The terrifying heat wave swept through. Even from dozens of meters away, Wu Qiang and the others were blasted back several meters.
"Such powerful fire-element abilities!"
The tall Zhai Leida, who possessed lightning-element abilities, looked at Ren Jie beside him.
Both of them had S-Class elemental abilities, but compared with the power that had just erupted, he felt that their abilities fell short.
"These flames are higher-grade than mine."
Ren Jie, with his short fiery-red hair, had to admit it, his eyes flickering.
His "Earth Core Blazing Flame" was already incredibly rare. What kind of fire was Shi Yan's ability? What rank had it reached?
Could it be the SS-Class that the world had not seen in years?
"Wait, he didn't die, did he?"
Gu Hao, who held a longsword, frowned slightly.
Among this year's examinees, he had the highest Blood Vitality, already reaching 36 Cal. His Spiritual Power was also second only to one person, having reached 8 Hz.
Yet at this moment, he could not sense Shi Yan's aura inside the Stone Cave at all.
"Prodigies die young?"
A complicated look appeared in Wu Qiang's eyes. He had held some resentment toward Shi Yan.
But now, he felt the sorrow of a rabbit mourning a dead fox.
Who here had not once shone brilliantly?
But if that brilliance was as fleeting as a meteor streaking across the night sky, it was something no one wished to encounter.
"It's just a College Entrance Examination. Why was he risking his life?"
Wu Qiang put away his bow. Much of his regret over failing to earn a high score had faded.
Compared with life, nothing else mattered.
The next instant, a purple Moon Blade one and a half meters wide suddenly appeared a foot from Wu Qiang's neck.
"Leave!"
Qi Ziyue nearly gritted her teeth as she spoke.
Anger covered her face, and her eyes were slightly red.
As the person with the highest Spiritual Power in the examination grounds, already at 9 Hz, even she could not detect Shi Yan's aura.
From her brief contact with Shi Yan earlier, she had learned that he was a pitiful orphan whose parents had died because of monsters.
She did not want to hear others talking about Shi Yan!
Why risk his life? Anyone whose parents had died to monsters would risk their life upon seeing monsters, wouldn't they?
Why had Shi Yan gone in to blow up the Gold-Devouring Rats? Wasn't it to nip the disaster in the bud!
"Tch, so you actually formed feelings after working together."
Wu Qiang was not afraid. The College Entrance Examination rules prohibited examinees from attacking one another, or their results would be voided.
Of course, he knew Qi Ziyue's background was not simple, so he did not provoke her further. He turned and left.
The others did not linger either. After sighing, they left as well, leaving only Qi Ziyue standing there with reddened eyes.
Outside the examination grounds.
The sudden flood of white light in Shi Yan's footage drew varied reactions from the crowd.
Some were astonished by Shi Yan's "madness," while others were deeply worried, such as the principal and teachers of Baiyun No. 1 High School.
But no one thought Shi Yan would die, unlike Gu Hao and the others.
There was no other reason—an Eighth-Order Martial King was present here.
Given the talent Shi Yan had displayed, if he died during the College Entrance Examination, Luo Hai, director of the Jiangnan Monster Suppression General Bureau, could forget about keeping his position.
"Lin Ye, doesn't his breakthrough resemble yours?"
Luo Hai looked toward the examination grounds and spoke softly.
With his senses, he naturally knew Shi Yan had not died. Not only had he survived, he had even made a breakthrough.
Lin Ye, standing nearby, scratched his head somewhat sheepishly.
During his previous breakthrough, he had used the method of "Break and Then Stand."
He had nearly died, but the gains had been tremendous, making him the youngest Seventh-Order Martial General in the history of the Jiangnan Monster Suppression Bureau.
"But Director Luo, isn't this a little dangerous for Shi Yan? He hasn't prepared any nourishing treasures."
Lin Ye could not help worrying.
It was true that Shi Yan had battered himself to a wreck and was beginning to improve, but eighteen-year-old Shi Yan's foundation was too weak. This improvement would likely consume his own foundation.
Once one's foundation weakened, their future ceiling would plummet. To a genius, that was undoubtedly a fatal blow.
Luo Hai shook his head and smiled. "Have you forgotten what that saber was made from?"
"Oh..."
Lin Ye lifted his gaze, revelation dawning in his eyes.
"That person even calculated this?"
"Who knows?"
"I really went overboard."
Shi Yan struggled up from the wall of the Stone Cave.
He had not expected that unleashing the Southern Bright Blazing Fire in such a nearly enclosed space would produce such terrifying power.
The three Second-Level Gold-Devouring Rats and over a hundred First-Level Gold-Devouring Rats inside the Stone Cave had turned to flying ash in an instant.
But likewise, he himself had been blown to pieces.
At this moment, he was not only a Blood Person, but his body was blackened in many places. In some areas, bone was even visible.
He swore that he had only wanted to kill the monsters and earn some Martial Virtue Points.
"Hm?"
Just as he was about to pass out from the pain, Shi Yan suddenly noticed cool currents flowing through his body, greatly easing his suffering.
He recognized the sensation. It was the feeling of the medicinal effects taking hold when he consumed Intermediate Body Tempering Medicine.
He had not expected his own "self-torture" to bring out all the remaining medicinal effects.
And that was not all. A warm current was flowing from his right hand into his body.
Lowering his head slightly, he discovered that the warmth came from the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber.
It was now emitting a blood-red glow. The light extended from his arm until it covered his entire body.
What he did not know was that this blood-red glow had concealed his aura, preventing Qi Ziyue and the others outside from sensing him.
"How miraculous!"
Very soon, Shi Yan's eyes widened.
Wherever the red light passed, his injuries rapidly healed.
Within seconds, blood scabs formed over his wounds.
After a while longer, the blood scabs fell away, revealing flawless skin beneath.
Looking over himself, he found that his body had become leaner and more powerful, his muscle lines perfectly proportioned.
It was as if he had just undergone cosmetic surgery.
But that was only the outer change. The changes within delighted Shi Yan even more.
[Name: Shi Yan] [Realm: First-Order Warrior] [Ability: Southern Bright Blazing Fire (SSS-Class)] [Blood Vitality: 56 Cal (+)] [Spirit: 31 Hz (+)] [Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (Beginner +), Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers (Beginner +)] [Martial Virtue Points: 3133]
When he brought up the panel, he was delighted to find that both his Blood Vitality and Spirit had increased by twenty.
Previously, after replenishing his Blood Vitality, it had reached 36 Cal, while his Spirit had remained at 11 Hz. Yet this explosion had boosted them so drastically.
And that was not all. He felt an indescribable improvement that left both body and mind exhilarated.
He did not know how to describe it, but he felt this improvement was important to him, and important to his future.
"I'll ask someone after I get out. It's just that I need something to cover myself..."
Looking at his bare body and the surroundings that had nearly been burned to ash, Shi Yan fell into a dilemma.
The Martial Arts Examination was livestreamed in its entirety. If he went out like this, he would be too mortified to show his face for the rest of his life.
Left with no choice, he shouted toward the cave entrance:
"Qi Ziyue, are you still there?"
Silence fell outside.
But a few seconds later, Shi Yan heard faint sobbing.
A few more seconds passed, and the soft sound vanished, replaced by Qi Ziyue's crisp, pleasant voice, trembling slightly:
"Yes, I'm here. I've been here all along!"
Before you continue