Chapter 22: Instant Kill Shadow Leopard

Wang Haiping abruptly stopped talking and exchanged a glance with Xiao Yong. They both turned their heads to look.

Not far behind them, Yang Jian was staring at the screen in front of him in shock. The people around him also shot curious and doubtful glances upon hearing the exclamation.

"Killing a Bronze-level Black Shadow Leopard in one hit? How is that possible? Xiao Yang, quickly replay the footage!"

"Oh my god, it really was in one hit!"

"Did he use Steel Flame Finger? Is Steel Flame Finger that powerful?"

"He can run as fast as the Black Shadow Leopard. Is that even possible for a Star Apprentice? I'm not sure if I could run that fast!"

The scene on the screen was so astonishing that the City Guard members forgot the Education Director was still standing in the command center and started cursing.

Wang Haiping and Xiao Yong also moved closer to the screen.

"Yang Jian, what's the situation?" Xiao Yong asked directly.

Seeing Xiao Yong and Wang Haiping approaching, Yang Jian quickly replayed the footage.

"Captain, Director Wang, look at this replay. This student number 388 killed the Black Shadow Leopard with one strike, even though it was a sneak attack. It's quite impressive!"

Ever since Su Yuan killed the three Miasma Serpents, Yang Jian had been paying close attention to him. Although Su Yuan's subsequent performances were also outstanding, there hadn't been any significantly powerful Star Beast encounters, so they weren't particularly remarkable.

But this time was different. He killed a Bronze-level Star Beast without making a sound!

Wang Haiping and Xiao Yong immediately focused on the screen.

In a valley area of the rainforest, student number 388 was resting under a large tree. Not far behind him, a Bronze Early Stage Shadow Leopard was silently leaping through the shadows, getting closer and closer.

The Shadow Leopard, wielding the power of the shadow element, was quite eerie. Although its frontal combat strength was limited, it excelled at ambushes.

Before long, the Shadow Leopard used Shadow Jump to move within ten meters behind student number 388 using the shadows of numerous trees as conduits.

As getting any closer might risk detection, the Shadow Leopard suddenly burst into action. Using its Shadow Strike skill, it transformed into a shadow that silently and rapidly shot towards the back of student number 388 before leaping to strike!

Just as the Shadow Leopard was about to land its sneak attack, strong winds suddenly erupted around student number 388. His body, like a feather blown by the wind, swiftly and erratically moved to the side at the last moment!

"What a movement technique!"

Just that response and maneuvering made Wang Haiping's eyes light up.

However, what happened next left Wang Haiping even more astonished.

The 388 student, having evaded the attack, did not pull back to create distance. Instead, he swiftly closed in on the missed pounce of the Shadow Leopard. With one step forward, he grabbed its neck and pinned it to the ground with one hand. In an instant, flames rose from his index finger of his other hand, and he pierced it into the Shadow Leopard's head!

The Shadow Leopard twitched violently, then died instantly.

Student 388 shook off the flames on his finger, skillfully drew a long knife, extracted the Star Core from the corpse, nodded in satisfaction, and then calmly resumed resting.

Super strong reflexes, rapid and agile movements, powerful strength, high-damage skills!

From receiving the attack to turning the tables and extracting the core, it was clean and efficient—so fluid, it was almost cinematic!

"Perfect Level Steel Flame Finger and at least Great Success Stage Wind Walking!" Xiao Yong took a deep breath, his expression serious. "What a kid. Is his long knife solely for dissection?"

The surrounding City Guard soldiers were shocked by Xiao Yong's assessment.

"What?! That's Perfect Level Steel Flame Finger?"

"It must be. Without Perfect Level Steel Flame Finger, there's no way a Star Apprentice at the Eighth Stage could kill a Bronze-level Shadow Leopard in one hit. They might even struggle to break through the leopard's defense!"

"But Perfect Level Steel Flame Finger? How is that possible? Among our City Guard Army, several people have Steel Flame Finger, but only four reached Perfect Level, and it took each of them over three years!"

All skills become increasingly difficult to master at higher levels. Even the most ordinary White Card Skills require years, often without success, to reach Perfect Level.

Among the twenty-plus City Guard soldiers present, only one or two had Perfect Skills.

One reason was that many people stopped practicing their original White Card skills once they acquired Green Skills.

"Director Wang, what do you think..."

Xiao Yong was about to ask but, turning his head, he saw Wang Haiping staring intently at the screen, his eyes filled with excitement, almost losing composure!

Xiao Yong was momentarily stunned but quickly understood. To them, a talented student was merely surprising, but to the Education Bureau, it meant something entirely different.

"Xiao Yong, bring up his information!" Wang Haiping demanded, his emotions running high, forgetting even formalities.

"Alright, Yang Jian, display the information of student number 388."

"Yes!"

Yang Jian swiftly brought up student number 388's information and displayed it on the screen.

[Name: Su Yuan]

[Number: 388]

[School: Guangchuan Fourth Middle School]

[Realm: Star Apprentice Eighth Stage]

"Su Yuan? Star Apprentice Eighth Stage?" Wang Haiping read the information on the screen. "Now bring up Fang Kun's information."

Fang Kun's information was easy to find; Yang Jian had reviewed it many times. He quickly displayed it next to Su Yuan's.

[Name: Fang Kun]

[Number: 001]

[School: Guangchuan First Middle School]

[Realm: Star Apprentice Ninth Stage]

[Soul Card: Furious Tiger (Master)]

[Introduction: Shuzhou College special recruit, possesses Green Skills "Superstate Vision" and "Bloodthirsty Battle Intent," and White Card Skill "Black Tiger Strong Strike" at Great Success Stage. Strength and Constitution are both rated C, specializes in frontal combat.]

Wang Haiping frowned slightly. "Fang Kun's data includes his Soul Card and introduction. Is this all we have on Su Yuan?"

The comparison between the two highlighted the information scarcity of Su Yuan's file.

This genius student, who had mastered a Perfect Skill, had such limited information?

Xiao Yong explained, "Director Wang, that's all the information we have. Each student's details are compiled and provided by their school. This is a trial, not a selection process, so we only require the name, school, and realm. Additional details are provided by the schools individually."

Wang Haiping's frown deepened. "What is Guangchuan Fourth Middle School doing? Even if he's only a Star Apprentice at the Eighth Stage, how can a genius with a Perfect Skill have so little information? Send a message outside and have Guangchuan Fourth Middle School's accompanying teacher come in!"

In the Secret Realm, regular communications couldn't reach outside. Special methods were needed to contact the external world.

Xiao Yong nodded and quickly went to send the message.