Ambush

Just then, one bullet comment swept across the screen, particularly conspicuous:

[Too dazzling... once an omnipotent talent like this is exposed, it will only bring him a fatal disaster. Foreign powers, dark organizations, even the demon race and devil race won't allow a seedling like him to grow into a towering tree. They'll stop at nothing to strangle him in the cradle.]

The comment was like a basin of cold water, instantly dousing the livestream's frenzy.

The viewers' excitement gradually faded, replaced by deep concern.

[That's right... this talent is too heaven-defying. He's bound to become a target.]

[There have been geniuses assassinated before. Brother Yao is drawing so much attention now. It's too dangerous.]

[I hope the academy can protect him. Otherwise, it would really be such a waste.]

Gu Yan's expression darkened as well, his tone grave. "This viewer is right. Xing Yao's talent has already surpassed the bounds of ordinary genius. In this world, the more dazzling the light, the more easily it attracts prying eyes from the darkness. Foreign powers, underground organizations, even the lurking demon race and devil race won't sit back and watch him grow."

Su Wanqing nodded gently too, a little more worry entering her eyes. "Once the secret realm trial ends, his name will surely spread throughout the Federation. That's when the trouble will truly begin."

Xing Yao knew nothing of the discussions about him outside.

Inside the secret realm, the smoke of battle cleared, yet he remained as calm and composed as ever, as though that heart-stopping battle had been nothing more than an ordinary stroll through the woods. He slowly drew back his black spear, his fingertips resting lightly against its shaft. Not a trace of battle marked his body; even his breathing remained steady.

Lin Chen and Lin Yue stood shoulder to shoulder nearby, watching his back with complicated expressions. Lin Chen clenched his fists until they turned white, resentment and shock surging in his eyes, while Lin Yue sighed softly, something indescribable entering her gaze.

The other examinees gradually recovered from their shock as well. Some gazed at Xing Yao in awe, while others lowered their heads, concealing their disappointment and helplessness. They had fought with all their strength, bathed in blood, yet in the end, they were merely supporting characters in this trial. The true protagonist had been like an invisible wind from beginning to end, naturally blending into this world, yet separated from everyone else by an unseen distance.

Outside the secret realm, concern continued to brew in the livestream. Bullet comments scrolled in dense streams, everyone sweating over this omnipotent genius who had appeared out of nowhere. Inside the secret realm, however, Xing Yao merely swept a casual glance over the battlefield before turning toward the depths of the forest, his steps light and unhurried, as though he cared nothing for everything behind him.

He did not know his name had already spread throughout the Federation, much less that countless eyes had fixed on him in secret. He knew only that his next trial target was waiting ahead.

He merely stood quietly at the edge of the battlefield, his fingertips brushing gently over his spear as he slowly reined in the lingering spatial power. The pungent odor left by the black mist's corrosion still filled the surroundings, and cracks and rubble covered the ground, yet he remained spotless, as though not a trace of battle smoke had ever touched him.

Lin Chen panted heavily, slowly withdrawing his lightning power, his arms still trembling slightly. That battle had nearly exhausted all his spiritual power, and now even standing was a struggle. He gazed at Xing Yao's back, a jumble of feelings stirring within him-resentment and shock, but he also had to admit that Xing Yao's strength had long since left everyone present far behind.

Lin Yue gently smoothed out the plant patterns on her palm, her face still somewhat pale. Watching that figure who blended into nature, she murmured softly, "He was fighting too, yet he seemed never to belong to this smoke of battle..."

The other examinees sat or stood, all seizing the time to recover their strength. Some looked toward where the BOSS had fallen with lingering fear, while others stole glances at Xing Yao, their eyes full of awe. No one spoke again. That brutal battle had already made everyone understand the gap between them.

Xing Yao tilted his head slightly, sweeping his gaze over the surroundings. After confirming that no danger remained, he prepared to turn and venture deeper into the secret realm. He cared nothing for the so-called rankings, damage, or discussions. Only his own goal occupied his mind.

But the instant he moved his feet, a low beast roar suddenly sounded from deep within the secret realm.

The roar was not frenzied, yet it carried a heart-rattling pressure, drifting slowly on the wind and instantly tightening the nerves of everyone who had just relaxed.

Lin Chen jerked his head up. "There are more demonic beasts?"

Gritting his teeth, Lin Chen recovered a little strength, faint lightning flickering at his fingertips. "What on earth is that thing... its pressure is even stronger than the Gloomy Black Shadow Demon's."

Lin Yue's plant power trembled slightly, and the surrounding flowers and grasses quivered uneasily. "It's devouring all the life force nearby... getting any closer will be dangerous."

The other examinees turned pale, none daring to advance rashly. The previous battle had already consumed most of their spiritual power. Encountering an even stronger demonic beast now was practically throwing their lives away.

Yet Xing Yao seemed unable to feel the pressure at all. His pace remained steady as he walked step by step toward the deepest shadows.

He released no aura whatsoever. Only dark power silently wrapped around his body, maintaining his invisibility, while spatial power lay like a thin veil, ready to activate Teleportation at any moment.

He was not reckless; he was simply accustomed to facing everything alone.

Suddenly-

Whoosh-!!

An ink-black shadow shot down from the treetops, its sharp claws carrying a bone-piercing chill as they raked straight for the crown of Xing Yao's head!

It moved so fast that only an afterimage remained, even tearing a shrill whistle through the air.

Lin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. "Watch out!!"

Lin Yue instinctively raised her hand, wanting to summon vines to help, but it was already too late.

Yet just as the claws were about to touch Xing Yao, his figure blurred slightly, fading like ripples on water.

Teleportation.

The next instant, Xing Yao appeared three meters behind the demonic beast. At some point, he had gripped his black spear tightly, faint spatial patterns winding around its tip.

Only then did everyone get a clear look at the attacker-

It was shaped like a leopard, with pitch-black fur, scarlet eyes, and black saliva dripping from the corners of its mouth. Dark demonic energy swirled around it, sharing the same roots and source as Xing Yao's, yet far more violent.

"It's a Dark-Patterned Shadow Leopard!" someone cried out involuntarily.

Its strike missing, the shadow leopard spun around, its scarlet eyes locking firmly onto Xing Yao as a threatening growl rose from its throat.

It could sense a power in this human that made it deeply uneasy-a power of the same attribute, yet purer.

Xing Yao stood there quietly, not striking first.

He seemed to be observing, or perhaps adjusting to the resonance of the two powers within him.

Darkness gave him concealment and surprise attacks; space gave him speed and the ability to breach defenses. The two powers flowed quietly within him without conflict, as though they had been one from birth.

Thoroughly enraged, the shadow leopard lunged again, dark mist exploding around it as its speed doubled!

This time, Xing Yao did not dodge.

His gaze cooled slightly, and his wrist flicked.

"Space Slash."

The low, calm words fell into the suffocatingly tense air.

The black spear swept out. There was no earth-shaking boom, only an invisible spatial blade cleaving through the air, instantly slicing through the shadow leopard's demonic energy defenses and leaving a wound deep enough to expose bone!

"Awooo-!!"

The shadow leopard roared wildly in pain, black blood spraying.

It could not understand how this human could so easily break through the dark defenses it took the greatest pride in.

Xing Yao stepped forward, teleporting to the shadow leopard's side again, and thrust his black spear straight out.

There was nothing fancy about this strike, only the ultimate sharpness of spatial power combined with the ultimate concealment of darkness.

Squelch-

The spear tip pierced the shadow leopard's weak point with precision.

The scarlet light in its eyes quickly dimmed. Its massive body slumped to the ground, unable even to struggle.

The entire process had taken only a few short seconds.

Clean, decisive, quiet.

As natural as a gust sweeping past a branch and carrying away a fallen leaf.

Lin Chen, Lin Yue, and all the examinees stared, dumbstruck.

They had barely survived the BOSS battle earlier, yet when Xing Yao faced the even stronger Dark-Patterned Shadow Leopard, it was as easy as chopping melons and slicing vegetables.

Xing Yao slowly withdrew his black spear and casually wiped the blood off on a nearby tree trunk.

He lowered his head to glance at his hands, sensing the steady circulation of spatial and dark power within him. A barely perceptible trace of understanding flickered deep in his eyes.

So... this was his true power.

Not just space, not just darkness.

But-omnipotence.

Ignoring the shocked gazes behind him, he stepped forward again, walking deeper into the secret realm without looking back.

Outside the secret realm, the livestream had already erupted beyond control.

[Was that just... a seamless combination of darkness and space?!]

[Ling Canglan only knows space, but he's using both together!]

[We're doomed. The more I watch, the more scared I get. With a genius this terrifying, the dark organizations, demon race, and devil race will definitely go mad trying to assassinate him!]

[How is this a trial? This is a Demon King descending into the world!]

Gu Yan drew a deep breath, even his voice trembling:

"Did you see that... this is Xing Yao. His spatial abilities are on par with Ling Canglan's, but he also has darkness. He isn't a genius of a single attribute. He's... an all-rounder."

Su Wanqing gazed at the figure receding into the distance on-screen, her eyes complicated as she said softly:

"The stronger he is, the more dangerous the road ahead will be."

"All right, let's switch the camera to the other students."

Miasma filled the secret realm. The dark-red sky pressed oppressively low, and the twisted branches of ancient trees stretched into the air like ghostly hands. Demonic beast skeletons and dried blood lay scattered across the ground. Dense demonic energy rushed into their faces, every inch of air filled with danger.

Su Wanqing's voice rang out steadily, carrying the clear delivery of live commentary.

"At this moment, the students scattered throughout the secret realm have all found themselves fighting alone. With no teammates and no support, every attack is a struggle on the edge of life and death."

On-screen, the young Zhou Yan faced off against an enormous Giant Rock Wild Boar. Coarse, hard gray-brown fur covered its body, and its two curved tusks gleamed coldly. Planting its four hooves against the ground, it let out a muffled growl before charging wildly at Zhou Yan, sending loose stones flying wherever it passed. Zhou Yan's gaze tightened. Rather than retreat, he advanced, his hands rapidly forming seals. Earth-yellow spiritual power condensed into a thick shield of light before him, faint mountain and stone patterns emerging on its surface.

Bang-!

The Giant Rock Wild Boar slammed into the earth shield. The tremendous impact instantly split fine cracks through the ground beneath Zhou Yan's feet. His arms went numb, the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers trembling slightly, and the shield's light flickered violently. Just as the boar exerted itself to break through his defenses, Zhou Yan abruptly dismissed the shield and dodged sideways. At the same time, his right leg, wrapped in dense earth spiritual power, chopped down heavily onto the boar's skull. A crisp crack of bone rang out, and the Giant Rock Wild Boar's movement stopped short. Its massive body crashed to the ground, its limbs twitching a few times before it stopped breathing entirely. Panting heavily, Zhou Yan wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed his surroundings warily, not daring to relax in the slightest.

"Zhou Yan's earth spiritual power excels in both offense and defense. Rather than choosing a head-on clash, he seized the opening in the demonic beast's charge to counterattack. Every movement was precise and practical. His combat awareness is outstanding."

The camera shifted to a stretch of woodland on the other side of the secret realm.

The girl Luo Li was surrounded by three extremely fast Gloomy Shadow Foxes. These demonic beasts were pitch-black, their eyes shining with an eerie green light. As agile as ghosts, they constantly circled Luo Li, searching for an opportunity to attack. The next second, all three Gloomy Shadow Foxes struck at once, lunging from three directions, their sharp claws slicing through the air with fierce gusts. Luo Li moved lightly, wind spiritual power flowing beneath her feet as she drifted backward like willow fluff, easily avoiding the first wave of attacks. Three small but sharp wind blades condensed at her fingertips. With a flick of her wrist, they shot through the air, aimed precisely at the eyes of the foremost Gloomy Shadow Fox.

The Gloomy Shadow Fox screamed in pain, its movements faltering for an instant. Seizing the opening, Luo Li abruptly closed in and pressed one hand against the beast's back. Violent wind spiritual power surged into the fox demon's body, shattering its internal organs outright. Seeing this, the remaining two Gloomy Shadow Foxes closed in together again. Luo Li shifted her footwork, constantly dodging within the cramped space. Another backhanded wind blade severed one fox demon's forepaw. She then sidestepped the sharp claws and drove her elbow hard into the other fox demon's neck, finishing off all her opponents cleanly and decisively. She stood where she was, her breathing steady and her gaze indifferent, as though she had merely dealt with a few insignificant nuisances.

"Luo Li excels at wind movement techniques and attacks. Her speed completely overwhelmed the Gloomy Shadow Foxes, overcoming force with finesse. She never panicked at any point. This flexible fighting style offers a tremendous survival advantage in the secret realm."

Su Wanqing's voice sounded again, carrying a hint of gravity.

"These students are all fighting with everything they have, but the demonic beasts in the secret realm keep coming. The scent of blood will only attract stronger beings. Their danger is far from over."