"According to the Life Force scoring, enter different zones and complete the tasks."
The black-faced man was likely a soldier. He was swift and decisive in his actions. Pointing to the mountain of tactical backpacks, he declared emphatically:
"Inside these, there are hydration packs, anti-radiation medicine, and the oldest navigation tool, the portable compass. As for rations, there are protein bars and nutritional paste sufficient for less than two days.
There’s no time limit. As long as you can complete the task, breaking through the Great Rift Valley in one day will also count as winning the championship.
The backpack’s compartment contains the mission manual, which details the materials you need to collect. Look carefully; each item concerns your points.
The one with the highest score will be the champion of the Hundred Elite Contest, the overall champion of Heng Province... Now, line up and come forward to receive your tactical backpacks!"
The contestants were all the top students from various universities or elite individuals from different institutions.
They quickly lined up, picked up the identical tactical backpacks, and immediately checked their resources, while flipping through their mission manuals.
After all, paper documents are easily damaged and hard to preserve, so it’s best to memorize them to avoid not knowing what the tasks are.
The black-faced man scanned the crowd. Everyone was very orderly and efficient. After receiving their tactical backpacks, they immediately opened them to count the hydration packs, anti-radiation medicine, and individual combat rations.
He nodded in approval, acknowledging that these contestants were indeed elites of the Martial Arts Path, with quite high overall quality. He believed many of them would emerge as good candidates for advancing to the Specialized Level after this wilderness trial.
Qin Shi was in the middle of the line. He picked up a tactical backpack from the ground, then sat down and opened it.
As the black-faced man said, the supplies were limited, only enough to maintain survival requirements for two to three days.
Which means, unless he breaks through the Great Rift Valley during this period, completes the final task, and ends the trial.
Otherwise, he must consider how to plan for survival in the wilderness.
"For me, it’s not a problem. I can even digest the dark cuisine of my Third Senior Sister. With the Overgrowth trait, I can survive by eating dirt."
Qin Shi flipped through the mission manual, which recorded the materials needed to be collected from the peripheral, mid-layer, and core regions.
"Crystal clusters, blood flesh active glands... all rare items."
Qin Shi estimated that he should be dropped in the area close to the mid-layer, seeing as his Life Force wasn’t outstanding, just over seventy points, nearly approaching eighty. Compared to the contestants in the Hundred Elite Contest, he was merely in the middle ranks.
Compared to Zhou Yuanchen’s ninety-nine points, Ji Yuqi’s ninety-two points, Pei Han’s ninety points, the gap was significant.
These championship favorites were likely placed directly in the core region, facing the more challenging and high-difficulty tasks.
Qin Shi was pondering how to break through the Great Rift Valley and reach the core region when several familiar young men and women approached.
The long-haired man leading them was called Wang Xuan, who smiled amicably:
"Hey, buddy. I’m Wang Xuan from Qiguang Heng University’s Martial Arts System, a third-year student. Are you interested in forming a team? According to the rules, to get additional points for the college entrance exam, at least one must break through the mid-layer region. Having more people gives us more power; we have hope if we stick together!"
Qin Shi wanted to scratch his head. He didn’t know if this guy was uninformed or schemingly overacting.
"Are you sure you want to team up with me? Are you sure you want to make enemies with at least fifty contestants?"
Wang Xuan was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion:
"What do you mean by that, buddy?"
"Didn’t you hear just now? I’m the successor of the Nanhuang Daoist School being discussed. Half of the contestants in the Hundred Elite Contest would rather give up rewards and bonus points for college entrance exams but will try to kick me out.
So teaming up with me is absolutely harder than surviving till the mid-layer region in a group."
Wang Xuan’s expression changed slightly. Sure enough, as they approached Qin Shi, it instantly drew a lot of attention, both obvious and hidden.
"Buddy, you better take care of yourself! I can’t afford to offend...,"
He and his teammates left in a hurry.
Apart from dealing with the Great Rift Valley’s parasitic creatures and mutated natives, he also had to handle fifty contestants.
Such difficulty was akin to Hell Level!
Being placed in the core region may be better since there are fewer people, and he wouldn’t face group attacks.
But being dropped in the peripheral region, there’s a high chance of encountering large-scale "group hunting."
"That’s right, stay away from me; it’s safer."
He didn’t initially intend to form a team. Without a solid foundation of trust, teammates would only become burdens and hindrances.
Just after sending Wang Xuan off, someone else approached.
The person wore flat glasses and was similarly fully armed, with the latest model bulletproof vest and anti-stabbing suit. Putting aside the combat gear, he appeared gentle and scholarly.
"I’m Pei Han from Qiguang Heng University’s Martial Arts System, a fourth-year student."
Upon hearing the self-introduction, Qin Shi was taken aback.
He remembered that this person was also a championship favorite and a strong contender against Zhou Yuanchen.
"We probably won’t be placed in the same region."
Qin Shi’s refusal was evident.
"I can wait for you in the core region. I think with your skills, breaking through the mid-layer region won’t be difficult. I know Lin from the Spiritual Ability Path, and she asked me to take care of you."
Pei Han spoke slowly and calmly, as if even the biggest events would be faced with such calmness.
"Oh, Miss Lin? No need, Senior Pei. The core region is highly dangerous. You should focus on accumulating points and strive to win."
Qin Shi smiled brightly, radiating goodwill.