A dark fist surged forth, radiating a terrifying aura, suddenly materializing before Xue Bing's eyes. Where the fist passed, subtle ripples rippled through the space, and a sharp sonic boom echoed like distant thunder, unceasing in its intensity. Under Xue Feng's thunderous assault, even the solid floor beneath him cracked with a series of crisp cracks, spreading rapidly in countless fissures from the point of his feet, under the collective gaze of awed onlookers. Xue Feng launched his attack with the speed of lightning. Yet, he was no mere talker—though deeply impressed by the strength Xue Feng displayed, his response was equally swift. As Xue Feng's fist rapidly expanded in his vision, Xue Bing hesitated not at all, releasing the lance he had been held captive with, and stepped back slightly. With a flick of his fingers on his wristband, a long, sleek silver lance forged from refined steel instantly materialized in his hands. With the long spear in hand, the battle spirit that had been shaken and contracted by Xiao Yan's devastating strike surged rapidly within薛崩. A low roar erupted from his throat as his internal qi reached its peak, flowing out in a delicate crimson stream, eventually forming a red qi robe on his body. As his internal qi surged, his spear in hand remained unwavering—its tip trembled, sending out over a dozen faint afterimages. Crimson light surged forth, and the afterimages swiftly converged, ultimately transforming the entire spear into a sharp, glaring red glow, aimed directly at Xiao Yan. "Wave upon wave!" A low cry echoed in his mind. With the spear charged with relentless vigor, he drove it straight at Xiao Yan's fist. As the spear vibrated, waves of red light surged continuously, radiating a scorching heat that shimmered like cascading crimson waves. On the plaza, under the gaze of countless spectators, a glaring crimson glow surged forth, carrying a mighty wave of energy. The sheer force of this attack caused many to gasp in astonishment—no doubt, these standout students, qualified to compete in the Inner Academy's selection tournament, were capable of matching even the newly promoted Grand Combatant-level warriors. The crimson light rapidly expanded within the dark pupils, intensifying as it met the surging heat. Despite the powerful pressure, Xiao Yan's expression remained as calm as ever. Over the past two years, he had faced opponents vastly superior to himself, and had witnessed numerous attacks far exceeding this one in scale—thus, to expect him to retreat under such pressure would be nothing short of impossible. Still, the fact that the opponent had fully exerted themselves so swiftly and effectively was a welcome sign of sharpness, catching Xiao Yan slightly off guard. Yet, that was about all. The fist trembled slightly, and a surge of jade qi erupted suddenly, rapidly coalescing into a layer of jade-like keratin on the surface of the palm. "Regardless of how fiercely you struggle today, there is only one path ahead!" The force of the fist, now enveloped in the jade keratin, surged dramatically. Xiao Yan's lips curled, and he finally lost no further hesitation or mercy. With a sweeping motion of his right arm, he drove the fist forward, crashing it squarely into Xue Bing's spear tip under the gaze of countless onlookers. "Eight-Point Collapse!" "Boom!" At the point of contact, a thunderous sound erupted from the arena. The solid stone floor where they met instantly shattered into fine powder, cracks spreading outward like a spider's web. "Crack—" Powder rose from the ground, and at the very instant when a fist or a spear made contact, a sharp, crisp sound like iron breaking erupted suddenly from the battlefield. Immediately thereafter, a figure surged violently upward from the faint dust, spewing out a gush of bright red blood. As the figure crashed to the ground, he slid along the floor for nearly fifteen meters before finally coming to a stop. Even after a nine-star cultivator had unleashed a mid-tier technique, it was still remarkable that a single punch could forcefully shatter a long spear forged from refined steel—a feat that even some of the senior cultivators present found difficult to achieve. Yet, Xue Bing, a student of considerable reputation at the Cangnan Academy, had been decisively defeated by a fresh recruit who had only recently joined the academy, using precisely this raw, unrefined approach. Observing Xue Bing struggling to rise at the edge of the plaza, his body trembling and the broken spear lying in the ground, several individuals who had initially harbored reservations suddenly felt a cold wave surge through their hearts. From the strength displayed by Xiao Yan, it was evident that this newcomer, who had been on leave for two full years, was far from an ordinary student. Dust drifted slowly from the plaza as a young man in a sleek black robe stepped forward. The immaculate, crease-free robe stood in stark contrast to Xue Bing's disheveled appearance, and anyone with even a modicum of intelligence could clearly see that Xiao Yan's strength far surpassed that of Xue Bing. Xue Bing was currently a nine-star battlemaster. If Xiao Yan had defeated him, then Xiao Yan himself must at the very least be a strong battlemaster. As this possibility dawned on the spectators, a few people on the sea of viewers drew in sharp breaths. The way they now looked at Xiao Yan carried a new, subtle sense of admiration—being a battlemaster of this age was already exceptional, even within the entire Galen Academy. "Good... really strong..." On the stands, Xiao Yu and the others opened their mouths in astonishment, staring in disbelief at the tall, slender figure on the field. A young girl beside them couldn't help but gazing at her with sparkling eyes, murmuring softly—how could it be that薛 Bēng, a nine-star battle master, had been defeated in just one round, and even more astonishingly, by a single punch, after having unleashed his most powerful battle technique? They had been discussing just how long Xiao Yan could possibly endure, but before they could finish their conversation, the field had presented such a scene that left them utterly speechless. "This person... has been improving so rapidly over the past two years, hasn't he?" Xiao Yu remarked with a wry smile. By the side, the mentor Liun gradually regained her composure, gazing at the young man's back. Even now, she found it hard to believe that this restless student, who had missed two years of academic instruction, had not only surpassed the top performers of the Xuanyuan-level class but had done so with the most vigorous and direct form of attack. Recalling the thunderous punch Xiao Yan had delivered earlier, she mused that if it were her own, she might have struggled to fully withstand it. Suddenly, she chuckled softly. Two years ago, in Wutan City, that very young man had fought her with great effort, managing only twenty rounds before being forced to retreat. Now, the attacks he was delivering required even her to carefully assess each one before deciding whether she could successfully parry them. Such a rapid progression was truly astonishing. "It's no wonder he has captured the heart of such an outstanding girl like Xun'er. This student truly possesses the talent." Gazing slightly at Xun, whose face bore a smile, Master Rulin murmured in her heart. On the opposite side of the stand, Bai Shan folded his arms across his chest, his brows slightly furrowed as he watched the black-robed young man standing straight and upright on the plaza. After a while, he exhaled gently and smiled softly, "Indeed, you have quite the talent. Only now do you truly deserve my full attention. I hope you can persevere through several more rounds—should the opportunity arise, I'd like to meet you personally." "A formidable rival, indeed. Yet, she will surely be mine!" Turning his gaze toward Xun, Bai Shan observed the young woman dressed in light green robes, standing gracefully among the other women, like a lotus blooming quietly and alone. "Ah, that one's punches are so powerful—she even managed to hold off Xue Bing's 'Waves in Cascade' for only a moment. I believe her strength must be at least above three-star Grand Combatant level." The red-clad young woman, her figure as alluring as a demon, gazed with cunning eyes at Xue Bing, who had fallen with remarkable decisiveness, and could not help but be astonished. "Indeed, his punches are quite sharp and powerful. Moreover, he manages to localize and solidify energy, enhancing both attack and defense—a skill that demands a refined mastery of qi. Remarkably, he matches you in this aspect." The elder, nodding slightly, spoke with a touch of amazement. "Heh. Now you see how well Xun'er's judgment has been? This young lad is no ordinary person. I suspect that even if you or Bai Shan faced him, the outcome might well be uncertain." The elder glanced at the slender figure still standing in the field, speaking with a hint of profound meaning. "Oh?" "Heard this, the red-robed maiden arched her delicate willow-leaf brows, smiling gracefully, 'Then I shall find an opportunity to challenge him. Should I win, I shall have him hand over Xun'er to me...' 'You... you imp! So many fine men have pursued you—why, if you don't like them, you should simply let them go. Yet you go bothering Xun'er? You'll only be content if you've completely ruined my reputation!' Hearing this, the elder grew furious, murmuring his disapproval. 'What's so special about those smug men? If it weren't for this face of mine, would any of them even come seeking me?' The red-robed maiden scoffed, gently stroking the lively, cunning features of her face. Frustrated by this unruly young woman, the elder was nearly driven to the brink, yet could do nothing but sigh and wave his sleeve, turning his gaze back to the field. At that moment, Xiao Yan glanced at Xue Bing, who was now struggling to keep up at the edge of the square, then turned to the judges' stand, smiling, 'I wonder if this match can be counted as my victory?' "Haha, of course we can." A gray-robed elder seated on the judges' bench smiled warmly at Xiao Yan, nodding with a gaze full of unspoken significance. As Xiao Yan spoke, he slightly inclined his head, then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, flicked his hand—causing the Xu Zhong Chi, standing a short distance away, to automatically launch itself and be caught in his hand. He then inserted it firmly behind his back, lifting his gaze to the smiling young woman dressed in green robes on the stand, a gentle warmth spreading through his heart. With a light tap of his foot on the ground, he swiftly moved across the platform and landed precisely at the area where the Yellow Rank Class Two was located. "I'm sorry I arrived a bit late..." Gazing at the graceful young woman before him, whose face had been deeply etched into his memory over the past two years, Xiao Yan ignored the steady streams of intense glances from the crowd, gently brushing his hair aside and speaking with a touch of apology and softness. Lifting her delicate face, Xun stared at the clear, refined countenance—less fresh and naive, more mature and resolute than it had been two years ago—and suddenly broke into a breathtakingly beautiful smile. Then, she made a move so unexpected that it left the entire audience spellbound. A girl who had never gone beyond ordinary friendliness with any man in the academy gently extended her arms and, with a sudden rush, plunged herself into the warm embrace she hadn't held in over two years, eagerly savoring the familiar scent.