Translator: CinderTL
"Ah!"
The black-robed elder's eyes widened in a silent scream as his hands fell limply to his sides.
His upper body slowly crashed to the ground, black, foul-smelling blood gushing out like a fountain.
Within seconds, he lay motionless, his life force rapidly draining away.
Jiang Ye's kick had not only shattered the elder's waist but also unleashed a terrifying surge of stellar energy that pulverized every organ in his body.
He was dead beyond any hope of revival.
The entire arena fell into stunned silence.
"This...?"
"How is this possible?" The remaining black-robed members of the Hidden God Organization stood frozen in disbelief.
The elder had been their strongest fighter.
Yet this young man had obliterated him with a single kick?
A one-hit kill?
"Is that Jiang Ye?" A flicker of horror flashed through Xia Qing's eyes.
Though it seemed to unfold in slow motion, the entire sequence had occurred in an instant.
To ensure a swift and decisive kill, Jiang Ye had unleashed his most devastating strike in the shortest possible time, channeling over a thousand strands of stellar energy into a single, explosive blow.
This was utterly unbelievable.
Even after refining, cosmic energy remained remarkably volatile.
Before reaching the first breakthrough, one could only channel it in thin strands.
After the first breakthrough, one's life essence underwent a profound transformation, allowing for the simultaneous channeling of over a hundred strands of stellar energy.
But to channel a thousand strands at once? That was simply absurd!
Jiang Ye had taken a tremendous risk; his toes had nearly burst under the strain.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, Jiang Ye moved like a phantom, hurtling toward the black-clad figures.
The effects of Swiftwind Step had yet to dissipate!
"Attack him together!"
"Kill him!" The remaining black-clad figures finally reacted, their fury erupting.
All of them were first breakthrough experts, though not as formidable as the elder they had lost, they were still formidable warriors.
With over a dozen of them surrounding a single opponent, their advantage remained overwhelming!
Meanwhile, Xia Qing abandoned her arrogance.
Whoosh! A crimson beam of light shot forth, piercing toward Jiang Ye.
It was unmistakably a star weapon!
Wielding the crimson short sword, Xia Qing closed the distance in an instant, slashing her blade toward Jiang Ye.
"Perfect timing!" Jiang Ye easily dodged the attack and retaliated with a powerful kick.
Boom!
The man and woman clashed violently.
Jiang Ye's kick sent Xia Qing flying.
Xia Qing had clearly only just achieved her first breakthrough.
His prolonged struggle with her earlier had been entirely for show, designed to trigger the "Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger" effect.
Now that Jiang Ye had unleashed his full power, Xia Qing stood no chance.
"The 'Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger' effect didn't activate," Jiang Ye frowned slightly.
Had that kick triggered the 150% critical damage bonus from the effect, it would have killed Xia Qing outright, not just sent her flying.
"It seems this 'Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger' technique truly is an instantaneous effect," Jiang Ye mused. "It only works when the opponent underestimates me."
His thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, but his movements didn't falter for a moment.
Boom!
Boom! Bang!
Starlight shimmered as Jiang Ye transformed into a silver lightning bolt, darting through the crowd.
Even without the "Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger" bonus, Jiang Ye's full-power eruption posed a significant threat to those who had only just achieved their first breakthrough.
After all, he possessed the Cosmic Secret Art.
If the Eight Trigrams Thunderclap Fist utilized only 10% of stellar energy, the Cosmic Secret Art could harness up to 50%.
Moreover, Jiang Ye's Nine Luminaries Star-Treading was an earth-rank Cosmic Secret Art, capable of terrifyingly efficient cosmic energy extraction.
Boom! Boom!
In just one minute, Jiang Ye had blasted apart the bodies of another seven or eight black-clad figures.
"He..." Xia Qing collapsed against a wall, her face etched with shock. "He wasn't this ferocious before!"
A massive, bloody hole had been kicked into her abdomen.
But instead of red blood, a viscous, pitch-black liquid oozed from the wound.
"Escape!" Xia Qing surged to her feet and darted deeper into the underground space.
"Move!"
Seeing Xia Qing flee, the remaining black-clad figures dared not continue fighting Jiang Ye. They dissolved into shadows and vanished into the darkness.
"They're all gone?" Jiang Ye didn't pursue them.
His Swiftwind Step and Foot Dao Is Also Dao—both powerful techniques—were currently on cooldown.
Moreover, the three Shadow Clan members from earlier were also in this underground space.
Jiang Ye had no idea how many more enemies lurked in the depths.
"I need to rest first," he said, sitting down cross-legged.
The relentless fighting had already drained a third of the hundred thousand strands of stellar energy in his Guanyuan Acupoint. His entire being felt faintly weary. If he continued fighting at this pace, he wouldn't be able to maintain his full strength.
Boom!
Just then, a violent explosion echoed from behind.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of air being torn apart filled the cavern.
Jiang Ye turned to look. "Reinforcements from the outside world have finally arrived?"
With the wristband, he had guessed that the outside world could monitor his situation. But he hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly, especially considering Ancheng was currently facing a severe shortage of manpower.
Swoosh!
Soon, several familiar figures appeared.
"Jiang Ye!" Su Tong'er called out, gliding in with Yun Qing'er.
Lin Qingwei, Xu Haoran, and the others swiftly entered the underground ruins as well.
A group of strong individuals in police uniforms, each radiating a powerful Martial Dao Aura, rushed into the ruins.
"What's this?"
"So many corpses."
"Did he kill them all?" The crowd was shocked by the sight of the black-clad figures who had been blasted apart.
The bodies on the ground showed no signs of life force, making it impossible to determine their cultivation realms. However, it was clear that all of them had reached at least the first breakthrough stage.
"Jiang Ye," Su Tong'er approached him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Jiang Ye replied, shaking his head.
"Alright," Su Tong'er sighed.
"..."
Wait, what's with that look of disappointment on your face?!
Jiang Ye's eye twitched.
But he didn't have time to deal with the little witch right now.
He turned to the police officers and said, "There are still many Hidden God Organization members deeper in this underground space, as well as at least three Shadow Clan Juveniles. I'll leave it to you."
"Understood!"
The captain of the police team saluted Jiang Ye before leading his squad forward.
They had brought over twenty officers this time, each at the peak of the first breakthrough stage—a formidable force.
Their mission was to eradicate this hideout completely.
After they departed, Lin Qingwei, standing nearby, turned to Jiang Ye with a smile. "I'm Lin Qingwei. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Liu Shanhai," the short, refined young man said politely.
Xu Haoran also smiled at Jiang Ye. "Jiang Ye, I've applied to Penglai University too. See you there!"
The trio's attitudes had completely shifted. Jiang Ye's demonstrated strength had earned their respect, forcing them to abandon their earlier condescension.
"Alright," Jiang Ye nodded to each of them.
Lin Qingwei said nothing more, leading the others deeper into the forest.
"Jiang Ye, want to team up with us?" Su Tong'er tilted her head, gazing at Jiang Ye, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground. "This young lady will protect you, you know."
"No need," Jiang Ye replied, shaking his head. "I prefer working alone."
Su Tong'er's adorable face fell, and she huffed coldly.
"Hmph!"
She lifted her white-stockinged leg and gave Jiang Ye a light kick before turning to dart deeper into the forest with Yun Qing'er.
"That witch..." Jiang Ye stared at the shoe print on his thigh, speechless.
He shook his head, unbothered.
"Battle results," Jiang Ye glanced at the projection on his wristband.
Killed eight members of the Hidden God Organization. Reserve Star Practitioner Level Experience +160
"Star Profession Level Experience increased by 160?" Jiang Ye murmured, staring at the projection.
He didn't know the maximum level for this Star Profession Level Experience.
But judging by the recent slaughter, the gains were substantial.
Combined with the Shadow Clan he'd already killed, it might actually be possible to reach third-tier during this mission!
"The benefits for a Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner are far more generous than those for second-tier," Jiang Ye muttered to himself.
Whoosh!
He abruptly rose and darted deeper into the shadows.
After a brief period of meditation, Jiang Ye had fully recovered to his peak condition.
He couldn't afford to let any of the remaining Hidden God Organization members escape. Every kill would yield a significant amount of experience.
As Jiang Ye resumed his hunt, chaos erupted in the observation hall of the Qingyang City Unified Examination Bureau.
"What just happened?"
"Jiang Ye's strength is incredible!"
"His College Entrance Examination score was only 895? He one-shotted an opponent who was nearly at the peak of the first breakthrough?" The Unified Examination Bureau's top officials stared at the large screen in utter shock.
Lin Qingwei, Su Tong'er, and the others hadn't witnessed the earlier battle.
But these officials had seen it firsthand.
The black-robed elder's strength was clearly approaching the peak of the first breakthrough.
Yet Jiang Ye had instantly defeated him with a single leg whip!
If Lin Qingwei or Su Tong'er had accomplished such a feat, they wouldn't have been surprised.
But Jiang Ye, with a mere 895 points, was still far from achieving his first breakthrough.
How could he possess such combat prowess?
"This kid... has he been hiding his true strength all along?" Director Li murmured, genuinely astonished. This was the first time Jiang Ye had truly surprised him.
Jiang Ye's previous performances, though impressive, had remained within the realm of comprehension.
But this? This defied explanation.
"Xiao Tang," Director Li turned to the fiery woman in the qipao beside him. "You've had the most contact with Jiang Ye. Does he have any secrets?"
"Well..." Tang Huochang shook her head helplessly. "I'm not entirely sure either."
"Aside from our weekly training sessions, he rarely seeks me out."
"Hmm." Director Li fell silent.
Geniuses always harbor hidden secrets—it's perfectly normal.
"This kid's ability to surpass his level is already on par with those with Dao Bone Aptitude, like Yun Qing'er and Xu Haoran," Director Li observed, watching the screen. "Once he enters Penglai University, he might actually make a name for himself in that gathering of prodigies."
"He definitely will."
"I believe in him too," Tang Huochang said, her bright eyes fixed on the screen, a hint of anticipation in their depths.
As Jiang Ye's Reserve Star Practitioner mentor, their relationship wasn't particularly close, but she genuinely liked the handsome young man.
"Director Li," Tang Huochang whispered, "after this mission, should we consider upgrading his benefits?"
Director Li smiled at her. "Let's see how things go over the next few days. We'll discuss it after the mission concludes."
"Understood," Tang Huochang replied, her expression betraying a hint of nervousness.
She had never mentored a second-tier Reserve Star Practitioner before.
If Jiang Ye succeeded, it would be a personal honor for her as well.
Deep within the underground ruins, Jiang Ye moved like a shadow, skimming along the ground as he advanced.
Along the way, he encountered the corpses of black-clad figures.
He had already counted over a dozen bodies!
"So many?" Jiang Ye thought, inwardly relieved. "Good thing I didn't pursue them earlier."
Had he recklessly charged deeper in his previous state, he might not have fared so well.
But now?
Faced with a formidable force of over twenty peak first breakthrough experts, along with Lin Qingwei, Su Tong'er, and others, the Hidden God Organization's hideout crumbled without resistance.
"Faster!" Jiang Ye's figure moved like lightning.
If he didn't reach the battlefield soon, he wouldn't even get to lick the soup bowl clean.
Boom!
Boom! Bang!
Finally, the sounds of intense combat erupted ahead.
Jiang Ye's eyes lit up. With a flicker of movement, he crossed over ten meters in an instant.
Ahead lay a wide-open clearing where dozens of black-clad figures clashed fiercely with Lin Qingwei, Su Tong'er, and their allies.
In addition to the human combatants, over a dozen Shadow Clan Juveniles swarmed the battlefield.
"All of you deserve to die," Jiang Ye's gaze turned icy, silver starlight shimmering around his legs.
Whoosh!
With a flash of starlight, he transformed into a bolt of lightning, hurtling toward the fray.
The battle erupted anew!
Fifteen minutes later.
The fierce battle was drawing to a close.
The ground was littered with the corpses of black-clad figures.
Thud!
Jiang Ye crushed the chest of the last black-clad fighter with his foot and looked up.
The surrounding combat had ended.
Everyone present had sustained minor injuries, but none were serious.
"It's finally over," many officers sighed in relief.
This operation had concluded without any casualties.
For them, this was the best possible outcome.
Jiang Ye, however, frowned slightly and quickly spoke up, "Several escaped, including one they called 'young mistress.'"
He hadn't seen Xia Qing among those captured.
Nearby, the police captain overheard him and immediately approached.
"Hello, student," the captain said with a serious expression. "Are you certain there was someone among them referred to as 'young mistress'?"
"Confirmed," Jiang Ye replied, briefly describing the earlier battle.
The captain's face grew grave.
"These people's motives are more complex than we thought," he said grimly.
Jiang Ye's expression shifted, and he couldn't help but ask, "Is there something special about this 'young mistress' of the Hidden God Organization?"
"They have significant backing," the captain replied solemnly. "Are you familiar with shell-seizing?"
Jiang Ye nodded. "I know a little about it."
Chen Zilu had explained the concept to him long ago.
"There are many theories surrounding the Hidden God Organization's shell-seizing technique," the captain continued.
"Our police believe," the captain said gravely, "that they transform human bodies into vessels for the Shadow Clan, then merge them with Shadow Clan consciousness."
"Those referred to as 'young master' or 'young mistress' are said to be the shells seized by young or even adult Shadow Clan members."
"Once the shell-seizing ritual succeeds, they can blend seamlessly into human society."
The captain's expression turned grim. "These individuals pose an immense threat and can rapidly advance to the third or even fourth breakthrough stage."
Jiang Ye's heart sank.
He couldn't help but recall Xia Qing's plain yet enduringly beautiful face.
He had long suspected that Xia Qing was no longer the person he once knew.
But now, hearing the police captain's words, he realized the cruelty behind the shell-seizing ritual likely far exceeded his imagination.
"The appearance of the Hidden God Organization's young mistress must serve some sinister purpose," the captain said gravely. "We must capture her before she reaches adulthood, or the consequences will be unimaginable."
"We'll head back now, student. Thank you for the information!"
With that, the captain led his team away in haste.
"Sinister purpose?" Jiang Ye murmured, recalling the captain's final words.
He shook his head.
These matters were beyond his reach.
"How much experience did I gain?" Jiang Ye asked himself, his eyes lighting up with anticipation as he activated his wristband's projection.
In an instant, his Star Profession Level Experience, including combat rewards, appeared before him.
(End of the Chapter)
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