34 Knocked Away

The moment Xia Ming unleashed this fifth-level spell, all the watching new students erupted into excitement. This was, without question, the fiercest battle in the second district. Everyone stared unblinking at every movement in the arena, and, remarkably, not a single shout or clamor could be heard.

[Flame Demon Hand] descended from the heavens, crashing into the massive rolling boulders with ferocious force. The two fifth-level spells collided, and the clash of their magic power unleashed a vast blast wave that swept the training grounds clean. Even the new students watching from afar felt the gale howl around them; those standing nearer even had their faces stung painfully, leaving them aghast.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As Flame Demon Hand collided with the rolling boulders, the new students witnessed a horrifying sight.

The energy storm from Flame Demon Hand's dive made the earth tremble faintly as it slammed viciously onto the three rolling boulders. The three enormous boulders were actually shattered by that single Flame Demon Hand strike, splitting into pieces as fragments of stone exploded outward!

The three massive rocks rolling toward Xia Ming were smashed to pieces by that one palm strike!

"Th-This... how is that possible?!"

They were both fifth-level spells, yet Xia Ming's Flame Demon Hand had gained an overwhelming advantage, violently blasting away the rolling boulders and kicking up dust that filled the sky. The stunning power of Flame Demon Hand was immediately etched deeply into everyone's minds.

Even Black Mamba furrowed his brow, unable to fathom Xia Ming.

Solomon was so frightened his soul nearly fled his body. He could not believe this outcome no matter what—after advancing to the fifth level, Xia Ming had become so overwhelmingly powerful that the situation had been completely reversed in an instant!

"It has to be a coincidence. I refuse to believe you can block another fifth-level spell!" Solomon gritted his teeth and began chanting another spell.

[Abyssal Bone Spikes]!

The spell that had previously put Xia Ming in such a sorry state was unleashed once more. More than a dozen bone spikes shot straight out of the void, their sharp tips moving with terrifying speed, intent on skewering Xia Ming straight through!

Xia Ming smiled with confidence. "Flame Demon Hand!"

Another Flame Demon Hand struck out, magic power surging and trembling without end. The flames suddenly flared higher, then swept forward fiercely. The palm within the fire came down upon the rushing bone spikes, violently swatting them away!

Flame Demon Hand also left a deep handprint in the ground. Stones all around shattered across the floor, a sight too dreadful to behold.

Abyssal Bone Spikes had also been violently slapped away by Flame Demon Hand!

"What kind of spell is that? It's so powerful—I've never even heard of it before..."

"Xia Ming is a very mysterious person, and this spell is even more terrifying. We'd better not provoke him in the future..."

Two Flame Demon Hands, two shattered fifth-level spells from Solomon—both left an immensely deep impression on everyone. The new students had originally believed that Xia Ming had only just become a fifth-level mage; though willing, he would lack the strength, and would most likely lose to Solomon. But the reality was the complete opposite: it was an utterly one-sided battle!

Cold sweat streamed down Solomon's face, soaking his back as he felt crushing pressure. His two most proficient earth-element spells had both been easily neutralized by Xia Ming. He was even beginning to feel despair.

Xia Ming advanced step by step, bringing immense pressure to bear on Solomon. No matter what spell Solomon unleashed, Xia Ming would swat it away with a single Flame Demon Hand. The entire training ground was silent as death, with only magical elements echoing through the air.

Another Flame Demon Hand!

Yet another Flame Demon Hand slammed forth. Its scorching flames shattered Solomon's defensive shield and sent him crashing directly into the ground, embedding him deeply in the earth!

Solomon's mage robe had been completely torn apart, his hair hanging loose. Even the gemstone on his staff had fallen off at some point. His entire body was deeply embedded in the ground, blood trickling from his mouth and arms.

The sight of him so battered and weak left the new students staring dumbstruck.

The victor had been decided!

"So strong!"

"Xia Ming is truly incredible..."

There was no doubt that Solomon had already been an exceptionally formidable figure in the eyes of all the new students. Outstanding talent, an excellent family background, impressive magical cultivation... all of it was enough to make him stand head and shoulders above the other freshmen.

Yet because of Xia Ming's existence, Solomon's brilliance had been completely overshadowed. And after Xia Ming became a fifth-level mage, he had utterly defeated Solomon, leaving him without even the strength to resist!

Solomon's eyes were filled with desolation. His face alternated between green and pale, and he looked utterly dejected. He had never imagined that he would lose so miserably. Before Xia Ming had advanced, victory had been firmly in his grasp, but now he had been forcibly beaten flat.

Solomon tried to stir even a trace of magic power within his body, but he did not have the slightest bit of strength left. He could only watch helplessly as Xia Ming approached.

Xia Ming stopped before Solomon, his gaze icy as he looked down at him.

"Y-You... what are you planning to do?" Solomon blustered despite his fear, not daring to meet Xia Ming's eyes.

At that moment, Black Mamba leaped directly down from the high stands. The ground shook, dust rising around him as he landed before Xia Ming and Solomon, blocking Xia Ming from taking another step forward.

Black Mamba grinned. "Kid, you're not bad. What's your name?"

"Xia Ming."

"Very good. I now announce that Xia Ming has taken first place in this new student assessment for Azure Flame Academy's second district, with full academic credits!" Black Mamba rarely showed even a trace of a smile as he announced the result.

First place, full credits!

Not a bad reward. Xia Ming glanced at Solomon but made no further move. With Black Mamba present, he would absolutely not permit a fight to the death within the academy.

Naturally, Xia Ming was not afraid of becoming enemies with Solomon afterward. Solomon's talent was inferior to his, and now their magical ranks were the same. Xia Ming firmly believed that as time passed, the gap between them would only grow wider, until Solomon would no longer have any chance of catching up to him!

Though the battle had ended, the aftershock it caused continued to linger. The new students all stared at Xia Ming's face as if flowers had bloomed upon it. Even Black Mamba's announcement that Xia Ming had received full credits failed to cause much of a stir among them.

Without question, Xia Ming had become utterly famous among the new students of the second district.

"Enough. What are you all staring at? Listen up, every last one of you!" Black Mamba snorted. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Your pre-enrollment assessment is over as of now. Starting tomorrow, regular classes will begin. You'd all better keep your spirits up!"

The pre-enrollment assessment had finally ended.

Thinking back on the brutal assessment, every new student felt like weeping bitter tears. Still, at least they would be saying goodbye to such days from now on.

But Black Mamba's next words plunged the new students into an icy abyss.

"However, you'll still have to keep up the weighted runs every day. Don't worry, I'm taking care of you—just three laps a day!" Black Mamba's cold voice drew groans from every student.

Only then did Xia Ming truly grasp Azure Flame Academy's harshness. Worthy indeed of being the foremost of the four great academies—ordinary people simply could not imagine training at such intensity.

"That's all for today. Dismissed!"

Those words made the students feel as though they had been granted a great pardon. They fled as if escaping disaster, and before long, not a single figure remained.

Xia Ming also hurriedly left the training grounds. Advancing to become a fifth-level mage had benefited him immensely this time. Not only had his strength undergone a qualitative leap, but more importantly, Xia Ming sensed that the [Book of Eternity] had changed again. The seal on its first layer seemed to have been broken!