For others, Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm challenging a peak Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm is indeed a life-or-death situation.
But for Xiao Han, who had just emerged from the ruins, whose true cultivation had reached the Third Level of the Martial Master Realm, who possessed two divine-level Martial Souls, and who had mastered many trump cards such as the "Shadow Void Scripture," the "Annihilation Divine Fist," and "A Step to the Ends of the Earth"...
Luo Bing? Zero Class Chief?
Hehe.
A flicker of emotion finally appeared in Xiao Han's eyes.
It was a dangerous glint beneath the calm surface of a lake, where undercurrents surged.
He raised his head, meeting Luo Bing's cold and oppressive gaze, and a playful smile slowly curved his lips.
"An exchange competition?"
He repeated it softly, his voice not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"OK."
I accept.
"OK."
I accept.
Xiao Han's voice wasn't loud, and even carried a hint of nonchalance, but it was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples in the Zero Class's exclusive rest area.
After a brief silence, an uncontrollable uproar erupted.
"He... he agreed?!"
"Are you crazy? Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm fighting a peak Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm? That's practically suicide!"
"Did I hear that right? Xiao Han actually dared to accept Senior Luo Bing's challenge?"
"This is going to be interesting! Although the outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion..."
"Hard to say, this Xiao Han is a bit strange. He defeated Lei Ming with a single punch when school started..."
"Lei Ming is only at the Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm. How can he compare to Senior Luo Bing? He's more than a whole major realm below him!"
A murmur of discussion arose, with most people looking at Xiao Han as if he were a fool or a brave man (the kind who doesn't know his own death).
They acknowledged that Xiao Han might have some strength, and even some luck, but in the face of an absolute difference in their cultivation levels, all of that seemed pale and powerless.
Xia Yubing's face turned pale with anxiety. She tugged at Xiao Han's sleeve, her voice trembling with tears, "Xiao Han, don't be impulsive! Senior Luo Bing... he's very strong! It's not shameful to admit defeat!"
Xiao Han turned his head and met the girl's worried eyes. He smiled reassuringly but said nothing.
His gaze returned to Luo Bing, still calm, but with an indescribable quality, like a hunter spotting interesting prey.
Luo Bing was taken aback at first, seemingly not expecting Xiao Han to agree so readily, then she laughed in anger.
What he hated most was Xiao Han's feigned composure, as if everything was under control. In his view, this was the greatest contempt for him, the top student of Zero Class.
"Very good!" Luo Bing's voice was icy cold, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth. "You've got guts! I hope your strength matches your courage!"
Without another word, he turned and walked towards the depths of the rest area, to the training ground reserved for internal sparring among the Zero Class students. His back view was filled with absolute confidence that he was about to crush his opponent.
Instructor Qin Zhen gave Xiao Han a deep look, his eyes filled with complex and unfathomable emotions. He neither stopped him nor expressed his opinion, but simply followed silently.
Zero Class values competition, even encourages it, and as long as it doesn't go too far, he won't interfere. He also wants to see what this boy, whom even he can't quite figure out, is hiding.
"Let's go! Let's go see!"
"Senior Luo Bing is going to personally teach the newbies a lesson!"
"Quickly notify the class next door! This is big news!"
The students in Zero Class immediately became excited and followed suit.
The news of the challenge spread like wildfire throughout the entire freshman area of the Imperial Capital Academy, and even some senior students who were paying close attention to the movements of Zero Class came to investigate.
In an instant, the area surrounding Zero Class's private training ground was packed with students who had come to watch the spectacle.
The dense crowd craned their necks, whispering and making various guesses and bets in private. The vast majority of people were betting that Luo Bing could finish the fight within ten moves, and some even thought that three moves would be enough.
The training ground for Zero Class is not large, but it is of extremely high standard.
The ground was paved with hard obsidian, strong enough to withstand the full force of the Martial Master Realm. Energy barriers flickered around the perimeter to prevent the aftershocks of the battle from leaking out.
Luo Bing took the lead and walked to the center of the martial arts arena, standing with her hands behind her back.
He was tall and handsome, but at this moment he was covered with a layer of frost that kept people at a distance. With a thought, a powerful and cold aura suddenly erupted!
Peak of the Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm!
The powerful pressure, like a tangible cold current, instantly swept across the entire training ground, causing the air temperature to plummet and even causing a thin layer of white frost to condense on the obsidian ground.
Some students with lower cultivation levels who were standing nearby couldn't help but shiver, their faces turning pale, and they all retreated.
Even more chilling was the faint Domain Prototype emanating extreme cold that appeared around Luo Bing. Within the domain, snow and ice drifted, and the chilling air seemed capable of freezing all life!
"Hiss—Senior Luo Bing's Frost Domain Prototype seems to have improved again!"
"That's too powerful! Just with that aura, anyone below the Third Level of the Martial Master Realm would probably be unable to even stand up!"
"Why isn't Xiao Han moving? Has he been scared out of his wits?"
Faced with Luo Bing's powerful and intimidating aura, which was as strong as an iceberg, Xiao Han, who stepped onto the field last, appeared unusually "ordinary".
He was still wearing the same slightly worn clothes stained with a little "blood." He wasn't particularly burly, and his aura was extremely restrained, like a stone thrown into the sea that didn't cause the slightest ripple.
He stood there calmly, as if the overwhelming pressure and icy aura released by Luo Bing were merely a gentle breeze.
This stark contrast brought a moment of silence to the previously noisy crowd outside.
Luo Bing's brows furrowed even more. Xiao Han's calmness made him feel an extremely faint yet very real unease. This feeling made him very uncomfortable, like punching cotton, with no way to exert his strength. He desperately wanted to tear off the other party's calm and composed mask!
Instructor Qin Zhen walked to the edge of the arena, acting as a temporary referee. His sharp gaze swept over the two, his voice completely calm. "The rules are: stop when you've made a move; do not injure their life force."
He paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The duel begins!"
The moment the word "begin" was uttered, Luo Bing moved!
He didn't even summon his Martial Soul; dealing with someone he considered a "trash" at the Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm didn't require using an SS-level Martial Soul.
Ice Spikes!
A cold glint flashed in Luo Bing's eyes, and she pointed her right hand forward into the void.
In an instant, the air in front of him condensed rapidly, and dozens of sharp Ice Spikes, each half a meter long and gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, appeared out of thin air. With a piercing sound, they shot towards Xiao Han like a dense rain of arrows!
Wherever the Ice Spikes passed, the air seemed to freeze, leaving clear white trails. Each Ice Spikes contained terrifying power capable of easily piercing steel plates and bone-chilling cold!