```
Among the students participating in the next assessnt, so commanded with calm, others incessantly instructed before entering, and so bellowed with rage during the assessnt.
"Don't worry about it, just go for it! If you run again, I'll beat you when we get back!"
Atop the platform, a student with a fierce expression yelled down to the pangolin below.
"Squeak squeak—"
Threatened by both the illusion rats and the commands, the pangolin fell into a panicked dilemma, but perhaps it found the student above more terrifying, as it struggled to turn around, back against the wall, facing the two incoming illusion rats with a low growl.
"That's right, just like that, what's there to fear with a body full of scale armor?" The boy above imdiately felt much better.
The fight began, and just as that student had said, although the illusion rats tore and bit, they were never able to inflict effective damage on the pangolin with its scale armor. After several bouts, the pangolin gradually forgot its fear and, in the midst of tearing and grappling, killed the two illusion rats.
"Sally, passed!"
After the staff announced the judgnt, the students below were also abuzz with discussion.
"This works too? Using threats and intimidation, wasn't it supposed to be about 'bonds'?"
"Exactly, that boy's tone just now was really scary." A girl shared the sa sentint.
Hearing these discussions, the boy picked up the pangolin that had just competed, placed it on his shoulder and responded.
"What do you know! In a critical mont, there's no ti for tears and gentle persuasion, you need to ensure that commands are executed."
"As long as there's a victory, there are plenty of rewards. It won't be mistreated, hmph."
Having said that, he proudly left the field with his 'companion' in his arms.
There were no restrictions on thods during the assessnt, and everyone had their own interpretation of 'bonds,' showing off a wide range of skills. So relied on mutual trust to help their 'partner' overco fear, so used threats and intimidation to make their 'partner' compulsively execute commands, and others figured out the abilities of their 'partner,' making victory seem effortless.
Facing the difficult assessnt, students were forced to make their own choices.
In the end, about 60 percent were eliminated, and the remaining students were less than one-third of the original number.
"We've tossed out the pretenders. We need to start being careful and serious about the next two stages." The top student in a black and red uniform leaned against the office window, shifting his gaze away from the projection on the desk.
"How many are left now?" She asked, and the other two in the room started looking up the information.
"There are 376 who have passed the second stage, and another 207 who have yet to report to the school."
"The enrollnt quota for this year is 318, with 38 reserved for special channels. That ans there are only 280 regular admission spots available. Considering the students who haven't arrived yet, we still need to eliminate one-third of them."
"Actually, the students who have passed the second stage aren't bad. They might not all be extrely talented, but at least they're not too diocre. Only those with excellent theoretical grades are allowed to take the retest." Another short-haired boy spoke up.
"The third stage is a test created by the teachers, isn't it? I wonder how that's going."
After speaking, one of them looked out the window towards the green hills in the distance, where white stone seats were scattered, and teachers in tan gowns were talking to the students taking the retest.
"Good afternoon, you must be Hexia."
A male teacher approached, holding a clipboard and wearing glasses, with a coffee-colored hat on his head that matched the color of his gown, clearly marking him as a teacher of the Academy.
"Hello." The girl greeted, nodding with a small snake in her arms.
"No worries, don't be too nervous. I'm just going to have a simple chat with you to avoid any misunderstandings, I'm not here to eliminate any student, nor to give marks." He smiled, easing so of the girl's tension.
"Although the style of our Academy is 'bonds,' not everyone is suited for this path. So talents are destined to be loners, and forcibly integrating them into a group only causes pain."
"Considering this lose-lose situation, we feel it's necessary to remind students coming for the retest. If you don't like this style, there's no need to doubt your abilities or aspirations."
"Everyone is so different; if you're just twisting yourself to gain the acceptance of others, that's just too painful."
```
"Now that you know why we're here, let ask you so questions, Hexia."
"Okay."
"Which kind of person do you dislike?" The first question sent the girl into deep thought.
Asking about likes is almost standard, but it's rare in life to encounter soone asking what you dislike.
"I dislike those who are pretentious and impose their narrow-minded views on others."
"I see."
The teacher's pen tip briefly noted "dislikes fools" from an angle invisible to the girl.
"Hexia, what kind of environnt do you like, or what makes you feel comfortable?"
"I prefer quieter places, probably a library or a classroom where you can watch the sunset."
"I see..."
The teacher kept writing, noting down 'literary girl' as her attribute.
"What kind of guy do you find handso, Hexia?"
"I don't really have any particular feelings about that," the girl shook her head.
"Hmm," the teacher continued and recorded 'aloof' as her attribute.
"What do you think you'll beco in the future, Hexia?"
"I don't know," the girl shook her head again.
"Mm-hmm." The teacher kept writing, adding 'cautious' to her list of attributes.
"What food do you like, Hexia?"
"I like chiffon cake, green tangerines, waterlon, tasty rice, grilled fish, hot pot, wontons, and pan-fried steak..." The girl ticulously contemplated and nad quite a few things.
"I see." The teacher continued, jotting down 'foodie' and 'simple taste' as attributes.
"Can you make any of those? Could you talk about it?"
"Yes, for instance, chiffon cake is..."
As the teacher listened, he quietly erased 'foodie' and wrote down 'good at life' and 'action-oriented' instead.
"If you had to choose a dormitory to live in, which would you pick? Here, we have the Ring Bird Wind Tower, Forest Tree House, Purple Mansion, Lakeside Boat House, and Vine Courtyard—each with different perks."
"For example, students at the Ring Bird Wind Tower receive a book from the Academy and colored feathers each month; at the Forest Tree House, students get five T4 grade fruits and seeds every month; while those at the Purple Mansion don't get monthly gifts, they are able to pick a 'Dark Silver Level' Transcendent Blade and extra credits at the end of the school year; Lakeside Boat House students get three Luoyue gems and one 'Tricolor Sturgeon' monthly, a high-grade T4 food ingredient; and the Vine Courtyard gives students a potted flower and a 'Verdant Elixir' each month, which is great for consolidating Magic Power."
After listening to the teacher's description, the girl fell into contemplation. Each choice seed appealing, stirring the heart, but in the end, only one could be chosen.
"Then, Ring Bird Wind Tower," Hexia decided after a mont.
"Why is that? Based on your previous answers, you seem to really enjoy good food."
The girl tilted her head slightly, blinking. "Eating is sothing I can do anyti, but reading is very important. Besides, I've always lived in a dim underground city before. If possible, I hope to be closer to the sky in the future."
"I understand." The teacher closed the record board.
"This is the final exam location, but there's no rush now—it won't open until 2 p.m., you can go get sothing to eat."
"We'll et again later, Hexia. I wish you all the best." He bent over to thank Hexia before leaving.
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