The morning sun shone upon the earth with vigorous energy.
Baiyun City was unusually bustling today, yet everything remained orderly.
For the spirited senior high school students would be taking the College Entrance Examination in the outskirts of Baiyun City.
The College Entrance Examination had always been a top-priority event in Huaxia Kingdom, no matter the era.
Thus, early in the morning, people spotted many uniformed figures throughout the streets and alleys.
Without exception, all of them carried the Blood Vitality fluctuations unique to warriors.
An examination that determined one's future could not afford the slightest carelessness.
The deployment of so many armed forces ensured that nothing could go wrong during the examination.
"Look, those are Jiangnan High School No. 1's vehicles. They're heading to the examination site."
People were already walking along the streets, and many saw vehicles emerging from luxury hotels.
"Jiangnan High School No. 1 has produced three S-Class geniuses. This year's Top Scholar will probably come from among them."
"Not necessarily. Qi Ziyue from Jiangnan No. 3 High School awakened an S-Class Moon Blade. She's also a strong contender for Top Scholar."
"Don't forget Wu Qiang from Shennan City, with his Gale Arrow. Long-range attacks are excellent for racking up points."
Heavenly prodigies had always drawn the most attention. Seeing the departing vehicles, people could not help discussing them.
Meanwhile, outside the outskirts at the foot of Pig Head Mountain, the warriors had a different focus in their discussions.
These people were warriors from Jiangnan Base City and the other cities, mostly upper management and teachers from various schools, along with people from the Monster Suppression Bureau and senior figures from martial arts schools.
"This Martial Arts Examination is the hardest one Jiangnan has seen in thirty years, isn't it?"
"It's probably the hardest in the whole country in thirty years. If anyone gets a perfect score this time, those major martial arts academies will likely fight until their heads are broken over them."
"Who would have thought spiritual energy would suddenly erupt here? The newly born demon beasts are ferocious by nature, far more dangerous than those penned-up demon beasts."
"I hope the candidates don't run into that two-hundred-and-fifty-point one. Rescue forces aren't omnipotent."
"Do you think this sudden spiritual energy eruption has something to do with the Vermilion Bird phenomenon that appeared over Baiyun City?"
"That possibility cannot be ruled out. The phenomenon appeared too soon before the spiritual energy eruption."
"It's about to begin..."
As the time neared nine in the morning, the Martial Arts Examination was about to begin.
Pig Head Mountain was not a single mountain peak, but a cluster of several mountains. It got its name because it resembled a pig's head.
It covered a vast area, stretching more than five kilometers in both length and width, enough to accommodate tens of thousands of candidates.
At this time, Pig Head Mountain had already been enclosed by high-voltage iron fencing, with only ten entrances.
Vehicles had filled the area outside all ten entrances.
There were vehicles reserved for candidates, rescue vehicles, Monster Suppression Bureau vehicles, and supply trucks.
"I am Luo Hai, chief commander of this Martial Arts Examination. I will now announce the examination rules."
At that moment, a middle-aged man in military uniform stepped on the air, his body gradually rising.
He then stopped twenty meters in the air, where candidates at all ten entrances could see him clearly.
"Holy shit, he can fly!"
"A Seventh-Tier Warrior!"
"My life's goal!"
Seeing Luo Hai take flight, many people below cried out in surprise, their eyes filled with envy and longing.
Flying through the skies and burrowing through the earth—what warrior did not dream of achieving that?
Even many teachers had envy flash through their eyes. After all, the vast majority of them were merely Third or Fourth-Tier Warriors.
"The Martial Arts Examination will last a total of twenty-four hours, beginning at nine o'clock. The location is Pig Head Mountain behind me. Everything within the high-voltage fence is part of the examination grounds. Killing demon beasts will earn you points."
Luo Hai's voice was not loud, yet it reached every person's ears with perfect clarity.
"Before entering, every candidate will receive a wristwatch to record data on demon beasts killed. The wristwatch also has a distress function. Hold down the hidden button, and someone will take you out. However, sending a distress signal means your examination ends early."
"The examination grounds provide equipment for candidates. You may choose it yourself or bring your own, but it cannot exceed B-class, and you may carry no more than three items in total."
"You can view the examination map on your wristwatch. Areas marked with red dots are the Core Zone..."
"Lastly, I wish you all victory at the first stroke of the banner. One final aside: only a living warrior is a good warrior!"
"The examination begins!"
With that, Luo Hai flew down. At the same time, the doors of the many supply trucks at the ten entrances opened.
The candidates lined up according to their admission ticket numbers, stepping forward one by one to collect supplies.
When it was Shi Yan's turn, aside from the mandatory wristwatch, he chose a dagger and a heart-protecting mirror.
Since he already had a saber, he could only choose two more items.
The examination did not provide food. Over the course of an entire day, he would need to eat to replenish his energy. The Lava Spirit Devouring Saber was unsuitable for preparing food, so having a dagger would be much more convenient.
At least one piece of protective gear was something the teachers had repeatedly stressed, and it made sense. He did not choose a tactical helmet like most people because helmets were rather thick and slightly obstructed one's vision.
He planned to slaughter his way through the place, so he had to keep his vision in the best possible condition.
Following the others, he stepped through the entrance as well.
There were no demon beasts around the outer perimeter of Pig Head Mountain, at least not in the dozens of meters of grass around the high-voltage fence. After entering, many candidates did not rush into the mountains, instead waiting and calling out.
"D-class Sharpness ability. Can make weapons sharper. Looking for a team."
"C-Class Intestinal Peristalsis ability. Can make demon beasts have diarrhea and weaken them. Anyone want to team up?"
"Need one more for a team of three. Looking for a C-Class tank."
The examination lasted twenty-four hours. Most people were in no hurry, instead looking for teams.
Some were forming temporary teams, while others were waiting for friends or classmates to enter.
Since everyone had lined up according to their admission ticket numbers, the schools and classes had all been mixed up. Most of the people around them were strangers.
Shi Yan swept his gaze around and found only one girl from his class.
After seeing him, the girl lowered her head, turned away, and hid behind someone else, pretending not to know him.
"..."
Fine. Lu Jiaojiao's words had indeed worked.
"Look, Qi Ziyue has gone in!"
At that moment, cries of surprise rose from the crowd.
Shi Yan could not help glancing over, then saw a delicate girl in a long dress entering the forest with a curved blade in hand.
Shi Yan did not see her face head-on, but the profile he saw was exceptionally beautiful. Her skin was like creamy jade, like a Goddess from the moon palace.
"It's her!"
As a Five-Star High School Student, everyone knew Qi Ziyue. Shi Yan was no exception.
They were simply too dazzling. Not only did they frequently appear in short videos and online, but teachers often mentioned them in class as well.
Qi Ziyue's S-Class Moon Blade possessed tremendous destructive power, and she had already achieved real combat accomplishments early on. It would have been difficult for her not to become famous.
Seeing her in a long dress with only one saber, it was clear she was brimming with confidence.
"I heard she dared to enter the mountains alone to kill demon beasts last year. She's terrifying beyond measure!"
"She's also one of the peerless beauties of our generation. If I could kiss her fragrant lips, I'd offer up my deskmate's ten years of lifespan."
"Women only hinder the speed at which I draw my blade. I think the three monsters from Jiangnan High School No. 1 are the true favorites to win."
"Look, Wu Qiang has entered the mountains alone too!"
Amid the crowd's cries, Shi Yan saw another Five-Star High School Student. The youth carrying a bow on his back entered the mountains alone.
That was what geniuses were like. They disdained forming teams.
It was not only the Five-Star High School Students. Shi Yan soon saw many others enter alone as well.
Most were candidates with B-class abilities or higher.
After waiting in place for a while longer, Liu Wang finally arrived carrying two "swim rings."
The two were not forming a team. Rather, after entering the mountains, Shi Yan would help Liu Wang get some food.
After all, Liu Wang's appetite was somewhat astonishing.
"Fatty, weren't you lining up at Entrance No. 3 next door? Why did it take so long?"
"Damn it, Stone, beat that Campus Hunk's face to a pulp for me."
Liu Wang's face was full of anger. He had clearly been infuriated.
"Every three steps, someone came over to warn me not to team up with you. I can't swallow this anger."
"Is that so..."
Before you continue