The city's eastern field, usually quiet and unused, had been transformed overnight.
A wide training ground known as Verdant Square, cleared annually by the Qingzhou Profession Bureau, now thrummed with restless energy. Rows of portable towers, crystal obelisks, and protective barriers lined the field.
Hundreds of students from Baihua's many schools stood in formation, faces tense with excitement, nerves, or fear.
Banners fluttered. Teachers called roll. Principals adjusted collars and whispered final reminders.
But among the buzzing crowd, one girl stood like still water.
Su Xue Qing.
Her jet-black hair shimmered faintly under the morning sun, her gaze calm, unreadable. Her bearing alone created distance — not cold, but naturally untouchable.
"She's here…"
"Su Xue Qing…"
"Hidden Class. Hero Rank."
"I heard the ice crown appeared when she awakened… I still can't believe it."
"Even the provincial newspapers mentioned her."
In contrast, her two companions chatted with nervous energy.
Chen Shuyun clutched her enchanted scrolls like a lifeline. "Twelve hours inside… I hope I don't blank out under pressure."
Huo Lian adjusted her shield strap and grinned. "I'll just crush whatever jumps at us. That always works."
Su Xue Qing glanced sideways. "We stay close. Conserve energy. Don't overextend."
They both nodded.
Then, Shuyun asked a little more softly, "What do you think it'll look like? The Secret Realm?"
"Standard forest-type, probably," Su Xue Qing replied. "Low-level monsters. But don't get careless."
Huo Lian cracked her knuckles. "Let them come. I'll shield both of you."
"You say that, but last time you knocked over your own training dummy," Shuyun teased.
"I meant to do that," Huo Lian huffed.
Su Xue Qing's lips twitched slightly.
On a raised platform to the side, several important figures gathered.
Officials from the Qingzhou Awakening Bureau stood in deep-blue coats. A few wore golden badges — provincial-level observers.
Beside them, a group of well-dressed strangers carried university and academy crests.
"They're scout teachers…" someone whispered. "From top academies and provincial universities."
"Is that Mistveil Academy's emblem?"
"And that's Qingyang University…!"
Another voice called out.
"Miss Su."
Gu Jinyuan appeared in casual combat gear, his shirt slightly open to show off muscle. His usual grin wavered under Xue Qing's gaze.
"You'll be inside too. Just saying — I'll keep an eye out for you."
"I don't need watching," she replied calmly.
"I'll do it anyway," he said with a grin, walking off.
Huo Lian snorted. "Licker-kun is at it again."
Chen Shuyun muttered, "He's going in solo? That's suicide…"
Nearby, a group in regulation robes walked in unison — all marked with the same distributed gear set.
Lin Yanyue led them — her uniform fitted crisply, her expression colder than usual.
She stopped near Su Xue Qing.
"Forming a team?" she asked mildly.
"Yes," Su Xue Qing replied.
Lin Yanyue looked over Huo Lian and Shuyun.
"Rare ranks. Not bad." A pause. "But don't hold back because of them. I won't."
Su Xue Qing's answer was a quiet nod.
As Lin Yanyue turned away, one of her companions whispered, "She's been training nonstop all week."
"She intends to win this."
Once they were a few steps away, Lin Yanyue's calm mask thinned.
"She's stronger than before," she murmured.
The girl next to her looked nervous. "Should we… change formation?"
"No," Lin said. "We do what we planned. Su Xue Qing won't make me falter."
Another added, "I heard she chose a sword. A magic-based class with swordplay?"
"Unusual," Lin Yanyue admitted, her voice tight. "But that means she'll be close. That's her mistake."
She didn't say the rest aloud — but her eyes betrayed it.
I need to beat her here. If I don't… no one will look at me the same again.
Before entering the Secret Realm, every student was issued national-standard beginner equipment — distributed uniformly to prevent advantage by wealth or status.
The set included:
A lightweight beginner robe or leather armor
Simple boots
And one chosen starter weapon from a prepared rack
Su Xue Qing selected a refined one-handed longsword — perfectly balanced, ideal for fluid control.
Chen Shuyun took a short wand for fast enchantment casting.
Huo Lian grabbed a sturdy round shield and short sword combo, nodding in approval at the weight.
"These are good," she muttered. "Fair, too. No nobles cheating their way in this year."
Suddenly, a ripple passed through the crowd.
Principal Zhou Jianming stepped onto the stage, his voice enhanced by a sound-amplifying stone.
"Students of Baihua No.1 High School," he began, "today marks your first official step as professionals."
"Before you lies the Secret Realm: Beginner's Field — a national-standard training realm used across our kingdom, Tianyuan."
He gestured behind him.
A massive, glowing gate hovered in the distance, formed of pure Spirit Array structure. Runes pulsed like a heartbeat.
"You will be inside for 12 hours. You may enter solo or as a party of up to three."
"Points will be awarded based on the following:"
Monster kills (goblins and their variants)
Performance and control
Teamwork or solo stability
Survival
Bonus for defeating the realm boss
"Each school's top candidates will receive evaluation reports, which determine their access to higher academies and universities."
"Remember — this is not war. You will not die. Emergency teleportation is active at all times."
He let the words settle.
"You've awakened. Now it's time to walk."
A few students whispered quietly.
"Even if we don't win, we need to at least not embarrass our school."
"I just don't want to pass out in front of university scouts…"
"I wish I had Su Xue Qing on my team…"
"You think she'll go for the boss?"
One shook his head. "No. The boss will go for her."
At the same time, other principals gave similar briefings to their own schools.
Observers watched from their platform, some whispering while others took notes.
Finally, the lead Bureau official stepped forward, voice echoing across the square:
"The Secret Realm… officially begins now."
A tremor rolled through the square.
The massive gate pulsed brighter, then slowly opened — revealing a deep fog beyond, and the distant rustle of grass.
One after another, teams and solo participants began to move.
Su Xue Qing stepped forward without hesitation.
Her team followed beside her, each standing at her flank like loyal stars to a cold moon.
Next came Lin Yanyue and her formation, steady and composed.
Zhao Wenting entered with his two close friends, exchanging confident words.
Gu Jinyuan, last to go, cracked his knuckles once, glanced at Su Xue Qing's back — and stepped through alone.
As the students disappeared into the fog, the observers watched silently.
Some began writing. Others exchanged looks.
Something about this year felt different.
And somewhere inside the realm, the goblins were already waiting.
[End of Chapter 6]