"Since Senior Pei knows Teacher Lin, if we meet in the core area and there’s something I can help with, I definitely won’t refuse."
Pei Han smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting as he spoke gently:
"Well then... Thanks, Mr. Qin. See you in the core area."
He had researched Qin Shi’s profile and knew that his actual combat skills far exceeded his Life Force value.
But there was still a significant gap between him and the likes of Ji Yuqi and Zhou Yuanchen, who were touching the threshold of the Specialized Level as "reserves."
Pei Han shook his head, dismissing it as youthful overconfidence.
No one disturbed Qin Shi for the next forty minutes.
The black-faced man, like a military training instructor, shouted like a bell:
"Those whose names are called, board Transport Aircraft No. 1! Zhou Yuanchen, Ji Yuqi, Pei Han..."
The popular contestants for the core area obeyed the command, stepped into the aircraft’s cabin, and sat down steadily.
Then they started calling the names of the contestants designated for the middle area, who filed into Transport Aircraft No. 2.
It wasn’t until the sun gradually set below the horizon that it was the turn of the outermost area.
Qin Shi counted the number of people; the top 100 contest had a total of 100 contestants.
Only about ten of them could enter the core area, around thirty were in the middle area.
The rest were all in the outermost area.
"It could be that as soon as I land, I’ll be assaulted by the masses. This wilderness survival might immediately turn into a battle royale, with a high risk of becoming a casualty upon landing."
Qin Shi gripped his tactical backpack in his right hand and held a Perfect Level Electric Shock Saber in his left, following the main group to Transport Aircraft No. 3. He sat tightly against a seat by the cabin wall and fastened his seatbelt.
The atmosphere was very somber; everyone seemed unwilling to talk, closing their eyes and waiting to reach the Great Rift Valley two hundred miles away.
Not far from there, in the command base, Chen Ruofu and the Education Commission head Fang Butang were seated, along with two "Chief Examiners" from Central City. One was a representative of the Martial Arts Association, the other from the Education Department.
"This time, the Top 100 Contest is drawing a lot of attention. The Martial Arts Association must be under considerable pressure. Representative Li, could you give us an idea of how many death quotas we have obtained?"
Chen Ruofu tapped his fingers on the table. The three transport aircraft, following the designated flight path, passed through the dense black clouds above the Great Rift Valley. In ten minutes, the drop would begin. He looked at the middle-aged man in the gray collared uniform, hoping for an answer.
Representative Li silently extended one hand and then opened it.
Fang Butang breathed a sigh of relief. These promising talents were the "political achievements" of the Education Commission.
If only five were lost, it would be within the acceptable range.
However, Representative Li shook his head with difficulty and uttered two words:
Fang Butang’s eyes widened, shocked beyond words:
"The Martial Arts Association is crazy! Fifty? How am I supposed to explain this to the Education Department! This is practically a severe incident. The Martial Arts Association of Dongxia will definitely hold us accountable!"
Representative Li said in a deep voice:
"We have obtained permission from the Martial Arts Association."
Fang Butang nearly banged the table, his gaze turning to Representative Zhou from the Central City Education Department.
The latter remained calm, sipping his tea slowly as he said:
"The Education Department has also agreed. Since we are restarting the wilderness trials, achieving the former effects may require necessary sacrifices.
Recently, the Military Department just held a meeting, concluding that the widespread promotion of New Martial certainly provides more fresh blood for the Great Expedition. However, judging from various encounters and blitzes, as well as army corps operations in the past four hundred years, combat effectiveness and survival rates seem to have declined.
Moreover, fewer new soldiers are being selected for the Battle Groups. The generals in the Military Department have spoken, saying they do not want the war bases on each Ancient Star to be filled with young lords."
Chen Ruofu said with a serious face:
"So the Martial Arts Association and the Education Department agreed to make Heng Province a pilot, planning to see if restarting the wilderness trials with more brutal methods can hone more powerful talents?"
Representative Li nodded and said:
"That’s right. In two months, the Fourth Battle Group stationed in the frontier will arrive in Heng Province.
The prolonged blockade of Heng Province will also be lifted that day. We hope to show the Military Department that even the Fourth Battle Group, with the harshest selection criteria, recognizes the geniuses of Heng Province."