Five individuals followed a patrol team member out of the small compartment.
All doors except theirs were closed, with a small green light illuminated on each, seemingly still undergoing testing.
Xu Chengdong was secretly thrilled: "Are we the first to clear the game?"
Cao Xun poured cold water on his excitement: "Or possibly the first to be eliminated."
The outcome of the last round was truly unclear. Although they had won two rounds, it was uncertain if a single loss would lead to their elimination.
The bearded man spoke with a deep voice, "I think there won't be any problem."
His statement was decisive. However, given his unreliable remarks in the past, it seemed to hold no reference value, and thus, no one responded.
The bearded man exclaimed, "Hey, wait, aren't you going to ask me why?" pointing at himself.
As soon as he finished speaking, they were led into a small room.
When Bai Yue saw the person standing inside, he couldn't help but halt in his steps.
Apart from Fu Cheng and the patrol team member, there was another team that had arrived before them. Among this team was Du Qin.
Although Bai Yue had guessed that the opponents in the third round were other candidates, he did not know their identities.
What a coincidence, running into Du Qin and his team.
After settling down, there was a clear one-meter distance between the two teams, maintaining a stance as if not to interfere with each other.
Fu Cheng, standing at the forefront, glanced over them and slowly began, "You've all worked hard. The preliminary selection has now concluded."
"Your performance has been observed by us, and you are the fastest to finish this assessment. For this, you are encouraged."
Upon his words, the patrol team members on both sides began to clap in unison.
Both groups of candidates were somewhat puzzled, not understanding the intent.
As the applause died down, Fu Cheng continued, "Next..."
He probably meant for them to go back and rest while waiting for the results. Xu Chengdong thought silently.
After three rounds of games, he was indeed feeling tired and wanted to go back for a long sleep.
Fu Cheng announced, "The results of the assessment."
Everyone was taken aback.
The results were out already?
Cao Xun questioned, "But the tests for others haven't finished yet. Shouldn't we wait until everyone is done for a comprehensive evaluation?"
Fu Cheng glanced at him, his dark pupils inscrutable, "Do not interrupt when I am speaking."
Cao Xun was stunned.
"Yes, I'm sorry."
Fu Cheng continued, "We have our own standard. The pass rate we mentioned earlier is just an average up to this point. If you're excellent enough, it's not impossible for everyone to pass."
"On the other hand," he paused, "it's also possible for everyone to be eliminated."
With these words, the atmosphere in the room immediately became tense.
So, even though the virtual training field provided three chances to compete, victory wasn't the sole criterion for judgment?
Fu Cheng turned to look at the patrol team member, who immediately stepped forward, holding a small book: "The following names called, please step forward."
"Du Qin."
Hearing his own name, Du Qin felt a surge of joy but didn't show it, stepping out of the line as instructed.
"Li Hao."
The student from the Pheromone Research Institute trembled upon hearing his name: "Present!"
The team member continued down the list, eventually closing the book: "That's all."
Thus, all five members of Du Qin's team had stepped out of the line.
They held their heads high, their hearts unable to contain their jubilation.
Du Qin, in particular, was almost unable to control himself, a smile spreading across his face.
This result meant more to him than just passing the patrol team's preliminary selection. It meant he had finally defeated Bai Yue—in front of everyone!
However, the expressions on the members of Bai Yue's team were entirely different. Except for Bai Yue and Mu Sihan, who remained unchanged, the others looked dejected, almost sighing out loud.
The patrol team member hadn't finished speaking: "Those whose names were called have not passed the preliminary selection. The rest of you, please go back and wait for the final selection notification."
With these words, the atmosphere in the room completely flipped.
Du Qin and his team were frozen in place, while the members of Bai Yue's team began to cheer and jump for joy.
The bearded man clenched his fist: "Yes! I knew it!"
Xu Chengdong retorted, "You knew shit, you were almost crying just now."
Cao Xun's heart was racing. Successfully getting into Emperor One and then passing the patrol team's preliminary selection, he was steadily climbing up, step by step.
He was determined to prove something, that even with only a B-grade innate gene level, one could still stand out.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but look forward. Bai Yue was standing at the very front of their team. Honestly, their team's smooth passage through the assessment was absolutely thanks to Bai Yue!
However, whether it was the initial mistaken belief that they were going to be eliminated or now hearing that they had passed, that person's expression hadn't changed in the slightest.
Was this the ease of an S+ grade alpha?
Admiration in Cao Xun's heart grew even stronger.
"Wait, this isn't fair!" someone from Du Qin's team spoke up, "We won two games smoothly, and the last one could even be considered a draw. Why do they all pass and we get eliminated?!"
Fu Cheng replied, "Did I ever say that the assessment criteria were to knock down the crystal?"
"What?" The person was stunned.
Fu Cheng continued, "Explaining once is enough." He raised his hand, "The results have been determined, please leave."
His words implied that he didn't need to explain the reasons to those who were eliminated over and over.
The person seemed to want to say more, but sensing the unfriendly and cold gazes of the patrol team members around the room, he swallowed his words.
Du Qin, on the other hand, had been silent from the beginning, pushed up his glasses, and left the room. Seeing their team leader leave, the other four had no choice but to follow suit.
Fu Cheng then turned back to Bai Yue and the others: "The time for the next assessment will be notified later. You've worked hard, go back and rest for now."
A few minutes later, Bai Yue and his team also left the virtual training field.
The azure sky was boundless, with occasional voices heard from the direction of the playground. Inside the Emperor One campus, peace prevailed.
Xu Chengdong stretched lazily: "Finally, it's over! I was so nervous just now, glad we passed."
Cao Xun was still observing Bai Yue: "You don't seem nervous at all?"
After all, with such a high gene level, perhaps the patrol team was just a trifle to him.
Bai Yue shook his head: "Because I knew that those who mentioned the name would be eliminated."
The bearded man seized the opportunity to mock: "You know shit, you were almost crying just now, hahaha."
He burst into laughter, but when he saw Cao Xun and Xu Chengdong looking at him as if he were an idiot, he scratched the back of his head: "I was just joking."
Cao Xun turned his gaze back to Bai Yue, without any doubt: "I wasn't at the scene earlier, but I heard gunshots. So, you took out the opponent before being attacked?"
Bai Yue was probably the only one among the five who knew the result of the last game.
Bai Yue smiled: "Indeed, I dealt with the opponent before getting hit. However, that's not the reason."
He explained: "The only prohibited action in the preliminary assessment's judgment criteria is one."
Cao Xun reacted: "Using pheromones?"
Bai Yue nodded.
The team's death toll dropping to less than half meant all members were "out." But whether being "out" meant "eliminated" was somewhat ambiguous.
However, when someone broke the only "rule"—for the patrol team, it was an absolute taboo.
So, when the name of that member from the Pheromone Research Institute was mentioned, he felt reassured.
"Anyway, we've all passed, so let's not think about that!" the bearded man wrapped an arm around Bai Yue's shoulders, "To celebrate our meeting, let's go have a drink!"
Xu Chengdong agreed: "That's a good idea."
Mu Sihan turned and walked in another direction.
Seeing this, the bearded man tried to call him back: "Come on, Mus, join us!"
However, he got no response.
"Forget about him," Cao Xun still couldn't bring himself to like Mu Sihan, "It'll just be us then."
Bai Yue: "Ah, sorry."
He apologetically said, "I have other things to do and can't make it."
The spirits of the other three immediately dampened.
After apologizing profusely, Bai Yue said goodbye to them. As he turned around, the smile on his face faded.
It was still not enough.
These days, he had been so focused on training that he neglected accumulating military merits.
It wasn't until he was hit by Du Qin's weapon that he realized the importance of military supplies.
The things money could buy were just not powerful enough. Before the final assessment, he had to accumulate enough military merits to exchange for his own weapon.
Moreover, now is really not the time for indulgence and leisure.
Bai Yue's mind flashed with the face of Shang Yufei.
He closed his eyes.
Once he passes the final selection and becomes an official team member, he would seek out Shang Yufei again.
By then, he must make Shang Yufei acknowledge his strength.
In the virtual training field, the assessment was still ongoing.
The ponytailed woman looked at the names crossed off the list, feeling somewhat regretful.
Du Qin, she had high hopes for him and wanted to pass him. But the captain specifically singled him out for elimination.
Du Qin's qualifications were indeed excellent. Whether it was personal skill or command ability, he was outstanding.
The only flaw was his unscrupulousness.
With Du Qin's intelligence, it was impossible not to understand the hints given before the start. Yet, to make the students from the Pheromone Research Institute useful, he did not stop but instead deliberately induced the other party to use pheromones, thus achieving his goal.
Although she did not think this was a fatal flaw, as it could be corrected after joining the team, the captain did not think so.
The ponytailed woman sighed softly.
After the five people walked away, a figure emerged from the shadows in the dark.
Eyes hidden behind glasses, he watched Bai Yue's retreating figure without blinking.
If someone happened to pass by at this moment, they would probably be startled by his hateful expression.
Du Qin stood still, watching until the figure he was observing disappeared into the crowd, then turned and left.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the library.
Although he had failed the selection for the patrol team, he still could not relax.
He opened his computer and found an email in his personal inbox.
It was an account he used before joining Di Yi, which he had not used much recently, and it had been a long time since he received a new email.
The subject of the email was also baffling.
【Subject: What a pity, you didn't make it】
Du Qin frowned. Was this email specifically sent to mock him?
Now, only a handful of people know this news. Who could it be?
However, it was clear, albeit unpleasantly, that the email had successfully caught his attention.
He clicked to view:
"First of all, I'm sorry to hear that. It's their loss that the patrol team didn't take you. You're too good for them.
But compared to the patrol team, I have a better opportunity. Interested in chatting?"
A better opportunity?
Du Qin pondered, then suddenly thought of something.
Could it be, the sender of this email was that infamous masked organization known throughout the school?
Since entering the school, he hadn't seen those guys with his own eyes. But since the upperclassmen all held a disdainful attitude, it indicated those people were definitely no good.
Du Qin pushed his glasses up.
Although, he personally couldn't care less. However, an organization that offered no benefits for future promotion held no interest for him.
Du Qin was about to close his email when he received another new message.
From the same sender.
"Seems like you're not very interested? Well, maybe after hearing what I have to say next, you might change your mind."
Du Qin's eyebrows twitched, and he looked around.
Was that person nearby, watching him?
The library was quiet. Since it wasn't a period for exam preparation, there weren't many people. Everyone was minding their own business, with no suspicious individuals in sight.
He turned back to continue reading the next part.
"I saw it, the expression on your face when you walked out of the virtual training ground, truly splendid. But, it seems like you don't have much of an aversion to the patrol team."
"You're looking at someone else. Am I right?"
Reading this, Du Qin felt a surge of panic. Could it be his disguise had already been exposed?
"Bai Yue"
"Kind to others, calm in the face of events, and with excellent grades, not to mention an S+ grade alpha. You guys are clearly high school classmates, what exactly did he do to make you hate him so much?"
By the end, Du Qin's face had completely darkened.
How much did this person know?
He clicked reply: "Who are you?"
"Who I am is not important; what's important is that I can help you. Let's talk."
A week later.
Bai Yue took the package and turned towards the dormitory building. Over the past week, he had reduced his training volume to free up time for military merit tasks. Given his current qualifications, he could only take on one-star and two-star tasks, which were quite trivial. However, after completing two or three tasks, along with the military merits he had earned from being the top student in the guaranteed admission exam, he had accumulated enough to purchase a weapon. He had placed an order on the app just last night, and today, he received the item.
Returning to his dormitory, he was about to find a knife to open the package when his phone beeped twice. Picking it up, he found an email from the Patrol Team's official account. The final selection assessment project had been announced. After reading the content of the email, Bai Yue fell into deep thought.
"Ha, a three-star military merit task?" The young man was sitting on the windowsill. With his volume, he could almost draw a crowd from a few meters around. However, at the moment, only his boss was present. Wu Zihao snorted with disdain: "That group of people is getting more and more outrageous, assigning a three-star task to freshmen who have been in school for only a month? Have they forgotten about last year's incident?"
Last year's Patrol Team selection was the only time in the history of the team that a candidate was seriously injured. Although the student's life was saved, he had to withdraw from school and was no longer able to become a soldier. However, apart from the students who participated in the selection at the time, this incident did not cause much of a stir.
The selection process has always been kept secret; moreover, for these military academy students, getting injured is just part of the norm. Even dying in battle is considered an honor. However, in Wu Zihao's eyes, these people are just nuts. Just a single assessment could ruin their future, totally not worth it.
Even though the boss told him not to get involved anymore, watching the drama unfold surely isn't illegal. He was just curious about what kind of mess the patrol team would create this time. He didn't expect them to aim for a military achievement task. Wu Zihao flipped through the stolen intelligence, "This time the mission even requires traveling to another star system, quite far."
He had been rambling for so long, but the boss beside him didn't react at all. Sitting at the desk with a book spread open in front of him, surrounded by textbooks from other subjects. Wu Zihao felt sorry for him and jumped down from the windowsill, "Boss, you really want to be a 'top student', huh? Stop being silly, it's not for you."
Shang Yufei: "......"
Wu Zihao suspiciously, "Are you, are you really the boss? Is someone impersonating you to deceive me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Shang Yufei lift his eyelids and squint at him. His emerald eyes were like deep pools, icy and bone-chilling.
"Are you asking for a beating?"
"No, not at all!"
That did sound like something the boss would say.
Wu Zihao didn't dare to bother him further and retreated to continue looking at his phone.
Shang Yufei shifted his gaze back to the text in front of him.
He couldn't concentrate.
Although he usually couldn't concentrate, these days he was even more restless.
Bai Yue had not initiated contact since the day he left.
He had said he would find him again, but a week had passed! Why hasn't he come yet!
"......"
Shang Yufei wanted to contact Bai Yue several times, but every time he picked up his phone, he put it down again.
Because that would be showing weakness.
Even he wasn't sure if he would give in and agree to stay at the military academy if he saw Bai Yue again.
The image of Bai Yue flashed through Shang Yufei's mind again.
Not very tall, with very fair skin, and a handsome face. Such a person should be living carefree.
Not in military schools, not on battlefields, covered in wounds, completely out of place, Shang Yufei clenched his fists tightly.
"So many people passed the preliminary selection? I counted, there must be seventy or eighty."
The voice of Wu Zihao came from behind again, "Haha, could it be they accidentally let too many pass the preliminaries and plan to weed them all out in the final selection?"
Shang Yufei frowned, about to tell this guy to get lost from the dorm and stop bothering him, when he heard the next sentence. "Comprehensive Military Academy, Bai Yue."
Hearing this name, Shang Yufei suddenly turned around. Wu Zihao's attention was still on the phone screen, completely unaware of his boss's reaction. "Is this Bai Yue the one I know, seems like he was a special admissions student?"
Wu Zihao was somewhat uncertain: "Shit, if it really is that guy, the patrol team has found a treasure. Boss, do you think we can turn him to our side? I'll have someone check his class..."
While he was speaking, suddenly a shadow loomed over him. He looked up to see Shang Yufei had walked over and snatched his phone. "Boss!" Wu Zihao was overjoyed, "You're finally interested?"
Although the selection content was confidential, the information of the qualified personnel was published by the patrol team and posted on the official account. Once posted, hundreds of comments burst forth instantly, filled with envy and admiration.
【Comprehensive Military Academy Bai Yue】
Shang Yufei stared intently at this name. Wu Zihao kept babbling on the side: "Boss, if you're interested. I'll send someone to check right away. Anyway, this guy hasn't joined the team yet, so he definitely hasn't been brainwashed that severely."
Right after he made the suggestion, he saw his phone being thrown back, catching it in a fluster. Then he saw the boss pick up his own phone, seemingly wanting to contact someone.
After a short while, as if giving up, he put down the phone. Wu Zihao: "B-Boss?"
"Get everyone together." Shang Yufei tugged at the corner of his mouth, his tone emotionless. "This selection, we must mess it up."
At the Emperor One Comprehensive Military Academy, right by the gates.
Before the first class of the morning could even start, a large crowd had already gathered.
Apart from the patrol team members, all were freshmen. A floating bus was parked beside the school gate, empty.
After counting, the girl with a ponytail reported to Fu Cheng, "Everyone's here."
Fu Cheng nodded slightly and faced the crowd.
"You all should have seen the details of the final selection, right?"
The crowd nodded solemnly.
The email was clear. The patrol team had taken on a three-star military merit task and assigned these reserve members to complete it.
The task was straightforward. In short, it was to find a mineral called the Source Crystal. Source Crystals are essential for making military supplies and are very precious.
All the areas that could be mined were already guarded by the imperial military.
This time, they needed to go to a planet called D-2231 Lya in search of undeveloped resources.
Almost no one had heard of the name Lya Star.
Bai Yue had also searched online in advance and knew it was a remote and impoverished planet. However, this also made it easier to find undeveloped resources there.
Fu Cheng said, "This assessment requires you to complete it as members of the patrol team. Therefore, we will not accompany you. No matter what difficulties you encounter, please solve them on your own."
The freshmen couldn't help but swallow.
Above the three-star military merit tasks were four-star and five-star tasks. So, in their view, such a task shouldn't pose any danger; it was just looking for stones.
However, the thought of traveling thousands of miles to another star system was still unnerving.
Fu Cheng continued, "As last time, we will grade you through monitoring."
As he spoke, a creature the size of a fingernail flew out from behind him, "This is a 'Scout Bug', one for each person, which will live stream your situations."
"Scout Bugs" are also military supplies, usually used to scout enemy situations on the battlefield. But because they're too big and easily discovered, they've been phased out.
Fu Cheng reiterated, "I must emphasize once more, military merit tasks come with risks. I cannot guarantee your safety. This is your last chance, if you decide to quit, you can choose to stay."
No one spoke.
Whether they had thought it through or simply felt there wouldn't be any danger, that wasn't for the patrol team to consider.
Having given the reminder, Fu Cheng nodded slightly, "Then, set off, and I wish you a glorious return."