Noon sunlight continued to scatter down.
The forest clearing, filled with martial prodigies, should have been lively and noisy; yet now it had fallen into a dead silence, not a soul speaking or moving.
All eyes in the field were focused on Andrew Han.
"Ninth Coiled Dragon, Peerless Andrew Han?"
Someone voiced their confusion: "How is this possible? How could he so easily defeat Jason Jiang?"
"No matter what, Andrew Han is the strongest Peerless of this generation," someone sighed sincerely. "It's just a pity—no matter how strong he is, at most he can only rival the Fifth Coiled Dragon, maybe even the Fourth."
"This year's Prodigy Battle—Peerless is destined to lose its glory!"
Such thoughts were far from uncommon.
It was a frustrating truth—even with Andrew Han's earth-shattering martial power, he still could not contend with the top three Coiled Dragons.
The Twelve Coiled Dragons.
Each rank apart marked a significant gap. And the top three Coiled Dragons were worlds apart from those below.
Suddenly—chirping filled the air.
Three or four birds circled high above, their dark eyes seeming to observe the scene below. Instantly, four streaks of piercing light shot upward like arrows, silently slicing through the air and killing the birds.
The one who acted was General Meng.
This middle-aged man, who called himself General Meng, stood beside Andrew Han, stopping his punching motion.
Pa, pa, pa.
The lifeless birds dropped into the nearby dirt without a sound.
"General Meng?" Andrew Han slowly stood up, glanced at the dead birds, a hint of speculation in his eyes, and asked, "Are you the general in charge of the Border Defense Belt?"
Each province in Sinovera has its own Border Defense Belt.
According to the ranking of posts along the Defense Belt, it goes: Deputy Commander, Commander, and then General.
A Border General is at least high-tier Martial Lord. Along the Defense Belt, every eight hundred li there is a stationed general, commanding all surrounding regions and guarding the land of Sinovera.
Every general is worthy of respect!
But there's a caveat—they must be Border Defense Belt generals. If it's just a nominal, powerless general, they're not worth paying attention to.
"Of course." General Meng curled his lips in a faint smile. "This year's Peerless Prodigy Battle is fully under my charge."
"Mm." Andrew Han nodded.
Ssst ssst.
Jason Jiang, lying in the depression, had a trace of loneliness and despair in his eyes. He stared blankly at Andrew Han, silent and lost in thought.
Defeated?
I lost? Then... was I wrong?
Jason Jiang searched his heart but found no answer. He coughed up blood twice, then flipped out of the depression and stood on General Meng's other side.
Pa pa.
Only then did General Meng clap his hands, his voice flat: "Look at your imposing airs—you've nearly ruined today's registration. So, are you proud of yourselves?"
"No," Andrew Han said quickly. "I feel deeply ashamed for this."
Hmph.
Jason Jiang snorted and didn't respond at all.
Proud?
Having nearly been crippled by Andrew Han, Jason only felt too ashamed to remain here. He walked off alone toward the edge of the forest.
Heh.
General Meng curled his lips, glanced meaningfully at Andrew Han and Jason Jiang, then leisurely walked back into the white tent to resume the interrupted registration.
Andrew Han, still standing where he was, also curled his lips.
"Strange."
Why did General Meng's gaze give me such a bad feeling?
He pondered for a moment.
Andrew Han frowned and looked around. The crowd's fearful, reverent gazes made him feel like the moon surrounded by stars.
"Everyone."
He cupped his hands to those around him, his voice sincere and clear: "I apologize for my earlier actions. If I disturbed you, I hope you'll forgive me."
As soon as he spoke, replies echoed all around.
"Haha, it's fine, it's fine."
"Andrew Han, you're too polite."
"A Peerless battle like this—we'd never get to see it normally. It's a rare spectacle, not a disturbance at all."
The martial prodigies all smiled in response.
Andrew Han's refined courtesy, following his unrestrained, limitless martial might, was like warm sunlight after thunder—illuminating the depths of everyone's hearts.
It made them feel both awe and ease.
Maybe this is the true spirit of invincibility among equals!
"This, this—"
"Modest and gentle as jade—is this Andrew Han's Peerless creed?" Leo Liu stood frozen for a moment, then walked over to Andrew Han.
With the Peerless Prodigy Battle about to begin, there was something he wanted to ask Andrew Han for help with.
...
Imperial Capital, Empire Academy.
Inside a lavish, imposing office, four or five of Empire Academy's key leaders sat solemnly around a round table.
Thud!
A document lay on the solid wood tabletop.
The president of Empire Academy said angrily, "Everyone here today is a martial practitioner. There are things I simply must say."
"Last week's murder case at Empire Academy has seriously damaged our reputation!"
"This is a disgrace to higher education in Sinovera, and an insult to Empire Academy. I have already authorized martial student Leo Liu... to seek an opportunity to kill Jason Jiang of Sacred Spring Sect!"
The room fell silent at these words.
Some were moved, some remained silent, and others slapped the table in praise: "Good, excellent, he deserves to die!"
Gulp.
Another white-haired elder hesitated for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow: "But he's a disciple of Sacred Spring Sect, and Jason Jiang is part of the Imperial Capital's defense system. We lack the authority to know the extent of his battle merit."
"If his battle merit is immense, we may not be able to kill him."
In the martial world, the greatest taboo is murder.
Martial strength rules all—you may kill in open combat, or settle life and death cleanly, but you cannot plot and scheme to murder another martial practitioner. That violates the martial world's code.
"It's fine."
The president of Empire Academy gently set down his gold-rimmed glasses: "As long as Jason Jiang is killed during the Peerless Prodigy Battle, we bear no responsibility... The academy's reputation must not be trampled by anyone, not even a Peerless!"
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Click.
The gold-rimmed glasses landed on the round table.
The other academy leaders present all felt a jolt in their hearts.
...
Southland University, administration building.
The stately, five-story administration building was clad in dark gray marble. On the fifth floor, the president's office was simply decorated, exuding a strong sense of cultural refinement.
Bang!
The wooden door shut tightly.
"Hmph."
"Utter foolishness!" Victor Zhang, the president of Southland University, his cheeks ruddy, gently polished his black-rimmed glasses and shook his head in secret. "Empire Academy wants to kill Peerless Jason Jiang, and they came to me, hoping to ask for help from the number one martial student, Andrew Han?"
Tap.
He picked up a steaming teacup and took a gentle sip.
On the surrounding walls hung famous calligraphy and landscape paintings, along with some unnamed green plants, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
"I have no desire to get involved in this mess."
"Besides, this is the Peerless Prodigy Battle!" Victor Zhang set down his teacup and leaned back on the sofa. "I really don't know where they get the nerve—such reckless audacity, to plot the murder of Jason Jiang?"
Hmph.
He curled his lip.
To be sure, Andrew Han was exceptionally powerful—even Victor Zhang felt an irresistible Peerless presence. But compared to a disciple of Sacred Spring Sect, he was still lacking.
The prestige of Sacred Spring Sect resounds throughout the martial world.
And as the only Peerless of this era to come from a martial sect, Jason Jiang possesses unmatched martial strength.
Swish.
Victor Zhang picked up the teapot from the coffee table and brewed himself a cup of light tea, delicately holding the blue-and-white porcelain cup, his gaze serene.
With a slight movement of his right hand, he spun the teacup like a phantom.
As the delicate aroma of tea filled the room, Victor Zhang gently closed his eyes. "Andrew Han, I hope you can hold your own—don't let yourself become someone else's stepping stone."
"Though you are a disciple of Green Mountain Sect—"
"—you are also the spiritual symbol of all martial students in Sinovera!"
......
At the same moment—
In front of the girls' dormitory building.
Zhang Meng, dressed in a simple sweater, was strolling through campus with her best friend Xu Jiawei. The two chatted and giggled, discussing school matters.
"Mengmeng."
Xu Jiawei teased, "Where's your Andrew Han?"
"Hmph." Zhang Meng pursed her lips shyly, about to retort, when she noticed Xu Jiawei's expression had suddenly frozen.
Hey.
She waved her little pale hand, but Xu Jiawei didn't respond at all.
Jiawei?
The girl was startled and reached out to shake Xu Jiawei.
Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded.
"Zhang Meng."
"I suppose I'm Andrew Han's elder. There's something here—could you please pass it to him?" Leon Yu, with jade-like features and an extraordinary bearing, smiled at the bewildered Zhang Meng and handed her a pure white, round token.
He grumbled inwardly.
Damn!
He'd forgotten... Andrew Han had gone to the Taixing Mountain Range to participate in this year's Peerless Prodigy Battle.
——
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