Chapter 132: Thunder and Sand

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Outside the Secret Realm…

Through the Ten Thousand Mile Mirror, the crowd witnessed Su Mei effortlessly slay three Earth Wolves of equal cultivation, their faces frozen in shock, eyes wide as eggs.

Moments later, solemnity replaced awe on countless male faces.

This woman was too eerie. With her cultivation suppressed to Early Nascent Soul, she was already terrifying what of her true Perfect Nascent Soul strength?

They dared not imagine if Su Mei's charm ensnared them, whether they'd lose their minds.

Even cross-species demon beasts succumbed to lust how could these hot-blooded youths resist?

Many resolved to wary of her, a radiant flower laced with thorns, untouchable without absolute resolve.

"Charm arts, eh? Su Mei's disciple is truly remarkable!" Hundred Faces observed with intrigue, recalling Su Han's aloof, fairy-like grace. Master and disciple, starkly contrasting allure.

The Seven Enforcers nodded in agreement. Hundred Flowers Fairy Su Han, once a Sacred Spirit Academy student, was known to them.

Back then, Su Han was the Academy's idol, her breathtaking beauty captivating all.

Now, the Ten Thousand Mile Mirror's scenes reclaimed their attention.

Su Mei, hidden behind a rock, covertly watched a young man.

They instantly recognized him the youth with monstrous results in the first two trials.

The crowd focused, eager to see if this prodigy's combat matched his talent…

Or if he was mere hype.

"Hmph, high talent doesn't mean strong combat. He might be an empty boast!" Lin Tai, among the students, spat bitterly. Too cowardly for the third trial, he knew he'd never vie for the Sacred Spirit Ranking.

Beside him, Le Kang's eyes narrowed, curious about the youth who'd defied him.

"Empty or not, he's beyond you!" a mocking voice retorted Han Shen.

"Exactly! Young Master Lan is handsome and gallant, gifting Tribulation Stage inheritance to a lady his magnanimity dwarfs you!"

"No kidding! Unlike this petty sneak, slandering behind backs!"

"Right!"

Lin Tai paled as new female students laughed, openly scorning him.

Since the second trial, Lan An's Mountain-Sealing Beauty feat won many female Academy admirers. Hearing him slandered, they rallied to his defense.

Lan An, yet to enter the Academy, already had a loyal fanbase.

Under the crowd's pressure, Lin Tai clenched his fists, venomously wishing the wolves tore Lan An apart.

Alas, his wish was a pipe dream…

Within the Secret Realm…

Lan An's face, devoid of emotion, scanned the five Earth Wolves encircling him, evoking memories of Dark Origin Continent…

And that fiery, domineering yet naive woman.

How was she now?

So recently parted, yet he missed her a rare sentiment for him.

Howl…

Snapping his reverie, a long howl echoed. The wolves, agile, split into five directions, fangs and claws bared, red eyes charging.

Lan An smirked, Water Hong Kick surging, fused with Fourth-Revolution Body Cultivation strength.

His foot, heavy as a raging tsunami, slammed into the fastest wolf.

Boom…

No flair, no flourish—raw, brutal force. The unlucky wolf's jaws shattered, head twisted, body hurled kilometers, smashing rocks into pulp.

As the other four closed in…

Before the crowd's stunned eyes, a colossal figure materialized.

Earth Bear, a loyal guardian, its muscular arms seized two wolves' necks like chickens.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

More savage than Lan An, Earth Bear wielded the broken-necked wolves as weapons, pummeling the remaining pair.

After earth-shaking blows, the last two became meat paste.

Forged from high-grade True Earth spiritual energy, Earth Bear's utility was limited against stronger or numerous foes in Lan An's past battles, but it was far from weak.

In its tier, it was terrifying.

Roar!

Earth Bear bellowed proudly, pounding its chest like war drums, then dissolved into the ether.

Lan An watched leisurely, having struck only once.

His Token displayed 250 Points.

Su Mei, hand over mouth, stifled a gasp. Her ample chest heaved, heart racing, breath ragged.

Though it seemed long, from the wolves' charge to their pulping took mere breaths—far swifter than her three-wolf kill.

"Third Sister, this is your chosen man?" Su Mei bit her lip, musing.

Outside, the Secret Realm fell silent…

Eerily, unnaturally still.

Gulp…

After a pause, dry swallows echoed. The crowd exchanged stammering glances, disbelief mirrored in their eyes.

Soon, awed murmurs erupted, many doubting the scene's reality.

"How… how can he be so strong?" Lin Tai stood petrified, mumbling repetitively.

"Calm down. That technique, though powerful, must drain vast spiritual energy. He can't spam it!" Le Kang patted Lin Tai's shoulder, his voice hoarse.

To him, a technique like Earth Bear consumed immense energy, unspammable.

Lin Tai nodded shakily, exhaling, unaware of Le Kang's trembling frame.

The Seven Enforcers exchanged stunned looks. Unnoticed, the Chief Enforcer Elder had appeared, gravely studying the youth.

Techniques condensing spiritual energy into beast forms for combat were exceedingly rare.

In the Academy, only one such skill existed, mastered by a handful.

Hundred Faces' starry eyes brimmed with pride and tender affection. Her man matured faster than she'd dreamed.

Lan An didn't linger. With Thousand-Mile Vision, he noted the dune's limited expanse.

He must leave.

He'd long sensed Su Mei's presence but feigned ignorance, respecting her as Ruo Xue's elder sister.

Phantom Charm Wander Step unfolded, his form blurring into afterimages, departing.

Curious about this man, Su Mei, eager to probe his means, donned exquisite boots, their glow boosting her speed—a fine treasure.

She kept pace, not falling too far behind.

Gazing at his dashing back, robes fluttering, carefree afterimages, Su Mei's eyes sparkled, admiring his movement art.

Phantom Charm Wander Step, unwittingly, charmed a lady.

In truth, Lan An slowed deliberately. At full speed, she'd choke on his dust.

"Young brother! Hand over your Token, and we'll be pals someday!" a jovial voice halted Lan An.

He glanced leisurely at a fat man waddling before him.

"Are we close?" Lan An asked coolly.

"Not yet, but sadly, I, Fei Du Ji, fancy your Token!" the fat man chuckled.

"Oh? What's your confidence?" Lan An's tone chilled.

"Haha, I know your talent's supreme, acing two trials, but to our Thunderbolt Hall, talent's nothing!" Fei Du Ji scoffed mockingly.

"Thunderbolt Hall? What's that? Edible?" Lan An frowned nonchalantly.

Fei Du Ji's grin froze. Lan An's ignorance of Thunderbolt Hall made him feel like swallowing a fly.

"What's Thunderbolt Hall? My grenade will enlighten you!" Fei Du Ji, digging his ear crassly, produced a black orb, primed to explode.

Lan An blinked, dumbfounded. Wasn't this a grenade from his past life? In a cultivation world?

"Young Master, don't misunderstand! If this world masters immortality, crafting destructive weapons isn't odd!" Jin Ni explained.

Lan An's lips twitched. He'd been narrow-minded. If teleportation arrays and flying treasures existed, grenades were trivial.

Yet, these grenades far surpassed his past life's, exuding palpable menace.

"You think that secures you?" Regaining composure, Lan An eyed Fei Du Ji oddly.

"Hmph, don't think talent makes you invincible. Thunderbolt Hall specializes in humbling geniuses like you!" Fei Du Ji's fleshy face brimmed with confidence.

His grenades could wound Spirit Transformation experts. He doubted Lan An could resist, emboldening his ambush.

"You talk too much!" Lan An lost interest in bantering. His hand clenched toward the fat man.

"Sand Coffin!"

Countless Earth spiritual energies formed four coffin walls, crushing toward Fei Du Ji.

"Explode!" Fei Du Ji, unfazed, hurled his grenade at the forming coffin.

Boom…

The coffin shattered before completion, Fei Du Ji elated, tossing more grenades at Lan An.

"Trouble!" Su Mei frowned, pondering aid.

Thunderbolt Hall, a crazed Seventh-Grade power, was a sect of explosive fanatics, viewing devastating weapons as life's truth. They often sent disciples on suicide bombings against foes.

To Thunderbolt Hall disciples, dying in a glorious explosion was supreme honor, their ultimate aspiration.

Even some Eighth-Grade powers tread lightly around them.

As grenades flew, Lan An remained unruffled.

Many thought him paralyzed by fear, sighing regretfully.

Hum…

A low hum sounded. Wood Turtle materialized, shielding Lan An.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom…

Explosions rocked the heavens, smoke cloaking the scene.

Yet, the crowd gaped as Lan An stood unscathed, a massive turtle absorbing the blasts.

Lan An noted cracks on Wood Turtle's shell, proof of Thunderbolt Hall's grenade potency.

"What? You're unharmed?" Fei Du Ji yelped, his bulk leaping in shock.

He'd banked on his grenades, yet couldn't ruffle Lan An's hair.

"My turn!" Lan An grinned playfully. Phantom Charm Wander Step blurred him into afterimages, closing in.

Wood Form Fist slammed into Fei Du Ji's rotund belly.

Spurt…

Fei Du Ji, like a meatball, spewed blood, rolling across the sand.

As Lan An moved to press, Fei Du Ji scrambled up, pulling a rocket as thick as a tree.

To Lan An's disbelief, the fat man clambered onto it.

Whoosh…

Sparks erupted from the rocket's rear, propelling it skyward with earth-shaking force, vanishing swiftly.

"Brat, don't cross me again, or I'll bomb you dead!" Fei Du Ji's crass threat echoed.

Lan An's lips twitched, thinking, "Lucky escape this time. Next, I'll shoot you down with my bow!"