Just as everyone assumed Ning Rongrong would effortlessly secure her qualification, Qin Jian stepped forward unexpectedly.
"Honorable Deans, Rongrong doesn't need to be directly granted her qualification. I'll earn it on her behalf," Qin Jian declared calmly.
All eyes turned to him in astonishment.
Meng Shenji furrowed his brow. "Everyone only has one chance. If you assist her in earning her qualification, you will forfeit your own opportunity to hunt Soul Beasts."
"That's fine…" Qin Jian replied, shaking his head, surprising everyone. "I came here specifically to help Rongrong obtain a Soul Ring. As long as the Deans allow me to assist in hunting the Soul Beast afterward, I'm willing to give up my own spot."
His words sent ripples of shock through the crowd.
"He's giving up his own spot? Does he not understand how rare this opportunity is?"
"Exactly! Even securing the second-tier qualification is impressive. Does he aim for the first tier—to challenge a ninth-level dragon?"
"He treats Ning Rongrong so well!"
Among the murmuring, many female students gazed at Qin Jian with admiration.
Even Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, and Huo Wu couldn't help but focus their attention on him.
After all, few would willingly sacrifice their opportunity for someone else. This kind of devotion and selflessness moved many hearts, especially the women present.
"Are you certain?" Meng Shenji asked solemnly.
Qin Jian nodded slightly.
Still uneasy, Meng Shenji glanced at Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo. Only after they both gave their assent did he say, "Then Qin Jian will represent the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in place of Ning Rongrong."
Hearing this, Qin Jian stepped toward the entrance.
But before he could enter, Ning Rongrong grabbed his hand. "Brother Jian, make sure you come back safely."
At first, she had wanted him to outperform everyone. But after seeing the difficulty of the ninth level, her only wish was for him to return unharmed.
"Rongrong is right…"
Ning Fengzhi approached, gently patting Qin Jian's shoulder. "Don't push yourself too hard. It's fine if Rongrong's Soul Ring isn't perfect."
Qin Jian smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Without a word, he walked into the simulation training ground.
Neither Ning Fengzhi nor Ning Rongrong could understand—Qin Jian felt he had to give Ning Rongrong the very best.
It wasn't just because he liked her. It was also a path to his redemption.
With a faint hum, Qin Jian found himself in a dense forest when he opened his eyes.
Having observed the earlier challengers, he remained composed. After a short wait, rustling sounds emerged from the forest ahead.
"Swish!"
A Mandala Snake suddenly shot out of the undergrowth, lunging straight at him!
Before the audience could marvel at the beast's speed, Qin Jian uttered calmly, "I am one with my sword." A purple longsword materialized from thin air, piercing through the snake's body with precision.
First Level: Cleared.
The second challenge was a Demon Spider, which Qin Jian dispatched with a single wave of sword energy.
The third level brought a heavily armored giant beetle. Its tough carapace required three strikes to break through.
The fourth challenge was another spider—a Human-Faced Demon Spider this time. It succumbed to five bursts of sword energy.
In the fifth level, a Wind Demon Wolf's incredible speed posed a challenge. But even it was reduced to pieces after nine slashes, much to the chagrin of Feng Xiaotian, whose martial soul was the Wind Demon Wolf.
The sixth level featured a Diamond Mammoth.
Huyan Li's expression darkened as he muttered, "A Diamond Mammoth's defense is impenetrable! He can't possibly win. He can't!"
Yet Qin Jian's eighteen sword strikes carved the beast apart.
Huyan Li stood stunned.
The seventh challenge: an Ice Phoenix.
Qin Jian suspected the training ground was deliberately provoking him—each Soul Beast mirrored the martial soul of someone present.
This time, instead of unleashing waves of sword energy, Qin Jian used his first Soul Skill: Bewitching Sword.
Under the enchantment, the Ice Phoenix froze for a brief moment, allowing Qin Jian to thrust his sword through its chest, killing it in one strike.
The audience erupted in astonishment.
"Did you see his Soul Ring flash just now? What skill was that?"
"The Ice Phoenix seemed immobilized for a moment. That's incredibly practical for close combat."
"And did you notice? His martial soul's offensive power is extraordinary. He pierced the defenses of a level-seven Soul Beast in a single blow."
In the corner, Shui Bing'er's expression grew conflicted. "That Ice Phoenix… It didn't just freeze. It almost seemed… bewitched. How could his first Soul Skill…"
While Shui Bing'er pondered, Sword Douluo smiled faintly at the scene.
As Qin Jian's mentor, he knew what the first Soul Skill was. Initially concerned it wouldn't work on Soul Beasts, he was pleasantly surprised to see its efficacy.
Recalling how Qin Jian once influenced all living beings across the continent overnight, Sword Douluo felt reassured.
"Brother Jian is amazing!" Ning Rongrong clapped her hands excitedly. "Brother Jian, keep going!"
Ignoring the stares from the crowd, she cheered loudly, wanting everyone to know how close they were.
The eighth challenge was far more difficult—a Ghost Vine.
It camouflaged itself within the forest, making its true body nearly impossible to locate.
Without a target, Qin Jian couldn't use his Bewitching Sword. His sword energy could only hold off the relentless assaults.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
Vines lashed out from every direction, forcing Qin Jian into a desperate defense.
Despite his skill, a vine eventually coiled around his ankle, yanking him into the air.
Gasps erupted from the audience. Ning Rongrong clenched her hands, her palms slick with sweat.
In an instant, more vines ensnared Qin Jian's limbs. From the shadows, a massive Ghost Vine emerged, its gaping maw poised above him.
Just as everyone thought Qin Jian would fail at the eighth level, he smirked.
"I am one with my sword!"
With a sharp cry, his martial soul—the Emotion Sword—erupted from his body. Waves of sword energy shredded the vines in an instant.
The next moment, he gripped his longsword and abruptly thrust it toward the ghost vine's true body in the sky.
"Ssss—sss—sss!"
Sword energy surged and swept across, slicing the ghost vine into fragments, scattering it into disarray.
Level 8, cleared.
The crowd outside fell silent for a brief moment before understanding what had transpired.
"What an incredible combat strategy! He couldn't determine the ghost vine's true body, so he deliberately allowed himself to be bound by it to lure the main body into revealing itself."
"Indeed. To remain so composed in such a critical situation is truly impressive."
"…"
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