"In each backpack are smartwatches, three energy bars, and a protective sphere. Please check the contents carefully. If anything is missing, immediately approach the platform to receive the missing items," Wang Haiyang finished his speech and descended from the platform.
It was now 8:40 AM, just over twenty minutes remained until the start of the martial arts exam. As soon as Wang Haiyang left the platform, the students in the square visibly relaxed.
"Are there any teams that need a tank? I have a D-level amplification ability, I can both withstand damage and deal some," a voice rang out.
"Ugh, the difficulty of this year's exam is too high; I really don't want to go in alone. I have a C-level mental ability, I can temporarily halt the thoughts of ferocious beasts. Does anyone need that on their team?" another student offered.
"Our team is lacking a powerful attacker. Is there anyone with a D-level or higher offensive ability? Join us!" another appeal sounded.
The martial arts exam did not prohibit students from forming teams. However, the points obtained for killing ferocious beasts as a team were divided equally among all participants, which significantly reduced the efficiency compared to going solo. Therefore, most still preferred to enter the examination area alone.
But the recent sighting of the One-Horned Rhino had already proven that the difficulty of this exam would be quite non-standard. So, even those who initially hadn't planned to team up now began searching for companions.
"Xu Jingming, you haven't joined any team yet, have you? Maybe you should go with us? We just need more attack support, and your lightning ability would be perfect," a girl in a tight-fitting silver-white combat suit, which accentuated her slender figure, approached Xu Jingming.
The girl had a sweet face with a slight smile playing on it. An average student would have been thrilled by such an invitation from a beauty. However, Xu Jingming merely frowned.
The girl's name was Lin Qingyuan. She was the Class 5 monitor and was known for her gentle nature. Beautiful and with an excellent figure, she was very popular in the class.
This kind-hearted class monitor, having once learned that Xu Jingming's parents had died, discreetly helped him during class activities and studies. Lin Qingyuan thought she was being subtle, but the former withdrawn and sensitive Xu Jingming quickly noticed this special care. He had even secretly believed that Lin Qingyuan had a crush on him.
However, the current Xu Jingming, having gone through rebirth, perfectly understood that all of Lin Qingyuan's actions were dictated purely by her kindness. And she was inviting him to the team now for the very same reason.
"Good heavens, could you at least learn to read the room!" Xu Jingming internally exclaimed.
The martial arts exam was a life-or-death trial! No one wanted dead weight on their team. Lin Qingyuan's invitation would surely cause discontent among the other members of her group.
Xu Jingming glanced back. And indeed, upon seeing Lin Qingyuan invite him to the team, the faces of her other group members instantly turned the color of a pig's liver.
"Monitor, I plan to go into the exam alone. You'd better stick with your team," Xu Jingming shook his head.
At the same time, he couldn't help but admire Lin Qingyuan's naivety and kindness. Of course, based solely on this, one could assume that Lin Qingyuan's family took very good care of her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have developed such a character...
"Is that so? Well, alright, then be careful during the exam," Lin Qingyuan was about to continue persuading him, but seeing the seriousness in Xu Jingming's eyes, she realized further attempts were futile. She sighed and turned away with disappointment.
"It's good that this guy understands the situation," the other members of Lin Qingyuan's team breathed a sigh of relief. She was their leader, and they couldn't openly object to her decisions. But if Xu Jingming, with his mere E-level ability, had joined their team, it would have significantly lowered their overall score.
"To turn down an invitation from the beauty Lin is something else, Ming! Many would give anything to be on her team," Liu Jie approached, grinning.
"Oh, come on, you know our monitor. She just likes helping the weak," Xu Jingming rolled his eyes.
"Oh, so you are aware? I thought you decided she was secretly in love with you," Liu Jie feigned surprise. "But seriously, are you really planning to go into the exam alone?"
"This exam is going to be very tough. It'll be hard going alone with your E-level ability," Liu Jie continued. "But if you call me 'Big Brother,' I guess I'll take you with me."
Liu Jie dramatically tossed his hair. It should be noted that previously, like Xu Jingming, he had been quite reserved. But after awakening a C-level ability, he began to act more and more like a show-off.
Despite the annoying tone, Xu Jingming understood that Liu Jie was just worried about him. That's what a true friend was! Of course, he wouldn't say it out loud.
"Hahaha, don't make me laugh! Do you think I need your help?" Xu Jingming feigned a loud laugh and gave a mysterious smile. "If you want the truth, I'm not the person I used to be. I'm completely different now!"
"I'm aiming for first place in Jiangnan Province. If you call me Daddy, I might, just might, help you get into the provincial top hundred," Xu Jingming finished and, mimicking Liu Jie, dramatically tossed his head.
Such was the nature of male friendship—a constant competition to see who could one-up the other.
"First place in Jiangnan Province? You are such a braggart! When did you become such a motormouth?" Liu Jie's eyes bulged with surprise. "If Zhang Hao were here, he'd burst out laughing at your words."
"Tsk-tsk, these days, no one believes the truth. The world is definitely going downhill," Xu Jingming shook his head, sighing dramatically.
Time flew by quickly amid Xu Jingming and Liu Jie's teasing. Soon, it was exactly nine o'clock.
"Creak!"—the soldiers opened the enormous gates leading into the abandoned town. Wang Haiyang once again ascended the platform and solemnly announced:
"The 2037 Jiangcheng Martial Arts Exam officially begins! Examinees, enter the trial grounds!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the more than fourteen hundred participants sprang into action.
"The exam has started!"
"I'll surprise everyone this time!"
"My goal is the Jiangnan Province Superpower University!"
With hope and expectations, clad in combat suits and armed, the examinees poured into the abandoned town like a swarm of locusts. Caught up in the general mood, Xu Jingming also grabbed his long spear and rushed forward with a loud laugh.
The abandoned town, like a vast, bottomless maw, swallowed all the students. The square outside quickly emptied.
"Activate the surveillance cameras in the ruins and launch the monitoring drones. Start the live broadcast of the exam!" a command was issued.
Great Xia was famous for its martial traditions, and every year, the martial arts exam was broadcast live. The battles were watched not only by personnel from the Department of Education, school principals, and homeroom teachers, but every school also organized a viewing for first- and second-year students.
As all the examinees entered the trial grounds, tens of thousands of hidden cameras in the abandoned town simultaneously activated. At the same time, over fifty military drones ascended into the air, beginning to track the movements of well-known participants who already had a certain reputation before the exam began.
Soon, numerous projections appeared in the sky above the square. School principals, homeroom teachers, and representatives from the Department of Education, chatting among themselves, took their seats in the spectators' stands.
Although the abandoned town was only a small settlement under the jurisdiction of Jiangcheng City, its territory was vast. The more than fourteen hundred examinees, upon entering it, quickly dispersed. There was only some crowding at the entrance, but further in, the participants dissolved into the space, like drops of water in the sea.
It is worth noting that ferocious beasts also possessed a certain level of intelligence. Therefore, when such a large number of examinees entered the ruins, these creatures not only did not immediately rush to attack but even went into hiding.
Teams and solo participants began to independently advance deeper into the abandoned town.
Zhou Mingyang, nicknamed the Light Wind Sword from First Middle School, immediately activated his ability upon entering the examination area. Controlling the currents of wind to reduce air resistance, he darted forward like a cheetah.
Xu Jingming also chose a direction and moved forward with his spear ready, simultaneously activating the smartwatch on his wrist.
Instantly, a blue virtual screen, projected by the smartwatch, appeared before Xu Jingming's eyes. It displayed a line of black text:
"Please complete identity verification on the smartwatch."
The technology of the Azure World was more advanced than in Xu Jingming's past life, and such virtual projections were already a perfectly commonplace technology.
Without surprise, Xu Jingming extended his left thumb and placed it on the smartwatch screen.
"Fingerprint verification…"
"Confirmed. Examinee: Xu Jingming, Jiangcheng Second Middle School, Class 3(5), Examination Ticket Number 20372147849."
Xu Jingming's identity information appeared on the virtual screen. At the same time, two small windows popped up in the upper right corner. The first displayed information about his score:
[Name]: Xu Jingming
[Class]: Jiangcheng Second Middle School, Class 3(5)
[Points]: 0}
The second window showed the Jiangcheng City Martial Arts Exam Score Ranking:
『1st Place: Zhou Mingyang, 7 points (Jiangcheng First Middle School)
2nd Place: Li Yuan, 5 points (Jiangcheng First Middle School)
3rd Place: Zhao Hu, 4 points (Jiangcheng First Middle School)
874th Place: Xu Jingming, 0 points (Jiangcheng Second Middle School)
…..』
"Just as expected from First Middle School, they've already managed to kill ferocious beasts," Xu Jingming shook his head and clicked on the map option on the virtual screen.
The map of the abandoned town unfolded before him. It was shaped like an irregular circle, with various zones marked in different colors.
The Peripheral Zone was colored green, the Middle Zone—yellow, the Central Zone—red, and the very Core of the territory was marked in deep crimson!
The white dot marking Xu Jingming's location was situated right at the edge of the map.
"It's still quite a distance from the periphery to the center. Well, let's head straight for the Central Zone," Xu Jingming adjusted his direction, setting his sights on the red zone on the map.
He hadn't walked more than a few steps when his path was blocked by a ferocious beast the size of a leopard.
Its fur was black as ink, but its vertical pupils had a light-orange hue. Were it not for the sharp fangs jutting from its mouth and the dark-red bloodstains on the sharp claws of its paws, it would have been a beautiful creature.
"Ferocious beast, a Shadow Cat..." Xu Jingming, who had thoroughly studied the Atlas of Ferocious Beasts, instantly recognized the creature.
It was one of the most common species of ferocious beasts in the Wildlands. However, its commonality did not mean the Shadow Cat was easy prey. On the contrary, it attested to its high adaptability. Lightning speed, sharp claws and fangs, and a biting force exceeding a thousand kilograms—many examinees had fallen victim to Shadow Cats.
"Rrrr!" Detecting the human, the Shadow Cat let out a bloodthirsty growl and rushed to attack, rapidly closing the distance.
The scent of fresh flesh excited its taste buds, making it move even faster.
Usually, upon the first encounter with a ferocious beast, even experienced Awakened become flustered and don't know what to do. However, Xu Jingming, encountering a Shadow Cat in reality for the first time, remained completely calm.
The Shadow Cat soon closed in to three meters from Xu Jingming and leaped. Raising its sharp claws, it aimed for the young man's head and struck with force!
It is worth noting that the claws of ferocious beasts were no less strong than metal alloys. If that strike had landed, Xu Jingming's head would have burst open like a watermelon!
The Shadow Cat seemed to anticipate just such an outcome—an almost human expression of excitement appeared on its bestial face!
However, in the next instant, a black shadow flashed. The spearhead pierced the Shadow Cat's throat, pinning it to the ground right in mid-air!
Scarlet blood spurted like a fountain from the beast's ruptured carotid artery!
『Unranked ferocious beast, Shadow Cat, slain. +3 Ability Points』