Chapter Seventy-One: Unstoppable Advance, Comprehending Space

As Qin Zhiyan’s scores soared straight to the top of the city’s rankings, both Teacher Chen and the principal reached the same realization: “She must have ventured into the World Secret Realm; otherwise, it would be impossible to improve so dramatically in such a short time. This must also be the reason why the two city lords have come. It has to be.”

“The progress is too fast. In no time, she’s already cleared the first level, and in the second, her score shot up rapidly—now she’s earned over seven hundred points. What does this mean? It means she’s bulldozing her way through!” Teacher Chen marveled, trembling with excitement.

Such a student—she knew all too well what this meant.

The first level of the Sky Tower was worth a total of one hundred points; the second, one thousand; the third, ten thousand, and so on. In just this short span, Qin Zhiyan had already reached over a thousand.

At this moment, everyone was tense.

“One thousand one! One thousand one! Go for one thousand one!” Teacher Chen clenched her fists tightly.

As she wished, Qin Zhiyan’s score climbed to one thousand one hundred.

One hundred for the first level, one thousand for the second.

The first two levels, passed perfectly.

“She didn’t even pause to rest and went straight to the third level. This girl—she’s a bit reckless!” The principal was both delighted and anxious.

Because Qin Zhiyan’s score was still climbing.

Elder Tang and City Lord Song watched the screen with great interest, quietly conversing, though no one else could hear them.

“Old Song, this year our city’s performance is truly outstanding. Two geniuses in a row! First Jiang Ming, dazzling and brilliant; now Qin Zhiyan, both bringing out the powers gained from the Secret Realm World. The Secret Realm World is fraught with difficulties and dangers; for students just entering, even surviving is a miracle, and most end in failure. I never expected both of them to succeed, and what’s more, from the same class—how interesting!”

“Haha, Old Tang, this only means our Pingyang City is about to rise. But why is that boy Jiang Ming so slow?”

“He’s probably adapting! No rush, no rush. Early speed doesn’t decide anything. That Qin girl is bold and full of drive. Hey, Jiang Ming’s score is rising rapidly now—he’s reached the second level, his score jumping by hundreds at a time.”

“So fast, with almost no pause, he’s entered the third level with full marks. Look, his score has surpassed Qin’s and he’s already in the Federal top hundred.”

“In this preliminary stage, he has the potential to contend for the top of the Federation. Let’s wait and see how far he can go.”

They weren’t the only ones to notice.

Teacher Chen and the principal also realized Jiang Ming’s abnormal scoring and gaped in astonishment.

“Jiang Ming? Teacher Chen, I remember you said a few days ago that there was a student in your class who broke through to the second level of martial cultivation. Wasn’t that Jiang Ming? How did he get into the third level so quickly, even surpassing Qin? Could it be…” The principal, stunned, broke into a wide grin and then burst into wild joy.

This was political achievement—immense political achievement.

“I—I don’t know either!” Teacher Chen was dumbfounded.

She knew the situation of these two students all too well.

Qin Zhiyan was a genius, no question, but compared to the entire province, or the Federation, she wasn’t especially dazzling. Still, it made sense that she could clear the Secret Realm World with such good results.

But Jiang Ming?

He had always been utterly unremarkable—truly ordinary—but suddenly broke out all at once.

He had broken through to the second stage of martial arts in a short time.

Even that alone was impressive.

But now, he was advancing so fiercely? And even surpassed Qin?

“He must also have entered the Secret Realm World, but with his background, just making it out alive would be a miracle, let alone achieving such terrifying results?”

Teacher Chen understood all too well how fearsome the Secret Realm World was.

Though it was filled with opportunities, it could elevate people overnight. But for students lacking combat experience or proper training, it was no different than a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den.

At this moment, the entire school was in an uproar.

Because two students had broken straight into the province’s top ten and the Federation’s top hundred.

And one of them was still climbing rapidly in rank.

“Who’s Jiang Ming? Does anyone know? Does our school have such a powerhouse? If there were, he’d already be a star, so how could he be so unknown? Impossible, absolutely impossible!”

“He’s in our class! Just a few days ago, he managed to cultivate true qi for the first time, and now he’s reached the third level—the score is over six thousand and still rising fast. That’s at least the peak of martial arts third level! How could that be?”

The few students from Class Four who hadn’t participated in the martial exam, as well as those who had already logged out from the virtual battle network or had simply taken the strength assessment, were all thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, Pingyang City was erupting with cheers.

Having their own students achieve such feats was a source of immense pride.

After today, Pingyang City’s reputation would undoubtedly skyrocket.

Restaurants, squares—everywhere, people were glued to the screens. Some even shouted, “Faster, faster, go even faster for me!”

“The way the points are skyrocketing—it’s just too exciting to watch!”

Emotions surged like a tide.

In the virtual battle network, inside the Sky Tower.

Jiang Ming’s pace was accelerating.

In the second level, the first challenge was a pack of wolves—he wiped them out with a sweep of sword energy. The second challenge was a mountain stronghold—gone in a snap.

The final opponent was a formidable fighter at the peak of the second martial stage, wielding lethal moves, but still no match for him.

The third level’s first challenge took place in a forest, where not only wolves attacked but also tigers, leopards, and other ferocious beasts on par with martial artists.

The second challenge involved three mountain bandit chiefs—Jiang Ming dispatched them with three swift sword strikes.

The final challenge awaited.

“He’s begun to grasp the concept of intent!”

Jiang Ming paused.

Ahead, there was only one person, emanating an extraordinarily sharp sword intent.

He stood at the entrance to the stone bridge, dressed in white, elegant and composed.

“Make your move!”

The figure actually spoke, startling Jiang Ming, who couldn’t help but ask, “Are you an outsider who entered here too?”

There was no response. The opponent’s aura only grew stronger.

Swish—

In the next instant, a sword thrust forward, carrying a swirling gale, dozens of sword energies converging, slicing through the air and enveloping the area, leaving no room to escape.

Jiang Ming lifted a finger, breaking through the opponent’s sword; the force of his finger penetrated the body, ending all life instantly.

It was the Star Pointing Finger.

“An excellent technique!” The young man uttered these words before collapsing in death.

“Was that a real person joining the trial, or just a virtual presence?”

Jiang Ming was puzzled, but without hesitation, stepped across the stone bridge and entered the fourth level.

“Just now, I used the shifting stars…”

He raised his hand and gently stirred the air, creating faint ripples.

“The spatial intent—I’ve mastered it!”

Jiang Ming couldn’t help but smile.

He had felt inklings of it several times before; with experience, each time he ascended to a higher level, he immersed himself in the art of shifting stars.

This was the very mystery of space itself. Even in the virtual battle network, it didn’t hinder his comprehension.

Now, he had finally succeeded.

“Reaching the fourth stage of martial arts, I’ve now mastered the power of intent!”

As Jiang Ming pondered this, he looked up—and couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.