Pre-death assessment

"When you received your independent squad training, wasn't there any 'romance training' included?"

Ling Wu looked at Tian Yao, who seemed somewhat at a loss, and smiled teasingly.

"Where would they train for this kind of thing?"

Tian Yao was speechless.

The training focuses on physical fitness and combat skills.

Who can provide training in dating/relationship skills?

Damn it, he completely fooled me.

"Are you kidding me?"

Ling Wu propped his head up with one hand, like a high and mighty god looking down at the ants in front of him.

Tian Yao blushed and sat obediently in her original seat.

What a joke!

How could I possibly beat you?

Also, they weren't entirely joking.

It was just a joke...

"Tell me about it, Jiang Liao."

Ling Wu continued, "What exactly did she experience here?"

"Actually... it's nothing."

Tian Yao took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

He continued, "After we brought their team into the city, they quickly found out about the pass assessment."

"Then, after making some preparations, we got right to it."

"She is very strong, and her teammates are also very strong. They are all highly skilled and have their own strengths."

"Each of them possesses a variety of superpowers."

"Working together, they quickly killed enough beast kings."

"Then we proceeded directly to the next level!"

"Her entire team is the first team I've seen since I became the commander of the Suzaku City Tactical Squadron 9... to clear the level with all members."

Overall, the team led by Jiang Liao was ridiculously strong.

Moreover, their combat coordination is very strong, and their cooperation is perfect.

Such an almost invincible team might just be just as unstoppable if they went down to the lower levels.

Perhaps I really can break through the ninefold pre-death assessment space and return to the present world.

According to Jiang, the present world is a very large and beautiful world.

It has mountains and rivers, and various animals and plants.

There are grasslands, deserts, and the sea.

There are still countless stars in the sky, and the vast universe.

To be honest, Tian Yao longs for that kind of world.

She was born in this world, this steel world, though it is not small.

However, after hearing what Jiang Liao said, she felt that this world... was actually just a slightly larger prison.

"Um... can I ask you for a favor?"

Tian Yao suddenly raised her head, her big eyes staring straight at Ling Wu.

"Do you want to go down there with us? Or do you want to go to the mortal world?"

Ling Wu immediately guessed her thoughts.

"yes!"

Tian Yao did not deny it: "I want to go see your so-called modern world, to see the stars and the sea, the mountains and rivers."

This steel world doesn't have those things.

Even if there are farms, plants, and water sources inside the city.

But outside, all that remained was an endless expanse of pale metal.

She really wanted to see what the so-called ocean, grassland, mountains, and forests looked like.

That must be very, very beautiful.

"Actually, a year ago, I wanted to leave with them."

Tian Yao continued, "But before I could say anything, they were already gone."

At that time, she thought about going down the road with Jiang Liao and others to explore a new world.

Unfortunately, Jiang Liao and the others left quickly, and she didn't have time to say anything.

Another group of people has arrived, so she needs to speak up in advance to avoid not having a chance to speak later.

"You must want to keep going down to the next level, right? You don't want to live in this third level forever, do you?" Tian Yao looked at Ling Wu.

Ling Wu nodded: "That's right, we still have a few teammates, they should be in the other three cities right now!"

"So...are they all very strong too?"

Tian Yao asked with some anticipation, "Is your team as strong as Jiang Liao's team?"

"It's not that strong right now."

Ling Wu shook his head: "My teammates haven't shown their full potential yet."

"Then... are you confident in dealing with the Beast King?" Tian Yao frowned slightly.

The Beast King is very powerful, leading a pack of beasts.

Even if a thousand high-level hunters came, they wouldn't easily provoke a beast king.

"Of course I'm confident!" Ling Wu smiled.

"Then...then I'll go with you!"

Tian Yao quickly said, "I'll fight my way through the nine layers of the pre-death assessment space with you all and go to the mortal world!"

"Do you have any special abilities?" Ling Wu asked.

"this……"

Tian Yao immediately lowered her head: "No!"

People born here naturally don't have superpowers.

There are indeed some people with special abilities within the four cities.

However, after those ability users die, the beads inside their bodies are removed and preserved until a suitable successor appears.

The selection process for successors is extremely rigorous.

Not only must they be outstanding themselves, but they must also have made significant contributions to the city.

"So you think I should take someone... who doesn't have any special abilities or uses, to a more dangerous place?"

Ling Wu asked.

Tian Yao quickly replied, "I...I'm useful. I've received professional training. I..."

"Your training is limited to performing this third task."

Ling Wu interrupted her: "You haven't experienced it, so you have no idea how terrifying the pre-death assessment space is."

"This third layer is very safe because of the presence of four major cities."

"This is also the only safe place in the entire pre-death assessment space where one can survive for a long time."

"But things are different down there."

After all, starting from the fourth level, it is permissible for experts of the fifth realm to exist.

The difficulty of completing the game and surviving will be correspondingly higher.

If the average level of a strong person is below the fourth level, and Tian Yao, who doesn't have much ability, goes there, wouldn't she be a real burden?

"But... I've been the commander for three years!"

Tian Yao quickly said, "I now have the opportunity to inherit this ability."

"Then you should obtain the ability inheritance first... and then we'll talk!" Ling Wu said slowly.

Even if she has the ability, we still need to see what that ability is.

I don't need many teammates.

Including Liu Ruyan and Lei Yun, neither of them were actually essential teammates.

"Alright, then you wait for me, I'll soon meet the inheritance standards."

Tian Yao said heavily.

Currently, her contribution points to Suzaku City are still insufficient.

If we work hard during this period, we have a great chance.

Whether it's saving lives or protecting the city, you can earn corresponding contribution points.

Ling Wu picked up his coffee again and slowly asked, "What do you know about... Hunting Time?"

"What do you know so much about?"

Tian Yao was somewhat confused.

Isn't the hunt moment when the bell tolls, the white fog appears, and hunters emerge all over the world?

Do I even need to know?

"After all this time, do you know where the bells that tolled for this third hunt were coming from?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Yao frowned slightly.

This is a problem... I haven't really paid much attention to it.

When the third hunt begins, the bells will indeed ring throughout the world.

But strangely, the sound of the bell seemed to have no specific source, but rather to be omnipresent.

"It seems you didn't know?" Ling Wu shook his head.

"We really don't know."

Tian Yao nodded: "You mean... the sound of the bell actually has a source?"

"Everything has its origin in the end," Ling Wu said with a faint smile.

The source of the bell's sound is, of course, the place where the seed of the third level of the Grim Reaper's clone resides.

"Well... you might want to ask our city lord."

Tian Yao continued, "The four city lords of the four cities know far more than ordinary people like us."

Ling Wu nodded: "Then please make an appointment for me."

"no problem!"

Tian Yao nodded.

"Oh, and could you check on a few more people for me?"

Ling Wu continued, "They've all just arrived at the third level, they should have just completed their registration recently. Find out their contact information and give it to me."

The four cities are all connected by communication networks.

As long as there is a way to contact Lanxi, they can naturally reach Jiang Luo and the others.

"Yes, that's easy." Tian Yao nodded.

Everyone is registered, so it's easy to find Ling Wu's teammates based on their names and the time.

"Investigate now!"

Ling Wu immediately told Tian Yao the names of Jiang Luo and the others.

Tian Yao did not refuse. She immediately clicked on the bracelet, entered the permissions, and began the query.

Soon, based on the name information, they found Jiang Luo and the others.

They were all registered today, and the names match, so there shouldn't be any mistakes.

Ling Wu entered their registration numbers into the bracelet. The registration number was their ID number and also their contact information.

Every person is unique.

Thanks.

Then, Ling Wu smiled faintly at Tian Yao and asked, "Would you like another cup?"

"No...no need!"

Tian Yao gave an awkward smile. "I already spat it out, what's the point of drinking it now?"

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back now." Ling Wu stood up directly.

Upon hearing this, Tian Yao was almost completely petrified.

No... They asked you out shopping or on a date, and you're already leaving?

Oh, you've asked all the questions you wanted to ask and found all the information you wanted to find. Now that it's no longer of any use, you're just going to throw it away, right?

Are you kidding me?

They took a day off specifically to come see you, and even dressed up nicely.

So you just use it and then throw it away?

Is profit all you see?

Nothing else? Like feelings?

Even if there are no feelings involved, you should at least have lust, right?

Am I not pretty? Am I not good-looking?

Don't you have any improper thoughts at all?

Why don't you take the initiative a little and give them a way out, even if they're reluctant?

She's a girl, after all. If she's going to pretend, she should at least act a little more reserved, okay?

If you take just a little initiative, even just a tiny bit, everything will fall into place naturally! A hundred leaks, pitifully, the true mechanism of the arrow remains unreleased.

Tian Yao was both angry and helpless at this moment.

Seeing Ling Wu really about to leave, she couldn't hold back any longer: "You and Lei Yun, are you really just ordinary friends? Why are you in such a hurry to go back to be with her? She's actually your girlfriend, isn't she?"

Are they conspiring to deceive me?

Is it so that they can help them find information about their companions for free?

Or could you ask them to help them schedule a meeting with the city lord?

And now that it's all used up, they're coming clean?

That's absolutely outrageous!

"They are indeed just friends."

Ling Wu turned and left, saying, "My girlfriend is Jiang Liao!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Yao was immediately taken aback.

Jiang Liao?

Jiang Liao, who cleared this level a year ago, the captain of the strongest team, is Ling Wu's girlfriend?

To be honest, Ling Wu and Jiang Liao are actually quite a good match.

No wonder they used the words "boring" and "chatting" when introducing themselves.

Besides... if Ling Wu has a girlfriend, wouldn't I have no chance?

And one more thing……

Tian Yao quickly got up and chased after him, grabbing Ling Wu's hand: "Wait a minute, if Jiang Liao is your girlfriend, there's something important I need to tell you!"