Return to the City

For the next stretch of days, Su Yi constantly prowled around the Meat Grinder.

He ambushed and killed Abyss Warriors, though sometimes he was ambushed by them in turn.

He was almost constantly fighting. Whenever he was injured, he would dig a hole, hide inside, and recover. At night, he did not return to Hope City, instead resting in the tunnels.

The time he was hurt most severely was when he killed a Fifth-Rank Initial Stage Abyss Warrior and was collecting the spoils, only to be pursued by a Sixth-Rank Abyss Warrior. Fortunately, he encountered a human Sixth-Rank Expert midway, who saved him.

Even so, he was gravely wounded. He only recovered after consuming 3 grams of Life Essence and a Life-Returning Pill.

Su Yi knew exactly what level of Martial Artist he could handle. He could ambush and kill a Fifth-Rank Initial Stage opponent, but if they fled in a head-on fight, it would still be difficult to kill them.

If he detonated an Energy Stone, he could still kill a Fifth-Rank Mid opponent—provided they did not run.

If he encountered anyone at the high stage or above, he turned and ran. Most of the warriors he killed were Third and Fourth Rank, with Third Rank making up the majority. There were also First and Second Rank Abyss Warriors, but not as many as Third Rank ones.

He had become extremely adept at fighting Abyss Warriors. Generally, anyone below Fifth Rank could be killed with a single sword strike.

"Sixteen days. It's about time to head back!"

During this period, powerful opponents had begun taking notice of him. Fifth-Rank warriors had started searching for and surrounding him in teams.

Sixth-Rank warriors were also searching for his trail. It was too dangerous; there would not always be someone around to save him.

The resources he had seized were already enough for him to cultivate for a long time. Besides, including today, he had spent sixteen days in the Abyss. Throughout those sixteen days, his mind had remained tightly strung. It was time to return and recover.

The days of slaughter had kept Su Yi in a state of extreme tension. His eyes were bloodshot, and aside from one set of clothes he wore while resting, all his other clothing had long been stained a dark, almost blackish red with blood.

The clothes he wore now carried the heaviest stench of blood and had witnessed the most killing. The foul bloody smell shot straight to his skull.

Su Yi had no intention of changing clothes. This was his honor for killing Abyss Warriors.

When he reached a secluded corner more than twenty kilometers from Hope City, Su Yi separated the weapons and resources he had seized, packed them into bundles, slung them over his back, and headed for Hope City.

It was not as though he encountered no Abyss Warriors along the way. Although this place was already not far from Hope City, quite a few Abyss Warriors still came across Su Yi.

Yet when they sensed the dense Blood Qi emanating from him and that sky-piercing stench of blood, they all chose to keep their distance.

Even though Su Yi carried two enormous bundles stuffed full of resources, that only made him more terrifying. Who knew how many of their warriors this Rebirth Land Martial Artist had killed to obtain such a harvest? How could he possibly be someone to provoke?

After walking for a little over an hour, Su Yi was not far from Hope City. Looking at the pockmarked alloy city walls, his heart was filled with emotion.

Su Yi adjusted his emotions, unleashed an astonishing, invincible bearing, and strode toward the city gate with his head held high.

At the city gate, Su Yi's aura swiftly drew the attention of the soldiers guarding the city.

When they saw Su Yi covered in blood, his clothes tattered and torn, carrying two large bundles on his back, the soldiers atop and below the walls all grew solemn and raised military salutes.

The north gate was already wide open. The moment he stepped through, the Martial Artists nearby straightened their backs one after another, placed their right hands across their chests, and gave him a Martial Salute.

"What a heavy stench of blood. How many enemies did he kill?"

"How many pursuits did he survive?"

"..."

The blood covering him, the blood and mud staining his ragged clothes—these were all Su Yi's glory.

Su Yi returned the Martial Salute. Martial Artists who entered the Abyss to kill enemies were the backbone of humanity.

"Well done. As expected of a Prodigy from our Magic Martial Academy!"

A Martial Artist with a somewhat heroic appearance walked over and praised him.

"I'm from Magic Martial Academy too. Senior Year, Fu Yinghao, Fourth Grade Peak! I heard long ago that this year's Magic Martial Academy had enrolled a prodigy. Your reputation truly does not precede you."

Fu Yinghao? Su Yi had heard of him before. Aside from two senior students at Fifth-Rank Initial Stage, he was the strongest in Senior Year.

After giving Fu Yinghao a look, Su Yi's first impression was that the man truly lived up to his name—he indeed possessed the bearing of a hero.

Su Yi introduced himself just as boldly. "Freshman Year, Su Yi, Third-Rank High Stage!"

Fu Yinghao was Fourth Grade Peak, but Su Yi was no weaker. He had no idea how many Fourth Grade Peak opponents he had slaughtered already, though the Abyss's Fourth Grade Peak warriors were probably inferior to Fu Yinghao.

Su Yi did not believe human Martial Artist prodigies would be weaker in combat, but he himself could already kill Fifth-Rank opponents.

Fu Yinghao laughed as well. This junior was truly not bad—he had some pride to him.

But that was only natural. Who here was not a genius? When Fu Yinghao had enrolled, he had merely been a First Grade Martial Artist who had undergone Second Bone Tempering.

Su Yi, on the other hand, had entered school as the sole Third Grade Mid Stage student. Who knew how many records he had set? Not to mention the major feat of creating a new Tempering Method afterward.

In just two months since enrolling, he had advanced directly to Third-Rank High Stage. Fu Yinghao wondered just how much he had gained on this first trip into the Abyss.

But judging from the two enormous bundles behind him—one containing weapons, the other radiating immense energy—the harvest was definitely substantial.

Fu Yinghao smiled and pointed at the two bundles behind Su Yi. "Junior, looks like your battle results were impressive. You brought back quite a lot of resources."

In the Abyss, the hardest thing was surviving long enough to bring resources away. Many times, one had no choice but to abandon some resources, such as the heaviest weapons.

The Martial Artists around them also began chatting with smiles.

In Hope City, returning drenched in blood and having seized plenty of resources was perfectly normal.

But the bloody stench on Su Yi was simply too thick, especially combined with those two huge bundles of supplies.

The conversations around him did not disgust Su Yi. On the contrary, they suited him perfectly. Though he had already accumulated quite a few Energy Points, how could he ever think he had too many of those?

Su Yi pulled the dozen or so Fifth-Rank Medals from his pocket with his right hand and shouted loudly.

"Su Yi of Magic Martial Academy, slain: one Abyss Warrior at the Fifth-Rank Peak, twelve Fifth-Rank warriors, more than twenty fourth-grade warriors, and over forty third-grade warriors..."

Su Yi held his head high and his chest out, returning covered in glory!!

The entire venue first fell silent, then erupted into an uproar.

A Third-Rank High Stage martial artist had actually killed a Fifth-Rank Peak warrior, along with so many enemies.

Was he really still at the Third-Rank High Stage?

This was Magic Martial Academy's Prodigy?

Just how strong was Su Yi's combat power!?

Fu Yinghao stared at Su Yi in disbelief as well. It was not that he thought Su Yi would falsify his achievements. Fabricating battle results was an extremely serious matter, and such things could not stand up to scrutiny.

Earlier, a sixth-rank martial artist had said that Su Yi had killed a Fifth-Rank Initial Stage Abyss Warrior, then been pursued by a sixth-rank opponent before ultimately being saved by him.

That had already been unbelievable. Who would have thought Su Yi could actually kill a Fifth-Rank Peak expert?

Even he himself had only ever killed one Fifth-Rank Mid Abyss Warrior.

Su Yi had already surpassed him!

In the center of Hope City, several teams were heading toward the north gate.

One was a group of Magic Martial Academy students led by Qin Nansheng, while the other two were Hua Normal students.

Hearing Su Yi's shout, Qin Nansheng's eyes held an emotion that was impossible to name—was it disappointment, or relief? They had not seen each other for only a few months, yet this kid had already become so strong?

He himself was only at the Fifth-Rank Peak now. Su Yi's growth had already exceeded his expectations.

A third-rank student behind him muttered in disbelief, "How is that possible? Isn't he only at the Third-Rank High Stage? How could he possibly kill a Fifth-Rank Peak opponent across two ranks? He'd probably struggle even against a fourth-grade opponent!"

Another student immediately chimed in, "He must be falsifying his battle results. Isn't he laying it on way too thick?"

"Shut up!"

Hearing their discussion, Qin Nansheng frowned and let out a furious roar.

Who was Su Yi? How could he not know?

Over the past three-plus years, Su Yi's character had always been the best in his eyes. These two brats did not know the full story and were already gossiping behind his back.

He rebuked them, "I know better than you what kind of person Su Yi is. Haven't you learned the consequences of falsifying battle results? Besides, a Sixth-Rank Expert already said before that Su Yi was capable of killing Fifth-Rank Initial Stage warriors.

"Now that he has a Fifth-Rank Peak Medal is not impossible either. His achievements are entirely real. Remember this: don't speak ill of others in private. If someone hears you and teaches you a lesson, you'll have brought it upon yourselves.

"Weaklings have no right to discuss the strong. Compared to Su Yi, you were left behind long ago. And what's more, the Tempering Method you're using now was created by Su Yi. What right do you have to criticize him?"

They had learned someone else's Tempering Method, yet were still talking about him behind his back. If word got out, they would be spat upon by others.

The two students went pale and hurriedly said that they would apologize to Su Yi later and seek his forgiveness.

Seeing Qin Nansheng instructing his students, the teacher leading Hua Normal's team also turned to her own students and said, "The same goes for you. Don't discuss the strong. If they really beat you up, we'd be so much in the wrong that we couldn't even step in."

Then she smiled at Qin Nansheng and said, "So this is the Magic Martial Academy Prodigy you're guardian to? That talent is truly terrifying! From the looks of it, his essence, qi, and spirit have merged as one!"

She had known Qin Nansheng for many years and had long known that he had become Su Yi's guardian.

At the mention of Su Yi, Qin Nansheng's face filled with pride. "Of course. This is a genius I personally trained."

There was nothing wrong with that statement. Su Yi's martial artist foundations, Tempering Method, Stake Standing, and Battle Art had all been taught to him hand in hand by Qin Nansheng.

As they spoke, they had already arrived beside Su Yi.

At the sight of Qin Nansheng, Su Yi's eyes lit up. He had not seen Qin Nansheng for over two months.

Just as he was about to greet him, the two students who had spoken earlier stepped forward first and apologized to Su Yi.

Faced with Su Yi's questioning gaze, they explained the reason.

Su Yi nodded in understanding and smiled. "Then I forgive you."

He did not say it was all right. Given what they had done, there would have been nothing wrong with Su Yi giving them a fierce beating.

Only after they returned to the group did Su Yi greet Qin Nansheng.

"Uncle Qin!"

Qin Nansheng looked at Su Yi, whose bearing was imposing yet still retained his former gentle refinement, and nodded with some gratification. He praised, "Good presence. You can kill a Fifth-Rank Peak opponent now—impressive!"

The heavy stench of blood on him only made his killing aura all the more pronounced.

Su Yi's gaze had softened considerably now, no longer taut with tension. He smiled shyly and said modestly, "Uncle Qin, at most, I can only fight a Fifth-Rank Mid opponent right now. I had to use many methods to kill that Fifth-Rank Peak one."

"No matter how you killed him, the important thing is that you were able to kill him. Besides, being able to fight a Fifth-Rank Mid opponent is already remarkable enough. You're only at the Third-Rank High Stage."