Chapter 234: 164, Intelligence Barrier
Instructor Lu Tianrong led everyone to a regular building and stopped.
The building was called regular because it was a cube with equal length, width, and height.
“This building has three floors. Each floor is set up with challenges. If you clear all challenges and reach the roof within three hours, you’ll pass the assessment,” he explained.
“The time is now 7:23 am. The entrance exam will start in seven minutes.”
“On the first floor, there are doors in the middle of each of the four walls. When the entrance exam begins, the doors will automatically open.”
“When the time comes, you will enter through different doors and take the assessment as a team.”
“That’s all I have to say. I hope all four teams clear the challenges smoothly.”
After giving these instructions, Lu Tianrong leaped onto the building’s roof and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
After he left, a young soldier from the military area said to the people of the other three teams:
“Our team will enter through Door A. You all can take the other doors.”
The young soldier spoke as if it were a matter of course, exuding the atmosphere of a superior.
The members of the other teams immediately felt disgruntled upon hearing this.
One of the youths from the MechGod Company spoke up:
“Why should we just go because you said so? Why don’t your team take another door?”
“Why?”
The young soldier laughed, his eyes filled with disdain: “Because I’m the strongest. The one with the bigger fist makes the rules. If you don’t agree, we can settle it right now.”
“Who’s afraid of whom? Bring it on!”
“I’m in too. Whoever’s stronger gets to choose the door first!”
“I, Mo Yanwei, have never been afraid of anyone!”
“…”
Aside from the team Zi Chen was in, the other three teams started arguing.
They were all very competitive and none would back down.
“Let’s go to Door D.”
Zhao Yuanzhong and Zhang Kai from Lin Zichen’s team almost simultaneously suggested.
Both men were ranked lowest among their respective teams of five in the military area and the MechGod Company, so they were quite realistic about not competing with the other teams.
Apart from their lack of strength, they had two girls in the team who were significantly holding them back; they definitely couldn’t win against the other three teams.
Lin Zichen had no objection to their suggestion and said indifferently, “Then let’s go, we’ll take Door D.”
The two girls had no objections either, silently following the three boys from their team toward Door D.
After arriving at Door D:
Zhao Yuanzhong turned to face the four others and said:
“We five are now a team, and a team must have a core leader to perform at its best. So, I think we should elect someone as the team leader. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
Zhang Kai expressed his support and then asked, “The question is, how do we choose our team leader?”
Zhao Yuanzhong self-nominated: “I have several years of experience as a small team leader, and my Biological Level is as high as the Ordinary Eighth Order. How about I take the role of team leader?”
“I have no objections,”
Lin Zichen said indifferently.
Seeing this, Shen Qinghan and Shangguan Yueying also said one after the other:
“Neither do I.”
“Me too.”
Both girls had only an Ordinary Sixth Order Biological Level, so seeing someone with a high level of Ordinary Eighth Order willing to be the leader, there was no reason not to support him.
Shen Qinghan had wanted to support Lin Zichen initially, but Lin Zichen had no intention of becoming the team leader.
“I object!”
After the other three agreed, Zhang Kai stood up in opposition.
He looked at Zhao Yuanzhong and said, “I lead a hundred-man team in the MechGod Company, and my leadership abilities are exceptional.”
“Moreover, my strength is also formidable. Two weeks ago, I took down an Ordinary Eighth Order Exotic Beast on my own.”
“Based on all this, I believe I’m more suited for the position of team leader.”
For a moment, the situation turned a bit awkward.
Everyone was surprised that someone was contesting for the position of team leader.
Zhao Yuanzhong: “Then how about we fight it out, and the strongest will be the leader?”
“Let’s do this!”
Zhang Kai was ready to fight.
Shangguan Yueying thought this was not a good idea and quickly tried to dissuade them: “Don’t do this. If someone gets hurt, it will affect the entrance exam later.”
After speaking, she suggested, “How about we decide by voting instead? Lin Zichen, Shen Qinghan, and I will vote, and whoever gets more votes between you two will be the team leader.”
“That works.”
“I have no objections.”
Zhao Yuanzhong and Zhang Kai said in turn.
Right after speaking, Zhang Kai immediately looked at Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan, trying to win them over: “Zi Chen, Xiao Shen, we’ve known each other for so long, make sure to vote for me!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanzhong immediately felt unhappy and objected: “No, that’s not fair. He has two acquaintances on the team, I’m bound to lose in a vote.”
“To be fair, let’s have a contest: a race. We’ll run from here to the old banyan tree a few hundred meters away. Whoever gets there first will be the team leader.”
Zhao Yuanzhong pointed to a centuries-old banyan tree hundreds of meters away, his voice carrying a hint of confidence.
Zhang Kai said, “Fine, let’s do it your way.”
Zhao Yuanzhong turned to Lin Zichen and said, “Lin Zichen, could you please be the judge?”
“Sure.”
Lin Zichen nodded.
Once both men were in position and ready to start, he called out loudly, “Run!”
At his call, Zhao Yuanzhong and Zhang Kai instantly dashed out.
Both were incredibly fast, their bodies blurring into afterimages, friction in the air producing a buzzing roar that echoed in the eardrums.
“So fast!”
Shangguan Yueying was shocked.
At Jingda, she was the fourth-ranked prodigy among the new students, with formidable strength and highly regarded.
Yet now, witnessing the speed of Zhao Yuanzhong and Zhang Kai, she felt outclassed.
The velocity at which Zhao Yuanzhong and Zhang Kai burst forth was even faster than Qin Chuan, the strongest at Jingda.
Furthermore, the gap was clearly an entire level apart, noticeably significant.