Chapter 12: During the Examination

The spire rapidly grew larger in her view, and Jiang Tang’s pupils contracted sharply.
She was about to crash and become a mess!
Immediately, she summoned Sun Wukong, enhancing her body and vision to the utmost. Just a second before the spire’s tip pierced her, she forcefully adjusted her trajectory, smashing onto the sloped roof at the tower’s peak.
Unable to stop herself for a moment, she rolled straight down.
The broadcast in her ear continued without pause.
“Attention all examinees—”
“The assessment criteria for this round: number of exterminated mutants.”
“Below are the points assigned for each mutant grade…”
Jiang Tang grabbed the edge just in time, dangling precariously on the high tower, finally exhaling with relief.
With a strong twist of her waist, she flung herself back into the tower.
Her feet landed firmly, reborn.
She took a deep breath and activated her smart brain.
Grade A: 10 points; B: 5 points; C: 3 points; D: 2 points; E: 1 point; F: 0.5 points.
The dungeon boss was worth 1000 points; defeating it would end the dungeon early, with the MVP earning 80% of the score and the remaining 20% distributed according to contribution.
Passing score was 60.
Currently, the leaderboard’s top was Sheng Huaian with 20 points.
Had he been born in the mutant nest?
Jiang Tang switched off the smart brain, a faint golden light flickering in her eyes as she gazed out from the spire.
This was a small seaside town, densely packed with houses of varying heights. In theory, there should be plenty of people.
But strangely, the streets were deserted, with only one or two residents occasionally visible, dressed from head to toe, their exposed skin pale and white.
Dark clouds hung low, and the humidity was unusually high, moisture aggressively clinging to people.
Jiang Tang made an untimely remark: drying clothes here must be a challenge…
The salty, fishy sea breeze carried a faint stench of decay.
She saw three people climbing up from the harbor. Judging by their attire, they were examinees.
She withdrew her gaze, disappointed—it wasn’t mutants…
“Stranger, what are you doing here?”
A hoarse voice sounded behind her.
An old nun appeared ghostlike from the shadows, holding an oil lamp.
Jiang Tang clasped her hands behind her back, quietly tightening her grip on her weapon but smiling: “The view up here is wonderful. I came to gather inspiration.”
Not only mutants but also NPCs existed in the dungeon.
NPCs could be unpredictable; in recent days, Jiang Tang had been furiously studying common knowledge and had even witnessed incidents where NPCs single-handedly wiped out all examinees.
The old nun said coldly, “You’re not welcome here. Get out.”

While the nun scrutinized Jiang Tang, Jiang Tang observed her in return.
The nun appeared normal, but oddly, the small patch of skin visible at her collarbone bore fish-scale-like patterns, peeling and curling.
Jiang Tang deliberately complained, “It’s by the sea, yet your skin’s peeling?”
Suddenly, the nun’s voice rose sharply with agitation, “Unclean one, leave!”
The oil lamp shook violently in her hand.
In a flash, she lunged to attack, but Jiang Tang was quicker. Her telescoping staff extended several inches and struck hard, knocking the nun to the ground.
“What’s going on here?”
The nun didn’t answer, muttering prayers from the Bible; the blow seemed to have stunned her.
Jiang Tang pondered whether the nun was a mutant while trying to bluff: “Sister, I’m actually an exorcist sent by the Land Church, you understand what I mean, right?”
The prayer momentarily faltered; the nun’s fish-bubble eyes widened.
It seemed to work.
Jiang Tang remained calm: “You’ve worked hard lately. Leave the rest to me. Tell me where the enemy’s lair is, and I’ll help you be freed.”
The nun’s mouth opened and closed, as if trying to speak, but her throat seemed blocked, and she only muttered indistinctly: “Monsters beneath the sea…”
Jiang Tang couldn’t catch the words and was about to ask again when suddenly several tentacles burst from the nun’s mouth, clawing at her wildly.
Jiang Tang stepped back, dodging, then drew her pistol and fired a few shots, dispatching the tentacles.
The nun collapsed, motionless.
The system notified her of a score increase: +0.5.
This was an F-grade minor mutant.
“If there are mutants in the church, what about the whole town?” Jiang Tang looked outside and saw a chilling sight.
Without her noticing, the residents had all gathered on the streets, expressionless, their gazes fixed on the spire.
More precisely, they were staring directly at Jiang Tang herself.
She remained composed, even joking, “Wow, what a grand welcome ceremony.”
Unfortunately, only the corpses beside her could appreciate the joke.
But Jiang Tang always believed in repaying kindness.
Such a grand welcoming ceremony shouldn’t be without salutes and fireworks.
…
Outside the exam area, the third-grade teaching research office.
Class advisors from all classes gathered, each watching the screens intently and occasionally commenting on the students’ performances.
“Sheng Huaian’s luck is incredible—he spawned right in the middle of a mutant nest. His strength is formidable; he’s just slaughtering everything.”
“Arthur was born at the opposite end of the map from Sheng Huaian, but with terrain advantage, he might contend for first place.”
“I’m still rooting for Tanaka. That kid resonated with Amaterasu at such a young age—perfect for dealing with these sun-fearing mutants.”
“Gu Xue and Chen Xu are also strong; the top five will definitely include them.”
The discussion constantly centered on top talents like Sheng Huaian.
“Right now, Sheng Huaian has 50 points, Arthur 48, Tanaka 48, Chen Xu 43, Gu Xue 41. The gap with the others is huge.”
Suddenly someone shouted, “Hey, look at Jiang Tang!”
Old Sun, silent beside them, furrowed his brow and glanced at the screen.
Jiang Tang’s rank and score had surged dramatically, pushing Gu Xue, fifth place, off the leaderboard and narrowing the gap with Chen Xu, who was fourth, by just 0.5 points.
“Check what’s going on!”
By the time they switched to the live feed, Jiang Tang had already overtaken Chen Xu.
Watching Jiang Tang’s live stream, everyone gasped.
“She... blew up the spire church?”
“What weapon did she use? A cannon? How did she get it in?”
“The spire church is supposed to be a safe zone! If the church falls, the mutants will riot!”
“She aimed the cannon at the townspeople!”
“She fired! What the hell? How did her staff get so huge?”
“Look, the sacrificial ritual is starting early!”
Three unlucky examinees were tied up and suspended over a well covered in black moss, bound by a horde of mutants.
Meanwhile, inside the exam area.
Just after Jiang Tang finished her “demolition work,” the town’s mutants had surged forward, completely blocking the street leading to the church.
Countless eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Tang.
“Perfect timing.”
Jiang Tang clapped her hands, turned her anti-aircraft cannon, its dark muzzle aimed at the townsfolk.
These people stood frozen—perfect targets.
At her command, “Fire!”
Firepower poured out in a 360-degree sweep. The mutated residents twisted into grotesque forms, roaring as they lunged at Jiang Tang.
She snapped her fingers; her telescoping staff expanded several times its length. Centering her qi in the dantian, she embraced the staff with both arms, spinning on her feet, coordinating with the cannon’s firepower to sweep across the area.
The system’s scoring alerts rang incessantly.
“Your current rank: 4”
“Your current score: 46”
“Attention all examinees: the dungeon boss has appeared!”
“Time until mutant frenzy: 30 seconds”
“Prepare for battle!”