The entire training ground fell into a deathly silence.
A pin could have been heard dropping.
Everyone's eyes widened and their mouths fell open. As if turned to stone, they stared blankly at the young man in the center of the arena as he slowly withdrew his fist.
What had just happened?
What had they seen?
A "nepotism hire" at the Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm had taken down one of the class's strongest students, a Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm cultivator who had even used Martial Soul possession, with a single punch?
Was... was this a fucking dream?!
The smug expressions and cheers of Lei Ming's followers had still been frozen on their faces; now they were left pale and dazed.
Their homeroom teacher, Zhou Kai, the middle-aged man who had always seemed a little weary and perfunctory, was also dumbstruck. The hand holding his clipboard trembled slightly.
He looked at Lei Ming, who had been knocked unconscious, then at Xiao Han on the arena. Xiao Han's breathing remained steady, as though he had merely swatted a fly to death. Zhou Kai's eyes were filled with incredulous shock and deep bewilderment.
Was... was that really the sixth level of the Warrior Realm?!
The terrifying intent and explosive power contained in that punch had even made Zhou Kai, a teacher in the Martial Master Realm, feel a pang of alarm!
There was definitely something wrong with this kid!
As though he hadn't seen the looks around him, as if everyone had seen a ghost, Xiao Han calmly withdrew his fist and even made a token gesture of brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve.
He walked to the edge of the arena and looked at Zhou Kai, who was still in a daze. "Teacher, the test is over, right?" he asked evenly.
"Ah... oh! It's over! It's over!" Zhou Kai abruptly came to his senses and nodded hurriedly. The way he looked at Xiao Han had completely changed. Gone were the scrutiny and indifference from before, replaced by surprise, suspicion, gravity, and even a trace of... apprehension?
He hurried onto the arena and gave Lei Ming's injuries a cursory examination. Only after confirming that he was merely badly injured and unconscious, with no danger to his life, did Zhou Kai secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
At the same time, his assessment of Xiao Han had risen to an unprecedented level.
A monster! He's definitely a monster!
Taking down a peak ninth-level cultivator with one punch while at the sixth level of the Warrior Realm? With that kind of combat strength, he could probably go toe-to-toe with some students who have just entered the Martial Master Realm!
How did someone like that end up in Class Seven? Did the academy's higher-ups arrange it deliberately? Or... is there something wrong with this kid's records?
Doubts swarmed through Zhou Kai's mind, but he maintained his composure on the surface and announced the result. "Xiao Han wins! Combat rating... excellent!"
He had wanted to give him a "perfect," but considering the impact, he settled on "excellent" for the time being.
Even so, he had already decided that he had to report this situation to the academy immediately!
Xiao Han didn't care in the slightest. Ratings and the like meant nothing to him.
He nodded calmly and, under the awed, curious, and disbelieving gazes of his classmates, stepped down from the arena and returned to his seat by the window. He continued... looking outside, as though he hadn't been the one who had stunned everyone with a single punch.
The atmosphere on the training ground, however, completely exploded because of the fight!
"Holy shit! He... he took him down in one hit?!"
"Lei Ming! He was at the peak ninth level of the Warrior Realm, and he even used Martial Soul possession! And just like that... one punch?!"
"What the hell was that punch? Why did it make my heart jump into my throat?"
"Sixth level of the Warrior Realm? Who are you trying to fool?! He's definitely fucking hiding his strength!"
"Hiss... when did Class Seven get someone this fierce?"
Discussion, cries of surprise, and sharp intakes of breath swept across the entire training ground like a tide.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Xiao Han, who had stepped down from the arena, brushed off his sleeve, and looked out the window again as though nothing had happened.
Awe, curiosity, disbelief—every kind of complex emotion intertwined in their eyes.
Lei Ming's followers were now as pale as paper, too afraid to breathe loudly. Their gazes were filled with fear as they looked at Xiao Han.
Thinking back on their earlier mockery and gossip, it was like they had been dancing at the gates of the King of Hell's palace!
But no one had changed more than their homeroom teacher, Zhou Kai.
This was the middle-aged teacher who had always seemed weary and perfunctory, as though he didn't care about anything.
Now he jogged down from the arena, taking three steps in two, his face wreathed in an enthusiastic, even somewhat obsequious smile. He was like a different person from the indifferent man he had been before.
"Xiao Han! Oh my, are you all right? You didn't get hurt just now, did you?" Zhou Kai came up beside Xiao Han, his tone overflowing with concern and his eyes brimming with warmth. "Are you thirsty? I have specially supplied energy drinks here! Want a bottle? Replenish your strength!"
As he spoke, he fumbled a beautifully packaged bottle of blue liquid out of his spatial ring and tried to press it into Xiao Han's hand.
He looked just like a salesman who had spotted a super VIP customer.
The students watching nearby felt their eyes twitch. Teacher Zhou, with how fast you change your face, it's a waste that you didn't study acting!
Xiao Han glanced at him. "No need, teacher," he said calmly.
"Hey, don't be shy, don't be shy!" Zhou Kai's smile didn't fade; if anything, he grew even more enthusiastic.
"Xiao Han, your strength... you really kept it well hidden! I failed to recognize your abilities before and neglected you. Please don't take it to heart! From now on, if you need anything in class, just tell me! Cultivation resources, credit missions—whatever I can help with, I won't hesitate!"
He understood perfectly now. Xiao Han definitely wasn't some nepotism hire, but a genuine super powerhouse!
A Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm cultivator taking down a Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm cultivator with one punch? There aren't many in the entire first year with that kind of combat strength! How could someone like that be assigned to Class Seven?
Either his records were wrong, or some big shot deliberately arranged for him to develop here while keeping a low profile!
Whichever it is, my earlier attitude was practically courting death! I have to make up for it quickly and hug this possible golden thigh tight!
Xiao Han had no particular reaction to Zhou Kai's 180-degree turn. He just found him a little noisy. He nodded and replied perfunctorily, "I understand, teacher."
Zhou Kai wanted to say something else, but a commotion of moderate volume arose at the entrance to the training ground.
A group of students wearing uniforms different from Class Seven's walked in, led by a tall, upright young man with an arrogant face.
The young man's aura was steady, his gaze sharp, and a fluctuation faintly emanated from him that was stronger than Lei Ming's—his cultivation had clearly just entered the Martial Master Realm!
Several people followed behind him, and every one of their auras was at the eighth or ninth level of the Warrior Realm. Clearly, they weren't students from an ordinary class.
"I heard Class Seven got someone fierce? A Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm cultivator who knocked Lei Ming down with one punch?"
The Martial Master Realm youth at the head of the group swept his gaze across the training ground with a condescending air of scrutiny. His eyes finally settled on Xiao Han, who had just stepped down from the arena, and his lips curved into a playful smile. "Was it you?"
The group's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention.