"I've been waiting for you." The assembly hall fell into a tense, expectant silence. Even the faint hum of System energy seemed to pause, as if holding its breath. Shen Liang's gaze swept the room once more, taking in the students seated before him. Faces lit by the projected maps on their wristbands, each one reflected a mix of nervousness, arrogance, or quiet determination.
The old, bearded man's voice thundered again."Today marks the beginning of your formal integration into the System! Every one of you will activate your personal interface. Your abilities, potential, and destiny will be revealed. Do not underestimate your neighbors, for each could be a threat—or an ally."
The crowd of students collectively shivered. The man's aura radiated a pressure that no ordinary System interface could measure. Even seasoned veterans of Spire Nexus would feel the weight of his presence.
Shen Liang's lips curved slightly. Pressure. Interesting. Let's see how the others perform.
He lifted his wristband, the interface blinking softly as it synced with his System core. The familiar chime signaled the connection. Immediately, a personal dashboard unfolded before him—a three-dimensional projection displaying his attributes, potential growth rate, and hidden variables.
Balance: 345,000,000,000 Coins.
Status: Owner of the Shen Conglomerate.
Special Ability: Wealth-Origin Type (Passive)
A faint smirk crossed his face. While others struggled with basic stats or elemental affinities, he had full administrative access—not just to his personal System, but indirectly to the economic network of A-1.
Around him, the students raised their wristbands in synchronization. Holographic projections flared to life above each of their heads, showcasing potential, elemental affinity, and tower-clearing aptitude. Gasps and murmurs filled the hall as weaker students' stats flickered uncertainly.
Hua Ruyan's wristband glowed faintly beside him. Shen Liang's eyes flicked subtly to her display. Her aura… already strong, even without activation. Impressive.
The instructor's gaze swept over the room again."Now, select your target for the assessment trial."
Each student's wristband projected a trial interface above their seats—a virtual tower scenario scaled to their apparent level. The crowd's tension spiked. For many, it was their first true test in a controlled but dangerous environment: failure could leave lingering System penalties.
Shen Liang's mind was already mapping the optimal path. He could have rushed the trial and secured a perfect score with minimal effort—but where was the challenge in that? Every variable mattered, every observation could be leveraged later. The key was efficiency, strategy, and leaving nothing to chance.
When the trials began, the students were projected into their individual tower arenas. Shen Liang's trial appeared as a crystalline labyrinth, walls glowing faintly with System energy. Monsters spawned in timed waves, calibrated to his apparent level.
He analyzed their patterns in a fraction of a second: spawn points, elemental resistance, and probable drop tables. Average student would struggle to reach wave three. I could finish this in twenty seconds if I wanted… but a perfect simulation is more informative.
He moved deliberately, letting the first wave pass, observing its speed and attack patterns. With each motion, he plotted optimal paths, predicting the AI-controlled enemies' behavior. When the second wave came, he executed a near-flawless sequence: disabling enemies with minimal effort, conserving energy for the upcoming challenge.
Meanwhile, the hall beyond the trial projections buzzed with real-time monitoring. Students began to notice subtle irregularities in Shen Liang's performance. Where others hesitated, he moved with confidence. Where others struggled, he anticipated every obstacle. Whispers grew louder: Who is this student? How is he performing like that?
Hua Ruyan's projection shimmered beside him. Her movements were precise, elegant, but more cautious. Shen Liang noticed a faint trace of admiration—or perhaps calculation—in her approach. Interesting. She's strong, but measured. Definitely a rival worth noting.
By the time the final wave appeared, Shen Liang had already simulated every possible outcome, reducing the encounter to a series of minimal-effort maneuvers. He dispatched the remaining enemies effortlessly, his interface tallying the score.
Completion Time: 18 seconds.
Efficiency: 99.87%.
Special Bonuses: Strategic Execution + Adaptive Calculation.
Above the hall, the instructor's eyes flickered briefly. Ah… so this is the child of the Shen Conglomerate. Indeed, potential beyond expectation.
Shen Liang deactivated his trial, returning to the assembly hall. The other students' projections blinked out, some faces pale, others flushed with frustration or awe. He moved to sit again, adjusting his uniform with the calm composure of someone who had just walked through a gentle breeze.
Hua Ruyan's eyes met his, a small, approving smile appearing."You… performed far better than I expected," she said quietly.
"Strategy always wins over raw strength," he replied evenly.
Their brief exchange caught the attention of several nearby students. Some whispered, some stared openly, but Shen Liang paid them no mind. Observation was a tool; distraction was a weakness.
The instructor's voice boomed again, breaking through the murmurs."Excellent. Everyone, return to your seats. Those who performed well will be granted additional privileges and access to the Guardian Selection Event."
The mention of the Guardian Selection Event immediately piqued interest across the hall. This was where students would be assigned guardians—or, in some rare cases, act as guardians themselves—for influential families. Access to resources, advanced gear, and political leverage would be at stake.
Shen Liang leaned back, evaluating the room. Every interaction, every whisper, every gaze was a data point. The Guardian Event would not only provide cover for his acquisition plans but also allow him to consolidate influence among the next generation of elites.
Timing is everything. Observation, calculation, and control. One misstep, even a minor miscalculation… and advantage is lost.
He glanced at Hua Ruyan again. Ruyan-jie… she is a variable I need to track closely.
By the end of the seminar, Shen Liang's presence had already become the silent pivot around which the hall's attention rotated. He didn't boast, he didn't act recklessly. Yet, every observer, conscious or unconscious, noted the precision and authority in his every movement.
Even the instructor, whose eyes had seen countless prodigies, made a mental note: This one… is different. Extraordinary.
As the assembly concluded, students poured out into the hallways, buzzing with chatter about the performance metrics and the looming Guardian Selection Event.
Shen Liang followed quietly, letting the crowd move around him. To anyone else, he appeared as just another student, calm and composed. Yet behind his eyes, every outcome, every possibility, and every potential alliance was already accounted for.
In the coming days, he would consolidate resources, map relationships, and ensure that no opportunity—no matter how small—escaped his notice.
For now, though, he allowed himself a single thought: The real game begins at the Guardian Selection. And I intend to win it before anyone even realizes it has started.