The sound of pig-like shrieks echoed through the air. Su Chen did not hold back in the slightest; those who act like fools must pay the price. If he wanted to avoid being provoked, he had to intimidate the academy. No matter where he went, brute force was the ultimate truth.
He didn’t bother with slaps; Su Chen kicked the youth instead, seeing no need to call upon his Blood Wheel or any martial arts.
After landing over a hundred kicks, the bald youth had swollen to three times his original size, his face completely unrecognizable. His pig-like wailing gradually faded into a faint whimper.
The academy had rules: unless a life-and-death contract was signed for a duel to the death, no fatalities were permitted.
"What are you doing?"
Huang Qi stepped forward immediately, saying, "Teacher Zhao, he deliberately humiliated us and called us trash. We were merely acting in self-defense."
No one around was surprised, for Su Chen was ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Board. Although it was unclear why a Void Core Realm student was still in the introductory class, a Foundation Establishment Realm student trying to humiliate one in the Void Core Realm was nothing more than an act of self-torture.
Teacher Zhao nodded and pointed at the youth lying on the ground, who was either unconscious or dead. "Carry him away."
"You are Su Chen?"
"I am."
"It’s fine now. You may enter."
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."
Huang Qi came up to Su Chen and whispered, "Boss, have you noticed that Teacher Zhao treats you a bit differently?"
"Let’s go."
Whether it was different or not didn't matter.
Inside the Myriad Beast Tower, the flow of time differed from the outside. The interior was vast, stretching beyond the reach of the eye, and the spiritual energy was several times denser than in the outside world.
The prime spots in the center were already occupied, leaving only the scraps in the corners. The better the spot, the more people fought for it, and they were almost all occupied by students from the Advanced or Ace classes.
"Boss, there's no one there."
Su Chen shook his head. He understood the vast difference between prime and poor locations. Training for three days in a poor spot was just three days, but in a prime location, three days could equal six or even nine.
His credits hadn't come easily. Since he had chosen to enter the Myriad Beast Tower to cultivate, he wanted the best spot.
In the way of martial arts, one must compete! If you do not compete, how can you ever hope to stand at the pinnacle?
"Follow me."
Eh? What was Junior Brother Su planning to do?
Huang Qi didn't think twice. He now followed Su Chen’s lead; if Su Chen told him to go east, he would never head west.
Shi Xiaoman and the others didn't object either. Even if it meant bad luck, they would face it together; they were from the same class, and Su Chen’s status as the top-ranked student on the Hidden Dragon Board was beyond question.
Arriving at the location occupied by Intermediate Class 1, Su Chen pointed at the twenty-some people in front of him and said indifferently, "Everyone, vacate these spots. My Introductory Class 22 needs to cultivate here."
Xiao Ming and Shi Chen’s expressions darkened instantly, looking as ugly as could be. If it had been anyone else, they would have slapped them away already, but this was the lunatic in front of them.
"Madman" Su Chen had become famous throughout the Eastern Wasteland Forest, having seized over three thousand credits with absolute, overwhelming strength to claim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Board.
Xiao Ming gritted his teeth, his face full of fury. "Su Chen, don't go too far."
"And if I am bullying you? If you don't want to leave, we can fight. If you have the guts, I'll see it through to the end."
The academy didn't interfere with location disputes inside the Myriad Beast Tower, provided no one died. Precisely because of this, it was a place where strength was the only law. If you had the strength, you took the prime spots. If you didn't, sorry—you could only train in the corners.
A fight? Did they dare?
They certainly didn't. Back in the mountain valley, the two of them—both at Level 9 Void Core Realm—couldn't defeat him even by joining forces, let alone now. Still, to get up and leave in front of so many people was a humiliating loss of face.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort rang out. An stunningly beautiful woman in purple stood up. With an oval face, delicate arched eyebrows, and large, expressive eyes, she radiated a frigid aura, like an iceberg.
"When did someone from the lowliest introductory class become so arrogant? Today, I’d like to see how you plan to drive the people of Intermediate Class 1 away."
Shen Bingyue, formerly the second-ranked student on the Hidden Dragon Board, was a peak Level 9 Void Core Realm student from Intermediate Class 1. She was only a step away from the true peak of the Void Core Realm, and her Blood Wheel was Ice and Snow.
She hadn't participated in the Hidden Dragon competition this time, aiming instead to break her limits within the Myriad Beast Tower, successfully ascend to the Solid Core Realm, and advance to the Advanced Class to compete for the Hundred Battles Board later.
She was focused on self-improvement. For an intermediate class student, these spots were already the limit; no one dared provoke the Advanced classes, let alone seize their spots. Who could have expected someone from the lowest introductory class to dare snatch their territory? It had never happened before. She even wondered if the ten from the introductory class had lost their minds.
Watching Shi Chen and Xiao Ming's fury, yet seeing them hold back from teaching the ten a lesson, Shen Bingyue couldn't suppress her anger.
"Senior Sister Shen, be careful."
*Careful your sister.*
Shen Bingyue cursed inwardly, labeling both of them as useless. Did they really need to be careful against trash from the lowest class? They were truly embarrassing themselves. If word of this got out, the reputation of Intermediate Class 1 would be utterly destroyed.
"Boss, this is Shen Bingyue, the second-best in Intermediate Class 1. Her Blood Wheel is Ice and Snow, and she is at the peak of Level 9 Void Core Realm. Her strength is second only to Tang Hao," Huang Qi explained.
Ignoring the explanation, Su Chen said impatiently, "Too much nonsense. You've wasted another ten minutes. Since you won't give up the spots, I'll have to take them by force."
"Wait, we’re willing to give up our spots."
Shi Chen, Xiao Ming, and the others stood up. Regardless of their internal resentment, they had to accept reality. They had no desire to provoke Su Chen, and even less desire to fight such a lunatic for no gain.
"Senior Sister Shen, let’s just give them the spots."
"Useless cowards. If you want to leave, get lost, but my Intermediate Class 1 won't lose face like this."
"Then take care, Senior Sister."
Without another word, they walked away. Since Shen Bingyue refused to listen, were they supposed to announce to everyone that they had been defeated by Su Chen in the valley while fighting together? They certainly weren't going to admit that.
Watching the dozens of people leave, Shen Bingyue realized only four remained behind her. She was furious, thinking about how their prestigious class had been intimidated by students from the worst class. It was a complete humiliation.
She stared at the handsome young man. "I want to see what ability you have to be so arrogant in front of me."
Before she could finish, Su Chen slapped her across the face. The strike looked plain and simple, but it contained a domineering power. By incorporating the Nine Tribulations Sword Technique into his palm, the strike carried layers of stacked force. Su Chen was now at the Level 2 Void Core Realm; he was no longer that Foundation Establishment martial artist.
The slap nearly sent Shen Bingyue into a rage. It was the ultimate humiliation.
Boom!
Su Chen hadn't released his Blood Wheel, and she certainly wouldn't release hers either. If he wanted a contest of palm strength, she would let him experience the true power of a peak Level 9 Void Core Realm student.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, the simple collision broke Shen Bingyue’s palm defense, and a crisp, loud slap echoed through the room.
Yes, Shen Bingyue had been slapped in public. Even though she had been caught slightly off guard, given her status and strength, it proved just how powerful this introductory class student was. He was definitely no pushover.
"Very impressive!" even the students from the Advanced Class had to concede.
***
Stunned, Shen Bingyue could never have imagined that as a Level 9 Void Core Realm, she hadn't even withstood a single blow. It was an utter disgrace.
Burning with rage, cold killing intent flared in her eyes. She had never known such shame. She lunged at Su Chen, finally releasing her Blood Wheel: Ice and Snow. The sky filled with icy flakes that brought a bone-chilling cold, and she unleashed her martial art, "Three Feet of Frost," determined to freeze him to death, even if it meant execution by the academy.
"Boss, look out!"
Su Chen didn't take her seriously. His Sword Blood Wheel churned, a murderous sword shadow appearing in his hand as he unleashed the Nine Tribulations Sword Technique. Accompanied by the sound of sword cries, dense, domineering sword qi surged outward.
The sword qi shattered the ice and snow.
"Level 2 Void Core Realm?"
"How could a Void Core Realm student be stuck in the lowest introductory class? The academy must have made a mistake."
"Not necessarily. Maybe he just joined the academy."
"Even then, it shouldn't be like this."
It was indeed illogical, as the academy had strict distribution rules: Void Core Realm students were directly assigned to the intermediate classes.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Su Chen didn't deal a lethal blow. His situation was different from Shen Bingyue’s; he had come to the Eastern Wasteland Academy to buy time and to intimidate the Su Clan. He couldn't be reckless.
Without wasting more time, Su Chen ended the battle quickly. He defeated Shen Bingyue and kicked her aside, where she landed right next to Xiao Ming and the others.
Fang Jue and the rest were left sighing at the scene. No one had expected Su Chen to be so ungentlemanly toward one of the academy's famous beauties. The Advanced Class students opted not to interfere.
"Find your own spots and cultivate."
Su Chen ignored the others and sat down. He realized the Myriad Beast Tower was indeed an excellent place to cultivate. He didn't waste a second; he had to seize every moment to catch up to Su Hao.
Huang Qi and the others, still in a daze, sat around Su Chen, forming a circle.
Su Chen’s voice echoed in their minds: "Clear your minds, guard your origins, and follow the technique I am transmitting to you. Cultivate along with me. Remember, try to match my cultivation frequency as closely as possible."
He had decided that while he remained in the introductory class, he would help his classmates improve as much as he could. Aside from Xing Yingxue and Huang Qi, the others were at risk of failing their assessments in a few months and being expelled. He didn't want to see that happen.
Even if they couldn't go far in the future, at least they would stay in the academy.
He derived a martial art from the Primordial God-Demon Art and passed it to the nine of them. By combining it with his own Chaotic Devouring Art, he could refine power and channel it into them to assist their cultivation.
Time passed. Su Chen split his devoured energy in half, keeping one for himself and distributing the rest to the nine others. It was evident that Xing Yingxue and Huang Qi, who had awakened mutated Blood Wheels, were progressing much faster than the other seven.
By the second day, with Su Chen’s all-out assistance, the other seven had also made breakthroughs. They were overjoyed; to advance a tier so quickly was usually impossible for them. They were deeply grateful.
Because he had helped the others, Su Chen’s own cultivation had only increased by one tier, from Level 2 to Level 3 Void Core Realm, but for him, that was already quite good.
He continued to run the Primordial God-Demon Art, and after helping the others, he switched to the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art. The martial art taught by Luo Tianfei was extremely domineering, rivaling the Primordial God-Demon Art itself.
Just as he was circulating the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art and felt the aura of nirvana enshroud him, he suddenly felt a series of roars in his mind, as if thousands of beasts were crying out at once.
What was happening?
The Ancestral Phoenix and Ancestral Dragon were the supreme existences of the beast world, standing at the very peak of the martial arts pyramid. The secret technique of the Ancestral Phoenix Palace, the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art, was inherited directly from the Ancestral Phoenix. Once activated, it triggered a resonance within the Myriad Beast Tower.
This was something Su Chen had never expected.
"Where is Junior Brother Su?"
"He’s gone."
The nine students, who had been cultivating, opened their eyes to find Su Chen had vanished into thin air. They were shocked, unable to fathom how he could have just disappeared.
In a phantom space, countless beast bones lay scattered about. The *crunching* sound of stepping on them was piercing and sent shivers down one's spine. Seeing the bones, Su Chen gradually realized he had entered a phantom space within the Myriad Beast Tower. He suspected it was linked to his use of the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art.
A strange power enveloped the space, and his internal art seemed to be guided by something.
A piercing phoenix cry erupted from within him. To his own shock, a massive, ten-thousand-foot phoenix slowly coalesced behind him. The vast, surging phoenix aura instantly covered the phantom space, suppressing every trace of beast energy.
The Myriad Beast Tower was incredibly powerful. Since the founding of the academy, generations of deans and teachers had hunted beasts and sealed their spirits into the tower. Over countless years, it had suppressed countless beast souls.
The Ancestral Phoenix? Was this truly the Ancestral Phoenix?
Su Chen was stunned. He hadn't expected his fortuitous cultivation of the core of the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art to achieve this. Even Luo Tianfei might not have been able to manifest the Ancestral Phoenix.
Feeling the world-dominating aura of the massive phantom, Su Chen clenched his fists. This martial art was perfect for him.
***
The ten-thousand-foot Ancestral Phoenix phantom stood tall, and all the beast shadows bowed in submission, their bodies trembling in extreme fear—the manifestation of bloodline suppression.
Su Chen had hoped to use the phantom to devour the beast spirits in the tower to boost his own cultivation. However, before he could do so, the phantom vanished, and he was expelled from the phantom world back into the tower.
Seeing him suddenly reappear, Fang Jue and the others were dumbstruck. How had he done it? They didn't dare ask.
On the massive plaza, a girl in light yellow robes stood before the Hidden Dragon Board, staring at the name at the top: *Su Chen, Sword Blood Wheel.*
Her long, ink-black hair danced in the wind. Beneath her arched, moon-like brows were fox-like eyes. Her high nose and cherry lips sat upon skin as white as snow. She was tall and slender—a beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms.
This was Princess Ji Youxi of the Pan Ding Empire. Her Blood Wheel was the Seven-Colored Soul-Devouring Python, a top-tier Blood Wheel. Sent to the Eastern Wasteland Academy ten years ago as a disciple of the Vice Dean, she had reached the Level 7 Golden Core Realm and trained in the Ace Class.
Just days ago, the royal family had sent word: her fiancé, Su Chen, had his Blood Wheel destroyed by Su Hao of the Su Clan and had been expelled. She felt a tinge of sorrow; they had met a few times in their youth, and he had seemed like a decent person.
The royal family had told her the engagement would soon be annulled, and she could decide her own future. She knew her talent and top-tier Blood Wheel made her vital to the royal family, and with her powerful master, she would eventually reach the Nascent Soul Realm and become an elite student.
Seeing the familiar name—and knowing he possessed a Sword Blood Wheel—she had briefly wondered if it could be her fiancé. But she immediately dismissed it. Su Chen’s Blood Wheel was gone; even an Emperor Realm Expert couldn't restore one, let alone a mere student.
Shaking her head, she prepared to enter a special training area.
***
Su Clan. A secluded mountainside.
Su Hao opened his eyes abruptly and let out a long howl. The golden core in his body shattered, beginning to re-condense into a baby-like phantom—a Nascent Soul.
The Golden Core Realm was divided into ten tiers. When the core shatters, the Nascent Soul condenses. Su Hao had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
"Very good."