The fleet of steam-powered cars rumbled on at a speed of about forty kilometers per hour, speeding to the northwest.

Despite using the most advanced processed materials and crafting technology, a steam-powered engine was still a steam-powered engine, after all. It was impossible to be as quiet as fuel engine, not to mention electric vehicles. It was akin to comparing a tractor to a limousine. The two belonged to entirely different leagues.

Over two hundred huge and imposing steam-powered cars drove on in two rows. Anyone within a few kilometers could hear them clearly, which led to them attracting surrounding exotic beasts.

Zhang Che, who was sitting by the window, could clearly see a few exotic beasts appearing from the hills to his sides, drawn by curiosity, charging towards the fleet and meeting with tragic ends, one after another.

In order to ensure the safety of the examinees, the organizers mobilized an extremely high amount of resources in tandem with the army. These vehicles were equipped with powerful steam-powered ballistas, several times more destructive than the Herculean Crossbow Machines Zhang Che seen before, just to ensure the examinees' safety on this journey.

The large bolts, about a meter long, and five centimeters wide, carried horrifying momentum behind them when launched by those ballista machines. Even mid-tier exotic beasts wouldn't dare to face them head on. A slight brush by the bolt would injure them, and taking a direct hit from it would kill them!

Naturally, the ballistas wouldn't be used on shrimps. The accompanying soldiers were sufficient to deal with low-tier exotic beasts.

It wasn't like there weren't any experts among the army convoy, either. If a few mid-tier or high-quality exotic beasts showed themselves, those experts would take over the defense, and the ballistas would only be employed when they couldn't withstand the exotic beasts' attacks.

What if even those steam-powered ballistas were unable to deal with the exotic beasts?

No worries; the army general in the convoy wasn't just for show.

The fleet drove on for several dozen kilometers northwest. As they were about to reach their destination, a powerful flying beast was attracted by the rumbling noise. It dove straight down towards the fleet from the skies. The ballista team was quick to react and launch over a dozen bolts at it, but they were unable to even catch ahold of this powerful flying beast's shadow.

At this moment, the general took the stage.

A dark golden streak of light shot to the skies as he waved his hand, and transformed into a green palm-sized bird whose appearance was very similar to an ordinary bird.

The feathers on this little bird were glistening verdant, with a tiny tuft of white fur at its crown. It had an adorable appearance, with no signs of it being a powerful subdued beast.

However, the shocking scene witnessed by the young examinees in the next moment would leave a deep impression on them, lasting a lifetime.

Facing off against the swooping huge flying beast with a wingspan nearly thirty meters wide, the green little bird beat its tiny wings, seemingly about to fall at any moment and blurry white light suddenly shone from the tuft of white fur on its crown.

It was like a newborn ray of light. That faint scorching white light came into existence from nothing, quickly turning into a beam of white light, directly s.h.i.+ning onto the huge flying beast in the sky.

In the next moment, it was like everything that went against the light was purified. That flying beast with a wingspan of over thirty meters, at least a mid-tier gold-quality exotic beast, and it disintegrated into nothingness in an instant… no, at least it left a dark golden beast card behind, slowly falling to the ground.

"Xixixi!…" The green little bird let out a wave of sound that resembled a young girl's giggles. It flew over, beating its wings, and opened its jade-white little beak, catching the dark golden beast card deftly. It flew back to the general standing atop one of the vehicles and perched on his shoulder, offering him the trophy it obtained.

Zhang Che was dazzled by the sight. -This… what level and quality of a subdued beast is this? To be able to obliterate an exotic beast that was at least mid-tier dark gold-quality in an instant!?-

Zhang Che felt that even his so-called father-in-law's phoenix was far from a match for that little green bird.

-When will I have such a powerful subdued beast and pet for myself?-

After witnessing that shocking scene, Zhang Che, who had been of the opinion that he had become very strong recently, even a little complacent, immediately felt a burning fighting spirit rising within him.

-I'll definitely surpa.s.s that general in the future! My future subdued beasts and pets will definitely surpa.s.s that little green bird, too, and will even be able to defeat it effortlessly!-

It wasn't only Zhang Che. Every single one of these youngsters who witnessed this scene had such thoughts in their minds. They were filled with compet.i.tive spirit for their upcoming examination. As long as they could obtain a good ranking and enroll in a good university to further themselves, perhaps they might find themselves a spot among the upper ranks of the experts?

No more powerful exotic beasts appeared during their remaining journey.

That flying beast was obviously an accident. The organizers and the army had cleared this area within a fifty kilometers radius. How could there be many more of these powerful exotic beasts around?

The fleet drove another dozen or so kilometers, and finally stopped at a large empty land at the outskirts of a hilly area.

Standing on top of the frontmost steam-powered vehicle, the general whose name was not made known looked at the examinees who had gotten off the vehicles and were standing in neat rows, and repeated the previously mentioned rules and regulations of the exam. "Before we officially begin, I wish to reiterate the forbidden acts and rules. I hope you guys won't turn a deaf ear to it, or you'll not only be hurting others, you'll also be hurting yourselves."

This time, everyone took what he said to heart.

Everyone saw that little green bird's strength for themselves. Even those who didn't witness their own eyes knew what happened from the mouths of others. They held this ordinary-looking, average built expert in admiration. Naturally they would treat his words seriously.

If you dared to turn a deaf ear to his words, he had the authority to directly disqualify you, stripping you of your chance to enter the top universities!

"Alright, that's all from me. All of you will be able to head into the hills ahead in a moment, which signifies the official commencement of the examination."

The general paused for a moment. No one made a move, because everyone was already used to his speech pattern, and they knew that he wasn't truly done speaking.

"The designated hunting zone is about two hundred kilometers in length, and over a hundred kilometers in width. Prominent signs are placed around the perimeters of the hunting zone. Please immediately turn back when you see them. Otherwise, you can only bear the consequences yourselves if you encounter any danger, and rescue might not reach you in time.

"The examination duration is half a month. Half a month from now, you have three days' time to gather back here at this flat lands. Those who do not return in time will fail."

After another short pause, the general waved his hand, "Alright, set off now, young warriors! Now is the time you should strive on!"