Nobody told me this wasn't a game.

Seeing that General Li was a little tired, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

The car drove past the two people.

The driver recognized one of them as Wang Feng, whom he had seen a few days earlier and who worked at the registration desk.

He was chatting with a young man next to him, and they seemed to get along very well.

SUVs whizzed past us, and the 8888 Sports Complex was right in front of us.

Wang Feng stopped at the door and said, "Mr. Zuo, this is it. The elite soldier assessment is quite special. Many famous adventure groups are eager to recruit you and have sent people to wait on site. If you have an outstanding performance, you probably won't need to find a way out yourself; they will come to you on their own."

Zuo Chang laughed and said, "You're making me nervous. If no one contacts me, does that mean—even if I get the certificate, it's not a big deal?"

"Haha! No way. The elite soldier assessment is really difficult. Those who pass are all outstanding individuals. It's not like no one will invite them."

"I'm new here and don't even know which adventure groups are good."

Wang Feng thought for a moment: "Here, the Chief Adventurer Group is in a league of its own. Moreover, the Chief Adventurer Group is Lord Qian's adventurer group, which is part of the system. If we can get in, we should definitely get in."

Then I won't go in.

Money is useless; you're not one of us.

Zuo Chang shook his head: "I'm afraid we can't afford to be associated with you."

Wang Feng, oblivious to the implied meaning, continued, "The Warhawk Adventurer Group and the Carving Tribulation Adventurer Group are both quite good, and they also have close ties with Lord Qian. They are equivalent to the chief adventurer group."

Zuo Chang asked curiously, "Aren't there any civilian adventure groups without official backing?"

"The quality of amateur adventure groups is usually poor. The most famous one... is probably 'Deer Dawn'! Deer Dawn is an adventure group that has emerged in the last six months. It has fewer than ten members, but it has many elites. The leader, Deer Zheng, and the deputy leader, True Bow, are outstanding individuals. Last month, the spellcaster 'Bunny Girl' also joined, which has greatly increased its strength."

Wang Feng praised it highly.

"It would be great to join them. Lu Zheng is a handsome guy, and there are more women than men in the Deer Morning Club, especially the vice-captain Mayumi and the bunny girl, they are beauties that are one in a million!"

He seemed even more excited than Zuo Chang.

Chapter 29 Hot, but only a little hot

Wang Feng saw him off at the door and then returned to the registration area.

Zuo Chang entered alone and saw two paths, one on the left and one on the right. There was no one around. After a slight hesitation, he walked to the left.

There were no signs on the walls, and no one was around.

Zuo Chang stood in the corridor, becoming increasingly uneasy as he walked, deeply wondering if he had taken the wrong path.

How come there isn't a single person to be seen in this exam venue?

"Da da."

Just then, footsteps sounded behind them.

Zuo Chang turned his head and saw a young girl walking towards him with her head held high and her eyes fixed straight ahead.

She wore a black dress, her face was indifferent, and she exuded a cold and aloof aura that kept strangers at bay.

For some reason, Zuo Chang felt a strange sense of familiarity as he looked at her...

Her dark blue hair and the beauty mark under her left eye always gave Zuo Chang a sense of déjà vu, yet he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

I've probably never seen one before.

A person with such outstanding temperament is not easily forgotten.

She looks familiar, maybe...

"Maybe it's because she's so beautiful, matching my definition of a beautiful woman, that she looks familiar to me."

Zuo Chang thought to himself.

He suppressed his thoughts and waited for the girl to approach before speaking, "Miss, may I ask—"

"You've gone the wrong way. Go inside and turn right; that leads straight to the exam room."

Hey!

Hey!

The girl interrupted Zuo Chang directly and gave her answer.

Zuo Chang was taken aback, then laughed and said, "How did you know what I was going to ask?"

The girl neither stopped nor turned her head.

She simply said, "Holding your admission ticket like a fool. A reckless newcomer like you is extremely rare, practically the last remaining idiot. I can tell what you want to ask at a glance. Sir, I advise you to be more pragmatic. Adventurers from the first realm should not participate in the 'Elite Soldier Assessment,' the registration fee is not cheap."

The young girl walked proudly past Zuo Chang, leaving behind a fragrant breeze.

For a moment, Zuo Chang didn't know what to say.

Is this girl kind-hearted?

It's hot, but only a little hot.

She could have completely ignored Zuo Chang's question, nor did she need to point out the right path.

But what she said later was a personal attack.

It's one thing to be a dull goose, but is it appropriate to say such things to strangers about the last remaining idiot?

Zuo Chang watched her swaying figure as she walked away, not wanting to provoke any more trouble.

He returned to the main gate and walked towards the road on the right.

This time there were no problems. Zuo Chang saw the signs and met the staff. After his admission ticket was checked, he entered the waiting area.

The waiting area is a spacious conference room.

Inside, there were already fifty or sixty people waiting. Each of them was burly and muscular, carrying knives and swords. The vast majority were teenagers or young adults in their twenties, but there were also a few middle-aged people who were clearly older.

Zuo Chang observed carefully and found that it was indeed as the girl had said—

There were at least two realms present, and some were even at the third realm.

It seems he's the only one from the entire region who came to participate in the "elite soldier assessment".

Two examiners stood on one side of the tea room.

Xiao Wu looked around the room and said, "Old Zeng, the quality of the adventurers seems pretty good today."

Old Zeng said listlessly, "It's no use. You know who the chief examiner is this year, that Lu Li... does he make any sense? He sets such strict standards that people who passed easily last year are considered mediocre by him! This year's pass rate... hehe, less than 10%!"

Old Zeng was very resentful, but Xiao Wu could understand.

Lu Li's actions were indeed unfair.

As the leader of the "Chief Adventure Team" of the Heavenly King Division, Lu Li has an idol image to maintain.

He is strict not only with himself, but also with others.

Since the standards for issuing "Adventurer's Certificates" were relaxed a year ago, the quality of the adventurer community has visibly declined. All sorts of nobodies are becoming adventurers, but do they even have the ability?

Lu Li had long complained about the adventurers of today.

This time it was his turn to be the chief examiner for the "elite soldier assessment," and good heavens, he was simply...

Vent your malice!

His passing standards are so high that it's suffocating; less than one in ten people can actually get the certificate from him.

This year's assessment is not even over yet, and nearly a hundred candidates have already complained, claiming that Lu Li is making things difficult for them!

Old Zeng's son was rejected yesterday.

He's not in a good mood right now and is complaining, which Xiao Wu can completely understand.

Xiao Wu wanted to say something cheerful. He looked around and saw Zuo Chang: "Hey Lao Zeng! Look, there's another one at the first realm. This is really strange. The difficulty of the elite soldier assessment is fixed. First and second realms are treated the same. Does he think... he can pass our test with only the first realm?"

Old Zeng still had a stern face: "You can't judge a book by its cover. What if he's a hidden master?"

Haha!

The two examiners chatted for a while, and soon it was time for the assessment.

Xiao Wu stepped forward, clapped his hands, and said, "Everyone! The final round of this year's elite soldier assessment is about to begin! I won't say much more; I'm sure you've all done your homework. Now, please welcome the first candidate. Anyone willing to volunteer?"

"I come!"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Chang immediately stood up.

no other meaning.

I just don't want to wait.

Xiao Wu was slightly taken aback, not expecting this small realm to be so fierce.

He laughed and said, "Alright, then let this strong man set a good example for everyone! Please follow me!"

Xiao Wu pushed open the door behind him, and the examination venue was immediately revealed to Zuo Chang.

An empty room with a bleacher stand.

The floor was covered with soft cushions, and in front of it was a long table, behind which sat eleven examiners.

The examiners will score the candidates based on their performance.

The score is calculated on a 100-point scale. The highest and lowest scores are removed, and the average score is taken. A score of 85 or above is considered passing.

There was a bleacher stand in the room, which was now full of people.

Zuo Chang looked up and saw forty or fifty people clearly divided into two groups—

These are likely "observers" for various adventure groups; if a candidate performs exceptionally well, they will extend an invitation to join the group.

"One Realm!"

"Wow, when was the last time an elite soldier assessment had a contestant from the highest realm participating?"

"I'm afraid only the first batch of participants will be from the first realm. The elite soldier assessment doesn't test potential, but ability. Those from the first realm won't receive any preferential treatment."

Zuo Chang's appearance immediately caused a minor uproar.

This is understandable.

The examiners are highly qualified and won't make random comments; the adventurers in the stands are just there for the spectacle, it would be boring if they didn't say anything.