The darkness in Qin Ze's pupils faded.
A constant buzzing sound filled his ears, to the point that he couldn't hear anything else.
"Where am I? Why am I here?"
Qin Ze kept repeating these two sentences.
The buzzing in his ears was driving him crazy, making him keep pounding his head with his fists.
"I think... I'm going to climb a mountain."
But where are the mountains?
Why should I go mountain climbing?
Buzz--
The high-frequency buzzing made Qin Ze feel like his head was about to explode.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he wanted to smash the world to pieces with one punch.
Golden Divine Markings suddenly bloomed on his chest and spread outwards.
Just as the Divine Markings were about to spread across half of his cheek, the buzzing subsided, and a familiar voice called out softly.
" Qin Ze, Qin Ze..."
The Divine Markings faded.
Qin Ze shook his head and saw a graceful young woman standing in front of him.
" Tongtong?"
Lu Tongtong held out her right hand and waved it in front of him, asking with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Qin Ze grasped the other person's hand; it was soft and warm.
The girl's face instantly turned into a ripe apple.
Qin Ze looked into her eyes, frowned, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Lu Tongtong blinked her beautiful big eyes. "Of course I'm here."
What's wrong with you today? You've become so strange.
Qin Ze released the girl's hand, but something still felt off.
In the height of summer, cicadas perch on the sycamore trees, emitting lazy chirps.
The young men and women walked together, chatting and laughing, brimming with youthful energy.
Not far away was the familiar martial arts training ground, where groups of people could be seen undergoing qi and blood tests.
Some people were overjoyed after succeeding, while others lamented their failure.
Qin Ze murmured, " Haidu Academy..."
Lu Tongtong looked puzzled. "Of course it's Haidu Academy. What's wrong with you today?"
She reached out and touched Qin Ze's forehead. "You're not sick."
Qin Ze shook his head, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. "There should be many lines."
"Climb mountains!"
"Right, I need to hurry up and go hiking!"
As Qin Ze was about to walk towards the main gate, Lu Tongtong grabbed him.
"Don't climb the mountain yet, today is your graduation exam, everyone's waiting for you."
"After the assessment, I'll go hiking with you."
Qin Ze asked softly, "Graduation assessment?"
Lu Tongtong nodded emphatically. "After today, we'll graduate and become official martial artists!"
"At that time, we might go to Penglai City, or we might join the Law Enforcement."
"We're running out of time, let's talk on the way."
Lu Tongtong grabbed Qin Ze's hand and jogged towards the assessment site.
" Qin Ze, do you want to join Law Enforcement, or do you want to go to the front lines?"
"Wherever you go, I'll be with you..."
The girl's long hair swayed gently behind her in the wind, strands brushing against Qin Ze's cheek.
Qin Ze didn't hear a word Lu Tongtong, nor did he see the girl's face turn bright red with embarrassment.
At this moment, Qin Ze had only one thought in his mind.
"I should go hiking."
Soon, Lu Tongtong led Qin Ze to the front of the stadium.
Huai Xu and Wen Jing were already waiting there.
Wen Jing glanced at the time on his watch and said, "You're late."
Lu Tongtong her hands together and said, "Sorry, something came up on the way and I was delayed."
Huai Xu, holding a bow in his arms, said, "Hurry up and go in. We're a team, and the assessment is about to begin."
The stadium has a huge field, about the size of ten football fields.
The surrounding audience seating is situated on a platform thirty meters high, with a specially made alloy mesh blocking the view.
The spectator seats were packed; all the younger students who didn't have anything important to do were there, as well as many people from outside the school.
Qin Ze and his professional team stood in the waiting area.
Lu Tongtong said to him, "We are the first ones to go for the assessment."
"Although many people are watching, don't be nervous. With our capabilities, we can easily handle this."
Qin Ze had a terrible headache, as if someone was hitting him repeatedly with a sledgehammer.
Moreover, a jumble of incoherent voices kept repeating the same sentence in my mind.
"What are you doing, Bull Demon King?! Hurry up and go climb the mountain!"
They were anxious, and Qin Ze was anxious too.
"Just tell me which mountain we're going to climb!"
The sudden outbreak startled the professional team.
Huai Xu asked inexplicably, "What mountain are you climbing?"
Lu Tongtong said, "He probably wants to go camping."
Huai Xu was eager to try. "That's perfect! Let's go camping together after the assessment."
Wen Jing looked at Qin Ze and asked, "Are you really alright?"
Qin Ze shook his head, but the noise, louder than ducks, didn't subside; instead, it became even louder.
"I'm fine."
The announcer's voice rang out over the stadium through loudspeakers.
"Let's welcome our first team onto the field!"
Huai Xu's eyes lit up. "Come on, it's our turn!"
Lu Tongtong smiled gently, "Don't be nervous."
Qin Ze followed the three of them into the stadium.
In the examination room, Qin Ze saw Brother Yuanzi sitting in the center and Teacher Yao beside him.
Number Three stood behind Brother Yuanzi and gave Qin Ze a thumbs-up.
All of this felt both so familiar and so strange to Qin Ze.
"Damn it! Go hiking! Stop sleepwalking here!"
The voice in his mind greatly displeased Qin Ze.
My head was already throbbing, and their arguing made it even worse.
Qin Ze asked his professional team, "What is our assessment?"
Huai Xu was taking deep breaths, stumbled and almost strained his back.
"Slaying a level one alien beast, brother."
Wen Jing said, "What's wrong with you today? You've been acting strange."
Qin Ze waved his hand. "Perhaps I didn't rest well last night, I have a headache."
Wen Jing nodded and said no more.
As the alloy gate opened, an F-class alien beast poked its head out.
Upon seeing the professional team, they immediately roared and charged over.
Lu Tongtong said, "It's still the original plan, with Qin Ze, who has the highest cultivation level (Level Two), at the front."
" The Wen Jing attracts attention, and Huai Xu and I assist."
Qin Ze murmured, "I'm only level two...?"
He felt something was off, but it didn't seem like there was anything wrong.
Most of the senior students who passed the graduation exam were at the second or third level of martial arts practitioners.
While Qin Ze was still in a daze, the F-level alien beast had already rushed in front of him and sent him flying with a rocket headbutt.
" Qin Ze!" ×3
The impact caused his blood to rush to his head.
"So strong."
The beast raised its forelimbs War Stomp.
Qin Ze felt his hands and feet were unusually heavy, as if he were carrying a huge mountain on his back, making his movements very slow.
Just as the beast's iron hooves were about to stomp down, Qin Ze found himself unable to stand up.
whoosh--
An arrow flew through the air and pierced the beast's eye.
The beast, in pain, raised its upper body, roared furiously, and spat out a mouthful of strong acid from its foul-smelling mouth.
Huai Xu couldn't dodge in time and was drenched thoroughly, instantly melting on the spot.
Qin Ze's breathing grew heavier, his vision was obscured by a red filter, and a flame of anger burned in his chest.