SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL

After the principal stepped down, a group of people in uniforms hurried onto the stage to set up equipment.

Ben watched attentively and soon discovered that the core of the setup was a mysterious purple crystal.

When the purple crystal was energized, it immediately emitted a dazzling light, forming what appeared to be a space-time wormhole in midair. It looked almost surreal.

However, the people around him seemed unfazed, as if this phenomenon was entirely normal.

His inherited memories told him that this purple crystal was known as the "Sacred Crystal" among humans. It was said to have fallen from outer space a hundred years ago.

The space-time wormhole it generated served as the passage to the Holy Land—a mystical realm where extraordinary opportunities awaited the lucky few.

To the left, reporters from a local TV station were adjusting their cameras, preparing to broadcast the event. To the right, the leadership seats were occupied by representatives from various prestigious universities, including Chicago University.

If any student managed to obtain a powerful extraordinary ability, these admissions officers would waste no time in recruiting them.

Once all preparations were complete, the journey to the Holy Land officially began.

The vice-principal, Emima, stepped onto the stage, holding a list in her hands. Speaking into the microphone, she announced,

"Let's begin with Class 1 of the third year… Robert!"

A boy walked onto the stage.

His legs trembled visibly, and his steps were unsteady.

Emima offered no words of comfort. Instead, she gestured impatiently toward the wormhole.

"Stop hesitating. Go in quickly!"

Robert clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and stepped into the wormhole.

His figure vanished instantly.

Two seconds later, he reappeared at the exit, standing motionless.

Emima's sharp gaze fell on his empty hands.

She sighed. "You failed to obtain an extraordinary opportunity. Go back and study hard for the college entrance exam!"

Robert left the stage with a downcast expression.

"Next, Natasha!"

A girl stepped forward.

She looked much calmer than Robert, but her result was the same—nothing.

She bit her lip, fighting back tears as she walked off the stage.

It seemed that finding an extraordinary opportunity within the Holy Land was entirely dependent on luck rather than skill.

"Next, Trump…"

Emima continued reading from the list, her tone mechanical and indifferent.

One by one, students entered the wormhole.

Seven in a row returned empty-handed.

The head teacher of Class 1 of the third year of high school frowned in disappointment.

Then, a change occurred when the eighth student stepped onto the stage.

Smith entered the Holy Land and remained inside for five seconds—longer than anyone before him.

When he emerged, a crystal box was clutched in his hands, faintly glowing.

Gasps rippled through the audience.

The TV cameras zoomed in on him.

Even Emima's usual cold expression shifted slightly.

"Student Smith! What did you obtain?"

Smith looked conflicted as he opened the box.

Inside was a mutant bloodline card.

He hesitated before answering, "It's a mutant bloodline… hedgehog ability."

The excitement in the crowd instantly died down.

A murmur of disappointment spread among the spectators.

For over a century, humans had studied the Holy Land's rewards and knew that not all extraordinary abilities were powerful.

Some, like Smith's hedgehog mutation, were considered mediocre at best.

Emima shook her head.

"A hedgehog ability? That's nearly useless. Think carefully before integrating it… Next!"

Smith walked off the stage, still gripping the crystal box, his face filled with hesitation.

The process moved swiftly.

After all, students spent no more than five seconds inside the Holy Land.

At this pace, testing thousands of high school seniors would take just two hours.

Unfortunately, Class 1 performed poorly overall.

Out of over a hundred students, only thirteen obtained extraordinary abilities—none of which were particularly outstanding.

Their head teacher's expression grew darker by the second.

Finally, Emima turned to the next page on the list.

"Now, Class 2 of the third year of high school!"

The students around Ben straightened up.

He also felt a sense of anticipation.

This was his class.

"First up… Elisa!"

A young woman stepped forward, radiating confidence.

Moments later, she emerged from the Holy Land holding a crystal box.

A successful acquisition!

"Student Elisa! What did you obtain?" Emima asked.

Elisa carefully opened the box.

Inside lay a Devil Fruit.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"It's a Zoan-type Devil Fruit… Inu Inu no Mi, Wolf Form!"

The crowd erupted in exclamations.

The head teacher of Class 2, along with several school leaders, smiled in approval.

After a century of research, humans knew which Devil Fruits had potential.

Zoan fruits that transformed users into ferocious beasts were highly valued.

Emima nodded, finally showing a rare smile.

"Excellent! Student Elisa, you may step down."

Before she even left the stage, representatives from top universities, including Chicago University, rushed forward with offers.

The surrounding students looked on with envy.

"Elisa is so lucky!"

"A straight-A student and she gets a top-tier Devil Fruit? Some people have all the luck!"

"I saw the admissions officer from Wuhan University speaking to her. That school is ranked top five! So unfair…"

Elisa's success momentarily boosted Class 2's morale.

But the excitement didn't last.

The next dozen students all returned empty-handed.

Disappointment settled over the crowd once more.

"...Next, Clara!"

A beautiful girl stepped onto the stage, drawing attention from many boys.

Behind Ben, someone chuckled.

"Hey, Ben! Your goddess is up. Think she'll get an extraordinary ability?"

Ben ignored him.

The former Ben had admired Clara, even writing her love letters.

But that was the past.

Now, he simply thought she was pretty. Nothing more.

Soon, the result was revealed.

Clara had failed.

She stepped out of the Holy Land, her hands empty.

Her face turned pale, and her eyes shimmered with tears.

Her devastated expression tugged at the hearts of many admirers in the audience.

But Emima remained unmoved.

She simply turned to the list.

"Next!"

Ben took a deep breath.

Because the next name called was his.