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On the massive arena, Su Mo stood quietly, the Yue-Breaking Fang Tian Halberd dragging on the ground.
Killmatt was long gone from the stage, but the once-circular platform now looked like a mooncake with a chunk sliced off.
1,016 strength, 1,000 speed and physique, 1,000% crit chance, Level 3 [Mountain Collapse, Earth Shatter]—stats so insane they'd blown past the arena's limits.
Silence gripped the stage and the stands—hell, everyone watching TVs nationwide, worldwide even, went dead quiet at the sight.
Only the host up on the platform kept yammering into the camera with exaggerated gasps.
"Oh my God, folks, look at this—Red-Haired Killmatt charges in, Su Mo moves, he unleashes his skill—Killmatt's done for!"
From Su Mo's back-to-back one-shots earlier, they'd already pegged him as strong.
But Killmatt's flashy display before proved he wasn't weak either.
Everyone expected a slugfest—or at least something that wouldn't end in a blink.
Yet Su Mo's move blindsided them again—shocked them silly, jaws dropping five pounds, ten pounds worth!
Not just a one-shot—he smashed the arena to bits with one skill.
This wasn't some flimsy setup—these platforms were rune-reinforced. Sure, exam-grade, not top-tier materials or runes,
but a regular Silver-rank breaking it? Damn near impossible.
And Su Mo? Level 9, not even Bronze, with one skill…
Who here could tank that?
After a long hush, someone finally croaked out, trembling:
"The arena—it's smashed!"
"How's that possible?"
"What kinda skill is that—such insane power!"
"And it's an area attack!"
…
Su Mo stood tall, pointing the halberd at the crowd below. "Who's next?!"
Dead silence followed.
Facing that terrifying weapon, anyone it pointed at stumbled back.
"I don't buy it—a skill that crazy, how many times can you use it?!"
A figure hopped up, words barely out before another earth-shaking blast hit.
[Boom!]
Dust cleared—arena split again.
"Viewers, another brave soul challenges our Arena 1 guardian, Su Mo!
Can he pull off that monstrous skill again? Let's see—look, the challenger's up—he's gone! Arena's wrecked again!"
Maybe the damage was too much—even the proctors couldn't take it.
A golden flash lit Su Mo's feet, and the shattered arena snapped back to pristine shape.
Runes around it flared gold nonstop.
They'd upgraded it to Gold-rank—built to handle Gold-level fights now.
Seeing that, the crowd sank back into silence.
"After Su Mo's crushed four challengers in a row, we've fully upgraded the arena to withstand Gold-rank battles! Anyone still up for Arena 1?
Eight hours from now, whoever's left standing there's this year's top scorer—and the Blood Slaughter God Tu Hongwu's disciple!
It's been 30 years since a God-rank last took an apprentice—who'll be this year's lucky one?
Oh, look! Another challenger—Pretty Nation mage—he's up, and he's down!
Cheer for Su Mo, folks! What, no one else?
Is Su Mo our top scorer already?"
The host's voice grated through the quiet, painfully loud.
Some wanted to storm up and knock him off.
What's with this year's exam—why'd they grab such a motormouth host?!
Guy wouldn't shut up!
[Tap tap tap tap]
Slow footsteps echoed—leather shoes on stone. A slick young guy in a suit, hair slicked back, sauntered onto Su Mo's arena.
"Not bad. Wasn't planning to step in so soon, but you've stolen all my thunder! Hogging the spotlight like that's no good!
Truth is, I'm not that into being Tu Hongwu's disciple—don't need it.
Didn't even wanna bother with this lame exam, but this year's got too much buzz.
And as the flashiest guy of this generation, someone outshining me? Can't have that."
Su Mo's mouth twitched at this poser—tempted to just boot him out.
But as he geared up to strike, the guy piped up again:
"Hold up—gentlemen stay classy, gotta have manners. Moves like that won't win the ladies."
Su Mo's eyelid twitched, then he unleashed his skill.
[Mountain Collapse, Earth Shatter!]
[Boom!]
The beefed-up arena barely shivered under the hit, but the shockwave and fan-shaped blast range stayed brutal as ever.
The platform could take it—better materials, stronger runes—but people? Not so much.
"Tsk tsk tsk, I said—gentlemen keep it elegant, classy. Attacks like that? They won't touch me.
Sure, you're fast, strong, but against us Fengs, you're too slow.
Know what the wind—"
Facing this chatterbox who'd popped up beside him, yapping nonstop, Su Mo spun, slamming the halberd forward again.
[Mountain Collapse, Earth Shatter]
"Not enough, huh?"
[Mountain Collapse, Earth Shatter]
[Mountain Collapse, Earth Shatter]
…
Skills radiated from Su Mo in every direction, no gaps between casts. He didn't even check if he'd hit—just kept firing.
Fast? How fast can you be?
I'll blanket the whole arena—where you gonna hide?
Speed-types like this pissed Su Mo off most.
If the guy had attacked straight-up, he might've landed a hit.
But no—this poser just strutted around showing off!
Explosions roared nonstop, the arena quaking under Su Mo's barrage. Even the gold-glowing platform started cracking.
Below, challengers watched, hearts pounding but buzzing with hype.
A skill that nuts—sure, you can pop one, maybe ten—but a hundred?
Keep swinging, hit hard—I'll see how you last eight hours!
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