Chapter 41: Where Are the Fourth-Year Students?

At Lingyun Warrior Academy, once students reached the third-year, they were required to head to the wilderness under the supervision of their instructors for field training. The primary focus of this training was to learn survival skills and combat techniques against wild beasts.

After nearly a year of survival trials in the wilderness, third-year students had gained a significant advantage over first- and second-year students. Their differences were evident, even in their bearing.

Almost every third-year student had experience fighting beasts. The more skilled among them had even, under their instructors' guidance, faced off against a fierce beasts.

But to Su Hao, none of this mattered. No matter how much experience the third-year students had, they were still just a bunch of twelve- or thirteen-year-olds. They were merely Common Warriors. Even if one or two prodigies had broken through to the Elite warrior level, they were still only beginner Elite warriors. In essence, they were no different from Common Warriors.

And Su Hao could easily—wipe them out.

Arriving at the third-year students' training grounds, Su Hao handed He Qingqing over to Fatty, then charged straight towards the obvious group of third-level students, loudly announcing as he ran, "I am Wu Xiangwu, and I've come to challenge all the third-year students. Feel free to come at me together!"

By this time, a large crowd of first- and second-year students had already gathered, having found good spots to watch the spectacle. They started discussing fervently among themselves.

Mo Xin leaned close to Jin Dayan's face, her eyes wide with curiosity, and asked, "Brother Dayan, do you think Wu Xiangwu can beat these third-year students? They're all tall and strong, and they look like they're not to be messed with."

Jin Dayan backed away and shook his head. "I don't know. I can't see through that guy."

Jin Xiaohan pulled Mo Xin away, protecting her brother, and said, "Mo Xin, you can ask, but don't take advantage of my brother."

Mo Xin giggled and said, "I think Wu Xiangwu's not going to make it this time. The third-year students are different from the second-year ones."

Jin Xiaohan nodded. "I think, so too. He's gotten too arrogant."

Mo Xin agreed. "Wu Xiangwu really is a monster, but this time, he might take a fall."

Then she turned and teased, "Brother Dayan, you're one of the recognized geniuses of Lingyun Town. Aren't you even a little envious of Wu Xiangwu?"

Jin Dayan shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course I'm envious. But I'm just a genius, while he's a monster. Why would a genius compare himself to a monster?"

Mo Xin and Jin Xiaohan had nothing to say to that.

On the other side, Xiao Yushu (Genius from the second-year Students) stood quietly in a corner, watching Su Hao's figure as he charged into the crowd without hesitation. His eyes were filled with a sense of confusion as he murmured, "Wu Xiangwu, I'm not as good as you…"

....

Su Hao had already reached a third-year student who looked completely bewildered. Without saying a word, he threw a punch. The third-year student instinctively raised his hand to block, but Su Hao used his «Shadow Step» to evade the block and delivered a precise punch to the student's chin, sending him flying into the air and knocking him out cold.

Knocking someone out was the simplest and most efficient method.

Without wasting a moment, Su Hao dashed toward the next nearest person.

This student quickly assumed a combat stance and accurately predicted Su Hao's approach, launching a preemptive strike.

Su Hao once again used «Shadow Step» to maneuver to the side, followed by a «Sky Fist»

Another student was sent flying!

By now, the third-year students had realized what was happening—someone had come to crash their training session.

And this person didn't even bother with any trash talk before attacking. How arrogant!

Some of the students, excited by the challenge, rushed toward Su Hao, shouting that they were going to beat him into the ground. Others stood by, still observing, unsure of what to do.

But it didn't matter—they'd soon understand.

In no time at all, Su Hao had punched one student into the air, kicked another flying, and left them either blissfully unconscious or writhing on the ground in pain, unable to get back up.

The group of reckless students who had rushed forward were all wiped out, leaving chaos in their wake.

But Su Hao didn't stop. He charged towards another group further away, shouting, "I, Wu Xiangwu, a first-year student, have come to challenge all third-year students. You're welcome to gang up on me!"

Su Hao rampaged through the crowd, every punch and kick carrying immense force. Anyone who got close was sent flying, screaming as they crashed to the ground.

Soon, the remaining standing third-year students began to fear him. Some ran away, while others, unwilling to give up, tried to fight back, only to be sent flying and left unable to stand.

"This lunatic is gone mad! He's too strong—we can't stop him. Go get Ye Xiaomeng!"

"Ye Xiaomeng? Are you serious? You want to drag her into this?"

"Yeah, come on. We can't just go running to a girl when we're losing. You go if you want; I'm not going."

"But Ye Xiaomeng is the only one who might be able to beat him."

"Don't say 'might.' Ye Xiaomeng's already an elite warrior. There's no way this idiot can beat her."

"Crap, that lunatic coming this way!"

"You hold him off! Buy some time—I'll go get Ye Xiaomeng."

"Hold him off? Are you kidding me? Who the hell could hold him off?!"

....

Not far from the third-year students' training ground was a massive trial arena where many fierce beasts—dangerous but still within control—were kept for the third-year students to practice real combat.

Inside one of the enclosed rooms, a short-haired girl around thirteen or fourteen was facing off against a massive bear-like creature.

This creature stood two meters tall and was at least three meters long. Though it resembled a bear, it wasn't actually a bear. Its head was more like a crocodile's, with a long snout full of exposed, razor-sharp teeth. Spines resembling fish fins ran down its back, making it look fearsome and grotesque.

This beast was called a Croc-tooth Beast, one of the lowest-ranked fierce beasts. Its main characteristics were its slow movement and thick, tough body, making it ideal for third-year students to practice with.

Although it was a low-tier fierce beast, it was still a fierce beast and could easily match the strength of an elite warrior. Even a beginner elite warriors would struggle against it.

The short-haired girl suddenly moved, letting out a sharp shout as she charged straight at the Croc-tooth Beast's head. Just as the beast opened its jaws to bite her, she sidestepped and delivered a high kick to its neck, causing its upper body to rear up.

"Graaa∼!"

The Croc-tooth Beast let out a low, guttural cry, and its short, thick claws instinctively swiped at the girl.

But the short-haired girl gracefully leaped back, easily dodging the attack. Just as she was about to move in for another strike, she heard her companion's voice from outside.

"Boss Xiaomeng, hurry up! Something huge is happening at the training ground!"

"What's happened?" the short-haired girl asked, kicking the Croc-tooth Beast with enough force to send it stumbling backward. She then used the opportunity to slip out of the fight and opened the door.

"Hurry! Only you can stop that lunatic!" As soon as she stepped out, a freckled girl grabbed her and started pulling her along.

....

Meanwhile, back at the third-year students' training ground, those still standing had completely lost the will to fight. Seeing Su Hao charging at them, they scattered like frightened animals, running for their lives. For a moment, Su Hao couldn't catch all of them, and his attacks became less effective.

After a brief pause, Su Hao stopped and yelled in frustration, "Where's your backbone, third-year students? Come on, let's have a fair fight! You can all come at me together if you want—I'm fine with it!"

The remaining third-year students cursed him silently but couldn't muster the courage to say anything.

They all knew that if this lunatic set his sights on them, there was no way they could escape.

At that moment, a large group of people approached, surrounding a short-haired girl who looked every bit the part of a fierce warrior.

The girl, dressed in warriors gear, exuded an aura of confidence and strength. If not for the fact that she was a girl, many of the boys might have wanted to swear brotherhood with her.

One of the third-level students pointed at Su Hao, his face full of indignation, and said, "Boss Xiaomeng, it's him! I don't know what's wrong with him, but he just started attacking everyone he saw."

Ye Xiaomeng lifted her chin and, with a clear and crisp voice, asked, "Brat, you! Are you the one stirring up trouble?"

Su Hao grinned and, without saying a word, charged straight at her.

There was no need for words. He could deal with any conversation after he knocked everyone out. With so many people against him, talking before the fight would put him at a disadvantage. But once they were all down, the advantage would be his, and then his words would carry weight.

"Arrogant!" Ye Xiaomeng's face darkened as she stepped forward from the crowd, rushing towards Su Hao. She was going to teach this clueless fool a lesson.

Su Hao's eyes narrowed. This girl was faster than most high-level Common warriors. She was definitely something.

But it didn't matter. Su Hao suddenly exploded with speed, moving as fast as lightning.

«Shadow Step»

«Sky Fist»

The two clashed, but Ye Xiaomeng let out a scream as she was sent flying into the air, crashing heavily to the ground.

Silence!

All the third-year students were in complete despair. The strongest among them had been defeated in an instant. What hope did they have now?

"Attack! Everyone, attack together!"

"Yeah, let's fight him side by side!"

"Charge!"

Their voices were filled with a tragic resolve.

But it was all in vain. When the gap in strength was too great, no number of people could close it.

Finally, after all the third-year students had been knocked out, Su Hao let out a long breath of relief.

The overall strength of the third-year students was indeed much higher than that of the second-year ones. This battle had cost him quite a bit of blood Qi.

....

"Boom—!"

The first- and second-year students watching erupted into a frenzy.

They had just witnessed a miracle. A first-year student had single-handedly taken down all the third-year students. Every one of them had fallen in a single blow, even the elite warrior and top-tier genius Ye Xiaomeng, known as Boss Xiaomeng, had been defeated in one hit.

The second-year students began to feel a sense of balance within their hearts. A few months ago, they too had been defeated by Su Hao. But now, it didn't seem so bad. If even the third-year students couldn't stand against him, then it was perfectly normal that they had lost to him.

"Wu Xiangwu is too incredible! He took down the entire third yearl by himself!"

"Incredible! Witnessing such a miracle today was worth it!"

"This is the true power of 'Wu Xiangwu the Violent Sky!'"

"From now on, Wu Xiangwu is my big brother. I'm bringing good wine and food to pay my respects tomorrow. Who's with me?"

"Count me in!"

"I'm in too!"

....

As Su Hao walked away, he suddenly grabbed someone and asked, "By the way, do you know where the fourth-year students are?"

The person was stunned and stammered, "I-I don't know!"