Titled Figures and the Beginning of Advancement

For Bai Zhou, a Level 3 Destined fighting four Level 4 anomalies was the perfect opportunity to validate what he had learned! Inspired by the Wolf Knight's Nine Basic Spears, Bai Zhou had adapted the Nine Basic Slashes into the Nine Basic Punches. Although the transitions between techniques were still slightly stiff and the power lacked the additional amplification of an extraordinary weapon... ...even on his first try, he was already unstoppable in this clash against Level 4s. The momentum of his punches flowed like a surging river, carrying an imposing, magnificent dominance that wielding a blade had never possessed. If Bai Zhou unleashing the Nine Basic Slashes with a blade was like heaven collapsing and earth splitting, an invincible sharpness, then his Nine Basic Punches now was like the overturning of heaven and earth, an overwhelming, torrential momentum. As the battle continued, Bai Zhou threw punches with ever-greater ease. The force of his fists grew more restrained and well-rounded, gradually losing the characteristics of a blade and embodying the essence of pure fist techniques. Mid-battle, he even grasped the martial philosophy that "a fist is like flowing water, yet its force can shatter rock," and "running water does not vie to be first, but strives to flow ceaseless and unending," multiplying the pressure on the four anomalies! —Such was a genius with a Fate Principle height of five feet four inches. "What... what astonishing lust!" Brown of Lust cried out in shock, shaken by the gleam in Bai Zhou's eyes. The unvarnished thirst for knowledge and pursuit of power in his gaze... was a lust even more uninhibited than lust itself! Lust had never been bound solely to primal sexuality—that had always been Brown of Lust's belief. He... Senior Zhou was the true Lust! Burn! Bloom! Unleash! The spirituality within Bai Zhou circulated unceasingly through his limbs and bones, faintly forming a self-contained loop, just like the Ouroboros Crow had once demonstrated to him. Tangled in combat with the four anomalies for so long, Bai Zhou was thoroughly immersed in the fight. The moment his full spirituality bloomed, it coalesced into a unified whole... "Almost... almost... very soon!" Boom! Boom, boom, boom! The figures of the five blurred into a chaotic melee, leaping and plunging like swooping falcons and darting hares, wind howling as crushed stone flew in all directions. The weeping, depressed trio widened their eyes. Through tear-blurred vision, they watched claw-gleams tearing in the distance, palm imprints howling, domains twisting, and swift footwork generating wind... In the end, all that dizzying chaos was completely pulverized by an overbearingly unreasonable fist imprint, as all the surging fog around them was forcefully churned into a whirlpool by that single strike. "So... so strong!" No one cared anymore whether these violent spectacles would attract other anomalies; they were trapped in place by the Pride Domain anyway. They could only stare in a daze. Their minds, already battered into abject inferiority by the Pride Domain, looked up at the layers of afterimages Bai Zhou left in midair and felt as though they were beholding a god. The occult world was far too dangerous; they would never come to the Reflected Ruin Realm again. Mom, I want to go home... "The abilities displayed by these four anomalies are already equivalent to first-rate secret arts and possess immense research value. They should be the manifestation of the campus's core internal rules." Inside the command vehicle, the secretary analyzed aloud while looking at the screen, a hint of confusion mingling with the fervent look in his eyes: "However, the fist technique displayed by the Anomalous Entity... I can't quite make sense of it yet." The gaunt man nodded. "Complex yet bearing simplicity. Unless one faces it head-on, the inner force is difficult to discern..." "Judging by his combat performance, his ability is far superior to the others. It is undoubtedly a top-tier secret art." "However—" The gaunt man frowned. "FZDC Headquarters does not lack top-tier secret arts, yet I can't help but feel that what the 'Anomalous Entity' is displaying isn't as simple as just a top-tier secret art..." "Could it be...?" The secretary's eyes widened. He didn't doubt his superior's discernment, but he doubted his own ears. A secret art even more powerful than a top-tier secret art? What on earth would that be?! "The outcome of this battle is already decided. The Number 9 trio will get to live on." The gaunt man kept his eyes fixed on the projection on the wall. Even their specialized cameras were struggling to track the movements of the five: "If there is an opportunity, during the subsequent all-out suppression campaign, we must capture this 'Anomalous Entity'—he possesses extremely high research value!" The secretary quickly nodded with a solemn expression. "Understood!" "...By the way, what about the matter I asked you to handle earlier?" Seeing the camera obscured by surging fog until only the five hazy silhouettes could be seen, the gaunt man finally tore his gaze away with regret and turned to question the secretary. "I was just about to report that to you." The secretary opened the dossier in his hands and lowered his head to read: "Headquarters has sent a reply. Reinforcements are en route. To prevent the situation from escalating further, three Titled Extraordinaries will be arriving from Headquarters. They happened to be in the Reflected Ruin Realm already." "—Their Excellencies Rusted Silver Knight, Emerald Flame, and Sword of Winter!" Three Level 6 Titled Extraordinaries! The gaunt man's heart shook. In his initial expectations, having just one arrive would be enough to hold down the fort. Who could have guessed that three would come all at once? Each was a battle-hardened figure who struck terror into the extraordinary world, their titles forged from the piled bones of countless anomalies and rogue Extraordinaries! This time, success was guaranteed! Nothing more needed to be said. From here on, they could launch an all-out assault however they pleased—they would win no matter what! Ever since arriving at this battlefield, this commander had been cautious and meticulous, exhausting his mental energies to coordinate the overall situation. Finally, he felt an unprecedented certainty of victory. "In addition..." The secretary's tone was exceptionally grave, hesitating slightly: "A deputy director from the neighboring Anomaly Investigation Bureau also happens to be nearby." "He heard about what happened here, took some interest, and plans to come take a look." "A dep... deputy director?" A sudden shiver ran down the gaunt man's spine. Backed by a towering patron higher up, boasting abundant resources, and bound by no taboos, the Anomaly Investigation Bureau was one of the official departments in Tinghai City that could least be trifled with. The bureau had four deputy directors in Tinghai, and legend had it that every one of them was a mysterious entity residing in an entirely new realm above Level 6 Titled. If the gaunt man's initial reaction upon hearing that Headquarters was sending three Titled figures had been sheer delight, then hearing that this deputy director was also interested made him catch the distinct scent of something out of the ordinary. The Anomaly Investigation Bureau was always the best informed. Could there be... something inside this school that he didn't know about yet? While the man was caught in suspicious speculation, someone knocked on the door of the command vehicle. "Commander, someone is here to see—" Before the soldier could finish, the door was pulled open with a whoosh. "Who is it?" Flanked by an entourage, a man stepped slowly into the vehicle. He wore a suit, his physique burly and imposing yet exuding an aristocratic air. "I hear Commander Han has run into a bit of trouble with his assault." The man spoke softly with a smile playing on his lips: "We just happened to be 'hunting' nearby. As a model organization with a long history of friendly cooperation with the authorities, how could the Zijing Group sit idly by upon hearing this news?" With that, he turned slightly aside, revealing the ranks of an armored 'army' lined up behind him: "All of these men will follow your command." "We're here to help you, Commander Han..." The man's words flowed pleasantly, seemingly benevolent, yet carried an imperious superiority that brooked no refusal. The gaunt man—Commander Han—looked at him, narrowing his eyes expressionlessly, though inwardly alarm bells rang. Though the group before him wore polite smiles, Commander Han's eyelid twitched incessantly. Zijing Group, Senior Manager, Deputy Head of the Security Department: Liu Yisheng! He commanded most of the Zijing Group's armed apparatus, a renowned figure across the whole of Tinghai, and his personal prowess as an Extraordinary was unfathomably deep. What was he here for? One never came to the temple without a reason. What could a school stuck in this obscure corner possibly offer to attract such a troublesome hyena? Commander Han couldn't fathom it. Right now, he only hoped the official heavyweights would arrive quickly—any one of them would do. Otherwise, he feared he wouldn't be able to keep this Manager Liu in check... The mist shrouding this school was already thick enough. Commander Han had thought he had gained some clarity through the Extraordinaries' cameras, but now he realized he had seen through nothing at all. He came with ill intent! A storm was brewing... ... Somewhere inside the school, winds howled and clouds roiled as flying sand and scattered stones filled the air. In the vortex of five figures leaping and clashing, Bai Zhou felt as if his body were a great furnace. Something was being smelted, and something else was on the verge of erupting. So Bai Zhou simply abandoned all evasion, letting the claw strikes and kicks land directly on him: "Weak! Soft! Useless! Useless, useless, useless!" "Your senior is trying so hard to beat you, yet you dare not to die?" "You're asking for a thrashing—!" Spouting twisted logic that left the four anomalies dumbfounded, Bai Zhou struck. Behind him, the faint, enlarged silhouette of the Exam King threw back its head and roared. Fist collided with kick. Red of Greed thought he had blocked Bai Zhou's punch and urgently barked an order for the others to coordinate their strikes. —Sure enough, everyone's limit of patience was roughly the same. Bai Zhou wanted to wrap up the battle, and the other side was preparing to combine forces for a comeback. "I caught it! Now—" Just as Red of Greed spoke, he realized something was wrong, his expression instantly changing. For the punching force against his foot hadn't dissipated in the slightest; instead, it suddenly erupted with boundless follow-through, wave after wave crashing forward like torrential breakers in relentless succession. At this moment, Red of Greed felt like a pebble caught in rushing rapids, its sharp edges smoothed away while it was swept helplessly downstream, entirely losing control of itself amidst the infinite surges of force. How could the other three know that Red of Greed was already on the verge of collapse? Believing that Red of Greed had truly pinned down one of this rock-fisted mystery senior's hands, they couldn't help cheering in unison. "Nicely done, President! You didn't disgrace the student council!" With a fierce cry, the Claws of Lust struck first, lunging straight for Bai Zhou's heart. If this claw strike landed cleanly, not to mention flesh and blood, even gates of diamond and forged steel would be torn apart like flimsy paper. Yet Bai Zhou once again ignored the Pride Domain that Blue of Pride was desperately unleashing. Moving with fluid grace, his fists worked in tandem as his left punch shot out like a cannonball leaving the barrel. "Dammit, there's no such thing as an inferiority complex in this guy's heart—he doesn't have a heart at all!" Beaten black and blue, Blue of Pride cursed and swore, completely losing his temper. An ability that had never failed in the past had yielded zero effect throughout this entire battle, nearly making him suspect that his power was broken. Yet looking over at the trio of depressed explorers weeping louder and louder, Blue of Pride knew the issue didn't lie with his ability, but with this senior... His fists were rock-hard, but his heart was even harder! Facing the punch from Bai Zhou's other hand, Brown of Lust didn't sense any danger at first. After all, no one could divide their mind two ways. Whether it was an anomaly's ability or a human's secret art, once a set of techniques was unleashed, how could one possibly execute another simultaneously? Though both left and right were fists, with someone in front bearing the brunt of the pressure, Brown of Lust assumed he was merely facing a bluffed "ordinary punch." Hit someone else, and you can't hit me as hard—or so the reasoning went. However, when he truly met Bai Zhou's left fist face-to-face, Brown of Lust's expression changed. At first, he felt only a gentle breeze brushing against his face. But the wind swelled rapidly, growing from a breeze to a gale, and then erupting into a violent tornado. The powerful hurricane blew Brown of Lust's brown bangs straight upward, choking off his breath and distorting his cheeks and lips. The senior's punch force came at me? Then what the hell was the president dealing with?! Didn't he say 'now'?! Now is the time to wipe us all out?! The president screwed us over! The fist wind whipped furiously, contorting Brown of Lust's facial features. Can't take it, can't take it, can't take it, can't take it—! Though his mind screamed frantically, his physical momentum couldn't be halted. Like a wooden skiff colliding with a full-steam ocean liner, fingernails snapped, hand bones shattered, desires were extinguished, and he was utterly demolished in an instant. Brown of Lust's face caved inward, a distinct fist imprint stamped into it as he was violently sent flying. Yet someone flew out even faster than him. Like a tossed rag doll, with one leg dangling limply in the air, Red of Greed was hurled away ahead of him. Both were embedded simultaneously into the ground. The surging force clinging to them had not yet dissipated, driving them deeper and deeper into the earth. "...Miscalculation. Threat level requires reassessment." Red of Greed's eyes flickered uncertainly until the light within them vanished entirely. "...Never mind. No need to reassess." Leaving behind a final murmur, Red of Greed perished. Beside him, similarly lodged at the bottom of the crater, Brown of Lust was filled with gloom and indignation. Bitter and resentful to the very end, he cursed through gritted teeth: "Red of Greed, you lied to us!" "It's all your fault..." The will of the two vanished. The two mangled bodies embedded in the ground were swept away by the mist and disappeared, as if dissolving into the flowing grey haze. But right at that moment— The school uniform on Bai Zhou vibrated violently, suddenly generating a powerful suction that drew in the nearby grey mist, as if fighting the mist for the spoils! At that moment, sensing something, Bai Zhou channeled a wisp of spirituality into the uniform, and his vision immediately shifted. He saw two translucent threads in midair, one brown and one red, resisting the uniform's pull yet forced to drift slowly toward him. If you won't come to me, can't I just walk over to you? Muttering a quip in his mind, Bai Zhou strode forward, broke into a brilliant grin, and reached out to grasp the two translucent threads. A firm grip! Refined in an instant! Surging emotions immediately erupted in Bai Zhou's heart, laden with all manner of desires. Want, want, want, want... I want everything! Desire, desire, desire, desire—what is your obsession?! Greed! Lust! Endless wanton fantasies and ceaseless auditory hallucinations interrogated Bai Zhou's mind. Yet at the same time, nutrients were absorbed into Bai Zhou's Fate Principle and soul. It was difficult to describe that subtle sensation; it seemed to be a certain emotion existing within the school, a certain foundational rule. Of greed. Of lust. The next moment, these things sprouted like seeds. Red of Greed and Brown of Lust seemed to be reborn inside Bai Zhou's body. Everything transpired in a flash: they were born, developed, matured, and then... then Bai Zhou devoured them in a single gulp! What was it like to devour two newborn Level 4 anomalies? Surging spirituality exploded inside Bai Zhou, like parched land meeting a breached dam of torrential floodwaters. Spirituality distinctly different from his own poured in massive waves into his limbs and bones. That was the spirituality of Level 4 anomalies after their elevation, fundamentally different from Bai Zhou's spirituality as a Level 3 Extraordinary. Using Bai Zhou's body as the battlefield, the two forms of spirituality clashed and blended! In the process, Bai Zhou gradually grasped the profundity of Level 4. And so, before the eyes of the Number 9 trio, the grey mist around Bai Zhou trembled aberrantly, forming a vortex that swirled about him in a magnificent spectacle. "He... what's happening to the senior?" Number 31 muttered under his breath, the tear stains on the burly muscular man's face still wet. Where they could not see, the spirituality active around Bai Zhou was boiling violently, gradually showing a trend of homogenizing and merging with the spirituality within his body. The advancement toward Level 4 Adventurer— ...had begun.