Chapter 135: Journey to Spring City

Watching Xu Han's nearly invisible afterimage, Jiang Yuchen raised an eyebrow. Although this junior's assassination technique was unrefined, his speed was remarkable—on par with his own. No wonder the principal had selected him.

Zhu Junjie seemed to have anticipated the attack. A cold, smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Do you think I’m like those other trash mages who are afraid of assassins?"

Xu Han remained unfazed. In an instant, he arrived beside Zhu Junjie. His Ice-Blue Blade, carrying a sharp, biting aura, thrust precisely toward Zhu Junjie’s throat.

Zhu Junjie calmly raised his staff. "Explosive Wall of Fire!"

A wall of searing flames, two meters high, erupted instantly in Xu Han's path. A look of self-satisfaction crossed Zhu Junjie's face. He had specifically mastered this skill to counter assassins. As long as his opponent was roughly his equal in strength, there was no way they could avoid this wall. The heat was intense, and contact would trigger an explosion; the resulting temperature and shockwave were more than enough to heavily injure a fragile assassin. If the opponent dodged, they would lose the momentum of their strike and be forced to face his relentless bombardment. This skill was the bane of all assassins.

Xu Han seemed to perceive his opponent’s intent. He grinned. It was the perfect time to test the effects of his "Sun-God Physique." Without hesitation, he plowed straight into the wall of fire.

Su Li covered her mouth in shock. "What is Xu Han doing?! Why isn't he dodging?"

Hua Piaowu also frowned, her fists clenching involuntarily. *That idiot! This is just a friendly spar! Why would he throw himself into his opponent's skill? Is he looking for death?*

Jiang Yuchen shook his head slightly. This junior was far too reckless and ill-suited to be an assassin. After all, he lacked the core calmness of the profession; losing his composure over a mere provocation was a significant shortcoming.

Ye Yuanzheng sighed softly. *This little guy is truly impulsive. I’ll have to step in and stop it. If a simple spar results in a serious injury, it will not only disrupt our plans but also create bad blood.*

Just as he prepared to intervene, an expression of surprise crossed his face.

Xu Han slammed into the wall of fire. The once-stable barrier flickered violently, like a punctured balloon. A second later—BOOM! The wall exploded, sending terrifying flames and shockwaves in all directions.

Zhu Junjie sneered, "The outcome is decided. What an idiot, daring to use his physical body to break an Explosive Wall of Fire. He must have been kicked in the head by a donkey."

Su Li hurriedly reached for her staff, intending to rush forward and cast a healing spell. However, Hua Piaowu grabbed her.

"Let go!" Su Li said nervously. "I need to heal Xu Han!"

Hua Piaowu’s expression remained grave. "Wait, something isn't right."

Su Li froze. "What do you mean?"

Hua Piaowu didn't answer, keeping her eyes fixed on the center of the field. As the flames sputtered and faded, a figure emerged, walking calmly through the fire as if he were a god of flame himself.

Zhu Junjie’s pupils contracted, and he gasped, "This... how is this possible?!"

It was Xu Han. He was completely unharmed, his eyes shining even brighter in the reflection of the orange flames.

Ye Yuanzheng smiled and shook his head; he had already guessed what happened. "This little guy really doesn't let anyone catch a breath."

Su Li’s eyes were wide with astonishment. "Xu Han... he’s actually fine?!" She couldn't comprehend it. How could he remain uninjured amidst such intense heat? It was too incredible.

Hua Piaowu’s lips curled into a smile, a look of vindication on her face. "That jerk, he's not bad after all..."

Jiang Yuchen watched Xu Han, lost in thought.

Xu Han walked straight toward Zhu Junjie, the Ice-Blue Blade in his hand spinning as it dissolved into icy blue snowflakes. "Senior, it seems your fire has no effect on me. Shall we call this spar to an end?"

Zhu Junjie gripped his staff so hard his knuckles turned white. He was unwilling to accept it. *Why? Why couldn't the Explosive Wall of Fire hurt this kid? This is impossible!*

Ye Yuanzheng walked over with a chuckle. "Alright, that’s enough for this spar. Zhu Junjie, you lost. The winner is Xu Han!"

Xu Han sheathed the Ice-Blue Blade and cupped his hands toward Zhu Junjie. "Thank you for the lesson, Senior."

Zhu Junjie trembled. He didn't believe it. He couldn't accept it. How could he lose to a freshman? Was his strength actually on par with the monsters of the National University team? *No, that’s impossible! How could a mere freshman compare to those freaks?*

Ye Yuanzheng walked to Zhu Junjie’s side. "Hard to believe, isn't it?"

Zhu Junjie looked up at the principal and nodded heavily after a moment.

"Then keep working hard. The world is full of geniuses. But if you grow arrogant now, you will surely vanish into the crowd. Only by facing failure squarely, confronting it bravely, and acknowledging your own shortcomings can you make progress—instead of blindly refusing to admit the strength of others."

Zhu Junjie stared blankly at Ye Yuanzheng, then nodded vigorously. "I understand, Principal!"

Ye Yuanzheng nodded, a faint smile on his lips. *Young people today are so easy to fool. A few words and it's settled.* As for whether he could catch up to Xu Han’s strength, Ye Yuanzheng couldn't say for sure. After all, Xu Han was far too unique. Although Zhu Junjie was a leader among ordinary people, there was still a gap between him and a monster like Xu Han.

He turned and waved his hand, dispelling the protective barrier. "Alright, let's head to the Military Headquarters. They have a plane waiting for us. We will fly directly to Spring City."

Hua Piaowu asked excitedly, "Principal, once we reach Spring City, can we go straight into the secret realm ruins?"

Ye Yuanzheng gave a mysterious smile. "You'll see when we get there."

The group followed Ye Yuanzheng to the National Military Headquarters. The facility was slightly smaller than the university, consisting of an office building, a training equipment building, and a massive training ground. As soon as they entered, they saw several large transport planes and smaller aircraft parked on the open ground.

Ever since the arrival of the exotic beasts, any plane entering the wilderness would be attacked by flying beasts, so civilian aviation had long been banned. Only official government agencies possessed helicopters or small aircraft for rescue or special needs, and only the military held large transport planes and specialized craft.

As soon as Ye Yuanzheng arrived, they were greeted by staff and escorted to their plane. Xu Han and the others boarded a small transport aircraft. Soon, it took off, flying in the direction of Spring City.