Chapter 364: Shocked Xue Zhou
Chapter 364: Shocked Xue Zhou (Requesting Monthly Vote)
"He Yan, have you seen the news?"
"Zhen Hai is truly amazing. He's finally achieved his dream, becoming our Xia Kingdom's new Nine Realms Martial Artist."
"Northern River Sword King—that title suits him perfectly. He's spent his entire life fighting for Northern River."
"Back in the day, we were classmates. I was an S-Rank Genius, and he was an Sss-Rank Genius."
"I once challenged him, but he defeated me with a single sword strike."
"Such a massive gap!"
"Seventeen years have passed, and he's now broken through to the Ninth Realm, while I'm still stuck at the peak of the Seventh Realm." a leader sighed.
Others nodded. They'd all once been prodigies, but compared to true geniuses, they were light-years apart.
"While some Sss-Rank Geniuses do reach the Ninth Realm, the probability remains extremely low."
"Only Sss-Rank Geniuses can reliably ascend to the Ninth Realm."
A middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor spoke, his voice tinged with regret.
He was an Eighth-Stage Martial Artist who had already hit his limit. A Martial Artist's prime peaked at forty—if one hadn't reached the Ninth Realm by then, the chances vanished. At 42, he likely wouldn't advance beyond the Eighth Stage.
Dean Liu listened silently. He understood his own talent—Seventh Realm was his limit. Without extraordinary fortune, breaking through to the Eighth was impossible. As for the Ninth Realm? He didn't dare dream of it.
His current goal was to nurture Lin Qi properly. If the boy could one day reach the Ninth Realm, his own legacy would be fulfilled.
"There they are!"
Deputy Principal Xu Wenji looked skyward, stroking his beard.
The crowd fell silent, gazing upward.
"Boom!"
A red-and-white disc-shaped fighter jet carved a white trail across the sky. Its roaring engine grew louder until it hovered above the Crimson Vault Building.
"Whoosh!"
Gales whipped around them, flaring their clothes.
The aircraft descended slowly before coming to a halt.
"Buzz!"
The cockpit door hissed open. A tall figure stepped out, followed by others in diverse attire, their bodies radiating intense killing intent, as if fresh from the battlefield.
"Welcome back, Deans!" Xu Wenji called with a smile.
Ten figures emerged—the vice-deans and deans of Azure Firmament Martial Academy's nine colleges.
"Finally home! I feel like I can finally relax", boomed a burly man, one of the two strongest among them.
"Old Xue!"
"Old Liu!"
Dean Liu greeted Xue Zhou, the Sixth Institute's dean, with a wave.
Xue Zhou wore a blue robe, his posture erect, his demeanor as free-spirited as ever. After exchanging greetings with Dean Liu, he turned to a tall, handsome youth beside him.
"Chu Yu, since it's summer break, go home and rest for a month. Cultivating in the Otherworld must have been tough."
Chu Yu, looking barely twenty, stood nearly two meters tall, his features sharp and confident. Though his aura was the weakest among the ten, his youth made him an exception. He faced the crowd without flinching, his presence dazzling.
The burly man chuckled, "Chu Yu, your current strength is already impressive!"
"Cultivation requires balance. Take time to relax, and you might break through even faster."
Chu Yu nodded, smiling. "After so long in the Otherworld, I'm just one step from the Sixth Realm. It's time to rest. Who knows—maybe a month off will do the trick!"
Dean Liu and the rest couldn't help but marvel. Truly, an Sss-Rank Genius cultivated at an unbelievable pace.
Xu Wenji laughed heartily, "It's a relief everyone made it back safely. Rest well now!"
The group dispersed. Xue Zhou waved goodbye to Chu Yu until they departed in an electric carriage. Then, he and Dean Liu strolled quietly across campus.
Xue Zhou sighed, "Chu Yu truly lives up to being an Sss-Rank Genius. His progress is astounding."
"By next year's Global Martial Arts Championship, he'll sweep all competition. Who could rival him? Another Nine Realms Martial Artist in the making!"
Dean Liu nodded, "Indeed, an exceptional prodigy. Old Xue, tell me more about your trip to the Otherworld."
Xue Zhou inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh air before speaking.
"Ten of us, all Eighth-Stage peers, ventured into the Ruins. All were top-tier warriors with legendary battlefield reputations—our civilization's best."
"Yet only two succeeded in ascending to the Ninth Realm. The rest failed."
Dean Liu wasn't surprised. "The Ruins aren't like Blue Planet. If breakthroughs were easy, Nine Realms Martial Artists would be everywhere. At least this time was better than last—ten went, none returned!"
"Wait—who besides Northern River Sword King made it?" Dean Liu suddenly asked.
Xue Zhou paused, patting a nearby tree. "Lao Li."
"We took dozens to the Ruins. Lao Li and Lao Yu broke through. Others gained much, including me. But on our return—"
"Five Level 9 Disaster Beasts and dozens of Level 8s ambushed us. Thanks to Principal Wanren and the Blade Sovereign, we defeated them easily. Yet—"
"The Vermin Race ambushed us next. Lao Li was critically wounded. Yu Yi and others fell. The losses were catastrophic!"
"Though the Vermin were few, they struck with elite power. Despite two ascensions, we lost three Eighth-Stage and five Seventh Realm Martial Artists."
Xue Zhou's face darkened.
Dean Liu's eyes burned with vengeance. "They deserve annihilation!"
Xue Zhou resumed walking. "The Vermin didn't expect two ascensions. They suffered heavily too. But they've hidden too deep—we couldn't eradicate them."
He gazed at the sun. "Old Liu, I'll head to the Ruins in two years for my own breakthrough."
Dean Liu's eyes widened. "Old Xue, you're aiming for the Ninth Realm?"
Xue Zhou smiled. "Don't look so shocked. As an SS-Rank Genius who mastered a Minor Divine Ability, it's natural."
"True. Every Ruins expedition sees Sss-Rank breakthroughs, but SS-Rank? Rare indeed."
Dean Liu nodded. While studies claimed a 50% SS-Rank success rate, reality showed far fewer. Only Sss-Ranks like Northern River Sword King and Lao Li succeeded.
Back at Azure Whale Mansion, Dean Liu brewed tea as Xue Zhou asked, "How's Lin Qi?"
"That kid won the National Freshman Competition!"
Dean Liu chuckled. "Old Xue, you missed much! Lin Qi's now the Global Freshman Champion."
Xue Zhou froze. "Global? You mean he beat Sss-Ranks from every nation?"
"Exactly!" Dean Liu poured tea.
Xue Zhou sat abruptly, astonished. National and Global—two words, worlds apart.
"He faced SS-Ranks—our civilization's cream of the crop—and still won as an Unawakened Genius?"
Dean Liu nodded. "I've told Principal—we'll nominate him as SS-Rank and find an Awakening Fruit to awaken his potential."
Xue Zhou stood, laughing uproariously. "Incredible! Who knew Lin Qi hid such talent?"
"An Unawakened sweeping all comers? A Global Champion? Today, I've truly seen everything!"
Dean Liu grinned inwardly. He'd stunned his old friend.
"Old Xue, I heard something about Awakening Fruit", Xue Zhou added.
"During our Ruins expedition, we collected heavenly treasures—three Awakening Fruits among them!"
Dean Liu stood, breath held. "I'll contact Principal now. One must go to Lin Qi."
Xue Zhou smiled. "With his talent, the academy will support him. But hurry—before rivals intercept it."
Dean Liu nodded. Awakening Fruit could drive men mad. Two fruits existed—rival factions might act recklessly for their children's futures.
He grabbed his phone, dialing Xu Wenji immediately.
(End of Chapter)
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