As Chief Examiner Murray’s voice fell, beams of divine power instantly rose all around the square.
The light was dazzling; she felt the magnificent scenery of the Jianxia Mountains gradually blur, the blue of the sky diluted.
When everything faded, she found herself inside the Shen Yan Space.
The sea of stars shone brilliantly, just as before.
Yet Su Fu was a little puzzled—previously, the exam venue had always been inside the Sanctuary, so why this time directly in the Jianxia Mountains?
The key difference seemed to be that the Jianxia Mountains were a physical mountain range.
On her shoulder, Tao Tao tightly grasped her collar, its small body trembling slightly.
This was its first time entering the Exam Paper Space; Little peach curled up nervously beside them.
“It’s okay, Tao Tao.” Su Fu gently stroked it, feeling Tao Tao nestle against her neck as she comforted, “Don’t be afraid.”
“Mm!” Tao Tao’s response was intermittent, “Sister… with you here, Tao Tao isn’t scared.”
At that moment, golden data streams poured down like a waterfall.
The familiar Shen Yan voice echoed:
[“Exam Space Constructing…………………..”]
[“Space Stability: 99%”]
[“Divine Power Field Intensity: Extremely Strong”]
[“Anomaly Interference: Weak”]
Seeing this, Su Fu’s pupils shrank abruptly, a heavy weight settling in her heart: “Anomaly interference?”
This time, anomaly interference was detected?
Even if only weak…
In previous exams, the system always displayed [“Anomaly Interference: Not Detected”].
This was the first time she heard a different prompt.
Interference meant an external force was attempting to invade the exam space—or had already successfully infiltrated part of it.
But soon, the word “weak” changed—
[“Error… Error occurred… Correcting..”]
[“Anomaly Interference: C-rank”]
Almost simultaneously, in the distance of the void, something seemed to writhe.
A vague black shadow flickered, like an eye peering in, cold and full of malice.
She felt her heart pounding violently; this sensation was no simulation—it was real danger.
Just as she prepared to react, the black shadow vanished.
[“Correction complete”]
[“System initialization complete”]
[“Welcome to Tianqiong Path Academy Newborn Joint Entrance Exam”]
[“Please select your Faith Pantheon”]
The familiar pillar of light stabilized, showing no sign of interrupting the exam.
The system issued no further warnings or prompts.
Su Fu gradually calmed, a vague guess forming in her heart.
So, this was the true exam for humanity, the most authentic battlefield?
Unlike the absolutely safe High School Exam Papers, this time they actually faced anomaly disturbances, with various unstable and unknown factors.
After all, anomalies don’t care about your exam rank; they won’t go easy on you just because you’re weak.
Impossible.
They could invade anywhere at any time, even the places humanity considered safest refuges.
Thinking this through, she understood: protecting human civilization from anomalies was precisely the reason the Divine Academy existed.
If even the exams couldn’t be 100% safe, then how could they face real anomalies in the future?
Su Fu took a deep breath and straightened her back.
Let her see what made this Exam Paper truly different.
She declared firmly—
“I choose the Chinese Pantheon.”
‘Who would appear this time?’ Su Fu thought for a moment.
The next second, the space before her suddenly tore open, and a brilliant shower of cherry blossoms descended from the sky.
Countless petals swirled in the air, as if a pink flower rain had fallen.
At the center of the flower rain, a tall figure in a simple kimono slowly emerged.
His face was handsome; silver-white hair fluttered without wind, and his eyes were so profound they seemed to pierce the soul.
Su Fu recognized him— Izanagi, one of the creator gods in Amaterasu’s myth, who together with his wife Izanami created the Amaterasu Archipelago.
Records showed he once descended into the Underworld to cleanse defilement.
From his left eye was born Amaterasu, from his right eye Tsukuyomi, and from his nose Susanoo.
As a creator god, he possessed immense powers of creation, shaping, and reconstruction, as well as purification.
A tempting divine voice rang out: “Choose me, and I shall grant you the power to shape all things—mountains, seas, thunder, storms; all shall be yours to command.”
Izanagi stepped forward.
His gaze seemed to penetrate the void, locking eyes with Su Fu.
In that moment, she seemed to see countless islands rising from the ocean, volcanoes erupting, rivers flowing, forests growing—
“In your hands, all may be reborn; all things can be created. Be it destruction or new life, it shall be at your command.”
“Your hands will be like mine—creating miracles, purifying filth. You will become the pioneer of a new world, the messenger of gods, the guardian of all things.”
Then, a shrine appeared from the void—a white torii gate soaring into the clouds, stone steps winding upward, reaching the heavens.
This was Izanagi’s sacred place, the entrance to Takamagahara, a pilgrimage site for mortals.
“Choose me, mortal.” His low, magnetic voice resounded.
Su Fu: “…”
Wait, something felt off.
Her expression shifted subtly.
That tone, that expression—how was it like the god himself was personally inviting her?
Last time, Anubis’s ad was similar, lacking the clear distance of previous announcements.
This was more like… real-time communication?
‘That can’t be…’ she doubted inwardly.
Such a thought was too outrageous.
Izanagi still gazed at her, but—
“I choose the Chinese Pantheon.”
The Shen Yan voice sounded: [“Candidate Su Fu, Chinese Pantheon confirmed”]
Izanagi’s image gradually faded before her, faint sighs whispered in her ears, or so it seemed.
[“Exam Paper loading…………….”]
[“Exam Paper loaded”]
[“Your current A-phase Exam Paper is: Ling Mountain: Demons Block the Road, randomly selecting from the Chinese Pantheon deity pool…”]
The familiar procedure calmed Su Fu’s heart a little.
She watched as Shen Yan selected, not very nervous.
Given the Exam Paper’s nature, she would likely get a Journey to the West series deity.
In her mind, she silently thought, ‘This time, hopefully there’s a White Dragon Horse?’
Journey to the West team, assemble!
***
Meanwhile, at the Jianxia Mountains square, Chief Examiner Murray and others had already found chairs to sit.
After all, the exam would take some time, and with no one else around, there was no need to keep standing and acting cool.
Besides Murray, there were five other young people on site.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl laughed, “Examiner Murray, you really went all out this time. Straight to C-rank anomaly interference, aren’t you afraid of causing these freshmen to fall hard and develop psychological shadows?”
In interference grading, from weakest to strongest, it goes E, D, C, B, A.
For newcomers just entering the Academy, D-rank interference was already a lot to handle; now it went straight to strong C.
“Tsk tsk, these freshmen are in for some pain.”
The speaker was Lina Hyde, chairwoman of the Tianqiong Path Academy Student Council, a sophomore.
Someone agreed, “C-rank is definitely overkill.”
“Hey,” Murray chuckled, “You kids, I’m just trying to help your student council and clubs pick out the best newcomers. If there’s no challenge, how can we tell who has potential?”
“Besides, newcomers need a proper first lesson. Otherwise, they’d get cocky thinking Tianqiong Path Academy is some easy place.”
“I think the chief examiner just got itchy hands seeing some good prospects.” The speaker was Zhou Yu, president of the Lingshan Society, tall and composed, dressed in an immaculate black uniform with every collar button fastened.
“Oh, or maybe…” he paused, “It’s because some of them are disciples of Director Tai Xuanzi?”
Murray: “….”
‘You punk, your words are as sharp as ever, hitting the mark every time.’
He suddenly coughed twice, raising an eyebrow as his face reddened slightly.
“Nonsense! How could that be? Am I that kind of person?”
Zhou Yu glanced at him and nodded, “Yes.”
The others couldn’t help but laugh; it was actually quite possible.
Everyone knew that when Murray was studying, Director Tai Xuanzi had him under strict control.
Yet he never gave up, constantly wanting to duel Tai Xuanzi, causing chaos throughout the Academy.
Annoyed to the point of exhaustion, Tai Xuanzi eventually avoided him, which only made Murray more frustrated.
Now raising the difficulty of the newcomer exam might be influenced by that grudge—perhaps a way to beat Tai Xuanzi once and for all—
“Look, your disciple can’t pass here!”
But everyone thought to themselves, he was really playing with fire.
When the time came… a severe beating would surely follow.
Of course, they only dared think this, never say it aloud.
Though Murray had a grudge against Tai Xuanzi, as chief examiner of Tianqiong Path Academy, he maintained basic moral standards.
“But indeed,” said another boy wearing a blue headscarf, Kofman, “the difficulty has increased. The map itself is rated 2A level, so combined, this exam is at least equivalent to a 3A rank Exam Paper.”
At the university level, there is no B, C, or D division; all are A-rank or above.
Within A-rank, there are sublevels from 1A to 5A, with difficulty increasing stepwise.
This ranking is mainly based on anomaly level, terrain complexity, and mission difficulty.
1A is basic level, with difficulty nearly doubling at each increment.
In theory, newcomers’ first exam should be in a 1A-level map, to help them adapt gradually.
“I think this is quite reasonable.”
Student Council President Lina spoke in support, “The overall quality of this batch of freshmen is indeed very good. Among the Seven Great Clans, the top three houses are some of the best in recent years, and the other four aren’t to be underestimated.”
“I agree,” Kofman nodded, “but I’m more optimistic about those specializing in support from the Twelve Great Clans.”
It’s well-known that the Seven Great Clans almost monopolize the frontline combat roles.
Each year’s Stellar Ring Champion almost always comes from one of these seven.
The clans below them often choose to cultivate various support talents to avoid direct competition.
This isn’t settling for less; it’s a very wise strategic choice.
On the battlefield against anomalies, a top-notch support can decide the entire outcome.
Healing, buffs, intelligence, defense, reconnaissance, disruption, trap-setting…
At critical moments, they can save a warrior’s life.
Thus, the Seven Great Clans often form alliances among themselves to elevate overall strength.
In fact, these clans, due to their irreplaceability, often develop even better; some are on par with the Seven Great Clans.
As long as they dominate their niche, becoming top-tier, they become indispensable, thus forming the generally recognized Twelve Great Clans.
“Definitely not to be underestimated.” Lina nodded in agreement, “Like in the Greek Pantheon—the god of medicine Asclepius, and the messenger god Hermes.”
“And in the Egyptian Pantheon,” a bespectacled girl named Ji Yao added, “for example, goddess Isis’s resurrection magic, and Thoth’s knowledge bestowment and spell amplification are also quite formidable.”
At this moment, Fox Hart, president of the Olympus Society, cleared his throat gently.
“Actually, those civilian candidates aren’t bad either. This year, it seems we even have disciples of the Principal God Titan family and Principal God Gaia? For civilians to gain favor from those gods is quite rare.”
After all, the Titans and Gaia are some of the oldest deities in Greek mythology—primal gods.
Especially the Titans, who once ruled the world before the Olympus Pantheon replaced them.
And Gaia, as Mother Earth and Mother of the Gods, is immensely influential, able to control land and life itself.
“You mean that girl called Thera?” Lina raised an eyebrow, “Quite surprising; her talent must be extraordinary.”
“And then there’s Burns,” Kofman added, “He worships…”
The group began exchanging thoughts, analyzing the overall situation of this year’s freshmen.
At that moment, Zhou Yu’s gaze landed on Su Fu’s profile.
“Hm? This Su Fu, she already took a Ling Mountain D-rank exam before? What a coincidence? And her results were quite good.”
“Isn’t she the Third Star Ring Champion?” Kofman realized, turning to Fox, “I heard you guys spent a fortune trying to recruit her to Olympus Society? How’s that going?”
Fox smiled and glanced at Zhou Yu, straightening his back with a hint of pride in his tone.
“She’s very interested in us. And she said she wants to show her true strength in the league.”
He omitted the key reason entirely.
Others exchanged meaningful looks, “You better sign her quickly, or someone else will snatch her up. You’ll regret it then.”
“Of course,” Fox beamed, “I’m just waiting for her to finish the exam so we can sign the contract immediately. Don’t try to compete with me.”
“Naturally,” he proudly added, “You couldn’t beat me anyway.”
Behind them stood the wealthy Olympus family, the top clan.