"Bang!"
With another kick, Wang Xu showed no mercy as he struck Xu Yuan's leg, sending him flying with such force that his left leg fractured. His condition was likely no better than Song Zhen's.
Witnessing this scene, the other students were rendered speechless. The ferocity of Wang Xu's strength and his ruthless methods had instilled a sense of fear in their hearts.
"Hahaha…" Xu Yuan, biting down on his broken teeth, his mouth bleeding, appeared to have gone mad as he laughed uproariously.
He could still laugh even after being injured like this? The crowd was puzzled.
"Wang Xu, if you have the guts, kill me! Otherwise, once I get out of here, I will throw you, your parents, and every single relative of yours into the abyss, making them suffer torment like hell!" Xu Yuan spoke with a chilling tone, as if a demon clawing its way out of the abyss, filled with violence.
"I will torment you, torture your parents, until you all wish for death but can't escape it!" Xu Yuan laughed maniacally.
Wang Xu's expression darkened, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
He knew all too well that Xu Yuan was someone who would not forgive a slight. If he didn't kill him today, the repercussions would be endless once they left!
Suddenly, a sense of urgency washed over Wang Xu. He had thought that becoming an elite student and relocating his family to the protected zone would ensure their safety, but things were far from that simple!
Xu Yuan had a hundred ways to deal with him. The protected zone could not take action against him, but his parents couldn't remain there forever. Once an opportunity arose, the outcome would be...
Wang Xu didn't dare to contemplate further, his gaze fiercely fixed on Xu Yuan.
"You've reminded me… if you don't die, I will never find peace." Wang Xu's tone was devoid of any lingering anger, replaced entirely with a killing intent.
Xu Yuan's frenzied expression suddenly froze. He caught sight of the murderous glimmer in Wang Xu's eyes… No, how could this be? The academy had clearly stated that students were not supposed to kill each other; otherwise, they would face severe punishment.
"If I die, you won't fare any better. The academy won't let you off, nor will my father! My family is one of the prominent families in the safe zone. If I die, you…" Xu Yuan panicked. He didn't want to die; his threats were merely to intimidate Wang Xu into backing down. But now, Wang Xu's expression showed no sign of mercy.
"I am a fourth-tier warrior; you are merely third-tier. Do you think the academy will protect you?" Wang Xu interrupted Xu Yuan apathetically.
Xu Yuan's face turned pale, his voice trembling: "You can't kill me! My father will kill you! He definitely will!"
Even at this moment, Xu Yuan refused to beg for mercy, firmly believing that Wang Xu feared the power behind him, convinced that Wang Xu would dare not act against him... Unfortunately, Wang Xu was no longer the same Wang Xu he used to be.
Wang Xu no longer had the patience to wait. The moment to leap through space was approaching. If he delayed and waited until they returned to the academy to take action, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains.
"Wang Xu, the academy is watching everything closely. If you make a move, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Tang Yan quickly stepped forward as she saw Wang Xu taking a step toward Xu Yuan, ready to kill him.
Her meaning was clear; it was one thing if the academy didn't witness this, but if they saw it and recorded it, Wang Xu would face severe punishment!
Song Zhen also wanted to persuade Wang Xu, but Wang Xu raised his hand, signaling them to stop speaking.
"No matter what the consequences, I will take full responsibility for this matter." After saying that, a long knife suddenly appeared in Wang Xu's hand.
"No! No! No! Don't kill me! I beg you, don't kill me!" The fear in Xu Yuan's eyes was palpable. He was genuinely afraid; Wang Xu was really going to kill him and was not joking!
In the face of life and death, dignity and background were all meaningless—nothing could save him now.
"Ding!" Suddenly, a mechanical sound echoed, marking the beginning of the space leap!
Ecstasy lit up Xu Yuan's pale face; that beep sounded like the most beautiful celestial music he'd ever heard in his life. He was going to survive!
The air began to warp, the surrounding scenes shifting as they was about to leap through space!
Wang Xu's expression changed. Without hesitation, he swung his long knife in a perfect arc, and in the blink of an eye, the space began to leap.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Bright lights flashed as some students had already entered the spatial trajectory.
"Puff!" Xu Yuan's body shone with light, showing his imminent entry into the space trajectory. His expression displayed the joy of surviving against all odds, but in an instant, that joy froze. A spray of blood burst forth from his neck, and the light in his eyes dimmed.
He was dead. Xu Yuan, the spoiled brat who had committed many wrongs, ultimately could not escape the fate that awaited him.
Wang Xu didn't know if his strike had truly landed on Xu Yuan; a dizzying sensation clouded his mind. He hurriedly sheathed his long knife, shutting his eyes. A few seconds later, the dizziness faded, and he opened his eyes again.
"Ah—" a scream pierced the air. Wang Xu looked over, feeling a deep sense of relief wash over him.
Xu Yuan was dead; his neck nearly severed, blood pooled everywhere, and he was utterly lifeless.
"Wang Xu!" A furious shout rang out; Cui Badiao surged forward, throwing a punch!
The full force of a sixth-tier warrior erupted, and before Wang Xu could react, he was sent flying.
"According to the second rule of the trial, mutual killing among students is strictly prohibited! I've said it countless times. Did you not hear me?!" Cui Badiao grabbed Wang Xu by the collar, lifting him off the ground, his tone seething with anger.
Wang Xu remained silent. He had no choice. If Xu Yuan lived, his family would suffer calamity. If Xu Yuan died, he feared he would die, too. But that no longer mattered; Wang Xu was betting—betting that as a fourth-tier elite warrior, he could survive!
Song Zhen and Tang Yan watched in anxiety, knowing Wang Xu had violated a great taboo of the trial. According to the rules, they could easily put him to death right then and there.
The other three instructors watched Cui Badiao's seething fury, shaking their heads. He Shi, however, smirked inwardly, seeing yet another obstacle removed.
"Enough, enough! Let him go; you don't have the authority to deal with him." Suddenly, an old voice emerged, startling everyone as they saw a white-haired elder approaching.
The elder appeared spry, clad in a white robe, leaning on a purple cane, looking fragile. But none in the room would dare underestimate him.
"Headmaster!" The students and instructors all respectfully bowed.
"Headmaster, that scoundrel has killed a student! I must see him punished severely!" Cui Badiao still refused to let Wang Xu go.
"Alright, Coach Cui, there's no need to protect him anymore. He is now a fourth-tier elite warrior; if punishment is to be dealt out, it wouldn't be your place," the headmaster waved his hand with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Cui Badiao hesitated for a moment, before finally releasing Wang Xu.
Several instructors looked to the headmaster, surprised.
The headmaster rarely interfered in external affairs; the academy's matters were usually handled by several coaches, unless significant events required his involvement. Yet this was merely an ordinary trial. Why was the headmaster present today?
Their eyes also darted toward Wang Xu, whose fourth-tier prowess was already clear from the monitoring screen. He had taken on five third-tier warriors simultaneously and swiftly defeated them, demonstrating that his strength indeed had reached the fourth tier.
To possess fourth-tier strength at merely eighteen years old, Wang Xu could be considered a genius.
"Alright, the instructors will handle the point tally. Wang Xu, come with me," the headmaster stated, turning to leave. Wang Xu hurriedly followed after handing all the insect corpses from his spatial ring to the instructors.
"Although Cui is usually rather indifferent, he does care about the students," the headmaster remarked.
Wang Xu was silent, realizing as soon as the headmaster indicated Cui Badiao had been defending him.
Having killed a student, he should rightfully be facing severe punishment, allowing any instructor the liberty to act against him. However, Cui Badiao was the first to step in, grabbing Wang Xu to prevent the others from intervening.
"Your talent has indeed surprised me," the headmaster said, glancing at Wang Xu. "I've reviewed your files. Your potential may not be marked as genius, but it's above average. However, you were still quite a way from reaching the fourth tier. I didn't expect you to advance in this trial. Well done."
Wang Xu knew that if he had solely relied on his innate talent, it would probably take two more years for him to reach the fourth tier. His advancement had purely been due to that mysterious flame's blessing.
"Come in," the headmaster said after walking for a while, arriving at a tall building on campus. He opened a room and stepped inside.
The room had a classic style. Wang Xu recalled reading about such elaborate decorations in history books, describing them as being from fifty years ago when the insect disaster had yet to occur.
"Before the insect disaster, I was an official in a small place. Then the disaster struck, and after countless bloody battles, I managed to survive… but I've never been able to forget those days," the headmaster's eyes glimmered with memory.
An official before the insect disaster? He must have been at least thirty! Adding in these fifty years, the headmaster didn't seem to resemble someone in their eighties at all! Wang Xu thought to himself in bewilderment.
"Do you know why I called you here?" the headmaster suddenly asked.
"Please enlighten me, Headmaster," Wang Xu responded.
"Your talent is commendable. In the graduation trial six months from now, you should be able to enter the 'Genious Combat Group', and I am here to recruit you," the headmaster said.
Recruit?!
Seeing the confusion on Wang Xu's face, the headmaster continued, "The Genius Combat Group is filled with exceptional talents, and many factions want to recruit these geniuses. The three most powerful factions are as follows."
"First, there's the military, represented by the World Government. They can offer you incredible power and training resources, with army support always at your disposal."
"Second, the Free League represents the free combat arenas, offering vast training resources and the backing of alliance fighters wherever you go."
"The third is the Extreme Path Ancient Hall, represented by the world's strongest, 'Lo'."
"And I, am a member of the Extreme Path Ancient Hall, hence, I sincerely invite you to join." The headmaster looked directly at Wang Xu.