Spirit-Binding Talisman

"Mystic-tier High-level Dou Technique: Xuanming Palm"

Xiao Wu's eyes were filled with ruthlessness as he unleashed his ultimate trump card.

This was a Mystic-tier High-level Dou Technique personally passed down to him by his big brother Xiao Ling. Not only was its power immense, but it also carried a trace of Xuanming Qi, which would cause the victim to suffer excruciating agony every midnight, eventually torturing them to death.

Over in the direction of Jianan Academy, Instructor Ruo Lin cast a surprised glance at Xiao Wu. With her keen eye, she could naturally tell that the opponent was utilizing some form of Mystic-tier High-level palm technique.

She herself did not possess a Dou Technique of this grade, which caused her to cast another subtle glance at the young boy in white. She had a faint suspicion in her heart, but she did not show it.

At the center of the plaza, Wu Ming looked at the incoming Xiao Wu with a flash of anger in his eyes. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He then looked at Xiao Wu again, a trace of extreme killing intent flashing through his eyes. He took a step forward and met the palm strike with one of his own.

"Mystic-tier High-level Dou Technique: Shadowless Hand"

The moment his palm struck out, a series of afterimages emerged, blurring the line between reality and illusion, making it impossible to distinguish the true attack.

The surrounding crowd held their breath as they watched this scene, all eager to see who would become the strongest dark horse in this Jianan Academy recruitment.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the two attacks collided.

"Bang!"

Following a muffled sound, two figures were sent flying in opposite directions. After landing, they each retreated over a dozen steps before barely managing to stabilize their footing.

However, Wu Ming had retreated five steps less than Xiao Wu. From this, it was clear that in their first exchange, Xiao Wu had suffered a slight disadvantage due to his cultivation level.

"Sister Ruo Lin, shouldn't we stop them? After all, the winner has already been decided," Bai Zhi said anxiously.

"This... not yet, let's watch a little longer."

Instructor Ruo Lin hesitated for two seconds, glanced at someone, and then said softly.

Xiao Ling, of course, did not know what this woman was thinking. Seeing that she had not intervened, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the other party, but if they were to fight, the nature of the situation would change. It would no longer be a minor friction between juniors, which would cause trouble for the Xiao Clan later and disrupt his subsequent plans.

After landing, Wu Ming and Xiao Wu charged at each other once again, every move exceptionally vicious and aimed at the other's vital points.

The students of Jianan Academy turned pale at the sight, while even some mercenaries who lived life on the edge of a blade couldn't help but have their eyes light up at the sight of the two fighting.

This was what a man's battle looked like—flesh against flesh.

Meanwhile, in the center of the plaza, Wu Ming was feeling incredibly stifled.

In this brief exchange, he had used at least three or four Yellow-tier High-level Dou Techniques and one Mystic-tier Low-level Dou Technique.

To his surprise, he hadn't been able to do a thing to this guy, which made him feel extremely frustrated.

"Hoo..."

Taking a deep breath, Wu Ming traded another punch with his opponent, then used the recoil to pull back. He looked at Xiao Wu, who had been forced back three steps by his strike, and said in a chilling tone.

"Kid, everything ends here. Next, I'll let you see what a true expert is."

With that, Wu Ming swallowed a medicinal pill he had been hiding in his mouth, and his aura suddenly surged.

In just two or three breaths, it reached the level of a one-star Da Dou Shi before finally coming to a halt.

Xiao Wu's expression turned grave, but he was not surprised. He had already witnessed the opponent's strange, sudden surge in power before.

This was the key reason he hadn't used the jade talisman earlier. He hadn't forgotten that the opponent possessed a bizarre defensive ability that even his big brother Xiao Ling couldn't break; otherwise, he wouldn't have let this guy leave last time.

Therefore, he planned to wait for the exact moment the opponent was most distracted to use the jade talisman given to him by his big brother Xiao Ling to finish him off. And when is a person most easily distracted? Naturally, at the moment of success...

Although Xiao Wu wasn't surprised, the people around the plaza were stunned, and even Instructor Ruo Lin was taken aback for a moment.

Afterward, she glanced covertly at the young boy in white. Seeing that he showed no surprise, she felt a strange sense of relief.

"Holy..."

"Damn... could it be that this Wu Ming was hiding his strength? A twelve or thirteen-year-old Da Dou Shi?"

"That shouldn't be it... I think it's some kind of method. Otherwise, even if a twelve or thirteen-year-old Da Dou Shi started cultivating in the womb, it would be impossible..."

It must be said that this scene shocked everyone, sparking all sorts of guesses and discussions.

Wu Ming, however, paid no attention to any of it. He had only one intention now: to completely slaughter this persistent pest in front of him.

"Xiao Wu, I'll give you one chance. If you kneel and kowtow to me a few times, I might spare your life. Otherwise, I'll have to reluctantly send you to be reincarnated."

Xiao Wu merely sneered, not even bothering to acknowledge this idiot.

Who did he think he was? Asking him, Xiao Wu, to kneel? He only knelt before his parents and his big brother Xiao Ling... A Da Dou Shi might be strong, but he didn't have the qualifications to make him submit.

"Since that's the case, then go to hell."

"Mystic-tier High-level Dou Technique: Shadowless Hand"

Wu Ming looked at the gaze he found so detestable, took a step forward, raised his palm, and pressed it down toward him.

The moment his palm struck out, dozens of afterimages swirled around it, making it impossible to distinguish between the real and the illusory.

"Little bastard, remember to keep your eyes open when you're reincarnated in your next life.

Don't follow the wrong master, or your only fate will be to be killed..."

No, you no longer have the chance to be reincarnated; after you die, I will extract your soul.

I will let you watch as I toy with your master's woman in the future... Hahaha...

At this moment, the surrounding crowd watched this scene and shook their heads with sighs. Having seen things develop to this point, they had all guessed the outcome, and could only say that the Xiao Clan had suffered a great loss this time...

Right now, except for Instructor Ruo Lin, no one noticed that there was a hint of gloom in Xiao Ling's eyes, though on the surface, he looked at the worried Xiao Yu beside him with a gentle expression and patted her little head.

No one knew what he was thinking at this moment...

"You! Seek! Death!"

Hearing the words of Wu Ming before him, Xiao Wu felt a flash of anger and killing intent in his eyes.

He swore that he would absolutely finish off this foul-mouthed guy.

At this moment, hearing the other party's impotent rage, Wu Ming couldn't help but laugh, and immediately following that, his palm struck the other party squarely.

However, at the critical moment, Xiao Wu relied on his astonishing reflexes to avoid a fatal blow.

At the same time, he used his Dou Qi to activate a jade talisman he had prepared long ago. A dazzling white light flashed, and Wu Ming disappeared entirely, as if he had been blasted into dust by that strike.

[Ding, Spirit-Binding Talisman has been activated. It will consume one hour of lifespan every day. Please ensure the host has sufficient lifespan to avoid any accidents.]

"Phew..."

Hearing the voice in his mind, Xiao Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had traded thirty years of his lifespan with the system to obtain this Spirit-Binding Talisman.

Furthermore, once used, it would continue to consume his lifespan as long as the person bound by it remained alive.

Although the price he paid was heavy, leaving him with only ten years of lifespan—effectively returning him to square one—the result was good. At the very least, the Dou Zun level spatial barrier had not been triggered, which was enough for him.

And this was the only method he could devise to break the unknown Dou Zun's means.

At this moment, the crowd around the plaza was completely stunned, and then an astonishing wave of discussion erupted again, with even the imperial army and the students of Jianan Academy joining in the chatter.

"Sister Ruo Lin, did you see clearly what happened just now?"

In the direction of Jianan Academy, Bai Zhi's chubby, baby-faced expression revealed a hint of shock as she looked toward Instructor Ruo Lin beside her.