Mid-June, Andrew Han returned from the Imperial Capital.
Andrew Han was still officially a Martial Arts Program freshman—an unprecedented case. Even the Council of Alliance Elders, who had promoted the policy, never imagined a current student could reach the Titled Sequence.
According to the elders' expectations—
If the Martial Arts Program Student cohort produced a few Martial General Realm talents, that would already be impressive.
In fact, aside from Andrew Han, the strongest Martial Arts Program Students—including those from previous years—had only reached high-tier Martial General Realm (Wu Zong Jing). There were just twelve Martial General Realm students nationwide.
In other words—
Andrew Han’s sudden rise not only opened a new path for the younger generation of martial artists, but also spurred the vigorous development of the Martial Arts Program.
“His rate of progress is simply too fast.”
“It’s understandable if there were no barriers at the Martial General Realm. But advancing to the Martial Lord Realm (Wu Zong Jing) is extremely difficult—especially since Andrew Han didn’t just reach the Martial Lord Realm, but already possesses strength comparable to a first-step titled Martial Lord.”
Two voices discussed this matter with solemn intensity.
They were elders of the Council of Alliance Elders, the highest authority over the Martial Arts Alliance. Among them, the white-haired elder Harold Huang was one of the most senior.
“I’m a bit puzzled,” Harold Huang said, his eyes clouded with doubt. “Is Andrew Han truly a Legend? He’s never openly displayed his Gifted Power, and even if it’s a body-enhancement-type Gift, there should be some kind of phenomenon… The so-called Legend title is just an announcement by the world’s scientific agencies, backed up by official certification.”
“Whether Andrew Han is a Legend or not no longer matters,” another voice replied.
At these words—
Harold Huang paused, momentarily stunned.
Unbeknownst to them, Andrew Han had steadily advanced, step by step, all the way to the Titled Sequence.
His seemingly steady, ordinary pace was actually a case of one step ahead, every step above the rest. Before they could fully process it, Andrew Han had already crushed a Great-Class Specter, then slain Keaton Nan, sect master of Southridge Sect, and killed a disguised Great Demon masquerading as a martial artist.
Right and wrong, black and white—there was no need to ask.
Whether his deeds are merit or fault, history will judge.
By the customs of the Martial World, anyone so utterly unreasonable would surely be detained and interrogated in depth… To go from ordinary person to the Titled Sequence in just a year and a half is a terrifying leap, enough to leave countless people shaken.
That's right.
Some speculate that Andrew Han is hiding a great secret.
But in an era when the Law Realm remains hidden, Miles Ning alone is worth a million troops—domineering, ruthless, and peerless. He shields Andrew Han from the shadows; anyone who covets Andrew must first withstand Miles Ning!
Moreover—
Today is not yesterday. Even with the old saying, 'the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled,' what wind could possibly topple Andrew Han?
In terms of martial strength, Andrew Han is already ranked in the Titled Sequence, and his master Miles Ning possesses the power of a titled third-step Martial Lord Realm.
As for background, Andrew Han belongs to Green Mountain Sect, has drawn the attention of the Law Realm, and even received a Supreme’s golden decree.
“Sigh.”
At this, Harold Huang let out a quiet sigh.
A handful intend to wait until Miles Ning’s life is spent before interrogating Andrew Han. Harold Huang is not among them; though he is stubborn and old-fashioned, he still knows the principles of morality.
“Enough.”
“Elder Yu, enough. Stop overthinking it. I don’t approve of Andrew Han, and I don’t approve of Shawn Xiao either,” Harold Huang said with a melancholy sigh. “But I have to admit—Andrew Han has achieved unparalleled merit, and Shawn Xiao’s policies have truly made the Martial World stronger.”
The data before our eyes proves all of this.
Therefore—
The situation has reversed.
Harold Huang was actually the one advising Elder Yu.
“I still firmly believe Andrew Han must have obtained something unknown—either a treasure or a secret art,” Elder Yu said slowly, wrapped in his black robe. “Before the Qin dynasty, human civilization persisted, and the Law Realm knows all of it.”
“And even if Andrew Han truly has some hidden support, are you certain you could use it yourself?” Harold Huang shook his head.
Hmph.
Elder Yu snorted and stood up to leave.
Inside the room, Harold Huang gazed at Elder Yu’s dark silhouette, his face gradually hardening with sorrow, finally settling into a pain he could hardly believe.
"Perhaps."
"Have we truly been wrong all along?"
...
Late June, the height of summer.
At Southland University, final exams began.
At the podium—
Two proctors were quietly chatting.
"Our university’s advanced calculus exam is pretty tough."
"It’s definitely not easy. From what I’ve seen, students who just crammed for it probably won’t be able to answer much."
The two stood at the podium, looking down.
In the spacious classroom, many students were busy writing. Some looked visibly distressed, clearly stumped by the questions.
Cramming only gets you so far; gaps are inevitable.
If the exam tests flexibility, it’s easy to get stuck.
In the last row—
Andrew Han, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, wore a serious expression as he wrote, his pen flying across the paper with dragon-and-phoenix-like strokes, filling the exam sheet with answers, clearly confident in every solution.
"Simple."
"These problems are far too easy."
He shook his head, capped his black carbon pen, stood up, picked up his exam paper, and walked toward the podium at the front.
So fast?