Before Wang Meng could even react, the force of the punch struck his side with overwhelming power.
The protective Martial Soul light shattered like paper, followed by excruciating pain. Everything went black, and he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily outside the arena and immediately losing consciousness.
The entire process, from the referee's announcement to Wang Meng's defeat, took less than two seconds!
The area around the arena fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the boy on the stage who remained calm, as if he had merely swatted away a fly.
What just happened?
Speed! Extremely fast speed! They didn't even see how Xiao Han moved!
And that fist wind! It didn't hit directly, yet it contained such terrifying power that it directly shattered the defense of the Eighth Level of the Warrior Realm!
The referee was also stunned for a moment before he reacted. He quickly walked to the edge of the ring, checked on the unconscious Wang Meng, and confirmed that he was only seriously injured and unconscious and not in any danger to his life. He took a deep breath and looked at Xiao Han with a look of surprise and uncertainty.
"Wheel number seventy-three, Xiao Han!" the referee announced loudly, his voice carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible, unease.
After a brief silence, low gasps and murmurs erupted around the arena.
"Instant kill... instant kill?"
"Wang Meng is at least at the Eighth Level of the Warrior Realm! He couldn't even withstand a single move from him?"
"What kind of movement technique is that? It's too fast!"
"He didn't use his Martial Soul at all! It was just the force of his fist..."
The voices that had previously expressed disdain or doubt towards Xiao Han have now vanished, replaced by shock and apprehension.
Xiao Han seemed oblivious to the reactions around him, calmly walking off the stage to await the next match.
The following matches were almost identical to the previous one.
Whether they were elites at the Eighth Level of the Warrior Realm, outstanding individuals at the Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm, or even a few "Quasi-Martial Masters " who were quite famous in ordinary classes, they were all like clay chickens and earthenware dogs in front of Xiao Han.
He didn't even use that fist wind that contained the meaning of "Annihilation" again.
Sometimes, he would simply stroll leisurely through the storm of attacks from his opponents, appearing like a ghost beside or behind them, casually pointing a finger or striking with a palm, and the opponent would fall to the ground.
The footwork of "A Step to the Ends of the Earth Yet So Far" under his feet is not just fast, but also carries a spatial charm that is like a gazelle hanging by its horns, leaving no trace.
Combined with his perception and combat awareness far exceeding those of his peers, as well as the mysterious enhancement brought by the [Tournament Champion's Blessing], these Warrior Realm opponents couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
Every battle ended swiftly and decisively, so fast it was astonishing.
He never summoned his Twin Martial Souls, nor did he fully reveal his aura as a Martial Master Realm. He simply crushed each opponent with ease and grace in a manner that was almost "teasing" them.
Arena number seventy-three gradually became an anomaly.
The battles here ended so quickly that even the assistants recording the scores were a bit overwhelmed. While other arenas were still locked in fierce combat, Xiao Han had often already finished three or four battles.
This unusual behavior naturally attracted the attention of higher authorities.
On the viewing platform, the gazes of some team leaders from other academies, representatives from various forces, and senior mentors from within the academies responsible for discovering talent began to frequently turn toward the direction of arena number seventy-three.
"Make a note of this: Arena number 73, Zero Class's Xiao Han, currently undefeated in five matches, all instant kills, without using his Martial Soul. His movement is unpredictable and his footwork astonishing, suggesting he may have mastered a profound footwork martial art. Preliminary assessment indicates his strength far exceeds the Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm, possibly already at the Martial Master Realm. He is now listed as a key target for observation."
A middle-aged professor from the Magic Capital Academy, with a refined and scholarly demeanor, whispered instructions to his assistant beside him.
"That Xiao Han... he's interesting." Not far away, an elderly man representing a top martial arts family stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "This footwork seems to contain spatial intent? This kid is no simpleton."
"Quick! Get me detailed information about Arena 73! And the footage of his previous entrance exam and challenges against Luo Bing and Shi Lei!" A tutor in charge of internal talent evaluation at the academy said urgently into the communicator.
Even the broadcast screen would occasionally switch the camera to ring number 73, although each time it could only capture the moment when Xiao Han won easily, it was enough to make more people notice his name.
The atmosphere in the rest area where Zero Class was located was somewhat subtle.
"Xiao Han is amazing! He won again! It was so easy!" Xia Yubing waved her little fist, her face full of excitement, making no attempt to hide her admiration.
Luo Bing stood not far away, her face cold, watching Xiao Han's calm and collected figure on the light screen, her clenched fists turning slightly white at the knuckles.
He could sense that Xiao Han had become stronger than when they fought last time! That composure, that control over the rhythm of the battle, was something no Warrior Realm could possess! A sense of shame and a strong sense of crisis surged into his heart at the same time.
Shi Lei touched his chest, as if it still ached faintly. He grimaced and muttered under his breath, "This guy... seems even faster now. He definitely wasn't going all out last time he fought me..."
Instructor Qin Zhen crossed his arms, watching Xiao Han's performance with a hint of satisfaction and surprise in his eyes. He had known for a long time that Xiao Han was hiding his strength, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong. It seemed that the boy's gains in the secret realm were far more astonishing than he had imagined.
When the first round of preliminary rounds came to an end, Xiao Han unsurprisingly advanced with a perfect record.
He remained undefeated and didn't even break a sweat, becoming one of the most dazzling and mysterious rising stars in the entire preliminary rounds.
Discussions about "Xiao Han from Zero Class" spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial Capital Academy.
Countless people are speculating: what kind of hidden strength does this seemingly out-of-the-box newcomer possess? Where are his limits? Does he truly deserve to challenge those established, top-tier prodigies?
Xiao Han slowly walked off the stage, ignoring the various complicated gazes cast upon him. Feeling the increasingly active spiritual power and sharper senses within his body due to the [Tournament Champion's Blessing], a faint smile appeared on his lips.
The warm-up is over.
Next, he'd probably encounter some opponents who could pique his interest a little, right? He was somewhat looking forward to it.
The hustle and bustle of the preliminary rounds gradually subsided, and the Imperial Capital Academy Grand Competition ushered in the more brutal elimination stage. After the first round of trials, tens of thousands of students remained, and those who remained were all the best in their respective classes. The fighting spirit in the air became increasingly concentrated, carrying an iron-blooded atmosphere.