Bishop Po Jun, Eve of Class Placement!

Li Aoxue took a deep breath. Her beautiful eyes turned toward the training wooden sword resting on the rack beside her, still marked with sweat and radiating lingering warmth.

The scene of her sparring with Su Ye moments ago still seemed vivid before her eyes.

If she had not reached her current level, with Spiritual Power strong enough to easily distinguish the Dreamscape from reality, she might have wondered whether this was all a Dreamscape.

"It's about Su Ye."

Li Aoxue fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"Su Ye?"

A thoughtful look flashed across Li Hai's square face. Smiling faintly, he asked in return, "What? You taught him the Vast Sea Swordplay just now. Did you discover something?"

"His Comprehension is quite good. Even if he mastered three or four variations of the Rising Momentum's first stage within that hour, I wouldn't find it surprising."

Li Aoxue was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Dad, in that one hour, he completely mastered all thirty-six variations... and successfully cultivated the Vast Sea Swordplay to its first level."

Li Hai's expression changed sharply. The aura of his Blood Nourishing Peak Realm erupted in an instant, then vanished just as quickly. The entire room seemed as though it might collapse in that single moment!

"What did you say, Aoxue?"

He stared intently at Li Aoxue, even his breathing trembling slightly!

As the creator of the Vast Sea Swordplay, how could he not know how difficult this martial skill was?!

If it had been an expert like the captain at the Essence Fusion Peak Realm, someone only half a step away from condensing a True Bone Transformation Divine Ability, then even if they cultivated his Vast Sea Swordplay to the second level in an hour from such a lofty vantage point, he would not have been surprised.

But Su Ye?!

He was merely at the Bone Tempering Early Stage, a Martial Artist who had not even tempered all Ten Martial Bones!

"Dad, he truly mastered the Rising Momentum realm!"

"And he did it right in front of me!"

"I only gave him a general explanation and demonstrated it once, yet he comprehended it!"

Li Aoxue spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, her expression serious.

She pondered slightly. A trace of hesitation flashed across her delicate, pretty face. After pacing a few steps and carefully choosing her words, she said, "Su Ye should have entered a state of enlightenment."

Li Hai said nothing, but his hands trembled faintly. Clearly, he was far from calm.

Enlightenment?

It was an opportunity that most Martial Artists might encounter only a few times in their entire lives.

Yet even so, that little fellow had comprehended his Vast Sea Swordplay so quickly?!

What a monstrous prodigy!

"And during our sparring, I could clearly sense his improvement."

"His Comprehension is truly astonishing."

Li Aoxue's expression was complicated. Thinking back on her prejudice toward Su Ye these past few days, she felt somewhat guilty and embarrassed.

Over the past few days, her attitude toward Su Ye had been somewhat harsh. She had underestimated him.

"He truly is an extraordinary little fellow."

"Aoxue, you should pay more attention to him and build a good relationship with him."

Recalling the captain's evaluation of Su Ye on the stairs, Li Hai spoke in a deep, serious voice.

When he had seen Su Ye comprehend the Extreme Shadow Sword Intent, he had intended to use it as publicity, which was why he had taken the initiative to show goodwill earlier.

But after hearing what Aoxue and the captain had said, he realized he had underestimated Su Ye.

"I checked his background. He comes from an ordinary family."

"Making friends with and investing in some people while they are still insignificant is like delivering charcoal in the snow."

Li Hai left it at that, and Li Aoxue silently nodded.

Then she proactively changed the subject. "Dad, what did you come to see me for?"

Li Hai came back to himself, remembered the real matter, and said, "The military's higher-ups selected a group of top geniuses for special training. Luo Ting is among them."

"If you want to resonate with her Breathing Technique and bring the Nine Sun Blazing Sun Meditation Method to complete perfection, you'll have to wait at least another month or so for her special training to end."

Li Aoxue's expression grew slightly awkward and unnatural, a faint flush rising to her cheeks.

Luo Ting was a junior from First High School, two years below her, and also the only daughter of a top military figure in Shenyun City.

She had condensed a "Spiritual Seed" at the age of fourteen. Her progress in all kinds of meditation and breathing techniques had advanced a thousand miles in a day, which was why she had learned the Shenyun City military's most closely guarded and exceptionally difficult breathing technique—the Nine Yin Cold Moon Meditation Method.

The two of them had once been very close, but then that incident happened... Li Aoxue's ears reddened slightly as she let out a soft sigh.

Li Hai's eyes shifted slightly, revealing a trace of gravity and cold sternness. "Also, Aoxue, pay close attention to the movements of the Heavenly Demon Cult."

"I learned from my captain that the bishop in Shenyun City this time is someone codenamed 'Po Jun.'"

"Po Jun?" Li Aoxue's expression changed as well. Naturally, she had heard that name before.

The Heavenly Demon Cult was enormously powerful, and its members were all a pack of lunatics.

At the pinnacle of the Heavenly Demon Cult's power stood the Four Great Sect Masters. Beneath them, the highest-ranking figures were the Sixteen Bishops!

Po Jun was famous for delighting in torturing and killing many geniuses, as well as for being highly cunning and planning several major incidents that had shaken the entire nation!

He was the one who had come to Shenyun City this time?!

"Didn't your teacher call you back to hunt Demon Beasts?"

"It would be good for you to return to Myriad Law University this week. The military has recently been tracking Po Jun's whereabouts. Perhaps they'll gain something this week."

Li Hai was clearly worried about his daughter as well.

After all, many of Po Jun's schemes had clearly targeted Martial Dao Prodigies.

And his own daughter was naturally among them!

Moreover, he had recently heard vague rumors of Demon Beast disturbances outside Shenyun City. He did not know whether they were connected, but it gave him an even worse premonition.

"I understand, Dad."

Li Aoxue nodded gravely in response.

Su Ye returned home in high spirits, though his body was exhausted.

After washing up and drying his hair, he sat on the cold, dry stool and sank into thought.

"The Vast Sea Swordplay truly deserves to be a Third-Rank Martial Skill. Its difficulty is nowhere near comparable to the Extreme Shadow Swordplay."

His thoughts stirred, and the Manifestation Talisman in his mind emitted a faint purple glow.

[Vast Sea Swordplay (2/1000)]

"To increase progress by one point, I need to perform every variation of each level once." This was the conclusion Su Ye had reached from sparring with Li Aoxue just now.

A contemplative look appeared on his face as he calculated inwardly.

"The Rising Momentum of the first level contains thirty-six sword variations."

"The following levels contain seventy-two, one hundred and eight, and three hundred and sixty—the numbers of a Heavenly Cycle!"

"This is quite a massive undertaking. It'll probably take at least a month or so to cultivate it to completion and develop the Vast Sea Sword Intent?"

He made a rough estimate.

"But... this is something I have to learn."

"After all, a high-quality Third-Rank Martial Skill like this isn't something I can learn whenever I want."

"Besides, the College Entrance Examination includes a practical combat assessment."

Su Ye shook his head and looked at the information conveyed by the Manifestation Talisman.

[Azure Cloud Breathing Technique (50/100)]

[Tiger Form Bone Forging Method (6/49)]

[Vast Sea Swordplay (2/1000)]

A sense of fulfillment from visible progress welled up in Su Ye's heart, making him smile faintly.

"The Azure Cloud Breathing Technique should reach completion before long. That'll free up another point of Manifestation, and then I'll see what to manifest."

He stretched lazily.

"The next few days will be spent burying my head in hard cultivation!"

A smile rested on Su Ye's lips, while his eyes burned like fire with determination. "The top ten before class placement—I, Su Ye, am taking it for sure!"

Time flashed by, and soon it was the eve of class placement!

Inside the cramped room, Su Ye withdrew his fist. Crackling sounds rang out all over his body!

His aura erupted with a boom, then sharply withdrew!

Like a dragonfly touching water, effortless and unrestrained!