The moment the unstable energy erupted from Huang Ming's body, the atmosphere throughout Training Sector Three changed completely. A violent wave of distorted spiritual pressure spread outward across Platform Seven while the air surrounding Huang rippled unnaturally, almost as though space itself had briefly become unstable. Loose fragments of metal scattered across the platform began trembling violently while nearby students instinctively stepped backward after sensing the chaotic fluctuations spreading through the arena.
Rex Hao's reinforced fist stopped only inches away from Huang's chest.
Not because Rex wanted to stop—
But because instinct screamed at him to retreat immediately.
Rex forcefully pushed himself backward, sliding several meters across the platform while staring toward Huang with widened eyes. The confidence from earlier had finally disappeared from his expression.
"What… is that?" Rex muttered quietly.
The surrounding crowd immediately erupted into confusion.
"That pressure feels wrong…"
"Is that spiritual energy?"
"No… it feels unstable…"
Unlike normal cultivation energy, the fluctuations surrounding Huang didn't feel balanced or controlled. Instead, it felt as though countless incompatible energies were colliding violently together inside his body at the same time. Even the floating holographic systems monitoring the evaluation began flickering slightly from the abnormal disturbance spreading throughout the platform.
Far above the arena inside the floating observation room, various instructors immediately stood up after seeing the sudden spike in Huang's readings.
"The energy output increased drastically!"
"That fluctuation pattern is becoming unstable!"
"Is his body collapsing?"
One instructor quickly scanned the holographic information appearing beside Huang's combat profile before his expression changed slightly.
"… No."
The older instructor beside him narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean, no?"
The instructor continued staring silently at the readings for countless more seconds before finally answering.
"His body isn't collapsing."
A brief pause followed.
"It's adapting."
Those words immediately caused the entire observation room to become silent.
Meanwhile, on the platform below, Huang himself looked equally confused by what was happening around him. Chaotic energy surged violently throughout his meridians while an intense burning sensation spread through nearly every part of his body. It felt as though his internal energy pathways were being forcibly torn apart and reconstructed at the same time.
"… Why does it feel like my organs are trying to fight each other? Huang muttered painfully while clutching his chest slightly.
Inside his mind, Lyra's calm voice echoed clearly despite the chaos surrounding him.
"Your body has entered accelerated adaptation."
"… That sounds dangerous."
"Correct."
Huang nearly collapsed emotionally.
"… Can you say literally anything comforting?"
"Survival probability remains above forty percent."
"...THAT ISN'T COMFORTING!"
Numerous nearby students nearly laughed after hearing Huang yelling at seemingly nobody while standing inside a storm of unstable spiritual energy.
But Rex Hao wasn't laughing anymore.
For the first time since the match began—
He looked cautious.
The unstable pressure surrounding Huang felt deeply wrong. It wasn't overwhelming in the normal sense. It simply ignored the natural balance that spiritual energy was supposed to follow.
Nearby, Kael Riven continued silently observing the platform with narrowed eyes. Unlike most students, Kael wasn't focused on the chaotic energy itself.
He was focused on the pattern behind it.
And the longer he watched—
The more impossible it became.
"… "Impossible," Kael muttered quietly.
Numerous nearby students immediately looked toward him in shock because hearing someone like Kael react emotionally at all was extremely unusual.
Not far away, Luna Ling's calm expression had also changed slightly. Her violet-colored eyes focused carefully on Huang while faint surprise appeared within her gaze for the first time since the evaluation began.
Instructor Zhao Ren suddenly stepped closer toward the edge of the combat platform.
"Huang Ming."
His voice echoed sharply throughout the arena.
"Can you still continue the match?"
Huang immediately turned toward the instructor while unstable energy continued flickering around his body.
"… Honestly?" Huang answered while breathing heavily. "I genuinely have no idea."
Many students laughed nervously.
Even Zhao Ren's expression twitched slightly.
The instructor remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"If your condition becomes unstable, this evaluation ends immediately."
Huang nodded quickly.
"Trust me, I also don't want to explode."
Meanwhile, Rex Hao slowly tightened his fists again while dense spiritual energy surged around his body. Despite the caution in his eyes, pride remained.
"I don't mind what strange ability you awakened," Rex said coldly while spiritual energy condensed around both of his arms. "You're still weaker than me."
"… That's honestly fair."
"But this match ends now."
The pressure surrounding Rex immediately intensified again as body-strengthening energy surged violently through his muscles. Unlike before, he no longer intended to test Huang casually.
He planned to overpower him completely.
Numerous nearby students immediately became tense after feeling the increase in pressure radiating from Rex's body.
"He's serious now…"
"That pressure is insane…"
Rex suddenly rushed forward once more.
This time faster than ever before.
The metallic platform beneath his feet shattered from the force of his acceleration while reinforced punches exploded toward Huang repeatedly with terrifying speed. Every strike carried enough force to seriously injure an ordinary first-year student.
But something had changed.
For Huang—
The world suddenly felt clearer than ever before.
Not slower.
Sharper.
Every movement Rex made became easier to understand. Huang could see the flow of spiritual energy through Rex's muscles, the slight shifts in balance before each attack, and even the exact timing behind every strike.
Instinctively, Huang moved.
One punch was missed.
Then another.
Then another.
The crowd stared in complete shock.
Because Huang Ming—
The weakest-ranked student in Ling High School—
Was now completely keeping up with Rex Hao's attacks.
Rex's expression slowly changed from confidence to disbelief.
"How are you doing this?!"
"I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW!"
Huang barely avoided another punch before stumbling awkwardly sideways. Despite his improved reactions, his movements still lacked refinement and proper technique. He wasn't fighting skillfully.
His body was simply adapting faster and faster under pressure.
Far above the arena, the observing instructors quickly realized the same thing.
"He's learning during combat…"
"No…"
The older instructor stared silently toward the platform below.
"… His body is evolving during combat."
Those words immediately caused the entire observation room to become silent once again.
Because such a thing should have been impossible.