Chapter 75: The Grand Opening Ceremony

The next day.

Central athletic field of Dragon Country University.

Over a thousand young people, dressed in a variety of outfits, had gathered here.

Xu Han stood among the crowd, his gaze fixed on the podium.

A group of school leaders, all formally attired, ascended the stage.

At the forefront was a middle-aged man with graying hair, clad in a mage’s robe.

Xu Han had done his research.

This middle-aged man was none other than the vice president of Dragon Country University.

Zhong Zhen.

It was said he was a fire mage, a figure of terrifying might.

Level 151!

A seventh-rank powerhouse!

Surrounding Zhong Zhen were the heads of the various colleges.

A burly man in heavy armor.

A voluptuous woman in a mage’s robe, wearing a gentle smile.

A middle-aged man in military uniform whose imposing presence needed no display of anger.

An elderly man with a walrus mustache, dressed in a white lab coat and a single-lens eyeglass.

A woman with a cold expression, clad in a black stealth suit.

And finally, a young girl in a short skirt and black stockings, who looked for all the world like an elementary student.

On either side of the podium, rows of students and instructors sat, eager for the spectacle.

On the field, the students’ faces gleamed with excitement.

"School’s finally starting! I’m officially a member of Dragon Country University now!"

"Don’t celebrate too soon. I heard that after the secret realm assessment, ten percent of us will be expelled from the academy."

"What the heck?! For real? That strict? I thought I was a shoo-in!"

"It’s not all punishment, apparently—there are rewards too, though I don’t know what."

"Whatever Dragon Country University gives as a reward, I bet it’s nothing ordinary."

"That guy on stage is the vice president, right? Looks just like a regular old guy, and yet he’s a seventh-rank mage?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement and speculation.

Zhong Zhen’s gaze slowly swept over them.

An immense mental pressure radiated outward.

Instantly, the noisy field fell silent.

It was as though a mountain had settled onto everyone’s shoulders.

Breaths grew shallow.

One by one, heads bowed, no one daring to meet Zhong Zhen’s eyes.

Behind him, the college heads whispered among themselves.

The woman in mage’s robes covered her mouth and laughed softly, "Vice President Zhong’s usual routine."

The armored giant nodded, "Of course—gotta show these kids who’s boss."

"Otherwise, they’d really believe they’re geniuses and look down on everyone."

The man in military uniform nodded slightly. "Exactly. Even prodigies must retain humility."

The girl in the short skirt lounged idly, playing with her phone, one hand propping up her chin. "So boring."

The armored man asked, "Senior Nightshade, what brings you here today?"

The girl didn’t even look up from her phone. "My student insisted I come check things out."

"Said she’s found a promising candidate for exotic beast research—probably among the freshmen."

The mage woman looked intrigued. "Is it Qingyu’s recommendation?"

Nightshade nodded, stifling a yawn. "If she’s wrong, I’ll throw her into the seventh floor of the Beast Tower for three days of solitary confinement."

At that, the others shuddered.

The seventh floor of the Beast Tower was home to nothing but seventh-rank and higher exotic beasts.

Even they themselves might not last half a day inside.

She was merciless with her own students.

Then again, her student Feng Qingyu seemed to have inherited her ways.

Leading students into the lairs of leader-class exotic beasts.

An attrition rate of eighty percent among her protégés.

A ruthless one, indeed.

When the mental pressure reached Xu Han, he suddenly felt his shoulders grow heavy.

So this was the aura of the strong?

He gritted his teeth, enduring it with all his might.

At that moment,

A low, throaty growl echoed from the Tiger God jade pendant at his neck.

The spiritual pressure vanished in an instant.

Xu Han was suddenly restored.

He touched the Tiger God pendant, his eyes lighting up.

Even sealed, the Tiger God—king of all beasts—would never allow anyone to step on its head!

Zhong Zhen’s gaze lingered on Xu Han for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He seemed to see the faint image of a tiger rising from Xu Han’s figure.

Just a phantom, yet even that sent a chill through him.

"Interesting little fellow."

"It seems this year, we have a remarkable newcomer."

Zhong Zhen murmured quietly.

The college heads had also noticed, surprise flashing in their eyes.

The mage woman covered her mouth. "Oh? That little one can withstand Vice President Zhong’s psychic oppression?"

The armored man nodded slightly. "Even if Vice President Zhong only let out a sliver of pressure, that’s already unbearable for these kids."

"Looks like this one’s got some ability."

The man in uniform rubbed his chin, intrigued. "Strong mental fortitude—perhaps commander material. He should join our War College."

The mage woman gave a soft scoff. "What, and our Mage College doesn’t get to recruit anymore?"

The woman in the stealth suit, who had remained silent, spoke coldly. "Enough. Let’s keep watching."

The group quieted, turning their attention back to the field.

Zhong Zhen withdrew the pressure and began to speak. "Students, welcome to Dragon Country University."

Heads slowly lifted toward him.

The scorn from before had vanished.

All that remained was shock.

No one dared utter a word; they simply stared, wide-eyed, at Zhong Zhen.

He continued, "Today marks the grand opening of our school year!"

"Next, allow me to introduce the colleges within the university."

"First: the Warrior College."

"Warrior College is dedicated to training close-combat professionals."

"That is the dean of Warrior College, Zheng Gang."

The armored giant rose and waved to the crowd.

Eyes blazed with excitement.

Many were warriors, swordsmen, or knights.

Naturally, the Warrior College was their first choice.

"Second: the War College."

"The War College cultivates tactical talent. Most of the senior commanders in the Dragon Country military are graduates."

"This is the dean of War College, Huang Zhengtian."

As Zhong Zhen finished, the man in uniform stood, placed a fist to his chest, and gave a crisp salute.

The students’ eyes shone.

"I want to join War College! I’ll be one of the top ten generals of the future!"

"In your dreams! You—command others? Keep dreaming!"

Excited voices filled the air.

Zhong Zhen continued with introductions.

Mage College, Assassin College, Technology College.

The students below already had their choices in mind.

"And finally, the Institute of Exotic Beast Research."

"The Institute conducts all research on exotic beasts. Every piece of knowledge we have about them comes from there."

"This is the dean of the Institute, Nightshade."

Nightshade raised her eyelids, letting her gaze drift across the students below.

She didn’t even bother to greet them.

Yet the students below were already dumbfounded.