The Black-spotted Leopard

Nearly fifty people arrived, both in the sky and on the ground. They were teachers from West Lake High School's other three campuses. Three of them led the group, their auras far stronger than the rest, surging skyward like drawn swords.

These three were the other three vice principals of West Lake High School, besides Lei Kai. All had reached the eighth bloodline rank and possessed the strength of Intermediate Martial Venerables!

The teachers from East Campus and the others stepped forward to welcome them. Then everyone set up some mechanical instruments along the edge of Lake Heart Island. One after another, screens sprang to life, displaying the situation inside the island.

The screens let them observe the entire island. Several student teams had already encountered beasts and were fighting them.

"Everyone should already understand the main purpose of this operation, right?" one of the vice principals said gravely.

"Haha, don't worry, Lin Yuan," Lei Kai said with a hearty laugh. "This time, we've placed a small satellite device high above Lake Heart Island. Even Top-tier Martial Venerables won't escape its detection!"

The higher-ups at West Lake High School had always taken the Mummified Corpse Incident very seriously.

The vice principal who had spoken earlier nodded. He was the Vice Principal Lin whom Teacher Mu Qing had mentioned, the one who had personally tested Mu Qing's cultivation—Lin Yuan!

Of course, Lin Yuan had secretly used his Mental Power to examine Mu Qing back then, so Mu Qing had never actually met him.

"We should also keep a close eye on the student who was previously suspected," another vice principal suddenly said.

Everyone nodded.

Meanwhile, Mu Qing and Ling Fei, gradually making their way deeper into Lake Heart Island, encountered the first beast of the simulated exam.

Not far in front of them, a huge leopard glared viciously at them. It stood over three meters tall, its sharp teeth glinting coldly. Droplets of saliva dripped from its fangs, and its spots were pitch-black.

From its aura, this Black-spotted Leopard seemed about as strong as a top student at Blood Qi Fifth Rank. But it was clearly much fiercer than any student. The more timid ones might even be so frightened that they couldn't move.

Mu Qing and Ling Fei were nervous, too. They hadn't been afraid when facing the more than twenty people with Wang Haixuan, but they were still just students. They had trained to this level under the guidance of West Lake High School's teachers, yet had never encountered such a ferocious beast.

This simulated exam was a trial for them, one that could transform them from within!

The school knew they had no experience fighting beasts, which was why it had specially arranged the simulated exam to hone them.

They had to understand that once they grew strong enough, they would face Cosmic Fierce Beasts—creatures far more terrifying and savage than ordinary beasts. These beasts, which had first come from beyond Earth, possessed utterly terrifying strength.

"Roar!"

The Black-spotted Leopard suddenly roared. Its upright pupils were filled with icy malice, as if it meant to tear Mu Qing and Ling Fei apart and devour their flesh.

With a whoosh, it blurred into a black shadow. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of them, its razor-sharp claws shooting out at incredible speed with a howl of wind.

"Watch out! Dodge!"

Mu Qing shouted and hurriedly rolled to the side. His posture was clumsy, but he successfully avoided the Black-spotted Leopard's ferocious strike.

Ling Fei reacted quickly and dodged with a donkey roll of his own.

Crack!

The Black-spotted Leopard's claws missed and sank into the ground. Stones shattered and flew in every direction.

"We'll flank it from both sides! This Black-spotted Leopard isn't that strong!" Ling Fei shouted.

Mu Qing nodded. He had also realized that the Black-spotted Leopard's strength was only at Blood Qi Fifth Rank. What they lacked was experience fighting beasts.

"Thunderstorm Fist!"

Mu Qing suddenly barked the words. Origin Force surged out from his mind and gathered in his hand.

He circulated the third-stage path of the Thunderstorm Fist. Three streaks of blazing white lightning condensed, bright electric light gradually covering his arm.

Then Mu Qing shifted his feet and charged at the Black-spotted Leopard first. He clenched his five fingers into a fist, a ruthless glint flashing in his dark eyes, and threw a punch.

But the Black-spotted Leopard was incredibly fast. Sensing the threatening aura of lightning around Mu Qing's fist, it growled and darted aside, its massive body moving like a black whirlwind. Mu Qing's Thunderstorm Fist slammed into a tree.

Three bolts of lightning burst forth, and the tree's trunk exploded. Wood chips flew everywhere.

"Now!"

Ling Fei's eyes suddenly lit up. Origin Force surged within him, golden light spilling from his hand as he struck at the Black-spotted Leopard with a palm.

The Black-spotted Leopard had dodged Mu Qing's attack, but it was already too late to evade Ling Fei's. An extremely keen force tore through its fur, and blood sprayed out.

Ling Fei gave a sharp shout. His palm carried Origin Force infused with the cutting edge of metal. One strike tore away a large patch of the Black-spotted Leopard's fur, leaving its flesh bloody and mangled.

"Roar!"

The Black-spotted Leopard felt the pain and roared furiously. Its body tensed as it swung a claw at Ling Fei, the one who had hurt it.

But by then, Mu Qing had already reached its back. Three bolts of lightning gathered around his arm once more. He clenched his fist, preparing to smash it into the Black-spotted Leopard's head.

Suddenly, Mu Qing's brows furrowed. An invisible force welled up in his mind, like a message. Though no words appeared before him, he had the distinct feeling that the right move was to strike the Black-spotted Leopard in the waist with his Thunderstorm Fist.

He had no idea why he felt this way, but the next moment, Mu Qing trusted his instinct. He changed the direction of his Thunderstorm Fist and slammed it into the Black-spotted Leopard's thick waist. Three streaks of blazing white lightning exploded.

A scream rang out. The Black-spotted Leopard trembled all over as if struck by a heavy blow. A large patch of its waist was charred, its flesh mangled, and wisps of smoke drifted into the air.

The claw it had been reaching toward Ling Fei stopped mid-swing. It collapsed onto the ground with a wail, blood flowing from its wounds. It had clearly been badly injured.

A glint flashed in Ling Fei's eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he shouted and rushed forward.

"Sharp Metal Palm!"

Origin Force surged through his hand, radiating streaks of golden light. Ling Fei's entire hand seemed to turn into a golden blade. He struck the Black-spotted Leopard's head with his palm, only to be surprised when it felt as hard as steel. He used Sharp Metal Palm several more times before finally ending its life.

As soon as the Black-spotted Leopard died, the Recorders on Mu Qing and Ling Fei's wrists gave a clear chime. On the silver-white Recorders, the number "zero" changed to "one."

Clearly, since Mu Qing and Ling Fei had killed the Black-spotted Leopard together, they both earned a point!