31: Chapter 31 Is this the Heavenly Rank Sword Technique?

East City Training Ground.

The wild wind howled, kicking up dust and causing several Adventurers watching from the sidelines to reflexively squint their eyes.

"Whirr—"

A snowy white shadow came to a sudden stop with unreasonable speed, its four massive paws plowing four shallow grooves into the hard ground.

Finally, with the crisp ring of a golden bell, it came to a steady halt.

The wind died down, and the dust settled.

Only then did everyone see clearly that it was a giant rabbit, its size comparable to a warhorse, with a snow-white body and blood-red eyes.

On the giant rabbit's back, a black-haired, black-eyed human youth was clutching its neck with a pale face, looking like he might vomit at any moment.

"Ugh... This rabbit is more intense than a roller coaster..."

Chen You felt as if his internal organs were about to be shaken loose by that jolting rhythm.

The supreme member's exclusive mount was indeed fast, but the riding experience was nothing short of torture.

In the next second, the giant rabbit transformed into flecks of white light and automatically dissipated, leaving only Chen You, whose legs were still trembling.

His abrupt appearance immediately drew the attention of all the Adventurers on the training ground.

"Where did this guy come from? That's quite a unique way to make an entrance," a brawny Orc carrying a giant axe grinned, his voice coarse.

"Look, LV4. Probably from some obscure, weak civilization."

An Elf Archer with pointed ears nearby curled her lip, a hint of subtle superiority in her tone.

Chen You couldn't understand a single word of their language; it was all gibberish, sounding like a strange mix of beastly roars and birdsong.

[Unknown language detected. Enable "supreme member" privilege: Myriad Realms Universal Knowledge?]

[Once enabled, the system will automatically translate all identifiable intelligent life languages for you.]

"Yes," Chen You thought to himself.

The world instantly became clear.

The moment those strange syllables reached his ears, they were converted into meanings he could understand.

"A Level 4 rookie making such a big scene, just trying to get attention."

"Probably just came out of some backwater corner, hasn't seen the world."

So they're mocking me.

Chen You rubbed his dizzy head and grumbled inwardly, "I didn't want this either; who knew the navigation would be a rabbit..."

However, he had no mind to deal with that right now.

Director Li Guoan's teachings still rang in his ears—safety first.

His gaze quickly moved past the gossiping Adventurers and toward the center of the training ground.

It was a massive bluestone arena, over ten meters on each side.

A Zhao City Garrison Army soldier, clad in standard armor and holding a spear, stood straight upon the arena, expressionless and steady.

Just as Chen You had guessed, this task was actually a fight.

The goal was simple: get on stage and defeat the Garrison Army soldier.

At this moment, many Adventurers had already gathered below the stage, clearly all here for this task.

From their conversation, Chen You learned that the first-time completion reward for this task was generous, and it could be repeated afterward.

It was one of the most stable ways to farm Zhao City reputation.

"Next! Who's coming!" the Garrison Army soldier on the arena bellowed, his voice like a great bell.

A bearded Dwarf Warrior roared as he jumped onto the arena; the level above his head was LV7.

"For the Forge and Strong Ale!"

The dwarf brandished his warhammer and charged forward bravely.

However, the Garrison Army soldier simply stepped aside and advanced calmly.

With a standard grappling trip followed by a heavy blow to the dwarf's neck with the spear butt.

In less than ten seconds, the Level 7 Dwarf Warrior was kicked off the arena cleanly.

Failure!

A collective sigh of regret rose from the crowd.

Next, a Level 8 Elf Archer tried to use their range advantage to kite, but the Garrison Army soldier's movement speed was extremely fast.

Within a few steps, he closed the distance. Before the elf could even fire a third arrow, they were swept aside by the spear, also declared a failure.

Chen You watched quietly from below, silently assessing the situation.

The attributes of this Garrison Army soldier were definitely far beyond monsters of the same level.

His combat techniques were exquisite, without a single wasted movement.

"I'll go!"

With a roar, the Level 10 Orc Warrior from before, carrying the giant axe, jumped onto the arena.

This time, the battle finally became intense.

The Orc Warrior was tough and possessed incredible strength, engaging in a head-on clash with the Garrison Army soldier.

The clanging of weapons echoed incessantly, sparks flying everywhere.

Finally, at the cost of a deep, bone-deep gash on his arm from the spear, the Orc Warrior seized an opening, tanked a spear thrust with his shoulder, and closed in.

He slammed his axe into the Garrison Army soldier, dazing him and barely securing a victory.

"Phew... phew... I finally won."

The Orc Warrior panted heavily, his face full of relief.

Even a Level 10 Berserker had such a difficult time.

Chen You's eyes, however, lit up.

He remembered the data analysis conclusion given by Sun Feng and the others in the "Pay-to-Win" project team—

The breakthrough to the First Layer of Qi Refining brought an attribute increase equivalent to at least ten consecutive level-ups for other classes!

Since that Level 10 Orc could win, then... I should be fine too.

This was the perfect opportunity to test his current strength.

Especially the newly learned Heaven-Tier Sword Technique; he wondered how effective it would be.

On the arena, the defeated Garrison Army soldier vanished into points of light.

A new soldier refreshed, repeating that cold challenge:

"Is there anyone else who wishes to come up and offer some guidance?"

The area below the stage fell silent; the Garrison Army's prowess after winning two consecutive matches had left a deep impression.

The Orc Warrior who had just won was drinking a potion to recover, and the others lacked confidence.

Just then, Chen You moved.

He stepped forward and walked onto the arena at an unhurried pace.

In an instant, everyone's gaze focused on him once again.

"Huh? Am I seeing things? That Level 4 guy is going up?"

"What does he want to do? Seek death?"

"Even the Level 7 dwarf was taken out instantly; isn't he just going up to get beaten?"

The Level 10 Orc Warrior who had just won, named Kage, looked at Chen You on the stage and laughed loudly, making no effort to hide his contempt.

"Hey, kid! This isn't one of your play-house primitive tribes; one mistake and you could die!"

"Get down here quickly, don't waste everyone's time!"

Chen You ignored him, simply looking calmly at the Garrison Army soldier in front of him.

In Kage's eyes, his silence was a sign of cowardice and ignorance.

Kage's grin grew more sinister, the disdain in his tone almost overflowing:

"Can't even identify your race or class, what a pitiful fellow."

"Do you people from backward civilizations in unknown corners not even have basic honor and courage?"

"The Source Realm is no place for trash like you!"

"Backward civilization," "trash"...

These words were like needles piercing Chen You's ears.

If it were before, he might have laughed it off or cursed inwardly.

But now, Director Li Guoan's serious face appeared in his mind.

The experts in the "Pay-to-Win" project team with bloodshot eyes from overworking, and the Huaxia representative's powerful declaration at the UN meeting flashed before him.

Standing here, he represented more than just himself.

He represented "Huaxia."

Do they think Huaxia has no one?

Chen You slowly raised his head, his gaze shifting for the first time from the Garrison Army soldier to the Orc Kage below the stage.

That look was very calm, yet it gave Kage an inexplicable sense of trepidation.

"Noisy."

Chen You softly uttered those words.

He decided that in a moment, he would definitely make this Orc Warrior understand the meaning of "Etiquette."

Then, he turned back toward the Garrison Army soldier and slowly extended his right hand.

The novice iron sword appeared out of thin air in his hand.

The Garrison Army soldier's programming clearly didn't include a "waiting" setting; it had already entered combat mode the moment Chen You stepped onto the stage.

The moment Chen You gripped the hilt, it moved!

The spear shot out like a dragon, piercing the air!

Without any flashiness, it was a lightning-fast straight thrust aimed directly at Chen You's heart!

Some of the Adventurers below the stage even reflexively closed their eyes, as if they could already foresee the bloody scene of this Level 4 rookie being skewered through the heart.

The Orc Kage let out a smug sneer.

However, in the next moment, everyone's expressions froze on their faces.

Facing this lightning-fast spear thrust, Chen You neither dodged nor avoided it.

He simply thrust the novice iron sword in his hand forward.

There was no world-shaking momentum, no dazzling or flashy light effects.

His movements even seemed a bit slow, like a beginner practicing the most basic thrust.

But at the very instant the sword tip was thrust out, a barely visible white light flashed and vanished from the tip.

Heaven-Breaking Sword Technique First Form—Startled Swan!