. Highest single-subject academic credits: 1 (Virtual Tower)."

"The first stage was quite simple. I wonder how many people can pass."

After glancing at his assessment wristband, Zhang Huaiyuan looked up at the path he had just taken.

He saw the peculiar creature in front extending more than a dozen tentacles.

Each tentacle tip formed a complex matrix.

Above these tentacles, more than a dozen examinees were suspended in mid-air.

Their expressions were either terrified or bewildered; only a few seemed to have found a solution and were looking serious, their hands rapidly moving.

Evidently, the illusory world that seemed so real just now was merely constructed casually by this peculiar being.

"Is this the strength of an advanced or higher Scholar... truly terrifying..."

Zhang Huaiyuan activated True Sight to secretly learn the matrix's structure while quietly waiting.

One minute... five minutes... ten minutes... It wasn't until 52 minutes had passed that the second person broke free, and upon seeing the surroundings, immediately showed a joyful expression.

"Wait on the side."

This time, the strange being did not greet him as amicably as it had Zhang Huaiyuan, instead reprimanding him coldly.

After waiting another eight minutes, it suddenly flicked a tentacle, directly throwing the remaining dozen or so examinees out of the channel, and said expressionlessly:

"Such a simple virtual cage, and you couldn't get out for a full sixty minutes. Such trash dares to come to my Virtual Tower? Get out."

...