Chương 144: War God — Chapter 144 - Wang Xian: But I'm Already Third-Realm

The next day. Students boarded the Defense Bureau train, heading to Panlong Mountain's unmanaged zone under escort from the Tian Du Military's Tenth Unit. On the train. Chi Jiuyou briefed the freshmen on their final exam objectives:"Your main targets for this exam are three exotic beast species in Panlong Mountain: Iron-Scaled Wolves, Crimson Blood Pythons, and Heart-Rending Bears. They're distributed across three different zones."

"All three are specialized-type beasts. Extremely strong."

"Also, Panlong Mountain's Malevolent Qi concentration is high, around 60%. Watch your infection levels. Once your safety wristband triggers a Malevolent Qi alert, your body's at its limit. You must leave immediately."

"On top of that, it's a high-altitude mountain. Temperatures drop to extreme lows at night and spike during the day."

"The temperature swings will make this exam significantly harder." Chi Jiuyou was thorough. Actually, before they'd left for North Tibet, the school had already emailed all this information to students taking the Panlong Mountain assessment. But that's what seniors do. They're responsible like that.

"The exam runs three days total."

"Your scores are based on killing the three beast types and gathering materials."

"Solo kill plus corresponding materials equals ten points."

"Six kills to pass."

"Ten kills for perfect score."

"Team kills split by headcount."

"After you hit perfect score..." Chi Jiuyou smiled.

"You can move freely through Panlong Mountain and train as you like. Every additional beast you kill counts toward academic credits and Battle Merit."

"If you can kill a hundred..." He pointed at Panlong Mountain, now visible in the distance.

"Then on the exam's final day, President Yan and I will take you to the summit, Dragon Head Cliff."

"That's where two Martial Gods once sought the Dao and left behind their training ground."

"Even now, traces of those Martial God experts linger."

"Every spear mark and blade scar on Dragon Head Cliff represents a martial art at its pinnacle. Comprehend even a fraction, and your martial realm will advance."

"You might even glimpse those predecessors' martial brilliance."

"But there's a powerful spiritual pressure field up there. Anyone lacking strength or willpower can't ascend."

"So, juniors, understood?"

"Understood!" the students shouted in unison. The rules weren't complicated. Martial arts major, after all. Real combat against exotic beasts, tempering martial skills, harvesting materials. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Beyond that...... plenty of related warnings. Like if you encounter fully armed foreign martial artists trespassing illegally, don't try negotiating. Just run. Elite exotic beasts in certain zones? Don't think about fighting.

Just run. Panlong Mountain's elite beasts were mostly C-rank mid-tier and above, some at peak tier. Those were targets for sophomores and juniors. And there were far more of them than in Bi Luo Water City. Watch for temperature shifts, Malevolent Qi fluctuations, and so on... The train finally stopped at the temporary martial artist camp outside Panlong Mountain. Students disembarked, staring up at the mountain towering into the clouds, its peak blanketed in snow.

The terrain resembled a coiled dragon, pale-red Malevolent Qi obscuring most of the view. Intimidating.

"Xiao Chi, take the students in." Captain Qian from the Tenth Unit stationed himself at the base with several dozen personnel.

"Report any situation immediately through your Malevolent Qi wristbands!"

"Wang Xian, kid, good luck!" Lu Tiesheng waved at Wang Xian in the group.

"Panlong Mountain's nothing like our Bi Luo Water City. Be careful. This place is a mixed bag, and the high Malevolent Qi concentration weakens martial artists significantly."

"Especially the beasts inside. They hunt in packs. Vicious and cunning."

"This is a C-rank unmanaged zone. There are real C-rank exotic beasts in there." Wang Xian smiled and nodded. Chi Jiuyou smiled as well.

"Don't worry, Instructor. I'll watch over them." And so. Chi Jiuyou led several dozen second-realm freshmen into Panlong Mountain. The moment they entered. Every student's Malevolent Qi wristband displayed a small reading. Rising every second. Probably their first time experiencing such concentrated Malevolent Qi. Their expressions changed in unison. Without proper combat suits, even second-realm martial artists wouldn't last long in this environment. Fortunately, after a semester's growth, they adapted quickly.

"Our entry point should be near Wolf Cauldron Forest." Chi Jiuyou explained.

"Main beasts here are Iron-Scaled Wolves. Extremely ferocious. High speed, extremely strong defense. They move in groups of three to five, coordinating attacks. Solo combat is very difficult. Your individual strength is outstanding, but as your senior, I personally suggest team fighting."

"If you encounter a large pack of D-rank Iron-Scaled Wolves, immediate avoidance is your best option." Everyone nodded. A large pack of D-rank Iron-Scaled Wolves. Even all 70-plus of them together would struggle to win.

"Can't be that easy to run into, right?" Dao Sanxiao cut in.

"School intel says Iron-Scaled Wolves are mostly high E-rank, about our level. D-rank wolves shouldn't be that common." Chi Jiuyou chuckled, about to respond. Suddenly. In the distant forest, pairs of eyes burning with ghostly fire glowed bright even in daylight.

"Dao Sanxiao, damn it, your mouth really jinxed us!" a student hissed.

"Called it instantly. Ghost fire forming candles, that's D-rank Iron-Scaled Wolves. Hell, why are there so many?" The students halted. Frowning at the forest ahead, they all drew sharp breaths. They hadn't expected to encounter a wolf pack immediately. And in such numbers. More than their own headcount.

"How can there be so many..." Chi Jiuyou looked equally shocked, then frowned.

"Retreat first. With this many D-rank Iron-Scaled Wolves, I can handle them as your senior, but I can't protect all of you... And generally, I don't participate directly in combat..."

"Let's go." The students nodded. Only Wang Xian stared at the wolf pack without turning to leave.

"Wang, junior, what are you..." Chi Jiuyou looked at Wang Xian, who hadn't moved.

"The pack is large. Even with your strength, handling them solo would be difficult. Withdraw first. There's plenty of exam time. No need to rush." Wang Xian glanced at him and shook his head.

"I'm going to try." Chi Jiuyou froze. The other students stared.

"Wang, junior, these are all D-rank wolves..." Chi Jiuyou said seriously.

"Panlong Mountain isn't the same as Bi Luo Water City..."

"But I'm already third-realm." Wang Xian cut him off. Everyone froze. As Wang Xian finished speaking, he stopped concealing his life force aura, over 1, 000 points. He stepped forward and released it fully. The next second. He gripped the Minghong Blade. The blade roared like a tiger as he charged into the Iron-Scaled Wolf pack like a tiger pouncing on prey.

Even without opening his divine meridians, his perfected Tiger Sha Blade Technique, a single Tiger Soul Howling Sky Slash empowered by over 1, 000 life force points, instantly suppressed over 100 Iron-Scaled Wolves. A terrifying blade technique practically designed to counter exotic beasts. Control, sustained damage, explosive power. All in one. Displayed perfectly before everyone. Just one complete set of Tiger Sha Blade Technique, culminating in the final move, Hegemon's Ruin: Shattering Mountains and Rivers.

Under the effect of Butcher's Beast Dismemberment, over 100 Iron-Scaled Wolves didn't even howl. As the earth trembled, they died within endless blade aura, shattered into neatly arranged corpses. Even materials like wolf fangs, pelts, and flesh were cleanly separated and divided... When Wang Xian walked back, no one had recovered. He simply looked at Chi Jiuyou and smiled.

"Senior, I've completed the exam objective."

"I can move freely now, right?"

"..." Chi Jiuyou.

"..." Everyone. ➤ Next: Dragon-Tiger Ridge, Mountain-Treading Nightmare Tiger