Chapter 4, Part 4: The Military Academy Entrance Exam Encounters a Crisis...

Xu Lingzhao felt her consciousness slowly fading. Sweat soaked her clothes and hair. It felt like something was about to pop out of the back of her neck. The soreness turned into pain and then back to soreness. She felt weak all over and couldn't muster any strength. In this hazy state, Xu Lingzhao fell into a deep sleep. She didn't wake up until the next morning. She felt as if she had been soaked in water. She struggled to get up and went to the bathroom.

Xu Lingzhao felt much better after her shower, but her stomach was growling with hunger. Just as she was about to order takeout from the food delivery robot, there was a sudden knock on the door. Ignoring her hunger, she went to open it and found Mo Zhiyan standing there with a steaming bowl of noodles. His tone was sincere, and his expression slightly shy: "Good morning...you...do you want noodles? I cooked extra. Thank you for your time on the starship..."

Seeing Mo Zhiyan's cautious manner, Xu Lingzhao was also starving, so she didn't refuse: "Then I'll eat, wash it clean, and bring it to you."

After closing the door, Xu Lingzhao quickly finished the noodles. When he washed the bowl and opened the door to return it, he found Mo Zhiyan's door wide open, the curtains were blowing in the wind, and the steaming noodles showed no signs of being touched. Xu Lingzhao put down the bowl and stood by the window, using his mental power to search for Mo Zhiyan's whereabouts.

He was in a car that was moving very fast!

"Damn it!" She quickly jumped out of the window and began parkour, following the car's trajectory. Her nimble figure appeared on the rooftop, anticipating the car's direction and attempting to intercept it. She stopped on a resident's balcony, her eyes fixed on the hovercar speeding down the road.

Right now.

Xu Lingzhao charged up and jumped down, precisely shattering the windshield. She used her mental power to attack the people tied up with Mo Zhiyan in the car, instantly stunning them. Then she jumped out of the passenger seat, pulled open the deformed car door, and dragged the terrified Mo Zhiyan out of the car. She picked up her personal terminal to call the police, but unexpectedly, Mo Zhiyan hugged her waist and buried his face in her chest, his shoulders trembling violently.

As she explained the situation, she patted Mo Zhiyan's shoulder lightly, seemingly at a loss, until the FBI agents came and took the rebels away. The two of them then cooperated with the investigation and entered the FBI headquarters together.

A reporter happened to capture this scene of the damsel in distress rescuing the hero, and an explosive news story quickly made headlines on the StarNet:

[Scaling walls and smashing car windows! Who dares to break a window to save someone?!] The accompanying image shows Xu Lingzhao in an all-black combat suit, which accentuates her strong yet beautiful figure. Her golden hair flies in the air. The female Alpha, who is communicating via her personal terminal, has a serious expression but is gently comforting the Omega in her arms! The stark contrast and the scene of a hero saving a damsel in distress instantly ignited the StarNet!

Xu Lingzhao walked out of the Investigation Bureau. The incident ended with a group of people claiming to be Mo Zhiyan's family taking him away. Xu Lingzhao put her hands in her pockets: "Another good deed done. It feels like I'm saving people every day." She strolled through the streets of Navica, but to her surprise, many people asked to take photos with her. In their conversations, Xu Lingzhao opened her personal terminal and realized that she had become famous on the StarNet.

Xu Lingzhao pinched her brow. After escaping the pursuit of her "fans," she unexpectedly arrived at a riverbank. She leaned against the railing and sighed. Another day had passed with all this commotion. However, at this moment, the evening breeze was blowing, and the scenery along the river was still very beautiful, if it weren't for someone suddenly standing next to her.

She turned her head and saw that it was Chu Jingze. He didn't say anything, but handed her a suppression patch: "Your pheromones are overflowing. You can put this on."

She took the suppression patch, her face flushing slightly. Being an Alpha for the first time, she was still a little unaccustomed to it. She knew that with her newly differentiated glands unstable, she couldn't control the release and release of pheromones. She had been in such a rush to leave that she'd forgotten the suppression patch, and besides, the person standing next to her was an Omega; her behavior was tantamount to indecent assault. Xu Lingzhao hurriedly applied the suppression patch.

When people are embarrassed, they always find something to do. Xu Lingzhao coughed lightly and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I live nearby and come out for a walk."

"It's getting late... uh... shall I take you home?" Xu Lingzhao lied through her teeth; she had just checked the time, and it was only 8 p.m.! But Chu Jing seemed to sense her embarrassment and agreed to take her home.

"Do you find the study materials I gave you useful?"

"fine."

The two chatted idly for a while. At this moment, Xu Lingzhao deeply regretted offering to take him home; it was just too awkward. Finally, after dropping Chu Jingze off at the door of a villa, she finally felt relieved and, feigning composure, fled. Xu Lingzhao's excellent hearing even caught him chuckle softly.

Ugh! Even more embarrassing!

-.

The Sandhurst written test site.

After parting ways with Ling Qianzhu, Xu Lingzhao went to her designated examination area to wait. She noticed that the military academy students coming and going frequently glanced at her. Feeling these less-than-friendly stares, Xu Lingzhao simply recalled the knowledge points with a blank expression. She knew that many of the Sandhurst students were arrogant and domineering because of their powerful families, so they naturally looked down on her, who had no family influence.

However, Xu Lingzhao was not affected by them.

The exam bell rang, and Xu Lingzhao entered the exam room, put on the holographic device, and began to answer the questions.

-

Individual soldier assessment site.

Xu Lingzhao appeared in the waiting area dressed in a simple combat uniform. She was wiping her Tang sword while looking at the real-time rankings on the big screen.

Many aristocratic candidates cast scrutinizing and even hostile glances at her. Some even stood up and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for everyone to hear: "This is the first time I've stood with a commoner. I feel like the air is stinking. Someone, please give me some air freshener."

His remarks drew laughter from the audience, who all looked at Xu Lingzhao as if watching a show, anticipating her reaction.

Xu Lingzhao ignored such childish behavior and thought about the assessment content. The assessment content this time was to enter the holographic simulation cabin and kill mechanical Zerg in a simulated Zerg battlefield within a specified time. The ranking would be based on the number of mechanical Zerg killed.

The more the better.

Xu Lingzhao entered the holographic simulation cabin. After a slight dizziness, she opened her eyes again and found herself in an abandoned warehouse. The damp and dark environment made Xu Lingzhao feel uncomfortable.

Holding a Tang sword, she walked towards the warehouse door. A scraping sound rang out, and Xu Lingzhao quickly turned around and swung her Tang sword, cutting the hydra that was trying to attack her in half.

Black blood splattered on the ground with a sizzling sound. Xu Lingzhao looked at the bracelet on his arm, which showed the kill count: 1.

But Xu Lingzhao sensed something was wrong. Weren't they mechanical insectoids? Why were they so realistic? Xu Lingzhao quickly stepped forward and pushed open the warehouse door.

The sight before her took her by surprise. There was a large swarm of insectoids in front of her. Xu Lingzhao took a half step back. Someone was plotting against her! But Xu Lingzhao did not show any fear. She quickly thought of a solution. Xu Lingzhao released her mental pressure, which made some of the lower-level insectoids dare not approach her.

She stared directly at the leading insectoid, Thunder Bug, but it seemed to possess mental power, and at a considerable level. However, she felt a chilling pressure instantly rise up against it. Blood trickled from the corner of Xu Lingzhao's mouth as she forcefully resisted this mental power. After looking around, she quickly ran into an abandoned building next to the warehouse.

Xu Lingzhao's gaze was icy. Running into the warehouse was undoubtedly a desperate struggle, but the hundred-story building offered much more room to maneuver! Who on earth could hack into Sandhurst's assessment system and put her to death? As she ran, Xu Lingzhao keenly smelled the odor of gasoline. She stopped and, through the crack in the window, saw swarms of insectoids rushing into the building where she was.

Her keen sense of smell detected an extremely faint but unsettling odor in the air, an odor that made her feel uncomfortable and inexplicably irritable. Xu Lingzhao used her Tang sword to stab herself to stay awake and continue with her previous thought.

A plan suddenly came to mind.

Upon reaching the 68th floor, she located the storage area for the gasoline, lifted the huge oil drum, poured the gasoline into the stairwell, and then kicked the drum directly down the steps.

After going back and forth several times, the heavy oil drums blocked the stairwell. Although the gasoline could flow down the steps, it was too inefficient! Xu Lingzhao, panting, poured out the remaining few drums of gasoline and ran up to the 76th floor again.

There's a huge gasoline pump over there! Xu Lingzhao smiled, connected the hose, pulled the safety pin, and ran towards the building to release the gasoline.

When she reached the rooftop, she saw the A-rank lord Thunder Beast Bee waiting for her with its flying insectoid horde.

Xu Lingzhao showed no sign of pleasure as she frantically sprayed fuel at them until the gasoline ran out. Then, she threw down the fuel hose, picked up her Tang sword, and slashed at the insectoids that were attacking her.

With her intensive study of Zerg knowledge, she could almost instantly identify its weaknesses. Xu Lingzhao felt her speed and strength constantly increasing, almost reaching a point where she could kill any god or insect in her path.

As soon as the Zerg began to pour out of the top-floor entrance, Xu Lingzhao quickly ran to the location of the flying Thunder Bug and accurately swung his Tang sword at its abdomen.

The thunder worm was pierced by the Tang sword. Xu Lingzhao then used the parapet on the rooftop to gather strength and leap up, grabbing the thunder worm. Just as its tail was about to pierce her, she pulled out the Tang sword and slit its throat. She then took out a lighter from her pocket, lit it, and threw it onto the rooftop.

Instantly, a raging fire broke out, and countless insectoids roared in the flames, while Xu Lingzhao, carrying the corpse of the Thunder Insect, plummeted rapidly from the 120th floor.

Her heart raced, and she felt a surge of fear, which she tried her best to suppress. However, she landed safely, though her legs were a little numb from the impact. The Thunder Bug corpses that had been used to cushion the fall were smashed into a bloody pulp. Xu Lingzhao looked at the rapidly increasing kill count on her bracelet, then turned to look at her masterpiece—the Fire Tower.

Satisfied, she left with her Tang sword in hand. With half an hour left before the end of the assessment, she headed towards the city center. The burning pain from the black blood on her face and neck made her want to find a first-aid kit.

The intense tension left Xu Lingzhao feeling somewhat exhausted. As she walked down the street, she sensed someone rapidly approaching her. Sure enough, five five-meter-tall mechs appeared before her.

Xu Lingzhao stopped and stared at the mechs. She knew that small mechs could be used for the assessment, but even the lowest-grade mech cost five million.

A male voice came from the lead mech, his tone accusatory: "You didn't have a mech, and you didn't find any weapons, so how could you kill more than 7,000 Zerg? You cheated." He was absolutely certain about those last four words.

"But once I kill you, your kill count will be mine. Men, restrain her."

"You, a mere commoner, have offended someone you shouldn't have! You only have one path left: death!"

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Lingzhao had already disappeared. She wasn't going to stand there like an idiot, but she was certain that they had her location information.

Because Xu Lingzhao keenly realized that the mecha team was not searching aimlessly, but rather had accurately predicted several of her hiding places.

They're the ones who cheated!

Xu Lingzhao didn't want to confront them head-on. With 7,612 kills, she was sure to be number one. She used her amazing speed and agility to outmaneuver them like dogs in the last 15 minutes.

Emerging from the holographic simulation pod, Xu Lingzhao was led away by the examiner. Following behind, her keen hearing once again picked up on the whispers:

"It was her. She actually killed more than 7,000 mechanical insectoids. She must have cheated."

"I know that some lower-class citizens will do anything to climb up the social ladder, but I never expected them to cheat in the assessment."

"Now he's been taken in for questioning. How embarrassing. It fits my stereotypes about certain groups."

Such words flooded Xu Lingzhao's ears. She suppressed her inner annoyance and followed the examiner to the verification room.

She was among the last to be assessed, and now everyone outside the verification room was waiting for her results. Many second- and third-year students had come to watch the spectacle, eager to get the latest gossip. The forum was buzzing with activity, filled with discussions about Xu Lingzhao's cheating.

[The previous champions all had around 700 kills, but she's better than all the previous Alphas.]

"Yes, how is that possible? It's increased more than tenfold."

"Tsk tsk, this is going to be interesting. She'll definitely be sent to an interstellar prison."

There's been a lot of buzz about Xu Lingzhao, both online and offline, with some people even starting live streams.

The discussion only stopped when the big screen lit up.

Name: Xu Lingzhao First Characteristic: Alpha Second Characteristic: Female Mental Strength Level: 3S

[Verification confirmed]

[Full replay of Xu Lingzhao's kill]

Everyone held their breath as they watched Xu Lingzhao calmly face the Zerg on the big screen.

A note from the author:

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Typos corrected in this chapter - 2025.12.12