The Flying Spinefish leapt into the air five times in a row, but each time they were killed before they could even launch their spikes, which seemed to enrage them.
"Splash! Splash! Splash!"
It was like carp leaping over the dragon gate—more than three hundred Flying Spinefish jumped up from the sea at the same time.
"Slash!"
Leon Huang swung his swords again, unleashing over three hundred sword-qi beams that pierced through the heads of the Flying Spinefish before they could launch their spikes.
The other nine, who had been ready to deal with any fish that slipped through, found themselves with nothing to do.
Yoon Zhengyang, who also practiced swordsmanship, sighed, "Junior Brother Huang's sword technique... I doubt I could catch up to him even if I practiced for a lifetime."
After that, the Flying Spinefish launched several more attacks, but Leon Huang easily dealt with them each time.
His actions seemed to completely infuriate the Flying Spinefish, and even more of them surged toward their boat.
Soon, at least twenty thousand Flying Spinefish surrounded the small boat, which greatly eased the pressure on the other boat's crew.
"Splash...!"
Over a thousand Flying Spinefish leapt out of the water at once, but just as they did, Leon Huang swept out with his swords.
With just a few sword strikes, all thousand-plus Flying Spinefish were wiped out.
But in the next moment, even more Flying Spinefish leapt from the water, densely packed and filling the sky around the small boat.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Leon Huang merged with the surrounding heaven and earth, swinging his swords in all directions. Instantly, Flying Spinefish corpses rained down like dumplings...
"Even if Flying Spinefish are all first-tier demonic beasts, Junior Brother Huang is just way too fierce!"
Seeing this, Ian Tian, Gavin Guan, and the others all couldn't help but marvel.
In just a few moments, Leon Huang had killed no less than five thousand Flying Spinefish, reducing the school by a full tenth.
But the Flying Spinefish showed no sign of stopping, continuing to leap out of the water like moths to a flame.
In the blink of an eye, a quarter of an hour passed.
The sea surface was littered with Flying Spinefish corpses—more than twenty thousand in total. The other boat had approached to within five hundred meters of Leon Huang's group. Although they had killed quite a few Flying Spinefish themselves, their total was less than five thousand, several times fewer than Leon Huang's tally.
"Who is that guy? How can he be so fierce?"
The man who had previously called out for Leon Huang's group to help asked.
His name was Robin Yan, an Inner Sect disciple of Divine Sword Sect.
Divine Sword Sect was a renowned top-tier sect. For this Sanctum Martial Academy trial, the sect received thirty Sanctum Admission Tokens outright, so Robin Yan placed seventh among the Inner Sect and still managed to get a token.
"Senior Brother Yan, that person should be Leon Huang from Pristine Way Sect," someone replied.
"So it's him!" A trace of jealousy flashed in Robin Yan's eyes. He had heard Leon Huang's name in Sea Emperor City, but since Divine Sword Sect was stronger than Pristine Way Sect, he hadn't bothered to visit Leon when everyone else did.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Nearly fifty thousand Flying Spinefish had been killed, and the remaining thousand or so finally grew fearful and dove into the deep sea to escape.
Seeing the crisis resolved, the other boat came all the way over.
"I am Robin Yan of Divine Sword Sect. Greetings to all."
No one felt the slightest goodwill toward him, but hearing he was from Divine Sword Sect, they reluctantly cupped their fists in return—after all, Divine Sword Sect was a top-tier sect that commanded the Nine Provinces.
After a brief chat, Robin Yan suddenly suggested, "We've shared this tribulation together—why not travel as companions from now on?"
As he spoke, Robin Yan's eyes couldn't help but wander over to Harriet Gu, carrying a hint of lechery.
Born into a powerful family and with backers in Divine Sword Sect, he learned in advance that the Inner Sect Grand Competition determined the Sanctum Academy quotas. He spent a fortune bribing people to secure the seventh spot.
Otherwise, his cultivation wouldn't even place him in the top ten of Divine Sword Sect.
Thanks to his privileged upbringing, he was also extremely lustful.
He wasn't lucky this time—the group he was assigned to had only two women, and both were average in looks.
So when he saw Leon Huang's boat had three women, two of whom were stunning beauties—especially Harriet Gu, a true standout—he couldn't help but covet them.
After a brief exchange, everyone disliked Robin Yan even more.
No matter what, it was Senior Brother Huang who saved them, yet they didn't even offer a single word of thanks.
Harriet Gu was clearly displeased with Robin Yan's gaze and said coldly, "I don't agree."
Leon Huang cupped his fists to Robin Yan and said, "Sorry, Senior Brother Yan, we'll be going first! Sam Gu, set sail!"
Watching Leon Huang and the others leave, Robin Yan's face grew dark. He shook his sleeves and muttered coldly, "What a bunch of nobodies!"
The other nine people on his boat weren't as high-status as he was, but they all secretly despised Robin Yan's behavior. Not only did he fail to thank Leon Huang and the others for saving them, he even tried to covet their companions. People like him are classic white-eyed wolves—no wonder no one wanted to travel with him.
Suddenly, Robin Yan kicked the boatman and barked, "Follow them!"
Leon Huang activated his Clairvoyant Vision and scanned the surrounding sea. His face darkened. "We're surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Flying Spinefish!" he said seriously.
Rose Changsun nodded. "Yeah, just look at the way he talked—his eyes were practically growing out the top of his head. He really thinks being from Divine Sword Sect makes him above everyone else!"
Everyone chimed in, criticizing Robin Yan, while Leon Huang just smiled indifferently. He'd seen plenty of people like this before—real-life rich kids and official brats acted just like him.
"Hey, Senior Brother Huang, look—they're following us." Yvette Xue glanced back casually and spotted Robin Yan's boat trailing a few hundred meters behind.
"Sam Gu, change our course!" Leon Huang frowned.
"Alright."
Sam Gu quickly changed the route, but to their surprise, the boat behind them mirrored the change.
"Shameless!"
Rose Changsun cursed.
"Forget it. If they want to follow, let them follow!" Leon Huang said coldly, his dislike for Robin Yan growing stronger.
On the trailing boat, Robin Yan stood at the bow, looking smug. "This young master is going to follow you—what can you do about it? Hahaha!"
His triumphant laughter carried over on the sea breeze.
Everyone felt especially annoyed and frustrated.
And so, they sailed for another hour, with Robin Yan's group still trailing a few hundred meters behind.
Without warning—
Hundreds of Flying Spinefish suddenly leapt out of the sea.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
A barrage of sharp spikes shot toward Leon Huang and the others on the boat, filling the sky.
Leon Huang reacted instantly. Twin swords appeared in his hands as he unleashed sword intent, merging with heaven and earth. He blocked more than ninety percent of the spikes, while the remaining ten percent were deflected by the other nine working together.
Meanwhile, hundreds of meters away, Robin Yan's group was also ambushed by Flying Spinefish. Caught off guard, three of them were struck by spikes.
Leon Huang activated his clairvoyance skill and scanned the surrounding sea. His face darkened. "We're surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Flying Spinefish!" he said seriously.