Chapter 18: Thrilled Teachers, Number One!

"Whoosh, exhilarating!"

"Awesome! So exhilarating!"

"No wonder he's Senior Xu—he's incredible!"

"Damn, watching this got my blood boiling—I wanna 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 jump to 6th place?"

"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 this much score!"

"......"

For a moment, everyone was confused—this score increase was too much.

"Holy shit! I just realized—Senior Xu isn't in the central zone anymore—he's entered the core zone!"

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

Sure enough, Xu Jingming's location was now deep inside 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?"

"Awesome! He took down first-tier beasts like chopping cucumbers!"

"......"

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

But no one expected that Xu Jingming 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 not noticing immediately—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, could only weave in and out against such beast groups."

"Who else could be as brutal as Senior Xu—killing every single beast in one go!"

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

Yet they found that even Zhou Mingyang, the star candidate, seemed incapable of such overwhelming dominance!

"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 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 hadn't thought much of it, assuming Xu Jingming would simply flee.

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

Yet the next moment, his near-overwhelming display left every teacher and principal dumbfounded!

Especially Class 5's homeroom teacher, Chen Fan, whose aged face flushed crimson—he was ecstatic beyond words!

With his student shining so brightly, the homeroom teacher himself basked in reflected glory!

"Xu Jingming... he's this strong?!"

Even the usually stoic principal of No. 2 High School widened his eyes in utter 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 in a weapon skill.

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

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 lament: "Ah! 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 Xu Jingming's E-rank ability dooms him to stagnation...

"Advanced Spear Technique—no wonder he's so fierce!"

"Xu Jingming's barely eighteen, and his spear technique's already at advanced level? What incredible insight!"

"Even geniuses from provincial capitals couldn't master advanced weapon techniques, could they?"

"......"

Hearing Director Zhang Wenshan's sigh, the teachers finally snapped to attention, bursting into fresh exclamations of shock and awe.

"Principal Zhao, congratulations. It looks like this year's Jiangcheng first place is going to fall to your Second High School."

After the battle just now, anyone with eyes could see that Xu Jingming's strength was greater than Zhou Mingyang's, and taking first place was only a matter of time.

Although First High School's principal Liu Hang was unwilling in his heart, he still generously offered his congratulations to Zhao Yao.

"Principal Liu, you're too kind. The exam isn't over yet — the result isn't necessarily decided."

First High School!

The best middle school in Jiangcheng — not only were its educational resources abundant, it also gathered the most outstanding students from all of Jiangcheng to enroll.

Every year after the awakening of abilities, Second High School would lose quite a few outstanding students who transferred because of the generous conditions First High School offered.

Therefore, when it came to First High School, it was impossible for Second High School's principal Zhao Yao to harbor no hostility at all.

Yet First High School was simply too strong — there was never any chance for Second High School to shine.

Now, the glorious moment when Second High School would suppress First High School was about to arrive, yet principal Zhao Yao was in no rush, his tone exceedingly modest.

"Regardless, Xu Jingming's strength is right there for all to see. It's not bad that our Jiangcheng has two people breaking into the top 100 of Jiangnan Province."

Zhang Wenshan, who had only just barely recovered his composure, nodded to Zhao Yao. "This time your Second High School did very well, cultivating a student like Xu Jingming.

Once the Wu Ke Gaokao is over, I will propose to the city that your Second High School be commended."

"Thank you, Director Zhang!"

Zhao Yao's face lit up with joy.

Ability-users like them who chose to become principals had long since given up much hope of improving their own strength; their focus lay more on their official careers.

And a commendation would not only bring more resources to Second High School, he himself as principal would also benefit from it.

In the future, taking another step forward and entering the Education Bureau — it wasn't impossible!

"Xu Jingming, you've really given me a great surprise."

Zhao Yao's heart was full of emotion; he had never imagined that Second High School would one day have a day like this.

Just as Zhang Wenshan had predicted, in the time that followed.

Xu Jingming's score shot upward like a rocket.

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

And at this time, the clock had reached three in the afternoon.

In other words, six hours later, the Wu Ke Gaokao would come to an end......