The darkness flashed in front of Qin Meng's eyes and then he found himself standing on a hilltop. He examined his surroundings and noticed a green and dense forest spreading over miles while behind him was a towering mountain, blocking the path. He could move only towards the jungle. He also noted that the mountains surrounded forest from other sides as well.
This valley was his hunting ground. His eyes glittered and then he rushed towards the forest. He was worried about Zeng Hong and others, but he could do nothing just by standing in the same spot. He was eager to battle his competitors. For that, he had struggled like a dog in Burning Wilds. He could still taste the sand in his mouth.
As soon as he entered the forest, he found cruel and vicious eyes glaring at him. The wolf sauntered towards him, larva and drool splattering from its mouth as it stared at Qin Meng, growling.
With just a glance, Qin Meng knew it was a middle-grade 1 monster. He curled his lips and bolted towards it. The creature felt humiliated. How dare a puny human resist in front of it? It gave a thunderous roar and lunged at Qin Meng, wanting to show him the reality of the cruel world.
Qin Meng, however, side-stepped, avoiding the lunge easily, and while the wolf was still in the air, he punched under its belly. The wolf howled in a heart-wrenching cry before collapsing. It struggled to stand, but couldn't. It whimpered and slumped down. Eyes still wide open.
Qin Meng looked at the bracelet on his wrist and curled his lips. The number had turned five from zero. But then he frowned—because two more tiny screens appeared on the bracelet, on either side of the primary screen. One of them was showing a timer. 29 days: 22 hours: 30 minutes: 50 seconds remaining. It was the time limit for the competition.
The other side was showing a name. Number one: Yu Cheng with eighty points, and in front of the points was an arrow, pointing in a particular direction. "Damn, the academy is too cruel." Qin Meng wondered how many people must be rushing towards Yu Cheng. He shook his head in pity.
Anyways, he heard another roar in the distance and dashed towards the sound. However, as soon as he reached the target, he froze, and without wasting a second, he fled in another direction.
Because in front of him there was a pack of around twenty wolves. The leader of such a pack must be a grade 2 beast. His only option was to escape as soon as possible. He had no intention of becoming their food.
The wolves howled and chased after him.
It took around an hour before he escaped from the wolves. His breath was ragged, his face dripped with sweat, and his heart raced furiously. Qin Meng looked around and squatted down and placed his back against a tree.
This place was too damn big. He was running for an hour, and he had yet to meet a single student. He wiped the sweat off his face and brought a water bottle. The storage ring was too convenient.
After wetting his throat, he spattered some water over his face.
Suddenly, his ear twitched. "Someone's fighting," he said and moved towards the sound. He wiped the thickets and shrubs, and looked from the hole, in the distance. He regretted not bringing any weapon with him. Though he hadn't practiced any weapons, he could always use them in this kind of situation.
Qin Meng spotted a group of people, and in front of them was a student on his knees, covered in wounds, face painted in blood, and clothes were tattered. Qin Meng remembered this guy. He had seen him standing in Tan Qi's group, while the other group was one of the Great Houses. House Fang. Though there were only five of them and their leader was missing.
"Take my points if you want. Why humiliate me?" said the boy, still on his knees, gritting his teeth in fury.
"Why?" said a student of House Fang. "Because you are weak."
The boy glared at them, but couldn't do anything. He was helpless and… weak, indeed, they were correct. "What are you staring at, you bastard?" said one of the Fang and kicked the boy. "Who told you that someone like you could look at the people of our status like this?"
"Alright," said another Fang. "Take his points and let's go. We need to unite with Brother Xue as soon as possible."
"Yes, Brother Shi," said the student who had kicked a boy from Tan Qi's group. He turned towards the wounded boy and sneered. "Consider yourself lucky that we are in a hurry today." Then he moved towards the injured boy. Ready to take his points.
However, at this moment, a figure walked out of the thickets. Qin Meng eyed them and said, "How's it goin', everyone?"
"Who are you?" Fang Shi scowled at him. Other members of the group also became alert and surrounded him. Suddenly, Fang Shi's eyes flashed as if he remembered something. "You are Qin Meng, right?"
"No," Qin Meng shook his head. "I'm your dad."
Fang Shi's expression darkened. "Beat him up!" he said.
His four companions attacked. Each of them released their Martial Spirits. Wolves. All of them had wolf-type Martial Spirits. It was the speciality of the House Fan, and they were either 6th or 7th Motif Stage.
Qin Meng narrowed his eyes and then sneered. He activated Moonlight Rush and arrived in front of a 7th Motif Stage surrounding him. Before he could understand anything, Qin Meng buried his fist into his belly. The man groaned and then collapsed. And soon after beating the first guy, Qin Meng appeared in front of the other.
In just a few seconds, he beat down the group of four. Then he turned towards Fang Shi and grinned. "It's your turn."
Fang Shi's eyes were wide, and as soon as he heard Qin Meng, he turned and sprinted away. "Trying to escape?" Qin Meng sneered. "Dream on."
He once more activated Moonlight Rush and arrived in front of Fang Shi. Qin Meng grinned and punched him. His teeth flying in the air as he collapsed.