Demon Capital Xiao Clan

The second-place contestant's performance was even more astonishing. He wielded a heavy sword.

His swordsmanship was incomparably domineering. In just three strikes, he split the fishman warrior in two.

These top freshmen ended their battles faster than the last, and the strength they displayed was more terrifying with each one, making everyone present feel immense pressure.

Finally, it was the turn of the first-place contender, the one standing at the top of the rankings and drawing countless eyes.

"Next, Xiao Wangshu."

Dressed in white, Xiao Wangshu looked like a fairy descending from the moon palace. Beneath countless gazes, she held a longsword and calmly walked into the arena.

Facing the roaring fishman warrior charging at her, her expression did not change in the slightest, as though she were facing nothing more than a gentle breeze.

The moment the fishman warrior entered within three zhang of her, she moved.

Her longsword suddenly left its sheath.

She did not use any flashy sword move. She merely thrust her sword forward simply.

At the sword tip, two faint yet incomparably sharp transparent ripples burst forth at once—it was highly condensed sword force! And not one strand, but two!

Sword and halberd collided!

The sword force traveled through the Sea Halberd and entered the fishman warrior's wrist.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The fishman warrior did not even have time to react. It only felt two piercing, bone-deep pains erupt from its wrist, followed immediately by two dull explosions!

"Roar—!"

It let out a miserable, agonized howl. The scales and flesh around its wrist were forcibly blown apart from the inside out by those two strange strands of sword force, spraying blood and shredded flesh everywhere!

It could no longer hold onto the heavy Sea Halberd. With a clang, the halberd slipped from its grasp and fell to the ground.

Having lost its weapon, the fishman warrior was both shocked and enraged. Its other hand instinctively reached for Xiao Wangshu.

However, another icy sword flash swept past, swift as lightning and graceful as a startled swan!

The sword light passed across the fishman warrior's thick neck.

Its movements froze instantly, and the expression on its ferocious fish head solidified.

The next moment, a line of blood slowly appeared. Its enormous fish head separated from its body and rolled to the ground with a thud, while blood gushed from its headless neck like a fountain.

Thus, the fierce First-Rank Fishman Warrior fell.

From drawing her sword to sheathing it, the entire process took only two moves—clean, decisive, and practically an instant kill!

Qin Yan stared in utter shock, raging waves churning in his heart.

"Two strands of sword force! She can actually release two strands of sword force at the same time!

"She has cultivated sword force to the point where she can wield it as easily as her own limbs. This is a level only achievable with Third Stage Mid-Grade swordsmanship!"

He had originally thought his Third Stage Low-Grade Spear Technique was already dazzling enough. Only now did he understand just how terrifying true monsters were.

In the audience stands, even the instructors who had remained relatively composed could no longer sit still. Every face was filled with surprise and excitement.

"Two strands of sword force! Complete control over sending and retracting them! This talent in the sword..."

"To have cultivated her swordsmanship to Third Stage Mid-Grade at such a young age—her future is simply limitless!"

"Xiao Wangshu... Xiao Clan? Which hidden Martial Family did this monster come from?"

"The Utan City Xiao Family? Or... a branch of the Demon Capital Xiao Clan?"

The instructors discussed heatedly, their gazes burning. Clearly, all of them had developed a strong desire to take her as a disciple.

A disciple like this was perfect in terms of talent, temperament, and the resources behind her. Who would not want one?

Just then, Dean Su Zhiming's calm but unquestionable voice slowly rang out, instantly suppressing all the noise:

"You can all stop thinking about that girl."

The instructors were stunned and turned toward Su Zhiming, their faces full of confusion.

Su Zhiming swept his gaze over them and added indifferently, "Have you forgotten the surname of the Second Academy Dean?"

The instructors present were initially taken aback, but understanding soon dawned on their faces. The heat in their eyes quickly faded, replaced by a trace of realization and regret.

The Second Academy Dean's surname was Xiao.

"Dean, you mean... this girl is a direct descendant of the Demon Capital Xiao Clan?"

Lin Jian, an instructor from the First Academy, looked at the elegant, ethereal figure in the center of the arena and could not help asking again, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

Su Zhiming gave a slight nod, tacitly confirming it.

Upon hearing this, Instructor Lin Jian immediately deflated like a punctured balloon and sighed helplessly.

Although he was a Peak Sixth Grade sword expert and ranked among the best of the instructors who specialized in swordsmanship, compared to a Grandmaster at the dean level—

Whether in strength, status, or resources, the gap was immense.

Moreover, the Demon Capital Xiao Clan was a true martial powerhouse, with experts as numerous as the clouds within its ranks.

The Second Academy Dean was an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster. Having Xiao Wangshu personally taught by him was undoubtedly the best choice.

At the center of the field, Xiao Wangshu sheathed her longsword with elegant, fluid movements.

She slowly returned to the freshmen's ranks, utterly indifferent to the admiring gazes cast her way.

"Wangshu, that sword strike just now was so cool!"

The moment Xiao Wangshu returned to her place, a petite girl with delicate, adorable features immediately bounced over like a lively little deer.

She sincerely praised her in a crisp, sweet voice, her large eyes sparkling.

"Youyou, you were impressive too."

Xiao Wangshu's cool gaze fell on her. Rarely, she offered a response. Though her tone was calm, it carried approval.

Lu Youyou, the fourth-ranked genius among this year's freshmen.

Just moments ago, on the field, this seemingly delicate and adorable girl had wielded an enormous warhammer.

With overwhelming force, she had smashed a ferocious Murloc Warrior into a puddle of flesh!

The extreme contrast between her cuteness and brutality left an exceptionally deep impression on everyone.

"Oh, don't talk about that!" Lu Youyou pouted awkwardly.

She complained softly, "I didn't want to use a hammer either.

It doesn't look ladylike at all...

But none of the other weapons felt right. Only a hammer is simple and direct—you just bring it down!"

When she had returned from the field, she had noticed that quite a few students around her were looking at her with a mixture of awe and avoidance.

As though they feared that if she got upset, that terrifying warhammer would come crashing down on their heads.

It left her rather depressed.

Just as the two girls were about to continue chatting, Dean Su Zhiming's imposing voice rang out again:

"Silence!"

In an instant, all whispers and discussion came to an abrupt halt.

The entire field became so quiet that a needle dropping could be heard, and everyone's gaze focused on the podium.

"This Freshman Trial ends here!"

Su Zhiming's eyes were sharp as torches as he swept his gaze across the nearly thousand young faces below. His voice was steady and powerful. "I, along with all the instructors present, saw your performance in this trial clearly and plainly."

"Some of you performed commendably, displaying exceptional talent, courage, and practical combat ability."

His gaze seemed to sweep over Xiao Wangshu, Jin Gang, Qin Yan, and the dozen or so others.

"But far more of you were disappointing!

It could even be said that your performance was abysmal!"