The boy in the photo frame is Wang Xu's younger brother, Wang Jun.
Ten years ago, the Second Safe Zone was invaded by a swarm of insect beasts. Millions of these creatures launched a frenzied assault, and the energy barrier was on the verge of collapse. Human warriors stepped forward to defend, but all perished at the claws of the insect beasts.
Without protection, the civilians had no choice but to flee. When the energy barrier shattered, the tidal wave of insect beasts swept through. At that time, Wang Xu was only eight years old and completely defenseless. The crowd fleeing was jam-packed, all striving to board the train to the Sixth Safe Zone.
After much difficulty, they managed to board the train, only to discover that Wang Jun, his younger brother by two years, was missing, swallowed by the enormous tide of people. Their mother, in a frenzy, wanted to get off the train, but their father firmly restrained her, tears glistening in his reddened eyes.
Just like that, Wang Jun was lost to them. A separation that lasted ten years. Initially, their parents sought to find him, but it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. They exhausted their savings and, for the sake of survival, had no choice but to temporarily give up.
To this day, Wang Xu dares not mention his brother in front of his parents, unwilling to stir up their memories and bring them pain.
"Don't worry, little brother. As long as you're alive, I will definitely find you!" Determination flickers in Wang Xu's eyes.
...
Early the next morning, after bidding farewell to his parents, Wang Xu set off for the Gene Academy.
He was enrolled in the martial arts class at the Gene Academy, and today marked the monthly academy trial, where all gene warriors of second rank and above were required to participate. Of course, one could opt out, but that would mean forfeiting their share of training resources for the month.
Today's academy was different from before, divided into martial arts and academic classes. The academic class was rigidly scheduled, with daily lessons involving memorization and knowledge acquisition to compete for spots in universities. In contrast, the martial arts class offered more flexibility, with most energy devoted to learning ancient martial arts, paving a brighter future for talented students.
Each month, the academy provided certain training resources to martial arts students to aid their cultivation, but the condition was participation in the academy trial.
The trial's requirements were straightforward—hunt the insect beasts!
All students needed to face the insect beasts head-on, using their own strength or teamwork to eliminate them. It was a trial but also a battle for survival.
The trial was fraught with danger and posed life-threatening risks. Each year, dozens of gene warriors fell victim to the insect beasts, even with the protective measures the academy put in place. If students were to face the insect beasts alone, the outcome would likely be much worse.
Life and death were inevitable, and those participating in the trial were fully prepared to fight to the end.
Because only by surviving the trial could they become stronger!
"Wang Ge!" (Ge meaning older brother)
"Wang Ge!"
Upon entering the Gene Academy, Wang Xu walked toward the martial arts class area, and from a distance, he could see classmates waving at him. Wang Xu smiled lightly and waved back.
One was a muscular man, while the other was a small and slender guy, both classmates of Wang Xu and members of his team for the trial.
Most participants in the trial would choose to act in teams, ensuring greater safety, though some prideful individuals opted to go solo. Typically, such individuals would be overwhelmed by envious classmates who would rob them of all their spoils afterward.
Wang Xu ranked third on the scoreboard, his strength unquestionable, so many wished to team with him, yet he only chose to form a team of three and tactfully declined offers from others.
The more people there were, the smaller the share of loot, and there was no assurance of safety from potential betrayal and backstabbers.
"Wang Ge, I heard you were hospitalized a few days ago? How is it, can you participate in the trial?" The small guy, Zhou Ge, asked, also a third-rank gene warrior.
"A minor injury, nothing serious," Wang Xu replied with a slight smile. He understood Zhou Ge's concern. Facing insect beasts, there was no room for mercy or sympathy; they didn't care about one's injuries; all that mattered was the kill.
"Wang Ge, I heard this trial is particularly tough, scheduled in a C-level area. The difficulty has likely increased," the muscular man, Song Zhen, commented. Despite his intimidating physique, he was quite intelligent and a virtual network expert with top-notch information-gathering skills.
C-level area?
Wang Xu's brows furrowed slightly. Normally, trials were arranged in D-level areas where first to third-rank insect beasts roamed. As long as they didn't encounter dozens of them attacking simultaneously, casualties among students were practically nonexistent.
However, this time they were going to a C-level area where fourth-rank elite insect beasts lurked. Wasn't this pushing the students into a fiery pit?
Just as Wang Xu was about to speak, he noticed the strange look in Song Zhen's eyes as he glanced behind him. Wang Xu turned and immediately spotted Tang Yan striding toward them.
Dressed in a simple white outfit, Tang Yan resembled a pristine fairy untouched by the mundane world. If it weren't for the facts before them, no one would believe she was a top-ten scorer, having hunted nearly a hundred insect beasts, her hands stained with blood.
But Wang Xu's eyes narrowed as he noticed Xu Yuan following behind Tang Yan. Xu Yuan caught Wang Xu's gaze and turned to look back with a contemptuous expression, causing Wang Xu's face to darken as he turned away.
Zhou Ge and Song Zhen also recognized Xu Yuan, their faces turning hostile. During the last trial, they could have accumulated over a hundred points, but on their way back to the base, Xu Yuan's team had intercepted them and forcefully taken their spoils, leading to a significant reduction in their training resources.
With half the training resources lost, their progress this month would slow dramatically. For gene warriors who held strength as their creed, it felt like having their livelihood severed; how could they not be furious?
If Wang Xu hadn't been present then, they would have ended up with no points at all.
Despite their anger, the two had to swallow it. The backing behind Xu Yuan was overwhelming; they were not his match.
"Xu Shao!"
"Xu Shao!"
As Xu Yuan arrived, several third-rank gene warriors quickly greeted him respectfully. They were part of Xu Yuan's team, receiving training resources sponsored by Xu Yuan's family. Naturally, they would look up to Xu Yuan.
Everyone understood the weight of Xu Yuan's background; if one could align with such a powerful figure, their future would be bright.
In an instant, more than half of the third-rank gene warriors placed themselves behind Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan gave them a satisfied nod, feeling triumphant as he provocatively glared at Wang Xu, as if to say: Hmph! What if you are stronger than I? I can still squish you like an ant!
Tang Yan, seeing Wang Xu for the first time, was about to greet him, but Wang Xu quickly turned away, seemingly disinterested, causing Tang Yan to swallow her words.
Suddenly, a pungent scent filled the air as a figure dressed in black approached.
"Zhang Xinglin!"
Dressed in black attire, with black hair and black eyes, this figure enveloped in darkness revealed only a pair of unreadable eyes.
He was Zhang Xinglin, the top-ranking expert on the scoreboard, known as the "Madman."
Seeing Zhang Xinglin walk by with an air of menace, Xu Yuan frowned but dared not say anything disrespectful.
Zhang Xinglin's family was far superior to Xu Yuan's, a power that was not in the same league. Had it not been for Zhang Xinglin's insistence on not accepting family support, he likely wouldn't be participating in the academy trial with them but would instead be honing ancient martial arts with the globally renowned "Genius Combat Team."
"Wang Brother." Suddenly, Zhang Xinglin spoke, fixing his gaze on Wang Xu.
People around them were taken aback; Zhang Xinglin rarely attended the academy and was only ever seen on trial days. He was known for his aloofness and had seldom spoken, making his address to a rival like Wang Xu quite surprising.
"What is it?" Wang Xu felt a bit bewildered but quickly regained his composure.
"How about adding one more person to your team?" Upon hearing this, the students could no longer remain calm.
Zhang Xinglin, always a lone wolf, was now asking to join a team? This was quite unusual.
However, Wang Xu understood very well why Zhang Xinglin would make such a request: this trial wasn't in a D-level area but a C-level area where fourth-rank elite insect beasts roamed. No matter how talented Zhang Xinglin was, he couldn't face off against fourth-rank beings with his third-rank strength—he wouldn't even be able to escape, so he chose to join a team for safety.
Zhang Xinglin was no fool; he was not the type to just flaunt his strength. Wang Xu nodded, "Brother Zhang, since you're asking, I welcome you wholeheartedly."
With this, Wang Xu's team gained a top-ranking expert, and their overall strength surged.
"Wang Xu… may I join you as well?" Suddenly, Tang Yan spoke.
Wang Xu was taken aback, but upon seeing Xu Yuan's grim and tense expression, he smiled slightly and replied, "Of course, no problem."
The other students looked at Wang Xu enviously. First, Zhang Xinglin, the top scorer, joined, and now Tang Yan, a top-ten beauty, was backing him. This was simply too fortunate.
But everyone knew their place; Zhang Xinglin and Tang Yan were able to join due to their exceptional strength, whereas they didn't possess such capabilities and could only feel envy.
"Wang Xu… I want you dead, painfully… very painfully!"
Xu Yuan's eyes were filled with venomous hatred. He didn't care if Zhang Xinglin joined Wang Xu's team, but Tang Yan absolutely could not!
To Xu Yuan, Tang Yan had long been designated as his private property, and he would not permit anyone else to touch her. At this moment, Xu Yuan's killing intent surged!
"Everyone!"
At this moment, a middle-aged man with a fierce scar on his face approached. He was the martial arts class instructor, known as Cui Qiang, nicknamed "Cui the Eight Blades." He was a formidable six-rank gene warrior, known for wielding two snow-white broadswords. He earned the name because he practiced an ancient martial art known as "Eight Blade Slash" and had once single-handedly annihilated an entire insect beast region, earning his place as a coach at the Gene Academy due to his formidable power.
As soon as Cui Qiang spoke, everyone immediately formed three neat rows, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
"You've participated in the trials many times, and you already understand the rules, but there are some you must be aware of."
"First: Once you enter the insect beast area, your life and death are your own responsibility!"
"Second: No killing among students allowed!"
"Third: The bodies of insect beasts must not be removed without permission!"
Once the three points were stated, Cui Qiang scanned everyone coldly. "Do you understand these rules?"
"Understood!" Everyone shouted in unison.
Without wasting any more time, Cui Qiang turned and left. The students knew it was time to head to the trial area and hurriedly followed in his footsteps.