Hiding His True Strength

Outside the platform, Snow, who had been watching the entire time, showed an unmistakable look of shock for the first time. He had seen it clearly: Qin Zhao had an almost instinctive affinity for using Domains. His precise grasp of timing, power, and Domain control was far beyond what any ordinary genius who had only just comprehended a Domain could possess!

"First round passed. Evaluation: Excellent." The cold voice announced the result. After a brief pause, it sounded again: "Second round of the assessment, begin!"

Light gathered, and a second Crystal Man appeared. Its shape was identical to the first, but the Domain fluctuations around it suddenly grew much stronger!

"I will display a Second-Level Domain." The Crystal Man's voice was still cold, but the pressure it exerted was on an entirely different level.

"Rumble!"

A denser, dark-yellow Domain spread out, reaching a radius of eighty meters! The Gravity Binding within it doubled in strength. Earth and Stone Phantoms even seemed to gather and drift within the Domain, greatly increasing its oppressive force and tangible attack power.

The Crystal Man charged forward, moving nearly twice as fast as it had in the first round! Its War Blade no longer came down in a simple, direct slash. As its blade flashed, it drew on the Earth and Stone Phantoms within the Domain, transforming them into several solid yellow Earth Blade Qi attacks. Together with the War Blade itself, they came at Qin Zhao from different directions, sealing off every avenue of escape!

Facing the suddenly strengthened attack, Qin Zhao put on an appropriately "grave" expression. Once again, he unleashed his own First-Level Domain.

"Hmm!"

This time, under the pressure of the opponent's Second-Level Domain, his Domain was compressed to a radius of only about thirty meters. Its light also seemed to "flicker," like a candle in the wind. To an outside observer, this was simply the normal result of being suppressed by a higher-level Domain.

"I can only take it head-on!" Qin Zhao "shouted," apparently making a difficult decision. Gripping his War Blade with both hands, he charged forward instead of retreating, deliberately entering the stronger part of the opponent's Domain!

He moved in the narrowest of openings, narrowly dodging the two most vicious Yellow Earth Blade Qi attacks. His Thick-backed Warblade carved a heavy arc through the air, meeting the slash from the Crystal Man itself!

"Clang—!!"

A deafening crash of metal rang out! This time, Qin Zhao's body shuddered violently. His palms went numb, and he staggered back seven or eight steps before barely managing to steady himself. A flush "rose" on his face, as if he had suffered a minor setback.

Yet his gaze remained sharp, fixed on his opponent. Though the Crystal Man had gained the upper hand in that clash, the force of the recoil had held it back for an instant.

"Now!" A "flash" of light appeared in Qin Zhao's eyes, as if he had seized the tiny gap between the opponent's attacks. He stopped trying to meet it head-on, slipping through the enemy Domain like a fish in water. Though his steps appeared slightly "heavy," he always managed to dodge the fatal attacks at the last possible moment.

He no longer sought to win with a single strike. Instead, he used his seemingly "weak" Domain for precise defense and evasion. When he counterattacked, he targeted the enemy's weak points, forcing it to defend and disrupting its rhythm.

To outside observers, his fighting style relied entirely on superb combat instincts and precise control of his Domain to make up for the difference in Domain level! He was using every bit of power in his First-Level Domain to the utmost! Even Snow, watching from the side, couldn't help but nod in approval. This young man had not only extraordinary comprehension but remarkable combat intelligence as well! He knew how to play to his strengths, avoid his weaknesses, and look for an opening even when at a disadvantage!

The battle continued for about three minutes. The Crystal Man's attacks kept failing, and its offense began to show a hint of impatience. Then, just as another heavy blow missed and its momentum carried it forward—

"Now!" Qin Zhao's long-suppressed aura suddenly erupted! He stamped down hard, the seemingly simple movement secretly matching the Pulse of the Earth, and his speed instantly soared! He and his blade seemed to merge into one, transforming into a streak of condensed Yellow Earth Light. Instead of meeting the opponent head-on, he thrust from a tricky angle straight at the opening in the Crystal Man's chest, exposed by its all-out attack!

The strike was fast, precise, and ruthless! It combined timing, speed, and power perfectly!

"Pfft!"

The Crystal Man couldn't defend in time. The War Blade struck its energy core with pinpoint accuracy! Its body stiffened, the light in its eyes quickly dimmed, and then it broke apart into a shower of light.

In the second round, he had defeated an opponent with a Second-Level Domain despite being outmatched! Though the process had looked "difficult," there was no disputing the result!

"Second round passed. Evaluation: Outstanding." The assessment system's voice seemed to carry the faintest trace of a tremor.

A satisfied smile appeared on Snow's face. A first-tier Planet Level fighter with a First-Level Domain had defeated a Virtual Martial Artist with a Second-Level Domain. This level of combat ability would have been remarkable even in the history of Glacier Sacred Land!

"Third round of the assessment, begin!"

A third Crystal Man materialized. The moment it appeared, a heavy, heart-stirring pressure spread through the air! The Earth-Yellow Light surrounding it was almost solid, as if mountains and rivers drifted behind it!

"First-tier Planet Level. Third-Level Domain." The Crystal Man spoke, its voice reverberating with a deep, weighty resonance.

"Boom!!!"

The powerful Third-Level Domain swept across the entire platform like a tsunami! The instant Qin Zhao's "First-Level Domain" met it, it was compressed until it barely clung to his body as a protective layer, its light dim and wavering. The terrifying Gravity Binding made him feel as if he were carrying a mountain on his back, slowing his movements to a crawl.

The Crystal Man moved. It used no fancy techniques, only a simple horizontal slash. Yet that single blow drew upon the power of the entire Third-Level Domain! The space along the blade's path warped. An Earth Blade Aura, condensed to the utmost, came crashing toward Qin Zhao like a chasm tearing through the earth! Its speed, power, and might overwhelmed him on every front!

Qin Zhao showed an expression of "extreme gravity" and "desperate struggle." He drove his "Domain" with all his might, trying to resist the crushing pressure on every side, and held up his War Blade as Origin Force poured into it in a frenzy!

"Boom—!!!"

There was no suspense! The instant they made contact, Qin Zhao's defense was torn apart like paper! The War Blade flew from his hands. The terrifying Earth Blade Aura struck him head-on, instantly shattering his protective Origin Force and breaking his yellow battle clothes to pieces! His body flew backward like a kite with its strings cut, crashing hard into the edge of the platform. He struggled twice, but ultimately failed to get back up.

"Assessment over. Third round failed. Overall rating: Transcendent!" the system announced at last.

A flash of light later, Qin Zhao reappeared in the Glacier Sacred Land admissions hall. His "injuries" had vanished, and he was completely recovered. His expression was calm, as if the "bitter battle" just now had not affected him at all.

The area fell silent. Every staff member, including the gray-clothed young man, waited for the final result of Qin Zhao's assessment. After all, he was a monster who had comprehended a Domain at only first-tier Planet Level. Anyone would be curious to know how he had performed.

Snow took a step forward and appeared in front of Qin Zhao in an instant. The stern expression he had worn before was now replaced by undisguised admiration and enthusiasm. He gave Qin Zhao's shoulder a hearty clap and spoke in a booming voice:

"Good! Excellent! Qin Zhao, your talent and combat gift are the finest I've seen in ten thousand years! You actually managed to hold your own against a Third-Level Domain with a First-Level Domain! I, Snow, admissions supervisor for Glacier Sacred Land in the Virtual Universe, hereby officially announce that you need not undergo any further assessments. You are directly granted the status of a Planet Level Core Student of Glacier Sacred Land! You will receive resources and mentor guidance with the highest level of priority!"

"Welcome, Qin Zhao! I hereby declare you an official member of Glacier Sacred Land!"