Chapter 694 Preparation Before the Final Unified Exam
“Isn’t it… this final exam too difficult?”
“Really? Could it be that you haven’t reviewed?”
At this moment, the lower-year students who had completed the theoretical assessments were gathering together. The Final Unified Exam had completed its theoretical tests in each academy, and only then would the practical tests take place.
“Let’s not talk about that; I heard that we can earn money from this final exam. Is that true?”
“Haven’t you heard from the instructor? The materials obtained from hunting can be redeemed for cash based on market prices, and you can also choose to keep the materials for yourself, so of course, you can make some side income.”
“I didn’t hear clearly at the time; I thought I was dreaming. The academy actually opened an official side income channel?”
“Aren’t you curious about our exam location? This time we are going to the Expanding Realm. I heard that if you’re exempt from courses this semester, you can enter early! We have been left far behind by those top students!”
“Is that true? We have one in our class; I heard she came back recently. When I asked her, she said she was apprenticing under a senior in the Expanding Realm. Are you sure?”
“Maybe it’s just an exception?”
At this time, the lower-year students were still enthusiastically discussing the upcoming final exam.
This final exam, which involved hunting in the Expanding Realm, would last for seven days.
Many people were quite looking forward to it.
Moreover, this time it was a hunting mode. They had experienced this mode in the hunting grounds of Aphhemia Academy, but since it was only a monthly exam, the scale was small and definitely could not compare to the Expanding Realm.
Also… In the hunting grounds of Aphhemia Academy, the prey they hunted could not be taken away; the Forest Elves would return them to the forest according to their “customs.”
However… although there were many restrictions, this hunting mode was indeed very popular.
The hunting test at Aphhemia Academy focused on hunting instincts, agility, strength, reaction, identification, defense, etc. For the Forest Elves, these were ingrained instincts that could be stimulated and enhanced through such simulated scenarios.
As for the hunting in the Expanding Realm… it tested much more.
“I heard that this exam uses a method that has never been used before—something like a network?”
“Weren’t you attentive in class? It’s called the Power Network! Forget about those Magic Sources and Spellbooks; we will use a different kind of fair power. Everyone is the same!”
“What do you mean, everyone is the same?”
“It means we no longer have to look at who has more Magic Sources or whose Spellbooks are more powerful; it all comes down to skills! The art of combat!”
“Wait, why are you all still lingering here? Didn’t you hear we need to finish the theory and go back to class quickly? The instructor is about to announce something very important!”
Just as everyone was discussing, someone reminded them, and those still chatting started to make their way toward the teaching building.
Once they arrived at the teaching building, the students began the distribution and use of Knowledge Seeds under the arrangements of their respective instructors, followed by explanations of how to use them.
Currently, the resistance to the promotion of Knowledge Seeds was not significant, and the failure rate was very low.
Given the low failure rate, if someone did fail, it should not be a reflection of the Knowledge Seeds being problematic, but rather an issue with the student.
After hand-holding the basic tutorial on using Knowledge Seeds, the teaching about the Power Network would commence.
However, as it was their first time encountering it, the teaching about the Power Network would wait until they reached the Expanding Realm.
At this moment, in Class 14.
Class 14 was the most unique lower-year class and had once produced characters that made others fearful. However, even after that character left, the remaining strong students in this class were still numerous.
More importantly, this class uniquely enjoyed one-on-one professional services from an instructor; other classes had at least four or five classes grouped under one instructor. The only downside was that this instructor was very busy and rarely seen.
Therefore, after the final theoretical exam, Class 14 was the first to complete the distribution of Knowledge Seeds, without any mishaps.
So, Instructor Ji waved her hand and led everyone collectively toward the teleportation passage to the Expanding Realm.
Instructor Ji also planned to arrive early and allow her class to adapt to the environment, and later, she would explain the important points about the Power Network.
Thus, while other classes were still busy using Knowledge Seeds in the large classroom, Class 14 had already finished and rushed to the Expanding Realm.
During this time, many were very curious about the Knowledge Seeds, constantly fiddling with their functions, even attempting to sync their current phone accounts for communication.
Of course, they liked to toy with the Knowledge Shadow “artificial intelligence” even more because its responses were incredibly entertaining. Even if everyone asked the same question, they could receive different answers…
If they knew that this artificial intelligence was actually responding to their subconscious, who knows if they could still laugh like that?
However, the fast completion by Class 14 also sped up the pace of other classes. If they didn’t hurry, they would have to line up to enter the Expanding Realm in the order they arrived!
But regardless, Class 14 seized the opportunity and entered the Expanding Realm first.
This was many people’s first time here. Although they did not possess any particular powers, the intangible pressure that came from the great suppressive magic reduced significantly the moment they crossed the interdimensional passage, which indeed felt quite refreshing!
Upon seeing the scene before them, many people were quite shocked. This was the Ninglan New City that they had only heard about!
“Wow… is this Ninglan New City, Sister Qiuyue? What a huge plaza!”
“By the way, does Sister Qiuyue not have to take the final exam? Where is she?”
“Ninglan Qiuyue is a student in our class, but she is also the City Lord of Ninglan New City. This semester, she earned an exemption from the final exam through her excellent performance.” At this moment, Teacher Ji began to explain to everyone, “Also, since we were in a rush earlier, I have already sent you the basic information about Ninglan New City. Remember to check it through the Knowledge Seeds.”
“I’ll repeat the important points. In the Ninglan Realm, only Ninglan New City, three refuges, and three shelters—a total of seven places—are safe zones. Fighting and the use of Extraordinary Powers are prohibited within the city. Violators will have their points deducted lightly or fail completely in severe cases.”
“Remember the corresponding academies for each city, refuge, and shelter. The supply points vary by academy, focusing on different elements. For example, the sixth refuge provides very few and expensive resources for us at the Witch Academy. Do you understand?”
“Understood!” ×n
Hearing the students’ synchronized responses, Teacher Ji did not need to say more and directly led everyone out of Ninglan Plaza.
Since the use of powers was not allowed in the city, Teacher Ji needed to take them outside to teach them about the Power Network.
Anyway, a large area outside the city was considered a safe zone. One shouldn’t underestimate the carnage against mutated beast groups that those students could accomplish in this semester!
“Let’s stop here. Everyone, open the Knowledge Seed’s Power Network module like I did. Surely no one can’t find it, right? It’s such a large and obvious indicator.”
As Teacher Ji demonstrated, she continued, and when there were no objections from the class, she continued her explanation.
“After reaching this interface, it will require the creation of a personal account for the Power Network, but don’t mess around; the academy has not authorized you to create new accounts. There is a ready-made account here for this year’s final exam; everyone should click on this one and then don’t do anything else! Just listen to my explanation!” Teacher Ji ensured that everyone could hear clearly and kept everyone from randomly clicking.
“After clicking this account, it will automatically verify your identity. If your Knowledge Seed hasn’t synced with your phone’s personal information, you’ll need to verify manually using your student card.”
“Teacher, what if I forgot my student card?” someone asked at this moment.
“If you forgot, did you at least bring your phone?”
“I did.”
“Then just sync the phone with the Knowledge Seed for automatic verification.”
“Oh, okay…”
“Teacher, I didn’t bring my phone or student card!”
“Then it becomes a bit troublesome. Follow the verification process; after all, they won’t let you take the exam without verifying.”
After finishing this series of processes, Teacher Ji began to explain other matters.
“Everyone has created their accounts, right? You can ignore the nickname; if you don’t fill it in, it will display your real name. But if you change it…”
“Um… what will happen if we change it?” Several quick students hesitantly asked.
“Then make sure your nickname looks like a real person, because your nickname will be ranked based on points, and like before, this final exam will also have live broadcasts. Please give me a little face, okay?”
Upon hearing Teacher Ji say this, the students who hadn’t planned on changing their nicknames quietly opened the nickname section.
“The next process is also very important. You should now see the choice of professions before you.”
“These professions correspond to the collision of power systems among the various academies participating in this unified exam. For example, the classic Mage profession is a typical power representative of our Witch Academy. If you choose this profession, it will unlock the Mage’s equipment panel and skill tree.”
“Professional equipment is the medium you use for skills, and the skill tree contains the spells you can use and their development paths. It is also the only extraordinary power you can rely on during this unified exam.”
“In principle, every academy should choose a profession corresponding to its own academy, but this time there are no strict regulations. If you want to experience a different power system, you’re free to do so. Just be responsible for your own choice; don’t regret it later. Once you choose a profession, you cannot change it during the unified exam.”
“Then… Teacher Ji, can we team up for this unified exam?”
“Of course! There are no restrictions. If you can persuade the entire class to team up with you, that’s fine. Just make sure you can command them and manage the point distribution perfectly… I’m saying this to remind you not to take this unified exam too lightly.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Within the city, the areas designated as safe zones and resource points have special testing areas, where specific professional weapons are sold along with other supplies.”
“Of course, purchasing requires spending points; they don’t accept any currency other than points. The more powerful the weapon, the more points you will need. As for how to balance your final grade with useful weapons, that is something you need to think about.”
“Um, food, water, housing, etc., also need points. If you don’t want to spend those points on housing in the city, you can exchange them for portable tents for camping. Also, I don’t recommend eating the meat of mutated beasts; be careful not to get sick. However, if you are really starving, you can use identification spells to check if the mutated beasts you hunt are edible. If they are, it’s up to you.”
While Teacher Ji was explaining the specifics to the students, she was also demonstrating.
After covering most of the points, she started describing the capability tendencies of various professions.
However, ultimately, not everyone in the class chose the Witch Mage profession.
Because during this brief understanding, many had already made up their minds. Since this was a very “balanced” profession system, collaboration was inevitable, resembling a team mode.
So, according to a basic profession setup of “warrior, mage, healer,” they would at most add an elf ranger or wizard for crowd control or debuffs, etc.
At least that was the thinking they had.
Close combat fighters from Beast Academy, Mages from Witch Academy, and of course, both elves and wizards had their own mages. As for healing… naturally, it would be the Holy Angels.
Their holy light powers were the best dispel powers and could help cleanse curses and impairments, etc., and they could heal with holy spells as well.
However, a race or academy’s strengths could not be perfectly expressed through just one profession and skill tree. Therefore, due to the constraints of professions, they were specifically using professions from other academies to address the needs and shortcomings of their team.
“Anyone need a healer? Is there anyone who hasn’t chosen a profession? Join my team; we need a healer, and the point distribution is quite good.”
“Anyone want to join our pure mage team? Pure mages are great too… The skill tree has attack, defense, and healing spells, right? The firepower is solid…”
“Whoa… I mistakenly chose the catfolk branch in Beast Academy. Is anyone willing to take me? I’m willing to be a scout.”
“Then why shouldn’t we get a ranger? Little cats can’t tank damage.”
“Wait, do you really think close combat professions can be the main damage takers? This is just a profession, and it doesn’t turn you into a beast. Where do girls get that thick skin and tough flesh?”
As everyone debated and assigned teams, Teacher Ji once again spoke up, and upon hearing her voice, everyone fell silent.
“Alright, quiet down. Although I don’t want to interrupt you, I must remind you that this is a formal hunt, not a game, and don’t approach it with a gaming mentality or treat yourselves as a joke!”
Seeing the playful attitudes of everyone, Teacher Ji felt the need to remind them, but she had already given the warnings. The remaining rules were still to be stated.
“Next, let’s talk about additional rules. In this hunt, apart from hunting mutated beasts to gain points, there are other channels.”
“In the safe zones of the city and refuges, special bounty targets released by our academy will appear from time to time, usually different from mutated beasts. They might be powerful individuals that require you to work together to defeat, or large groups of creatures that need you to hunt in unity.”
“Additionally, we need to discuss a special hunting group—the marked special participants. They are composed of senior students from various Extraordinary Academies, or rather, they’re mostly teaching assistants.”
“Yes, that’s right. You know her well—our former classmate Yang Yuelan, that group of teaching assistants. During the unified exam, hunting them can yield massive points.”
