Chapter 694: Preparations Before the Joint Final Exam

“Seriously... this final exam is too difficult.”

“Is it? You didn't review, did you?”

At this moment, the low-grade students who had completed the theoretical assessment were gathered together.

The final joint exam would only proceed to the practical combat test after all the academies had completed their theoretical exams.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore. I heard that we can earn money in this final exam. Is that true?”

“Didn’t you hear the mentor lecture? The materials from the hunted prey can be recovered directly at the market's buy-back price, or you can choose to keep the materials yourself. So, of course, you can earn extra money.”

“I didn't hear clearly then. I thought I was dreaming. The academy actually opened an official channel for extra income?”

“Why don't you all care about our examination location? We are going to the Expansion Realm this time! I heard that anyone with course exemptions this semester could enter early! We've been left far behind by those involution kings again!”

“Really? Our class has one. I heard she came back recently. But when I asked her, she said she was working as an apprentice for a high-grade senior sister in the Expansion Realm. Are you sure?”

“Maybe that's just an isolated case?”

At this moment, the low-grade students were still discussing the upcoming final exam intensely.

This final exam, which was the Expansion Realm hunt, would last for seven days.

Many people were still very much looking forward to it.

Moreover, this time it was a Hunting Mode.

They had experienced this mode at the Aphrodite Academy hunting grounds, but because it was only a monthly exam, the scale was small.

It definitely couldn't compare to the Expansion Realm.

And... they couldn't take the hunted prey from the Aphrodite Academy hunting grounds with them.

The Forest Elves would return them to the forest according to their own "customs."

However... although there were many restrictions and rules, this hunting model was indeed very popular.

However, the Aphrodite Forest Elves' hunt tested the hunting instinct: agility, strength, reaction, discrimination, defense, and so on.

For the Forest Elves, these were instincts ingrained in their race, which could be stimulated and their abilities strengthened through this kind of scenario simulation.

But the Expansion Realm hunt... tested much more.

“I heard that the assessment this time uses a method that has never been used before. It seems to be some kind of network?”

“Didn't you listen carefully in class? It's the power network! We set aside our Magic Power Sources and Spellbooks and use another fair power. Everyone is the same!”

“What does that mean? What does 'everyone is the same' mean?”

“It means that in the future, we don't have to look at who has more Magic Power Sources or who has a more powerful spellbook to determine who is strong. Now, it's about technique! The art of combat!”

“No, why are you all still loitering here? Didn't you hear that we should hurry back to class after the theoretical exam? The counselor is about to announce something very important!”

Just as everyone was chatting, someone reminded them, and those who were still idly talking slowly started heading towards the academic building.

Upon reaching the academic building, the students, arranged by their respective counselors, began the distribution and use of the Seed of Knowledge, and then the explanation of its usage.

Currently, the resistance to the popularization of the Seed of Knowledge was not significant, and the failure rate was extremely low.

With such a low failure rate, if someone truly failed, the problem should not be attributed to the Seed of Knowledge, but to the individual student.

After a hand-to-hand teaching of the most basic Seed of Knowledge usage guide, the teaching of the power network would also begin.

However, since this was their first time encountering it, the power network teaching would only start after they reached the Expansion Realm.

And at this moment, Class 14.

Class 14, as the most unique low-grade class, had once seen a figure who made people's expression change upon mention, but even after that figure left, the remaining powerhouses in this class were still numerous.

More importantly, this class alone enjoyed a one-on-one professional service from a counselor.

Other classes typically shared one counselor among four or five classes.

The only pity was that this counselor was usually very busy and rarely seen.

Therefore, after the final theoretical exam ended, Class 14 was the first class to complete the Seed of Knowledge granting process for all students, with no accidents.

So, Ji Niang waved her hand, directly leading everyone to the Teleportation Channel towards the Expansion Realm.

Ji Niang also planned to arrive early, allowing her students to adapt first, and then to explain the precautions regarding the power network.

Thus, one could see that while other classes were still busy using the Seed of Knowledge in large classrooms, Class 14 had already finished and was rushing to the Expansion Realm.

Actually, at this time, many people were very curious about the Seed of Knowledge, constantly fiddling with its functions, and even trying to synchronize their existing phone accounts for mutual communication, and so on.

Of course, they still preferred to tease the Shadow of Knowledge (the "Artificial Idiot"), because the replies from the Shadow of Knowledge were simply too interesting.

Even if everyone asked the same question, they might receive different answers.

If they knew that this Artificial Idiot was actually the response of their own subconsciousness... I wonder if they could still smile like that.

However, the rapid completion by Class 14 also made the other classes speed up.

If they weren't quick, they would have to queue up according to the first-come, first-served order to enter the Expansion Realm!

But no matter what, Class 14 seized this opportunity and was the first to enter the Expansion Realm.

This was the first time for many people to come here.

Although they hadn't fully mastered any power that entirely belonged to them, the intangible pressure suppressed by the Great Weakening Spell was relieved the moment they crossed the two-realm channel, which indeed felt very comfortable!

Seeing the scene before them, many people were very shocked.

This was the Ninglan New City they had only heard of in rumors!

“Wow... is this Sister Qiuyue's Ninglan New City? What a huge plaza!”

“By the way, does Sister Qiuyue not need to take the final exam? Where is she?”

“Although Ninglan Qiuyue is a student in our class, she is also a City Lord of Ninglan New City. This semester, she earned the qualification for a final exam exemption through her excellent performance.”

Teacher Ji Niang also spoke up to explain to everyone.

“Furthermore, we left in a hurry earlier. I have already sent you the basic information about Ninglan New City. Remember to view it through the Seed of Knowledge.”

“I'll repeat the important matters: in the Ninglan Area, only Ninglan New City, three Sanctuaries, and three Shelters—a total of seven places—are safe zones. Fighting, brawling, and the use of Transcendent power in any form are not allowed within the city. Violators will have their scores deducted for minor offenses and their grades canceled for severe offenses.”

“Remember the academies corresponding to each city, Sanctuary, and Shelter. The supply points have different focuses depending on the academy. For example, the supply resources for our Witch Academy at the Sixth Sanctuary are very few and expensive. Understand?”

“Understood!”

Listening to their unified response, Ji Niang did not waste any more words and led everyone directly out of Ninglan Plaza.

Since the use of power was not allowed inside the city, Teacher Ji Niang needed to go outside the city to teach them how to use the power network.

In any case, a large area outside the city was a safe area.

One shouldn't underestimate the slaughter of Mutated Beast populations by those students during this one semester!

“Let's stop here. Everyone, like me, open the Power Network module on the Seed of Knowledge. No one can't find it, right? The logo is so obvious and large.”

Teacher Ji Niang spoke while demonstrating.

After there were no objections in the class, she continued her explanation.

“After reaching this interface, it shows the need to create a personal account for the power network. But don't mess around yourselves. The academy has not authorized you to create new accounts. Below, there is an existing test account for our final exam this batch. Everyone click on this and don't move! Listen to my explanation!”

To ensure no accidents for anyone, Teacher Ji Niang not only made sure everyone could hear clearly but also ensured everyone kept their hands steady.

“After clicking on this account, it will automatically verify your real name. If your Seed of Knowledge is not connected to your phone's personal information, you need to manually verify it using your student card now.”

“Teacher! What if I didn't bring my student card?”

Someone asked at this moment.

“You didn't bring it. Did you bring your phone?”

“I brought it.”

“If you brought your phone, just connect the phone and the Seed of Knowledge for automatic verification.”

“Oh, oh, okay...”

“Teacher, what if I didn't bring my phone or my student card?”

“Then it'll be a bit more troublesome. Follow the procedure to verify it. You won't be left without a test to take, in any case.”

After completing this series of procedures, Teacher Ji Niang began explaining other matters.

“Everyone has set up their account, right? You don't have to worry about the nickname. If you don't fill it in, it will display your real name directly. If you happen to change your nickname...”

“Uh... what will happen if we change it?”

Several quick-handed students asked hesitantly at this moment.

“Then, when you choose a nickname, make sure it looks like a person's name. Your nicknames will be displayed according to the score ranking, and this final exam continues the old tradition of being live-streamed. Please give me some face, alright?”

Hearing Teacher Ji Niang say this, even the students who hadn't planned to change their nicknames quietly clicked on the nickname field.

“The following procedure is also very important. You should see it now, right? A number of people have the choice of class appear in front of them.”

“These classes correspond to the clash of power systems between the various academies participating in this joint exam. For example, the most classic Mage class is the typical power representative of our Witch Academy. If you choose this class, it will unlock the Mage's class equipment column and the Mage's skill tree.”

“Class equipment is the medium for you to use your skills. The skill tree is the spells you can use and the development direction of those spells, and it is the only Transcendent power you can rely on during this joint exam.”

“In principle, each student should choose the class corresponding to their own academy, but this joint exam does not enforce strict rules. If you say you want to experience another power system, that's up to you. Just don't regret it later if you don't take responsibility for yourself, because once you choose a class for this joint exam, it cannot be changed, at least not during this joint exam period.”

“Then... Teacher Ji Niang, can we form teams for this joint exam?”

“Of course, there are no restrictions on that. If you can persuade the entire class to form a team with you, there's no problem. As long as you can command them and perfectly handle the score distribution... I'm saying all this just to tell you not to take this joint exam for granted.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. The areas within the city are called safe zones and resource points because special assessment zones have been designated within the city. Those zones sell specific class weapons and other supply materials.”

“Of course, purchasing them requires spending scores. No other currency besides scores is accepted. The more powerful the weapon, the more scores it costs. You need to consider how to balance the final score and the useful weapons.”

“Mm, and food, water, housing, and so on all require scores. If you are reluctant to spend the scores for housing within the city, you can exchange them for a portable tent for camping. Also, I do not recommend you eat the Mutated Beast meat. Be careful of getting a bad stomach. Of course, if you are truly starving, you can use the appraisal spell to see if the Mutated Beast you hunted is edible, and if it is, then feel free.”

Teacher Ji Niang explained the specific detailed precautions to everyone while demonstrating.

After finishing the explanation, she also began to describe the ability tendencies of the various classes to everyone.

However, in the end, not everyone in the class chose the Witch Mage class.

This was because, in the short time they had to understand, many already realized that cooperation was inevitable since this was a very "balanced" power system.

It would be a team-based model.

So, a basic team setup would be a "war-mage-healer" composition, with an Elf Ranger or Wizard added at most for interference and weakening, and so on.

At least they felt this should be the thought process.

The close combat fighter would be the Beast Academy's professional, the Mage would be the Witch Academy's, and of course, the Elf and Wizard classes also had Mages.

As for the healer... naturally, it would be the Holy Angel class.

Their Holy Light power was the best for dispelling, which could help dispel the Wizard's curses and interference spells, and could also be used for healing with Holy Light Spells.

But what a race or academy was good at could not be perfectly expressed by just one class and skill tree.

Therefore, constrained by the classes, they had to compensate for the team's needs and deficiencies by using classes from other academies.

“We need a healer. Is anyone still without a class? Join my team. We are short a healer, and the score distribution is very good.”

“Anyone want to join our pure Mage team? A pure Mage team is also very viable, isn't it? The skill tree has offensive, defensive, and healing spells... and the firepower is quite sufficient...”

“Holy moly... I chose the wrong Beast Academy branch. I chose the Cat-person branch. Is anyone willing to take me in? I'm willing to be a scout.”

“Then why wouldn't we want a Ranger instead? A little kitten can't tank damage.”

“No, are you really taking the close combat class as the main tank? This is just a class, not literally turning into a Beastman. Where would girls get a tough hide?”

Just as everyone was discussing and forming teams, Teacher Ji Niang spoke up again.

As soon as she spoke, everyone quieted down.

“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 joke around with your lives by approaching this with a gaming mindset!”

Ji Niang saw everyone's playful attitude and spoke up to warn them, but the necessary warnings had been given.

The rest was up to them.

She still had rules left to explain.

“Next, let's talk about the additional rules. In this hunt, besides hunting Mutated Beasts to gain scores, there are other channels.”

“Special bounty targets, released by our academy, will be refreshed in the city's Sanctuary safe zones at irregular intervals. Those targets are usually special creatures other than Mutated Beasts. They might be powerful individuals that require your joint effort to kill, or they might be massive biological groups that require your joint hunt.”

“In addition, we have a special group of hunting participants: the marked special participants. They are composed of high-grade students from various Transcendent Academies, or rather, they are basically all Teaching Assistants.”

“Yes, the person you are familiar with, our former classmate Yang Yuehan, is among that Teaching Assistant group. Hunting them during the joint exam can yield a massive amount of scores.”