55: Chapter 55 Challenge Rewards

Jiangcheng Professional University, Central Trial Arena.

The midday sun spilled through the massive dome, illuminating the entire arena in a magnificent golden light.

Twelve teams, representing the peak combat power of the first-year freshmen, had already lined up in front of the teleportation array.

The air was thick with tension and excitement; the atmosphere had reached a climax not only on-site but also before countless screens across the school broadcasting the event live.

"Whoosh—"

The sound of breaking air suddenly rang out.

Tian Lin, Grade Head, moved like lightning. He flew directly from the high spectator stands, tracing an elegant arc through the air before landing steadily on the high platform in the center of the grounds.

This display of flight immediately drew a wave of gasps from the crowd below.

Tian Lin looked around and cleared his throat, his voice echoing clearly in every corner:

"Students!"

"Welcome to the scene of our annual first-year grand event—the Freshman Challenge Tournament!"

"Standing here are the twelve most outstanding teams of our first year, selected through layers of screening and ranking at the top in points! They are the rising stars, and they are the future!"

As he gestured, the camera panned across the faces of Chen Xi, Zhou Tianren, Yan Zidong, and the others.

"Each of them is now wearing a special Point-Tracking Bracelet provided by the school."

Tian Lin pointed to the blue-glowing devices on the contestants' wrists and continued:

"Next, they will enter a large-scale public dungeon we have carefully selected for them."

"The rules are simple: This dungeon will last for 12 hours. Inside, killing monsters will earn corresponding points—the higher the monster's level, the more points! Of course, if you can defeat other competitors, you can also plunder their corresponding points!"

Hearing this,

Li Murou, standing beside Chen Xi, couldn't help but ask:

"What? In this challenge tournament, you can actually plunder points from other teams?"

Chen Xi nodded.

"Yeah. To prevent teams from just picking up scraps, and to comprehensively test each team's ability to handle various emergencies and situations, the degree of freedom within the dungeon during the challenge tournament is extremely high."

At this point, Chen Xi couldn't help but glance toward the members of Team Kamikaze nearby.

"As long as you don't kill anyone, basically no one will care what you do in the dungeon."

Chen Xi shifted his gaze to the arrogant Zhou Tianren on the other side.

"So, once we're inside, we not only have to farm monsters but also watch out for other teams."

He gave a bitter smile as he spoke.

"We've made quite a few enemies during this period..."

"Don't worry."

Su Xiaoxiao stood behind the two of them, cheering Chen Xi on.

"I'm here."

Chen Xi turned around and responded with a smile and a nod.

...

Meanwhile, on the platform, Tian Lin continued to explain the tournament rules:

"The top three teams in the final point rankings will receive generous rewards in credits and resources!"

At this, Tian Lin's voice suddenly rose, his eyes flashing with a passionate light.

"And the first-place winner will also earn the qualification to represent Jiangcheng Professional University in the entire Southern District First-Year Joint Challenge!"

Whoosh—!

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted into an uproar.

...

Inside a certain base.

"What? There's a district challenge after the Freshman Challenge Tournament?"

Jiang Qing, who was currently devouring a bag of potato chips, froze mid-motion upon hearing Tian Lin's words on the livestream. He looked at his teammates behind him with a dazed expression.

Zhou Li, sitting behind him, immediately put down her soda to explain:

"Of course! Did you think the school went to all this trouble just to hand out a few credits?"

"Jiang University's Freshman Challenge Tournament is actually a selection trial! The goal is only to pick out the single strongest team!"

A hint of longing appeared in Zhou Li's eyes as she continued her explanation:

"This team will carry the glory of our Jiang University and be sent to participate in the entire Southern District Challenge!"

"Do you realize what the Southern District Challenge represents? It gathers the prodigies from eight cities and dozens of top universities in the Southern District! Those who can show their faces on that stage are all monsters among monsters!"

At this point, Zhou Li's voice trembled slightly, and she lowered it to say mysteriously:

"And I heard that as long as you perform well in the district challenge, even if you don't win the championship, it's possible to skip the usual university progression and be directly selected by the Military Department for early special recruitment!"

"Selected by the Military Department?!"

Hearing the words 'Military Department,' Jiang Qing was so startled he dropped his potato chips.

In this world where monsters ran rampant and danger lurked everywhere,

the Military Department represented humanity's strongest line of defense, as well as the ultimate symbol of power and strength.

Beside them, Jin Tong excitedly rubbed his shiny bald head and chimed in:

"Holy crap! That would be awesome!"

"Isn't joining the Military Department the ultimate dream for every Professional? Joining the military doesn't just mean a high salary and subsidies; your whole family gets special privileges. That's being a true elite!"

Zhou Li, however, seemed somewhat unimpressed. She curled her lip and threw a wet blanket on the idea:

"It's not exactly like that."

"Once you go to the Military Department, you're facing real enemies—actual monsters or alien races from the border. It's not like these little skirmishes in school dungeons anymore."

"People actually die there, and the mortality rate is extremely high. 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown,' you know?"

The monsters that university Professionals killed in dungeons were merely those that had been tamed by the Military Department and then released for training.

Under the protection of the school's mechanisms, monsters in university dungeons couldn't completely kill a Professional.

But once they stepped outside the school gates and entered the Military Department, everything changed.

They would have to face the exceptionally ferocious True Demonic Beasts Outside the Border.

After Zhou Li said this, the atmosphere of the entire team turned a bit heavy.

Jiang Qing looked over the silent group and quickly diverted their attention.

"Oh, alright, alright! Stop bragging!"

"People like us, who can't even reach the threshold of the school's Freshman Challenge, what are we doing talking about the district challenge or the Military Department?"

"Let's just watch the match properly and learn how the big shots farm monsters! Look, the map is about to be announced!"

Following the blonde's words, everyone's attention refocused on the screen.

...

In the center of the trial grounds.

Tian Lin's long-winded motivational speech finally ended, and the atmosphere on-site had been built up to its peak.

He took a deep breath.

"Next..."

Tian Lin's palms were sweating slightly as he tried to make his voice sound steady and impartial.

"We will announce the dungeon map for this year's challenge tournament!"

Every eye, including those of Chen Xi, Zhou Tianren, Yan Zidong, and the others,

was fixed intently on Tian Lin.

The choice of map would largely determine each team's tactical arrangements and even the outcome of the competition.

Tian Lin's gaze flickered guiltily, not daring to meet the hundreds of pairs of expectant eyes below the platform.

He gritted his teeth and announced loudly:

"After a random system selection, the map for this challenge tournament is..."

"—Echo Gobi!"