The atmosphere in the martial arena turned deathly silent. Every eye was fixed on the assessment elder, whose expression was one of pure astonishment.
Even after several moments, he couldn't hide his surprise as he looked at Dustin. His voice, tinged with disbelief, carried across the field.
"Such pure and powerful energy… The seventh level of Body Refinement, yet almost comparable to the ninth level… Even I nearly misjudged it!"
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Jude Zhang, Maddox Lu, and the others who had once mocked Dustin stood frozen, their jaws nearly hitting the ground. Their faces twisted in shock and unwillingness.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Jude Zhang muttered, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "Three months ago, his cultivation was weaker than mine. Now he's at the seventh level?! And his inner energy is strong enough to rival the ninth level?"
This wasn't just an overstatement—it was an assessment made by an elder. Dustin was nearly on par with a ninth-level Body Refinement martial artist!
As the realization settled in, whispers turned into an uproar. Gasps echoed through the martial hall as countless students struggled to process what they had just witnessed. Those who had known Dustin before were especially shaken.
To leap five entire realms in just three months… Such a feat had never been seen in Novaridge City Martial Hall's eight-hundred-year history!
Among the stunned spectators, Emery Liu stood in silence, her emotions turbulent. She recalled her encounter with Dustin in the library, where she had casually offered him a position as a guard in her family.
Now, she finally understood why he had refused.
"With such monstrous talent, who would willingly lower themselves to servitude?" she thought, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Jude Zhang's expression darkened as a fierce glint flashed across his eyes. Despite the shocking revelation, he refused to believe that Dustin could be his match.
"So what if you've reached the seventh level? Today, I'll still destroy you!" he sneered.
Even though the assessment elder had declared Dustin's energy comparable to the ninth level, Jude Zhang remained confident.
Dustin, standing on the stage, felt a rush of emotions.
Not long ago, he had been nothing more than a poor commoner, ridiculed and looked down upon. Yet today, he stood here, commanding the attention of the entire martial hall.
He took a deep breath and stepped off the stage.
The assessment continued, with other students stepping forward for their evaluations. However, the results were stark. Out of the elementary class, only five students, including Dustin, passed.
The intermediate-to-advanced class assessment was even more brutal—only one student succeeded.
As the annual assessment concluded, the elder raised his voice.
"This year's assessment is over!"
With those words, he turned and left the martial field.
Yet the gathered crowd did not disperse.
Because they all knew—the real battle was about to begin.
"Dustin!" A cold, sharp voice rang out across the arena.
A figure leaped onto the competition stage, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back.
It was Jude.
"Last time, Teacher Maeve interfered. But now, we are both intermediate-class students. Do you dare to fight?"
His challenge caused a wave of murmurs to spread among the crowd. "Hehe, that commoner brat has made quite a name for himself today. Let's see how he handles this."
"Three months to climb five realms? But cultivation speed doesn't equal real combat strength. Jude Zhang is at the eighth level of Body Refinement—he's stronger!"
"Exactly! Some shady methods can temporarily boost cultivation, but they damage the body and ruin future progress."
Despite Dustin's impressive display, most onlookers were skeptical.
In their eyes, there was no way he could match Jude Zhang.
Under their scrutinizing gazes, Dustin stepped onto the competition stage.
Jude Zhang narrowed his eyes.
At fifteen years old, he had reached the eighth level of Body Refinement. He had always considered himself a genius. And yet, today, he was being overshadowed by a lowborn commoner.
"Dustin, don't think you're my equal just because you reached the seventh level!" Jude Zhang sneered. "I'll show you just how vast the gap between us truly is!"
His voice turned chilling. "Even if you beg for mercy, I won't let you go. Today, I'll cripple you—permanently!"
A ruthless smile crept onto his lips. He didn't just want to defeat Dustin—he wanted to destroy him.
But Dustin merely narrowed his eyes.
"Cripple me? All this over a petty rivalry?"
Jude Zhang grinned cruelly.
"A mongrel like you should never have been allowed to rise. As long as I don't kill you, the Martial Hall won't care.". With that, he launched himself forward.
Dustin shifted slightly to the left. Jude Zhang's strike missed entirely.
Gritting his teeth, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, each more vicious than the last. His fists and kicks came in a violent storm.
But Dustin remained completely calm. Hands clasped behind his back, he dodged effortlessly.
No matter how relentless the assault, Jude Zhang's attacks never even brushed Dustin's robes.
Dust kicked up from the stage as their movements intensified.
The spectators gawked in disbelief. "Dustin's movement technique… could it already be at the small mastery level?"
"No—this level of precision is close to perfection!"
"Wait… Could he actually defeat Jude Zhang?"
Amidst the murmurs, Jude Zhang's expression contorted with anger.
"Coward! Do you only know how to dodge, you spineless wretch?!" he roared, executing a fierce sweeping kick aimed at Dustin's head.
This time, Dustin did not dodge.
With a single hand, he blocked the attack effortlessly.
Jude Zhang's heart skipped a beat.
He blocked it?!
"Mountain-Shattering Palm!" Jude Zhang bellowed, pouring all his strength into his next move.
But Dustin merely smirked. "Trivial tricks."
His aura shifted. "Soaring Dragon Fist!"
Boom!
Jude Zhang's entire arm went numb as a terrifying force blasted into him.
He coughed up blood mid-air, his body hurtling several meters away before crashing to the ground.
Dust settled.
Dustin looked down at him indifferently.
"Eighth-level Body Refinement? Is that all?"
Jude Zhang staggered to his feet, face twisted in rage and humiliation.
"Impossible! How could a lowborn like you defeat me?!"
With a crazed roar, he charged again. Dustin did not move.
With one swift motion, he grabbed Jude Zhang's wrist.
Jude Zhang struggled, his inner energy surging—but no matter what he did, he couldn't break free.
His expression changed to horror.
"What is this strength? His energy… could it really rival the ninth level?!"
"Crack!"
A sickening snap echoed through the arena.
Jude Zhang let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Dustin followed up with a devastating kick to his chest.
"Boom!"
Jude Zhang's body crashed to the ground, motionless.
Dustin loomed over him, eyes cold.
"You mocked the weak… Now, you are weaker than the lowest commoner. What does that make you?"
Silence fell over the arena.
Everyone watching felt a chill crawl up their spines.
.....
Far away, in an attic overlooking the arena, two figures watched the battle unfold.
One was Elder Jeremy, a powerful innate martial artist.
The other was a middle-aged man in a white robe—the Lord of the Martial Hall.
"A commoner child, yet such overwhelming talent…" the Hall Master mused with a smile.
"Focus on nurturing him. He may prove invaluable."