CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 188 THE EXAM BEGINS

The rules for the campus instance exam are simple: reach three designated locations on the map, obtain flags of different colors, and return alive to the instance entrance, which is also the starting point, then the exam is considered passed.

During this time, any magic plants and magic beasts encountered must be dealt with on one’s own. Death, firing a signal gun, requesting to exit the competition, or failing to meet the required number of flags will result in elimination, and scores will be given based on the order of elimination.

For those who pass, they will receive proportional additional points based on the order of return to the starting point, team collaboration, and the number of beasts killed. Higher scores will increase the frequency of their entry into instances, whereas lower scores will decrease it. If one wishes to enter the E-level instance more times to defeat bosses and level up skills, they must rank higher in scores.

The exam duration is three days. If one survives these three days and kills a few E-level magic beasts while obtaining all three flags, they can definitely score high.

After Qian Qi and others entered the instance, the place was already crowded with other teams because the departure time was the same, so they were all waiting on the spot.

"Let’s discuss the route first," Xu Jinghong handed the map to Han Li.

The area of instance 3019 is not small. The map indicates a total of 22 flag points, and they only need to choose 3 of them. However, since the number of flags at each point is limited, the closer to the entrance the flag point is, the fewer flags there are, and there might be a competition for flags.

There are also 16 supply stations on the map, but the quantity of food supplies is also limited, first come, first served. So they must plan the route for both flag points and supply stations to avoid wasting time and energy.

Although every department learns some planning, the Command Department learns it more deeply, so letting Han Li plan the route is the correct choice.

Han Li, holding the map, began route planning silently under the fierce faces of four ice-cool team members.

He actually anticipated that after completing the plan, these four might immediately propose different opinions. After all, they seem very assertive, with their own ideas, and disagreements could easily lead to fights.

If they really started fighting, should he intervene or avoid the sharpness?

Thinking this way, Han Li quickly settled on the route, "Number 3, 7, 14, 9, 11."

"This route is just enough for a round trip. Number 3 is the closest to us and may not have leftover flags, and many teams will go there, so the road will be safer and will save energy. If others start fighting for the remaining flags, we will immediately retreat to number 7, taking the opportunity to stock up on food and water along the way to 7."

Han Li analyzed, "Flag points 13 and 14 are in the center. It’s September now, and it doesn’t rain in instance 3019. We can determine the number of teams in each direction based on nearby footprints. 14 is closest to our route, so we should go to 14 first and then decide whether to go to 9 or 11."

After Han Li finished speaking, he was nervously prepared to listen to his teammates’ "guidance," only to find one absorbed in unwrapping new chewing gum, another resting with closed eyes, and another warming up beside him. The only one who seemed to be listening earnestly, Qian Qi, was intensely focused on the map, and when Han Li finished, he gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up, "Han, you really are a genius commander!"

Han Li awkwardly scratched his head, "Do you have any suggestions?"

"No, let’s go with it." The route Han Li proposed happened to be near where she was looking for Concentration Fruit, so she was naturally very pleased.

"Then... should you get familiar with my voice? To avoid any clever commanders from other teams ordering you with spiritual power pretending to be me when they try to attack us," Han Li tentatively asked.

"Sure." Qian Qi said, as Xu Jinghong just finished unwrapping the chewing gum and put it in his mouth, and nodded in agreement. Sheng Qing opened his eyes slightly and then closed them again, while Zhang Yun was cracking his knuckles beside them, "Let’s do it!"

Han Li swallowed a bit of saliva and then transmitted his voice into their minds, reciting some poems and saying a few common command orders.

Han Li, speaking in a slow and steady manner, with little modulation, was like Tang Seng chanting scriptures right in one’s ear, making Qian Qi nearly fall asleep. He wondered if in an actual fight Han Li would still be this slow in giving commands.

After the preparations were done, it was time to depart.

The broadcast sounded overhead, "The exam has started, please proceed with your signal guns. Don’t panic when encountering magic beasts, work calmly with your teammates, and wish you all good grades!"

The crowd instantly split into three large groups heading towards the nearest flag points. Many teams had already discussed forming temporary alliances on the way before engaging in a fair competition at the flag points.

Han Li’s team mingled with the crowd heading to the number 3 flag point. Han Li whispered to Qian Qi, "You’re a speed Awakener, so if you can grab a flag while everyone is in a mess at the number 3 flag point, run immediately with the map, but don’t run too far. Remember to come back to find us."

"Oh, okay." Qian Qi obediently agreed.

On the road to flag point number 3, they encountered 2 E-level magic beasts. Thanks to the crowd and a few D-level students, they were easily dealt with, while overhead, a small hovering flying surveillance ball was live broadcasting the exam process of the students from the three major departments to the monitoring room in the office building.

Wherever there were students, there were flying surveillance balls recording their actions for teachers to grade later. Some top-performing freshmen were also being closely watched by the principal, department heads, and instructors from the three departments.

Inside the monitoring room, 12 huge screens were live broadcasting situations at various locations, with each school owning four large screens to showcase the performances of their outstanding students, allowing the principal to determine their eligibility for entering the D-level campus instance to defeat bosses.

Sheng Qing, skilled in dual shooting skills, was displayed on the Skill Department’s screen. She was one of the students highly valued by Fan Jinghai due to her two rare B-level shooting skills.

However, this knowledge was limited to him, several instructors, and the principal. To nurture Sheng Qing, Fan Jinghai spared no effort, often taking her to C-level instances for training and even using personal connections to help her gain a couple of attribute rewards from C-level instance bosses.

But for future achievements, she couldn’t do it alone, so team cooperation was more reliable. Today, Fan Jinghai also wanted to observe whether the other departments’ outstanding students were worthy of becoming Sheng Qing’s teammates.

Stroking his small mustache, Fan Jinghai was just about to see which team was so lucky to have Sheng Qing as a teammate when he suddenly noticed a student beside Sheng Qing who looked somewhat familiar.

However, since this student was wearing a mask, Fan Jinghai couldn’t recognize who it was even after looking for a long time and was just trying to get a closer look when the student suddenly left the team.