Chapter 171

No skills were used......

Nor any flashy tricks......

Only a standard, textbook-perfect striking technique!!

At this moment, Zhou Yi relied solely on his extraordinary strength stat to crush the Xiong Guai leader!!

And the Xiong Guai, now in mid-air, could only be helplessly slaughtered!!

10%!

20%!

30%!

Zhou Yi's attack speed was extremely fast; in less than one second, he stacked the Penetrating Effect of the Pojun Battle Axe to 30%!

And at that very moment, a loud bang echoed.

Under a single axe blow, the earth-element armor that had always shielded the Xiong Guai leader like a turtle shell was finally shattered!!

"It's over......"

The sharp blade sliced through the air in a beautiful, circular arc, striking the leader's neck at a speed even his eyes could not follow.

As an Epic-level Boss, the Xiong Guai leader possessed immense vitality.

Added to that, though he had lost his earth armor, his fur still served as natural protection......

A normal slash might not even pierce through this layer of fur.

But now, the Pojun Battle Axe had already gained 30% physical penetration damage, combined with Zhou Yi's terrifying strength and constitution stats.

Puch—

The entire blade ignored the fur armor and the leader's formidable vitality, cleanly severing his head from his neck.

Blood gushed forth like a fountain from the neck.

The massive head flew high into the air, then crashed to the ground.

Those eyes still hadn't processed this combo—still glowing with bloodthirsty crimson......

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At Suzhou University, only three Secret Realm dungeons can be used in the Freshman Competition.

Among them, the Xiong Guai dungeon has the fewest stages—and is the hardest.

It has only three stages total.

But each stage is more than ten times harder than the previous one!!

This is especially true for the Abyss-level Xiong Guai dungeon.

When you reach the final third-stage Boss stage, you'll find yourself facing an entire Xiong Guai tribe.

Including the Boss Xiong Guai leader, the Elite Xiong Guai Shaman, and the Xiong Guai Witch......

"This final third stage is more than ten times harder than the second; in past years, even Nightmare-level had many freshmen fail here.

Now that the difficulty has risen to Abyss-level, the overall challenge has climbed another ~tier......"

"This stage will comprehensively test freshmen's output, survivability, and sustained combat ability."

"Even special recruits may fail here—right?"

"Correct."

"Epic-level dungeon Bosses? Now they've got a headache."

As the instructors had predicted, after entering the third stage.

On the screen, many figures had already succumbed to the Xiong Guai's assault and activated their Return Scrolls.

Other freshmen were sprinting frantically through the hall, desperately evading the Xiong Guai's pursuit.

But given this trend, being caught by the Xiong Guai was merely a matter of time......

Of course, special recruits like Jiang Churan and Shen Lingfeng moved effortlessly through the Xiong Guai tide, continuously slaying them.

And among them, the scene dominated by fire, lightning, and storm—Zhou Yi's—was the most conspicuous......

The Xiong Guai were falling in droves; among all the projection screens, his kill efficiency was the highest!!

"The highest kill efficiency isn't from a mage, summoner, or mechanist—but a Paladin? I never expected this......"

On the ceremonial platform, all the instructors wore strange expressions.

After all, against this kind of horde tactic, the highest kill efficiency naturally belonged to summoners or mechanists who used similar horde tactics.

Of course......

Mages with massive AoE damage were also among them.

"If not for the overwhelming holy aura surrounding him—and the fact that he only uses light and divine skills—I'd suspect this Paladin is an elemental mage in disguise."

One elemental academy instructor said this, prompting many other instructors to nod in agreement.

Indeed.

Such terrifying magical damage output was even more violent than the strongest mage among the special recruits.

"For ordinary Xiong Guai, magical skills naturally deal high damage.

But for an Epic-level Xiong Guai Boss who masters earth element, these spells likely won't inflict much harm."

"The Xiong Guai are children of the earth; the earth-element armor they form is the absolute defense that frustrates every mage."

"Now, let's see how he handles it......"

"......"

On the ceremonial platform, all the instructors began anticipating Zhou Yi's next move.

"Hehe, when the Xiong Guai Boss activates his earth-element armor, I wonder what expression Zhou Yi will make—will he turn pale in shock?"

Some instructors even joked about Zhou Yi's emotional reaction.

After all......

Throughout this whole journey, the other party had been far too calm!

Not a hint of hesitation or panic could be read from the other's face.

However, what left them sighing with admiration was—

Even upon discovering that their own attributes were countered, and that their spell damage could not breach the opponent's earth-element armor—

This resolute youth still wore an expression as steady as a well so ancient its surface had never rippled.

"When Mount Tai collapses before one yet the countenance does not change—that line was written for someone like Zhou Yi."

One teacher could not help but offer a word of praise.

Then he earnestly continued watching.

Calm and steady was indeed a rare quality.

But without strength to match it, it served no purpose......

"War Stomp!"

"It actually waited on purpose until it was within ten meters before releasing it. Truly worthy of an Epic Rank Xiong Guai chieftain—far too cunning."

Upon seeing the Xiong Guai's cautious mode of action, the gathered teachers could not help but gasp in amazement.

And at that very moment, a long spear flying in at tremendous speed directly interrupted the skill!

"This is...... Spear of Victory?"

"The Spear of Victory cannot pin down a Xiong Guai of such a massive build, but it can pin down just its right foot—this...... is truly an unprecedented idea!"

This point was indeed somewhat unexpected.

The Holy Knight's exclusive skill, Spear of Victory, was generally used only against monsters roughly human-sized.

While dealing damage, it would also pin the opponent's body in place.

At this moment, facing the Xiong Guai chieftain—six meters tall, its entire body wrapped in earth-element armor—

Trying to pin its body was certainly impossible to succeed.

Switching instead to pinning just the sole of its foot, however, was an extremely simple matter.

And to think of this in such a short span of time was all the more commendable.

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"Quick-witted, very fast reaction speed, and an exceptional ability to adapt."

Wu Mang offered his assessment of this.