26: Chapter 26 Five Knives

All eyes instantly focused on the figure located in a corner of the many screens, which had become clearer again due to the opponent's upgrade—it was none other than Li Wen.

And he was facing a virtual human dressed in orange.

Not only were the eyes of Class 21 attracted, but the students who had finished the first batch of assessments and had returned to the plaza also cast their gazes toward the large screen.

Xue Jun, whose face was still somewhat pale after stepping out of the virtual pod, and Deng Yuefei, who wore a look of triumph mixed with lingering fear, both unconsciously locked their sights onto the screen showing Li Wen.

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Deng Yuefei watched with particular intensity, even carrying a hint of scrutiny and a hidden comparative mindset.

He had just fought an extremely difficult battle against an orange-clad person at the Advanced Perfection level versus Advanced Perfection level, ultimately winning by a narrow margin.

He really wanted to know how Li Wen, who had also just achieved the Breakthrough to Advanced Perfection Blade Technique, would perform against an opponent of the same Rank.

Would he be more flustered than him?

However, the scene that followed caused the expression on Deng Yuefei's face to freeze instantly, his eyes wide open in shock.

The countdown ended!

The orange-clad virtual human swung its long staff, the shadows of the staff descending like a mountain, surging forward with the profound Aura of the Advanced Perfection Realm, its momentum several times stronger than the previous red-clad person.

Li Wen moved.

Fast! Inexplicably fast!

It wasn't the speed of blind rushing, but a suffocatingly efficient offensive rhythm formed by the perfect Fusion of his blade trajectory, body coordination, and footwork.

He did not retreat; instead, he actively moved forward.

First Slash! The blade light was like lightning, precisely cutting into the core weak point within the dense array of staff shadows, forcefully disrupting the orange-clad virtual human's opening move.

Second Slash! His wrist flipped, the blade edge sliding strangely close to the staff body, forcing the orange-clad virtual human to take a step back.

Third Slash! Utilizing the force of rotation, the swift blade carved a deadly arc, aiming to shear toward the opponent's wrist.

Fourth Slash! The blade light was like a Dragon, thrusting straight toward the body.

Fifth Slash! The moment the orange-clad virtual human was forced to change its move to defend, a cold glint flashed in Li Wen's eyes. As he stepped forward, the swift blade in his hand darted out like a viper's tongue, slipping through the gap in the opponent's defensive staff shadows with a tricky angle.

Hiss—!

A faint, crisp sound seemed capable of penetrating the distance between the virtual space and reality.

In the visual, Li Wen's figure and the orange-clad virtual human crossed paths.

The tip of Li Wen's swift blade hung diagonally downward, the blade body untainted by dust. Meanwhile, the menacing orange-clad virtual human's movements had completely frozen.

Its right hand holding the staff was slightly raised, as if trying to cover something, but on its vital neck area, a smooth white line rapidly widened and spread...

Whoosh!

The figure of the orange-clad virtual human, along with the long staff representing the Advanced Perfection Realm, spectacularly disintegrated, dissolving into pure fragments of light and vanishing on the arena stage.

The entire process consisted of only five clean and decisive slashes: precise, efficient, and utterly crushing.

"This... How is this possible!!!"

Deng Yuefei suddenly jumped up from his seat, crying out in shock, his chin nearly hitting the floor.

He stared intently at the receding figure on the large screen, whose expression was terrifyingly calm, as if he were witnessing the most absurd thing.

Dumbfounded, he was completely stunned! Compared to the desperate near-victory he had just achieved, Li Wen's battle was so relaxed and effortless it was like chopping vegetables.

That was an opponent at the same Advanced Perfection level as him! Could it be that his Advanced Perfection was not the same thing as Li Wen's Advanced Perfection?!

Deng Yuefei was not the only one shocked.

The entire Class 21 area felt as if a bomb had been dropped into it.

All the students who clearly saw that brief, stunning five-slash performance collectively entered a state of petrification, the air filled only with the sound of sharp intakes of breath and a dead silence.

Even the composed Xue Jun subconsciously clenched his fists, his Adam's apple bobbing once, his eyes filled with horror.

"Could... Could it be..." Xue Jun's voice uncontrollably carried a trace of trembling, as if asking others, yet also trying to convince himself, "He... Has his Top-tier Blade Technique... Reached the Entry Realm?!"

"Three days?!"

"Top-tier Blade Technique Entry Realm in three days?!"

Xue Jun's dreamlike speculation was like a massive boulder dropped into a stagnant pond.

Boom!

It instantly caused an uproar in the entire Class 21 area.

Shock, disbelief, extreme suspicion... But immediately following that came overwhelming envy and unconcealed jealousy!

The gazes directed toward the large screen became incredibly complex.

No matter how much they questioned or how unwilling they were to believe the terrifying speed of Li Wen's progress, the fact was undeniably laid bare before everyone.

The strength displayed in instantly killing the orange-clad person with five slashes far surpassed the scope of Advanced Perfection. What other explanation could there be besides the massive boost gained from achieving the Entry-Level of a top-tier technique?!

Li Wen was completely oblivious to the external uproar.

He simply and calmly sheathed the standard swift blade he held into the non-existent scabbard at his waist, his body standing straight as a pine tree, his gaze quietly fixed on the empty space ahead.

The previous battle was merely a warm-up. His muscle fibers had made minor adjustments, and his Qi and blood flowed more actively; this was not fatigue, but the feeling of warming up to reach his Peak physical condition.

The real test had only just begun.

"Swish~" New light rapidly converged and solidified in the sky above the arena.

This time, the opponent appearing before Li Wen was clad in a bright yellow tight-fitting outfit, his face stern, and the long staff in his hand exuded an Aura far more powerful and sharp than any virtual human before him.

Top-tier Technique — Entry Realm.

It no longer represented 'Advanced,' but the strength that had stepped onto the threshold of 'Top-tier.'

Li Wen's eyes suddenly became as sharp as a blade edge.

He clearly felt an overwhelming, irresistible pressure instantly envelop the entire arena; the air seemed to become viscous and heavy.

Although the Yellow-Clad Person had not moved, his very existence carried an oppressive feeling of power condensed to its absolute extreme.

This was an entirely different dimension of experience compared to the relatively externalized might of the Advanced Perfection Realm.

Countdown — End!

No probing, no slightest buffer.

"Whoosh—!!!"

The long staff in the Yellow-Clad virtual human's hand seemed to be instantly infused with life.

The staff shadows instantly transformed into a roaring yellow gale. The sharp sonic booms created by the staff tips tearing through the air spread across the entire arena almost simultaneously.

He was more than one step faster than the previous orange-clad person. His power was condensed like a steel needle, his angles tricky and ruthless; the moment he attacked, it was an overwhelming offensive move of the Top-tier Entry-Level.

The staff shadows were like countless yellow lightning bolts, weaving into a destructive net of death, mercilessly descending upon Li Wen's head.

The speed was incredible! The force was fierce! The momentum was intense! It completely crushed all previous opponents.

Just the gust of wind stirred up by the attack made the hair on Li Wen's forehead dance wildly.

"Good timing!" Li Wen's heart, instead, ignited with boiling Battle Intent.

A sharp light flashed in his eyes, and his body, which had been poised and ready, instantly entered its optimal combat state.