"This waste cannot even protect himself, yet he finds some arrogant bastard to do his talking."
The man's voice was dripping with such ridicule and humiliation that the surrounding crowd began to whisper and snicker among themselves.
Seeing Xan stepping in, Mulo quickly tried to de-escalate the situation. "Old friend, we are not here to fight."
"Hahaha! Since when did I become your friend? Hey, you two, kill them!" The old man barked an order to the masked men in black standing in front of him.
"Mr. Wang, it is better if you do not get involved; they are always like this..." Mulo whispered urgently.
Although Xan Li Fang generally disliked interfering in the business of others, he also possessed a burning desire to test the changes in his own body. He recalled Mulo's earlier words—that there were only seven Second Step Cultivators in the entire kingdom. He needed to know where he stood.
"Old thing, now I show you how to respect your father."
As the words left his lips, a terrifying surge of energy exploded from Xan's body. Arcs of crimson lightning began to crackle around his footsteps, striking the ground with every move. He looked like a god descending from the heavens.
His eyes began to glow with a piercing light. Behind his back, a massive Yin-Yang Formation manifested, rotating slowly.
The crowd gasped. In this world, manifesting a Power Formation was a feat only achievable by a Late Stage First Step Cultivator or an Early Stage Second Step Cultivator.
The old man gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. "Trying to play ghost in front of me... Bloody Death Dragon!"
With a roar, a massive, twenty-meter-long dragon materialized, radiating a suffocating aura of death and blood. It loomed over Xan, ready to strike.
But Xan remained as calm as ever. He looked up at the beast with indifference.
"You, dragon... Bow down to your ancestor."
Xan spoke softly, but his voice carried an ancient, crushing weight. He unleashed his pressure.
The old man's eyes widened in horror. "It is Bloodline Pressure... Impossible!"
The pressure was so immense that blood began to pour from the old man's mouth. The twenty-meter dragon whimpered and dissolved under the sheer authority of Xan's lineage.
Realizing the gap in their power, the old man fell to his knees, trembling. "Young Master, we were wrong! Please, forgive us!"
"It is too late."
Xan intensified the pressure.
Boom!
The old man's body could not withstand the force. He exploded instantly, his body shattering into pieces.
"This is a lesson for you," Xan said coldly. He did not say another word.
Mulo stood there, his mouth agape, completely shocked by the brutality and efficiency of the kill. "Master Wang... thank you."
Approximately ten minutes later, the teleportation array roared to life. In a flash of light, Xan and Mulo vanished, teleporting directly to the capital city.
The event left the surrounding crowd in a frenzy. The mysterious young man with the Yin-Yang Formation had sparked an intense curiosity. Many of the onlookers rushed away immediately, eager to report the appearance of this terrifying new expert to their sect leaders and masters.
They arrived in the city instantly.
It appeared that the receiving end of the teleportation formation was located directly inside the Lindao Royal Academy .
Xan looked around, his eyes widening. The Academy was massive and astonishingly vibrant. The architecture was a baffling but majestic blend of styles; the stone columns and arches reminded him of Ancient Rome , while the intricate, massive stonework walls echoed the style of the Incas . Yet, amidst this ancient grandeur, there were sleek, sharp lines of 21st-century modernism interwoven into the design, giving the entire campus a unique, timeless majesty.
"These construction styles... they remind me of the Roman and Inca styles I saw in history books back home... Amazing!!!" Xan thought, unable to hide his admiration.
Although the teleportation array was located in the center of the academy's open training grounds, it was heavily guarded by a shimmering translucent barrier—a Protection Spell .
Beyond the barrier, the grounds were teeming with life. There were humans, of course, but also creatures with various mutations: some with scales, some with extra limbs. There were even beasts walking upright and conversing in human tongues.
"If someone had told me a story like this back home, I wouldn't have believed them. I wouldn't have even believed my own mother!" Xan mused, shaking his head.
"Mr. Wang, did you say something to me?" Mulo asked, leaning in.
"Ah, no, nothing," Xan replied quickly. "I am just amazed... the buildings here... they are very interesting."
Mulo nodded, gesturing to the sprawling campus. "The Academy has taken on the responsibility of hosting this year's competition. It is held every 15 years. Only cultivators under the age of 25 are permitted to participate. There is no restriction on cultivation level—strength is the only law."
Xan frowned slightly. "Elder Mulo, how do they verify age? Surely people try to cheat?"
"Ha, ha, ha... I forgot to mention that," Mulo chuckled. "Listen closely. The Academy possesses a Divine Artifact known as the Heavenly Age Calculator . You know, in every competition, there are old monsters who try to suppress their cultivation and hide their age to steal resources from the young. But the Calculator sees the rings of the soul. No one can deceive it."
"So... I can participate, right?" Xan asked. He was twenty-four, but his bloodline and the time dilation of his travel made him wonder.
"Theoretically, yes," Mulo confirmed.
Mulo continued his explanation as they walked. "Although there are 22 academies in the country, only 4 of them are equipped to host Major Class competitions like this one. The others are too small; broad-scale tournaments held there often end in chaos and disorder."
"The First Class Academy dormitory is located on the West side of the campus," Mulo said, guiding Xan through the crowds. "We will be staying in Building 3A, Room 324. We will leave as soon as the competition ends."
As they approached the residential district, Xan studied the architecture of the dormitory. With its tall spires and arched windows, it strongly resembles the historic temples and churches of Hungary .
"The builders here seem to know Earth's history better than we do," Xan muttered to himself with a smirk.
They entered the building and climbed the stairs, the wood creaming softly under their feet. They navigated the hallways until they reached the door of Room 324.
Just as Mulo reached for the handle, a voice stopped them.
"Hey Mulo, are you here?"
It was a gentle, soft voice, echoing from the end of the corridor.