Does the map reset every ten minutes?
Su Fu sucked in a breath of cold air, shocked: “Doesn’t that mean all the effort was for nothing?”
After working so hard for half a day, only to see—oh no, it’s back to the starting point, it’s maddening.
Zhuge Yan smiled slightly and said “There’s more—the anomalies will remain, and might even increase in number.”
Su Fu: “…..”
What kind of crappy map is this?
Tactical facepalm.
This kind of exam ground is simply torture, terrifying upon closer thought.
It means no matter what preparations you make, it will all be for naught, while the enemies only multiply.
So, it seems the only way out is to fight quickly and decisively.
Seeing Su Fu’s keen interest in this special test paper, Zhuge Yan continued to explain: “There’s also a type of timed exam with a clock tower.”
He drew a circle in the air with his finger.
“The flow of time varies completely in different areas. It’s very possible that only a few seconds pass in Zone A, while in Zone B, an hour or even a whole day has elapsed.”
“Spatial maps are more diverse and have greater playability. For example, the ‘Rashomon’ type—one scene shows completely different appearances depending on the examinee’s perspective. What you see is a devastated battlefield, but for another, it might be a bustling marketplace.”
“Oh, Dean, didn’t you once encounter a ‘Mirror World’ type instance? The special feature of that test ground is that there’s a mirrored character with exactly the same abilities as you.”
Su Fu was deeply shocked, confirming: “You mean the mirror matches your every move, tactic, and skill exactly? That means it can predict every step I take, every skill I use, even understand my strategies?”
Hiss… how is that even winnable?
Tai Xuanzi nodded seriously, “Exactly the same, but it doesn’t affect me much—I don’t even know what I’ll do next myself.”
Su Fu: ‘Of course, it has to be you, Dean Yinglong!’
Just hearing about these test grounds, she realized how incredibly tricky they were, beyond all ordinary imagination.
In such cases, one would need far more Divine Skills to cope.
“There are also some very interesting special maps,” Zhuge Yan went on.
“Like the infinitely expanding ‘Pot World.'”
“On the outside, it looks like an ordinary pot, but once inside, it’s an endless space, a self-contained world with mountains, rivers, even its own sun, moon, and stars. In the Pot World, the concept of space is completely subverted.”
“You might walk a kilometer only to find the starting point on the horizon behind you; or walk all day yet remain in the same spot. No one can figure out the rules of the Pot World.”
Hmm?
Hearing this description of the Pot World, Su Fu suddenly felt it sounded remarkably like Nuwa’s Demon-Refining Pot.
Also known as the Jiuli Pot, one of the ancient mystical treasures.
It contains a small world within, said to be capable of creating all things, with space vast enough to hold heaven and earth.
Or perhaps the Hongjun Patriarch’s Space Gourd, transformed from the blue gourd on the Primordial Gourd Vine.
Wait, Su Fu suddenly thought—could these maps really be based on powerful Divine Artifacts?
But it seems… It actually makes sense.
After all, the Sacred Grounds can spawn maps, so why can’t these divine treasures with immense power?
So the question arises.
Curious, Su Fu asked, “In such cases, how do you pass? By understanding the rules?”
Zhuge Yan smiled, “Exactly, or… become the master of the pot.”
Su Fu: “…..”
Excuse me.
She’s a total rookie and still wants to become the owner of such divine treasures?
“Then there are Sacred Grounds like the Kunlun Ruins instance,” Zhuge Yan introduced a typical map.
“For example, the World Tree Yggdrasil from Norse mythology. Its canopy supports the nine realms, while its roots reach into the Land of the Dead underground.”
“Examinees must climb the tree, traveling between different worlds, while anomalies take on different forms—extremely tricky.”
Su Fu listened with great curiosity.
How difficult and complex must such maps be?
The real exam grounds must be even more shocking than she imagined.
“But,” Zhuge Yan shifted gears, “you’re probably more interested in maps related to China, right?”
“Speaking of which, the Dean once went to a very interesting map—Zhuangzi Dreaming of Butterfly Scroll.”
“Zhuangzi Dreaming of Butterfly? The one from ‘Qi Wu Lun’ in the Zhuangzi?”
‘Once Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering happily, not knowing he was Zhou. Suddenly he awoke, and he was Zhou again.’
“Exactly.” Zhuge Yan quoted.
Su Fu listened, intrigued but mystified.
“Although your Dean eventually broke through that scroll, it had a huge impact on her. But for you, that’s a bit too distant. It’s already at the level of civilization projection.”
“Oh, by the way,” Zhuge Yan suddenly remembered something, “your last exam was in Qingqiu?”
Su Fu was so absorbed she almost forgot to respond.
Hearing the teacher ask, she quickly replied, “Ah, yes, Teacher.”
Zhuge Yan nodded, “Actually, there are many maps like Qingqiu—Penglai Immortal Island, East Sea Dragon Palace, Youming, Wangchuan, Yunmeng Marsh.”
“I remember you’ve already obtained the divine ability granted by the Dragon Kings? Then I recommend you visit the Dragon Palace map when you have the chance. It’s not just a test ground; sometimes it even contains scattered treasures from the Dragon Clan.”
Su Fu: “!!!”
‘What? Treasures?’
She instantly perked up.
‘Alright, alright, the Dragon Palace map is a must.Treasure or not, cough cough, the main thing is to go thank the Dragon Kings.’
She couldn’t help but sigh, “Teacher, hearing you talk like this, I realize there are so many interesting maps. Why didn’t I get to experience them before? Do I really have to wait until university?”
Loop maps, infinite expansions, Zhuangzi Dreaming of Butterfly… she couldn’t wait to explore them all right now.
Zhuge Yan smiled and replied, “You’re actually just getting started. Your grasp and understanding of Divine Power are immature, and your knowledge of anomalies is limited.”
“Throwing you straight into those complex maps wouldn’t build practical experience—it’d just get you killed. Besides, those maps can’t guarantee safety, so they’re not suitable for teaching.”
Su Fu roughly understood: these maps are fun but also very dangerous.
High school is the stage to build foundations and understand the world, focusing on guiding students to learn about the Divine Pantheon, master basic skills, recognize anomalies, or discover their patterns.
In this case, safety comes first when choosing teaching maps.
She thought carefully and said, “So the high school instances are deliberately simpler? More like… simulated training?”
“That’s a good way to put it.” Zhuge Yan nodded.
“The high school instances you encounter are actually carefully designed ‘teaching test papers.’ The environment is relatively stable, the types of demons are limited, battle rhythm is controllable, and even divine manifestations are guided.”
Su Fu recalled the few instances she’d experienced—they all had a similar pattern: explore the environment, encounter demons, discover weaknesses, use Divine Skills, then eliminate the main threat.
“But in reality,” Zhuge Yan sighed, “actual anomaly invasions are much more complex.”
“When you enter university, you’ll see another side of the world: chaotic, unpredictable, and full of endless possibilities. There’s no clear path, no fixed solution.”
“Not confined to a single environment or goal, but integrated into more complex civilization backgrounds and mythological systems.”
“For example, you might no longer just fight in a mountain or forest, but be present at the Banquet of Queen Mother of the West’s Jade Pool, or the Millennium Celebration of the Dragon Palace, or the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade of Fengdu Ghost City…”
Just hearing these names, Su Fu’s heart stirred.
These places carry China’s deepest cultural roots and most brilliant imagination—how she yearned for them.
So it turns out that university is when the world truly opens its doors for her.
No wonder the Dean said she was still young—after all, she was still in the newbie village.
The test papers she had gone through were just a drop in the ocean, a single wave in the vast sea.
The unknown world was so huge and colorful.
The great world, countless maps—and she had only just begun.
“Then, since there are so many maps,” she couldn’t help but ask, “are the Divine Skills we acquire also more diverse?”
“Of course.”
Zhuge Yan smiled, “The Divine Skills you know now are only the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps you remember those top-tier Divine Skills briefly flashing when you draw them from Shen Yan AI?”
Su Fu of course remembered:
The Four Saints of the Western Journey’s [Divine Skill: Ruyi Jingu Bang]
[Divine Skill: Jindou Cloud, Wanli]
[Divine Skill: Great Compassion, Ten Thousand Buddhas Worship]
[Divine Skill: Phoenix Nirvana, Resurrection]
[Divine Skill: Five-Colored Auspicious Cloud, Fate Alteration]
[Divine Skill: Fengdu, Gates of Hell, Summon]
[Divine Skill: Judge’s Decree, Ten Kings of Hell, Judgement]
And the ones just finished on stage, [Divine Skill: Creation of All Things]
[Divine Skill: Wrath of Buzhou, Overturn].
Alright, alright, she was fired up.
“Teacher, just how many maps are there in total?” Su Fu was genuinely curious now—could she fill out all the Divine Skills?
Zhuge Yan paused, then replied,
“Strictly speaking, there are countless, and they keep changing. Every anomaly invasion, every divine manifestation, can create new map forms.”
“So, Su Fu, good luck with your college entrance exam.”
He smiled and gave his blessing and added, “When you come to Kunlun Academy, you can explore this vast sea of stars.”
The universe is boundless, the stars dazzling, and countless maps remain unexplored.
Those who march forward are called— Forerunners.
A good night’s sleep.
The next day, after a simple breakfast, Su Fu headed straight to the Perseus High School sanctuary.
She had two instances to run today, time was tight.
In any academy, the sanctuary is always at the core and is the most magnificent structure.
Morning sunlight spilled over white marble pillars, on which vivid divine statues were painted.
Entering the sanctuary, she went straight to the point.
“Shen Yan, I want to start the D-rank instance I reserved yesterday.”
[“Good morning, Su Fu.”]
[“Confirming your reservation…”]
[“You have reserved the instance [Cihang Ferry: Goldfish Rampage]”]
[“Do you want to enter now?”]
“Yes.”
[“Constructing your test space…:]
[“Instance loading, please prepare.”]
With a familiar dizziness, Su Fu returned once more to the Shen Yan space.
But this time, she found only a column of divine power light representing the Chinese Pantheon.
Su Fu was pleased—no need to watch ads before selecting anymore.
[“Examinee Su Fu, welcome to the D-rank testing space.”]
[“Test paper fully loaded.”]
[“Your test paper is: Cihang Ferry: Goldfish Rampage. Randomly drawing from the (Chinese Pantheon) divine pool…”]
[“Chinese Pantheon divine pool match complete.”]
[“This random draw result: Journey to the West”]
As the last prompt tone fell, a blurry divine shadow suddenly appeared in the divine power light pillar representing the Chinese Pantheon.
Gradually, the shadow became clearer—it was a deity seated on a lotus pedestal, right hand holding a willow branch, left hand clutching a net bottle, with a soft white scarf draped over the head.
The deity’s peaceful face wore a compassionate smile, a bright vermilion mark on the forehead.
From the net bottle, swirling mists rose, droplets fell from the willow branch, instantly causing grass and trees wherever they landed to sprout.
Su Fu seemed to hear the gentle chant of Buddhist hymns.
Seeing this familiar figure, Su Fu immediately knew her bet was right—it was Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva!