Chapter 8: Official Start, First Killing!

Each backpack contains a smartwatch, three energy bars, and one safety ball.

Please check your items carefully; if anything is missing, come to the podium immediately to replenish it.

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

It is now 8:40; there are still over twenty minutes until the Wu Ke college entrance exam begins.

Thus, after Wang Haiyang descended from the podium, the students on the open ground relaxed.

Does any team need a tank? I have a Class-D enhancement ability—I can both absorb damage and deal output.

Man, this exam is brutal—we can’t avoid forming a team. I have a Class-C mental ability that can temporarily stall beast cognition. Any team need me?

Our team needs a heavy hitter. Anyone with a Class-D or higher output ability, join us!

The Wu Ke exam does not prohibit students from forming teams.

Of course, points earned from team kills are split equally among all members, making efficiency far lower than solo hunting.

Therefore, most still choose to enter the exam alone.

But the unicorn rhinoceros discovered earlier has proven that this Wu Ke exam will be unusually difficult.

So even those who originally planned to go solo now began searching for teammates.

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

We’re short a support output—your lightning ability would fit perfectly.

From Class 5’s team, a girl in a silver-white fitted combat suit stepped up to Xu Jingming, her figure accentuated by the attire.

She had a lovely face, with a faint smile.

For an ordinary student, such a beautiful girl’s invitation would be a dream come true.

But Xu Jingming’s brow twitched.

The girl was Lin Qingyuan, Class 5’s monitor, and also a gentle, kind-hearted person.

Add to that her beauty and figure, and her popularity in Class 5 was high.

After learning Xu Jingming had lost both parents, this gentle monitor secretly helped him during class activities and daily studies.

Lin Qingyuan thought she was being discreet, but her former self, introverted and sensitive, quickly sensed this difference.

He’d even secretly believed Lin Qingyuan had feelings for him.

But the reincarnated Xu Jingming knew clearly: her actions were simply because she was kind-hearted.

Now, inviting him to join her team was the same reason.

But my dear lady, you’ve got to learn to read the situation!

The Wu Ke exam decides life or death!

No one wants a liability in their team—Lin Qingyuan inviting him would make the others resentful.

Xu Jingming glanced behind him.

Sure enough, seeing Lin Qingyuan invite him, her other teammates’ faces instantly turned purple with anger.

Monitor, I’m going solo into the exam. You guys go ahead.

Xu Jingming shook his head.

He also felt a pang of admiration for Lin Qingyuan’s innocent kindness.

Of course, purely from this, her family must have protected her well.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have developed such a personality...

Is that so? Alright, stay safe inside the exam.

Lin Qingyuan was about to urge him further, but seeing the seriousness in his eyes,

she knew further persuasion was useless, sighed, and turned away disappointed.

Good thing this kid has sense.

Among Lin Qingyuan’s other teammates, they also exhaled in relief.

Lin Qingyuan was their captain—they couldn’t oppose her decision.

But if Xu Jingming, with only a Class-E ability, joined their team, their entire group’s score would drop significantly.

You turned down Lin the beauty’s invitation? Man, you’ve got guts—so many want to team up with her.

After Lin Qingyuan left, Liu Jie sidled up, grinning slyly.

Don’t be ridiculous—you know our monitor’s just like that, always helping the weak.

Xu Jingming rolled his eyes.

You knew? I thought you thought she had a crush on you.

Liu Jie feigned surprise. “But seriously—you really plan to go solo?”

This Wu Ke exam is tough. With only a Class-E ability, going alone won’t be easy.

But if you call me big brother, I’ll reluctantly take you along.

Liu Jie dramatically flicked his hair.

Liu Jie used to be just as quiet as Xu Jingming.

But since awakening his Class-C ability, he’s become increasingly flamboyant.

Though his words were annoying, Xu Jingming knew Liu Jie was worried about him—true friend!

Of course, he’d never show it aloud.

Hah! Like I need you to carry me?

Xu Jingming let out an exaggerated scoff, then flashed a mysterious smile:

Let me tell you—I’m not who I used to be. I’ve changed completely!

I’m aiming for the Jiangnan Province top scorer. If you call me Dad, I’ll reluctantly drag you into the top 100 of Jiangnan Province.

With that, Xu Jingming imitated Liu Jie’s style and flicked his head dramatically.

Male friendship works like this—everyone competes to be the other’s dad.

Jiangnan Province top scorer? You’re full of it! I never knew you were this full of yourself.

If Zhang Hao were here, he’d laugh his head off.

Liu Jie widened his eyes, whistling in amazement.

Tsk tsk—these days, telling the truth isn’t believed anymore. Times really have declined.

Xu Jingming shook his head and sighed...

As Xu Jingming and Liu Jie bantered, time flew by.

Soon, it was exactly 9:00.

“Whoosh—”

The gates to the ruined town were pulled open by soldiers, and Wang Haiyang stepped back onto the podium to announce:

“The 2037th Wu Ke College Entrance Exam in Jiangcheng officially begins!! Candidates, enter the exam zone!”

No sooner had he spoken than over fourteen hundred candidates sprang into action.

“The Wu Ke exam has started!”

“This time, I’ll make a stunning debut!”

“My goal is Jiangnan Institute of Energy!”

Carrying hopes and aspirations, candidates clad in combat suits and armed with weapons surged into the ruined town like locusts.

Under this atmosphere, Xu Jingming also took up his spear and joined the crowd, laughing as he charged in.

The ruined town, like a gaping abyss, swallowed all the students whole.

Soon, the open ground outside grew empty.

“Activate all surveillance cameras and tracking drones—begin live broadcast of the exam!”

The Great Xia Nation is rich in martial virtue; every year, the Wu Ke exam is broadcast live.

The combat is watched not only by the Education Bureau and school principals and homeroom teachers, but every school also schedules time for first- and second-year students to watch.

Thus, as candidates entered the exam zone, over ten thousand hidden cameras in the ruined town activated simultaneously.

At the same time, over fifty military drones lifted into the air, tracking and filming those celebrity candidates who already had some fame before the exam.

Soon, images projected onto the sky above the open ground.

Meanwhile, school principals, homeroom teachers, and Education Bureau officials entered the audience seats, chatting among themselves.

The ruined town, though a small village under Jiangcheng, covered an enormous area.

With over fourteen hundred candidates entering, congestion occurred only at the entrance.

Once deeper inside, they vanished like a single drop of water in the ocean, leaving no ripple.

Moreover, beasts are intelligent creatures.

So when so many candidates entered the ruins, the beasts did not immediately attack—they hid instead.

Thus, teams and lone hunters each moved independently, advancing deeper into the ruined town.

Zhou Mingyang of No.1 High School, the Wind Blade, activated his ability immediately upon entering the exam zone.

He manipulated gusts of wind to reduce air resistance, then sprinted forward like a cheetah.

Xu Jingming also chose a direction, gripped his spear, and descended, while activating the smartwatch on his wrist.

Instantly, a blue virtual screen projected from the watch before his eyes, displaying a row of black text:

“Please authenticate your identity on the smartwatch.”

Blue Star’s technological development was more advanced than in his previous life; virtual projection had become a highly mature technology.

Xu Jingming showed no surprise, extended his left thumb, and pressed it against the smartwatch’s screen.

“Fingerprint verification in progress...”

“Verification successful. Candidate: Xu Jingming, Class 5, Grade 12, Jiangcheng No. 2 High School, Exam ID: 20372147849.”

On the virtual projection, Xu Jingming’s identity information appeared.

Simultaneously, two small boxes popped up in the upper right corner; the first displayed his score information:

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Class】: Jiangcheng No. 2 High School, Grade 12, Class 5

【Score】: 0

The second box showed Jiangcheng’s Wu Ke college entrance exam rankings:

“Rank 1: Zhou Mingyang, 7 points. (Jiangcheng No. 1 High School)”

“Rank 2: Li Yuan, 5 points. (Jiangcheng No. 1 High School)”

“Rank 3: Zhao Hu, 4 points. (Jiangcheng No. 1 High School)”

“Rank 874: Xu Jingming, 0 points. (Jiangcheng No. 2 High School)”

“......”

“No wonder No. 1 High School leads—they’ve already slain a ferocious beast.”

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

A map of the ruined town appeared before him.

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

The outer zone was green, the middle zone yellow, the core zone red, and the innermost zone a deeper, darker red!

The white light dot representing Xu Jingming himself sat at the map’s edge.

“There’s still a long way from the outer zone to the core. I’ll head straight for the core area.”

Xu Jingming adjusted his direction and moved toward the red zone on the map.

He hadn’t walked far when a beast the size of a leopard blocked his path.

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

Ignoring its fangs and the sharp claws stained with dark red blood, it was a strikingly beautiful creature.

“Ferocious beast: Shadow Cat...”

Xu Jingming, well-versed in the *Bestiary of Ferocious Beasts*, recognized it instantly.

It was an extremely common ferocious beast in the wasteland zones.

Of course, common did not mean the Shadow Cat was easy to handle.

On the contrary, it meant they possessed excellent adaptability.

Swift speed, razor-sharp claws and fangs, and a bite force exceeding a thousand kilograms.

Many candidates had fallen victim to Shadow Cats.

“Roar!!”

Spotting the human, the Shadow Cat let out a bloodthirsty growl, then charged forward on all fours.

The scent of fresh flesh stimulated its taste buds, further increasing its speed.

Usually, newly awakened cultivators would panic and not even realize it when facing a ferocious beast for the first time.

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

Soon,

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

It raised its claws, aimed at Xu Jingming’s head, and slashed down with full force!

Remember, a ferocious beast’s claws were as sharp as alloy.

If this strike landed, Xu Jingming’s entire head would explode like a watermelon!

As if anticipating this scene, a human-like gleam of excitement appeared on the Shadow Cat’s monstrous face!

Yet in the next instant, a black shadow flashed.

The entire Shadow Cat was pierced through the throat by a sharp spearhead, pinned midair!

Bright red blood gushed from the severed carotid artery like a fountain!

“Slain one unranked ferocious beast: Shadow Cat. Ability points +3.”