Chapter Seventy: The Tower That Reaches the Heavens

After final confirmation of identity and qualification, Jiang Ming and the others arrived at the virtual chamber, each assigned to a separate seat. Guided by the supervising teacher, they sat down, donned their helmets, and reclined.

Ding ding ding...

A bell rang outside, accompanied by a prompt from the helmet.

“It is now eight forty-five. Students, you may press the red button on the left earpiece to enter the entrance of the Sky Tower in the virtual battlefield. Remember: read the instructions first, then select your weapon, and quickly adapt.”

“At nine o'clock sharp, the martial exam officially begins.”

“You have only one chance.”

“Fight as fiercely as you can!”

“For your future!”

“Upon death, you will automatically exit.”

“Or, you can choose to withdraw voluntarily!”

“As for safety, you need not worry. Each classroom is overseen by three proctors, with real-time monitoring.”

“Now, begin!”

With his virtual helmet on, Jiang Ming decisively pressed the button as the teacher finished speaking.

All students had undergone simulations of entering the virtual battle network before, so it was not unfamiliar to them. According to what Jiang Ming knew, the virtual battle network claimed to be a hundred percent simulation, completely realistic.

He felt a subtle wave sweep over him. Darkness fell before his eyes, as if stars were shifting and time and space were traversed. Suddenly, light returned, and he found himself before a towering pagoda that reached into the clouds.

Beneath his feet was a grassy field, a gentle breeze brushed his face, carrying the fresh scent of grass.

He surveyed his surroundings: a vast, endless prairie. Aside from the pagoda, there was nothing else.

He checked himself.

His strength was intact, no different from his real body.

“Is this truly virtual?”

Jiang Ming was deeply shaken.

His powerful soul, unmatched physique, and expansive dantian were all perfectly simulated, utterly real without the slightest hint of falseness.

The only thing not simulated was the seed within his dantian that never stirred.

“What kind of ability can achieve this?” Jiang Ming's thoughts churned.

“Ding. Welcome, Candidate 41…25, Jiang Ming from Pingyang Second High School, Tianzhong Province, class of 9918.”

“Please select your weapon!”

A weapon list appeared before him, divided into defensive gear: shields, arm guards, etc.; weapons: blades, spears, swords, halberds; auxiliary weapons: bows, crossbows; hidden weapons: throwing knives, sleeve arrows; psychic weapons: flying blades, flying needles, flying shuttles. All were cold weapons.

Free choice, no restrictions.

Jiang Ming chose a longsword with a scabbard strapped to his back. Drawing it, he saw the blade shimmer as if with flowing spring water.

He flicked it lightly, and a clear, melodious sound rang out.

A fine sword!

Jiang Ming immediately appraised it.

He also selected three flying blades, tucking them into his belt beneath his clothes.

With a wave of his hand, the weapon selection screen vanished.

“After selecting your weapon, please enter the Sky Tower to prepare.”

“Reminder: Each floor has three trials. After passing, you may proceed to the next floor.”

“Reminder: The more you slay, the higher your score.”

“Reminder: Each floor has a maximum time limit of one hour. If exceeded, the trial is considered complete and scores are tallied.”

Without hesitation, Jiang Ming pushed open the door and entered.

With a step, space shifted, and he found himself in a sparse forest.

The trees were few.

Insect murmurs were faint, birds sang gently.

It felt tranquil.

Looking up, he saw drifting white clouds.

Ahead, a countdown appeared.

Jiang Ming moved around within ten meters in every direction, finding himself limited to that range, with no other effect. Clearly, the real trial would begin only after the countdown ended.

He closed his eyes.

Recalling the sensation of entering the tower, he raised his hand and pressed lightly; space seemed to ripple faintly.

“The spatial intent is on the verge of entry-level.”

This was not an illusion.

“Absolutely not!”

Jiang Ming was confident. In the secret realm, he had broken through space many times, and his understanding of space was direct, yet he never grasped the spatial intent.

But since gaining the ‘Lord of Space’ talent, even without deliberate contemplation, his understanding of space had unknowingly reached a terrifying level.

Now, at any moment, he could comprehend spatial intent.

“Reminder: Countdown thirty seconds!”

“Reminder: Countdown twenty seconds!”

“Reminder: Countdown ten seconds. Candidates, prepare.”

“Reminder: Sky Tower first floor guide—six wolves, three humans, one lone warrior.”

“Reminder: Countdown over.”

“Reminder: Martial exam begins!”

The countdown screen vanished; the surrounding barriers disappeared.

“Based on past martial exam experience, the first floor is essentially a point-giver, meant to gradually temper one’s skills. The more you kill, the more points you earn. If you fail to pass, the longer you fight, the more minor points you accumulate.”

As Jiang Ming pondered, a wolf emerged from behind a tree.

The moment it saw him, it bared its teeth, arched its back, and charged swiftly.

A gray wolf—an ordinary beast, easily handled by a martial artist with strong sinews and bones.

Jiang Ming strode forward, raised a finger, and a sword qi instantly slew the wolf.

He continued on.

Ahead, two wolves appeared, left and right.

“First one, then two, followed by three.”

Jiang Ming smiled.

As expected, after killing them in succession, he exited the woods and faced a stone bridge.

Here was one person; at the other end of the bridge, two others.

This was the second trial of the first floor.

Step by step, each level sharpened him.

Outside.

Three screens hung at the edge of the playground. One displayed information about the top hundred in the federal exam: ranking, name, candidate number, precise address—very detailed.

Only the top hundred were shown.

First place had over five hundred points, already evidently in the second floor of the Sky Tower, moving at a speed beyond ordinary imagination.

The second screen showed the top hundred at the provincial level; the third, the top hundred in the city.

“Look, look! Qin Zhiyan, from our school’s class four, is so fierce! She’s leapt straight to first place in the city. She’s also in the provincial top twenty. Truly a super genius combining beauty and strength!”

“Her ranking keeps rising. If this continues, she might break into the provincial top ten, even the federal top hundred.”

“My god, our school actually has such a powerhouse!”

“Didn't she just enter the second stage of martial arts recently? How is she so strong?”

The discussions were lively; everyone stared at the front screens.

Meanwhile, in the city and province, almost everyone was following the score changes and the live broadcast.

In a tiered lecture hall.

Elder Tang had arrived, as had Lord Song, the city master. This astonished and delighted the principal.

Both of these figures were extraordinary, yet they had come to the school together—how could one not be surprised and overjoyed?

After all, it was difficult to even meet them ordinarily.

Now they were here—what did it mean?

It meant the school had talents worthy of their attention.

“Is there really such a student?” The principal was skeptical.

What surprised him further was that Chen, the class four homeroom teacher, had also been invited.

“Class four?”

He quietly asked Chen, who shook his head in confusion.

He pondered left and right.

Qin Zhiyan, Jiang Ming, Wang Zhan...

All were excellent, but still far from being candidates to draw such attention from the city master and Elder Tang.

How strange!