"The examination time is up. This year's Martial Arts Examination has ended. All candidates, please leave the examination grounds."
"The examination time is up. This year's Martial Arts Examination has ended. All candidates, please leave the examination grounds."
"Please exit the examination grounds. Killing demonic beasts from this point onward will not count toward your score."
Announcements echoed across Pig Head Mountain, declaring the end of this College Entrance Examination.
At the same time, the Monster Suppression Bureau warriors standing by outside entered the area, preventing demonic beasts from attacking the evacuating students.
On the large screen, the candidates' rankings also froze at this moment:
First place: Shi Yan (Baiyun No. 1 High School), 1,000 points;
Second place: Qi Ziyue (Jiangnan No. 3 High School), 850 points;
Third place: Gu Hao (Jiangnan High School No. 1), 800 points;
Sixth place: Wu Qiang (Shennan No. 1 High School), 750 points;
"Principal Gong, you let me win. Hehe."
Li Bihuang stroked his beard, his chin lifting slightly.
Jiangnan No. 3 High School had finally bested Jiangnan High School No. 1.
Gong Yanhua rolled her eyes. "Principal Li, is a turtle mocking a soft-shelled turtle for having no tail supposed to be funny?"
"Uh..." Li Bihuang's expression stiffened briefly before he gave a bitter smile. "Who knew a Cheng Yaojin would come charging out halfway through? Still, how did Shi Yan hide himself so deeply before?"
"Who knows? It might even have something to do with Po."
"Po..."
An unusual look flashed through Li Bihuang's eyes.
The head hall master of Extreme Martial Arts Hall, a legend who had occupied the world's top five year after year—if he was connected to Shi Yan, then Shi Yan's extraordinary performance could be explained.
"Come on, let's welcome our candidates. They deserve our pride too."
Time passed.
The candidates filed out one after another, each bearing their own joys and sorrows.
Just like every College Entrance Examination before it, some came out beating their chests and stamping their feet, some wept bitterly, and some wore beaming smiles.
There were even those who took it all lightly, feeling it was no more than a little wind and frost.
But afterward, even more people began searching for classmates and friends, eager to pour their hearts out and lay bare their very livers and gallbladders.
"Damn, no wonder they said this was the hardest Martial Arts Examination in decades. The distance those demonic beasts chased me could've circled West Lake three times."
"The demonic beasts this time were fierce, sure, but kind of dumb. I set traps and killed five of them."
"My score can get me into a Martial Arts Vocational College. I'm planning to put Jiangnan Ophthalmology Martial Arts College as my first choice."
People really can't be compared. I scored a hundred points, while the guy in first scored a thousand!"
"Did you see the top of the rankings? Baiyun No. 1 High School is going to become famous this time."
"I don't really have any prejudice, but I just don't think a school like Baiyun No. 1 High School, which has been at the bottom for years, could produce the Martial Arts Examination Top Scholar."
"Look, Goddess Qi Ziyue is out!"
Someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.
She had always been hugely popular, and she had also held the top spot on the rankings for a long time, so naturally, countless eyes were on her.
Hearing it was her, more and more people instinctively looked toward the sound.
It had to be said, she truly was worthy of being called a Goddess. Qi Ziyue remained as aloof and elegant as ever. Her somewhat damaged long dress only made her shine even more brilliantly.
Except...
"Damn it, why is she bringing out a wild man?"
Sure enough, there was a "wild man" beside Qi Ziyue.
He was barefoot, with animal hide wrapped around his waist and a "straw raincoat" woven from weeds over his upper body. Or perhaps it could not even be called a straw raincoat, because the weaving was so crude that many places were left exposed.
But none of that mattered. What mattered was that this "wild man" was standing far too close to the Goddess.
Otherwise, so many boys would not have started swearing.
Hearing the many voices around her, Qi Ziyue's face immediately flushed red.
Because what Shi Yan was wearing was precisely her handiwork.
"So this is the kind of Top Scholar you were going to become."
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Liu Wang looked at Shi Yan, dressed like a wild man, from within the crowd. He wanted to step forward and congratulate him, but stopped himself.
Shi Yan was not someone who loved the spotlight, and he had practically been invisible at Baiyun No. 1 High School. Few people knew him, and this outfit could almost conceal his identity.
There was no need for him to go up and acknowledge Shi Yan, so he once again disappeared into the crowd.
Before long, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the candidates boarded the vehicles that had brought them here.
Some injured candidates were arranged onto medical vehicles instead.
Shi Yan also parted ways with Qi Ziyue and got into a vehicle.
However, it was not the bus that had carried the Baiyun No. 1 High School candidates here, but a vehicle belonging to the Monster Suppression Bureau.
By coincidence, he had seen this vehicle before. It was the Jiangnan City vehicle he had encountered a few days ago when leaving Bigui Residential Area.
"This is Xiao Li from the Jiangnan Monster Suppression Bureau, and this is Lin Ye. I'm sure you've heard of him."
As soon as Shi Yan got into the vehicle, Principal Li Shuogen introduced them.
Xiao Li was driving, the principal sat in the passenger seat, while Lin Ye and Shi Yan sat in the back.
"Hello, Principal. Hello, Sister Xiao Li and Senior Lin."
Shi Yan still knew proper etiquette and greeted them.
Naturally, he knew of Lin Ye as well. He was the youngest Seventh-Tier Warrior in the history of the Jiangnan Monster Suppression Bureau. He had even been on the news, and his name was often mentioned by students and teachers alike.
The reason Shi Yan called him "Senior" was because Lin Ye had attended elementary school in Baiyun City.
"Come to think of it, we're half fellow townsmen. My mother is from Baiyun City."
Lin Ye was twenty-six this year. He was handsome, and his tone of voice made people feel as though they were bathing in spring breeze.
With a single sentence, he closed the distance between himself and Shi Yan.
"I was wondering. No wonder Senior Lin is so handsome."
Shi Yan answered with a smile, making Xiao Li, who was driving, smile as well.
This year's Top Scholar was quite full of himself.
Though he did seem rather handsome.
"Shi Yan, be serious. I called you into the vehicle because Lin Ye is going to tell you about the Four Great Famous Schools."
Li Shuogen coughed, reminding Shi Yan.
With Shi Yan's results, the Four Great Famous Schools would certainly come fighting to recruit him. That was why he had swallowed his pride and asked Lin Ye to come explain things.
After all, Lin Ye had graduated from one of the Four Great Famous Schools.
"Senior Lin, sorry to trouble you."
Shi Yan adjusted the "straw raincoat" on his body and turned sideways to look at Lin Ye.
He only knew that the Four Great Famous Schools were Kyoto Martial School, Modu Martial School, Tianfu Martial School, and Lingnan Martial School.
But he did not know much about their specific circumstances or characteristics.
"No trouble at all. With grades like yours, it's an honor for me to explain them to you."
Lin Ye did not put on any airs, speaking as though he were chatting with a true fellow townsman.
"To put it simply, Jingwu has a strong official atmosphere; Modu Martial School has the most abundant resources; Tianfu Martial School has a military background; and Lingnan Martial School sees the most combat.
"If you want to enter certain lineages or wield some authority, you can consider Jingwu. At Modu Martial School, Breathing Techniques, pills, equipment, money, and the like—given your performance, you'll have all you could want. If you want to join the military, Tianfu Martial School is your best choice. As for Lingnan Martial School, it has the most battles against demonic beasts. Last year, its average number of battles reached 1.3, the highest in the world."
"1.3?" Shi Yan was slightly startled. That 1.3 represented each warrior fighting an average of 1.3 demonic beasts per day!
Searching through his memories, it seemed that none of the world's renowned martial schools had exceeded 1. Lingnan Martial School had reached 1.3 outright, showing just how frequently its students fought.
Thinking of his Martial Virtue System, he felt as though there was no need to choose.
As if he had seen through Shi Yan's thoughts, Lin Ye said, "Junior, if I were you, my first choice would be Modu Martial School."
"Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior."
"Alright." Lin Ye nodded and continued, "Because Lingnan Martial School is close to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, its students have many opportunities to face demonic beasts. But have you considered what high-intensity combat requires for support?"
Hearing that, Shi Yan frowned slightly, thinking of his body that had nearly buckled under the strain earlier.
High-intensity combat most required the support of a powerful body. And where did a powerful body come from? Breathing Techniques, Body Tempering Medicine, healing medicine, equipment, all kinds of heavenly treasures and earthly materials—those were all part of it.
Seeing Shi Yan lost in thought, Lin Ye smiled slightly and continued:
"Junior, I don't know why you like killing demonic beasts, but if your family is wealthy, then Lingnan Martial School would be my first recommendation. If not, go to Modu Martial School and secure every resource you can."
"Besides, Magic Martial University does not necessarily have fewer opportunities to fight demonic beasts."
"Don't forget, it's by the sea."
"Even if you aren't good at water combat, you can still go elsewhere. You could even go to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains."
"And there's also..."
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