Urban Cultivation with a Demonic System-Chapter 135 - 134: No Way! I’m the Protagonist!

Fortunately, no matter how angry Chen Xian was at the moment, he couldn’t rush down from the spectator seat to beat up Su Yuan.

And with the start time of the eight-school competition approaching, Su Yuan also ignored the other party.

"Candidates from the eight schools, please enter in an orderly manner."

With the referee’s command, Su Yuan and all the Special Advancement Class students headed toward the ring, the entrance to the test site tunnel.

Two proctors stood guard inside the tunnel.

One proctor held a wand-shaped detection-type magical treasure, while the other held a box of protective patch-like magical treasures.

Candidates first underwent a magical treasure detection in the tunnel, confirming they were not carrying illegal items or using illegal drugs, and then each received a protective patch to stick on the back of their necks.

As soon as the protective patch touched the candidate’s skin, it transformed into an invisible light film that enveloped their body.

This light film wouldn’t affect the candidate’s ability to launch any attacks or defenses but would greatly reduce damage received from external sources.

At the same time, the light film would fully simulate the pain the damage should cause and place some restrictions on the injured area, simulating the condition of a real injury.

For example, when facing a sword wound that could sever an arm, with the light film’s protection, the damage inflicted would be less than a tenth of the real damage.

However, due to the simulation by the light film, the candidate would lose control of their arm and experience the real pain of a severed limb.

This is the difference between real-world assessments and the Taixu Illusion Realm assessments.

While the former still has protection mechanisms, candidates still have a probability of injury.

It merely changes a fatal or serious injury into a minor injury that can heal within a week or two.

The college entrance exam follows the same model.

After all, the Taixu Illusion Realm has only been around for over twenty years, enough for simulation exams only. There’s no way it could be included in the college entrance exam system yet.

"You can enter now."

The proctor watched as Su Yuan and others were covered by the protective light film and cleared the path.

The students from the Special Advancement Class formed a neat lineup and walked out of the tunnel entrance.

Su Yuan, at the end of the line, secretly activated the Demon Technique·Finger Weapon on each protective light film.

After ten activations, the group effect was achieved.

From then on, the protective light films of all the Special Advancement Class students would operate at overclocked efficiency, providing better damage reduction and slightly reducing the simulation of real harm.

Conversely, candidates from other schools would receive a completely opposite debuff!

A legitimate cheat code.

As they stepped out of the tunnel, the arena was lit as bright as day, and Taihua High School candidates immediately saw the students emerging from the other seven test site entrances.

Candidates from the eight schools appeared at the eight corners of the test field, ready to go.

Among these top-five-ranked high schools, Celestial Sound High School where Yin Qiyue was from, was not included.

In terms of resources and strength, Celestial Sound High School would definitely rank in the top five in the city.

But since it’s an art school, it’s not on the same path as regular high schools and won’t participate in this competition.

So where exactly is Yin Qiyue now?

This girl has of course skipped class, spending heavily to buy a front-row seat in the audience, holding an oversized support sign.

The support sign, naturally, was filled with love elements, bearing Chen Nuoyi’s name.

The referee and commentator stepped on a flying sword, holding a microphone to begin the introduction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the eight-school competition! I am your chief examiner, Old Huang."

"This competition will be simultaneously broadcasted on Miao Yin Live Stream. For those unable to be here, please log onto the live stream to watch."

"Also, both present and absent viewers, please scan the QR code on the big screen to enter the popularity ranking page of the eight-school competition and support your favorite candidate among the 304 participants!"

"Although this competition only has group rankings, the candidate who ranks first in popularity will also become, in a way, Taihua City’s strongest high school student."

"For this Taihua popularity king, I will conduct a special interview in front of all the family viewers in the live stream!"

"What? A popularity poll!"

Su Yuan looked up in surprise at the referee, whose spittle flew as he spoke.

Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?

Damn it, it’s probably because I’ve been too engrossed in my studies, out of touch with society.

And obviously, Su Yuan is in desperate need of the chance to become the popularity king.

This is a special interview facing tens, even hundreds of thousands of viewers!

If I can advertise in front of so many viewers, wouldn’t my account followers skyrocket?

And after a brief shock, Su Yuan felt slightly relieved.

To prevent Chen Xian from suddenly calling his shop in Golden City, he had always kept Su Yuan No.1, the main soul of Ten Thousand Souls Banner, on guard in the Spiritual Net.

Now it’s definitely seen the live stream and can mobilize Ten Thousand Souls Banner’s army of ten thousand to boost the rankings for him.

Ha, I have ten thousand water army, and thousands of loyal followers under me, who can compete with me in the rankings?

Just as Su Yuan was confidently thinking this, the leaderboard on the big screen slapped him in the face.

Popularity Rank 1: Li Zhengxing (38966)

Popularity Rank 2: Xiao Meng (34870)

Popularity Rank 3: Chen Nuoyi (30173)

Popularity Rank 4: Cloud Spirit (29857)

...

Popularity Rank 10: Liang Yunyun (5132)

After the tenth, it doesn’t show anymore.

Su Yuan: "???"

Seriously, bro!

Where am I?

If I’m not first, at least I should be top five, or at the very least in the top ten, right?

Why am I not on the list at all?

Who is this tenth person? Where did Liang Yunyun, an extra, come from?

A side character with just over five thousand popularity, why is it higher than mine?

Not counting anything else, just with ten thousand water army, I should have a popularity base of at least ten thousand.

Su Yuan strongly suspects there is something fishy with this popularity ranking!

It must be some capital plot against him, stealing his popularity!

And Chen Nuoyi, who knows Su Yuan quite well, cautiously glanced at the boy beside her and said:

"Su Yuan, it’s okay that you’re not on the popularity list. If I’m on it, it’s the same; I can help you advertise."

"And for some reason, my popularity seems unusually high, maybe I can really become number one."

Su Yuan: "..."

He looked at the concerned girl beside him, lost in thought.

Chen Nuoyi’s words awakened him. The class leader, who always kept a low profile and never revealed her background, surely has less popularity than public figures like Li Zhengxing and Xiao Meng.

Her high popularity surely has to do with Yin Qiyue’s relentless voting...

But another reason is probably that Su Yuan No.1 directed all the votes meant for him to Chen Nuoyi instead!

A smart crisis, isn’t it!

After they return, he must give Ten Thousand Souls Banner a good scolding!

So, can the class leader really win the title of popularity king on her own?

Chances are slim.

After all, she falls short behind Li Zhengxing and Xiao Meng in public popularity, and the increment will only be less now.

So it still has to be up to him to turn the tide!

And to achieve overtaking in this short time, it seems the controversial approach will have to be taken.