Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Xu Xingguang’s exam code is 3800, Ying Huai’s is 3000. Noticing Xu Xingguang observing his exam code, Ying Huai empathetically explained, "Ying Family contestants receive their exam codes according to age order. I’m the youngest contestant from the Ying Family this year, so my code is 3000."

"I see."

"Sister Xingguang." Ying Huai threw a confident smile at Xu Xingguang, "The second round is my forte; I’m certain I’ll pass. I’ll be waiting for you in the third round."

Xu Xingguang admired Ying Huai’s carefree yet unassuming demeanor.

Young people should be like this.

The young boy had just turned ten. He had grown quite fast over the past half year and was now as tall as Xu Xingguang’s shoulders.

His hair was meticulously styled, every strand perfectly in place. Xu Xingguang flicked her index finger on his forehead and said, "See you in the third round, little one."

Retracting her hand, Xu Xingguang walked toward her exam table.

Ying Huai stared blankly at Xu Xingguang’s back for a moment before smiling and heading to his own table.

Huo Wen’an watched this scene through surveillance, thinking: At such a young age, he already knows how to make girls like him, and he’s quite mischievous.

Around nine-thirty, all contestants arrived at the venue early, sitting quietly behind their exam tables.

At nine fifty, staff carried several baskets into the kitchen, followed by chefs in robes, hats, and masks entering the kitchen.

The foreign contestants participating in the Hundred Medicines Conference for the first time all appeared bewildered.

What exactly is being tested in this second round?

Is it about their cooking skills?

That seems too simple.

Soon, a spicy aroma wafted out of the kitchen, filling the entire restaurant.

"Cough, cough!"

Some contestants were already covering their noses, coughing.

"Why isn’t the exhaust fan on?"

"It’s so pungent!"

"What’s going on? The Ying Clan’s canteen can’t even afford an exhaust fan?"

The hall was in an uproar.

The speakers on the wall broadcasted the invigilator’s voice: [All contestants, please be quiet. I will now read the rules for the second exam...]

[The second round of the Hundred Medicines Conference exam, the test of smell.]

[Required tools: smell test paper, answer card, pen.]

[All contestants must identify the true essence of the medicinal ingredients on the smell test papers within two hours and write down the planting methods, usage methods, effects, and taboos for each ingredient.]

[Accurately answering eight questions will qualify you to enter the finals.]

After hearing the invigilator’s announcement, all contestants’ expressions turned serious.

The entire canteen was permeated with a strong spicy aroma, which would severely impair their sense of smell. In such an environment, relying solely on the smell of the test papers to identify the medicinal ingredients was impossible for ordinary people.

It’s simply perverse!

Seven or eight chefs walked to the serving windows in the canteen, placed a pile of small boxes on the counter, and shouted at the contestants, "All contestants, come pick up your required exam tools!"

Contestants quickly received their tools in order of their exam codes.

The invigilator announced the start of the exam, and staff activated a one-hour countdown. The contestants then opened their toolboxes with complex expressions.

Inside the toolbox was a stack of answer cards, compiled into ten booklets, each containing four cards. Later, they would have to write the information for each herb on the corresponding booklet.

Additionally, there were two pens.

At the top of the box were ten small compartments, each containing a transparent glass box with a thin smelling paper inside.

Everyone received identical toolboxes.

Some contestants eagerly opened the first glass box in the upper left corner, took out the test paper, and sniffed it.

Just as they caught a whiff of the residual medicinal scent on the test paper, the overpowering spicy aroma quickly dissipated it. Lowering their heads to sniff again, they smelled nothing.

The middle-aged doctor, over forty and wearing glasses, who seemed quite capable, suddenly changed expression, trembling, and cursed, "Damn it!"

This ’Damn it’ captured the sentiment of thousands of contestants.

Even with two days, let alone two hours, they couldn’t complete the exam.

Watching the reactions of these people through surveillance, Huo Wen’an also found it hard to believe, "Is the second round really this perverse?"

Ying Ziyao sat right in front of Huo Wen’an; hearing this, he turned and said, "Back then, there were eight thousand contestants who successfully passed the first round. Do you know how many scored in the second round?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!