C26 Was There No One else in No.1 High School?

The practical combat assessment took place neither at school nor in the city center, but rather at a mutated beast hunting ground on the outskirts of Guanyun City. The beasts found here were typically captured by humans in their skirmishes with the creatures, and while similar, they were not quite the same as the true wild mutated beasts.

As such, the hunting ground was still under the jurisdiction of the city base, with manageable risks, making it an ideal training ground for high school students to engage in real combat exercises.

The facility was not ordinarily open to the public, serving primarily as a research site for studying mutated beast behavior and as a venue for students to gain hands-on combat experience.

On this particular afternoon, over 40,000 senior students from all 108 high schools in Guanyun City converged on the hunting ground's outskirts for the mock exam, which would see the entire facility opened up for the occasion.

For most students, this was their first encounter with a real mutated beast—a creature they had only seen in textbooks, videos, and images. A mix of excitement and anxiety rippled through the crowd.

"Before you step foot into the hunting ground, each of you will be given an Elemental Protection Talisman," the students were briefed. "You'll be scattered throughout the area in a randomized order. Should you face a life-threatening situation, the talisman will trigger a protective response, and rescue will be swift. However, that will also mark the end of your assessment. The hunting ground is clearly segmented, with the mutated beasts growing increasingly formidable from the periphery to the core zone. The frequency of beasts will also taper off from Level 1 to Level 2.

"Your objective is to capture as many mutated beasts as possible. The more powerful the beast, the higher your score. There's no need for a kill—just retrieve the Location Monitoring Device hanging around the beast's neck. While killing a beast won't incur a penalty, you're not allowed to remove the beast from the grounds. Remember, safety is paramount—don't act rashly. You may vie with fellow students for your quarry, but intentional harm to other participants is prohibited and will result in penalties. Teamwork is permitted, but points will be allocated based on individual contributions."

Despite the students' familiarity with the rules, Class Teacher Wang Tong reiterated the assessment guidelines with patience, ensuring clarity as they stood at the threshold of the hunting ground.

After students from various schools and classes were shuffled and ferried by military vehicles to be dispersed around the hunting grounds, Lu Chong was still pondering the rules.

"Are these exam rules reasonable and fair?"

Lu Chong sensed some flaws in the rules. Yet, this was a live combat assessment, where scenarios that could occur in real combat might unfold during the test.

So, absolute fairness didn't exist, but the setup was starkly realistic.

"A Level 1 mutated beast is on par with a human Martial Disciple, and it's also categorized into nine stages."

"A Level 1, Stage 1 mutated beast scores 1 point."

"Stage 2 is worth 2 points, Stage 3, 4 points."

"Meaning, capturing a Stage 9 mutated beast nets him 256 points, the equivalent of over two hundred Stage 1 beasts."

"The exam will get tougher as it goes on, but your scoring potential will greatly increase, and the number of competitors will thin out. That is, if you're strong enough."

Lu Chong mused internally while awaiting the start of the exam.

At two in the afternoon, the Elemental Light Wall spanning a hundred miles vanished promptly. Students were free to enter the hunting grounds from any direction.

An alarm blared, and a voice broadcast through each student's earpiece: "All students, please enter the hunting grounds within ten minutes. Once ten minutes pass, the light wall will reactivate, and entry to the hunting grounds will be barred."

Surveying his surroundings, Lu Chong realized he was alone.

Without further hesitation, he strode into the ramshackle area ahead.

Ten minutes later, the Elemental Light Wall descended anew, enclosing all the candidates within the hunting grounds.

Before Lu Chong lay a town in ruins. Collapsed old buildings littered the landscape, with moss and vines clinging to the patchy remnants.

A student of history, Lu Chong understood that the hunting ground of Guanyun City was the aftermath of a deadly conflict between humans and mutated beasts fifteen years prior.

Following the fierce clash, humanity had repelled the onslaught of beasts, albeit at the cost of half the city's structures.

It was decided that rebuilding was preferable to demolishing the damaged edifices. Besides, these remnants of war would stand as a caution for posterity. And so, the relics on the outskirts of Guanyun City were preserved.

As Lu Chong silently made his way through the alleys, a black shadow suddenly sprang from a window to his left. It let out a whimper and swiftly lunged for his neck.

It was a Shadow Cat!

Cloaked in inky fur, the creature was renowned for its speed, agility, and razor-sharp claws.

But it was merely at Stage 1, so Lu Chong hardly considered its speed a threat.

In the blink of an eye, as the Shadow Cat's claws came within five inches of Lu Chong's neck, he made his move.

He deftly sidestepped, his left hand shooting out like a bolt of lightning, his right hand descending with the force of a gusting fan.

Suddenly, a token materialized in Lu Chong's left hand. His right hand, now like the talons of a hawk, seized the Shadow Cat's neck, suspending it midair.

"So this is the Shadow Cat?"

Lu Chong wasn't pressed for time. He took a moment to examine the Shadow Cat closely.

"It's a pity I can't take it back with me. I could have sold it for a good sum." Lu Chong murmured with a hint of regret.

Even though the Shadow Cat was of no use to him, he refrained from killing it. Instead, he scrutinized it carefully.

Having finally come across a mutated beast, he intended to study it thoroughly to ensure he could swiftly conclude future battles should he encounter another of its kind.

The Shadow Cat measured half a meter in length. Its coat was sleek and glossy, its claws as curved and sharp as fishhooks.

Now, it snarled at Lu Chong, revealing a set of dagger-like teeth.

The beast's eyes were a deep green, with slit pupils that added to its menacing appearance.

Meanwhile, in the monitoring hall not far from the hunting grounds, Wang Tong felt a twinge of embarrassment and retreated to the back of the crowd.

The hall's front was dominated by a large screen, divided into numerous smaller panels showing live feeds of the students.

When the camera focused on those with exemplary performance, their images were magnified for all in the monitoring hall to see.

Naturally, if students with weaker foundations stood out, the operators would switch the feed to highlight their achievements.

The monitoring hall was filled with influential figures from Guanyun City and educators.

In attendance were the Class Teachers of the senior class, principals from various high schools, and top officials from the Department of Education, the military, and the police.

The live stream was kept under wraps from the public. It was imperative that it remained confidential, at least until the College Entrance Examination was over. Everyone involved had agreed to a non-disclosure contract.

Seated front and center in the first row, Principal Wai Jianguo of No.1 High School watched the students on the large screen with a beaming smile.

"Old Wei, who do you think is the standout student?" inquired an elder gentleman sitting next to Principal Wai, appearing to be of a similar age.

Casting a glance at Lu Chong on the screen, Wai Jianguo pointed him out and remarked, "That student has an immeasurable future ahead of him."

The principal from No.3 High School caught sight of Lu Chong petting a cat and raised an eyebrow in surprise. With a light laugh, he teased, "Do all No.1 High School students have their heads in the clouds?"