The entire hall fell into a brief silence once again.
Although it wasn't as swiftly decided as the preliminary rounds, the process of this battle was even more thrilling.
Xiao Han never summoned his Martial Soul. He easily defeated a First Level of the Martial Master Realm genius with considerable strength by relying solely on his unpredictable movement techniques and that final Shi Potian punch.
His ability to move freely through flames and even blend into the shadows, as well as his terrifying fist force that could easily pierce through flame defenses, left a very deep impression on everyone present.
"Hiss... What a bizarre ability! He's actually immune to Li Yan's flames?"
"What kind of movement technique is that? It's like being a shadow!"
"That final punch... its penetrating power was terrifying! Li Yan's Flame Shield couldn't stop it at all!"
"This guy... he's definitely hiding his strength! He's definitely Martial Master Realm!"
The discussions rose up again like a tide. This time, no one questioned Xiao Han's strength anymore; instead, there was more curiosity and apprehension.
The referee gave Xiao Han a long look and announced the result, "Around arena number seventy-three, Xiao Han!"
Zero Class rest area.
"We won! Xiao Han won again!" Xia Yubing jumped up excitedly, her face flushed.
Luo Bing's face was ashen, his eyes filled with complex emotions. The shadow affinity that Xiao Han displayed made him feel uneasy. That power seemed to be an innate counter to many elemental Martial Souls.
Shi Lei stroked his chin and grinned, "This guy's punches seem even harder than last time..."
Instructor Qin Zhen nodded, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.
Xiao Han's performance did not disappoint him. He knew how to gradually reveal his strength instead of blindly pursuing instant kills, which was excellent. His use of shadow power had also become increasingly refined. It seemed that his trip to the secret realm had indeed yielded more gains than he had imagined.
Xiao Han calmly stepped off the arena, feeling the slightly active blood and qi within his body due to the battle, as well as the heightened senses brought by the [Tournament Champion's Blessing].
The opponents in the knockout stage were indeed much stronger than those in the preliminary rounds. Although they still couldn't put real pressure on him, they at least gave him a little exercise.
He took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the other arenas where fierce battles were taking place in the distance.
The opponents ahead will only get stronger.
It's getting interesting.
A faint hint of anticipation appeared on Xiao Han's lips. He was eager to know just how far the geniuses of the Imperial Capital Academy could push him.
The intensity of the elimination rounds has escalated to a fever pitch with each round of selection. Those who have made it this far are all seasoned elites, each with their own trump cards and pride.
Xiao Han's next opponent soon appeared on arena number seventy-three.
This person is named Shi Tai, Martial Master Realm Fourth Level, and is quite well-known in the academy. He is not particularly handsome, but has a sturdy build. However, when he stands there, he is like an unshakeable mountain. His Martial Soul is an extremely rare SS-level defensive Martial Soul - [Mountain-Suppressing Black Tortoise]!
"Hey, Xiao Han, right? I heard you're pretty tough, and your movements are slippery too." Shi Tai spoke in a deep voice, arms crossed, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. "But, in front of me, Shi Tai, fancy tricks are useless!"
Seeing that both sides were ready, the referee immediately announced, "The match begins!"
"Suppressing Mountain-Suppressing Black Tortoise, Possess Me!" Shi Tai shouted, and a yellowish-brown light surged from his body. Behind him, a huge phantom of a black tortoise appeared, its thick shell gleaming with a metallic luster. Then, the black tortoise phantom merged into his body, and a layer of solid yellowish-brown armor quickly covered Shi Tai's body, making his aura as steady as a mountain.
"Black Tortoise Barrier!" Shi Tai clasped his hands together, and a surge of powerful earth-elemental spiritual energy erupted forth, rapidly condensing into a massive energy shield half a meter thick in front of him. The shield was covered with mysterious tortoise shell patterns, exuding an aura of indestructibility.
Having done all this, Shi Tai grinned, looking at Xiao Han provocatively. "Come on, let me see if your fists can crack this turtle shell of mine!"
The audience below the ring immediately perked up.
"It's Shi Tai! His [Mountain-Suppressing Black Tortoise] Martial Soul is known as having unparalleled defense among its peers!"
"This is going to be interesting. Will Xiao Han's strange attack be able to break through Shi Tai's defense?"
"I doubt it. Shi Tai's defense is too comprehensive. Not only does he have Martial Soul attached to him, but he also has this [Black Tortoise Barrier]. Even an ordinary Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm might not be able to break through it easily."
Xiao Han looked at the "iron turtle" in front of him, who was wrapped up tightly, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
This guy is really planning to just stand there and take the beating.
He didn't stand on ceremony either.
With a swift movement, he unleashed the "A Step to the Ends of the Earth" footwork, appearing like a ghost to Shi Tai's side, and unleashed a punch imbued with the Destruction Intent!
"Bang!"
The fist slammed solidly into the energy shield, producing a dull thud that made your teeth ache.
The shield trembled violently, its earthen-yellow light flashing rapidly, but it withstood the attack, though its color dimmed slightly.
Shi Tai remained motionless, chuckling in a deep, rumbling voice. "You're quite strong, but unfortunately, you're still far from it! You're too green to crack my shell!"
Xiao Han's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
His figure moved again, like a fleeting shadow, rapidly circling around Shi Tai, throwing punch after punch.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The dull thuds echoed through the arena.
Each punch was powerful and heavy, its Annihilation Fist Intent seemingly tearing everything around it apart.
However, Shi Tai's [Black Tortoise Barrier] was more resilient than imagined. It trembled continuously under Xiao Han's storm-like attacks, its light flickering, but it showed no signs of breaking.
Shi Tai remained as steady as a rock, allowing Xiao Han to attack him, only occasionally adjusting the angle of his shield to precisely concentrate his defensive power at the point of impact.
He had made up his mind to use this most primitive and humiliating method to exhaust Xiao Han's spiritual power.
Time ticked by, second by second.
The scene fell into an eerie stalemate.
Xiao Han's attacks were fierce and tireless, but Shi Tai held firm, unmoved. His stubborn and unyielding spirit was infuriating.
"This guy is really something else," Xiao Han thought to himself, slowing his attacks slightly.
He could sense that while his "Annihilation Divine Fist" was incredibly powerful, his opponent's defense was also ridiculously strong.
Relying solely on boxing techniques is unlikely to be effective in the short term.
The students watching also began to discuss it, and their voices grew louder and louder.
"What's going on? Why are Xiao Han's attacks completely ineffective?"
"Shi Tai's defense is insane! How many punches has he landed, and it still hasn't broken through?"
"I knew it! Xiao Han's previous victories were mostly due to his opponents not being strong enough, or being countered by his unpredictable movement techniques. Against a true defensive genius like Shi Tai, his offensive power seems inadequate."
"It seems this biggest dark horse is going to stumble here today."
"What a pity. No matter how good your movement skills are, it's all for nothing if you can't break through their defenses. You can't expect to exhaust your opponent to death, can you?"
In the break room of Zero Class, Xia Yubing clenched her small fists nervously, her palms sweating.
The faint sneer on Luo Bing's lips became clearer at this moment, as if she couldn't wait for Xiao Han to suffer a setback.
Instructor Qin Zhen remained calm, but a sense of scrutiny crept into his mind. He wanted to see how Xiao Han would handle this situation.