"Over? Did I say it was over?"
However, just as the candidates from the North District thought they were about to die at the hands of the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast, a calm voice drifted down from the sky.
Before anyone had time to look toward the source of the voice, a figure flashed past with incredible speed, arriving with the sound like a swift bolt of lightning.
SWISH! In an instant, the figure appeared before the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast, shielding the North District candidates behind him.
His movements were nimble and light. With just the slightest sway of his body, he easily dodged every single one of the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast’s attacks, no matter how wildly it flapped its wings or how furiously it struck.
This figure wielded a Broken Sword. It had no tip, and its edge wasn’t even sharp. But...!!
He gently swung the Broken Sword. He wasn’t using any obvious Martial Techniques, nor were his movements grand. It was as if he were just casually toying with it, waving the Broken Sword a few times in front of the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast. Suddenly, the beast’s body went taut, freezing completely still.
A few seconds later, a light breeze drifted past. The Golden-winged Black Wind Beast’s three-meter-tall body seemed to crumble, breaking apart into perfectly neat chunks of flesh. Its entire form was sliced into several pieces, instantly disintegrating.
The feathers of the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast were incredibly tough. The combined might of over thirty candidates from the four major districts, all focusing their attacks, had been unable to penetrate its defenses.
Yet, before this figure, those same defenses were like tofu, sliced through with absolute ease and no resistance whatsoever.
The figure’s movements were fluid and effortless. He had butchered the Level 5 Demon Beast as easily as if he were slicing vegetables.
In the time it takes to draw a single breath, the Level 5 Demon Beast, the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast, was slain and dismembered.
"So strong!"
GASP! The North District candidates were all dumbfounded.
’Holy shit... Was this really the same Level 5 Demon Beast they’d fought to the death and couldn’t even scratch?’
’Was this the Level 5 Demon Beast that more than thirty candidates from four different districts had been unable to kill?’
’And it died in just a few hits from this guy? Did he have to be so ridiculously badass?’
However, before the North District candidates could snap out of their daze, the figure, having killed the Golden-winged Black Wind Beast, landed gracefully on the ground. He held the Broken Sword in his hand, his posture proud and imposing, cutting an incredibly majestic figure.
Because the figure had moved with such speed, his body was like a Shadow and impossible to see clearly. Furthermore, now that he had landed, he was standing with his back to the North District candidates. Therefore, from beginning to end, the candidates had not gotten a clear look at his face. They had no idea who this graceful, ramrod-straight person standing before them was.
"Tang Yi?"
Bai Ye called out tentatively. The man’s silhouette seemed familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.
Moreover, there were very few candidates capable of killing a Level 5 Demon Beast so easily. He couldn’t think of anyone who could do it... except Tang Yi!
And just as he suspected, this peerless expert who had appeared like a Divine Weapon sent from the heavens was none other than Tang Yi.
Tang Yi slowly turned around, looking at everyone with a half-smile. "What’s this? You thought this was over without my permission?"
"Ah! Tang Yi, it really is you!"
Bai Ye exclaimed in surprise, his heart filled with gratitude.
"It’s Tang Yi! Tang Yi saved us!"
"I thought I was going to die! I can’t believe you showed up, Tang Yi! This is great!"
"I was about to cry! Waaaah, Tang Yi!"
"Tang Yi, you’ve always been my goal, my idol that I hold in the highest awe. I’ve only ever been able to watch you from a distance; I’ve never even spoken a single word to you. To think that not only have I spoken to you now, but you also saved our lives... I’m just so moved!"
When the North District candidates saw Tang Yi’s face clearly, they were utterly astonished and burst into excited chatter.
The thrill of surviving a near-death experience sent waves of euphoria through them. On top of that, seeing that their savior was the mythical figure of their North District, Tang Yi, made them even more ecstatic.
The North District candidates all gazed at Tang Yi as if he were their idol, their eyes filled with a sense of wonder and deep reverence.
"Tang Yi, thank you. Thank you for saving us," Bai Ye said gratefully to Tang Yi, calming his excitement.
"Why thank me? To be honest, I didn’t want to save a bunch of idiots like you. You clearly had Help Stones that could have saved your lives, but you insisted on fighting a Level 5 Demon Beast to the death. Do you even know your own limits?"
Tang Yi’s expression grew stern, and he lectured them like an elder. "Hah. Every last one of you, acting like martyrs. What good comes from fighting a Demon Beast to the death? You throw away your lives for nothing. Haven’t you heard the saying? ’As long as the green mountains are there, you’ll never lack firewood.’ As long as you’re alive and driven to improve, how could you not become strong in the future?
Do you think getting into the West Mansion will automatically make you powerful? Sure, the path is smoother once you’re in the West Mansion, and you’ll be a step closer to the Supreme Realm. But in the end, success depends on whether you’re willing to work hard enough! It depends on whether you’re still alive to see that day! If you die, nothing else matters.
So, no matter what, your first priority is to stay alive. After that, you can talk about everything else, about your ambitions. Understand? You morons."
Tang Yi rambled on, chewing out Bai Ye and the others until they were red in the face. And the more he scolded them, the more he seemed to get into it, and the angrier he became.
Tang Yi hadn’t been angry at first. But somehow, in the process of lecturing Bai Ye and his group, he’d managed to talk himself into a rage.
"Er..."
Bai Ye and the others all lowered their heads, their faces flushing then paling, scolded into silence by Tang Yi.
But they didn’t—and wouldn’t dare—talk back. It was just as Tang Yi had said: as long as the green mountains are there, you’ll never lack firewood. They should have prioritized staying alive.
It was just that they felt that even if they survived, they would be too ashamed to return home. It would be too disgraceful. That’s why they had risked everything for that sliver of a chance.
"Tang Yi, it’s my fault. I’m the one who led everyone into danger," Bai Ye said, taking responsibility.
"Mm, I know everything that just happened," Tang Yi said with a nod.
"You knew? You were nearby this whole time? Uh, were we... were we that pathetic?"
Bai Ye said nervously, looking at Tang Yi. Facing Tang Yi now, he had completely lost the supreme self-confidence he once had, that air of someone who could look down upon the whole World.
He remembered the first time he’d met Tang Yi, how confident he had been. He would constantly bring up his title as number one in the Thirty-six Cities of the North District, feeling superior to everyone and acting incredibly arrogant.
On the Void Warship, even though he had already lost to Tang Yi by then, Bai Ye still considered himself the leader of the candidates, a top-tier figure.
But now? His presence had diminished immeasurably, and he would never again dare to claim he was number one in the Thirty-six Cities of the North District.
His tone when speaking to Tang Yi was even like that of a servant.
Seeing Bai Ye like this, Tang Yi frowned and said, "Bai Ye, I used to think you were somebody, but now I’ve changed my mind. Why are you so meek and submissive? Is it because I’m stronger, so you feel you’re beneath me? I’m so disappointed in you."

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