Puff.
A slight sound.
It was placed on her chest.
Puff!
Luo Bing groaned, her strength drained away in an instant, she collapsed, and her consciousness faded.
Another trick!
This time, Xiao Han didn't even use the "Annihilation Divine Fist," relying solely on a wisp of sword energy from the "Green Lotus Sword Song"!
The entire hall was deathly silent.
If defeating Shi Lei earlier only proved that his strength in the competition was not a fluke, then easily defeating Luo Bing now shatters all doubts.
He didn't get weaker; in fact, he got stronger!
His martial arts skills and agility have reached a level that others can only look up to.
In the following rounds of battles, Xiao Han's opponents became increasingly formidable.
Geniuses at the Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm, who ranked high in the Core Sequence, took turns appearing.
The results, however, were surprisingly consistent.
Fifth Level of the Martial Master Realm, known for his strength?
Xiao Han's three subsequent moves of the "Annihilation Divine Fist" clashed head-on, directly shattering the opponent's proud strength and defense.
Sixth Level of the Martial Master Realm, specializing in ranged attrition?
Xiao Han used the spatial mysteries of the Shadow Void Scripture in conjunction with the "A Step to the Ends of the Earth, Yet Far Apart" technique to close the distance in an instant, instantly negating the opponent's ranged advantage, and then finishing them off with a single punch.
Seventh Level of the Martial Master Realm, with a formidable domain?
Xiao Han slightly released the aura of his two Martial Souls, without fully unleashing his domain. Yet, the ancient and powerful pressure, combined with his ghostly movements and formidable attacks, tore apart the opponent's domain and shattered it.
He was practically unbeatable in the ring.
The attack methods are endless, sometimes domineering and unparalleled, sometimes unpredictable and mysterious, and sometimes purifying and invisible.
His movements were unpredictable, as if he could blend into the shadows and traverse the void.
Its defense and recovery abilities are equally astonishing. Occasionally, when it is grazed by an opponent's attack, the aura of the Chaos Green Lotus flows through it, and the injury is quickly healed.
All the core members, whether former rivals or bystanders, were stunned by the strength Xiao Han displayed.
During the competition, they thought they had glimpsed Xiao Han's limits.
Now I realize that was just the tip of the iceberg.
This young man is unfathomable!
The assessment is over.
Xiao Han has won all his matches, with zero points lost, and is undisputed at the top of the standings.
As Instructor Qin Zhen gazed at the dazzling name on the screen, then at the calm figure standing on the arena, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
He thought he had figured out Xiao Han's true nature, but this kid always manages to surprise him.
The Imperial Capital Academy —no, the entire Dragon Nation Federation —is likely about to embark on a new chapter because of Xiao Han.
"This month's Core Sequence assessment is complete!" Mentor Qin Zhen's voice carried a hint of emotion. "Based on the points ranking, the new Core Sequence rankings are as follows..."
When Instructor Qin Zhen announced "Xiao Han" as the first name, no one in the audience objected; instead, they expressed heartfelt awe and admiration.
"Xiao Han, come to me."
Lin Qingxia's message came swiftly.
Xiao Han had just come out of the gravity chamber, still carrying the lingering oppressive aura. Upon hearing this, she immediately went to her private courtyard.
The courtyard was quiet and elegant, with an old plum tree leaning to one side, its subtle fragrance wafting through the air.
Lin Qingxia, dressed in a fiery red outfit that accentuated her alluring figure, leaned against a soft couch by the window, casually tossing a warm-colored jade pendant between her fingers.
Seeing Xiao Han enter, her eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on her lips, "Oh, isn't this our academy's newest top student? How's it going? Feeling all high and mighty?"
The sarcasm in his tone was undisguised.
Xiao Han casually pulled up a chair and sat down, rubbing his temples with a slightly helpless expression. "It's alright. It's just that there have been a lot more invitations to visit lately, and it's quite a hassle to turn them all down."
He is now ranked first in the Core Sequence, receiving top-tier resources from the academy, an independent top-level cultivation cave, and his monthly allocation of cultivation resources has increased several times over. He has even gained access to some of the academy's confidential files.
These changes gave him a deeper understanding of the Imperial Capital Academy's foundation and even the martial arts system of the entire Dragon Nation Federation.
Naturally, there were also attempts by various parties to curry favor and win them over.
Lin Qingxia chuckled, the jade pendant pausing on her fingertip. "Serves you right! Who told you to cause so much trouble, almost tearing the sky apart? But being number one in the Core Sequence is just a stepping stone for you in the academy. True strength isn't achieved by staying in a comfortable nest."
Xiao Han leaned forward slightly, sensing the underlying meaning in Lin Qingxia's words; she was about to get down to business.
Sure enough, Lin Qingxia sat up straighter, her expression becoming more serious and less casual than usual. "I'm planning to arrange a new training program for you—an off-campus mission, to go to a rather dangerous place to hone your skills."
"An off-campus mission?" Xiao Han raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Yes." Lin Qingxia nodded. "No matter how good the cultivation resources are within the academy, and how fierce the competition is, there's still a barrier. Some things you can't truly understand without seeing blood and experiencing life-or-death situations. If you want to go further, you must venture into more realistic battlefields and explore more unknown and dangerous places."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "The location of this mission is a newly discovered small secret realm. What's special is that this realm seems quite unstable; one end of it connects to a chaotic alternate dimension."
"According to our initial reconnaissance, not only are there unique alien beasts completely different from those on Blue Star, but it may also harbor some rare and unusual creatures rarely seen outside. Of course, the level of danger has also increased exponentially."
A chaotic alternate dimension...
Xiao Han paid close attention to these words.
His Eternal Night King Martial Soul seems to have some inexplicable connection with this kind of power.
Seeing Xiao Han deep in thought, Lin Qingxia didn't urge him, but her expression became even more intriguing.
"This mission is more than just a training exercise. I've heard rumors that the appearance of that small secret realm might be related to some long-dormant ancient ruins, or even some hidden extraterrestrial forces. For you, this could be a starting point to explore a wider world."
"I understand." Xiao Han said almost without hesitation. "I'll take this mission."
A life of ease was never what he sought.
The glory days of the Academy Grand Competition are over; he yearns to test himself and seek breakthroughs on a broader and more dangerous stage.
The mention of "ancient ruins" and "extraterrestrial forces" in Lin Qingxia's words stirred something within him.
Seeing Xiao Han agree so readily, Lin Qingxia's eyes showed a hint of approval.
"I knew you were brave and fearless. But this time it's no small matter, so don't be careless. We still have very limited knowledge of the specifics of that secret realm. Although you may be a big shot among your peers, the outside world is far more complex and dangerous than you can imagine."