"Father, Brother Jian has already earned the highest qualification. Can't he stop fighting now?"
Seeing Qin Jian battered and exhausted in the projection, Ning Rongrong clutched Ning Fengzhi's sleeve anxiously. "There's no need to keep going at all…"
Ning Fengzhi's gaze remained fixed on the light screen as he spoke softly, "Rongrong… We know he can stop, but Qin Jian himself doesn't realize that yet."
"Huh?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "Does he still think he hasn't passed Level 9? Why hasn't he given up yet? That soul beast is way too strong!"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his eyes following Qin Jian's figure as he murmured, "It seems Qin Jian wants to give you the very best. That's why he won't give up so easily…"
"What should we do then…" Ning Rongrong felt her heart tighten with worry.
Behind her, Sword Douluo's indifferent gaze suddenly turned to Meng Shenji, his eyes gleaming with a sword-like sharpness.
Meng Shenji suddenly felt a surge of pressure lock onto him. Startled, he turned his head, meeting Sword Douluo's icy, emotionless stare.
A shiver ran through Meng Shenji's body as he sensed that things were not going well for him.
Fortunately, the changes within the light screen drew Sword Douluo's attention back. Qin Jian was seen repeating his earlier tactic, climbing onto the dragon's head and driving his martial soul sword straight into the dragon's skull!
"He did it again! Unbelievable!"
Gasps erupted from the onlookers, sparking heated discussions.
However, their voices quickly fell silent as a 27th-level dragon reappeared before Qin Jian, followed by a 28th-level… then a 29th-level dragon…
The audience was utterly captivated, their eyes glued to the screen.
They couldn't begin to describe their emotions. A Soul Power of only 20 defeating a 29th-level soul beast—what kind of talent and perseverance was this?
The young man within the light screen was already in tattered clothes, his Soul Power utterly depleted, gasping for breath and barely able to stand.
Yet he refused to give up.
Why did he insist on pushing himself so far?
Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and even Dugu Yan couldn't help but cast envious glances at Ning Rongrong.
Because Qin Jian wasn't fighting for himself—he was fighting to give Ning Rongrong the very best!
At that moment, the scene within the projection shifted once again. The massive dragon rose to its feet, its body swelling even larger.
This time, it was a Level 30 dragon!
Shaking and staggering, Qin Jian rose once more, gripping his martial soul sword tightly in his hand.
"Dean! We don't want to continue the challenge anymore!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Ning Rongrong ran forward, pleading with Meng Shenji. "Please let him out, we don't want to challenge anymore!"
Meng Shenji suppressed his urge to glance at Sword Douluo's chilling gaze and replied warmly, "I can't forcibly interrupt the trial. Doing so could harm Qin Jian. He can only stop if he surrenders voluntarily or fails."
But Ning Rongrong couldn't hear a word Meng Shenji was saying anymore. Within the projection, Qin Jian, completely drained of Soul Power, faced the Level 30 dragon once again!
He was easily sent flying dozens of meters, yet he crawled back up again and again to face the dragon head-on.
"Such persistence—it's truly moving!"
"Indeed. No matter how talented one is, without determination, there can be no great achievements."
The other two deans sighed in admiration.
"This time, he's reached his limit," Meng Shenji remarked.
Within the projection, Qin Jian was struck down once more, struggling to stand.
Even the massive dragon seemed to pause, watching him with curiosity instead of launching another attack.
"Rongrong… I must give you… the best…"
Qin Jian, his hands trembling, pushed himself off the ground. Bit by bit, he wobbled to his feet, standing before the dragon once again.
Outside, the audience was utterly silent.
Inside, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
"Roar!"
"Ahhh!"
In the next instant, the dragon roared, and Qin Jian let out a furious shout!
The dragon's massive maw lunged toward Qin Jian's frail figure, and everyone held their breath.
At that moment, a brilliant purple sword light burst forth from Qin Jian's body.
Then—
He transformed into a beam of sword light, surging straight into the dragon's mouth!
"Sword and soul as one!"
Sword Douluo's eyes widened slightly.
Within the projection, Qin Jian's figure vanished, swallowed whole by the dragon.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Moments later, multiple sword lights pierced through the dragon's body, bursting forth like a radiant explosion.
With a thunderous crash, the dragon's form collapsed, scattering dust and debris everywhere.
Finally, the radiance of the simulated training ground began to fade…
"He actually defeated a Level 30 soul beast with just 20 levels of Soul Power. Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"
Huyan Li's booming voice broke the spell, waking everyone from their daze.
In the next instant, a flood of excited chatter erupted.
"Don't forget, he didn't just fight the Level 30 soul beast directly—he climbed all the way from Level 25!" Yu Tianxin reminded everyone.
Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian fell silent.
"I can't believe he actually won, and so decisively at that…"
Huo Wu murmured, "Such strength and resolve… I feel like I owe him an apology for my words yesterday."
Feng Xiaotian protested, "Huo Wu, our Soul Power is still higher than his. That was just a soul beast. Even at Level 30, it couldn't fully utilize a Level 30 Soul Master's strength. If I were fighting him, I'd easily win!"
Huo Wu cast him a cold glance. "Do you feel proud beating someone ten levels below you?"
Feng Xiaotian: "Uh…"
"Buzz…"
A faint sound cut through the air, silencing everyone.
Then, from the haze of the simulation ground, Qin Jian emerged, his clothes in tatters and his steps unsteady.
"Brother Jian!"
Ning Rongrong's cry came naturally this time.
If, at first, her use of this title had been teasing, now it was heartfelt.
She rushed forward but stopped just short of crashing into Qin Jian. Instead, she carefully took his arm, steadying his wavering figure.
"Are you alright, Brother Jian?" Ning Rongrong asked, looking up at him with concern.
Qin Jian managed a faint smile and replied, "Rongrong, I'm fine… we…"
Before he could finish, his vision darkened, and a burly figure suddenly stepped in front of him.
"You're Qin Jian, right? Our Elephant Armor Academy formally invites you to join, with the highest level of treatment!"
The declaration rippled through the crowd like a stone dropped into a lake.
Thunderclap Academy's teacher was the next to step forward. "Qin Jian, join our academy! Elephant Armor Academy isn't suitable for you—they focus on defense. With your offensive strength, our academy is a better fit."
Next came the teacher from Blazing Academy. "Qin Jian, come to Blazing Academy! Although we specialize in fire-type martial souls, your ultimate attack power would integrate perfectly with us."
"Our Godwind Academy is the most suitable!" another teacher chimed in. "With the speed boosts we offer, your attack power would be fully unleashed."
Watching the teachers of the four great academies arguing, the crowd was left utterly speechless…
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