236: Dragon Fist

The power transformed into a pure color, its quality and quantity both significantly improved, constantly impacting the cage Qin Jin had constructed around himself. Amidst the rippling waves, Qin Jin's expression remained unchanged as he maintained the power amplification and continued to suppress it.

After failing to break through, the pure-colored crystal's hue deepened. The surging power, as it burst forth, evolved and formed different offensive methods, as if a Martial Artist was practicing within, attempting to break free.

If at first it was a pure power impact, then now—the power had undergone the evolution and enhancement of a Treasure Technique.

Gazing at the crystal before him, Qin Jin's eyes lowered slightly. In that instant, with a thought, his power moved accordingly. The exquisite cage, already outlined by power, underwent a deeper transformation at this moment. Lightning evolved from it, suppressing the interior.

Thunder Prison Scripture!

All the residual shockwaves created by the clash of lightning and crystal power were confined within, with not an iota escaping.

At the same time, above the Thunder Prison, the lightning continuously accumulated, changing from light to dark. Amidst the constant struggle between the two powers, in the next instant, lightning thundered down from the top of the Thunder Prison, striking directly at the crystal!

Offense was the best defense.

Before entering here, Teacher Shangguan Yi had said that he needed to use his own power to contend with it. Since it was the word 'contend,' then naturally, the means would not be limited; both offense and defense were permissible.

Outside.

Within the light screen projecting the scene inside the arena, every detail of the power confrontation was revealed. The students of Jingyu Academy took it all in.

The crystal was not large, so the Thunder Prison enclosing it was relatively small, but the power collision within made their expressions solemn. Their knowledge allowed them to discern some clues from this confrontation, which had no power leakage whatsoever.

Lightning descended from above.

As the crystal's power surged outwards, power also surged in to form a defense.

In the next instant, the two clashed, stirring up ripples.

But this was only the beginning.

Because, as the first bolt of lightning fell, a second followed closely, and during its descent, it too began to continuously evolve.

Bolt after bolt of lightning struck incessantly. Some lightning surged, forming weapons, and even more lightning swayed, condensing into strange beasts, looking extraordinary.

This was an integration of Qin Jin's own methods. Everything evolving within this Thunder Prison involved different techniques.

As the students watched, their expressions grew increasingly solemn.

Liu Qin stood at the front of the students, observing intently. Now, faint blue halos flickered subtly at the edges of her eyes. She had used her own methods, and looking at the scene on the light screen, she couldn't help but shake her head and say, “Incredible.”

“Qin Jin’s confrontation with the crystal is entirely confined to a small space in front of him, which could even be called a battle in his palm. Within such a minuscule space, all power is restrained, and his own power is continuously evolving. This level of control over power is unimaginable.”

“If this Thunder Prison were to expand, if what he was contending with right now wasn't a trial crystal, but another opponent—”

She paused slightly here, looked at Teacher Shangguan Yi, and couldn't help but ask, “Teacher Shangguan, is he really a student of our generation?”

“Absolutely.”

“To be precise, he is a second-year student of Martial Abyss.”

Teacher Shangguan Yi's expression was calm, as if she had long anticipated this scene.

Beside Liu Qin, another student who had accompanied Qin Jin earlier couldn't help but say, “The purpose of the trial crystal is to assess the participants and preliminarily determine their trial level.”

“Right now, the power released by the trial crystal is continuously increasing, clearly not yet reaching Qin Jin’s limit!”

Just as her voice fell.

Exclamations of surprise rang out among the students in the back.

The speaker quickly focused her attention on the light screen, only to see that amidst the bombardment of weapon shadows constructed by lightning, at a certain instant, as if reaching its limit, cracks appeared on the surface of the trial crystal!

“The trial crystal, it cracked?!”

Sounds of shock erupted among the students.

“The trial crystal didn't assess his limit; instead, the power it withstood exceeded its own limit.”

“How is this possible?!”

Amidst the changing expressions, Qin Jin, who was continuously pressuring the crystal, also keenly noticed this development. Above the Thunder Prison, the lightning's power surged even more fiercely, its color deepening, and then it thundered down.

During its descent, the lightning grew a head and tail, extending claws and whiskers, continuously descending until it formed a lightning dragon. It first impacted the power defense outside the trial crystal, tearing it apart in an instant, then violently struck the trial crystal.

In front of Qin Jin, the power released by the trial crystal ceased for a moment.

In the next instant, the cracks on the surface of the trial crystal suddenly multiplied. The lightning dragon entered from above and exited from below, directly piercing through the trial crystal. The central void connected to numerous cracks, and in the next second, the entire trial crystal completely exploded, turning into dust. Subsequently, under the annihilation of power within the Thunder Prison, not a trace remained.

“The trial crystal completely exploded!”

Outside, Liu Qin's gaze immediately fell upon Teacher Shangguan Yi: “Teacher Shangguan, what is the theoretical limit of the trial crystal for the mini-exam?”

Waves rippled in Teacher Shangguan Yi's eyes as she spoke: “This trial ground of the academy is prepared for students below the Fifth Realm.”

“Because of this, the theoretical upper limit of this trial crystal's endurance is at the Fifth Realm.”

She looked at the light screen: “He is a Martial Artist, in the Grandmaster Realm, but the attack that just shattered the trial crystal has already reached the Martial Saint level.”

Her voice reached every student's ears.

“Not a Martial Saint himself, yet capable of unleashing Martial Saint-level attacks.”

“No wonder he came alone; he truly is an anomaly, a terrifying being.”

Amidst murmurs, the students fell silent, their expressions extremely complex. It was at this moment that, on another light screen, Zheng Lang's battle came to an end, successfully defeating the crystal giant.

In front of him, a portal gradually formed; that was the entrance to the trial ground.

He stood before the entrance, a satisfied look on his face, and turned to wave at the sky above the arena, clearly aware that someone was watching him from outside, as if giving a greeting.

After waving, he turned and stepped into the entrance.

No one paid him any attention.

Because everyone's gaze was focused on the light screen where Qin Jin was located.

The strike that surpassed the crystal's limit signified the completion of the assessment, but to enter the trial ground, one more final test was required!

Under their gaze.

Within the light screen, the sky above the arena, at this moment, seemed to be stained by a red glow, subtly turning blood-colored!

Inside the arena.

As the crystal shattered, the small Thunder Prison in front of Qin Jin dissipated, and the restrained power returned to his body.

He had witnessed Zheng Lang's participation and clearly knew that this was not the end.

Inside the arena, it became completely silent. Qin Jin stood alone in the center, looking around. Silently, the sky outside the arena changed from clear to dark, with red clouds filling the heavens, looking not beautiful but rather eerie.

In the next moment.

In the void, strange particles, constructed from unknown materials and unknown power, generated one by one. The particles, like flowing sand, danced in mid-air, converged, overlapped and stacked, forming a giant object. At a glance, it was an irregularly shaped blood-colored crystal, over ten meters high, already surpassing the size of the crystal giant Zheng Lang had faced.

It was irregular, with many edges and planes, yet looking at it, a sense of rectitude emerged.

The most shocking thing was—

After forming, this massive crystal began to undulate and tremble.

Like a heart!

At its first tremor, Qin Jin sensed it. Without hesitation, he took a step, and his figure vanished in an instant.

Action Word Secret.

Just as he disappeared, accompanying the crystal's heart-like pulsation, the entire Sky Arena trembled, as if completing some kind of 'synchronization' or 'resonance.'

When he reappeared, Qin Jin was already outside the arena, treading the sky, with the red glow reflecting on his clothes.

In front of him.

This celestial creation, amidst constant tremors, had its arena-constituting building materials transform into a crystalline state, crystal clear, rapidly contracting. During the contraction, power flowed, and runes flickered, sealing the interior.

If Qin Jin hadn't left immediately, he would likely have experienced the same fate as the crystal in the Thunder Prison, being sealed within, needing to break out from the inside.

Contraction, transformation, reconstruction. With the crystal heart as its core, after a short time, Qin Jin's opponent appeared opposite him.

That was a blood-colored crystal giant, a full hundred meters tall.

On the surface of its crystal body, runes flickered, connecting to each other, forming different functions. At the giant's head, two massive blood-colored crystals formed its eyes, reflecting the tiny figure of Qin Jin relative to it.

As it formed.

A heart-like thunderous thumping sound echoed through the sky.

“This, then, is my opponent?”

“This size, it's more suited for battling the Abyssal Dragon. If I defeat it, I should be able to enter the highest-level trial ground.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Qin Jin had no clear understanding of the trial ground's levels, but he was clear about his performance. The trial crystal was a mini-exam, and what could be more outstanding than breaking the 'examiner' itself?

Thoughts flashed by.

At the other end, the crystal giant had already moved. Within the blood-colored crystal, a locking sensation emanated. The thumping sound, echoing through the sky, continued incessantly. At its chest, crystals intertwined, forming a special pattern. Power flowed along the runes, continuously accumulating. In the next instant, a circular runic array appeared. As power surged forth, a blood-colored torrent of power light, under the blood-red sky, unleashed itself!

Rune Heavy Cannon.

The blood-colored torrent swept across the sky with unimaginable speed. Just as it was about to cover and strike Qin Jin, he took a step, and his figure vanished in an instant.

When he reappeared, he was already at the other end.

But the blood-colored torrent, as soon as he appeared, immediately changed direction, forming a strange right angle, surging towards him.

Gazing at the crystal giant's eyes, Qin Jin mused: “A locking attack, then.”

“It's somewhat similar to a Spiritual Energy User's technique.”

“Perfect.”

A thought flashed through his mind, and the torrent had already spread. In the next instant, the blood-colored torrent of power had already slammed into Qin Jin, engulfing his entire body.

Qin Jin was completely submerged by the blood-colored torrent.

Outside.

The students of Jingyu Academy were exceptionally quiet.

Even seeing Qin Jin submerged by the torrent, no one spoke out.

Being in the Myriad Phenomena Star System, almost the most prosperous in the entire Federation, and studying at a top institution like Jingyu Academy, their knowledge was sufficient. Even if this blood-colored crystal giant was many levels stronger than the opponent their classmate Zheng Lang encountered, how could someone capable of making it appear be defeated by a single blow?

The torrent filled the sky.

Just then.

Within the blood-colored torrent, a strange light rose!

The light was inconspicuous at first, but it rapidly expanded, becoming exceptionally eye-catching in the blood-red sky. Moments later, it completely entered everyone's sight.

That was—

Field!

Only to see Qin Jin standing on the sky, his Field expanding, completely enveloping him. Compared to the initial pure form of his Field, which was based solely on primordial power, now, within Qin Jin's Field, various strange scenes flickered faintly.

This was the result of the combination of two systems, and also the harvest gained from that great enlightenment.

The torrent impacted the Field, stirring up ripples, but it was completely unable to break through. Instead, it seemed to be helping Qin Jin conduct some kind of test.

At the other end of the sky, the crystal giant also realized this.

Its eyes flickered, the runes on its chest receded, and the torrent dispersed.

At the same time.

Qin Jin's expanded Field also rapidly retracted, encircling his body.

One large and one small, two figures, stood on opposite sides of the sky.

In the next moment.

The crystal giant moved.

Its body was massive yet exceptionally agile. With every move, the crystals forming its body continuously changed in coordination with its actions, allowing it to move without hindrance. It strode through the air, heading straight for Qin Jin. As it approached, it raised its arm and clenched its fist. The runes on its body, like flowing water, gathered towards its fist, while simultaneously regenerating on its surface. As they converged, it neared Qin Jin and unleashed a punch!

The power of this punch was unimaginable.

Compared to its fist, Qin Jin himself appeared quite tiny.

As the punch was thrown, layer upon layer of runes appeared around the crystal fist, overlapping to form a colossal runic array that blotted out the sky, and with the heavy punch, it slammed down!

The fist fell from the sky.

Qin Jin did three things.

Firstly, the True Dragon Cave Heaven surged, and a Treasure Technique was unleashed. Dragon shadows encircled him, and in an instant, his own aura continuously soared.

Secondly, the heavenly gift grotto-heaven was activated, amplifying the True Dragon Precious Technique, a combat-enhancing Treasure Technique.

Thirdly—

He raised his head, clenched his fist, and met the enemy directly from below!

In the next instant.

The crystal fist, enveloped by the colossal runic array, and Qin Jin's own fist, clashed together in the blood-red sky!

Boom!

Fist met fist. The massive crystal fist completely covered Qin Jin's entire figure, like a nail and a hammer, seemingly about to pin Qin Jin to the sky.

But in the next instant, as terrifying shockwaves swept towards the four directions of the sky, shattering the red clouds, accompanied by a thunderous roar that echoed through heaven and earth, the colossal runic array around the crystal fist began to collapse and disintegrate with incredible speed!