Suddenly, space twisted. A massive slash tore through the sky toward more than a dozen students. The students were shocked, but struck together and shattered it. In the distance, Zhang Ding Tian soared into the air, gripping his long saber, his gaze icy.
Though they had heard rumors, all the students still felt their scalps prickle when they faced Zhang Ding Tian in person. There really were natives powerful enough to cross realms. It was downright absurd.
With a whoosh, an arrow streaked across the sky and struck one of the students—the very one who had just attacked the Capital City. Blood sprayed down from above.
This was Wu Sheng, one of the Seven Saints, the Wolf Saint. He had originally been stationed on the grasslands, but learned through a stolen Personal terminal that the Capital City was under attack. He had arrived a few days ago to help.
Four Saints against more than twenty students—the disparity was immense. Even Zhang Ding Tian couldn't make up for it. In less than a quarter of an hour, Zhou Shan was spitting blood, his body covered in several new gashes. A student had also run Wu Sheng through the stomach and lifted him up, his blood staining the ground.
Tens of thousands of evolved fighters from the Hua Camp joined the battle, yet they were slaughtered like weeds. They couldn't even get close to the students.
Granny hid off to one side, watching in terror. She wasn't from Earth and wouldn't throw her life away. Besides, with her strength, she couldn't stop even one of the students.
A gale swept past, and the world turned bitterly cold. Many students looked in surprise toward the ruined city wall. Two students had been frozen there. Heidian stared in shock. "A talent... Y-you actually have a talent!"
The moment the word "talent" was spoken, it sent shockwaves in every direction. All the students stared at Bai Xue in disbelief.
Her already breathtaking beauty was now etched into everyone's heart.
Blood reddened the corner of Bai Xue's mouth and trickled from her chin to the ground. She gasped violently, exhaling a cloud of cold with every breath. She had reached her limit. These monsters simply wouldn't go down.
Few people knew about Bai Xue's talent. Even the Seven Saints didn't all know; she had kept it well hidden. But against a group of students like Heidian and the others, she had been helpless and could only reveal it.
The next moment, all the students eyed Bai Xue greedily. Everyone understood the importance of a Talented Cultivator. If they captured one for the forces behind them, their status would soar.
The student who had lifted Wu Sheng on his spear casually tossed him aside, then laughed and charged at Bai Xue.
The student who had been about to kill Zhou Shan grinned and rushed over as well.
In the sky, more than a dozen students who had been standing idle attacked all at once. At that moment, Bai Xue mattered more to them than the Capital City—or even the fugitives.
Granny sighed. That was the tragedy of the weak. Now that Bai Xue had revealed her talent, she could only be captured. No one would waste a Talented Cultivator. She would be made to marry some powerful noble, increasing the chances of producing more Talented Cultivators. It was a tragedy.
Even Ede, who was facing Zhang Ding Tian, stared greedily at Bai Xue and charged at her. But Zhang Ding Tian was faster. "Get lost, all of you!" he roared, swinging his saber again and again as terrifying slashes filled the air in every direction.
More than twenty students were blasted back, shocked by Zhang Ding Tian's strength. Even so, their determination to seize Bai Xue didn't waver. Talented Cultivators were too important.
Ede tore through the slashes and punched Zhang Ding Tian in the stomach, sending him flying more than ten meters. But Zhang Ding Tian stayed on his feet and swept his saber across. Ede quickly retreated, a bloody gash appearing across his chest.
Heidian crushed a water crystal. "Water Tornado!" he murmured. Surging water formed a cyclone and slammed into Zhang Ding Tian. At the same time, attacks of every kind rained down on him from all directions.
Zhang Ding Tian's eyes widened. He bit down so hard his gums bled, then let out a growl and plunged his saber into the ground. He swept it upward, sending countless shards of stone flying in every direction. The earth shook as a massive fissure spread from Outside the City into the city, burying countless survivors.
Zhang Ding Tian deflected the attacks from all directions, but he had reached his limit.
Several students who hadn't joined in earlier suddenly charged forward. Two attacked Zhang Ding Tian, while one reached for Bai Xue. "The Talented Cultivator is ours! Hahaha!"
Zhang Ding Tian was struck and driven into the ground, nearly losing his grip on his saber.
Bai Xue stared at the student reaching for her and raised her hand. "Ice Palm!"
Boom!
A wave of air swept across the sky, and the ground froze. The student reaching for Bai Xue was frozen solid. He had underestimated her. The Upper Three Saints were strong enough to rival the strongest in the academy; even Heidian couldn't take her down at once.
Seeing Zhang Ding Tian badly wounded, Ede charged again. This time, he went for Bai Xue. A Talented Cultivator was nearly as valuable as a fugitive, and Zhang Ding Tian was no longer in his way.
Two students attacked at the same time as Ede. Both were strong enough to rival Heidian. All three reached for Bai Xue at once. At that point, even Zhang Ding Tian couldn't protect her.
Bai Xue's face was pale. "Is it over? What a shame."
In an instant, a familiar figure appeared in front of her. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three booming impacts rang out, followed by three figures flying backward in a sorry state. They were Ede and the other two.
All the students stared in disbelief at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of Bai Xue. Who was he? He had defeated three of the academy's strongest with a single strike.
In a corner, Granny's eyes widened. "He actually came back."
Inside the city, Zhou Shan gave a bitter laugh and spat out blood.
Bai Xue stared in astonishment at the figure before her. He wasn't tall, but he had shielded her from the storm. He really had come back—and he seemed much stronger.
The one who had appeared in front of Bai Xue was naturally Lu Yin. He didn't have a Personal terminal, so of course he hadn't known the Capital City was under attack. Thankfully, he hadn't returned too late.
Lu Yin said to Bai Xue, "I told you I'd come back."
Bai Xue's face was pale. She said weakly, "Be careful. There are too many of them."
Lu Yin nodded, his expression slightly grim. There really were too many. He had reached the peak of the Probe Realm, and his Heavenly Star Palm was certainly no weaker than Zhang Ding Tian's. But Zhang Ding Tian had been beaten to a pulp. A head-on fight would be tough.
Cough, cough.
Zhang Ding Tian crawled out of the ground, leaning on his saber. He glanced at Lu Yin, then swept his sharp gaze around the battlefield, his expression resolute.
Lu Yin tossed Zhang Ding Tian some medicine. "Treat your wounds."
Zhang Ding Tian rudely swallowed it whole.
Lu Yin was speechless. It was supposed to be rubbed on the body. Whatever—he'd swallowed it, so it should still work, right? After all, it came from the Three Leaf Clover Company.
In the distance, Ede and the other two got back to their feet and stared at Lu Yin. "Who are you?"
Lu Yin didn't bother answering. He put on Gulles's battle armor, sparks flying as lightning crackled around him.
Heidian looked surprised. "That's Gulles's battle armor. How did you get it?"
"She gave it to me," Lu Yin replied coolly.
"Impossible!" Ede, Heidian, and several other students exclaimed at once. Gulles was famous throughout the Great Yu Empire because she had a powerful, fiercely protective older brother: Gulbah. The younger generation of the Great Yu Empire felt helpless whenever his name came up. He was a monster. Because of Gulbah, nobody dared bully Gulles. If Gulles had really given this man her armor, then there was trouble. Was he connected to Gulles's family?
All the students eyed Lu Yin with uncertainty. Could he be Gulles's boyfriend?
Lu Yin took a deep breath, his gaze turning cold. "Stay out of my way." After saying that, he charged straight at Ede. Ede was the strongest among the students and the one who had organized the attack on the Capital City. Capture the leader, and the rest would fall.
Ede was still caught up in speculating about Lu Yin when Lu Yin attacked. Ede quickly retreated. He had just experienced Lu Yin's strength and had no intention of fighting him head-on.
Lu Yin used Roaming Step and appeared right in front of Heidian. Heidian was startled. Lu Yin had actually attacked him. "Water Tornado!" Heidian used water to envelop himself, trying to block Lu Yin. Lu Yin rushed up to him, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile, then struck toward the opposite side—the direction Ede had retreated.
"Void Splitting Palm?" Ede exclaimed, punching out. With a bang, the shockwave swept everything nearby aside. Lu Yin circled around Heidian and attacked Ede again.
Ede gritted his teeth. "Kid, don't push it!"
Lu Yin sneered and raised his palm, striking at Ede.
Ede gave a grunt, sensing danger. He clenched his right fist, and a mighty beast's roar seemed to echo in the air. This was his battle technique: the Beast King Fist. It had defeated the strongest students from thirty academies, earning him special admission to Yu Tang and making him famous throughout the Great Yu Empire. On Earth, he had only used it against Zhang Ding Tian and the fugitive. Now, he had been driven to the brink.
As his palm struck, stars appeared. Lu Yin unleashed his Heavenly Star Palm. Three stars gleamed, then exploded. When the first star burst, Ede's eyes widened, and the Beast King Fist was forcibly halted. The second star exploded, and agonizing pain shot through Ede's right fist. When the third star burst, Ede suddenly spat blood and was hurled backward, his right fist shattered. His body slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Against Ede, Lu Yin had held nothing back with his Heavenly Star Palm. One palm had crippled him.
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