Let's See How Much You've Improved

The Shattered Ancient Battlefield, the Southeastern Dead Zone.

As the spatial ripples subsided, the figures of more than twenty Prodigies from the Star River Martial Academy appeared.

Beneath their feet lay dark red scorched earth, every grain of sand seemingly soaked in the blood of gods and demons. The air was thick with Primordial Era aura capable of eroding the Divine Soul, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"Form ranks! Be on alert!"

Almost the instant they landed, several experienced students shouted in low voices. Everyone immediately stood back to back, forming a tight defensive circle, and solemnly surveyed this unfamiliar and dangerous place.

Only Chen Fan, who was protected in the very center, still had his hands tucked into his sleeves, like a student on an autumn outing, curiously looking up at the unhealed spatial rifts in the sky, as if admiring some strange scenery.

This leisurely demeanor was completely out of place with the somber atmosphere around him.

Outside, in the Floating Martial Arena.

On the enormous Light Screen of laws, the real-time situation within the Ancient Battlefield was clearly displayed.

When the lights representing the three great academies of Heavenly Sword, Canghai, and Nine Provinces, like three sharp knives, pierced towards the location of the Star River Martial Academy from three completely different directions without hesitation, Ten Thousand Dao eyes in the stands froze instantly, followed by an uncontrollable gasp.

"An all-out offensive right from the start?!"

"Are you crazy?! Are they trying to wipe out the entire Star River Martial Academy?"

On the high platform, the instructor leading the team from the Heavenly Sword Martial Academy stroked his long beard, his eyes filled with absolute confidence in his disciple, mixed with a hint of appreciation and regret for Chen Fan.

"As expected. To deal with a prodigy like Chen Fan Qilin Prodigy, any probing is foolish; only a swift and decisive strike can finish him off in one fell swoop. After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, I truly hope he can come to my Heavenly Sword Martial Academy for a discussion."

"Indeed," the aloof female instructor from the Canghai Martial Academy spoke calmly, "Our academy's path might open up new avenues of thought for him."

The instructors at the Nine Provinces Martial Academy were even more direct, grinning. "Good steel should be used on a good blade. That kid is a born warrior; coming to Nine Provinces is the right path for him!"

In their conversation, they had already begun to openly poach talent.

On the viewing platform of the Star River Martial Academy, Wen Yuan and the others smiled.

They were well aware of Chen Fan's terrifying strength.

Even if these people joined forces, it wouldn't mean anything to Chen Fan.

Old Freak Wang slapped his thigh and burst into laughter.

"Haha! Good! Good! Good! That's exactly how it should be!" His eyes shone brightly, his face flushed with excitement. "A towering tree can't grow in a greenhouse! How can we see his true potential if we don't push this kid to the brink!"

On the battlefield.

One share, two shares, three shares!

Three distinct yet equally suffocatingly terrifying pressures swept in from three directions like a tidal wave.

The disciples of the Star River Martial Academy turned deathly pale instantly, feeling as if they were being locked onto by three Primordial Divine Mountains at the same time, making even breathing extremely difficult.

This is... we're surrounded!

"Boom!"

On the western horizon, smoke and dust rose like dragons into the sky. Tuo Bashan led the disciples of the Nine Provinces Martial Academy like a group of awakened savage beasts. Every step they took made the earth groan with a deep, mournful sound. Their wild fighting spirit had not yet arrived, but it had already scorched the air.

On the northern horizon, streaks of dazzling sword light tore through the clouds.

Shen Xuan and the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Martial Academy arrived on their swords, their Sword Qi forming a continuous line, like a Damocles' sword hanging overhead, its sharpness fully revealed, awe-inspiring and unassailable.

On the east side, the cool moonlight fell silently.

Su Qingyue and the disciples of the Canghai Martial Academy walked under the moonlight, their figures shifting between reality and illusion, silently appearing like a group of moonlit Ghosts walking among humans, silent yet deadly.

The three groups formed a perfect triangle, completely surrounding the members of the Star River Martial Academy.

"Chen Fan..."

Shen Xuan stepped forward from the crowd, standing before the sword light. He slammed his folding fan shut with a "whoosh," pointed at Chen Fan from afar, and his gentle smile carried a hint of determination.

"That's the rule, and you're just too tempting. We have no choice but to join forces and eliminate you, the biggest variable, from the game."

"That's right!" Tuo Bashan pounded his chest excitedly, letting out a thunderous roar, "Let's defeat you, you monster, first, and then we'll settle our score fair and square!"

Su Qingyue remained silent, only nodding coolly.

However, the Mental Power storm that slowly spun around her, almost solidifying, already indicated her stance.

Three close friends, three major academies—at this moment, they share only one goal.

Faced with such a large-scale encirclement and suppression, the disciples of the Star River Martial Academy felt their hearts sink to the bottom.

However, Chen Fan, who was being protected in the center, showed no signs of nervousness; instead, he revealed a genuine smile.

In those eyes, there was no anger from being besieged, no solemnity from being trapped in a desperate situation, only the joy of meeting a worthy opponent and the anticipation of a long-awaited reunion.

He slowly stepped out of his teammates' protective circle, met three burning gazes, and gave the three men a slight bow.

"I am truly flattered that my three friends have gone to such lengths to greet me."

He glanced around, his tone humble yet carrying a sense of matter-of-fact composure.

"Looks like I can't be lazy today."

The words had barely left his mouth!

"Roar!"

Tuo Bashan could no longer contain himself and let out a roar that shook the heavens!

The ground beneath his feet cracked violently, his muscles bulged, and his Qi and Blood energy transformed into crimson flames that shot into the sky like a meteor falling from the Primordial Era, carrying the force to shatter mountains and break peaks!

At the same time, a glint flashed in Shen Xuan's eyes, and the folding fan in his hand shattered inch by inch, transforming into a crystal-clear, ancient longsword.

He drew his sword towards the sky, and a vast Sword Intent pierced through heaven and earth suddenly erupted. Before the sword light even arrived, a dark mark was torn open in the Void, piercing straight into Chen Fan's Origin Source!

On the east side, the silver mole between Su Qingyue's eyebrows suddenly shone brightly!

The invisible Mental Storm materialized at that moment, whipping up sand and stones that coalesced into a Spear of Judgment capable of severing Divine Soul. Silent yet omnipresent, it enveloped all of Chen Fan's escape routes!

The ultimate in hand-to-hand combat!

The pinnacle of swordsmanship!

A devastating blow using Mental Power!

The three top Prodigies unleashed their most powerful attacks without reservation, simultaneously striking the seemingly frail child figure in the arena from three directions!

Faced with this devastating combined attack, Chen Fan did not retreat but advanced.

He looked at the three familiar yet unfamiliar figures, feeling their auras that were more than a hundred times stronger than a year ago, and murmured to himself, a hint of satisfied smile in his voice.

"Very well, let me see just how much you've grown in the past year."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand.