Each backpack contained a smart watch, three energy bars, and a safety sphere.
"Candidates, please check your items carefully. If anything is missing, come to the stage immediately to receive replacements."
After Wang Haiyang finished speaking, he immediately stepped down from the podium.
It was 8:40 a.m., with just over twenty minutes remaining until the martial arts entrance exam officially began.
As Wang Haiyang left the stage, many students on the field relaxed slightly.
"Which team needs a tank? I have a D-level Enhancement-type ability, able to tank and deal damage."
"Ugh, this year's exam is way too difficult; you can't go solo. I have a C-level Psychic-type ability and can interfere with the minds of fierce beasts to some extent. Does any team need me?"
"Our team needs a strong damage dealer. Anyone with D-level or higher offensive ability can join!"
"…"
In martial arts entrance exams, students could form teams.
Of course, points earned from team kills were divided equally among members, making it less efficient than solo combat.
As a result, most candidates preferred to enter the field alone.
However, seeing the unicorn rhinoceros earlier had already demonstrated that this year's martial arts entrance exam would be unusually difficult.
Consequently, some candidates who hadn't planned to form teams began looking for allies.
"Xu Jingming, you haven't joined any team yet. Why not join ours? Our team still needs an auxiliary damage dealer, and your lightning attribute would be perfect for the role."
A young woman from Class 5, wearing a silver-white tight combat suit that highlighted her elegant figure, approached Xu Jingming.
She had a sweet face and a gentle smile. Any ordinary student might have been thrilled by such an invitation.
Xu Jingming's eyebrows twitched slightly.
The young woman's name was Lin Qingyuan, the Class 5 monitor. She was kind-hearted and gentle by nature.
Her beauty and figure were well known among fifth-year students.
When she learned that Xu Jingming's parents had passed away, she quietly helped him manage daily class activities and school life.
Xu Jingming, with his formerly shy and sensitive personality, had easily noticed this difference. He even secretly assumed Lin Qingyuan had a crush on him.
However, after crossing over, Xu Jingming knew clearly that all of Lin Qingyuan's actions were simply motivated by her kindness.
Her invitation to join her team was for the same reason.
But dear lady, one must also read the room!
The martial arts entrance exam was a matter of life and death! Nobody wanted a burden in their team. If Lin Qingyuan invited him, the other team members would surely feel awkward.
Xu Jingming looked back once.
Sure enough, the other teammates' faces flushed the moment they saw Lin Qingyuan invite him to join.
"Monitor, I plan to enter the exam alone. You all go ahead with your team."
Xu Jingming shook his head.
At the same time, he sighed inwardly at Lin Qingyuan's pure kindness.
Judging from her actions, her family must have protected her well, or she wouldn't have developed such a personality.
"Alright… then be careful when you enter the exam."
Lin Qingyuan was about to continue persuading him, but seeing Xu Jingming's serious expression, she sighed and turned away, disappointed.
"At least this kid knows his limits."
The rest of Lin Qingyuan's teammates relaxed as well. She was their team leader, and they could not override her decision.
However, if Xu Jingming, with only E-level ability, joined their team, their team's score would drop significantly.
"Ah Ming, you even refused the invitation from our beautiful monitor? That's impressive. So many people would kill to team up with her."
After Lin Qingyuan left, Liu Jie quietly approached with a sly grin.
"Don't worry. You know our monitor likes to help weaker students."
Xu Jingming rolled his eyes.
"Oh, you knew? I thought you believed she had a crush on you."
Liu Jie feigned surprise. "But seriously, do you really plan to enter the exam alone? This year's martial arts exam is extremely tough. You only have an E-level ability; going solo could be dangerous. But if you're willing to call me 'big brother,' I might reluctantly go with you."
Liu Jie flicked his hair casually.
Previously quiet like Xu Jingming, he had grown more flamboyant after becoming a C-level ability user.
Although Liu Jie's words were annoying, Xu Jingming knew he genuinely cared—a good brother!
Of course, he didn't let it show.
"Heh, what a joke! You expect me to need you to go with me?"
Xu Jingming let out a dramatic cold laugh, a mysterious smile appearing.
"Honestly, I am no longer who I was before. I am not the same as before!
"My goal this time is the Jiangnan Province champion. If you want to call me 'Dad,' I might reluctantly bring you into the top 100 of Jiangnan Province."
He exaggeratedly mimicked Liu Jie's hair flip. This was the essence of male friendship—they both wanted to dominate each other.
"Champion of Jiangnan Province? That's impressive! I didn't think you'd brag like that."
"If Zhang Hao were here, he'd probably laugh his head off."
Liu Jie widened his eyes, clicking his tongue in disbelief.
"Now people don't even believe the truth anymore. This world is getting worse."
Xu Jingming shook his head and sighed.
As Xu Jingming and Liu Jie bantered, time flew quickly.
Soon, it was 9:00 a.m.
"Whoosh—"
The soldiers opened the gates to the Ruined Town. Wang Haiyang stood on the podium and announced:
"The 2037 Jiangcheng Martial Arts Academy Entrance Exam officially begins! Candidates, enter the field!"
As soon as he finished, over 1,400 candidates surged forward.
"Martial arts entrance exam has begun!"
"This time, I will make a name for myself!"
"My goal… Jiangnan Ability Users University!"
"…"
With hopes and ambitions driving them, candidates wearing combat suits and wielding weapons swarmed into the Ruined Town like a swarm of locusts.
The outer square soon emptied.
"Activate Ruined Town cameras and tracking drones. Prepare for live broadcast!"
The Daxia Kingdom valued martial virtue; every year, the martial arts entrance exam was broadcast live.
Education bureaus, principals, and teachers all watched. Each high school also scheduled viewing sessions for younger students.
Thus, when all candidates entered, tens of thousands of hidden cameras in the town activated.
Meanwhile, over fifty military drones took flight, tracking and filming the exam's notable candidates.
Images were projected across the open space above.
Though the Ruined Town was just a small village under Jiangcheng, its territory was vast.
With more than 1,400 candidates, once they entered, the town became like a drop of water falling into the ocean—leaving no ripple.
Fierce beasts, being intelligent, did not immediately attack. They hid, waiting.
Thus, both teams and solo candidates proceeded deeper into the Ruined Town.
The "Gentle Wind Sword" Zhou Mingyang from First High School immediately activated his ability. Using strong gusts, he reduced air resistance and charged forward like a leopard.
Xu Jingming picked a direction, holding his spear, and activated his wrist-mounted smart watch.
A blue holographic screen appeared in front of him, displaying black text:
"Candidate, please verify your identity on the smart watch."
The technology on Blue Star was more advanced than in his previous life; such holographic projection tech was mature.
Xu Jingming was not surprised. He placed his left thumb on the smart watch screen.
"Fingerprint verification in progress…"
"Verification successful. Candidate: Xu Jingming, Jiangcheng Second High School, Grade 12, Fifth Year. Exam ID: 20372147849."
His identity appeared on the virtual display.
In the top right corner, two small panels popped up. The first showed his score information:
[Name]: Xu Jingming
[Class]: Jiangcheng Second High School, Grade 12, Fifth Year
Score: 0
The second showed the current rankings for the exam:
Zhou Mingyang — 7 points (Jiangcheng First High School)
Li Yuan — 5 points (Jiangcheng First High School)
Zhao Hu — 4 points (Jiangcheng First High School)
…
Xu Jingming — 0 points (Jiangcheng Second High School)
"Not surprising. First High School has already killed fierce beasts so quickly," Xu Jingming muttered.
He clicked the map option on the virtual screen. The map of Ruined Town appeared.
The map was an irregular circle, with different colors marking different zones.
Outer zone: green
Middle zone: yellow
Core zone: red
Deepest core zone: dark red
Xu Jingming's white dot appeared at the edge.
"There's still a long way to the core, so I'll head straight for the core zone."
He adjusted his path toward the red zone.
Soon, a leopard-sized fierce beast blocked his way.
Its fur was jet black, but its vertical pupils glowed pale orange.
Ignoring its fangs and sharp, blood-stained claws, it was a strikingly beautiful creature.
"A fierce beast… Shadow Cat," Xu Jingming murmured, consulting the Beast Compendium.
This was a common fierce beast in the wild.
Common didn't mean weak—these creatures were highly adaptable, agile, with razor-sharp claws and a bite force over 1,000 kg. Many candidates had fallen to the Shadow Cat.
"Roar!!"
The beast spotted him, let out a bloodthirsty roar, and sprinted. Its sense of blood and flesh sharpened its speed.
Most ability users panic during their first fight with a fierce beast.
Xu Jingming, though seeing a Shadow Cat in reality for the first time, remained calm.
Soon, it closed to within three meters, then leaped.
It raised its claws, aiming at Xu Jingming's head!
A strike like this from a fierce beast could pierce even reinforced armor. If it hit, Xu Jingming's head could be crushed like a watermelon.
But as if anticipating this, a black silhouette flashed.
The entire Shadow Cat was pierced through the throat by a spear, suspended in midair!
Bright red blood gushed like a fountain from its severed carotid artery.
"Killed an unrated fierce beast, Shadow Cat. Ability points +3."