After the principal stepped down, a group of people in uniforms hurried onto the stage to set up equipment.
Ben watched attentively and discovered that the core of the equipment was actually a mysterious purple crystal.
When the purple crystal was energized, it immediately emitted a light, forming what looked like a space-time wormhole in the void—it was incredibly magical. However, everyone present seemed used to it.
The memories in Ben's body told him that the purple crystal was called the "Sacred Crystal" by humans, said to have fallen from outer space a hundred years ago. The space-time wormhole was the passage to enter the "Holy Land."
Not far to the left, reporters with local TV station ID cards were adjusting their equipment, and on the right were leadership seats, where many members of the Extraordinary University's admissions offices were sitting. If a student obtained a good extraordinary opportunity, these admissions offices would rush to grab them.
Once everything was ready, the journey to the Holy Land officially began.
Emima, the vice-principal who resembled a stern elder, walked onto the stage holding a list, speaking into the microphone:
"Let's start with Class 1 of the third year of high school... Robert!"
A boy went up on stage, his legs trembling nervously, struggling to walk steadily.
Emima didn't offer any comfort or encouragement but pointed at the wormhole entrance and urged, "Don't dawdle, go in quickly!"
Robert gritted his teeth and stepped into the space-time wormhole.
His figure immediately disappeared and, after two seconds, he reappeared at the edge of the wormhole exit. His hands were empty.
Emima knew immediately that Robert's trip to the Holy Land had failed—he hadn't obtained any extraordinary opportunity.
"Okay, you can go down. Go back and study hard for the college entrance examination!"
Robert left the stage looking devastated and dejected.
"Next, Mark Wood!"
A girl walked onto the stage, much calmer than Robert, but she too left empty-handed, crying as she came down.
It seemed that entering the Holy Land to find extraordinary opportunities depended entirely on luck, not personal skill.
"Next, Trump..."
Emima kept reading names like a machine.
One by one, the students walked onto the stage nervously.
The success rate was pitiful—seven students in a row returned empty-handed.
The head teacher of Class 1 of the third year looked incredibly grim.
Finally, change came with the eighth student.
The student named Smith stayed in the Holy Land for a full five seconds. When he returned, he held a glowing crystal box in his hands.
Everyone widened their eyes. Even the TV station camera quickly focused on Smith.
Emima's tone and expression shifted:
"Student Smith, what did you get?"
Smith, looking conflicted, answered, "It's a mutant bloodline card with hedgehog ability..."
Everyone's excitement deflated immediately.
Over the past century, research had shown that most extraordinary opportunities in the Holy Land were of poor quality.
Trash abilities like this were sadly common.
Emima immediately said coldly, "The mutant bloodline of hedgehog ability is useless. Think carefully before integrating it... Next!"
Smith, still holding his crystal box, returned to his team with a tangled expression.
…
The testing progressed quickly.
Since each student spent at most five seconds inside, it was estimated that all thousands of students present could be tested in just two hours.
Class 1 of the third year performed terribly.
Out of more than a hundred students, only thirteen obtained extraordinary opportunities, none of which were excellent.
The head teacher's face darkened further.
"Next, Class 2 of the third year!"
Emima flipped to the next page of the list.
The students around Ben perked up, and Ben himself also felt a little excited.
They were Class 2 of the third year.
"Elisa!"
The vice-principal called out.
A lively, energetic youth stepped forward.
When Elisa exited the Holy Land, he had a crystal box in his hand—a successful acquisition!
"Student Elisa, what did you get?" asked Emima.
Elisa opened the box to reveal a Devil Fruit and said excitedly, "It's a Zoan Devil Fruit, Inu Inu no Mi, Wolf Form!"
The audience erupted in exclamations.
The head teacher of Class 2, along with several school leaders, smiled broadly.
Through a century of research, humans understood that Zoan Devil Fruits featuring fierce beasts generally had outstanding potential.
"Very good!"
Emima actually smiled, speaking more kindly:
"Student Elisa, you can go down and rest first! Next..."
When Elisa stepped off the stage, several staff members from college admissions offices swarmed him, throwing offers at him.
Many students looked on with envy.
"Elisa is so lucky!"
"This guy's already a straight-A student, and now he gets such a good Devil Fruit too? Life's really unfair!"
"I just saw someone from Chicago University's admissions team approach him! That's a top-five school! I'm so jealous!"
…
Elisa's success gave Class 2 a morale boost.
However, after that, more than a dozen students went in—and came out empty-handed—like a cold splash of reality.
Chen Hang was clearly a special case.
"...Next, Clara!"
A fair-skinned and beautiful girl walked to the stage, attracting many boys' attention.
Behind Ben, someone teased, "Hey, Mark, your goddess is up. Wanna bet if she'll get something?"
Ben ignored him.
The former owner of this body had once liked Clara deeply, even writing her love letters.
But now, Ben simply thought she was beautiful, nothing more.
Soon, the results were out.
Clara returned empty-handed.
Her pretty face turned pale and her eyes grew red with tears. She clearly couldn't accept the result.
Seeing her pitiful look, many boys' hearts ached for her.
"Next!"
Emima called out indifferently, without caring about Clara's tears.
"Ben!"
Finally, it was Ben's turn.
Ben's spirits lifted, and he prepared himself to step forward.