At 8:30 AM, only half an hour remained until the final assessment.
The morning sun streamed through the tempered glass into the heavily guarded base training ground.
In the hallway, Tiandao Siming and Caroline walked side by side into the training ground.
He licked away the last bit of cream lingering at the corner of his mouth, still savoring the irresistible taste.
Beside him, Caroline watched his childish behavior with a hint of disdain and resentment.
"Tiandao, are you a hamster? You ate so much that you even finished my strawberry cake."
"What hamster? I call this strategic reserve~"
Tiandao pushed up his sunglasses, the lenses reflecting a cunning arc of light: "Besides, Caroline, today is the day of the final assessment. Those guys usually have terrible tempers, and now they're like powder kegs, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. What if they start fighting later..."
Before he could finish, a timid figure suddenly scurried from a corner of the training ground.
"Bro-Tiandao, Sis-Caroline..."
Chen Kong, like a startled rabbit, greeted them with a trembling voice, appearing very cautious.
He was small in stature with thin cheeks, and even his training uniform was a size too large, with worn white cuffs.
Clearly, he wasn't having an easy time at the base.
However, Tiandao did not cold-shoulder him because of this.
"Yo, Classmate Kong~"
He slung an arm around Chen Kong's shoulder, smiling as he ruffled his messy hair, and asked with concern, "How are you? Did you eat breakfast?"
"Y-yes, I did..."
"What did you eat?"
"Just the usual nutritional meal..."
Chen Kong's voice lacked conviction.
Because he hadn't actually managed to eat even the usual nutritional meal; it had been forcibly taken by other cadets.
Unaware of this, Tiandao dramatically gasped when he heard the reply.
"What?! You actually ate that pig feed on such a crucial day as the final assessment?"
Tiandao shook his head in distress: "No wonder you haven't been able to activate your Star Core, Classmate Kong."
Chen Kong blinked in confusion: "Huh? Does what I eat for breakfast have anything to do with my Star Core?"
"Of course it does!"
Tiandao earnestly pointed at himself and said, "As the top genius of the Embers organization, my brain consumes sugar equivalent to three adults every day. Don't believe me, just watch..."
Tiandao suddenly leaned in, his cerulean eyes behind the sunglasses flashing with a dangerous arc, as if stars were swirling within them.
Though it was just a simple gaze, Chen Kong felt an immense pressure from Tiandao in an instant.
It was as if the person looking at him was not a peer only half a month older than him, but a ferocious, powerful Star Beast that could easily tear him apart at any moment.
Seeing Chen Kong, the 'protagonist,' get scared by a mere gaze, Tiandao immediately laughed.
"See, Classmate Kong, this is the result of eating nutritional meals."
"Why am I so strong? It's because I eat double portions of sweets every day!"
"If you also ate double portions of sweets like me every day, you might awaken your Star Core immediately!"
"R-really?" Chen Kong's eyes immediately lit up.
"Idiot, he's lying to you."
Before Chen Kong could ponder the truth of those words, a clear, cold female voice came from in front of the trio.
Chen Kong's sister, Chen Xing, had appeared before them at some point, carrying the blood-colored long saber 'Bloodflame' on her back, which gleamed with an eerie luster in the morning light.
Seeing her, Tiandao and Caroline showed no strong reaction.
But Chen Kong, whose shoulder Tiandao was still holding, became visibly timid, like a mouse seeing a cat.
"S-sister..."
Chen Kong huddled, lacking the courage to even make eye contact with her.
Chen Xing paid him no mind.
She had long been accustomed to her useless, good-for-nothing brother.
She didn't even glance at Chen Kong, her crimson Star Pupils fixed directly on Tiandao.
"Tiandao, are you trying to trick people again with your flawed sweet-tooth theory?"
"How can you call it tricking~"
Tiandao spread his hands with a grin: "Science proves that sugar not only promotes brain thinking, but also..."
"Shut up!" Chen Xing coldly interrupted: "Do you think everyone is a heavy sweet-tooth like you?"
At her words, the entire training ground suddenly fell silent.
The surrounding cadets unanimously took a few steps back, clearly knowing what was about to happen.
After all, the last person who dared to speak to Tiandao like that lay in the infirmary for a full month.
Since then, apart from Caroline, Tiandao's closest confidante, no one else dared to speak to Tiandao in such a manner.
However, Tiandao didn't seem to mind Chen Xing's sharp tongue much.
He shrugged indifferently, then put on an aggrieved expression.
"Classmate Xing, you hurt my feelings by saying that."
Then, as if an idea struck him, his expression suddenly changed, and he gazed at the exquisitely featured, queen-like Chen Xing, making her look utterly confused.
Just as Chen Xing was feeling inexplicably stared at, Tiandao suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Classmate Xing, such a strong reaction from you, could it be that you don't actually look down on Classmate Kong, but are jealous that he gets my special guidance?"
"You should have said so earlier. If you had said so earlier..."
"Ha?!"
Chen Xing's expression instantly contorted: "Me? Jealous of this good-for-nothing?"
She fiercely drew the long saber from her back and pointed its tip directly at Chen Kong, who was beside Tiandao.
"It's been two years, and he can't even achieve the most basic Star Energy perception. This kind of trash doesn't deserve..."
"Hey, hey, I can pretend I didn't hear the other stuff, but speaking of your own brother like that, isn't that a bit much?"
Tiandao suddenly dropped his cynical smile, his eyes behind the sunglasses turning dangerous.
In an instant, an invisible pressure spread out from him.
The nearest cadets' legs were already trembling, and Chen Xing's hand gripping the saber also quivered slightly.
But she wasn't afraid; she was stubbornly, forcefully resisting this immense, tsunami-like oppression.
"Was I wrong?"
Chen Xing gritted her teeth and retorted, "Among the 36 cadets of the Galaxy Project, he's the only one who can't even activate his Star Core..."
"That's because his Star Core is quite special."
Tiandao suddenly interrupted her.
And that sentence, like a bomb, instantly detonated among the crowd.
Everyone looked at Chen Kong with astonished eyes, and even Caroline, who believed she had all the cadets' information, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
She seemed to be judging the veracity of Tiandao's words.
After all, if someone else had said it, even if it were Chen Xing, Chen Kong's sister, the others still wouldn't have found it very credible.
But when these words came from Tiandao, the number one cadet in the Galaxy Project, the outcome was completely different.
Because Tiandao disdained lying to them, and was too lazy to do so.
"M-my Star Core is special...?"
Hearing Tiandao's words, let alone others, even Chen Kong himself froze in place.
Seeing his lack of confidence, Tiandao smiled mysteriously.
"Yes, very special. So special that no one except me has guessed what your Star Core truly is."
"How about it? Want to know what I've discovered?"
Chen Kong nodded excitedly, his usually self-deprecating and dim eyes now radiating a light called hope.
Tiandao, who was familiar with the original plot of the first season through the Popularity System, didn't mind giving Chen Kong, the protagonist of this series, some information in advance.
So he leaned close to Chen Kong's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Classmate Kong, your Star Core actually isn't inactive; it's too powerful, so powerful that you can't even control it yourself."
Chen Kong's eyes widened: "Then why do I..."
"Shhh—" Tiandao put his index finger to his lips, smiling, "Classmate Kong, isn't it more fun to discover the answer yourself?"
Just then, the training ground gate suddenly opened.
A team of fully armed guards marched in with precise steps.
The Embers organization's emblem on their black tactical helmets gleamed coldly under the lights, warning all to keep away.
"Looks like the assessment is about to begin~"
Seeing the appearance of these 'black dogs,' Tiandao released Chen Kong and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Good luck, Classmate Kong, I have very high hopes for you."
Receiving encouragement from Tiandao, the number one cadet in the Galaxy Project, Chen Kong—who was truly the bottom-dweller among the 36 members of the Galaxy Project—felt immensely inspired, and his spirits visibly soared.
However, his excitement didn't last long, as Chen Xing on the side coldly poured cold water on him.
"Idiot, you believe such nonsense? Tiandao is clearly playing a trick on you."
"Because if your Star Core were really that special, it would be one thing if we didn't discover it, but why didn't even the organization discover it?"
"You wouldn't actually think that those people in the organization are as ignorant about Star Cores as we are, would you?"
Chen Xing's analysis was logical and consistent with reality.
This caused everyone's surprised gazes at Chen Kong to slowly return to normal.
Even Chen Kong had to admit that Chen Xing's words made a lot of sense.
As a result, his eyes slowly dimmed again.
Seeing Chen Kong once again suppressed by his sister, Chen Xing, Tiandao simply said, "Classmate Xing, how about we make a bet? Let's bet on whether Classmate Kong can awaken his Star Core during the final assessment."
"Bet what?"
"How about desserts? If I win, your desserts for the next three months are mine. If I lose, then..."
Before Tiandao could finish, Chen Xing interrupted him.
"Alright, but you cannot interfere or help him."
"No problem."
Tiandao readily agreed, a cunning glint flashing in his cerulean eyes behind the lenses.
After all, he had already read the original script through the Popularity System.
He knew that in the original story, Chen Kong would be pushed to a desperate situation during the assessment and ultimately awaken the 'Star Energy Nullification' ability, which was practically a bug.
Therefore, this bet was a guaranteed win for him.
However, to Tiandao's surprise, Chen Xing's conditions for the bet were not yet finished.
"Furthermore, I want you to change the terms of the bet."
"Change what?"
Looking at Tiandao's confused face, Chen Xing took a deep breath, dangerous flames igniting in her beautiful eyes, and her brown long hair visibly began to turn crimson.
"If I win, I don't want your desserts. I want you to fight me seriously, with all your might."
Upon hearing this, Tiandao dropped his cynical expression and silently took off his sunglasses.
In an instant, that terrifying, astonishing tsunami-like pressure once again swept through the entire training ground.
Although she had experienced Tiandao's oppressive aura once before, when it reappeared, Chen Xing still found it difficult to withstand.
And this time, Tiandao was clearly serious.
His oppressive aura this time was even more intense and more... suffocating than before.
Looking at Chen Xing, who was struggling to hold on, Tiandao calmly said, "Classmate Xing, some things, I can ignore them once or twice."
"But three or four times, that's completely different..."
Tiandao walked up to Chen Xing, who was half-kneeling under his pressure, and looked down at her.
"After all, a lion won't tolerate a hyena's repeated provocations."
"So, Classmate Xing, wait until you have fully mastered your Star Core and understood its true purpose before you come to discuss this with me."
"Because right now, you are far from qualified to make me serious. After all, you can't even withstand my oppressive aura, can you?"
With that, Tiandao lightly patted Chen Xing's tensed shoulder, then withdrew his oppressive aura.
In an instant, the tense atmosphere in the training ground immediately eased.
However, the proud Chen Xing was unwilling to admit defeat just like that.
Twice, she had been suppressed by Tiandao's Star Energy pressure alone.
Chen Xing gritted her teeth, gripping the demonic saber Bloodflame tightly.
Or rather, she couldn't accept that she didn't even have the ability to strike back at Tiandao.
Looking at Chen Xing, who seemed poised to challenge him, Tiandao's eyes narrowed slightly.
Beside Tiandao, Caroline silently slipped her hand into her pocket, as if gripping something.
For a moment, the air in the entire training ground seemed to halt.
No one dared to speak loudly at this time.
Just then, the metal door of the training ground suddenly opened.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels, a graceful figure walked into the training ground.
"Oh, bullying your classmates again, little Tiandao."
Instructor Yun Meng approached with an elegant cat-like stride, her voluptuous figure clad in a black uniform, causing many adolescent Galaxy cadets around to secretly swallow.
But they only went that far.
Because they knew very well that Yun Meng, who had an angelic figure, had a heart more devilish than a devil.
It was only when dealing with Tiandao that she would show a 'special care' like an older sister next door.
That was a privilege reserved for geniuses.
Faced with Yun Meng's sudden teasing, Tiandao immediately retorted, "That's unfair, Sister Yun. I was clearly just having a friendly, productive exchange with Classmate Xing. How is this bullying?"
"Stop that act." Yun Meng lightly tapped Tiandao's head, then turned to Chen Xing and said, "The assessment is about to begin, yet you want to privately attack your classmate, Chen Xing? Have you forgotten the organization's rules?"
Hearing this, Chen Xing silently put away her demonic saber and returned to the ranks with her head bowed.
Looking at her retreating back, Yun Meng said helplessly, "Little Tiandao, why are you always at odds with Classmate Xing? You two are clearly the organization's most promising geniuses; can't you just get along?"
Tiandao spread his hands: "Sister Yun, you can't blame me. Chen Xing deliberately provoked me. I was just acting in self-defense."
"You, honestly..."
Yun Meng shook her head helplessly, then said, "...Never mind, I'll deal with you after the assessment.
"Now, you go back to the ranks too. After all, the assessment is starting soon.
"Many important figures from the organization are here today, so don't mess things up."
Upon hearing this, Tiandao immediately smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sister Yun, I am the strongest."
Regarding Tiandao's almost arrogant statement, while Yun Meng wanted him to be a bit more modest, she did not contradict him.
Because, as Tiandao said, among the 36 cadets of the Galaxy Project, Tiandao Siming was indeed the undisputed strongest.
(End of chapter)
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