"Good!" Yan Chenfei's face broke into a smile. "Well done!"
Zhuang Xun's strong performance this round was enough to intimidate most of the people below.
Among the many departments of Star Card Masters, Fire Element Star Card Masters were always renowned for their top-notch offensive capabilities.
Although there were many Shining Star Level experts in the venue, ensuring no accidents, Zhuang Xun's fierce combination of Fiery Flame Fire Snake and Flame Explosion Technique still made many students below shudder.
"This Zhuang Xun is quite formidable!"
"The power of the Flame Explosion Technique is immense. It must have reached the Great Success Stage. No one below Bronze Level could withstand it!"
"Hmm. I think Luo Feng isn't weak either. He was clearly suppressed, yet he suddenly counterattacked with an explosive burst."
"..."
Listening to the praises from the students below, Zhuang Xun merely smiled while gripping his longsword, maintaining an unflappable demeanor.
Stay calm, stay calm. Maintain the "master" demeanor like Su Yuan did last time...
Su Yuan was also watching Zhuang Xun on the stage. After more than two months apart, Zhuang Xun's strength had significantly improved compared to before.
The newly embedded Fiery Flame Fire Snake skill? He hadn't used it before. Although it had less power compared to the Flame Explosion Technique, it was much more flexible.
Additionally, his Flame Explosion Technique had also reached the Great Success Stage. Even my Transformation Realm Hardened Iron Armor at full power might not block it completely.
Speaking of that, Hardened Iron Armor leaned towards physical defense. I still needed a defensive skill that could handle energy attacks…
"Anybody else want to step up and challenge him?" Ji Qinghe asked as no one went on stage.
The students below looked at one another, but no one stepped up to challenge.
After all, this was only the first slot. It wasn't worth clashing with such a strong opponent.
"Since that's the case, Zhuang Xun from Qingye City wins the first entry slot to the Divine Tree Secret Realm."
Thank goodness!
Zhuang Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After flashing a dashing smile, he sheathed his longsword and jumped off the stage.
Instead of returning to his original spot, Zhuang Xun walked over to Su Yuan.
"Well done," Zhuang Xun whispered as he approached.
Su Yuan nodded slightly, "There are still more slots anyway."
Wang Haiping noticed that this genius from Qingye City seemed to know Su Yuan. He felt a bit surprised but didn't comment.
However, other young geniuses from various cities noticed Zhuang Xun walking over to a silver-eyed student, sparking curiosity about Su Yuan's background.
Ji Qinghe announced, "The second round begins. Whoever wants to come up, just go ahead."
This time Su Yuan didn't wait, "Director Wang, I'm going up."
"Good, be careful."
Wang Haiping was well aware of Su Yuan's strength. His high-level skills made him fearless against anyone in the venue.
Even if there was a tricky opponent, Su Yuan had the compound skill he named the "Golden Burning Hand." As long as this move hit, none of the young students in the venue could withstand it!
And with Su Yuan's Instant Movement, it would be hard not to hit.
Zhuang Xun also smiled, "You'll be fine, right?"
Su Yuan smiled back, glanced around the arena, and then stepped forward.
Su Yuan's movements immediately caught everyone's attention in the venue.
"Hey? That person next to Zhuang Xun is moving!"
"He knows Zhuang Xun. Could he be a tough one?"
"I'm not sure. He doesn't look like it. Earlier, I heard someone say he's only at the Eighth Stage."
"Eighth Stage? Really?"
"You'll know when we see the Star Power fluctuation during the fight!"
"..."
These young geniuses were unsure, but the Shining Star Level experts could easily see that Su Yuan was only at the Star Apprentice Eighth Stage, leaving them puzzled.
"Really letting an Eighth Stage go up?" Hu Tao turned to Wang Haiping, frowning slightly, "Ru Long, watch his moves closely. Knock him out when it's your turn. I'll give you a Green Card!"
"Green Card?" Liu Rulong's eyes brightened. He glanced at Su Yuan nonchalantly and laughed, "Don't worry, Director Hu. I don't even need to watch. I can knock him out!"
...
Regardless of what others thought, Su Yuan just took a few steps and leapt onto the stage. He opened his right hand and summoned the Dragon Armor Saber, then looked below and said, "Su Yuan from Guangchuan City. Whoever wants to come, hurry up."
"Quite the arrogant one! I'll go!"
A young man with flowing long hair leapt onto the stage, summoning a white-grade Star Device long saber.
"Gou Jin from Liantai City!"
Su Yuan raised his head to look at the person. They exchanged a glance, then the battle erupted with no unnecessary words.
Gou Jin took a step forward. A gust of wind rose beneath his feet, intertwining and almost enveloping his lower body entirely!
"Great Success Wind Walking, impressive!" A student recognized it immediately.
Liu Rulong nodded slightly, "This guy is quite good."
Su Yuan, however, had a peculiar expression.
It was the first time encountering someone with the same skill as himself. Quite a coincidence…
Initially planning for a quick victory, Su Yuan decided to end the fight differently, since they both had Wind Walking...
With the Wind Walking, Gou Jin's body moved like a storm arrow, crossing several dozen meters in an instant to strike at Su Yuan, his hand raised for a swift strike like a sudden gale!
Wind Walking and Wind-splitting Saber, Gou Jin's most practical skills combination, were both fast and powerful!
As the long saber was about to hit Su Yuan, a sudden gust of wind arose!
Su Yuan's feet also had the Wind Element swirling around, enveloping his body. With a slight sway, Su Yuan easily dodged Gou Jin's fierce blade.
"Wind Walking!"
"What? They have the same skill?"
"Another Great Success Wind Walking!"
"..."
The crowd murmured. Though skill matching was rare, it was common at early stages due to limited skill slots, energy, and resources. The most cost-effective, practical, and easy-to-practice cards were widely reviewed and documented.
Having the same skill wasn't intimidating. Who was weaker was the embarrassing part...
On stage, Gou Jin swiftly turned after his attack missed, surprised to see Su Yuan also using Wind Walking.
After a moment of surprise, Gou Jin gathered more Star Power and charged at Su Yuan again.
"Competing with me in Wind Walking? Let's see who's faster!"
Gou Jin's prideful move was Wind Walking. Otherwise, he wouldn't have perfected it to the Great Success Stage first.
Now, seeing an Eighth Stage Star Apprentice using Wind Walking to evade him, Gou Jin's temper flared. He abandoned the Wind-splitting Saber to compete with Su Yuan in movement technique and speed!
Wind power surged, and the air howled!
With Wind Walking, their lightning-fast figures clashed like two storms. The clanging of their long sabers was incessant, like a torrential downpour!
"So fast!"
"These two are really going head-to-head, neither changing moves!"
Among a few Qingye students, Xu Xin closely observed the scene, noting, "No, it's not that they don't want to change moves, they can't!"
A long-haired girl from Qingye City beside him asked, "Why?"
Xu Xin explained, "In such intense, high-frequency exchanges, retreating or changing moves is likely to expose vulnerabilities, which comes with a cost."
"I see... So it's about who lasts longer?"
"Exactly."
The long-haired girl thought for a moment, then asked in confusion, "But that's not right. Su Yuan is only at the Eighth Stage, so he'll clearly tire first. Why is he dragging the fight into a stamina contest? He could've used other strategies initially."
Xu Xin was stunned, "This..."
Yes, why?
Did he intend to lose? Or did he have no better options?
Zhuang Xun, having returned from Wang Haiping's side, said to Xu Xin and the others, "Watch out; he still has a trick up his sleeve."
In Zhuang Xun's view, Su Yuan could've used Instant Movement to create distance, so he must have other plans.
At that moment, the scene changed. The gust swirling at Su Yuan's feet intensified into a storm, becoming a whirlwind!
Su Yuan's figure blurred further! The young geniuses below could barely see Su Yuan's actions and strikes!
"This... stronger than Great Success Wind Walking... Could it be the Perfect Wind Step?!"
"Impossible! Achieving a Perfect Level skill before graduation?!"
"A student from Guangchuan City, right. One of the two special recruits from Guangchuan City, could this be one?"
"..."
Reaching a Perfect Level skill before high school graduation was rare in even second-stage cities like Qingye and Yanyun. There were barely any such talents across the entire Shuzhou region!
Did Guangchuan City really have such a talent?
The experts couldn't help but be amazed, glancing at Wang Haiping.
Wang Haiping, arms crossed, remained calm and collected.
Perfect Wind Step. What's the big deal? Small matter!
Nearly two months had passed since the trial. With Su Yuan's terrifying talent, even a Green Skill could almost reach completion by now.
Too bad Su Yuan already had Steel Flame Finger, Hardened Iron Armor, Wind Walking, and Gray Flame Strike.
To embed new skills, he had to wait for the Bronze Level.
This made Wang Haiping sigh.
Others struggled to master one skill, while Su Yuan ended up with no new skills to practice because all his skills were at the Perfect Level.
It was quite the humblebrag…
As the crowd marveled, the fight reached its conclusion.
With Su Yuan's full burst, Gou Jin couldn't keep up. With a "clang," Su Yuan disarmed him.
The long saber spun in mid-air, drawing an arc before embedding itself into the ground.
Gou Jin found the plain Silver Gray Dragon Armor Saber at his neck.
Su Yuan won!