Summoners: One Golden Term per Level

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Journey into the Abyss, Abyssal Tree Seed

The outside world was also scared by the reform of this high-stakes entrance exam. Wu Xia had long hinted that this year’s exam would undergo changes, and they knew there would be variables.

But they didn’t expect the changes to be so significant.

They could accept the elimination system since it wouldn’t affect the overall results too much.

But the third stage was unexpectedly not at the Abyss Edge as usual, but directly entering the Abyss, and they had to sign life and death agreements.

This frightened many of the candidates’ patriarchs.

As soon as the communication block on the exam was lifted, they immediately contacted their children.

”Why go? If you lose your life, what use is a high score?”

”Your score isn’t that high, just give up the third stage. Let those geniuses compete, and leave the crisis to someone else to bear.”

”You’re our only son, even if you go to a slightly lesser school, it won’t be too bad!”

...

Such discouragements played out repeatedly, but many parents still encouraged their children to go. However, it was surprising that this highly controversial event had not been discussed widely in the news as one might expect, indicating they had been suppressed and warned.

News with explosive titles like:

”Reformed High-Stakes Exam? The Exam of Death, Is Humanity Really This Radical?”

”Sending Kids to the Battlefield: A Failure of Wu Xia or the Terror of the Abyss!”

”Has Humanity Really Come to This Point?”

...

These kinds of headlines would surely have appeared in abundance, but none had surfaced, implying that strict suppression was in place.

Once the officials stepped in, any troublemakers found themselves facing retribution.

Because if it really stirred up, perhaps 90% of the candidates would abandon the third stage.

Ten minutes is neither long nor short.

The result was that even in Nanyue District’s exam hall, only a few hundred remained, with a departure rate of 70%.

[The rules for the third stage are as follows]

[1. All candidates will be teleported to the first level of the Abyss of Ten Thousand Insects, where abyssal creatures are mostly between levels 30-40.]

[2. Candidates can choose their team composition; a normal profession puppet assistant, mage, warrior, and tank can each be selected, forming a base of four. The score starts at 100%, with a coefficient increase of 0.2 for each missing member.]

[3. Basic supplies provided by the Breaking Abyss Army may be used, recovery items are allowed, but all enhancing items, including but not limited to enhancing skill damage, reducing skill cooldown, and boosting attributes, are prohibited...]

[4. I wish you great fortune in battle!]

A light screen appeared in everyone’s view. Shen Fei pursed his lips, thinking the candidates would team up independently.

It turned out to involve puppet matching.

This was quite interesting.

Because all participants were from combat professions, with roles akin to mage, tank, support, etc.

But generally, without a fully equipped Summoner, an individual could hardly form a team.

But this year’s exam used such significant resources, even providing puppets, which, although normal, still acted as mini-armies on the battlefield.

This high-stakes entrance exam wasn’t just training students but also cultivating team cores akin to commanders.

After all, those remaining were generally talented, with strong professions, determination, and a sense of autonomy—whatever their reason for staying, it showed they could take responsibility for their life.

As opposed to those leaving due to family persuasion or fear of death.

In facing danger, naturally, these remaining candidates were better poised to confront the challenges, often inherently forming the core and leadership roles—and this third stage helped them determine suitable team collaborations...

Shen Fei pondered it deeply, aware that these reforms would certainly affect how universities guide their students in future studies.

After all, schools are like talent bases, focusing on specialized cultivations.

At this moment, the Dragon Gate Tower began to tremble, with blue lights enveloping the students. Shen Fei was momentarily blinded by white light, soon faced with a screen letting him choose his team.

Shen Fei naturally opted for nothing.

He was a fully equipped Summoner—what need was there for a team?

The next moment.

He was confronted with a scene so startling that it left him speechless: the surroundings were pitch dark, fierce winds howled, and there was a sound like a torrential downpour hitting the ground.

The temperature dropped.

As Shen Fei’s vision cleared from the darkness, he found himself standing inside a cavern, with a large backpack at his feet. There was a slight fishy odor and an uncomfortable clamminess typical of the rainy season.

Scanning around, Shen Fei noticed others present, comparable to the number of candidates from the Nanyue District exams, but they were likely the contenders nationwide opting for the third stage.

In the distance, he noticed a tall city wall, built from unknown materials, exuding an aura of age.

Curiously, Shen Fei glanced upward to see a massive protective barrier overhead, blocking a rain that surely wasn’t ordinary liquid.

The pattering sound came from above.

”Fellow students! I am Meng Zhengguo, the chief examiner for this third stage!”

The previously confused students suddenly looked up at the tall silhouette atop the city wall, taken aback by the familiar name—even Shen Fei’s eyes slightly widened.

”Leader of the Breaking Abyss Army, Meng Zhengguo?”

Shen Fei swallowed hard, surprised that such an esteemed figure was involved in this high-stakes entrance exam.

”I’m glad you’ve chosen this path. Regardless of your final score, you are the pillars of Wu Xia!”

Gazing over the crowd, Meng Zhengguo smiled and said: ”This Abyss exam is dangerous, but rest assured.

The country isn’t sending you to your deaths. Each person has a chance to voluntarily withdraw, which won’t affect their score.

This is the reward for the brave.”

”This assessment zone covers a radius of two thousand miles—if you exceed this zone, your safety is no longer guaranteed. Each of you will receive an Abyssal Tree Seed later.”

”Abyssal Tree Seeds can be bonded through a blood pact. Afterward, due to its nature, any abyssal creature killed by the bonded will have its Abyssal Breath absorbed by the tree seed.

Once the tree seed absorbs enough Abyssal Breath, it will produce leaves, and the more leaves you gather, the higher your score.”

”These Abyssal Leaves will also serve as your reward and compensation once the exam ends!”

Quickly, individuals dressed in Breaking Abyss Army uniforms handed each student a dark, mysterious object and a backpack.

Shen Fei raised an eyebrow, knowing that in an instant, Stabbing Immortal’s [Piercing Heaven and Earth] had already discerned the information of the Abyssal Tree Seed.

[Abyssal Tree Seed (Normal): A product of the Tree Demon Abyss, originally a Tree Demon embryo, altered by Special Power. It evolved from absorbing living creatures’ blood and flesh to absorbing Abyssal Breath, producing ’Abyssal Leaves’.

Upon forming a blood pact, the Abyssal Tree Seed can absorb Abyssal Breath to grow continuously, with a maximum quality reaching Legend.

Usage: Blood pact; Level 10]

Shen Fei scrutinized the Abyssal Tree Seed’s information, astonished to learn it was from another abyss, modified by Special Power.

A special item type.

The difference between items and equipment is that equipment occupies a slot where a Professional can equip one item.

As for items, they only have usage constraints. To a certain extent, items are less restricted compared to equipment, which is why many wealthy Professionals buy items for protection.

However, even enhancing items are still less effective than a piece of equipment.

”Abyssal Leaves? Could they be beneficial to Professionals?”

Without hesitation, Shen Fei drew a drop of his blood onto the Abyssal Tree Seed—no visible change—and others followed suit.

Once ready.

Soon after, the Breaking Abyss Army recollected the tree seeds, leaving the backpacks with the students.

Shen Fei peeked inside—it contained basic recovery items for stamina and magic power.

But in limited quantity.

Meng Zhengguo spoke: ”The tree seeds will be planted uniformly, so don’t worry about score tampering. The changes in Abyssal Tree Seeds will synchronize with your watch devices.

Your watch is also your means of opting out of the exam; shattering it will summon assistance.”

”Now, the students who have selected puppets in the teleportation passage should head left according to their student numbers for retrieval—from this moment, you have three days. The exam begins as you step through this door.”

”I wish you great fortune in battle!”