Chapter 42: Tests III

Ben looked at the large screen.

His result had already been added to the list of successful participants. The first part of the entrance examination was still underway, but he had completed the test without revealing White Ruination or his Ruination Beasts.

He had passed the first step.

Now he needed to prepare for the second part of the examination.

The first test continued for several more hours.

By the time the final participant finished, the instructors had recorded the results of everyone who took part. Those who failed to reach the required combat score were escorted away from the examination area, while the successful candidates were directed to a waiting zone.

Ben sat beside Amanda and Maya.

Maya glanced at the results displayed on the screen. "Quite a few people failed the first test."

"Some of them were strong," Ben replied. "But they wasted too much energy early on."

Amanda nodded. "Combat power is important, but it isn’t the only thing that matters. A cultivator needs judgment and control as well."

Ben looked toward the arena. "I wonder what the next test will be."

"We’ll find out soon," Amanda said.

After a short break, the instructors gathered the successful candidates.

"Congratulations on passing the first part of the examination," one of them announced. "The second part will test your wisdom, judgment, and ability to solve problems."

The large screen above the arena changed.

[Second Examination: Wisdom Trial]

[Objective: Find the exit of the maze]

[Evaluation: Judgment, problem-solving, and ability to overcome obstacles]

[Passing Requirement: Reach the exit within the allotted time]

The candidates began discussing the new test.

"A maze?"

"Is it just a normal maze?"

"Probably not. This is Jupiter Academy."

The instructor raised his hand, quieting the crowd.

"You will be transported into a maze-like environment. The layout will be different for each group, and the path to the exit will not be straightforward. You may encounter puzzles, traps, and other obstacles along the way."

He paused to let the information sink in.

"You are not expected to defeat every obstacle through combat. Some situations will require you to think carefully and choose the correct solution. Those who rely only on strength may find themselves unable to proceed."

Ben studied the screen.

So the second test was about more than finding a way out. The maze would challenge their ability to understand unfamiliar situations and make decisions under pressure.

The instructor continued.

"The maze will also contain misleading paths. Some may lead you in circles, while others may bring you to dead ends. You will need to observe your surroundings and use your judgment. The test will end when you reach the exit or when the time limit expires."

A candidate raised his hand.

"Will we be allowed to use our abilities?"

"Yes," the instructor answered. "You may use any ability you possess, provided it does not endanger other participants or damage the examination facility. However, the purpose of this test is to evaluate your wisdom. Using overwhelming force to destroy the maze will not earn you a passing score."

Ben nodded slightly.

That made sense.

The first test had measured their combat ability and endurance. The second would evaluate their ability to think and solve problems.

The instructors led the successful candidates toward another section of the academy grounds.

A large structure stood beyond the training arenas. From the outside, it resembled a massive building with several tall towers. However, as the participants approached, Ben noticed that the space inside seemed much larger than the structure itself.

A spatial formation was probably being used to create the maze.

The candidates were guided into a wide chamber. Several circular platforms were arranged across the floor, each surrounded by a faintly glowing formation.

An instructor stood beside the platforms.

"Each group will be transported to a separate section of the maze. You will have one hour to find the exit. The maze will adjust itself during the test, so do not assume that a path will remain the same after you pass through it."

Ben looked at the formations.

A spatial maze would make the test more complicated. If the paths changed, simply memorizing the route would not be enough.

The instructor continued.

"You may work alone or cooperate with other participants. However, your final score will be based on your own performance. Helping another candidate will not automatically increase your score, and following someone without understanding their decisions may put you at a disadvantage."

Several candidates exchanged glances.

Some had already planned to cooperate, while others preferred to work alone.

Ben didn’t make a decision yet. He would see how the maze worked once he entered.

The instructor checked the list.

"Participants one through ten, step onto the first platform."

The candidates moved forward.

A faint light spread beneath their feet. The formations activated, and their figures vanished from the chamber.

One by one, the remaining groups were transported into the maze.

Eventually, the instructor called Ben’s group.

"Participants thirty-one through forty, step forward."

Ben walked onto the platform with the others.

Maya watched from the waiting area and gave him a small wave. Amanda stood beside her, observing the formation.

Ben nodded to them.

The light beneath his feet grew brighter.

A moment later, the chamber disappeared.

Ben found himself standing in front of a stone passage.

Tall walls rose on either side of him. Their surfaces were covered in strange symbols, and a faint mist drifted through the passage. The air carried a subtle energy fluctuation, suggesting that the maze was maintained by a powerful formation.

Ben looked around.

The other participants who had been transported with him were nowhere to be seen. They had likely been sent to different sections of the maze.

A notification appeared on the wall ahead.

[Wisdom Trial Begins]

[Time Limit: 60 Minutes]

[Objective: Find the exit]

[Warning: The maze may change its structure]

Ben glanced at the passage.

There were three paths ahead. One continued straight, while the other two branched off to the left and right.

He could simply choose one and start walking, but that might lead him into a trap or a loop.

Instead, he examined the walls.

The symbols appeared to be arranged in a repeating pattern. Some were carved deeply into the stone, while others were barely visible. Ben studied them for a few moments and noticed that the same pattern appeared at the entrance.

It might be a clue.

He walked toward the left passage, keeping an eye on the symbols. After several minutes, he reached a small chamber with a stone pedestal in the center.

Three symbols were engraved on its surface.

A voice echoed through the room.

"Choose the symbol that represents the correct path."

Ben looked at the pedestal.

The three symbols resembled a flame, a wave, and a mountain. Above them, a line of text appeared.

[The path that changes without moving. The answer lies in what remains.]

Ben considered the words.

A flame changed constantly. A wave moved and shifted. A mountain remained still.

He touched the mountain symbol.

The pedestal glowed, and a section of the wall slid aside, revealing a new passage.

Ben nodded.

The puzzle was simple, but it tested whether a participant could understand the clue instead of randomly choosing an answer.

He continued through the newly opened passage.

A few minutes later, he reached a fork in the path. This time, there were no symbols or visible clues. Both passages looked identical.

Ben stopped and listened.

A faint sound came from the right passage.

It resembled footsteps.

He considered following the sound, but it might have been an illusion designed to lure participants in the wrong direction. Instead, he examined the floor.

The left passage had a thin layer of dust. The right passage was clean, as if someone had recently walked through it.

Ben crouched and touched the floor.

The dust on the left was undisturbed, but the right passage had several footprints. They led forward, then suddenly disappeared.

A trap.

Ben stood up and chose the left passage.

He walked for several minutes before reaching another chamber.

This room contained a series of stone tiles. Some were marked with symbols, while others were blank. A narrow path crossed the floor, leading to a door on the opposite side.

Ben looked at the tiles.

The symbols were arranged in a sequence, but several were missing. A small inscription appeared on the wall.

[Follow the order. Do not step where the pattern breaks.]

Ben examined the sequence carefully.

The symbols followed a clear order, but the missing tiles made the path difficult to identify. He studied the arrangement until he noticed that the pattern repeated every four tiles.

Once he understood the sequence, he stepped onto the correct tiles.

The door opened when he reached the other side.

Ben continued forward.

The maze was becoming more complicated, but the obstacles were manageable. Each puzzle seemed to test a different kind of reasoning. Some required observation, while others depended on understanding patterns or avoiding misleading information.