That night, Ede was thrown back into the dungeon, replaced by the young master Ras.
This man's identity was truly extraordinary. Students had contacted Lu Yin one after another, offering to pay a price in exchange for him, but Lu Yin refused them all. The value of this young master Ras could not be compared to those resource crystals.
Ras was roughly thrown onto the ground. Not far away, Hua Xia's evolvers were building defensive walls.
"Gulles, why are you here too?" Ras exclaimed in surprise as he stared at the woman in the distance.
Gulles looked at Ras with a beaming smile. "Sorry about that, Senior Ras. I was captured too."
Ras was furious. That damn girl is talking nonsense with her eyes wide open. Does she look anything like she's been captured? Wait... "You were the one behind these people? No wonder they dared to kidnap me. You've got some nerve. Don't think you'll be fine just because your brother is protecting you. My father is Sika!"
Gulles blinked her innocent, wide eyes. "Don't falsely accuse me, Senior Ras. I don't have the ability to lead them. Ask someone else if you don't believe me. I was robbed by him too."
Ras did not believe her at all. He refused to believe that a mere native would dare attack him. Although that native's strength was unexpectedly formidable, so what? Without a certain background, even the most talented person was still an ant.
"Another student is approaching!" Granny cried out.
Lu Yin and the others all looked into the distance. A figure rapidly approached, finally hovering above the Capital City and looking down at Lu Yin and the others.
When he saw the newcomer, Ras was overjoyed. "Senior Mono! It's Senior Mono! Senior, I'm here!"
Gulles's expression changed. "Why is it him? He actually came too."
Lu Yin was curious. "You know him?"
Gulles said solemnly, "Mono is an elite expert from Yu Tang. He once competed with my brother. Although my brother no longer takes him seriously, he's one of the few Integrating Realm students in Yu Tang."
Everyone's hearts sank when they heard "Integrating Realm." There were definitely Integrating Realm experts among the second batch of trial students. Huo Xiaoling was one of them. They had originally thought it would be difficult to encounter an Integrating Realm expert, but one had unexpectedly appeared here.
Mono looked down and swept his gaze across the Capital City. When he saw Ras, his eyes lit up. He had come specifically for Ras. Ras's father was Sika. As long as he rescued Ras, he could board Sika's ship, and he would have nothing to worry about in the Great Yu Empire in the future.
"Native, release Young Master Ras!" Mono shouted. The shockwave scattered the clouds and pressed down from above, terrifying countless survivors.
Ras was overjoyed.
Lu Yin frowned and was about to act. So what if Mono was in the Integrating Realm? An Integrating Realm expert whose cultivation had been sealed might not be his match.
At that moment, Zhang Ding Tian stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Leave this fight to me."
A glint flashed through Lu Yin's eyes. Ever since Zhang Ding Tian had rescued everyone a few days ago, he had rarely made a move. Whenever a student came, Lu Yin was the one who defeated and captured them. Granny, Gulles, and the others had all focused their attention on Lu Yin, and even Ede and the others had nearly forgotten about Zhang Ding Tian. He was a cross-boundary expert, the strongest of the Seven Saints. He had his pride. The Capital City had originally been the place he protected, yet someone else was protecting it now. Zhang Ding Tian had endured this for a long time, and now that his injuries had recovered, he desperately wanted a battle.
Bai Xue watched Zhang Ding Tian worriedly. These extraterrestrial students had strange battle techniques, and their use of power far surpassed theirs. Zhang Ding Tian could crush ordinary students, but the one he faced now was an Absolute Expert.
Ras sneered. If Lu Yin went up, there might be something worth watching. But for a mere native to dream of challenging an Integrating Realm expert? Even with his cultivation sealed, an Integrating Realm expert was not someone an ordinary Probe Realm cultivator could compare with. He was just a native.
Lu Yin nodded. "Be careful."
Zhang Ding Tian's gaze sharpened. He raised his long saber, soared into the sky, and faced Mono directly.
Gulles's eyes shone. Ras and the others did not know, but the first batch of trial students did. Back then, the person who had posed the greatest threat to them in China had not been Lu Yin, but this strongest of the Seven Saints, this rare cross-boundary expert. With a single man and saber, he had guarded the Capital City, forcing even her to avoid his edge.
Mono arrogantly watched Zhang Ding Tian rise into the air. "Native, get lost." As he spoke, he casually waved his hand. Surging star energy swept across the sky. Unlike the scattered power of an ordinary Probe Realm cultivator, it gathered toward a single direction. This was unconscious control, and it also showed that an Integrating Realm expert had long since mastered the use of star energy.
Zhang Ding Tian's gaze was resolute. He raised his saber and slashed horizontally. Following the long saber, the slash tore through the star energy and shot straight toward Mono.
Mono, who had not cared about Zhang Ding Tian, changed expression. He raised his hand and extended a claw, shattering the slash. "Interesting. A mere native actually possesses strength comparable to an ordinary Yu Tang member. No, slightly greater than an ordinary Yu Tang member. You... are you a cross-boundary expert?"
Facing Mono's increasingly astonished expression, Zhang Ding Tian raised his saber and slashed again, but Mono shattered it once more. Zhang Ding Tian possessed cross-boundary battle power, stronger than Ede and enough to fight Ras, but against Mono, an Integrating Realm expert whose cultivation had been sealed, his attacks had no effect. Mono was a true Integrating Realm expert. Even though his sealed cultivation prevented him from displaying Integrating Realm strength, he still retained his use of star energy and battle techniques. Zhang Ding Tian could not match him.
With a clang, Mono's palm transformed into a claw. The tremendous impact struck the blade, sending a crack through it. The force traveled along the long saber and into Zhang Ding Tian's arm, completely shredding the sleeve covering it.
Mono had originally intended to shatter the long saber with that strike, but he failed. At the critical moment, Zhang Ding Tian miraculously dispersed part of the force, preserving his saber and avoiding even more serious injuries.
Zhang Ding Tian spat out blood and staggered backward. His long saber rose high as he let out a furious roar. A terrifying slash flickered in and out of existence. His body inexplicably vanished, leaving only an afterimage behind.
"Roaming Step?" Lu Yin exclaimed in surprise. Zhang Ding Tian had actually learned Roaming Step.
Everyone stared blankly at the sky. Two Zhang Ding Tians?
Ras's mouth fell open. No way. A native is actually fighting Mono evenly. Mono even used the Heavenly Beast Claw and still couldn't defeat him. How is this possible? When did natives become so insane? A cross-boundary expert? This native planet actually has a cross-boundary expert?
High in the sky, Mono's gaze turned cold. He waved his hand and dispersed the afterimages, then spun and swept out with one leg. The violent force twisted the air as it surged forth, and the shockwave slammed into the ground, shattering it. At that moment, Zhang Ding Tian appeared beside Mono and slashed out. Under everyone's gaze, the saber struck Mono.
Countless people's hearts leaped into their throats as they watched this scene in shock, including Gulles and the others. This is cross-boundary battle power? He can actually fight Mono. Zhang Ding Tian is truly defying the heavens.
The long saber swept past without touching anything. Zhang Ding Tian's pupils contracted. Mono's figure before him dissipated. He instinctively raised his saber to block behind him. With a clang, the long saber shattered, and terrifying force slammed into Zhang Ding Tian, smashing him into the ground.
Everyone fell silent. In the sky, Mono appeared with a gloomy expression. A mere native had not only forced him to use the Heavenly Beast Claw, but also forced him to use his movement technique. It was unbelievable.
Everyone looked toward the ground outside the city, where smoke and dust surged into the heavens.
Gulles exhaled in relief. This was only right. If this native had defeated Mono, it would have completely overturned her worldview. No matter how extraordinary natives were, they could not possibly defy the heavens, could they?
"It's your turn to go up," Gulles said to Lu Yin.
Lu Yin pointed outside the city. "It's not over yet."
"Do you want him to throw his life away? A native can't defeat Mono. It's impossible for him even to injure him," Gulles said.
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. "I really don't like those two words: 'native.'"
"Hmph." Gulles turned her head away.
Zhou Shan and Wu Sheng also appeared, watching outside the city worriedly.
Bai Xue clenched both fists, chilling air radiating from her body.
Ras stared blankly at Bai Xue. He had noticed this woman earlier. She was simply too beautiful. He had originally planned to take her back as a maid, but what was this? Cold air? Ice? A talent? Damn it, what kind of native planet was this? It even had a Talented Cultivator, a cross-boundary expert, and that monster who had defeated him. What the hell was going on?
At that moment, the smoke and dust dispersed. Zhang Ding Tian appeared before everyone, gripping a broken saber. His body was covered in wounds, but he was still standing, staring resolutely toward the sky as he slowly rose into the air.
Mono raised an eyebrow. "You've got guts. What's your name?"
"Zhang Ding Tian."
Mono said admiringly, "Follow me. I'll bring you into Yu Tang. You're qualified. What do you say?"
"Not interested." Zhang Ding Tian coldly replied with three words and tightened his grip on the broken saber.
Mono laughed. "You intend to fight me with that broken saber? Let me tell you, the gap between us cannot be bridged. Facing me, you can only lose."
"That may not be true. Zhang Ding Tian, here's something for you." From below, Lu Yin shouted and raised his hand, throwing Gulles's Ring Armor over. Zhang Ding Tian instinctively caught it and looked toward Lu Yin in confusion.
Lu Yin said, "The fight was unfair from the start. He's in the Integrating Realm, while you're only in the Probe Realm. Don't be stubborn."
A glint flashed through Zhang Ding Tian's eyes. He put on the Ring Armor. In the next moment, the armor covered his entire body, lightning flashing across it.
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