Mighty Lion Released

As Lin Xiao's deep, emotionless gaze, like that of a god, slowly swept over the purple bamboo forest that had been waiting for a long time below the bamboo building, a collective closed-door cultivation session, the craziest and most extravagant in Cloud Creek Academy's history, which had lasted a full month, finally welcomed its end.

"Time's up."

Lin Xiao spoke calmly. His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in every corner of Tingzhu Pavilion, like a twilight drum and a morning bell.

"Everyone, out of seclusion!"

"Yes!"

Following Lin Xiao's irrefutable command.

Twenty-nine unified roars, filled with boundless excitement and fervent battle intent, surged towards the sky from within the antique and exquisite bamboo building, like dragon roars awakening after being suppressed for eons!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The next moment, twenty-nine terrifying auras, more than ten times stronger than before their seclusion, erupted like twenty-nine supervolcanoes that had been completely detonated!

The dense spiritual energy in the sky above Tingzhu Pavilion, which had been relatively calm moments before, was instantly churned into a boiling pot of spiritual energy by these twenty-nine newly erupted auras that had reached the pinnacle of strength!

Immediately after, unseen by anyone.

Twenty-nine young figures, dressed in uniform black tight-fitting clothes, but whose temperaments had undergone a world-shattering transformation, appeared silently on the open white jade square outside the bamboo building like twenty-nine black lightning bolts tearing through the void!

They stood in an incredibly neat formation, as if carved by knives and axes, silently behind the slender figure who had been waiting for a long time.

Each of them stood as straight as a spear, their presence as imposing as a mountain!

Although they did not deliberately release their auras.

The iron-blooded pressure that naturally emanated after a month of hellish closed-door cultivation and the insane accumulation of vast resources, so condensed that it was almost tangible!

It caused the entire purple bamboo forest to fall silent!

It caused the mournful cold wind whistling through the forest to wail!

This... this was no longer a group of frail sheep who had been struggling at the bottom of the outer court not long ago?!

This was clearly an invincible royal army that had just drunk its fill of the blood of gods and demons and triumphantly returned from the Nine Nether Purgatory!

The moment all the members of the "Rebel Mortal" class had assembled.

Within the space completely shrouded by dense spiritual mist outside Tingzhu Pavilion, an ancient figure filled with boundless authority and relief slowly emerged.

It was Chu Tianxing.

Behind him, respectfully followed a lean old man wearing the robes of an elder from the Disciplinary Hall. His face was stern, but his eyes occasionally flashed with a terrifying glint.

"Heh heh, it seems we've arrived at just the right time."

Chu Tianxing did not immediately step into the Tingzhu Pavilion, which he had already designated as a "forbidden area."

He simply hovered in mid-air, observing with a complex gaze filled with endless emotion and shock, sensing the thirty new auras that had undergone a complete transformation, constantly emanating from the depths of the bamboo forest.

"Vice... Vice Dean..."

The elder from the Disciplinary Hall behind him was already so shocked by the collective pressure, like that of primordial beasts, emanating from within that he couldn't speak!

He swallowed hard, his voice trembling with an uncertain tone, as if in a dream, and asked, "Are... are these really just a group of freshmen whose average cultivation level was less than Body Refinement Fifth Level just over a month ago?"

"Yes."

A brilliant smile of genuine pride appeared on Chu Tianxing's face.

"And they were also a group that everyone regarded as 'trash' not long ago..."

"Freshmen from the Yellow Class."

Upon hearing this earth-shattering secret that could pierce a hole through the heavens!

The elder, who was known for his impartiality and steadfastness, could no longer maintain his usual stern expression!

Like a mortal witnessing the descent of a miracle, he stared intently at the purple bamboo forest, filled with mystery and the unknown, with a dazed look of utter absurdity and worldview-shattering disbelief.

His mind went blank, completely losing the ability to think.

"Let's go."

Chu Tianxing no longer paid attention to his unfortunate colleague, who had been so shocked by his casual display of power that he was questioning his entire existence.

He waved his sleeve and, with the elder who was still in a petrified state, took a step forward.

He instantly appeared on the white jade square, which was already enveloped in a chilling aura, as if he had teleported.

When he truly saw the true appearances of the thirty young men and women who had undergone a complete transformation with his own eyes.

Even with his calm and unfathomable state of mind, which had seen countless storms, his cloudy old eyes couldn't help but shrink sharply!

What replaced it was a sense of immense surprise and relief, even more profound and brilliant than when he was in the Mission Hall!

Strong!

Too strong!

Although the thirty youngsters before him maintained calm expressions and imposing stances, not deliberately releasing their cultivation auras.

But what kind of person was Chu Tianxing?!

In almost an instant, he had seen through the true details of everyone present!

--Shi Lei, peak Body Refinement Seventh Level! His physical strength had even faintly surpassed that of ordinary Body Refinement Ninth Level cultivators!

--Su Yue, early Body Refinement Eighth Level! Her Sword Heart was clear, and her Sword Intent had already begun to take shape!

--Monkey, mid Body Refinement Seventh Level! His movement technique was bizarre, and his aura had perfectly merged with the surrounding shadows!

As for the remaining twenty-six team members, the weakest had already reached the peak of Body Refinement Sixth Level!

Among them, more than ten had successfully entered the Body Refinement Seventh Level realm, which was enough to become the backbone of the Outer Court!

This... this was simply a complete monster legion!

If they were placed in the Outer Court, they would be enough to sweep through any class except for the Heaven Class!

"Good! Good! Good!"

After experiencing a brief but immense shock to his soul, Chu Tianxing could no longer hold back and said "good" three times in a row!

His usually somewhat stern face was now covered in a huge, relieved smile as radiant as a chrysanthemum!

"You truly did not disappoint this old man!"

However, just as all the members of the "Rebel Mortal" class were feeling a surge of excitement and pride from the Vice Principal's public praise.

Chu Tianxing slowly withdrew the smile from his face.

A hint of solemnity flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"However, cultivation is ultimately just data on paper."

"The true strength of a martial artist can only be ultimately tested in actual combat!"

"Therefore..."

He paused, and his gaze, filled with infinite authority and expectation, slowly fell upon the young man who had remained calm from beginning to end, as if he had already grasped everything.

"Lin Xiao."

"Student is here."

"Next, this old man will personally test the results of your 'Rebel Mortal' class's month-long secluded cultivation!"

"Do you dare to accept the challenge?!"

"We await your command at any time!" Lin Xiao replied neither subserviently nor obsequiously. His deep eyes showed no fear, only a powerful confidence stemming from absolute strength!

"Good!"

Chu Tianxing nodded with satisfaction.

He had no intention of fighting himself.

Instead, he slowly turned around and spoke to the Elder of the Disciplinary Hall behind him, who had already been stunned into numbness by the series of earth-shattering events.

"Elder Zhang, I will trouble you next."

"Ah? Oh! Yes! Yes!"

The Elder of the Disciplinary Hall, surnamed Zhang, finally reacted to the dreamlike, immense shock after a slight pause!

He quickly stepped forward and took out a human-head-sized, peculiar sphere from his storage bag. It was entirely made of some unknown black crystal and was inscribed with countless mysterious golden runes!

"This is the law enforcement puppet unique to our Disciplinary Hall – the 'Golden Armored Warrior'!"

Elder Zhang said as he slowly injected his vast spiritual power into the black crystal sphere!

"It was personally forged by an ancient master craftsman! Its physical body is indestructible, comparable to a Profound Grade Middle Grade magical treasure! Its strength is enough to rival a true peak Body Refinement Ninth Level cultivator!"

"Most importantly, the combat imprints of several generations of elders from our Disciplinary Hall are engraved within it! Its combat experience is far richer than what you fledgling youngsters can compare to!"

"According to the Vice Principal's wishes, if your 'Rebel Mortal' class of thirty people can last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn against this 'Golden Armored Warrior' without being defeated!"

"You will have passed this final assessment!"

"Buzz--!"

The moment he uttered the last syllable of "assessment"!

The black crystal sphere, which he had been holding in his palm, suddenly erupted with an extremely dazzling golden divine light!

Then, under the solemn and curious gazes of everyone present, The sphere rapidly expanded and transformed like a Transformer, finally becoming a terrifying giant over three zhang tall, cast entirely from some unknown dark gold metal, exuding a cold and powerful aura!

This Golden Armored Giant held a massive battle axe, also forged from dark gold metal!

Its electronic eyes, composed of two large red crystals, flickered with cold killing intent devoid of any emotion!

A terrifying pressure, no less than that of Wu Tianxiong that day, erupted from its body!

It instantly enveloped the entire White Jade Plaza!

However, facing this terrifying existence that could make any elite team from the Heaven Class despair!

Lin Xiao's face showed no fear whatsoever.

Even the twenty-nine members of the "Rebel Mortal" class behind him showed no fear in their eyes.

Instead, a hint of almost cruel bloodlust and excitement could be seen!

"One incense stick's worth?"

Lin Xiao slowly shook his head, a smile of boundless arrogance and confidence curving his lips.

"No need."

"To deal with a mere iron block that only acts according to program..."

"Ten breaths will be enough!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing Lin Xiao's boast, which was so arrogant it seemed to have no limits!

Even Chu Tianxing and Elder Zhang, whose nerves had already been numb from shock, couldn't help but twitch violently!

Ten breaths?!

To deal with a top-tier enforcement puppet whose strength was comparable to the peak of Body Refinement Ninth Level and whose combat experience was rich enough to rival a true elder?!

This...

Could this kid have gone into seclusion and fried his brain?!

However, Lin Xiao couldn't be bothered to pay attention to their stunned gazes, which were filled with utter absurdity and confusion.

He calmly turned around and issued his first combat command since emerging from seclusion to the group of companions behind him, who were already brimming with excitement and fighting spirit!

"All members, listen up!"

"The ultimate secret of 'Wolf Pack Hunt'..."

"--Gods and Demons Feast!"

"Yes!"

Twenty-nine roars filled with boundless fervor and trust shook the heavens!

The next moment, a scene that made both Chu Tianxing and Elder Zhang's scalps tingle and would be unforgettable for the rest of their lives appeared!

Under Lin Xiao's command, the thirty members of the "Rebel Mortal" class transformed into thirty black afterimages that the naked eye couldn't capture!

Following an arcane trajectory they couldn't comprehend at all!

They rapidly weaved around the Golden Armored Warrior, ultimately forming an ancient killing formation filled with boundless killing intent and destruction!

"Roar--!"

The Golden Armored Warrior seemed to sense the fatal threat from this bizarre killing formation!

The data streams in its red electronic eyes flickered wildly!

Without hesitation, it swung the giant battle axe in its hand, capable of splitting mountains, towards Shi Lei, who was closest to it!

However, at the very moment the terrifying battle axe, capable of instantly cleaving a small mountain in two, was about to hit Shi Lei.

Su Yue's ghost-like blue figure had appeared behind it at some unknown time!

The "Flowing Wind" spirit sword in her hand, as thin as a cicada's wing, drew an extremely tricky and incredible, bizarre arc in mid-air!

"Clang!"

A crisp, pleasant sound rang out!

Su Yue's sword tip, using the marvelous technique of deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces, precisely struck the weakest energy node on the thinnest part of the giant battle axe's blade!

It forcefully deflected the powerful, fatal blow by a full three inches!

And at the same time!

Monkey and his "Ghost Shadow" squad had already stealthily infiltrated the Golden Armored Warrior's feet like a pack of true hellish specters!

More than a dozen sharp daggers coated with potent poison, like a viper's fangs, fiercely stabbed into the core joints of its leg's energy circulation!

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

A series of grating metal-shattering sounds erupted densely!

The Golden Armored Warrior's leg joints, which supported its high-speed movement, were instantly destroyed!

Its mountain-like massive body lurched violently, losing all balance!

"Now!"

Lin Xiao's icy voice echoed clearly in everyone's ears like the final pronouncement of death!

"Roar--!"

Shi Lei and his "Sharp Shield" squad, who had been waiting for this moment, charged like five enraged ancient bulls, slamming into the chest of the Golden Armored Warrior that had already lost its balance!

"Boom--!"

A deafening, terrifying roar!

The top-tier enforcement puppet, which not long ago was an arrogant and majestic sight, was now like a battered tin can hit head-on by a speeding siege beast, falling to the ground without any resistance!

And what awaited it were the twenty death-dealing blades filled with endless killing intent from the "Fangs" squad, who had been waiting for a long time!

Nine breaths.

When the last trace of light in the red electronic eyes of the Golden Armored Warrior, which had already been torn to pieces and turned into scrap metal, finally flickered out.

Exactly nine breaths had passed.

The entire Tingzhu Pavilion was deathly silent.

Only Chu Tianxing and Elder Zhang's heavy, gasping breaths, as if they had seen a ghost, remained.