Chapter 32: Soul Annihilation

Jiang Jian’s expression turned grave.

He clearly sensed the aura emitted by the dummy was terrifying.

He raised the wooden sword, holding it horizontally before him.

He secretly activated Pure Spirit True Fire, ready to shield himself at any moment.

The dummy stood there, not attacking, but smirked strangely and said, “Lucky break this time—completed the task of injuring a candidate.”

“Now I just need to find a place to rest until your exam ends.”

“Then I can claim a new identity device.”

“Regain my freedom.”

The dummy looked blissful, turned around, and walked into a clothing store.

Found a comfortable chair and lay down.

Du Fang’s voice trembled: “Jiang Jian, what should we do?”

Song Ling also turned to look.

Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said, “This thing is dangerous—don’t provoke it. Let’s find other non-citizens first.”

“Understood.”

“We follow your lead.”

Both nodded vigorously.

Song Ling activated Soul Healing, slowly restoring the spiritual energy of all three.

Five minutes passed.

Jiang Jian’s spiritual energy recovered substantially. He stood up and said gravely, “Time is short—we must keep ascending.”

Du Fang followed behind him, turning to glance at the dummy inside the clothing store: “That thing is too powerful.”

The dummy seemed to sense something, lay on the chair, and glanced over, revealing a strange smile.

“Ignore it.”

Jiang Jian spoke those words and stepped directly onto the swaying light staircase.

The exam time had already passed more than half.

Only ninety minutes remained.

Second floor.

Jiang Jian walked ahead.

He continuously navigated winding corridors, traveling over a hundred meters.

Du Fang and Song Ling followed silently behind, saying nothing.

“Is the distance sufficient?”

Jiang Jian suddenly stopped and spoke.

Du Fang suppressed his alarm and said firmly, “It’s enough.”

Jiang Jian lowered his gaze to the floor beneath his feet and whispered, “Now.”

Du Fang’s expression hardened.

Clenching his teeth, he slowly brought his palms together.

Without a sound, a radiant, glowing great sword materialized.

“Ten Thousand Forms Sword Art, First Form.”

“Heavy Sword Smashes Mountains!”

Du Fang nearly exhausted all his spiritual energy.

Straining to control the transparent great sword, he slammed it down onto the floor!

BOOM!

A deafening crash!

The thick floor collapsed abruptly!

Inside the first-floor clothing store, the dummy suddenly lifted its head, pupils contracting sharply!

It had no time to react.

The transparent great sword had already smashed into the dummy’s head!

CLANG!

A piercing metallic screech tore through their eardrums!

Sparks flew from the dummy’s skull!

Its head was crushed inward!

The dummy’s body swayed unsteadily, its expression momentarily dazed.

The next instant.

Its pupils refocused, eyes blazing with rage!

“You dared ambush me!”

Its hoarse scream had not yet faded.

Another wooden sword stabbed straight into its eye socket!

The dummy stared at the light, fluttering wooden sword. Though fury surged within, remembering the previous great sword, it chose not to block.

Instead, it instantly teleported away from the clothing store!

The wooden sword fell helplessly to the ground.

Clearly, it carried no spiritual energy.

“Fell for it, didn’t you?”

Jiang Jian sneered, and with a thought, pushed Pure Spirit True Fire to its peak!

“Pure Spirit True Law, First Form.”

“Soul Annihilation!”

BOOM!

Outside the clothing store, blood-red flames blazed fiercely, engulfing everything!

The dummy stood frozen, expression panicked.

The next second.

All the blood-red flames were completely absorbed by it.

“What kind of flame is this…?”

The dummy glanced at its own hands and feet, sensing something amiss.

Suddenly—

The dummy’s vision went black, and it lost consciousness entirely.

Jiang Jian stepped out of the clothing store, gazing at the fallen dummy, expression calm.

The technique just used—“Soul Annihilation.”

Was a companion spell recorded in the Pure Spirit True Law.

When activated, “Soul Annihilation” ignores physical strength.

Directly burns away the spirit and soul of living beings—immensely powerful.

Du Fang strode forward, still shaken: “That thing really took a beating.”

The “Heavy Sword Smashes Mountains” he had just used.

Was also his first time activating the technique tied to his divine gift.

Du Fang stood beside Jiang Jian, savoring the sensation of the attack, reluctant to let it go.

Some divine gifts come with accompanying training manuals.

Among them, even include linked techniques of immense power.

“Too bad my Level 3 Heart doesn’t come with any training method.”

Song Ling activated Soul Healing to restore Jiang Jian and Du Fang’s spiritual energy, her face filled with envy.

“I’ll have to make up for it later with the talent orbs.”

Du Fang glanced at her but said nothing more on the subject, turning to Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, how did you know the floors could block aura?”

Jiang Jian said softly, “This shopping complex has a spiral light staircase connecting directly to the sixth floor.”

“With such a large open space, sound should carry clearly.”

“Yet Xu Yu fought up there for a long time—no sound reached us at all.”

“So I concluded there’s a hidden array between floors that blocks both sound and aura.”

As he spoke—

The dummy’s corpse rapidly shrank.

Within seconds.

It had become a palm-sized piece of black iron.

The identity device’s notification came belatedly.

“Team Alert: Iron Demon deceased.”

“Number of non-citizens eliminated: 36.”

“Special Alert: Killing an Iron Demon grants bonus exam points.”

They heard the voice.

Du Fang and Song Ling both brightened.

Jiang Jian turned his head, looking toward the mall entrance.

A proctor walked in through the mall doors.

He stepped closer, bent down, and picked up the black iron.

Then he looked at Jiang Jian, eyes filled with approval.

“Good.”

“You managed to use the floor array to coordinate a surprise attack and kill the demon.”

“This piece of refined iron was originally your spoils.”

The proctor’s gaze was sharp.

“But I’m currently forging armor, and I happen to need this.”

“Would you students be willing to part with this piece of refined iron?”

Upon hearing this,

Du Fang was about to speak, but Jiang Jian stopped him.

Jiang Jian paused, then said, “Since the teacher needs it, we give this stone to you.”

“Excellent, thank you, students.”

The proctor smiled, tucked the black iron into his robe, and revealed an important piece of information.

“Killing a refined iron demon greatly increases your assessment score.”

“According to my estimate,”

“among the 1,800 new students,”

“your score is already high enough to enter the top 100—that is, the Second Academy.”

“Know when to stop.”

The proctor’s expression was kind.

“If you continue and suffer serious injury, it will hinder your early cultivation after enrollment.”

Hearing this,

Du Fang and Song Ling exchanged glances, both hesitant.

“Your performance has been excellent.”

The proctor continued, “Most new students have no combat experience.”

“When attacked by minor spirits, they panic, become helpless, and are immediately eliminated with serious injuries.”

“You’ve held out this long and killed many non-citizens.”

“And you’ve secured a solid assessment score.”

“Worthy of praise.”

Hearing the proctor’s praise,

Du Fang forced a smile: “Thank you for your recognition, teacher.”

The proctor nodded: “You three, with your Level-3 talents, are the future pillars of Linjiang Academy—you deserve encouragement.”

Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then said, “Teacher, I want to stay until time runs out.”

The proctor raised an eyebrow.

He could clearly see:

In this team, Song Ling and Du Fang both followed Jiang Jian’s lead.

The plan to kill the refined iron demon was Jiang Jian’s own.

Jiang Jian turned his head to the two: “The refined iron demon grants a high assessment score.”

“Just now, the teacher said it’s enough to enter the Second Academy.”

“If you don’t wish to continue, you can end your assessment now.”

Du Fang hesitated, then asked, “Jiang Jian, what about you? Are you continuing?”

Jiang Jian nodded.

Du Fang gritted his teeth: “I’ll stay and help you!”

“With Song Ling’s Mind Healing restoring our Qi, our endurance is fine.”

Song Ling stood beside Du Fang, silent.

Her stance spoke volumes.

The proctor smiled, looking at Jiang Jian.

“Since you’ve decided, follow your own path.”

“If you face grave danger, just call out ‘teacher’—I’ll save you.”

“I’ll do my best to ensure none of you are harmed.”

“So your early cultivation isn’t disrupted.”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian replied sincerely: “Thank you, teacher.”

The proctor waved his hand.

He turned and walked out of the mall.

Song Ling continuously activated Mind Healing to restore their Qi.

After a while,

her face had turned as pale as paper.

“Jiang Jian, I need to rest.”

Song Ling stopped her technique and sighed.

“Continuously activating my Divine Gift has drained my spirit—I’m dizzy, overwhelmed, and can’t hold on much longer.”

At this moment,

Jiang Jian’s Qi had recovered to sixty percent.

Du Fang’s had recovered to eighty percent.

“It’s fine—if you can’t go on, just end your assessment.”

Jiang Jian said.

Song Ling shook her head firmly: “My Qi is still enough to help you. Just give me ten minutes to rest a little.”

Jiang Jian checked the time.

The assessment had 55 minutes remaining.

“Alright, rest for fifteen minutes.”

Jiang Jian nodded. “We’ll set out again when 40 minutes remain.”

Du Fang sat on the floor, relaxed: “With the refined iron demon’s score, we’re guaranteed Second Academy.”

Song Ling also nodded, smiling: “Thanks to Jiang Jian.”

Jiang Jian said nothing.

Instead, his eyes grew thoughtful.

The special prompt for bonus assessment points had appeared to him twice.

The first time, after killing the toy octopus demon.

The second time, only now, after killing the refined iron demon.

“If that’s the case,”

“my assessment score must be far higher than Du Fang and Song Ling’s.”

“Possibly even,”

“already in the top 50.”

Thoughts churned.

Jiang Jian now had a rough sense of his own assessment result.

(End of Chapter)