Chapter 484: Unprecedented

"Dodge!"

With a flick of his brow, Ye Xuan subconsciously shot backward.

BOOM!

The instant Ye Xuan shot back, the eight black-clad men attacked in unison. Brilliant flashes of sword light converged, forming a terrifying torrent that viciously slashed down on the spot where Ye Xuan had just stood.

The very ground of the Void Space seemed to tremble from the force of the blow.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!...

Their first strike having missed, the eight black-clad men gave chase. They surrounded Ye Xuan from all sides, launching a frenzied assault. Each one was merciless, unleashing terrifying slashes of sword light at the fleeing Ye Xuan the moment he was in range.

A dense web of sword light fell like an inescapable net, enveloping all the space around Ye Xuan.

’Flee, flee, flee!’

Ye Xuan had no intention of fighting back. His body moved like a bolt of lightning as he fled for his life.

’Eight experts of the same level are impossible to resist head-on. Their combined attack would render any technique useless and kill me in an instant.’

’An opening... I just have to find an opening.’

As he fled, Ye Xuan continuously struck behind him to slow the pursuit of the black-clad men.

Fortunately, the Void Space was vast enough that he didn’t have to worry about running out of room.

After a chase lasting a dozen or so breaths, the black-clad men pursuing Ye Xuan had been stretched into a long line.

’This is my chance.’

WHOOSH!

Ye Xuan suddenly spun around and slashed at the nearest black-clad man.

SPURT!

Caught off guard and in a hurry, the black-clad man couldn’t react in time. One of his arms flew into the air before dissolving into nothingness.

’Go!’

With no time to observe the results of his attack, Ye Xuan spun around and fled once more.

The next moment, countless sword flashes exploded behind him like a torrential downpour. The terrifying shockwave nearly ruptured his internal organs.

’That was close. I almost got injured.’

Ye Xuan’s heart pounded with lingering fear.

’Getting injured during a siege like this is the worst possible mistake. Once you’re wounded, both your speed and strength plummet. All that awaits you then is death.’

And so, another chase began!

The black-clad man who had been at the front was now seriously injured. As the chase continued, he immediately fell to the rear of the group, lagging further and further behind.

’He’s the target.’

Ye Xuan locked onto the last man, patiently waiting for his chance.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Xuan finally slew the first black-clad man.

After two incense sticks’ time, the second was slain.

When the third incense stick had burned down, Ye Xuan took down the third black-clad man.

But this time, he made a mistake.

BOOM!

A sky-spanning torrent of sword light washed over his body.

’Damn it!’

’No time!’

’Slash!’

As he retreated, Ye Xuan desperately slashed at the densest part of the torrent. He pushed his combat power to its absolute limit, his speed simultaneously surging.

BOOM!

The torrent of countless sword flashes slammed into Ye Xuan’s longsword, erupting with an immense, unparalleled energy. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Ye Xuan was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string.

’It’s over!’

Ye Xuan shook his head.

’I’m injured. With my speed and strength so diminished, there’s no way I can survive being besieged by five experts of the same level.’

And just as he expected, a dozen or so breaths later, Ye Xuan was engulfed by a sky full of sword light and obliterated.

Fourth Floor: Failure!

「Beside the stone gate outside the Trial Tower.」

Ye Xuan’s body, his eyes tightly shut and consciousness submerged, suddenly jolted. He was instantly awake.

’This Trial Tower is incredible. My consciousness was slain in there, but instead of weakening, it feels like it’s been tempered and has actually grown stronger.’

Feeling the increased strength of the Profound Sense in his mind, Ye Xuan reflected with amazement.

The next moment, he thought back to the battle.

’I actually had a chance to clear the fourth floor. These spiritual constructs... even though their combat power is identical to mine, their fighting style is too rigid. They aren’t as flexible as real people. If I had just kept at it, I would have eventually slain the remaining five.’

’Unfortunately, I made a mistake.’

Ye Xuan analyzed in his mind.

He didn’t find it regrettable, though.

The mistake he’d made wasn’t from a lack of combat experience, nor was it a flaw in his tactics. It was purely because his understanding of the Nine Profound World-Defying Art and other Cultivation Techniques was not thorough enough.

That was something that simply couldn’t be helped.

’I made the mistake here this time, but I won’t make it again.’

Ye Xuan shook his head. He didn’t rush to get up. Instead, he remained where he was, carefully replaying the battle in his mind, correcting his errors and mistakes, and absorbing a great deal of experience from it.

The experience of fighting so many Martial Artists of one’s own caliber was exceedingly rare. An opportunity like this could only be found at Gale Light Academy.

’Next time, I’ll definitely clear the fourth level.’

After just one trial, Ye Xuan suddenly found that he had fallen in love with this place.

"Young man, I didn’t expect you to be in there for so long. I wonder, what floor did you reach?"

The cloaked man guarding the Trial Tower was also utterly shocked by how long Ye Xuan had spent inside. He hadn’t disturbed Ye Xuan after his elimination, instead waiting until he had fully come to his senses before asking, his voice laced with surprise and doubt.

Hearing the cloaked man’s voice, Ye Xuan jumped. He then slapped his forehead with a speechless expression. ’I can’t believe I forgot someone else was here again.’

’At first, I was worried about whether this cloaked man could see what was happening inside the Trial Tower. If he discovered my secrets, I’d be finished.’

However, upon hearing his question, Ye Xuan’s heart immediately settled.

’It makes sense, though. If Gale Light Academy could see everything that happened inside the Trial Tower, then other factions would never dare to secretly send their disciples here. If they could, wouldn’t all the secrets of their Cultivation Techniques and martial skills be completely exposed to the academy?’

"I reached the fourth floor, Senior, but unfortunately, I failed," Ye Xuan answered respectfully.

"The fourth floor." The cloaked man’s voice held a clear trace of shock. "Alright, your assessment is over. You may leave."

"Yes, sir." Ye Xuan turned and left.

After Ye Xuan left, the cloaked man couldn’t help but murmur to himself, "This kid actually reached the fourth floor on his first try. In all my years of guarding this tower, he’s the first. I wonder... does he have what it takes to challenge the ninth floor?"

A faint trace of excitement colored his voice.

「Outside the Trial Tower.」

The area was already in an uproar.

"The fourth floor! That Xuan Ye actually made it to the fourth floor!"

"My heavens, this is unbelievable!"

"Good god, are my eyes playing tricks on me? Pinch me, tell me I’m not dreaming."

"How is that possible? Xuan Ye is just a new student! How could he possibly reach the fourth floor?"

When they saw Xuan Ye’s name listed high up on the fourth floor—even surpassing some of the veteran students who had reached that level—everyone present was completely stunned.

They all stared blankly, their eyes wide and round, their mouths agape as if they could swallow an egg.

The fourth floor! What did that even mean?

To put it simply, some inner court disciples were only at this level in the Trial Tower.

However, Xuan Ye’s achievement wasn’t just reaching the fourth floor; his rank was even higher than many of those inner court disciples.

What did that imply?

It implied that Xuan Ye hadn’t been eliminated the moment he entered the fourth floor. He had lasted for a long time, and had even managed to kill several of the spiritual constructs.

A result like this would have been sensational even for a student who had been at the academy for two or three years. Yet now, it had been achieved by a brand-new student.

"Is this real?"

"Don’t tell me the Trial Tower malfunctioned."

"He cheated! That kid must have cheated!"

Some students cried out in disbelief, their hearts filled with jealousy and envy.

But they were just shouting empty words. Everyone knew it was impossible for the Trial Tower to malfunction, and it was impossible to cheat inside. They simply refused to believe it.

A new student reached the fourth floor on his first try. Did that mean all them, veteran students still lingering on the second and third floors, had just wasted all their years?

"The fourth floor, is it?"

Hou Fei silently clenched his fists, his gaze turning sharp.

Without a word, he quietly turned and departed.

His repeated defeats had prepared him for Ye Xuan’s success, but when the result was posted, it still gave him a huge shock.

’As expected of the man I intend to surpass. The stronger you are, the more motivated I’ll be. One day, I will surpass you and become the number one prodigy of Gale Light Academy!’

Hou Fei roared silently in his heart.

"Haha, Young Master Ye, you’re just too insane!"

Zhang Lie and Luo Cheng were trembling with excitement, the looks on their faces even more ecstatic than if they had reached the fourth floor themselves.

"This won’t do. I have to report this news to the academy’s upper echelons at once."

Even the Trial Tower staff were stunned by Xuan Ye’s results. One of them snapped out of it, hurriedly left the Trial Tower’s main hall, and ran toward the inner sanctum of the academy.

「Deep within Gale Light Academy.」

A small, five-story building.

The building was quite ordinary, with nothing to distinguish it. Yet, in the eyes of the Gale Light Academy staff, it represented the academy’s ultimate authority and dignity.

For this was where the great experts of Gale Light Academy convened for their meetings.

At this very moment, in the conference hall on the building’s fifth floor, numerous experts with extraordinary auras were seated around a large, circular table.

"Everyone, I assume you are all aware of the situation. The deceased, Gale of the Profound Mystery Sect, was merely an ordinary elder there. However, he was also the one and only son of Crazy Battle. Therefore, I am certain Crazy Battle will absolutely not let this matter rest. I would like to hear your thoughts on this."

An elder at the head of the round table said calmly.

His aura was so dense it was almost tangible, and his every word and action exuded an inexplicable pressure.

The aura of every person seated below him was equally extraordinary.