Chapter 23: Who Is He?

Everyone present held their breath at the same instant, their fervent gazes focused on that snow-white figure, only one thought in their minds—

—Who is he?

A slightly thin and slender body, a temperament like frost and winter plum blossoms, standing with a sword, possessing an indescribable heroic air.

Although the well-tailored white shirt was already stained with colorful insect blood, in everyone's eyes, it didn't look sloppy at all. Instead, the insect blood seemed like medals, adding supreme glory to that cold and proud "swordsman"!

Most crucially, the appearance of this snow-haired, ice-eyed "swordsman" was simply too eye-catching. If someone else wore a white wig and silver contacts, people might think they were showing off. But he was different; it always felt very natural, flowing like clouds and water, indescribably pleasing and easy on the eyes.

An even smaller group of sensitive girls began to question his gender!

Male or female?

He was simply too delicate, his features extremely refined, elegant as a painting, indescribably handsome. His voice was also a very pleasant neutral tone. Ordinary men's faces usually had sharp angles, their voices rougher. How could this "swordsman" be so delicate?

However, compared to his appearance, his strength was clearly more worthy of curiosity!

Decisive, ruthless, cold-blooded, solitary, and proud. Although he had only acted for less than a minute, he showed everyone what "swordsmanship" truly meant. Unlike the fancy but impractical moves in martial arts films, every move was unstoppable, swift as lightning, without any wasted motion!

Simple, sharp, lethal, not a single wasted move. He only needed to find an opportunity, and one sword strike would inevitably yield results!

What does it mean to be decisive in killing?

This is being decisive in killing! No need to blink, no need to breathe. A total of eighteen sword strikes were unleashed, resulting in eighteen souls claimed under the blade!

This kind of courage, this kind of swordsmanship, was definitely not something an ordinary youth raised in a greenhouse could possess!

Even a Kendo master immersed in the way of the sword all day couldn't match the sharpness of his swordsmanship! Even a top-tier mercenary struggling on battlefields daily was far inferior in combat awareness!

Why was he so sharp and powerful?

Was he a world-class assassin?

A master of national martial arts?

Or perhaps a legendary inheritor of ancient martial arts, a modern swordsman?

No matter who he was, just his miraculous appearance, intervening to save people when everyone was about to despair, and annihilating the terrifying insects, was enough to make everyone present feel an irrepressible admiration and gratitude towards him!

"So strong, your swordsmanship is even better than Father's... Excuse me, may I ask..."

Ran Hongxia stared at Li Jiayu, her pure yet bewitching eyes filled with curiosity and admiration. Especially when she saw Li Jiayu's silver longsword, her eyes lit up even more. She felt Li Jiayu was a master of swordsmanship. If the situation allowed, she really wished she could pull Li Jiayu aside for a long chat, have him teach her swordsmanship.

"Ran Hongxia... what nonsense were you spouting just now! If I hadn't arrived in time, you would have already perished!"

Li Jiayu looked at Ran Hongxia's exquisitely beautiful face, anger flaring up inside him. He fiercely interrupted the question Ran Hongxia was about to ask. But he quickly paused, as if remembering something, his face immediately darkened, and he said irritably:

"Ah, I can't be bothered with you woman! Every time I see you, I have bad luck! Someone like you, if I can't afford to provoke you, can't I afford to hide from you?"

Finished speaking, Li Jiayu swiftly turned around, beckoned the Dark Octopus, and rushed out of the classroom under everyone's pleading gazes.

He didn't have time to waste with this group; there were still three other halls needing his rescue!

Hopefully, the people in the other three halls can hold out a bit longer...

"I... where did I provoke you? Why are you so fierce to me whenever I talk to you... Truly unreasonable..."

Ran Hongxia watched the departing backs of Li Jiayu and the Dark Octopus, feeling full of disappointment and grievance.

She, at least, came from a scholarly family with a long history. Both her etiquette and conversation were top-notch. Even her appearance was at the level of "ruining nations." Not only was she the undisputed campus belle of Xijiang University, but she was also an extremely popular beauty in the entire country university alliance. Countless people liked her, both openly and secretly. Even many entertainment companies lined up to sign her.

However, Ran Hongxia came from a distinguished background; how could she possibly be interested in the debauchery of the entertainment world or frivolous men?

Even when many outstanding boys, successful young professionals, or even influential "princelings" revolved around her, she remained unmoved. Because she was passionate about swordsmanship, loving the aura of "propriety," "culture," "martial arts," and "weaponry" inherent in it, silently immersing herself in the whirlpool of Kendo. Her greatest hobby was practicing the sword; every day she would spend an hour accompanying her sword!

She often fantasized about meeting someone her age whose swordsmanship matched hers... Unfortunately, in modern society, such people were too hard to find. Even if found, they were mostly Buddhist monks detached from worldly affairs.

And just now, she saw someone whose swordsmanship surpassed hers by several realms. Moreover, that person's magnificent figure was very attractive. His iceberg-snow-lotus temperament, picturesque appearance, and swift-like battle posture all held a fatal attraction for her. She really wanted to become friends with him, but why was he so cold, so annoyed with her?

I... I clearly didn't do anything wrong, right? Why put on a sour face like I owe you five million?

If it were any other boy deliberately acting aloof towards Ran Hongxia to appear extraordinary, she would definitely dismiss him with contempt. But Li Jiayu was different. His indifference was like a blade, making Ran Hongxia feel stuffy and uncomfortable, filled with an indescribable sense of loss. Even though she had just escaped death, she couldn't feel much joy or relief.

"Great hero! Don't go, we still want to thank you properly..."

"He doesn't have time for us. A hero like him must be going to save people in the other halls, right?"

"Ah? Won't there be danger? Although he's very strong, the insects are so terrifying. What if he accidentally makes a mistake?"

"So cool, so cool! That's how a man should be! Cold and proud appearance, lightning-fast figure, supreme swordsmanship... I've decided, he's the goal I'll pursue for the rest of my life!"

"What nonsense! He might not necessarily be male, right? Maybe female, a female sword immortal..."

"Everyone calm down. You must all be very happy to be saved by him, but now is not the time to rejoice... Too many of our compatriots have died, too many friends have perished. Just now, fifty brave warriors stood at the front protecting us, but the result was... Let's have a moment of silence for these fifty sacrificed heroes."

A middle-aged female professor finally spoke, stopping the surging emotions of the students, bringing those intoxicated by joy back to reality, facing the cruel casualties and the fear of the future.

But the more they feared the future, the more they were filled with respect and admiration for Li Jiayu. The Acid Bugs that couldn't be dealt with even after sacrificing over fifty people were wiped out by Li Jiayu with swift efficiency... That domineering confidence, that invincible strength, was deeply engraved in everyone's hearts.

"Hongxia, that... uh, benefactor, just now... what did he say to you when he left? Do you know him? Who is he?" the middle-aged female professor secretly asked Ran Hongxia.

"No, he didn't say anything... I don't know him, but he seems to really dislike me..." Ran Hongxia gently shook her head, her crescent-moon-like elegant eyebrows slightly knitted, a trace of disappointment flashing across her autumn-water-like starry eyes.

"How could he dislike you? You must be overthinking it. Later, when he's finished, if we also survive... we must thank him properly. You are the vice president of the student union; definitely don't displease him."

"Mm..." Ran Hongxia nodded thoughtfully, her snow-white tender hand tightly gripping the wooden sword, her thoughts unknown.

Meanwhile, Li Jiayu swept through the other three halls like autumn wind scattering fallen leaves, unleashing a massacre. He frantically launched fierce attacks on the remaining Acid Bugs. With his superb swordsmanship, keen combat intuition, the summoned Legendary weapon Hyorinmaru, plus the powerful "control-type" summoned beast Dark Octopus, he managed to fight his way in and out of the three halls with thrills but no spills. Under everyone's stunned gazes, he repeatedly saved classmates and teachers fighting desperately, engaging in life-or-death, ultra-dangerous battles with the Acid Bugs time and again!

And during the battles, just as Li Jiayu had seen in his previous life, several classmates would self-awaken or achieve sudden enlightenment in critical moments, erupting with strange powers.

One male student could emit visible sonic cannonballs from his mouth, like a lion's roar, extremely powerful. People standing close to him almost had their eardrums ruptured. But hitting the insects, it was like a motorcycle crashing at full speed, instantly smashing the Acid Bugs into pulp against the wall!

One young male teaching assistant suddenly grew grayish-black scales all over his body, horns sprouted on his head, his limbs turned into claws, and a long lizard tail extended from his tailbone! He seemed to have transformed entirely into a Lizardman!

One male student's skin turned crimson all over, emitting terrifyingly high temperatures. Then, flames erupted from every pore, turning him into a literal "Fire Man." But his body remained unharmed amidst the raging flames; instead, his strength and speed increased significantly.

Another ordinary-looking female student, seeing her best friend about to be hit by an insect's acid spray, screamed in terror. Then her hair suddenly grew long, becoming extremely lush, flexible like snakes, roughly looking like a small swirling black cloud. She then used her hair to sweep her best friend away, dodging the acid spray.

Finally, there was a thirty-two-year-old young woman. She was a rising powerhouse in the education sector, also another vice principal of Xijiang University, deeply loved by students. A holy radiance emanated from her body. When the radiance shone on people, it felt warm and comfortable like soaking in hot water. But when shone on insects, it made them anxious and restless, greatly affecting them!

Four halls, five to six hundred people in each. One self-awakened Fire Mage, one self-awakened Mimic Dragonoid, one Hair Shapeshifter, one Sonic Warrior, one Light Priestess, and one enlightened Sword Saint emerged!

Only six people!

Among more than two thousand people, only six combatants appeared. This ratio was extremely low, but already immensely precious. Li Jiayu remembered that in his previous life, without his protection, most of these awakened combatants were killed by insects within a minute of awakening. In the end, only Sword Saint Ran Hongxia, Vice Principal Light Priestess Xiao Wanqing, and Fire Mage Fang Zilong survived!

One must know, those who awakened or achieved enlightenment through their own willpower at the first moment were all combat geniuses with excellent potential and great cultivation value!