The crowd of the students and professors walked towards the location of the third exam. However, all of them already knew about what the third exam is.
From afar, they were approaching a tall structure that stretches up to the clouds and was visible from anywhere in the city. When they gathered at the bottom entrance of it, the tower's size shocked most of the students.
"This is the Tower of Trial and this is where the third exam will take place." Hesco turned to the students and announced with a serious face.
The Tower of Trial has a diameter of about a hundred meters and a height of about four kilometers. Its design was simple as a plain rod. At the most bottom part, there is a door that serves as the entrance of it.
Beside the door, a long bearded old man was sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed. He was giving off a strong aura without doing anything at all.
"This is the Tower of Trial of our planet, Rhost. Nine hundred years ago, the first Tower of Trial was introduced. The government saw its potential in increasing the combat power and experience of soldiers and also finding talents of the people. From thereon, the government created one for each planet for the benefit of humanity. The tower has 100 floors and there is only one rule to move on to the next floor. It is to clear all the opponents on the floor you are currently at. The state of your opponents will start at 1st level Martial Physique State. After each floor, the state will increase while the number of opponents will vary. You will also be given an hour of rest before you move on to the next floor but if you want to continue right away, that is your decision."
"Inside the tower, you can use everything you have at your disposal to move to the next floor. Weapons, skills, techniques, and talents, as long as you have it, you can use it."
"You don't have to worry about your life because this place will preserve it. This Tower of Trial will send you out the time you died inside but it won't repair the weapons that were broken or destroyed or the talismans and rune cards you used so be mindful about your decisions."
"Multiple persons can enter the tower at the same time but they won't meet each other inside as the tower is designed to be challenged alone. For your third exam, you are required to clear at least the tenth floor. You have three days to reach the tenth floor and after that, all the remaining students will be sent outside the tower. Now, any questions?"
"How about the rankings?"
"The higher the floor, the higher the scores and rankings. However, we are also watching you so we might give some of you extra points."
"What is the highest floor reached?"
"At this moment, the 71st floor of this Tower of Trial has been reached. For examinees, the highest one reached is 16th floor. This record is from two hundred years ago by our very own General Dillan Gail, a Star State General of the Border Army. If you break his record, we'll reward you greatly."
When the name of Dillan Gail was heard, the students and the teachers wore some pride on their faces.
General Dillan Gail was a prodigy from Rhost. With his earth talent, he rose to the ranks and defended the planets in the border with the others for the last hundred and fifty years. In space, his defense is impenetrable and when he landed on the ground, the earth beneath his feet became almost a part of his body, turning him into a two hundred meter earth giant.
It was a spectacular sight to behold.
People from Rhost really looked up to him and to what he did and can accomplish for the sake of humanity.
Hesco rubbed his chin and continued. "Maybe this is a good time to announce the rewards for this entrance exam."
His words caught the full attention of all the students.
"The top fifty will receive a high grade 3 energy pill. Top ten will receive a flawless grade 3 energy pill. Top three will receive two flawless grade 3 energy pills and the second three flawless grade 3 energy pills. The first rank will receive five flawless 3 energy pills, and 200,000 silver credits."
The flawless pill made the students very excited. The difference between high and flawless grade 3 pills was huge. At Martial Spirit State, a single flawless grade 3 energy pill can increase the cultivation by a minor state. For Martial Physique States, the results were far better.
Pills can be considered low, mid, high and flawless and each level has a very huge gap from one another.
And the most important factor that sets them apart from each other was the impurities contained in them. The low grade ones have higher impurities while the flawless ones were the purest with less than 1% of impurity.
These impurities will stack together and become a problem later on for many cultivators. That is why they prefer to take pills with less impurity in them. The problem is that flawless pills were difficult to concoct and there are also a few that can make them resulting in their sky high price.
These flawless pills that the university will give as rewards were probably a tenth of the total flawless grade 3 energy pills they currently have in their storage.
'If I get the first place, I'll just give it to the others. I already have my own beast crystals anyways.' Raia decided. Even though the flawless pills were attractive to the eyes of the others, it was a normal sight for him. The beast crystals he has in the world inside can also give the effect of a flawless pill or even better by several folds.
"I will now give you the current rankings based on the results of the first two tests. The students from the last place will be the first ones to enter and the ones in the front will be the last ones to challenge the tower."
The students became attentive once again. This time, there was also nervousness in their faces.
Hesco began announcing the names of the students who were placed at the back of the ranking list. The ones he called out have some mixed emotions with them. They were happy that they will be the first ones to enter but also sad that they are at the bottom of the rankings.
Aaron was placed at 200. He was a bit disappointed but still entered the tower with determination.
Faye, on the other hand, was placed at almost the middle, 120.
The ones with talents naturally came on top.
"..Azel Lander…Kayle Forefield…Grace Miller…"
As the names were announced, the student's number decreased.
These last couple of students also gave Raia a glance before entering the tower which puzzled the latter.
'Why are they looking at me like that?' he asked himself.
Now, there are only two remaining, him and Sharia.
"..Sharia Wolford…and lastly, Raia Lyndon." Hesco said with a genuine smile. They were surprised that someone surpassed Sharia but that is not a bad thing for them as the more prodigies and geniuses came, the better it is for humanity.
Sharia went straight to the entrance without looking back to Raia.
"Show us what you got, kid." Hesco smiled at him.
"Yes, sir." With that answer, he entered the Tower of Trial.
…
Raia was enveloped in darkness and when he opened his eyes again, he was in a large plain room.
He immediately saw the black hound in front of him. It was a low rank 2 canine beast that was equal to a 1st level Martial Physique State human.
He took out the peak grade 3 sword that he got from his school from Forzen City as a reward.
With a kick on the floor, he launched himself towards the black hound. He raised his sword and with a single slash, killed it instantly.
…
Outside the Tower of Trial.
The professors were sitting around as they readied themselves to watch the students inside the tower.
In the midst of them was a crystal ball that will project the events inside the Tower of Trial.
"Before we start watching, let us make a bet on who will clear the highest floor in the Tower of Trial." A black long bearded man said.
"Of course it will be Sharia Wolford. Her talent and skills will surpass everyone in the tower. I bet three hundred thousand silver credits and a red crystal cherry." Another middle aged man with glasses said.
"Hoh..Samuel, looks like you are very confident about this one huh. You are ready to bet your red crystal cherry." teased another professor.
Red crystal cherry is a grade 5 fruit that can cleanse the blood from impurities and enhance the flow of blood in the veins, increasing the refining speed of spiritual energy. It can be effective to those Earthen States and below.
"Hmph. Of course, I am. I know Sharia and she is very strong.", answered Sir Samuel.
"Hahaha, then I will bet three hundred thousand and a flawless grade 5 Bone Tempering pill on Grace Miller. Her fire talent is quite good. I noticed something when observing her a while ago and I think that there is a huge chance she will be on top this time." Sir Ethan, a professor with fire talent said. After that he placed his bet on the table and shut his mouth, not disclosing to the others what he found out.
Afterwards, the others gave their bets. However, because Sir Samuel started high, they followed the value of his stakes, as equal or almost as equal to it.
"Three hundred thousand and fifty rank 4 beast crystals on…"
"Three hundred thousand and a …"
One by one, the professors placed their bets on the table.
This type of betting was normal to them. It was their pastime while watching the exam that gave them additional excitement. However, they don't take all the prizes to themselves. The silver credits will all go to the student and the professors get the items.
The winner gets all the silver credits and items. If there were more than one winner, they would divide that prize to themselves.
"What about you, Hesco?", Sir Samuel asked.
Hesco was holding his chin while thinking. "Three hundred thousand and a flawless grade 5 master-core pill on…Raia Lyndon."
"What? You are betting that pill on that kid?"
A master-core pill increases the success of breakthrough from Martial Master State to Core State by 25%. For those who have average aptitude in cultivation or those who didn't have any talent that have low chance of reaching the Core State, this percentage was already very tempting.
"What is the problem with him? His physique is good and is very strong. He will win. I'm sure of it." Hesco said with a confident smile.
The others were surprised at how confident he is. But on the other side, they were also happy that he bet something as good as the master-core pill. Although they were all already at Core State, they can still give this master-core pill to someone close or important to them.
"But he came from a city on the borders. I read his profile and it looks like he didn't learn any combat skills during his life there except the fundamentals that the school taught. Even though he has a good physique, that will still create a huge gap between him and the others.", Sir Ethan said as he analyzed the situation.
Hesco shook his head. "I know he can win. If I'm gonna be honest, I think he will beat the record of General Dillan Gail."
"What?!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course. Well, about 90% sure." Hesco nodded.
The others looked at each other with surprised faces.
"Have you really read his profile? He was just at Martial Foundation State two months ago and when he awakened his physique talent, he boosted to Martial Spirit State. That is some fast breakthrough. And although I haven't personally scanned his aspects yet, I can feel that his foundation, body and spirit are all at least at the high-state. It meant that he didn't just do quick cultivation and disregarded his aspects."
His words made the others widen their eyes. Now, they wanted to change and bet on Raia. Hesco refused this obviously.
"However, of course, without a proper set of skills and techniques to compliment his talent, his combat power will significantly decrease." Hesco continued.
"If he can last long and beat the record of General Dillan Gail with just what he has right now, then what can he do if he learns the skills and techniques in the university…"
"Three aspects, all at high-states. That is something you don't encounter everyday here in Rhost."
"And he is just at 2nd level Martial Spirit State, the early level. If he can push his spirit further and reach the peak-state, that will be very good."
"His chances of breaking through the higher states will be higher that way.."
The professors discussed it themselves. The exam was actually already starting but they just didn't turn on the crystal as it was just the first floor and no one will fail that floor.
"He will surely enter the elite class and when that time comes, I think we better take care of him really great." Hesco suggested. "Of course, we will also do that to the others as long as they can show us some promise."
The others agreed with him. Nurturing students for the betterment of humanity was always the goal of the teachers anywhere.
"How about you, Old Tiger?"Hesco turned and looked at the old man sitting beside the entrance of the tower.
Old Tiger opened his eyes and walked towards them. The others were nervously waiting for his words.
"Three hundred thousand and a flawless Core grade energy pill on Raia Lyndon." Old Tiger said with a hoarse voice.
This made the others erupt in shock.
"This Old Tiger…"