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Time flew—days blurred into weeks.
One crisp morning, Fang Yang and his five companions gathered in the Class Zero classroom.
Soon, familiar footsteps echoed down the hall.
Creeeak…
The classroom door swung open slowly.
Wu Zhangkong's tall frame filled the doorway—impeccable white combat attire, ice-blue hair flowing like silk, his handsome face as expressionless as ever, only his emerald eyes deep as the ocean.
"Let's go," he said, voice glacial as usual. "Today's special assessment begins."
"Yes, Teacher Wu!" the six replied in unison—their voices ringing through the room.
Wu Zhangkong gave a faint nod—white robes fluttering as he turned—
and strode out. They hurried after him.
This time, they didn't walk—they boarded a sleek blue soul-guided bus.
With a low hum, the bus glided toward the outskirts.
"Teacher Wu…" Xie Xie sidled to the front, grinning ingratiatingly. "Can you hint at the test content?"
Wu Zhangkong glanced at him coolly. "Weren't you confident before? Scared now?"
"Not at all!" Xie Xie waved it off. "Just… curious!"
"You'll see soon enough."
Wu Zhangkong's tone remained calm. "But I'll say this—the venue resembles the Spirit Ascension Platform… yet differs fundamentally."
"Oh?"
Xie Xie's eyes gleamed with confidence.
If he'd aced the Platform, this would be child's play!
He smirked smugly—(…a confidence that would shatter the moment the test began.)
Beside him, Fang Yang took Gu Yue's hand.
Through the window, scenery blurred past.
The bus sped on—soon reaching suburban Donghai.
Fresher air, buildings of distinct design—nothing like the city's steel canyons.
They disembarked at the Donghai Soul-Guided Technology Park—a vast compound housing the academy's high-tech firms, factories, and mecha workshops.
"I remember this place!" Xie Xie exclaimed.
After a thirty-minute walk, Wu Zhangkong led them to a secluded enclave within the park.
First, manicured lawns and exotic flora.
Then—a unique, deep-blue building came into view.
Compared to the park's industrial giants, it was delicately small—a jewel amid the sprawl.
"Is this our test site?" whispers rippled through the group.
The building's mirror-like walls—seamless panels of specialized glass—shimmered like a colossal crystal under sunlight, refracting dazzling rainbows—ethereal, dreamlike.
At the entrance, deep-blue glass doors stood sealed.
Wu Zhangkong stepped forward, placing his palm on a scanner.
Bzzt!
A blue flash—then a playful electronic voice chirped:
"Well, well! Long time no see, Little Zhangkong of Donghai!"
"Little Zhangkong of Donghai?!"
Fang Yang's group burst into stifled laughter.
That nickname was too absurd!
Wu Zhangkong's face remained stone-cold. "Open the door."
The AI sighed dramatically. "So cold! You're still as boring as ever… Fine, opening!"
Ding!
The doors slid apart soundlessly, revealing a pristine interior:
white floors, deep-blue walls, soft white lighting.
Spotless—but utterly empty.
A floating metallic platform drifted over—carrying six sleek metal bracelets.
"Wear them," Wu Zhangkong ordered.
Xie Xie's curiosity sparked. "Teacher Wu—what are these for?"
"Identity verification," came the flat reply. "Refuse… and the defense system will annihilate you."
That got them moving—bracelets snapped on instantly, even Xie Xie's joking halted.
"Whoa—so high-tech!" Tang Wulin marveled.
"Right?!" Xie Xie agreed.
Wu Zhangkong led them deeper—past another blue glass door, through twisting corridors, until a final doorway opened to blinding light.
WHOOSH!
Wu Zhangkong and the six vanished.
In the next instant—they reappeared in a new realm.
A deep-blue void, crystal floor and ceiling, silver-white metal walls shimmering with refracted halos.
"Spatial manipulation… soul-guided teleportation?"
Fang Yang, though familiar with the tech, still marveled at its execution.
Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi gaped in awe.
Even the ever-composed Gu Yue's eyes widened.
"Is this… the pinnacle of human technology?!"
Ahead, Wu Zhangkong approached a wall and tapped a concealed panel.
The white surface split open, revealing a massive screen.
Arcane symbols flared to life, a holographic keyboard materialized.
Fingers danced across keys—
"Identity confirmed: Little Zhangkong of Donghai."
"Trial difficulty: HIGH. Participants: 6. Countdown: 10 seconds."
"9…"
"8…"
"Prepare yourselves," Wu Zhangkong warned.
"3… 2… 1… BEGIN!"
Six azure beams crashed down—engulfing the six.
POOF!
They vanished without a trace.
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