Accidentally Demolishing the Principal's Office Building

One was the director of the Banyan City Education Bureau, while the other was nominally Banyan City's boss. Both were titans whose every stomp could make the entire city tremble. Yet before Lin Yu, a suspected SSS-talent holder, their positions were remarkably aligned.

"We can't let that old thief reap all the benefits!!"

Their shared thought!!

"You two..."

Murong Hongchen was dumbfounded by their shameless remarks. They were among Banyan City's foremost big shots—did they really have to be this shameless?!

"Old man, we haven't done anything. Why are you so nervous?? It's not like we're going to eat student Lin Yu!"

Ji Xuejun shot Murong Hongchen a disdainful look, then turned her beautiful eyes toward Lin Yu.

"Little Brother Lin Yu, don't be nervous. We mean no harm. We're just curious!"

Of course, Lin Yu knew these people meant him no harm. Otherwise, he would have already used Flying Raijin to teleport home.

"Little Brother Lin Yu, may I ask what grade of talent you awakened?"

Cao Yiming looked at Lin Yu with eager excitement in his eyes. The others beside him were similarly excited as they waited for his answer.

"Mm! SSS! Wood Release!"

After giving it some thought, Lin Yu saw no reason to hide it. Besides, even if he wanted to conceal it, he could not. Anyone with half a brain could tell from that extraordinary golden light that the talent he had awakened was anything but ordinary!

"As expected!!"

Having received the answer they wanted, they were all thrilled. After a short while, they exchanged glances.

"Little Brother Lin Yu, this isn't really the place to talk. If it's convenient, how about we find somewhere quiet to chat?? Don't worry, there are just a few things we'd like to ask about. We won't make things difficult for you!"

Cao Yiming looked at Lin Yu, his tone gentle, as though afraid that speaking too loudly might frighten him.

If Cao Yiming's subordinates saw this scene, they would probably begin questioning their lives. Since when had Minister Cao, known as the Cold-Faced King of Hell, become so kind and approachable? Had the sun risen in the west?

"Mm?? All right!! I'll follow Bureau Chief Cao's arrangements!"

Lin Yu agreed after only a brief consideration. He could sense that these big shots bore him no ill will, so what harm was there in going with them?

Of course, the main reason was the confidence Flying Raijin gave him. He probably could not beat them—after all, the weakest among them was a sixth-rank Guardian—but when it came to running away, Lin Yu feared no one!!

Seeing Lin Yu agree, Cao Yiming's face brightened. Then, seeming to think of something, his eyes shifted as he spoke to Murong Hongchen.

"Principal Murong, the Awakening Ritual can't continue now anyway. Why don't you stay here and handle the aftermath?"

The old principal hesitated. On second thought, that was true. The Awakening Stone Monument was gone, and it would take at least until tomorrow to bring in another Awakening Stone. They could not leave the students waiting here for nothing, and this truly was not a suitable place to discuss matters. Still, he looked at Lin Yu, then at the others nearby.

"No!! I can't let them be alone!"

Lin Yu was now Murong Hongchen's precious treasure. Moreover, Lin Yu was a student of Banyan City No. 1 High School. Murong Hongchen naturally had a stronger connection to him than these people did. With such an advantage, if these people poached Lin Yu from under his nose, he would have nowhere to cry!!

"How about this, Bureau Chief Cao? Give me a few minutes to brief the teachers. Then we'll go to my office. It's spacious enough, and it's quiet too!"

"Look at you. It's not like I'm going to abduct your precious darling! Do you have to guard him so closely?"

Cao Yiming could only nod when he saw the old principal's resolute gaze. He knew there was no chance of being alone with Lin Yu. After all, Lin Yu was a student of the man's school, so it was only natural for Murong Hongchen to come along.

"Hehe..."

Murong Hongchen chuckled. Like hell I believe you! You thick-browed bastard!! Keep spinning your lies!!

"Teacher Chen, you'll oversee the students' departure shortly. Then send someone to the Guardian Office to apply for an Awakening Stone. The Awakening Ritual will continue tomorrow! Bureau Chief Cao, could you approve the request later?"

"Sure!"

Cao Yiming agreed readily. Under normal circumstances, applying for a strategic resource like an Awakening Stone Monument required a long string of complicated procedures. Even a school could not avoid them.

But Cao Yiming had personally witnessed Lin Yu drain the Awakening Stone Monument dry today, so he simply waived all the procedures. It was only a matter of saying the word!

"Understood, Principal!"

The instructor beside them nodded to show that he understood.

After arranging the follow-up matters, the old principal waved at Lin Yizhong, who was eagerly waiting below the stage.

"Teacher Lin, come with us as well. There are some matters that require your presence too!!"

"Yes, Principal!"

Lin Yizhong was even more excited than the old principal and the others. He knew Lin Yu had already awakened an SSS-grade talent, and now he had likely awakened another SSS-grade talent. How could he not be ecstatic?!

Under the gazes of countless students, Lin Yu was surrounded by the old principal and the others as they left Sky-Leaping Hall.

Murong Hongchen led them to his principal's office. The moment the door closed, Murong Hongchen impatiently looked at Lin Yu.

"Student Lin Yu! Is it really SSS-grade??"

"Yes! That's what the inherited information in my mind told me!!"

Seeing the group staring at him so eagerly, Lin Yu confirmed it for them once more.

"Wonderful! Wonderful..."

Murong Hongchen was so excited that he could barely speak coherently. Ever since humanity had discovered Awakening, they had only learned from that exceptionally powerful King of Magical Beasts that an SSS grade existed. Yet in three hundred years, no one had ever awakened an SSS-grade talent, to the point that humanity had begun to doubt whether such a grade even existed!

But now, a living, breathing SSS-grade talent holder stood right before them. Murong Hongchen and the others no longer had any doubts!

"Little brother, could you demonstrate it for us?"

Cao Yiming was the first to calm down. Although the phenomenon that had just appeared already showed that Lin Yu's awakened talent was extraordinary, this was still an SSS grade no one had ever seen before. Cao Yiming had to be extremely cautious. Once word spread, it would shake the entire Freedom Federation. If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, Dragon Glory Special District would be the one humiliated!

"This...?"

Lin Yu looked around awkwardly. How was he supposed to demonstrate it in a place like this? Demonstrate Wood Release in an office? What were these big shots thinking?

The Wood Release from the Naruto world differed from other wood-element powers. While it could fill the user's body with boundless vitality, almost all of its outward applications were supreme offensive techniques.

Lin Yu could not exactly demolish the principal's office and then use Wood Release: Four-Pillar House to build the principal a new one, could he?

Cao Yiming paused at Lin Yu's reaction, then suddenly understood and said with a smile, "It's all right! You've only just awakened. Although you're currently third-rank, there are so many high-ranking Guardians here that nothing will go wrong. Go ahead and demonstrate it!!"

As a seventh-rank marquis-level Guardian, Cao Yiming had that much confidence. Besides, no one in this office was below sixth-rank. With such a luxurious lineup, even taking on a king-level magical beast would not be much of a problem, let alone suppressing a skill released by a third-rank Guardian!!

"How about we find somewhere bigger and more open instead??"

Lin Yu spoke helplessly!! The principal's office was indeed quite large—he estimated it was over a hundred square meters—but if they wanted to see an SSS-grade demonstration, he could not really use Wood Release: Four-Pillar House here, could he???

Any Wood Release ninjutsu he had robbed was practically a nuclear-grade ninjutsu. Although his insufficient spiritual power meant he could not unleash the same colossal power Hashirama Senju could, they still could not be treated as ordinary third-rank skills!!

"Little brother, don't worry. This old man is a barrier master. Setting up this kind of barrier is child's play!!"

Fang Tianhai spoke from the side. With a raise of his hand, a circular barrier covered the center of the office.

Barrier masters were people who had awakened barrier talents. They belonged to the rather special mystic category and had no rank classifications. Their primary means was setting up all kinds of barriers!

"Little brother, this barrier can withstand fifth-rank attacks. Go all out!!"

Fang Tianhai looked rather proud. Being able to casually create such a barrier showed that his attainments as a barrier master were exceptionally high.

"All right!!!"

Lin Yu shrugged helplessly. As the saying went, good advice could not save someone determined to die! He had warned them enough. If something went wrong later, it would not be his responsibility!

Ding!! The host has triggered a mission: How can a transmigrator be underestimated? Please unleash Wood Release with all your strength and successfully break the barrier! Reward: Advanced Robbery Token ×1!

"Dad, get him! How dare he look down on us!!!"

9527's indignant voice suddenly rang out in Lin Yu's mind. Lin Yu froze for a moment, then a playful expression appeared beneath his sunglasses. It seemed these lofty big shots had truly ruffled 9527's feathers!! Hehe! Then they could not blame him.

Lin Yu stepped into the center of the barrier.

"Then I'll begin??"

"Begin!!" The old principal did not sense anything wrong at all. Not only did he not object to Lin Yu testing his skill in the office, he was excited to see Lin Yu's ability and impatiently urged him to begin.

Lin Yu shrugged, took a deep breath, and clapped his hands together. The spiritual power within him began circulating at high speed!

"Wood Release: Wood World Advent!!"

Spiritual energy rapidly gathered around Lin Yu, and then the floor began to shake!

"This level of force... This is bad!!"

The spiritual energy reaction far beyond third-rank made Cao Yiming's pupils constrict!

"Old Fang, reinforce the barrier!!!"

Cao Yiming roared. Regret surged through him. Had he known, he would have listened to Lin Yu and found a training ground. Why had he insisted on rushing things?

Fang Tianhai also sensed that something was wrong. The spiritual energy reaction was already close to fifth-rank. It was hard to imagine that this had been unleashed by a third-rank person.

Without another word, he waved his hand, layering another barrier over the original one.

After setting it up, he let out a long breath! He had nearly embarrassed himself beyond all redemption!

"There shouldn't be a problem now. This double barrier can withstand low-level sixth-rank attacks!"

Before Fang Tianhai had even finished speaking, countless trees burst through the floor around Lin Yu, as though they had been uprooted, smashing into the barrier at astonishing speed.

"Crack!"

The barrier that Fang Tianhai claimed could withstand sixth-rank attacks lasted only a few seconds before cracks began appearing across its golden surface.

"This is bad!!"

Cao Yiming's expression changed completely. He shouted loudly as he activated his ability. His body rapidly expanded, and in his place appeared a colossal golden turtle, dragon-headed and dragon-tailed, with the body of a land tortoise. It was Cao Yiming's talent ability—the phantom god-type, S-grade Earth Dragon Turtle.

The Earth Dragon Turtle Cao Yiming had transformed into raised its head and roared. It lifted its enormous body, then stomped its two forelimbs fiercely against the floor. Yellow-brown light flashed beneath its feet.

"Earth Shield!"

A shield formed of earth-element energy directly covered the barrier. Though Cao Yiming had cast it hastily, an ordinary sixth-rank attack would still struggle to break the shield he had unleashed.

Cao Yiming had just relaxed.

"Crash!!"

"The barrier broke!!"

Fang Tianhai's expression changed drastically. What the hell was this skill? Cast by a third-rank ability user, it actually had sixth-rank power. He had truly humiliated himself this time...

Cao Yiming's heart, which had only just settled, leapt into his throat again.

"Boom! Boom!"

The sound of trees crashing into the walls rang out. The light barrier formed by Earth Shield flickered violently, but it ultimately stabilized.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness!!"

Before Cao Yiming could finish celebrating, countless impacts rang out.

"Crack!!" The shield they had pinned their hopes on cracked, and so did Cao Yiming's heart.

"Damn it!"

"We can't stop it!! Retreat!!"

Cao Yiming swiftly canceled his transformation and retreated at top speed. The others also backed away one after another!

"Boom!!"

Endless trees shattered the shield, then continued expanding outward. The entire principal's office building was torn to pieces by the trees summoned through Wood World Advent as though it were made of paper.

Cao Yiming and the others retreated again and again, finally stopping over a hundred meters away. Only when Lin Yu exhausted the spiritual power in his body did the endless trees stop spreading.

The original office building was gone. In its place was an ocean of trees. Massive trunks crossed wildly like giant dragons, twisted and gnarled, towering into the clouds. A breeze swept through, making the luxuriant branches and leaves sway in the wind. It looked exactly like a primeval forest.

Cao Yiming and the others stared at the forest before them in utter shock. Was this really created by a third-rank person? Could someone who had just awakened really unleash a move capable of changing the terrain?!

"Smack!!"

A crisp sound pulled everyone back to their senses. They looked toward it and found that the old principal had slapped himself hard across the face. A clear handprint appeared on his aged face.

"Hiss!!! It's real. I'm not dreaming!!!"

Feeling the pain on his face, the old principal muttered to himself. Seeing his bizarre action, the others all looked at him with admiration.

"This old man is ruthless when it comes to himself!!"