The Beginning of the First Slaughter!

"Each backpack contains a Smart Watch, three Energy Bars, and a safety beacon.

Candidates, please check that you have everything. If anything is missing, come to the podium as soon as possible to collect it."

After saying this, Wang Haiyang stepped down from the podium.

It was now 8:40. There were just over twenty minutes until the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination began.

So, after Wang Haiyang stepped down, the many students gathered in the open area began to relax.

"Any teams need a tank? I have a D-rank Enhancement Type ability. I can take hits and deal damage."

"Sigh, this year's National College Entrance Exam is too difficult. There's no way around forming a team. I have a C-Rank Mental Type ability that can slow ferocious beasts' thoughts to a certain extent. Any teams interested?"

"Our team needs a Burst Damage Dealer. Anyone with a D-rank or higher offensive ability can join us!"

"..."

The Martial Arts College Entrance Examination did not prohibit students from forming teams.

Of course, the points earned from killing ferocious beasts as a team would be split evenly among all members, making it far less efficient than fighting alone.

Therefore, most people still chose to enter the testing grounds by themselves.

But the Unicorn Rhino discovered earlier had already proven that this Martial Arts College Entrance Examination would be anything but ordinary.

So, candidates who had originally not planned to form teams also began looking for teammates.

"Xu Jingming, you haven't joined a team yet, have you? Why not join ours?

Our team still needs someone who can provide supporting damage. Your Lightning Type ability would fill that gap perfectly."

From Class 5's group, a girl wearing a silver-white skintight combat suit that outlined her graceful figure walked over to Xu Jingming.

She was pretty, with a faint smile on her face.

Ordinary students would probably have been delighted by an invitation from such a beautiful girl.

But Xu Jingming's brow twitched.

The girl was Lin Qingyuan, Class 5's class monitor. She was also a gentle, kindhearted person.

Combined with her beauty and good figure, she held considerable prestige in Class 5.

After learning that Xu Jingming's parents had both passed away, this gentle class monitor had quietly helped him during class activities and everyday school life.

Lin Qingyuan believed she had hidden it well, but the former Xu Jingming's introverted and sensitive nature had quickly noticed the difference.

He had even secretly believed that Lin Qingyuan liked him.

But Xu Jingming, who had transmigrated into this body, knew very well that Lin Qingyuan's actions had only come from her kind heart.

Her invitation to join her team now was for the same reason.

But my dear lady, you need to learn to read the room!

The Martial Arts College Entrance Examination was a test that determined life and death!

No one wanted dead weight on their team. Lin Qingyuan's invitation to him would definitely make the other members of her team uncomfortable.

Xu Jingming glanced behind her.

Sure enough, when they saw Lin Qingyuan invite him to join, the faces of her other teammates instantly turned the color of liver.

"Class Monitor, I'm planning to enter the testing grounds alone. You should just stay with your team."

Xu Jingming shook his head.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly at Lin Qingyuan's innocence and kindness.

Of course, judging from this alone, her family must have protected her very well.

Otherwise, they would not have raised her with such a personality...

"Is that so? All right, then. Be careful once you're inside."

Lin Qingyuan had been about to persuade him further, but when she saw the resolve in Xu Jingming's eyes—

she knew there was no point in trying. With a disappointed sigh, she turned and left.

"At least that kid knows what's good for him."

The other members of Lin Qingyuan's class team also breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Qingyuan was the captain of their team, so there was nothing they could do to stop her decisions.

But if Xu Jingming, with only an E-rank metahuman ability, joined their team, their overall score would drop considerably.

"Even Lin the beauty's invitation got rejected. Ah Ming, you've got some nerve. So many people would kill for the chance to team up with her."

After Lin Qingyuan left, Liu Jie sidled over with a lecherous grin.

"Cut it out. It's not like you don't know our class monitor's personality. She likes helping the weak."

Xu Jingming rolled his eyes.

"So you knew? I thought you took it as her having a crush on you."

Liu Jie replied with feigned surprise. "But seriously, are you really planning to enter the testing grounds alone?"

"This Martial Arts College Entrance Examination is difficult. Going in alone with only an E-rank metahuman ability probably won't end well for you."

"But if you're willing to call me Big Brother, I'll reluctantly give you a hand."

Liu Jie dramatically flicked his hair.

Come to think of it, Liu Jie had once been as quiet as Xu Jingming.

But ever since awakening his C-Rank Ability, he had become increasingly flamboyant beneath that reserved exterior.

Even though his wording was begging for a beating, Xu Jingming knew Liu Jie was worried about him. What a good brother!

Of course, he would never show it out loud.

"Heh, what a joke! You think I need you to carry me?"

Xu Jingming let out an exaggerated sneer and flashed a mysterious smile.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not who I used to be. I'm in a completely different league now!"

"This time, I'm aiming for Jiangnan Provincial Top Scorer. If you're willing to call me Dad, I'll reluctantly carry you into Jiangnan Province's top hundred."

After saying that, Xu Jingming copied Liu Jie and flamboyantly tossed his hair.

That was how male friendships worked: each side fought to become the other's dad.

"Jiangnan Provincial Top Scorer? You really know how to brag! How come I never noticed you were this good at boasting before?"

"If Zhang Hao were here, he'd probably laugh his teeth out."

Liu Jie's eyes widened as he clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Tsk, tsk. No one believes the truth these days. Society really has gone downhill."

Xu Jingming shook his head and sighed...

As Xu Jingming and Liu Jie traded barbs, time swiftly passed.

Before long, it was exactly nine o'clock.

"Whoosh—"

The gates leading into Ruined Town were pulled open by the soldiers. Wang Haiyang also stepped onto the podium and announced,

"The Jiangcheng 2037th Martial Arts College Entrance Examination officially begins!! Candidates, enter the testing grounds!"

The instant his words fell, more than fourteen hundred candidates sprang into action.

"The Martial Arts College Entrance Examination has begun!"

"This time, I'm going to make a name for myself!"

"My goal is Jiangnan Metahuman University!"

"..."

Filled with anticipation and hope for the National College Entrance Exam, the candidates, clad in combat suits and carrying weapons, charged into Ruined Town like a swarm of locusts.

Affected by the atmosphere, Xu Jingming also removed his spear and laughed as he charged in with the crowd.

Ruined Town was like an abyssal maw, swallowing every student whole.

The open area outside soon became empty.

"Activate the ruin cameras and tracking drones. Prepare to begin the National College Entrance Exam livestream!"

Great Xia Country valued martial prowess, and the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination was livestreamed to the public every year.

The battle footage was watched not only by the Education Bureau, school principals, and homeroom teachers; every school also arranged viewing sessions for first- and second-year students.

Thus, once the candidates had all entered the testing grounds, the tens of thousands of cameras hidden throughout Ruined Town activated simultaneously.

At the same time, more than fifty military drones rose into the air, tracking and filming those star candidates who had already gained some fame before the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination.

Soon, image after image was projected into the sky above the open area.

The principals, homeroom teachers, and Education Bureau personnel from each school also chatted among themselves as they entered the spectator stands.

Although Ruined Town was merely a small town under Jiangcheng, it covered an enormous area.

Once more than fourteen hundred candidates entered it, aside from the congestion near the entrance—

as they continued deeper inside, they were like drops of water falling into the sea, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.

Moreover, ferocious beasts were intelligent creatures.

So when so many candidates entered the ruins, the ferocious beasts did not launch an immediate attack. Instead, they hid.

Thus, the teams and lone wolves all began moving separately, heading deeper into Ruined Town.

After entering the testing grounds, Zhou Mingyang, First High School's Gentle Wind Sword, immediately activated his ability.

He manipulated the gale, reducing air resistance, then sprinted away like a cheetah.

Xu Jingming also picked a direction and headed downward with his spear in hand, activating the Smart Watch on his wrist at the same time.

A blue virtual screen immediately projected from the Smart Watch and appeared before Xu Jingming, displaying a line of black text:

"Please verify your identity on the Smart Watch."

Blue Star's technology was more advanced than that of his previous life. Virtual projection technology like this was already highly mature.

Xu Jingming was not surprised. He extended his left thumb and pressed it against the Smart Watch screen.

"Fingerprint verification in progress..."

"Verification successful. Candidate: Xu Jingming, Class 5, Senior Year, Jiangcheng Second High School. Examination number: 20372147849."

Xu Jingming's identity information appeared on the virtual projection.

At the same time, two small windows popped up in the upper-right corner. The first displayed his score information:

Name: Xu Jingming

Class: Senior Year Class 5, Jiangcheng Second High School

Score: 0

The second window showed Jiangcheng's Martial Arts College Entrance Examination rankings:

No. 1: Zhou Mingyang, 7 points. (Jiangcheng First High School)

No. 2: Li Yuan, 5 points. (Jiangcheng First High School)

No. 3: Zhao Hu, 4 points. (Jiangcheng First High School)

...

No. 874: Xu Jingming, 0 points. (Jiangcheng Second High School)

...

"No wonder they're First High School. They killed ferocious beasts so quickly."

Shaking his head, Xu Jingming tapped the map option on the virtual screen.

A map of the town ruins appeared on the virtual screen before him.

The map was an irregular circle, with different areas marked in different colors.

The Outer Area was marked green, the middle area yellow, the Core Area red, and the Innermost Core Area an even darker red!

The white point representing Xu Jingming himself was located at the edge of the map.

"There's still quite a distance from the outskirts to the core. Then I'll head straight for the Core Area."

Xu Jingming adjusted his direction and headed toward the red region on the map.

He had not walked far when a ferocious beast the size of a leopard blocked his path.

Its fur was black as ink, but its vertical pupils were pale orange.

If one ignored the fangs in its mouth and the sharp claws on its paws still stained with dark red blood, it would have been an exceptionally beautiful creature.

"A ferocious beast... a Shadow Cat..."

Having thoroughly studied the Ferocious Beast Compendium, Xu Jingming immediately recognized the beast.

It was an extremely common ferocious beast in the Wilderness Area.

Of course, being common did not mean Shadow Cats were easy to deal with.

On the contrary, it meant they possessed excellent adaptability.

Agile speed, sharp claws and fangs, and a bite force exceeding a thousand kilograms.

Quite a few candidates had fallen prey to Shadow Cats.

"Roar!!"

Upon spotting a human, the Shadow Cat let out a bloodthirsty growl, then charged toward Xu Jingming on all fours.

The scent of fresh flesh stimulated its taste buds, causing it to accelerate even further.

Normally, an Awakened facing a ferocious beast for the first time would become flustered without even realizing it.

Yet Xu Jingming, encountering a Shadow Cat in reality for the first time, remained calm.

Very quickly,

the Shadow Cat closed to within three meters of Xu Jingming, then leaped into the air.

It raised its claws, aimed at Xu Jingming's head, and slashed down with all its strength!

A ferocious beast's claws were comparable to alloy.

If this strike landed, Xu Jingming's entire head would burst apart like a watermelon!

As though it had already envisioned that scene, a disturbingly human-like excitement appeared on the Shadow Cat's savage face!!

But in the next instant, a black afterimage flashed past.

The sharp spearhead pierced straight through the Shadow Cat's throat, pinning it dead in midair!

Bright red blood erupted like a fountain from the ruptured artery in the Shadow Cat's neck!

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