Chapter 138: Level Assessment

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The newcomer was Meng Liwen, the girl who had fallen out spectacularly with Tang Ruotong during their experience in the virtual realm that day.

Several of her fake friends followed close behind.

Tang Ruotong fixed her with a hard stare. “Meng Liwen, do you dare repeat what you just said?”

Her hand had already tightened around her sword and shield, and the imposing aura of a Holy Shield Knight began to spread through the air.

Meng Liwen stiffened, though she tried to sound fierce. “Why wouldn’t I dare? Do you really think you’d dare hit me in front of everyone?”

Tang Ruotong took half a step forward, sword in hand. “I’ll return your question with the same answer. Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Meng Liwen retreated several steps. “Tang Ruotong, get this straight. This is the grand tournament venue, and the teacher is right over there!”

She had originally thought that, in a setting like today’s, Tang Ruotong would not be as overbearing as she had been that day.

Who could have imagined that Tang Ruotong had no intention of restraining herself? If anything, her presence was even more formidable than it had been at the Municipal Research Center.

What had happened to her? Why did she seem like a completely different person?

Cai Kun walked over to Tang Ruotong. “You think you’re tough?”

His tone was exaggerated. “What good is being able to fight? When you’re out in the world, it’s influence and connections that matter!”

With a sweep of his hands, his followers hurriedly moved between Tang Ruotong and Meng Liwen.

“Thank you, Cai Kun.” Some color returned to Meng Liwen’s face, and she spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t mention it. I, Cai Kun, hate people who rely on their powerful professions to act superior and bully others!”

Cai Kun grinned.

His reasons for helping Meng Liwen were simple.

First, she had just spoken up for him. She might have done so because she had a grudge against Tang Ruotong, but in any case, the two of them were essentially on the same side.

Second, Meng Liwen came from a fairly wealthy family. By helping her, Cai Kun could expect certain benefits in the future. As the saying went, one more friend meant one more path.

Seeing Tang Ruotong surrounded, the classmates who depended on currying favor with the powerful all hastily avoided her, retreating as far away as possible.

For a moment, she seemed to be standing alone against everyone.

She pressed her lips together stubbornly, looking utterly unwilling to compromise.

Then a cool female voice rang out.

“Cai Kun, you said that anyone making their way in the world needs influence. Does that mean I, Lu Shiyu, count as someone with influence?”

Cai Kun’s expression stiffened. “Of course you do, Shiyu. Your brother is a King-tier powerhouse.”

“Good. I’m taking Tang Ruotong under my protection. From now on, I’m her backing!”

Lu Shiyu stepped up beside Tang Ruotong, gripping a staff as translucent as ice and snow.

“Shiyu, why would you—”

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Lu Shiyu raised a hand and cut him off. “Please don’t call me Shiyu. I don’t believe we’re close enough for that.”

“As for why…” Lu Shiyu smiled. “Because I also can’t stand the way you speak about Wang Chen.”

Cai Kun’s face darkened until it seemed capable of dripping water, and even his followers began to lose their nerve.

This was Lu Shiyu—the prodigious girl who had awakened the hidden profession of Ice Queen. If a real fight broke out, they feared they would be beaten half to death.

Besides, a King-tier powerhouse stood behind her. Who would dare provoke her?

But the situation had already escalated this far, leaving them no choice but to maintain their standoff, fierce in appearance but weak at heart.

Strangely enough, they were facing only two girls, yet it felt as though they were confronting two ferocious beasts that would be difficult to deal with.

Just as the atmosphere became charged, the homeroom teacher of Class Six came rushing over.

“What are you doing? What is everyone doing?” he demanded anxiously. “I’m already tearing my hair out over Wang Chen. Are you planning to cause trouble too?”

“Can’t you give me a moment’s peace?”

He called the class monitor over. “Hurry up! Take everyone to line up for the level assessment!”

Cai Kun shot Tang Ruotong a cold look, then turned and headed toward the line.

In truth, the homeroom teacher’s intervention had also given Cai Kun a way to back down without losing face.

Once their leader left, Cai Kun’s lackeys naturally scattered like frightened birds and beasts.

With no group of toughs behind her, Meng Liwen immediately grew timid before the two powerful combat professions and hurried after the students lining up.

The homeroom teacher muttered complaints under his breath as well. There were far too many students in this class whom he could not afford to offend.

He was practically nothing more than a mascot of a homeroom teacher!

The more he thought about it, the more miserable he felt, and he too walked away.

The remaining students began lining up for the level assessment under the class monitor’s direction.

Only Tang Ruotong and Lu Shiyu remained where they were.

After hesitating for a long while, Tang Ruotong said softly, “Thank you for coming to my aid.”

Lu Shiyu gave a faint smile. “I told you. I simply dislike the way Cai Kun slandered Wang Chen.”

She looked at the spirited girl before her and asked, “Do you like Wang Chen too?”

Tang Ruotong’s face reddened. “No… I don’t feel that way about him…”

Seeing her reaction, Lu Shiyu did not press further. “I only wanted to say that if you do like him, then we can compete fairly.”

“I acknowledge you as my rival in love.” Lu Shiyu smiled. “When Wang Chen was being slandered, you stepped forward before I did. I was blaming myself for not reacting quickly enough.”

Tang Ruotong froze for a moment and was just about to say something.

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But Lu Shiyu waved her hand. “Come on. We should go line up too. Doing well in the tournament is what matters most right now.”

With that, she walked straight toward the long line.

Tang Ruotong remained where she was, gazing absently at Lu Shiyu’s retreating figure.

“Why can you be so brave…?” she murmured.

…

“Tian Yucai, profession: Spear Warrior, level eleven.”

“Yu Changhai, profession: Chainmail Bladesman, level nine.”

“…”

As one student after another placed a hand on the testing crystal sphere, the invigilators observing nearby called out their professions and levels.

Before long, it was Class Six’s turn. The students stepped up to the crystal sphere one by one.

Some hung their heads in dejection, while others were brimming with confidence.

“Cai Kun, profession: Blood Warlock, level sixteen.”

The invigilator announced it loudly. “Not bad. You’re one of the outstanding students in this group.”

Cai Kun yearned to shout, “I’m number one under heaven!” But on the surface, he put on a modest expression.

“I think I still have plenty of room for improvement.”

The invigilator smiled and nodded, signaling for the next student to come forward.

The testing results, along with the candidates’ mental states, were transmitted by cameras set up nearby to the admissions officers at the second venue.

Naturally, a single venue could not accommodate the admissions officers from every university. Only representatives from top institutions, such as Zhu Jingjun and Ou Yulan, were qualified to sit in the first venue alongside officials from the local education bureau.

As a result, they were able to observe the candidates’ conditions at close range while the tests were being conducted.

“This student named Cai Kun has a fairly good level,” said a long-haired male admissions officer.

“Yes. And among combat professions, the power of his profession ranks within the top hundred,” another officer added.

The corners of Zhu Jingjun’s tightly drawn mouth finally relaxed a little. “At last, there are a few promising talents. The aptitude of the ten or so students before him was simply unbearable.”

“That isn’t entirely fair,” Ou Yulan said. “Those students only performed so poorly because they lacked the leveling resources available to students in the Imperial Capital.”