Quarrel

"Clang—!!!"

A high-pitched, piercing blade cry, enough to tear eardrums, rang out across the entire Virtual Arena.

The blade light no longer scattered; it condensed into a single, pure, and supremely refined beam, as if it could pierce the blazing sun itself.

Dazzling and brilliant! Carrying a resolve of no return, it struck down with speed beyond the Yellow-Clad Man's reaction limit.

"Pfft!" The Yellow-Clad Man, who only had time to turn and parry in haste, his protective blood energy not even fully condensed, was instantly shredded along with his staff by that refined Piercing Sun blade light.

He dissolved into a flash of white light, slowly fading away on the arena floor.

"Huff... huff..." In the virtual world with over ninety percent realism, Li Wen could clearly feel his own violent heartbeat, his lungs burning, every breath pulling at exhausted muscles.

Sweat slid down his temples, dripping onto the cold metal arena floor, shattering on impact.

This vivid sensory feedback made the physical exhaustion after intense combat feel almost identical to the real world.

Every dodge, every parry, every full-powered strike truly drained his stamina and focus.

"He won! He actually won!"

"He even took down a top-tier entry-level Yellow-Clad Man!"

"That's insane!"

As Li Wen panted, sheathing his blade and confirming his victory, the Class 21 area in Qingshi No.3 High School's square erupted first with uncontrollable gasps and cheers.

This noise, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stood out sharply in the tense atmosphere of waiting for assessment results.

Deng Yuefei's face still held shock and a trace of bitterness, while Xue Jun's lips curled into a meaningful arc.

This excitement immediately drew scrutinizing, disdainful, even mocking looks from nearby classes, especially Class 20 right next to them.

"Isn't it just top-tier blade technique entry? What's the big deal? A bunch of country bumpkins who've never seen anything." A Class 20 student crossed his arms, sneering openly at his companion.

Class 20, as the elite among ordinary classes, always carried a sense of superiority and looked down on Class 21, the so-called "nepotism gathering spot."

"Exactly, we've got more than one or two with top-tier entry in our class."

"Hmph, nepotism is nepotism. Making a mountain out of a molehill." More Class 20 students chimed in, muttering contemptuously.

As long-standing "rivals" next to each other, mutual disdain between the two classes was tradition.

A Class 21 student immediately exploded at the words: "What the hell do you know!" A tall Class 21 boy stood up abruptly, pointing at Class 20's direction and shouting, "Easy for you to talk! Why don't you go up and try?"

"Yeah! Anyone can flap their mouth watching from the sidelines! Let's see your real skills in the assessment!"

"Tch, getting defensive!"

"All bark, no bite!"

As more students joined the argument, accusations and sarcasm flew back and forth, spittle flying, and the scene instantly turned chaotic.

It gradually escalated into a collective standoff between the two neighboring classes, the square's originally serious atmosphere completely shattered.

Some students, already on edge from the assessment, had blood rushing to their heads, rolling up their sleeves, on the verge of escalating from verbal sparring to shoving or even brawling.

"All of you, shut up!"

A low roar, carrying astonishing penetrating power like a thunderclap, suddenly rang out.

At the same time, a terrifying aura, heavy as a mountain and sharp as a blade, crashed down like an invisible boulder pressing on everyone's hearts.

It was a martial arts teacher overseeing order.

That single rebuke, wrapped in the overwhelming presence unique to a formal martial artist, instantly silenced all the red-faced, thick-necked students from both classes, the noise cut off abruptly.

Everyone felt their bodies stiffen, their breathing labored, as if the surrounding air had turned thick and heavy.

His blazing, warning-filled gaze swept across the crowd like an icy blade.

Wherever his eyes landed, no matter how unruly the student, they couldn't help but shudder, lowering their heads deeply, completely unable to meet his gaze. All their arrogance extinguished in an instant.

This was the insurmountable gap between those not yet ranked and true martial artists.

And this was just a single formal martial artist. If a Super Warrior descended, merely unleashing their full aura could probably crush all these unranked students to the ground, unable to move.

Legendary Flying Star Realm experts, their presence alone, wielded an invisible might.

A petty squabble, under the absolute suppression of the martial arts teacher's power, vanished in an instant.

The entire square was left with only the combat sound effects from the virtual screens and Li Wen's heavy breathing.

After this brief interlude, everyone's attention returned to the central screen.

Now, fewer than ten combat screens remained lit, representing the top elites still continuing their assessments.

Li Wen's screen refreshed.

A color representing a higher level of technique appeared—a green virtual battle robe.

Top-tier technique: Minor Mastery!

Staring at the Green-Clad Man before him, who radiated a far more terrifying aura than the Yellow-Clad Man and held a staff, Li Wen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fatigue and joy from killing the Yellow-Clad Man. His gaze turned utterly solemn.

Green corresponded to mastery at the minor-success level.

He had only just entered the threshold of the blade art at the entry level. Facing an opponent at the minor-success tier, the chasm in strength was starkly visible.

Whether in depth of martial technique comprehension, efficiency of power application, or combat experience, there was a qualitative gap.

Li Wen had self-awareness. At this moment, he had absolutely no chance of victory.

Yet, the opportunity was rare!

To be able to spar without reservation against an opponent far beyond his own realm—even if only for a few exchanges—was an excellent chance to broaden his insight, feel the disparity, and clarify his direction.

He might even brush against the threshold of a higher realm.

This precious experience, in real combat outside, was something one might not earn even by risking their life. He didn't want to waste it.

"Fight!" This time, Li Wen did not passively wait for the Green-Clad Man to strike first.

He let out a low shout, forcibly rousing a surge of blood and qi. Power flooded his arms, and qi exploded beneath his feet. His entire body shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, charging in with his swift blade.

The moment he struck, he unleashed the most powerful move of the Rainbow Light Blade Art, known for its explosive speed—Piercing Sun!

"Shrrrk!" The swift blade tore through the air, dragging a chilling afterimage in its wake.

Blade light filled the sky like a suddenly unfurled curtain of radiance, carrying an overwhelming, sharp momentum. In an instant, it completely enveloped the Green-Clad Man, who had just refreshed and whose form had not yet fully solidified.

This single slash condensed the essence, energy, and spirit of Li Wen's entry-level Rainbow Light Blade Art.

It was the manifestation of his resolve to actively challenge a higher peak.