Gao Zhuang and Shouhou in particular were now as respectful toward Xiao Han as they had once been disdainful, even showing a hint of flattery.
Before long, they had gathered the ten crystal cores required for the mission, with quite a few to spare.
The atmosphere grew a little awkward.
"Uh... Brother Xiao Han," Gao Zhuang said, scratching his head and forcing a guileless smile onto his face. His earlier arrogance had vanished without a trace. "I... offended you earlier. Please don't take it to heart! We owe you this time, or else we..."
"That's right, that's right! Big Brother Xiao Han, your divine might is unmatched! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai!" Shouhou hurried over as well, nodding and bowing.
Although Leng Yue said nothing, Leng Yue also gave Xiao Han a slight nod, expressing thanks and acknowledgment.
Xia Yubing walked over to Xiao Han and said softly, "Xiao Han, thank you..."
Xiao Han waved a hand, cutting them off. "The mission's complete. Let's go back."
He couldn't be bothered to listen to their insincere pleasantries. Strength was the only way to earn respect.
The battle had turned the team's atmosphere upside down. On the way back, no one dared point fingers at Xiao Han anymore. Instead, he had subtly become the center of the group.
When they returned to the gathering point, they found that most of the teams had already returned. Luo Bing's team was among them, their expressions haughty; they had evidently completed the mission with ease.
Quite a few people cast gloating looks at Xiao Han's team upon seeing them return. When they saw the bloodstains and disheveled state of Gao Zhuang and the others, they snickered under their breath.
Luo Bing couldn't even be bothered to raise his eyes.
Instructor Qin Zhen appeared without a sound.
He swept his gaze over the group, his eyes settling on Xiao Han's team. Then he looked at the ten standard crystal cores they had submitted, as well as the two additional third-level alpha wolf cores Xiao Han had produced, which were clearly of higher quality. For the first time, a barely perceptible shift crossed his stern face.
"Time taken: seventeen minutes." Qin Zhen's voice was as deep as ever, but carried a hint of something different. "Xiao Han's team, grade: excellent."
He paused, turned his gaze to Xiao Han, and added, "Xiao Han, well done."
Those few simple words exploded in the ears of every Zero Class student like a thunderclap!
Instructor Qin Zhen, who was notoriously strict, had actually... praised someone in public? And it was that transfer student at the sixth level of the Warrior Realm?!
Everyone's eyes instantly converged on Xiao Han, filled with shock, disbelief, and scrutiny.
Luo Bing abruptly raised his head, his icy gaze shooting toward Xiao Han like a sharp sword, tinged with surprise and deep unwillingness to concede.
Xiao Han met all their gazes, his expression as calm as ever.
Excellent? Well done?
It seems that was just a warm-up.
The real challenge is still ahead.
He looked toward the Dark Gloom Forest in the distance, the corners of his mouth curving into a nearly imperceptible smile.
This game has only just begun.
Instructor Qin Zhen's "well done" carried enormous weight.
In the Zero Class hall, the whispers and snickers that had arisen when Xiao Han's team returned stopped abruptly, like ducks with their throats squeezed shut.
Every gaze swung toward Xiao Han in unison. Shock, astonishment, disbelief—all manner of emotions mingled on the faces of these favored children of heaven.
Luo Bing in particular showed a visible change in his eternally icy expression for the first time.
He jerked his head around and fixed Xiao Han with a gaze so sharp it seemed almost tangible, as though he meant to see through him inside and out.
The sixth level of the Warrior Realm, an "excellent" grade, and even praise from Qin Zhen? How is that possible? Although the team he led had completed the mission easily and in less time, they had only received a "good" grade.
Gao Zhuang, Shouhou, and Leng Yue all caught their breath, the way they looked at Xiao Han changing completely.
Their earlier contempt and disdain had long since vanished, replaced by profound awe and even a trace of relief—relief that they hadn't gone too far earlier.
Xia Yubing's lips parted slightly, her eyes shimmering with wonder. Looking at Xiao Han, who stood beside her as calm as ever, she couldn't help a blush rising to her cheeks.
This new teammate seemed far more mysterious and powerful than she had imagined.
"All right, the warm-up is over." Qin Zhen ignored the commotion among the students, his voice as steady as ever. "Get yourselves ready. Next, I will announce an important matter that concerns the resources you'll be able to obtain over the coming months."
At the words "important matter," all the students immediately composed themselves and listened with bated breath. Even Luo Bing temporarily took his probing gaze off Xiao Han and looked toward the instructor. Zero Class's missions and announcements often meant tremendous opportunities, but they also came with ruthless competition.
Qin Zhen swept his gaze over them and spoke slowly. "According to the academy's annual schedule, the Trial Secret Realm will officially open in three days."
The Trial Secret Realm!
The moment those words came out, the atmosphere in the hall heated up!
Even a proud genius like Luo Bing had a flash of barely suppressed excitement in his eyes.
"The Trial Secret Realm is one of the most important resource-rich secret realms under the academy's control. It opens once every three months for a period of fifteen days."
Qin Zhen's voice echoed through the quiet hall. "The secret realm covers a vast area, with a wide variety of complex environments. From volcanoes to ice fields, from swamps to ancient forests, it has every wonder imaginable. Not only is it home to a great number of powerful exotic beasts, but rare spiritual herbs scarcely found in the outside world also grow there. Even some ancient ruins and inheritance fragments are scattered throughout it."
He paused, then spoke with greater emphasis. "Every opening of the Trial Secret Realm is your best chance to rapidly increase your strength and obtain resources! It's also a crucial moment to pull ahead of the others!"
All the students began breathing a little faster.
The Imperial Capital Academy was indeed rich in resources, but the best resources had never been easy to obtain. Credits, mission contributions, rankings... all had to be fought for! And entering the Trial Secret Realm was undoubtedly one of the most efficient ways to do so.
"The rules for this secret realm trial are similar to those in previous years," Qin Zhen continued. "After entering the secret realm, you must hunt as many exotic beasts, gather as many spiritual herbs, and explore as many ruins as possible to obtain 'trial points.' The higher the level of the exotic beast, the rarer the spiritual herb, and the greater the value of the ruins, the more points you will earn. After fifteen days, rewards will be distributed according to the points rankings."
"Those who rank in the top ten will have the chance to enter the second floor of the academy's Core Cultivation Technique Pavilion and select a cultivation technique or martial skill, or choose any one rare material from the list."
"Those who rank in the top three will receive the rewards above, as well as an additional opportunity to receive personal guidance from an instructor at the Martial King Realm or even higher!"
The second floor of the Core Cultivation Technique Pavilion! Personal guidance from a Martial King Realm instructor!
Those rewards were enough to drive any Martial Master Realm student mad!
"Of course," Qin Zhen said, changing the subject as his gaze sharpened, "where there is opportunity, there is risk. Danger lurks everywhere in the secret realm. Powerful exotic beasts, treacherous environments, and even... competition from other students could all cost you your lives in there. Before entering the secret realm, you must sign a life-and-death waiver. The academy only looks at the results, not the process."