Chapter 127: Posting the Notice

Ye Chao had no idea that the functional version of the holographic helmet he had created on a whim would stir up the Jiangcheng streaming market and disrupt the life trajectories of so many people.

At this moment, he was already standing on the college entrance examination field.

On the sidelines stood the venue staff and referees, each performing their duties with solemn expressions. A bit further away were the boisterous and crowded spectator stands.

Logically, an exam is such a serious matter that it shouldn't be watched, as it could affect the examinees' emotions and performance.

However... if you can't even handle being watched, aren't you just being a bit too delicate? Should the enemy be expected to close their eyes on the battlefield just to avoid affecting your performance?

Therefore, watching was not only permitted but encouraged. Over time, it had evolved into the current sea of people.

Before the competition even began, a commotion suddenly broke out on the sidelines.

"What's wrong? What happened?" The already nervous examinees were instantly filled with doubt and unease.

It wasn't until someone pointed it out and they looked up at the large outdoor screen that they realized: the rankings had been posted!

The college entrance exam was much like the massive sporting events from before the great natural disasters; the examinees' scores were recorded and announced immediately after verification.

However, since the competition hadn't started yet, the scores currently being released were for the field internship. This was a standard practice for the college entrance exam.

As for the scores for the minor subjects, the teachers would have to find time to grade the papers, with results to be announced on the fifth or sixth day, once the major subject examinations were halfway through.

The Jiangcheng radio anchor, a woman with a mellifluous voice—though her appearance was secondary—made a rare on-screen appearance beneath the massive electronic scoreboard, dropping her professional facade: "Fellow citizens of Jiangcheng, as the golden autumn breeze brings coolness and the sweet scent of osmanthus fills the air, we joyfully welcome the annual college entrance exam season in this fruitful, bountiful time of year..."

Wait, what?

It was currently summer, not autumn. Was the anchor's script completely wrong?

Do you know that the true way to read "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees" is actually "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor, decrees"?

For such platitudes, the meaning doesn't matter; you just need to grasp the spirit of it.

In any case, seizing this rare opportunity for exposure, the anchor spoke with such fervor and excitement that it was as if she had just won a broadcasting lottery.

Suddenly, a few blurred shadows flashed across the screen. The anchor's voice cut off abruptly as she was covered head-to-toe in a sticky, unidentified substance. "Ahhh... is, is, is that an egg? Am I being disfigured? Help me!" she shrieked in a panic.

A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd below: "Too much nonsense, get to the point! You wasted a perfectly good grape!"

"Yeah, being pretty is one thing, but that chin is so sharp, it's hideous. Maybe being disfigured would actually be an improvement?"

Yes, the spectators of this era were just that direct and short-tempered.

And it wasn't just the anchor; the examinees and referees on the field were also pelted from time to time. As long as it didn't cause injury, no one stopped it.

You just had to dodge it.

Can't dodge it? If you can't handle this much interference, how will you ever go to the battlefield?

If the tickets weren't already sold out and there was actually space left, everyone would be here in person instead of huddled at home watching some livestream.

Having learned her lesson, the anchor finally calmed down. She wiped her face, stopped reciting those meaningless, formulaic opening lines, and began to introduce the leaderboard, especially the top ten scorers—today's well-deserved star examinees!

Those who could read had already seen it.

First place: Jiangcheng No. 3 High School, student ID 51034002, Ye Zichao, total score 520.

Intelligence gathering: 120 points (20 bonus points);
Data analysis and tactical planning: 100 points;
Team coordination: 100 points;
Environmental adaptation: 100 points;
Comprehensive assessment: 100 points!

If this were before, he would only have managed a perfect score or bonus points in intelligence gathering. His tactical planning and environmental adaptation would be passing but not outstanding, and his team coordination would be hit-or-miss because no team wanted him... leaving him hovering around the passing mark of 300.

Second place: Also from Jiangcheng No. 3 High School, Xu Tiange, student ID 51033001, total score 510.

Combat: 110 points (10 bonus points);
Data analysis and tactical planning: 100 points;
Team coordination: 100 points;
Environmental adaptation: 100 points;
Comprehensive assessment: 100 points.

Logistics, maintenance, intelligence gathering, and combat were considered professional courses. Each person had different specialties and only needed to choose one, though they could choose all and take the highest score.

Xu Tiange's combat performance was flawless, and getting a perfect score was expected, but she hadn't received any bonus points. It was highly likely that her bonus points came from the "Aion" dungeon.

Aside from these two, third through tenth place were split between No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 High Schools. Some had received bonus points, with total scores roughly between 490 and 510; the competition was quite intense.

With ability, leadership, friends, and the knowledge that it was just an exam, getting a high score wasn't difficult.

Even at No. 3 High School, there were definitely other students in the same scoring bracket; it was just that the spotlight had been stolen by the duo of Ye Chao and Xu Tiange.

Team coordination was Ye Chao's one-man stage; close-quarters combat was Xu Tiange's specialty... their dominance of the screen was unstoppable.

So much so that there was a gap of twenty or thirty places before other No. 3 High School names began to appear—Zhao Sanxiang, Liu Xu, Yi Qian, Wang Zhi, and so on.

Fang Ju scored 435, placing over 170th, which was a steady, middle-of-the-road result.

However, although there were few top scores, the average for No. 3 High School was shockingly high!

Out of over three hundred students, only nine had fallen behind, while everyone else passed. Compared to other schools, where the failure rate was often a third or even over half... it was as if they weren't even playing the same game.

"The one in first place is named Ye Zichao? Who is Ye Zichao?"

"I've heard of most of the names in the top ten, where did this one pop out from?"

The audience was abuzz with discussion.

The anchor, of course, knew who Ye Zichao was: a disciple of an Imaginary-number expert and the Jiangcheng agent for the Holographic Helmet Company. The station had tried to interview him, only to be flatly rejected—a presence they dared not offend.

Although she knew, she couldn't say.

No one could predict the temper of an expert. If word spread too much, those with ulterior motives would surely come knocking. If too little was known, she worried about others as ignorant as Qian Jin. So, Li Jing'ao's strategy was: inform those who needed to know, and keep everyone else in the dark as much as possible.

Thus, the anchor could only pretend to be ignorant with a straight face, and her acting was actually quite convincing.

"This Ye Zichao... hmm, according to the internal database, he's quite interesting!"

"He originally entered No. 3 High School as the top student in liberal arts, with a score that placed him exactly 100th in the city. Over these three years at No. 3, he has consistently maintained the top position in liberal arts, while ranking second or third in the class and twentieth or thirtieth in the grade for total scores."

"Oh, oh, oh, and there's more that's even more surprising!"

"My colleague just checked, and this Ye Zichao has taken eleven major exams in the past three years. In the eight liberal arts subjects, aside from Chinese, he has actually achieved a perfect score in every single one!"

"Pfft... turns out he's just a minor-subject nerd!" The jeers from the crowd were clearly audible.

Even though the anchor tried her best to hype him up, it was futile—this was the treatment minor-subject experts received.

"Look closely, his professional course is intelligence gathering. He completely avoided direct combat!"

"Regular exams don't have as many categories as the college entrance exam. If he only ranked twentieth or thirtieth in the grade despite perfect scores in minor subjects, his major subjects must be a disaster!"

"I'll bet my entire household registry that as soon as the major subject exams begin, this guy is finished!"

Amidst the discussion, Ye Chao's first exam began—weighted squats.