Chapter 68: Too Brutal!

—

“Is that the new professor? He looks so young!”

“He’s wearing a mask, genius. How can you tell? Got X-ray vision?”

“Even with the mask… Professor Ming looks kinda hot.”

“Alright, alright, place your bets! One to one odds! Left side for Professor Ming, right side for Men Ji!”

“Sir, this guy is running a gambling ring.”

“Come with us!”

—

A massive crowd had gathered around the arena in Capital University’s eastern district. The noise level was deafening, and more people kept pouring in.

Xu Shen couldn’t help but feel a bit bewildered. Does this university have zero entertainment? Why are so many people here just to watch a fight?

Crack crack…

Men Ji cracked his knuckles and pointed a thick finger at Xu Shen with a ferocious grin. “Let’s go! I admire your courage, but don’t expect me to hold back!”

“Treating every fight seriously is my principle, even against a seemingly weaker opponent!”

Xu Shen was slightly surprised. He’d expected Men Ji to suggest suppressing his cultivation level or something similar. This guy’s not entirely brainless.

—

Taking a step forward, Xu Shen’s figure blurred, reappearing instantly on the massive arena stage.

The noisy crowd fell silent.

Many spectators narrowed their eyes in shock.

So… so fast!

He hadn’t even activated his ghostly energy or rune, yet he moved with impossible speed for someone at Core Solidification late-stage!

Men Ji squinted as well. He hated to admit it, but Ming’s speed was undeniably a notch faster than his own.

“Interesting… It seems this new engraving professor isn’t as simple as he looks…” a refined young man with long hair murmured from the crowd, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“Jun Rufen? What do you see?” a woman in red asked, turning to him.

“I see killing intent… a ferocious spirit… Men Ji won’t win,” Jun Rufen stated calmly.

His words caused a stir among the nearby onlookers. This was Jun Rufen, ranked second on the school’s stone tablet rankings! His cultivation was profound, and his rune was so enigmatic that no one could decipher it. Men Ji hadn’t even made it onto the rankings. For such a powerful figure to show up and declare Men Ji would lose…?

Most people still trusted what they saw—a Core Solidification late-stage versus a Flame Mastery cultivator with one flame ignited. How could Ming possibly win unless he possessed an incredibly high-level rune, perhaps Silent Realm upper-tier or even Destruction Realm?

—

“Are you serious?” the woman in red asked Jun Rufen via spiritual transmission, her phoenix eyes filled with doubt.

“I said I saw killing intent. Don’t you understand what that implies?” Jun Rufen replied with a faint smile, offering no further explanation.

“Killing intent… Could it be… a Killing Heart?!” the woman gasped, realization dawning in her eyes.

This professor… comprehended a Killing Heart at the Core Solidification realm?

Now things are getting interesting…

—

BOOM!!

The ground trembled as the entire arena stage shuddered violently.

With a low roar, Men Ji’s body was once again covered in the thin black rock armor. Even his face began to be encased in stone.

“I’m gonna…”

CLANG!!

Before Men Ji could finish his sentence, his vision blurred.

The black-clad figure who had been standing motionless vanished. Intense pain erupted from his back as if he’d been hit by a speeding train, sending him flying.

The black rock armor on his back cracked, sending fragments flying!

—

“Enough talk already. If you want to fight, just fight,” Xu Shen grumbled, casually shouldering his ruler-like longsword. “Didn’t your teachers ever tell you to shut up?”

The crowd: …

Silence descended once more, even deeper this time. People rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were hallucinating.

In a single exchange, Men Ji was injured and sent flying?

Even accounting for the element of surprise, it was unbelievable. A Core Solidification late-stage had actually wounded a Flame Mastery cultivator?

Does that sword deal true damage or something?

And isn’t he supposed to be an engraving professor? Why is he so damn fierce?

Jun Rufen’s faint smile froze. He quickly reassessed Xu Shen’s speed. Could I react to that? Yes, but I definitely couldn’t dodge it instantly!

—

“Ah… AHH!!”

Men Ji scrambled up from the ground, his eyes bloodshot. Like a charging tank, he lunged straight at Xu Shen.

Xu Shen’s expression remained unchanged, but disappointment flickered in his eyes. Men Ji… is weaker than that third-tier corpse worm. His attacks lacked finesse, and he didn’t even know how to aim for a killing blow. What exactly do they teach at Capital University?

Raising his longsword again, Xu Shen suddenly felt a prickle of danger! Without hesitation, he dodged sideways.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

Almost simultaneously, the ground where Xu Shen had been standing, along with a large area around it, erupted upwards before colliding violently!

“Get down!!”

Men Ji appeared above Xu Shen, his fists encased in massive black rock gauntlets, crashing down towards Xu Shen’s back.

CLANG!!

Xu Shen spun instantly, his longsword flashing with a chilling light as it met the attack!

A sweet taste filled Xu Shen’s throat; he nearly spat out blood.

He was faking it earlier!

The speed and power of this punch far exceeded Xu Shen’s normal capabilities!

Xu Shen plummeted downwards, crashing hard into the arena floor!

“It’s over!” Men Ji roared triumphantly. With a wave of his hand, layers of black rock materialized in the air and slammed down onto the impact crater! Though his hands were nearly crippled by Xu Shen’s counterattack, victory seemed certain.

A thick cloud of dust billowed upwards.

Everyone held their breath. Men Ji was certainly playing for keeps. This new professor had to be severely injured after that, right?

—

As the dust settled, a massive black crystal rock stood silently on the stage.

“Sigh, I told you. How could Core Solidification beat Flame Mastery? This professor is really unlucky.”

“Yeah, after that hit, it’s probably not just his hand. His whole body must be broken.”

Students murmured with pity.

However, some senior students frowned, staring intently at the giant rock.

“Strange… why do I suddenly feel cold?” someone whispered.

“Has it started…?” Jun Rufen exchanged a knowing glance with the woman in red.

Crack…

A faint sound, accompanied by a tremor in the black rock.

Then, the rock smoothly slid apart…

Yes, neatly sliced in half.

An icy, intensely thick killing intent surged wildly from the fractured rock!!

In an instant, the temperature around the arena seemed to drop several degrees!!

—

Xu Shen’s figure gradually emerged, dragging his longsword as he stepped out of the crater.

Beneath the mask, his eyes were blood-red yet strangely calm.

With each step, a chilling wind carrying palpable killing intent seemed to swirl around him!

“My mistake earlier,” Xu Shen said with a chilling grin. His voice held amusement, but it sent shivers down everyone’s spines. “Your teachers… taught you well.”

“Now… let’s continue!!”

A crazed laugh echoed through the arena. Men Ji’s eyes widened in shock.

Before he could react, several afterimages of the longsword slashed across his body!!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!…

Like a blacksmith striking an anvil, Xu Shen’s sword moved so fast it left afterimages, each strike shattering the black rock armor!!

The maniacal laughter, the blood-red eyes, and the overwhelming killing intent terrified many onlookers. They glanced nervously at Chen Gui.

Chen Gui was speechless… Did I accidentally bring a lunatic back to the school?

—

“Get down!!”

Men Ji had been struck multiple times in quick succession. He could feel countless cuts opening up on his body, blood flowing freely. With a furious roar, he slammed a heavy fist into Xu Shen’s abdomen!

Pfft!

Xu Shen spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered even through his mask.

But his laughter only grew wilder, his sword strikes becoming faster and more vicious!

“Is that all? Weren’t you going to break my hand?”

“This amount of strength isn’t enough!!”

In the next instant, the Weapon Rune beneath Xu Shen’s clothes flared violently!

Golden lines instantly spread across the blade as he brought it down with devastating force!!

SPLURT!!

The black rock armor on Men Ji’s shoulder exploded! The blade sank deep into his flesh!

This single strike disabled one of Men Ji’s arms.

Xu Shen withdrew the blade and struck again!

Only this time, the blade aimed for Men Ji’s neck!!

“Ming! Show mercy!!”

Chen Gui’s urgent shout suddenly echoed across the arena!

The madness in Xu Shen’s blood-red eyes cleared slightly. He retracted some of his strength.

CRACK!!

Men Ji’s black rock helmet shattered instantly. The flat side of the blade, having lost some force, struck his neck directly.

Men Ji went flying, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness. Blood poured from his mouth and the numerous cuts covering his body.

Medical personnel, who had been waiting nearby while watching the spectacle, rushed forward immediately, carrying Men Ji away towards the treatment room.

—

Absolute silence fell over the arena.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure standing on the stage, slowly shouldering his longsword.

Only one thought echoed in their minds: HOLY SHIT.

And another realization followed:

He’s too fierce, too brutal!

Also… if they weren’t mistaken…

Did that professor just use the flat side of his blade the entire time?