"We're in a right fix now."
Zhou Mingyang couldn't help but let out a wry smile.
If it had been any other ordinary Tier-2 fierce beast,
the four of them working together might just have been able to hold out for a little while.
But given the Bloodthirsty Berserker Bear's strength, if that bear paw—as big as a massive iron cauldron—came crashing down, they'd all be dead!
They wouldn't even stand a chance.
"There's another possibility: the moment we step into the estate,
we'll be wiped out by the swarm of Tier-1 High-Level fierce beasts before the Bloodthirsty Berserker Bear even has a chance to strike."
The bald young man curled his lip in disdain.
Even if the four of them joined forces, they could only handle three or four Tier-1 High-Level fierce beasts at most.
Yet there were well over thirty Tier-1 High-Level fierce beasts down in the estate's open area!
In other words, whether it was that Tier-2 Bloodthirsty Berserker Bear
or the remaining Tier-1 High-Level fierce beasts, they dared not provoke any of them.
"The difference in the beast composition between the Innermost Core Zone and the Core Zone is just too vast.
The strongest beasts in the Core Zone were only Tier-1 Mid-Level, but in the Innermost Core Zone, not only have the strongest beasts become Tier-2,
but even the ordinary ones are all Tier-1 High-Level. How are we supposed to handle this?"
The petite girl, Meng Di, pouted unhappily.
"Before the exam, I heard that Old Liu was the setter for this year's Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, but I didn't believe it.
Now it seems, with this insane beast lineup, it's definitely him, no doubt about it!"
The long-haired boy said through gritted teeth.
The setter for the annual Martial Arts College Entrance Exam in Jiangnan Province rotates each year.
And Old Liu, the setter in question, is one of the most ruthless among them.
The exam he sets has a failure rate more than double that of other years!
"The combination of Tier-1 High-Level and Tier-2 fierce beasts in the Innermost Core Zone is a standard feature of the national Martial Arts College Entrance Exam.
It's just that Old Liu replaced them with the far more formidable Bloodthirsty Berserker Bear.
We can't blame anyone else for this; we simply don't have the strength."
Zhou Mingyang sighed.
The Martial Arts College Entrance Exam was, by its very nature, a selection of the very best.
The Innermost Core Zone was the equivalent of the final question in a mathematics exam.
Only those capable of solving this final challenge could truly be considered geniuses.
He was the genius of Jiangcheng, the focus of everyone's attention.
Yet, when viewed against the entire Jiangnan Province, he didn't even have the qualifications to attempt this final challenge...
"Come to think of it, that Xu Jingming bloke worked himself to the bone for most of the day, going to great lengths just to scrape together a few thousand points.
Yet that's still no match for the speed of slaying this Tier-2 beast right here, or the thirty-odd Tier-1 High-Level beasts."
The long-haired youth's lips curled slightly, a hint of schadenfreude evident on his face.
The points awarded for beasts in the Innermost Core Zone were far higher than those in the Core Zone.
Slaying a Tier-1 High-Level beast would yield 100 points.
If one could slay the final Tier-2 Beast King, one could gain a massive 4000 points in one go!
"What humanity needs are formidable warriors with outstanding combat strength. What use is there in killing hordes of weak beasts?"
The long-haired youth clearly harboured some resentment towards Xu Jingming.
Zhou Mingyang frowned upon hearing this, but ultimately said nothing.
After all, it was partially true.
The Martial Arts College Entrance Exam demanded powerful warriors.
Not mere killing machines who only knew how to slaughter Tier-1 Lower-Level beasts.
Just as was the case on Blue Star today, although fierce beasts ran rampant,
as long as one eliminated all the Tier-9 Beast Emperors within a beast herd, the remaining beasts would collapse without resistance.
But if the Beast Emperors were not eliminated, killing ordinary beasts would accomplish little.
It was precisely for this reason that the Innermost Core Zone beasts awarded such high points.
In this way, simply slaying a Tier-2 Beast King was enough to dominate the rankings.
And Tier-2 beasts were mandatory targets for candidates aiming to become provincial champions.
That said, Zhou Mingyang silently added a thought to himself:
'What use is Xu Jingming? Doesn't that mean the rest of us, with scores lower than his, are completely useless?'
Though he thought this, they would soon be fighting together, so he kept silent.
"Right, enough talk."
"We'll head down shortly and see if we can lure out a few Tier-1 High-Level beasts."
They certainly couldn't charge directly into the clearing guarded by a Tier-2 Bloodthirsty Berserker Bear.
Zhou Mingyang's plan was to lure them out one at a time.
Of course,
there was also the possibility that none would be lured out.
If that happened, they would have no choice but to return to the Central Zone.
"Time to get moving."
"Tsk, trying to lure beasts from a place guarded by a Tier-2 beast? Isn't that asking for trouble?"
"Heh, even if it is asking for trouble, we still have to try."
"..."
However—
Just then, a black figure sprinted rapidly toward them from the distance.
The figure moved with the speed of a cheetah, reaching the entrance of Jinseryuan Estate in seconds.
"Xu Jingming!"
Zhou Mingyang's gaze sharpened.
Although he stood on the rooftop of the eighth floor, his enhanced vision allowed him to instantly recognize the figure below as Xu Jingming.
"Xu Jingming's here too? Where is he?"
"Xu Jingming? Hmph, I want to see who this guy really is!"
Meng Di and the others quickly turned and looked down.
Below—
At the entrance of the estate—
stood a young man.
Tall.
Steady.
Eyes sharp as blades.
His black combat uniform was stained crimson from countless battles.
And the black spear on his back—
once perfectly sharpened—
was now chipped and jagged from overuse.
It looked like a blade that had chopped through countless bones.
"What a handsome guy!"
Meng Di's eyes lit up.
"To wear down an F-Grade alloy spear to this state… it's hard to imagine how many fierce beasts he has slain."
The bald-headed boy stared in shock.
After all,
F-Grade alloy was extremely durable.
For it to become this damaged proved the brutality of Xu Jingming's battles.
"To dare stand before a pack of beasts like this… he's courting death."
The long-haired boy snorted coldly.
"Roar—!"
"Wooo—!"
Immediately—
Xu Jingming's presence agitated the beasts below.
In an instant—
Over a dozen Tier-1 High-Level beasts charged toward him!
"It's over! He alerted the herd!"
Meng Di cried out.
"How could Xu Jingming be so reckless?"
Zhou Mingyang frowned.
At this distance, they couldn't reach him in time even if they rushed.
"What else could it be? First place gave him too much confidence. He doesn't know his limits."
The long-haired boy sneered.
"He's actually using a spear, but that spear won't save him."
Just as he said—
Xu Jingming initially held off the first few charging beasts.
But soon—
More beasts surged forward.
His figure was swallowed by over a dozen beasts.
"Xu Jingming… he isn't going to die just like that… right?"
Zhou Mingyang stared in disbelief.
He had risen like a comet—
Was he really about to fall like a shooting star?
Most importantly—
Why would Xu Jingming act like this?
Knowing full well that the Innermost Core Zone contained Tier-1 High-Level and Tier-2 beasts—
How could he charge in so boldly?
"Come to think of it… he never used his Lightning-Type Ability when I met him."
Zhou Mingyang muttered.
"Never mind… life and death are fate."
Then—
Suddenly—
A deep voice echoed across the battlefield:
"Divine Lightning!"
The next instant—
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted.
A surge of purple lightning burst outward from the center of the beast horde!
Every beast struck by the lightning was blasted backward several meters, their bodies charred black.
The dense beast formation was instantly cleared.
And at the center—
Xu Jingming stood motionless.
Like a war god.
Around him—
Purple lightning swirled wildly, dancing like loyal subjects welcoming their sovereign.
Only then did Zhou Mingyang and the others realize—
That wasn't a simple shockwave.
It was a massive high-voltage lightning field formed from condensed lightning energy!
"What??!!"
Zhou Mingyang stared in shock.
After several seconds, he finally whispered:
"Xu Jingming… you really are a Lightning-Type Ability User…"