Chapter 749: Completely Surrounded

"Let alone the fact that the Sea Spiral Sacred Academy doesn’t even have a history of five trillion years—how could an empire with such a long legacy have no records or mentions anywhere? Is that even possible?"

"Which fool approved such an absurd claim?"

...

The palace hall fell into silence instantly.

After a brief pause, the middle-aged man standing beside the elder slowly spoke, "It seems that you, Elder Zheng, were in a hurry to attend the Inner Academy meeting, so you approved it..."

The elder's face stiffened, clearly embarrassed by the situation.

Cough cough! After clearing his throat twice, the elder waved his hand and said, "Well... it's actually quite normal to boast about oneself. Didn't we, at the Sea Spiral Sacred Academy, do the same in the past? So, we can understand. Young people have their vanities and tend to exaggerate; we can sympathize with that."

"Later, make sure to correct it. Changing it to fifty thousand years should be good enough. We need to be more tolerant of the younger generation, to embrace them as part of our Sea Spiral Sacred Academy’s spirit of inclusiveness."

"We shouldn't be too harsh on young people for small mistakes, understand?"

The elder’s words left everyone in the hall speechless.

After a long moment, the people gradually came to their senses.

"Indeed, Elder Zheng is absolutely right. Very insightful."

"Elder Zheng’s wise words, I shall carve them into a plaque and hang it above my bed to reflect on day and night."

"These words will benefit me for life. Thank you for your guidance, Elder Zheng."

The hall filled with voices of flattery, causing Elder Zheng to nod in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man beside him could only helplessly shake his head as he continued to watch the events on the screen.

He hadn’t expected the members of the Dominator Alliance to clash with Lin Qian so soon.

“The Wild Hunt Clan…”

This clan was renowned throughout the Sea Spiral Sacred Academy for their extraordinary soul-based talents.

The Wild Hunt Clan were born hunters. Once they locked onto prey, it was nearly impossible to escape their soul-bound tracking.

In battle, they were terrifying. Their combat instincts were unparalleled, akin to seasoned hunters with frightening levels of experience.

In just a short exchange, they could identify a target’s habits, pinpoint weaknesses, and then deliver a fatal blow.

Normally, the Wild Hunt Clan appeared lazy, uninterested in most things. But once they set their sights on prey, they would become incredibly excited, their originally gray skin turning a bright crimson, radiating intense heat.

Powerful and violent hunters—that was the Wild Hunt Clan!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The large member of the Wild Hunt Clan tore through the dense forest, crushing everything in his path. Trees collapsed, and deep trenches formed in the ground wherever he passed.

"I'm getting closer. This aura..." The towering man from the Wild Hunt Clan, now with fiery red skin, radiated such intense heat that the surrounding air shimmered.

"It's you!" He burst from the forest and into a valley, his right fist smashing toward the figure standing in the valley ahead. Behind him, the ground exploded, sending dust flying into the air.

Whoosh!

The figure standing in the valley didn’t retreat as the Wild Hunt Clan member charged at him. His body radiated a golden-red lightning aura, the roar of a thunder dragon erupting from within him. His long hair fluttered as his fist collided with the Wild Hunt Clan warrior.

The difference in size between their fists was stark, but when their blows met in the center of the valley, it was as if time had frozen. Heat waves from the Wild Hunt warrior clashed with Lin Qian’s golden-red lightning, momentarily suspending all motion.

Boom!

A violent explosion resounded as the force of their collision sent shockwaves in all directions, kicking up layers of dust. The mountains around the valley trembled violently but didn’t collapse, likely due to the planet's strong geological foundation, unlike the brittle surface of Soul Martial Star.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, a fierce wind picked up in the center of the valley, sweeping away the dense dust and revealing the two figures standing face-to-face, just three meters apart.

The ground beneath their feet had sunk over a meter from the force of their clash, with only the ground beneath the two men remaining intact.

“Kuang Zhankuang!” The towering member of the Wild Hunt Clan, his skin a deeper crimson, grinned at Lin Qian. "Not bad, human!"

“Lin Qian, you're not bad either.” Lin Qian smiled, admiring the powerful figure before him. "It’s been a long time since my hand has gone numb from a punch."

“I feel the same!” Kuang Zhankuang, having introduced himself, rubbed his right hand as he gazed at Lin Qian. “But for the sake of the Dominator Alliance’s interests and agreements, you, as an unstable factor, have three options.”

“First, you can promise not to compete for a place in the top ten, withdraw from the rankings, and focus solely on entering the Sea Spiral Sacred Academy. With your abilities and the backing of the Blue Phoenix of the Stars Clan, it should be easy for you to gain entry.”

“Second, you can join the Dominator Alliance, becoming a subordinate of the Wild Hunt Clan. In return, we’ll ensure you a place in the top fifty.”

“Third, you’ll be eliminated from the trial, losing your chance to enter the Sacred Academy entirely.”

After laying out the options, Kuang Zhankuang stared at Lin Qian, waiting for his decision. “So, what will you choose?”

Lin Qian remained silent, not answering immediately. Instead, a stream of light suddenly shot toward him from afar, striking his body.

Both Lin Qian and Kuang Zhankuang saw it clearly—a trial mark!

The trial mark, like a stream of light, entered Lin Qian’s body.

“Huh?” Lin Qian’s eyes flashed with surprise as the mark entered him. A gentle, warm current flowed through his body, bringing a soothing sensation. This power was soft and comforting, causing his soul energy to solidify even further, boosting his strength.

At the same time, a faint glow appeared on Lin Qian’s body, almost imperceptible.

If not for their high level of strength and exceptional eyesight, it would have been difficult to notice.

“A trial mark?” Kuang Zhankuang was taken aback. Clearly, one of Lin Qian’s subordinates must have defeated another trial participant for the mark to flow to him.

Suddenly, the trees around them rustled as the Red Hare Legion emerged from the forest. The iron hooves of their scarlet warhorses clattered against the ground, creating sharp, crisp sounds that caught everyone’s attention.

Kuang Zhankuang’s heart pounded as he realized he was completely surrounded.

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