Chapter 18

“Phew, exhilarating!”

“Awesome! So exhilarating!”

“No wonder Senior Xu is so incredible!”

“Damn, watching that got my blood boiling—I even want to grab a spear and try it myself.”

“......”

As the Arm-Knife Tiger King fell.

The students in the audience, like gourmets who had just feasted, sighed contentedly with their own evaluations.

At that moment, Xu Jingming’s image suddenly jumped to the 6th position.

“#6, Xu Jingming, 796 points (Jiangcheng No.2 High School)”

“What the hell? How did Senior Xu’s rank jump to #6?”

“His score was only 634 just now—how did it spike nearly 160 points all at once?”

“Even if there were four or five first-tier beasts, it shouldn’t net him that much score!”

“......”

For a moment, everyone was puzzled—this score increase was too extreme.

“Holy shit! I just realized—Senior Xu isn’t in the central zone anymore; he’s entered the core zone!”

A cry from somewhere made everyone instinctively check the virtual map.

Indeed, Xu Jingming’s location was now deep within the red core zone!

“I thought those Arm-Knife Tigers looked oddly sized—turns out they weren’t peak-tier non-class beasts, but first-tier beasts!”

“So all the beasts Senior Xu just killed were first-tier?”

“Insane! He took down first-tier beasts like chopping vegetables!”

“......”

Originally, all the students assumed Xu Jingming was still in the central zone, and the beasts were merely peak-tier non-class or first-tier.

But no one expected he had already entered the dangerous core zone!

He had just been fighting first-tier low and first-tier mid beasts!

It wasn’t their fault for missing it—the battle had been too intense.

At the same time, they finally understood why Xu Jingming hadn’t attacked earlier—he was rushing toward the core zone...

“Even the top-ranked Light Wind Sword, Zhou Mingyang, can only weave in and out when facing such beast groups.”

“Who else could be as brutal as Senior Xu—slaughtering every single beast in one go?”

Everyone instinctively compared Xu Jingming to Zhou Mingyang, the top-ranked candidate.

Yet they realized—even Zhou Mingyang couldn’t have demonstrated such overwhelming dominance just now!

“Fighting ten Arm-Knife Tigers alone, one of them first-tier mid?!”

“His combat power might even surpass Zhou Mingyang’s!”

“Who’s the teacher at Jiangcheng No.2 High School training Xu Jingming? How is he this monstrous?”

“......”

Outside the military zone, in the spectator stands.

When Xu Jingming stood alone against the beast horde, he immediately drew the attention of every teacher.

But they didn’t think much of it—they assumed Xu Jingming would simply flee.

After all, since the exam began, no candidate had ever dared challenge a core zone beast horde.

Yet the overwhelming, crushing display that followed left every teacher and principal dumbfounded!

Especially Class 5’s homeroom teacher, Chen Fan, whose face turned bright red with intense excitement!

A standout student meant glory for his homeroom teacher too!

“Xu Jingming is this strong?!”

Even the usually stoic principal of Jiangcheng No.2 High School widened his eyes in disbelief.

“His spear thrusts are swift as a dragon, lightning-fast!”

“Advanced spear technique! This is definitely Advanced Spear Technique!”

Education Bureau Director Zhang Wenshan was equally excited, but his focus was on Xu Jingming’s spear technique!

Keep in mind that

Ordinary people spend decades just to reach intermediate level with a weapon.

To reach advanced level, it takes most of a lifetime!

Yet Xu Jingming is only eighteen!

What kind of genius is this?

But then he remembered Xu Jingming’s ability, and couldn’t help slapping his thigh in regret: “Damn! What a waste!”

Based on his current performance, Xu Jingming is already stronger than Zhou Mingyang.

With a better ability, he might break Jiangcheng’s long-standing records and enter Jiangnan Province’s top fifty!

But his E-rank ability dooms him to stagnation...

“Advanced spear technique—no wonder he’s so brutal!”

“Xu Jingming is barely eighteen, and he’s already mastered advanced spear technique? What incredible talent!”

“Even geniuses from provincial capitals can’t master advanced weapon techniques!”

“......”

Hearing Director Zhang Wenshan’s sigh, the teachers finally snapped out of their awe—and erupted in fresh astonishment.

“Principal Zhao, congratulations—it looks like this year’s Jiangcheng champion will be from your No.2 High School.”

After that battle, anyone with eyes could see Xu Jingming was stronger than Zhou Mingyang—first place was inevitable.

Principal Liu Hang of No.1 High School, though bitter inside, still graciously congratulated Zhao Yao.

“Principal Liu, you flatter me—the exam isn’t over yet; the final result isn’t certain.”

No.1 High School!

Jiangcheng’s top middle school, rich in educational resources and home to the city’s most outstanding students.

Every year after Awakening, many top students from No.2 High School transfer to No.1 High School due to its superior benefits.

So it’s impossible for Principal Zhao of No.2 High School to feel no rivalry toward No.1 High School.

But No.1 High School is simply too strong—No.2 High School never gets a chance to shine.

Now, as No.2 High School’s moment of glory over No.1 approaches, Principal Zhao isn’t rushing—he speaks with quiet humility.

“Regardless, Xu Jingming’s strength speaks for itself. Having two students from Jiangcheng make Jiangnan’s top 100 is already impressive.”

Zhang Wenshan, having finally calmed down, nodded to Zhao Yao. “Your No.2 High School has done well—producing a student like Xu Jingming. After the Gaokao, I’ll recommend your school for official commendation.”

“Thank you, Director Zhang!”

Zhao Yao’s face lit up.

As an ability user who chose to become principal, he no longer had high hopes for personal cultivation—he focused on his career path.

A commendation wouldn’t just bring more resources to No.2 High School—it would benefit him personally too.

Who knows? Maybe one day he could rise into the Education Bureau!

“Xu Jingming, you’ve truly given me a huge surprise.”

Zhao Yao sighed inwardly—he never imagined No.2 High School could have a day like this.

As Zhang Wenshan predicted, in the time that followed,

Xu Jingming’s score shot up like a rocket.

In less than an hour, he surpassed Zhou Mingyang and claimed first place.

By then, the time was 3:00 PM.

Meaning six hours remained until the Wu Ke Gaokao ended...

That means the Wu Ke college entrance exam will end in six hours...