Chapter 148: Examination Begins

"Tch. They made it?"

The group of applicants was now inside a spacious indoor training ground of some sort, similar to the training ground of the Golden Pavilion, except, obviously not filled with gold. There were hundreds of people watching them from above on the side of the huge training hall.

And throughout all the proceedings, Guanbei's eyes almost did not leave the golden-haired kid for one second. He continued to stare at him, his eyes full of hostility.

He knew that he shouldn't be bothered, but the kid really irritated him for some reason. It would seem the others felt the same too, as they also stared at the golden-haired kid with a frown on their faces.

Most of them heard what the boy said. They all heard his confident tone when he said that they would die if he didn't hold back. So young and already so arrogant, and for a westerner too!?

Most of the people who heard Viel had a collective thought, they couldn't wait for Viel to fail miserably in the exam. For some reason though, it was mostly the men who stared at him with hostility.

In a day, only 100 applicants can take the tests to be registered as explorers. Out of the 100, most were men.

They were all wearing a pin with a number written on it, Guanbei's number was 69.

Guanbei then once again looked at the golden-haired boy, or more specifically, towards the pin that was attached to his waist.

Number 102.

Number 102!? There should only be 100 of them!

Guanbei once again clicked his tongue and shook his head. Just because he knows a famous Explorer, he was being given special treatment!?

Guanbei then looked at the rest of the applicants, and once again, clicked his tongue for another time.

Most of the examinees looked like they haven't even seen the inside of a dungeon and have not been bestowed the power of the dungeon, Guanbei thought.

None of them would be lucky enough to even survive a single second inside a dungeon. Especially you! He screamed internally as pointed at the golden-haired kid.

Being surrounded by beautiful women the moment you arrived at the building, the audacity! Guanbei's fists trembled as his eyes almost popped out from staring intensely at the golden-haired kid.

"Seems like you're pretty popular, Vi"

Guanbei's ears perked up as soon as he heard the golden-haired kid's female companion talk.

"Of course, I am popular anywhere I go", the golden-haired kid flicked his luscious beautiful hair, and in response, his female companion chuckled softly.

Are you serious!? Guanbei almost bit his tongue. To dare flirt while we are currently in a test!? How dare you!?

Most of the male contestants also once again stared at the golden-haired kid, their eyes wide and red in frustration.

Damn you! They all thought.

There were also female applicants, but they were few in number and were dominated by the sheer number of male applicants.

There were, however, 3 women that stood out the most. They were covered in cloaks, but their faces were revealed. The three of them all had a slightly dark complexion, brown.

Foreigners again? Guanbei could not help but click his tongue, again.

His eyes then once again scanned the other applicants… no, competitors.

Guanbei treated this as a competition. And one competitor caught his eye. It was a handsome man wearing a white and elegant robe, his long hair pulled back into a knot.

Besides the golden-haired kid, Guanbei has also been staring at this man. The man had his eyes closed ever since they entered the training hall.

Out of all the other competitors here, this man seemed to be the only one strong enough to compete with him, he could feel it. Guanbei could not help but scoff.

Let's see who wins between us, he thought.

"We assume that is all of you"

Finally, after almost two pages of gloating, Guanbei's thoughts were finally interrupted as a voice echoed throughout the hall.

���You know why you are here, so I do not need to welcome you", the voice sighed, seemingly tired of his job, "Based on your performance in the tests that will be conducted from here on out, you will be ranked accordingly…"

The Empire set up 8 ranks to separate and organize the Explorers. With G being the lowest, and S being the highest. The higher the rank is, the more access one can have to the dungeons. G ranks are only able to enter a dungeon once a month and on a first-come-first enter basis.

While S ranks were able to enter anytime they wish and have access to even the most dangerous of dungeons.

"Now, most of you will probably fail and the majority will be placed in the lowest of ranks. But do your best nonetheless. Now the first test is simple…"

As soon as the examiner said this, various orbs and pillars of different sizes emerged from the hall. Some floating in the air.

"Once you enter a dungeon, there will be a chance that you will be bombarded by enemies instantly, and sometimes, even natives", some of the objects that emerged glowed in a blue color, "the blue objects represent the natives"

"Now, your task is to destroy as many of the pillars and orbs as much as possible, but best avoid the natives or that will affect your score negatively…"

"Each of you will take turns… you have 30 seconds", the voice said in a cold tone.

"30 seconds!?"

"Isn't that too little time?"

"Can we even destroy one!?"

Hearing the complaints of the other competitors, Guanbei once again clicked his tongue. Amateurs, he thought.

"In half the time we have given you, there will already be a hundred ways that the monsters of the dungeon could have killed you", the voice's tone turned even colder, "Let's begin, number 1, go to the center of the stage"

There weren't any traces of confidence on the face of the first applicant, he held his sword in a very flimsy way.

As expected, he could not even destroy 5 targets as he went back to the sides with a dejected look.

Those who followed were not any better, the highest one so far scored 23, and was using a bow.

The audience that were watching from the side started to make noises as they booed at the pathetic displays of the applicants.

But after a dozen more,

62.

62 targets were destroyed in 30 seconds by one of the dark-skinned women. She did not even move her spot as her weapon moved like it had a life of its own. At first, it just looked like a staff, but when the woman slammed its edge on the floor, the tip grew in size and separated into threads.

The threads moved like tentacles as they destroyed the targets one after the other.

A weapon from the dungeon, Guanbei thought. So these foreigners have already been inside dungeons?

And it would seem that his assumption was right.

The two other cloaked women had unique weapons of their own. The next one that took the test scored 64. Like the first one, the sword she was holding seemed normal, but then as she swung it, it extended. It was just a shame that she destroyed a blue target.

The last of the three had a bladed ring, which, once again, grew in size. It felt like the woman was dancing as the ring rotated around her body, elegantly destroying the targets near her. Her whole face was revealed as she moved her body, mesmerizing some of the men as it was their first time seeing a brown-skinned woman, not to mention they did not expect her to be this beautiful.

But in the end, due to the nature of her weapon, she was the one who scored the lowest among the three, only destroying 49 targets. But if they had to choose who they want as their companion, the men would probably all choose her.

The applicants who came after the three beautiful foreigners, were, in a word, lackluster.

None of them were even able to destroy 5 targets.

How pathetic, Guanbei thought.

And after a few more lousy competitors, Guanbei released an arrogant sigh as he stepped forward, it was his turn next.

He did not even watch the man who was taking the test as he looked at all the other competitors who could not even destroy 10 targets with a huge grin on his face.

He also looked at the handsome man that was wearing white robes, "Let's see who scores the most between us", he said in an arrogant tone. But the handsome man only looked at him for a second before closing his eyes once again.

Once again, Guanbei clicked his tongue due to the man's lack of response. And finally, he looked at the golden-haired kid, who was still chatting with his beautiful female companion.

I swear I will wipe that arrogant smile on your face, kid! He thought as he looked at the golden-haired kid who had an innocent smile on his face.

And then finally, it was his turn.