Chapter 66: Crystal Explosion, Elder Lin Takes Action
"Hahaha! Jiang Xiong, I told you not to celebrate too early. Before everything is settled, don't get so cocky."
Nie Tianchen hurried over, his face full of excitement. He grabbed Zhou Han's hand, visibly thrilled, his eyes shining with a strange intensity.
Fortunately, he didn't take it any further and instead began suppressing Jiang Xiong's arrogance.
"So what if he came out alive? Who knows if he managed to comprehend any technique!"
Jiang Xiong refused to back down and shouted in rebuttal.
"Zhou Han, it's good that you made it out alive. Take a moment to recover, then try entering the Visualization Hall again and aim to comprehend a Gold-tier or higher technique!"
Nie Tianchen didn't even ask why Zhou Han had stayed inside for so long.
He directly told him to sit down, recover his condition, and prepare for a second attempt at comprehension.
He never even considered the possibility that Zhou Han could succeed on the first try.
After all, such geniuses were far too rare—he didn't dare hope he would encounter one.
"Go in a second time? That won't be necessary. I already—"
Zhou Han was about to explain when an unpleasant voice interrupted him.
"Looks like you're scared. You stayed in there too long and now you're traumatized, too afraid to go in again, huh?"
Nikawa Okaban had been watching Zhou Han ever since he came out.
He had quickly noticed that Zhou Han was a player, not an NPC.
That immediately annoyed him. He had been leveling up rapidly, yet someone had surpassed him—something he simply couldn't accept.
So now that he had a chance to belittle Zhou Han, he wasn't going to let it slip.
"A Sakura Country brat?"
Zhou Han frowned upon hearing the voice.
When he saw the man's outfit, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Whether it was the current provocation or certain historical reasons, Zhou Han felt extremely displeased. If this weren't the Sword God Hall, he would have already cut him down with a single strike.
"I've already succeeded in comprehension. There's no need to go in again. I've passed the second stage of awakening."
Zhou Han ignored Nikawa Okaban's clownish provocation and spoke calmly.
"What? What did you say? You passed?"
"Did I hear that right? Are you just making excuses because you're scared?"
Jiang Xiong and Nikawa Okaban clearly didn't believe him, talking over each other.
"That's enough, both of you! Whether he passed or not, we'll know after testing. Why waste time arguing here?"
Nie Tianchen was also somewhat shocked, but he still chose to believe Zhou Han.
Moreover, anyone who succeeded in comprehension had to undergo testing.
It wasn't determined by what you claimed—it depended on the testing instrument.
"Let's go. I refuse to believe this nonsense today!"
Jiang Xiong took the lead and headed toward the testing area.
The testing area was very close to the Visualization Hall—just a few steps away.
"Well, well, Old Nie, Old Jiang, what a coincidence. Both of you brought newcomers today?"
A middle-aged man sat in the testing area. He was an NPC responsible for conducting the tests.
The feud between Nie Tianchen and Jiang Xiong wasn't a secret in the Sword God Hall, so the man spoke in a teasing tone, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Someone's bragging that he passed comprehension on his first try."
Jiang Xiong sneered.
"Oh? Something like that? Then he must be a peerless genius!"
"Yeah right. It's that kid. Take a look—does he look like a peerless genius?"
Jiang Xiong directed attention toward Zhou Han, and the middle-aged tester looked over as well.
Zhou Han stood calmly, holding his sword, his aura steady and composed.
"Hmm… hard to say. I can't see through him."
To Jiang Xiong's surprise, the middle-aged man gave such a response!
As a tester, although he relied on instruments, his judgment was also sharp.
Jiang Xiong's expression immediately darkened.
Could this kid actually have something going on?
"You, come here first. Place your hand on this!"
A large crystal sat before the middle-aged man. He pointed at Nikawa Okaban and ordered.
[Spiritual Sense Crystal]: Capable of detecting techniques obtained in the Visualization Hall. Value: 100,000 Soul Crystals.
"Shua!"
A flash of golden-white light appeared.
"Platinum-tier technique. Not bad. You pass!"
Hearing the result, Nikawa Okaban straightened his back, a confident smile appearing on his face.
"Zhou Han, your turn!"
Hearing his name, Zhou Han stepped forward without hesitation and placed his hand on the crystal.
"Crack!"
"Boom!"
The moment his hand touched the crystal, Zhou Han felt the Cangchen Tyrant Blood activate on its own.
A massive surge of energy poured into the crystal.
Then, the solid crystal exploded instantly.
Zhou Han hadn't expected this outcome. He had intended to hide his strength, but the Spiritual Sense Crystal gave him no such chance—his power burst out uncontrollably.
"Wait… am I going to have to pay for that? This thing is worth 100,000 Soul Crystals."
He only had 1,000 Soul Crystals on him.
"What? This—"
"What just happened? The crystal exploded?"
"This is the first time something like this has ever happened!"
"The Spiritual Sense Crystal can even test Star-tier techniques. How could it explode so easily?"
"Could it be that his technique surpasses Star-tier? That would be unprecedented!"
Everyone present was stunned.
Had the crystal malfunctioned?
Otherwise, how could such a situation occur?
The middle-aged tester stared at Zhou Han, uncertainty flashing in his eyes.
"This must be reported to the higher-ups. This is beyond my authority!"
His thoughts raced, and within seconds, he made his decision.
"Impossible! Zhou Han, you must have used some underhanded trick!"
"You can't possibly surpass me!"
Nikawa Okaban panicked and immediately jumped out to accuse him.
If Zhou Han really turned out to be a once-in-a-generation genius, then being tested alongside him would make Nikawa look like a complete joke.
That was absolutely unacceptable. He refused to be someone else's foil.
"Zhou Han, explain yourself honestly! This is the Sword God Hall—don't try any tricks!"
"You think you can get away with this? Don't court death!"
Jiang Xiong also stepped forward to accuse him, his tone aggressive and pressing.
"Enough! Jiang Xiong, you've grown far too arrogant. One year of your resources will be deducted!"
A majestic voice rang out from behind, carrying an irresistible authority.
It was directed at Jiang Xiong with boundless anger.
He had just received the report and rushed over immediately.
Anyone capable of causing the crystal to explode likely had some real ability.
No matter what, it was better to suppress Jiang Xiong first—he was insignificant anyway.
If Zhou Han truly was a peerless genius, this would at least improve his impression of the Sword God Hall.
Thus, he showed no mercy in reprimanding Jiang Xiong.
"Elder Lin, I—I…"
Hearing the voice, Jiang Xiong trembled, trying to defend himself.
But when he met the old man's stern gaze, he immediately cowered and didn't dare say another word.
"We'll deal with you later!"
Then Elder Lin turned his attention to Zhou Han and walked toward him.
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