The sixth-level beasts, sensing the sudden surge of power emanating from Lu Chen, hesitated for a fraction of a second. It was a fatal error. Before they could react, Lu Chen moved with blinding speed. His seventh-level sword flashed, a silver arc against the dim forest light, and the nearest Shadow Wolf was instantly cleaved in two, its lifeless body collapsing onto the forest floor.
The remaining wolves, their predatory instincts screaming danger, turned to flee. But Lu Chen was relentless. Utilizing a technique that seemed to teleport him through the shadows – Shadow Step – he appeared amongst them in a blur of motion. Each flash of his sword brought another beast down, their snarls cut short, their bodies falling like felled trees. In mere moments, the once menacing pack was annihilated.
As the last wolf dissolved into motes of dark energy, Lu Chen glanced at the leaderboard. The numbers beside his team name, "Lu," had jumped astronomically. They now sat at the coveted number one position with a staggering 9500 points.
Yun Li, Yun Mu, and Chu Su, who had watched the entire display with wide-eyed awe, erupted in cheers. Their young master's power had exceeded their wildest expectations.
Lu Chen sheathed his sword, the potent aura receding. "The competition ends in two hours," he announced, his gaze sweeping over his team. "Let's maximize our hunt."
As the final bell signaling the end of the competition echoed through the training grounds, the student body buzzed with disbelief. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"How did Lu Chen's team jump to first place? I saw they only had 1200 points earlier!"
"I overheard someone saying Lu Chen's team was hunting sixth-level beasts..."
"No way! I heard all the sixth-level beasts in the west sector were single-handedly taken down by Lu Chen!"
"Young Master Lu Chen is truly powerful! This is the might of an imperial family's scion!"
Meanwhile, Chen Fan and Chu Ming approached the leaderboard with confident smiles. They were certain their team, with their hard-earned 8000 points, had secured the top spot. But as their eyes scanned the rankings and landed on the name "Lu" at the very peak, their expressions froze. Shock and disbelief washed over their faces, their triumphant smiles vanishing without a trace. The gap of 1500 points felt like an insurmountable chasm. The whispers around them, now tinged with awe for Lu Chen, only amplified their stunned silence.