Chapter 22: The Demon Lord’s Return

The examinees in the sports arena had already been grouped and arranged by their assigned numbers.

By then, they had already learned the identities of their opponents.

Standing in pairs, they scrutinized each other with solemn expressions.

Yet, one individual, clutching their number, wore a smile of pure relief.

“Damn it, your luck is truly exceptional, kid.”

“Where’s that Zhang Liang fellow? Why hasn’t he shown up? He didn’t flee, did he?”

“Haha, even better if he ran! A victory without a single blow—what a massive gain!”

Just as the surrounding examinees seethed with envy, seven teachers began to chant incantations in unison, and before long, the entire arena began to shake violently.

“Rock Slab Creation!”

The seven teachers clapped their hands together with a sharp crack, then bent low, pressing their palms to the earth. A colossal surge of energy converged, forming a magic array that enveloped the entire sports ground.

“Holy heavens! This… this is linked magic!”

“Are they going to teach this? I swear, I’ll master every bit of it!”

“To witness the resurgence of ancient magic firsthand, this journey has proven entirely worthwhile.”

Linked magic, a form of sorcery etched into the annals of history, was among the formidable techniques employed by the hero’s party ten millennia ago when they vanquished the Demon God.

To wield such magic, seven individuals had to be perfectly synchronized, their minds clear of distractions, and their magical fluctuations absolutely identical.

Its exceptionally high operational difficulty led to its eventual loss after an era of prolonged peace.

A unique characteristic of this magic was its ability to multiply its power exponentially with each additional caster.

‘Rock Slab Creation’ was originally a five-array magic of the high-tier Spirit Domain, implying that its current potency had been magnified to forty-nine times its original strength.

In the blink of an eye, a colossal 50-by-50-meter combat platform materialized beneath the feet of thousands of examinees.

One examinee struck it with their sword, only for the platform’s sheer hardness to chip a sizable gouge from the blade of forged Qingsteel, even sending a jarring numbness up their arm.

“My goodness, could this thing actually be harder than diamond?”

“Should we try to chip some off and take it with us? It might fetch a fortune!”

“Dig what, you fool? Do you even think you could?”

Still reeling from their astonishment, the examinees descended from the combat platform, as a teacher, wielding a megaphone staff, ascended to its center.

Fan Sha took his place in the middle of the platform, beginning to outline the crucial points for the upcoming test.

“Next, I shall provide a demonstration myself.”

Upon hearing Fan Sha’s declaration, the examinees were utterly astonished, immediately erupting into fervent whispers.

“Lord Power King is personally demonstrating?”

“He holds the seventh seat among the Ten Prodigies, and he’s on the verge of breaking through to the high-tier Emperor Realm. Who could possibly possess the strength to engage in a demonstration with him?”

“Must we even guess? It has to be Lin Na, the Dragon-Slaying Hero!”

“A battle between the Ten Prodigies? Now *this* is something worth watching! The mere thought sends shivers of excitement down my spine.”

The examinees huddled together, their voices buzzing with irrepressible excitement.

It was well-known that the ranking system of the Ten Prodigies had always been shrouded in mystery. Many had previously underestimated Lin Na, only for her sudden return as a dragon slayer to force everyone to reevaluate their perceptions.

A profound curiosity about Lin Na’s true strength permeated the crowd.

To simply stand there and witness a battle between two of the Ten Prodigies was, in itself, an invaluable experience.

“And now, let us welcome examinee Zhang Liang!”

As Fan Sha moved to one side, Zhang Liang strode onto the combat platform, head held high and chest puffed out, waving to the crowd like a veritable superstar.

The moment Zhang Liang appeared, a collective stupefaction washed over everyone, their moods curdling into a nauseating revulsion akin to having tasted something truly vile.

“What the hell?! Why *him* of all people?!”

“Hold on a moment? He’s demonstrating with the Power King? Isn’t that practically a death wish?”

“Give us our money back!”

Zhang Liang’s unexpected appearance drew widespread discontent from the examinees. How could *he*, a student who scored zero in two subjects, be chosen for a demonstration?

Fan Sha’s cheek twitched almost imperceptibly. Hearing the chorus of denunciations directed at Zhang Liang, he struggled to suppress a smile, feeling an even greater surge of excitement at the thought of eliminating him soon.

“Silence!”

Fan Sha made a dismissive gesture with his hand, and the clamoring examinees immediately fell silent.

“This individual possesses extraordinary talent; at such a tender age, they have already reached the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm. Truly, they are a prodigy with immense potential.”

Listening to Fan Sha’s utterly baseless praise of Zhang Liang, the crowd seethed with indignation. ‘So, the wealthy truly can twist black into white, can’t they?’ they thought bitterly.

If he’s truly at the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, how could he have scored two abysmal zeros on his exams?

The other teachers, too, were greatly perplexed. During their planning meeting, no demonstration segment had been discussed, leaving them at a loss as to why Fan Sha would undertake such an unnecessary measure.

Though others might remain oblivious, Lin Na harbored a potent suspicion: Fan Sha was one of the bandits responsible for Ying’s assassination.

Emperor Realm powerhouses were exceedingly rare, and to have three of them operating as a team inevitably aroused deep suspicion.

Given that Zhang Liang had disrupted his plans, it was highly probable that Fan Sha intended to exact his revenge here, eliminating him outright.

Lin Na’s brows furrowed in a tight knot of concern. Yet, lacking concrete evidence, she dared not act rashly.

“Don’t worry, Lin Na. Teacher Fan understands how to maintain proper boundaries.”

“Are the rumors truly accurate, then? You don’t actually have something going on with him, do you?”

“No comment,” Lin Na replied, unwilling to offer further explanations. Following Zhang Liang’s insights, she had learned to disregard such idle gossip.

Noticing Lin Na’s wary gaze, two female teachers narrowed their eyes, covering their mouths to stifle their giggles, convinced that there was indeed something illicit between them.

Following a brief explanation, all examinees settled into silence. Both combatants adopted their stances, and as a coin dropped to the ground, the demonstration commenced.

Zhang Liang did not rush forward immediately. Instead, he remained rooted to his spot, carefully observing Fan Sha. The moment Fan Sha began to channel his power, Zhang Liang would be able to accurately assess his strength, facilitating the planning of an effective counter-strategy.

This encounter differed significantly from his spar with Lin Na; he was facing an unfamiliar opponent for the very first time, demanding the utmost caution.

Zhang Liang settled into his combat stance, gripping his wooden sword as a formidable sword intent surged into its core.

The very next second, Fan Sha unleashed a furious roar towards the heavens. A torrent of vast energy erupted from his body, his muscles swelling grotesquely, ripping through his uniform to expose his crimson skin.

Witnessing this, Lin Na immediately sensed that something was amiss. If this were merely a demonstration, there would be absolutely no need to summon such an immense amount of energy.

Just as Lin Na prepared to call a halt, a figure with a sly grin intercepted her. “Teacher Lin Na,” they purred, “there’s no need for concern.”

“But…”

“Lord Fan is well aware of his boundaries.”

“…”

Given that this was a recruitment venue, with countless eyes watching, Lin Na surmised that Fan Sha wouldn’t dare to make an overt move.

“It’s appeared! This is ‘Rampage,’ Power King Fan Sha’s signature skill!”

“His body has already swollen to three meters, and it’s still growing!”

“This… this could actually kill someone, couldn’t it?”

The immense energy was truly awe-inspiring, and Fan Sha’s ghastly, god-like appearance instilled profound dread, reminiscent of the Immovable Wisdom King depicted in ancient texts.

Unlike Lin Na, Fan Sha’s legendary exploits were widely known, practically household tales.

He had once, relying solely on his indestructible physique, single-handedly shattered entire armies, utterly routing a force of ten thousand soldiers.

He was, quite literally, a force of one against ten thousand.

The mere thought of such a colossal fist striking them sent shivers down the examinees’ spines and made their legs tremble uncontrollably.

Fan Sha’s body ceased its expansion once it reached four meters. Witnessing this, Zhang Liang’s mind quickly processed the information, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

‘Enhancement-type, mid-tier Emperor Realm,’ he mused. ‘The easiest kind to pummel.’

Abruptly, the massive figure vanished from sight. Just as confusion began to ripple through the crowd, someone pointed skyward and cried out:

“He’s above us!”

“Heavenly Meteor!” Fan Sha roared, and with a sudden burst of wind magic providing propulsion, he plummeted towards the ground like a streaking meteor.

This single strike would reduce everything to dust!

In the ensuing second, it was as if a meteor had struck the earth. The ground convulsed violently, sending all the examinees flying into the air before they crashed back down with bone-jarring force.

The supposedly indestructible combat platform was now deeply embedded in the earth, riddled with countless gaping fissures.

The colossal impact resonated like an iron hammer slamming into their chests, leaving them choked with discomfort, struggling to breathe, and utterly overwhelmed.

“That… that fellow is surely dead.”

“Even the diamond-hard combat platform shattered. That person… they must have been flattened into a pulp…”

“Even though that guy was truly infuriating, to die like this is… too much…”

Envisioning Zhang Liang’s bloody demise, many examinees collapsed onto the ground in terror, while the more faint-hearted among them simply fainted outright.

The arena fell into an instantaneous, deathly silence. Every remaining individual stood pale-faced, their clasped hands trembling uncontrollably.

The stark reality of death was now deeply etched into their very souls.

“Now, it’s my turn!”

Hearing the voice of someone they believed to be dead, the examinees turned their astonished gazes towards the arena.

Their eyes widened, utterly unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before them.

An impact akin to a falling meteor, yet he had intercepted it with but a single finger!

How could this possibly be? That was one of the Ten Prodigies’ ultimate techniques!

Even the combat platform, forged by linked magic, had shattered!

You countered that world-shattering blow with just one finger?

They even began to question if the sight before their eyes was nothing more than an elaborate dream.

Even the teachers on the elevated platform were utterly dumbfounded by the sight.

Lin Na, in particular, gasped and took an involuntary step forward, her tightly furrowed brows reflecting her utter disbelief.

She remembered that move; indeed, she could never forget it.

The Sword Demon Lord had used that very technique to withstand her own ‘Thunderous Overlord Slash’!

A boundless fury surged through her, her heart pounding violently. Lin Na’s tightly clenched fists were cut by her own nails, and drops of blood splattered onto the ground.

‘He is the Sword Demon Lord!’