The Lake Heart Island

Amid Lei Kai's conversations with the many teachers, the enormous transport airship had already left West Lake High School and reached the skies above West Lake.

The black airship was massive, like a terrifying giant beast as it threaded between the clouds.

The entire surface of West Lake shimmered. It was said that in the past, West Lake had been a tourist attraction.

However, ever since the Cosmic Fierce Beast race invaded Earth, all of Hangzhou City had been transformed into a fortress. Humanity had built towering walls to keep the Fierce Beasts at bay.

The successive principals of West Lake High School had all been powerful figures within Huaxia. They captured one terrifying Fierce Beast after another, used Mental Power to tame and control them, then sent them to lurk beneath West Lake, where they guarded the school generation after generation.

At the center of West Lake stood a huge island. Legend had it that a powerful Martial Practitioner had created it. The Martial Practitioners of West Lake High School captured some weak Fierce Beasts and their young, then let them breed on the Lake Heart Island.

The Lake Heart Island was enormous, with at least hundreds of thousands of Fierce Beasts living on it. Only by fighting bloody battles could students hone their will and abilities. That was the only way to help senior students adapt as quickly as possible when the College Entrance Exam came around.

After all, every College Entrance Exam was extremely brutal. People even died!

Of course, the hundreds of thousands of Fierce Beasts on the Lake Heart Island were different from genuine Fierce Beasts. Strictly speaking, they were no more than wild animals with Fierce Beast bloodlines. They had little intelligence and none of the Fierce Beast race's innate abilities.

There were plenty of wild animals on the Lake Heart Island, but as long as students were careful, they could easily defeat them one-on-one.

If students were truly surrounded by a large pack of wild animals and driven into a desperate situation, the teachers observing from outside the island with their Mental Power would step in to rescue them. However, that would count as failing the mock exam.

The massive airship landed at the edge of the Lake Heart Island. Led by Lei Kai and the many teachers, the students lined up, and each received a device.

The device was silver-white, about the size of a date, and designed like a wristband that could be worn on the arm.

"What's this...?"

Mu Qing strapped the silver-white device to his wrist and saw a number displayed on it.

"Zero."

As Mu Qing stood there wondering, Lei Kai shouted an explanation from nearby: "This is a Recorder. Every time you kill a wild animal on the Lake Heart Island, you'll earn points!"

"The mock exam will last three days. Afterward, the school will use everyone's points to determine the final rankings. The top ten will receive generous rewards."

The moment he said that, every student's eyes burned with excitement, especially those of the few top students.

Most senior students were at Blood Qi Fourth Rank, while the few top students could be called the strongest among them. Every one of them had reached Blood Qi Fifth Rank.

Each of these top students had a chance to compete for a place in the top ten. They were all at Blood Qi Fifth Rank, so there wouldn't be much difference in their strength.

Lei Kai didn't need to say more about the generous rewards for the top ten; they already knew. A few days earlier, the school's official website had announced that the top ten would each receive a Blood Refining Potion provided by the school.

A potion worth a million!

The top students were breathing hard. If they got a Blood Refining Potion, they were confident they could break through to Blood Qi Sixth Rank and shine in the upcoming College Entrance Exam.

"All right! You can form teams or act alone. Everyone, head into the depths of the Lake Heart Island."

"Any student who returns to the edge of the island before the mock exam is over will be considered to have forfeited!"

"Students from the other three campuses have also taken airships and landed at different locations on the Lake Heart Island. They're your enemies!"

"You can steal points from students at the other three campuses. Now get in there, you little brats!"

Lei Kai stood at the edge of the Lake Heart Island and roared. His deafening voice boomed like thunder.

Mu Qing and the others tensed, realizing just how brutal this mock exam would be. According to the school's arrangements, the wild animals on the Lake Heart Island weren't their only enemies; the students from the other three campuses were, too.

"Mu Qing, we're teaming up," Ling Fei said as he came over.

"Yeah." Mu Qing nodded. Seeing the other students form groups and head toward the depths of the Lake Heart Island, he set off as well. Ling Fei followed close behind.

"Stop!"

Mu Qing and Ling Fei had only taken a few steps when three figures suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their way.

Mu Qing and Ling Fei halted abruptly and looked over. Three top students stood in their path, each wearing a cocky expression, a cruel glint in their eyes.

"Interesting."

The corner of Mu Qing's mouth suddenly lifted.

He recognized the three in front of him. They were all students from Class 3-A, and more importantly, they had all thrown in their lot with the Wang Family. When they broke through to Blood Qi Fifth Rank, the Wang Family had clearly given them a great deal of help.

"What are you doing?" Ling Fei glared and bellowed.

Wisps of Origin Force surged around him, then abruptly gathered into a golden lion. Its roar swept outward.

Ling Fei's school uniform billowed as though a savage aura were about to burst from within him.

"Don't get worked up. I think they're here for me." Mu Qing held Ling Fei back, signaling that he could handle it himself. At the same time, he glanced toward a figure not far away.

It was Wang Haixuan!

Unlike Mu Qing, Wang Haixuan was a young master of the Wang Family and had recruited plenty of people to his team. There were more than twenty of them in all, and every one was a top student!

By comparison, Mu Qing and Ling Fei's two-man team seemed rather shabby.

Feeling Mu Qing's gaze, Wang Haixuan smiled at him, then made a throat-slitting gesture. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes; he made no attempt to hide his murderous intent toward Mu Qing.

For the Wang Family, which wielded great influence in Hangzhou City, killing a student wouldn't cause the slightest trouble.

Wang Haixuan had one arm around Song Yalan. The top students he'd recruited surrounded him, making him the center of attention.

He wasn't in a hurry to head into the Lake Heart Island. He wanted to quietly watch as his people beat Mu Qing until he was badly injured and unable to continue the mock exam!

"Lv Yichen! Pei Wen! Fang Quan! I never thought you three would become Wang Haixuan's lackeys, too."

Unlike the furious Ling Fei beside him, Mu Qing remained calm, not the slightest bit flustered.

As far as he knew, although these three had also reached Blood Qi Fifth Rank, they had only broken through recently and had all trained in beginner martial skills.

"Lackeys?" Pei Wen and the other two darkened at Mu Qing's words.

They were top students, admired by countless others. Plenty of people were even green with envy over their chance to join the Wang Family!

"If you're not lackeys, then what are you? You spend all day following Wang Haixuan around, barking at everyone!" Mu Qing sneered.

Once he realized the three had come looking for trouble, he had no intention of sparing them any face.

"You're asking for death!" Pei Wen flew into a rage and roared. The faint image of an ape appeared behind him as he threw a punch at Mu Qing.

A heavy aura wafted from his fist. Brown Origin Force wrapped around Pei Wen's arm, and gusts of wind followed his punch.

This was the beginner martial skill Falling Rock Fist. Though it was only a beginner skill, it still had quite a showy presence.

At the same time, Lv Yichen and Fang Quan charged in behind Pei Wen, each immediately unleashing his own beginner martial skill.

In truth, even if Mu Qing hadn't taunted them, they would still have shown him no mercy and gone straight for a vicious beating.

They knew about the feud between Mu Qing and Wang Haixuan. Wang Haixuan had made a deal with them: if they badly injured Mu Qing, the Wang Family would provide them with resources and ensure that they reached Blood Qi Sixth Rank before the College Entrance Exam.

No reward was more tempting than improving their cultivation. Rather than chase the distant prospect of making the top ten across all campuses, they would be better off seeking the resources offered by the Wang Family.

Lv Yichen's Blood Spirit was an Electric Cat, with the same attribute as Mu Qing's. But he clearly couldn't afford an Advanced Martial Skill, so the lightning-type skill he unleashed was only a beginner one.

Fang Quan's Blood Spirit was a long, slender Silver Needle. It glinted brightly, and an intensely scorching power radiated from it.

The auras of the two of them were even weaker than Pei Wen's.

"Ling Fei, hold one of them off for me!" Mu Qing suddenly shouted. Before Ling Fei could respond, he charged forward.

Wave after wave of rich Origin Force surged from his mind. A section of Purple Bamboo flickered into view behind him as a hazy purple mist billowed and cascaded downward.

Szzzt, szzzt.

Brilliant white lightning gradually took shape, gathering in Mu Qing's hand.

"Watch out! Mu Qing has trained in an Advanced Martial Skill. Attack him together!" Pei Wen shouted, warning the two behind him.

He unleashed Falling Rock Fist, aiming at Mu Qing's chest. He intended to interrupt Mu Qing's use of Thunderstorm Fist.

But just then, a towering figure blocked his path. It was Ling Fei!

Ling Fei chuckled. The golden lion behind him roared, and an overbearing aura surged forth.

He grabbed Pei Wen's fist in one hand. Origin Force burst from his body, and his hand clamped around it like an iron vice.

"You!"

Pei Wen's face flashed with shock.

After all, he'd used a martial skill. Even though it was only a beginner one, its power was no joke. He hadn't expected Ling Fei to catch his fist so effortlessly.

Falling Rock Fist couldn't hurt Ling Fei at all.

The difference in their strength was clear as day!

"Electric Light Claw!"

With Pei Wen tied up by Ling Fei, Lv Yichen and Fang Quan charged straight at Mu Qing.

Lv Yichen's five fingers curled into claws, faint flashes of electricity dancing around them as they came down with a rush of wind.

Three bolts of lightning suddenly gathered between Mu Qing's palm and fingers. Dazzling arcs coiled around his hand like tiny snakes.

"Get lost!"

Mu Qing's gaze turned icy. He punched, unleashing his Origin Force. Amid flashes of lightning, his fist collided with Lv Yichen's Electric Light Claw.

A dull thud was followed by a scream. Lv Yichen went flying, four of his fingers bent completely out of shape, charred black and trailing wisps of smoke.

Mu Qing's brilliant white lightning exploded with the Thunderstorm Fist, leaving nearly his entire arm unable to move!