slap

Suddenly, the void distorted, and a massive slash tore through the sky towards more than ten students. They reacted by shattering the slash simultaneously. In the distance, Zhang Dingtian soared into the air, gripping his long blade with an icy gaze.

Although they had heard rumors, facing Zhang Dingtian in person made all the students tremble. There really was a transcendent powerhouse among the natives, which was simply insane.

Swish! An arrow shot across the sky and struck a student, the very one who had just attacked the capital. Blood splattered from high above.

This was Wu Sheng, one of the Seven Saints, originally stationed on the grasslands. He had learned of the siege on the capital through a personal terminal he had stolen and had come prepared to help a few days earlier.

Four Saints against over twenty students—a vast disparity that not even Zhang Dingtian could bridge. Within moments, Zhou Shan bled profusely, with numerous wounds across his body, and Wu Sheng was pierced through the abdomen by a student, hoisted up, his blood staining the earth.

Despite tens of thousands of Evolutionists from Hua Camp joining the battle, they were slaughtered like chaff. They couldn't even match these students they were supposed to support.

Granny hid nearby, watching in fear. She was not from Earth and would not sacrifice herself. With her strength, she couldn't even stop a single student.

A fierce wind swept through, chilling the air. Many students looked in astonishment at the ruins of the city wall where two students had been frozen. Hedian's eyes widened in shock. "Talent... You... You actually have talent."

The words "talent" shook everyone present. Even the Seven Saints didn't all know about Bai Xue's talent. She had concealed it well. However, facing Hedian and his group of students, she was powerless and could only expose herself.

In the next moment, all the students greedily eyed Bai Xue. The importance of a talented cultivator was clear to everyone. Capturing one would drastically elevate their status with their respective factions.

The student who had thrown Wu Sheng aside laughed heartily and charged towards Bai Xue.

The student who had intended to kill Zhou Shan grinned and charged as well.

In the sky, over a dozen idle students simultaneously took action. At this moment, Bai Xue was more important than the capital or even the fugitive.

Granny sighed. This was the tragedy of the weak. With Bai Xue's talent exposed, she could only be captured. No one would waste a talented cultivator. She would likely be arranged to marry some powerful figure to increase the chances of giving birth to talented cultivators. Such was the tragedy.

Opposite Zhang Dingtian, Eddu greedily eyed Bai Xue. However, Zhang Dingtian was faster. "Get lost!" Zhang Dingtian roared, wielding countless slashes that filled the surroundings with terrifying attacks.

Over twenty students were pushed back, stunned by Zhang Dingtian's strength. But even so, they were determined to seize Bai Xue. Talented cultivators were too important.

Eddu broke through the slashes, delivering a punch to Zhang Dingtian's abdomen. Zhang Dingtian was pushed back over ten meters but still stood tall. He swung his long blade horizontally, and Eddu swiftly retreated with a bloody gash in front of him.

Hedian crushed a water crystal, "Water Dragon," he bellowed. Surging water turned into a whirlwind and swept towards Zhang Dingtian. Simultaneously, attacks of various kinds came from all directions.

Zhang Dingtian's eyes widened, blood dripping from his gums. With a low growl, he plunged his long blade into the ground and then slashed upwards. Countless stones shot in all directions, causing the earth to tremble. Massive cracks spread from outside the city towards the inside, burying countless survivors.

Attacks from all directions were neutralized by Zhang Dingtian, but he himself had reached his limit.

Several students who had just refrained from acting suddenly charged out. Two attacked Zhang Dingtian, while one reached for Bai Xue. "The talented cultivator is ours! Haha!"

Zhang Dingtian was hit, and his body sank into the ground, his grip on the long blade almost slipping.

Bai Xue stared at the student reaching for her and raised her hand. "Ice Palm."

Bang!

A wave of energy swept the sky, freezing the ground. The student reaching for Bai Xue was frozen solid. He had underestimated Bai Xue. Ranked among the Seven Saints, she could match the academy's strongest, and even Hedian struggled against her at times.

Eddu watched Zhang Dingtian take a heavy blow and charged again. This time, he reached for Bai Xue. The value of a talented cultivator was not much less than that of a fugitive, and Zhang Dingtian was now out of the way.

Two students, each comparable to Hedian, also acted simultaneously. Three of them in total aimed for Bai Xue. At this moment, not even Zhang Dingtian could protect her.

Bai Xue's face turned pale. "Is it over? What a pity."

In an instant, a familiar figure appeared before Bai Xue. Bang, bang, bang—three loud crashes followed by three figures flying back in disarray. It was Eddu and his companions.

All the students stared incredulously at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of Bai Xue. Who was he? He had defeated three of the academy's strongest with just one blow.

In a corner, Granny widened her eyes. "He actually came back."

Inside the city, Zhou Shan grimly spat out blood.

Bai Xue looked in shock at the figure before her. Not tall, but he had shielded her from the storm. This person had truly returned, and he seemed to have grown much stronger.

The figure that appeared before Bai Xue was none other than Lu Yin. Without a personal terminal, he hadn't known about the attack on the capital. Fortunately, his return was not too late.

Lu Yin said to Bai Xue, "I told you I would come back."

Pale-faced, Bai Xue weakly replied, "Be careful. There are too many."

Lu Yin nodded, his expression slightly grave. Indeed, there were too many opponents. Although he had reached the peak of the Explorer Realm and his Celestial Palm was no less powerful than Zhang Dingtian's, even Zhang had been beaten badly. A direct fight would be very difficult.

*Cough, cough.*

Zhang Dingtian climbed out of the ground, using his long blade for support. He glanced at Lu Yin, then scanned the surroundings with a resolute expression.

Lu Yin threw a healing potion to Zhang Dingtian. "Use this."

Zhang Dingtian rudely swallowed the healing potion.

Lu Yin was speechless. "That's supposed to be applied externally... Oh well, swallowing it should work too since it's from Clover Corporation."

In the distance, the three students, including Eddu, got up and stared at Lu Yin. "Who are you?"

Lu Yin didn't bother responding. He directly donned Grace's battle armor, lightning crackling around him and sparks flying.

Hedian was shocked. "That's Grace's battle armor! How do you have it?"

Lu Yin replied calmly, "She gave it to me."

"Impossible!" Eddu, Hedian, and several other students exclaimed simultaneously. Grace was very famous in the Great Yu Empire, largely because of her powerful and protective brother, Gulbach. Mentioning him left the younger generation of the Great Yu Empire feeling helpless—he was a true powerhouse. Because of Gulbach, no one dared to bully Grace. If that armor was indeed given to Lu Yin by Grace, it could be troublesome. Did this person have connections with Grace's family?

All the students stared at Lu Yin with uncertainty. Could this person be Grace's boyfriend?

Lu Yin took a deep breath, his gaze becoming cold. "Stay back," he said, then charged directly at Eddu. Eddu was the strongest student present and the organizer of this attack on the capital. To defeat a gang, you must first capture the leader.

Eddu was still speculating about Lu Yin when Lu Yin attacked. Eddu quickly retreated, having already experienced Lu Yin's strength and not intending to confront him head-on.

Lu Yin used his agile movements to appear directly in front of Hedian. Surprised, Hedian tried to defend himself. "Water Dragon!" he shouted, wrapping his body in a torrent of water to block Lu Yin. Lu Yin reached him, smiled, then struck in a different direction—precisely where Eddu had retreated.

"Split Sky Palm?" Eddu was astonished. He countered with a punch, and with a loud bang, the shockwave cleared everything around them. Lu Yin dodged Hedian and attacked Eddu again.

Eddu gritted his teeth. "Kid, don't push it."

Lu Yin sneered and struck at Eddu with his palm.

Eddu snorted, sensing the danger. He clenched his right fist, faintly hearing the roar of a majestic beast. This was his combat technique, the Beast King Fist, which had defeated the strongest students of thirty academies, earning him a special place in Yutang and making him famous in the Great Yu Empire. On Earth, he had only used it against Zhang Dingtian and the fugitives. Now, he was pushed to his limit.

With the palm strike, stars appeared. Lu Yin's Celestial Palm shone with three stars before exploding. The first star exploded, and Eddu's eyes widened as his Beast King Fist was forcibly halted. The second star exploded, causing immense pain in Eddu's right fist. When the third star exploded, Eddu spat blood and was sent flying, his right fist shattered, his body slamming into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Facing Eddu, Lu Yin didn't hold back. With one Celestial Palm, he had utterly defeated him.