Chapter 1444: See You in a Year! Begin the Hunt!

"0.5%?"

Ye Li's words had barely finished.

Immediately, a chorus of dismissive murmurs rose from the God-Slaying Martial Temple's team.

"Only a 0.5% mortality rate? This is called dangerous? Our border clearance missions routinely have mortality rates above 50%!"

"Greenhouse flowers are so delicate—this level of casualties warrants a serious warning?"

"Looks like this is really a vacation with bonus points."

"......"

Many members of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance also wore expressions of indifference.

They exchanged glances, clearly finding such a mild mortality rate dull.

They walk on the edge of a blade year-round; every mission they undertake is a nine-to-one death sentence.

To them, a 0.5% mortality rate was nearly negligible.

On the Eternal Star Alliance side, the students' reactions were relatively calm.

Though a few showed anger at the mockery.

But most, including Xu Jingming, Yue Ying, Lan Yu, and others, showed little change in expression.

They indeed hadn't endured the constant high-mortality combat trials like the other two factions, but a 0.5% mortality rate truly wasn't high.

Yet with a base of three hundred thousand, it meant roughly fifteen hundred peer prodigies would perish in each competition.

That number was enough to make any rational person shed their contempt.

"Besides hunting beasts for points, defeating opponents from other factions grants you half their accumulated points.

Additionally, this Beast Hunt Competition will be broadcast live to the public.

Your smart armbands are equipped with cameras—you may turn them on or off at will.

When the competition enters its final month, all participants' livestream options will be forcibly enabled for full public broadcast.

At that time, your performances will be displayed directly before the audiences of your respective factions and the entire Cosmic Human Race."

Ye Li's cold voice rang out again.

Public broadcasting is also the best way to enhance the influence of our three factions among the Cosmic Human Race.

"Rules are clear. Any objections?"

After announcing the rules, Ye Li's gaze swept across the entire platform.

Instantly, every person on the platform fell silent; the faint murmurs vanished completely, plunging into total stillness.

Come on, everyone had already decided to join the Beast Hunt—no one would object to these rules.

"Since there are no objections, we now begin distributing space rings and smart armbands."

Ye Li raised a hand as white and jade-like as polished stone, and swept it lightly.

Hundreds of thousands of drones rose from behind and flew toward the contestants.

"Ding-ding-ding. Scan complete.

Your competition-exclusive space ring and smart armband have been issued.

Your original space ring and smart armband will be collected uniformly after the competition ends."

Accompanied by a chorus of mechanical electronic beeps.

Within moments, the over three hundred thousand Star-Class contestants on the platform each received their space rings and smart armbands.

"Now, I declare this year's Beast Hunt Competition officially begun!"

Boom!!

Minutes later, hundreds of light portals blazed to life before the platform.

Each portal rippled with stable spatial waves; from within, the desolate and dangerous aura of Blood Refining Star faintly seeped out.

"Each portal will teleport you to any safe location on Blood Refining Star.

If you choose to form a team, you may enter together and will not be separated during teleportation."

As Ye Li's final words faded.

In an instant, the long-suppressed battle fury and passion erupted violently!

"Hah! It's started! It's started!"

"I'm the Beast Hunt King! The Blood Refining Medals are mine!"

"Let the academy types see what real combat is!"

"......"

Three hundred thousand figures transformed into streams of light, each with unique colors and overwhelming momentum.

Like a meteor shower flowing backward, they surged forward toward the portals in a frenzy.

The Cosmic Mercenary Alliance students charged with the wildest ferocity, their roars shaking the heavens, like beasts unleashed from their cages.

The God-Slaying Martial Temple's team moved with greater discipline, often entering in small squads, coordinating their advances.

On the Eternal Star Alliance side, most also moved swiftly.

Some became solitary streaks of light; others converged with pre-arranged teammates and plunged into the portals.

"Jingming, you really won't join us?"

From within the Eternal Star Alliance's ranks, Yue Ying turned her beautiful large eyes toward Xu Jingming and spoke.

Beside her, Lan Yu, Yan Ji, and Beth also turned their gazes toward him.

They had already agreed to act together.

"No, I'll operate alone," Xu Jingming replied with a smile, shaking his head.

He intended to hunt beasts with maximum efficiency.

Yue Ying and the others are too weak; following me would only be a burden.

"Alright."

Yue Ying's beautiful eyes dimmed, but she had expected this; her cold, elegant face quickly lit up with a smile.

"Then see you in a year. May you slay more beast beasts and rack up more points."

Their goal is simply to avoid elimination in the first few months.

But Xu Jingming is different; with his strength, he'll easily last until the end.

"See you in a year! Captain, don't leave us too far behind!"

Yan Ji said with a laugh.

"See you in a year."

Xu Jingming smiled faintly and said no more.

In the next instant, his figure moved, transforming into a swift, dark-golden Lei Guang.

He started behind but overtook dozens of figures ahead in an instant, diving straight into the nearest light portal.

Xu Jingming felt his vision blur, a faint dizziness from spatial transition washing over him.

The next second, his feet firmly touched soft, slightly damp soil.

"Roar—"

"Howl—"

"......"

His ears were instantly filled with a cacophony of sounds.

Distant, heart-stopping roars of beast beasts echoed.

Interspersed with sharp hisses and strange cries of unknown creatures, layered and reverberating through the dense forest.

The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, mingled with rotting leaves, damp earth, and the exotic aroma of strange plants.

The canopies of towering trees intertwined high above, nearly blocking out the sky.

Only faint patches of pale light leaked through the gaps, rendering the entire surroundings deeply dim.

This environment was eerie, dangerous, brimming with unknown killing threats—perfect for filming a horror movie.

Yet Xu Jingming felt not the slightest tension.

Instead, a long-missed thrill surged from his heart; his blood seemed to warm slightly.

This was the feeling!

In the Heaven's Punishment Thunder Realm, though equally dangerous,

lightning never ceased, blinding flashes turning heaven and earth a blinding white.

It lacked the gloom and oppression of the wild.

But this peril-laden forest environment felt deeply familiar to him.

It felt like returning to the days he fought in the wild zones of Blue Star.

This was his familiar battlefield—the stage that could push his vigilance and killing intent to their peak.

"Hunting begins!"

Xu Jingming drew a deep breath; dark-golden lightning coiled around him, his vast spiritual force surging forth in Lei Kuangyong!