Inside the training grounds, the silence was so absolute that even a falling needle would have been deafening.
Liu Yuan's fingertips rested lightly against Ji Juechen's heart, the motion gentle—like brushing away a fallen leaf.
Yet to Ji Juechen, the pressure leaking from those fingers felt like a blade of judgment hanging over his soul. With a single thought from Liu Yuan, his proud sword-path body would be reduced to nothing.
Silence.
Hundreds of students stared wide-eyed. Some even turned red from unconsciously holding their breath.
"Just now… what happened?" a student from the advanced class murmured, rubbing his eyes, his voice trembling.
"I only saw a flash of green light. Ji Juechen's sword strike missed, and then… then Senior Liu Yuan won?"
"Has he already become this strong?" Ke Ke subconsciously grabbed the corner of Ju Zi's clothes, disbelief filling her eyes.
"Ji Juechen is a Six-Ring Soul Emperor! A Six-Ring Soul Emperor who's comprehended Sword Intent—and he didn't even last a second?"
Tang Ya stood frozen, staring at the calm, composed figure on the stage.
The more she understood Liu Yuan's current strength, the more she realized just how extraordinary he had become.
On the stage, Ji Juechen's hand—still gripping the Meteoric Iron Sword—trembled faintly.
He lowered his gaze to the claws pressing against his chest, feeling the bloodline suppression that made even his spirit shudder. After a long pause, the fanatical battle intent in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a bitter yet relieved calm.
"I lost."
His voice was hoarse as he slowly withdrew the black sword and returned it to his back. He wasn't dejected. Instead, a deeper persistence burned in his dead-fish eyes.
"Extreme Speed… is that your ability? It's so fast that even my Sword Intent couldn't lock onto it."
Liu Yuan withdrew his hand. The half-human, half-dragon form around his body quickly dissipated, leaving behind the refined, elegant youth once more.
He smiled faintly. "Your sword is extremely pure. If I were only an ordinary Spirit Emperor, that strike would have been very hard to deal with."
Ji Juechen shook his head and looked at Liu Yuan seriously. "A loss is a loss. But this won't be the last time. When my sword becomes faster, I'll come find you again."
With that, he bowed slightly, turned, and walked off the stage. His gray robes remained straight as a blade—lonely, resolute.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has completely subdued Ji Juechen. Mission complete!]
[Congratulations to the Host! Obtained random Pokémon item: Mystic Water!]
[Item Description: When held, increases the power of water-type moves.]
Listening to the system notification, Liu Yuan nodded inwardly.
"Mystic Water… not bad. Perfect for Kyogre. With this, its water-type burst power will rise another level."
Before he could think further, the crowd below the stage exploded.
"Liu Yuan, you're insane!" Ke Ke was the first to leap onto the stage, circling him like she was examining a monster.
"Be honest—how much strength did you actually use? Ji Juechen is a notorious monster in our academy, and you handled him like a child!"
Ju Zi followed, adjusting her glasses, genuine admiration in her eyes. "Your Grace truly grows more unfathomable by the day."
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen walked up calmly. Xiao Hongchen deliberately lifted his chin toward the stunned students nearby, his expression smug, as if he were the one who had just won.
"Well? Didn't I tell you your jaws would drop?" he laughed.
…
With the conclusion of the spar, Liu Yuan's academy life returned to its usual calm.
After Jing Hongchen's firm response, Sun Moon Royal Academy completely severed exchanges with Shrek Academy.
Without those scheming "hostage-style" exchanges, Liu Yuan finally enjoyed peace, devoting himself fully to cultivation.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Bright Capital remained bathed in the same sunlight as always.
Through repeated—one-sided—matches, Liu Yuan and Ji Juechen grew closer. Ji Juechen practically became a regular guest at Liu Yuan's residence. Though he was beaten soundly every time, his pure swordsman spirit earned Liu Yuan's respect.
Tang Ya, meanwhile, displayed remarkable talent after cleansing her evil qi.
At Liu Yuan's suggestion, she began studying spirit tools. With the extraordinary perception granted by her mutated Dark Blue Silver Grass, she showed a natural advantage in carving core formations. In just half a year, she officially entered the field as a trainee Level 2 Soul Engineer.
Yet Liu Yuan himself was not satisfied with his progress.
Inside the quiet room of the Duke's Mansion, he sat cross-legged at the center of a Soul Gathering Formation, the phantom of Primal Kyogre faintly visible behind him.
"Rank 66…"
He opened his eyes and sighed softly.
As his rank increased, his cultivation speed was no longer as explosive as before. Over half a year—without any system missions—he had only advanced from Rank 64 to Rank 66.
"At this pace, will I really need another year just to reach Rank 70?" Liu Yuan frowned.
Though this progress was already astonishing by normal standards, he had grown accustomed to "cheating." Unfortunately, the system could not be triggered at will.
…
Cultivation knows no passage of time.
Another full year slipped by.
During this year, Liu Yuan lived almost in seclusion, shuttling only between the high-level simulation laboratory and the Duke's Mansion. Step by step, he cultivated steadily, polishing his realm.
Finally, on this day—when the first ray of dawn from the Sun Moon Empire pierced the quiet room—
Buzz!
A vast wave of spirit power erupted outward, centered on the Duke's Mansion!
Within the azure glow, Liu Yuan's eyes snapped open, his pupils reflecting an endless deep sea.
"Rank 70…"
Feeling the immense spirit power surging through him like a boundless river, Liu Yuan let out a long breath.
Rank 70 at seventeen years old—an unprecedented miracle in the history of Spirit Masters.
And at the very moment of his breakthrough, the system—silent for so long—resounded through his Sea of Consciousness like thunder, carrying a chilling aura of slaughter:
[Ding! Detected that the Host's cultivation has reached Rank 70. Main Advancement Mission triggered: Purging Darkness!]
[Mission Description: The Holy Spirit Cult has established a secret branch on the border of the Sun Moon Empire and is conducting large-scale civilian abductions for an evil soul sacrifice. The Host must eliminate them completely, leaving no survivors!]
[Mission Reward: Issuance of Mega Rayquaza's seventh spirit ring — God-Bestowed Spirit Ring (Age will automatically match the highest level the Host can endure, with a minimum of one hundred thousand years)!]
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