Chapter 152: Prepare for Everything in Advance
Niu Dazhuang: [Do we have to go to the battlefield just because we're students?]
Tian Yundong: [Are you complaining?]
Niu Dazhuang: [That's not it. Of course, I want to kill aliens as soon as possible, but I don't quite understand what you meant earlier.]
Zhang Mou: [Niu is the first in his family to attend a martial arts university. He might not know the details. Tian Yundong, don't be so harsh.]
After speaking to Tian Yundong, Zhang Mou explained to Niu Dazhuang: [After being admitted to Hongwu University, hasn't your family's life improved?]
Niu Dazhuang: [Of course! Our family was assigned a much larger house, and they give our parents a stipend every month.]
Zhang Mou: [Also, your parents' safety is directly overseen by the Patrol Office. Even if you fall in battle, they will continue receiving financial support.]
Zhang Mou: [The reason martial arts university students receive such good treatment is that every Martial Arts University is built near a space-time disaster zone.]
Zhang Mou: [Each university is essentially a base for a space-time gate, responsible for guarding the entrance, suppressing the creatures inside, and maintaining control over the Starry Sky Road.]
Zhang Mou: [We're students, but we're also soldiers. If there's ever a disturbance in the space-time gate, we—as students of Hongwu University—are the first to respond.]
Afterward, Zhang Mou sent out a shared document.
The contents included investigative reports on Hongwu University, as well as intelligence he had compiled.
From Zhang Mou's summary, one thing became clear: the new Hongwu University campus was built near a newly discovered space-time gate.
The difficulty level of the space-time gate was moderate.
The stronger creatures would be handled by the principal and faculty, while the weaker creatures would be left for the students.
"I see…" Jiang Tian, a visitor from another world, nodded as he read the group chat.
This system was well-designed—it ensured that warriors had no worries about their families when fighting for humanity.
However, this also meant that his plans to research new dishes at Hongwu University wouldn't be as peaceful as he had hoped.
If an alien species suddenly emerged from the space-time gate…
Jiang Tian rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"What kind of dish could I make from them?"
He glanced back at the freshman group. The discussion was still centered on battlefield preparations.
And, of course, the main focus was on Leng Hao and his group.
After all, they had firsthand experience from the battle in the Huotang Small World—an actual military operation, not just an exam.
They knew what real war was like.
As the discussion continued, the students from Xiang City shared details about Jiang Tian's battlefield performance.
When Leng Hao revealed that Jiang Tian had racked up hundreds of kills on the first day, the group chat exploded.
Even though different exam locations had different circumstances, the scoring system was universal.
Zhang Mou: [So even if that special incident in Huotang World hadn't happened, Boss Jiang would have still easily ranked first in the country?]
Shentu Jiayi: [Then that means Boss Jiang was falsely accused because of this.]
The group chat once again marveled at Jiang Tian's strength and sighed at the unfairness of fate.
At the very least, everyone had learned something—this experience exposed their weaknesses and showed them where they needed to improve.
As the discussion continued, time passed, and night fell.
The freshmen of Hongwu University gradually drifted into a deep sleep.
After the intense entrance examination—and for some, having their legs broken—they were physically exhausted.
But as the students slept, deep inside the new Hongwu University campus, something else was happening.
Beyond the forest behind the campus, a tall wall stood.
The wall was covered in formation engravings, glowing faintly with energy.
Atop the massive wall, life detectors scanned the surroundings.
The moment an unusual life signature was detected, the defensive formations would activate.
Beyond the wall, a military base stood—its centerpiece was a colossal portal, fusing mechanical and magical technology.
Within the hollow door frame, space rippled like water.
And the ripples were growing stronger.
It looked as if something would burst through at any moment.
Around the portal, numerous researchers in formal uniforms moved around, constantly monitoring the readings.
Teachers walked alongside students from the formation master profession, explaining various concepts as part of their own entrance exam.
Compared to combat-based freshmen, these formation master students had a very different examination process.
Suddenly—
Swish!
A figure materialized at the edge of the portal.
Zhou Shang, the principal of Hongwu University, had arrived.
"Principal Zhou!" A researcher noticed him and saluted.
"What's the status?" Zhou Shang asked as he observed the unstable portal.
The researcher adjusted his glasses and replied, "The situation is within expected parameters. Based on the space-time disaster scale, this gate is classified as medium difficulty."
"However, the spatial fluctuations are unusually unstable. We're especially concerned about a potential Starry Sky Road emerging from this world."
Zhou Shang's expression darkened. "A Starry Sky Road in a newly discovered world?"
If a Starry Sky Road appeared, it meant that more space-time gates would continue opening in rapid succession.
Just like how the Flame Bird Clan's first small world appeared, followed by Fire Frog, Fire Fish, and other connected realms, new space-time gates could continue forming.
Each new gate meant a new alien race.
And each new race meant more pressure on humanity's forces.
Hongwu University had the resources to handle two space-time gates at once, but what about weaker martial arts universities?
The pressure would crush them.
Expanding enrollment and reforming the martial arts college entrance exam was a last resort.
But there was no other choice.
This was the harsh reality that humanity faced.
As Zhou Shang frowned, deep in thought, his phone suddenly vibrated.
It was Jiang Tian.
A bit puzzled, Zhou Shang checked the message.
Jiang Tian: [Teacher, was this new campus built specifically to suppress the space-time gate?]
Zhou Shang: [Yes. Why are you asking?]
Jiang Tian: [I just want to know what kind of alien race is behind the gate…]
Jiang Tian: […so I can start planning new dishes ahead of time.]
Zhou Shang: […]
The principal of Hongwu University, the man who had faced countless life-and-death battles, the warrior who had fought tirelessly for humanity's survival…
…was utterly speechless.