BOOM!!
The terrifying power erupting from that hideous insect brushed past Zhao Xuan's left cheek and shot skyward.
The next instant—
The energy wave slammed into the wall of the Imperial Capital Sports Arena.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion followed.
The entire stadium shuddered violently.
The shockwave tore outward, flinging even several sixth- and seventh-rank ability users across the arena like rag dolls.
The entire northern side of the stadium was blown open, leaving a massive hole behind.
There was no doubt—
If Zhao Xuan did not possess the extremely rare danger-prevision form of Observation Haki…
If he had not transformed into his dragon-man state the instant the danger appeared…
If he did not have the lightning-fast reaction speed granted by his 24,000 physique…
If even one of those three conditions failed—
He would have only one fate:
Death.
—
After dodging the terrifying strike—
Zhao Xuan was already drenched in cold sweat.
At that moment—
The monstrous insect launched a second attack.
"Wah! Wah! Wah! Wah! Wah!"
Before the attack even landed, Zhao Xuan's Observation Haki exploded with another violent warning.
He didn't care at all about his appearance—
He rolled sideways across the ground like a donkey, barely avoiding the second blast.
BOOM!!!
Another devastating collision struck the already-damaged wall.
RUMBLE!
The stadium shook again, cracks spider-webbing around the fresh hole.
The entire structure looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Before Zhao Xuan could even stand up—
His Observation Haki shrieked with yet another warning.
Fortunately—
A moment later—
The frantic premonitions abruptly quieted.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several eighth-rank kings—who had been watching from the stands—arrived on the arena in a flash, surrounding Zhao Xuan protectively.
"Courting death!"
Fang Tao roared with fury.
He reached out and seized the monstrous insect emerging from Ruan Zhe's chest.
With a powerful squeeze—
"Screeee!!"
The creature shrieked.
Then—
POP.
It was crushed to pulp in Fang Tao's hand.
He immediately turned to Zhao Xuan—
And, seeing that he was merely pale and spiritually drained but physically unharmed—
Fang Tao finally exhaled in relief.
After all—
Based on Zhao Xuan's astounding performance two days earlier…
He was already viewed as a candidate with the potential to become a ninth-rank Emperor-level powerhouse.
Even if he failed to reach the ninth rank—
He would undoubtedly become an eighth-rank Supreme King.
And an eighth-rank Supreme King was—
A half-step Emperor.
Invincible below rank nine.
Kyushu, though powerful, was surrounded by countless enemies due to the vast number of high-value relic sites it controlled in the Endless Sea.
Every additional eighth-rank Supreme or ninth-rank Emperor meant Kyushu could secure one more high-tier mystic realm, whose resources could elevate a nation's power for generations.
This was why Fang Tao and the other eighth-rank kings reacted so violently—
And why they were relieved to see Zhao Xuan unharmed.
After confirming Zhao Xuan's safety—
Their expressions shifted—
To shock.
Deep shock.
They exchanged glances.
Each saw the same disbelief reflected in the others' eyes.
The insect that emerged from Ruan Zhe…
Its origin clearly was not ordinary.
Otherwise—
They wouldn't have reacted this way.
After a moment—
Their gazes snapped toward Ruan Zhe, who sat on the ground, pale, weak, and trembling uncontrollably.
Their eyes sharpened like blades.
Under the cold stares of eighth-rank kings—
Ruan Zhe's body shook even harder.
Then Fang Tao finally spoke.
"Ruan Zhe—"
"Y-yes…!" Ruan Zhe answered in a trembling voice.
"Tell me honestly—during the last two days, where have you been? Who have you come into contact with?"
"I… I…"
Ruan Zhe stuttered.
"I… I haven't left the hotel the Ability User Guild arranged for us. I've only met the hotel staff and the other candidates…
N-no… no, that's not right!"
Suddenly, he shook his head violently.
"I remember! I remember now! The night before last—late at night—
I felt hungry and went to a nearby restaurant that serves wild mushroom soup…"
Fang Tao gestured to a seventh-rank ability user.
Without a word, the man turned and rushed out of the arena.
Fang Tao continued:
"Other than that?"
Ruan Zhe thought hard, then shook his head.
"N-no… no one else."
"You're certain?" Fang Tao pressed.
"C-certain."
"For safety, we must check whether any more puppet worms remain in your body. Do you have objections?"
"P-puppet worm!?"
Ruan Zhe's face instantly drained of color.
"L-Lord Fang… are… are you saying I was parasitized by a puppet worm?"
"Yes."
Fang Tao tossed the crushed insect onto the ground.
Seeing it so close—
Ruan Zhe scrambled backward several meters, terrified.
"Don't worry. It's already dead," Fang Tao said.
Soon—
Two seventh-rank elders and a team of medical staff escorted Ruan Zhe away.
Meanwhile—
Zhao Xuan was still gasping for breath.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
His mental state was utterly drained—
Like a normal person who had done twenty straight hours of high-intensity mental labor without rest.
Active Observation Haki premonition consumed a frightening amount of mental energy.
And during that encounter—
His Haki had been screaming warnings every single second.
It was no wonder his mental energy plummeted from full to below 100 in barely a dozen seconds.
As he struggled to breathe—
A voice suddenly rang in his mind.
"Ding!
You have experienced a life-and-death battle.
Twice you brushed against death, and through this, your understanding of all your abilities has deepened.
All ability proficiencies +3000!"
"Ding!
You have used your Observation Haki to evade death twice.
Observation Haki proficiency +10,000!"
Zhao Xuan froze mid-breath.
His mental exhaustion vanished instantly—
Replaced by a tidal wave of ecstasy.
Holy shit!
Holy shit!!
Holy—F*CKING—shit!!!
All abilities +3000 proficiency!?
Observation Haki +10,000 ON TOP OF THAT!?
No way!
Was he hallucinating!?
Shaking, he opened his system panel.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence System]
Name: Zhao Xuan
Age: 18
Spirit: 68.23 / 405.13
Physique: 1247.15 / 2433.45
Abilities:
Shave — Grandmaster (7163 / 16000)
Iron Body — Grandmaster (13604 / 16000)
Paper Art — Grandmaster (7700 / 16000)
Moonwalk — Grandmaster (7030 / 16000)
Tempest Kick — Grandmaster (8663 / 16000)
Finger Gun — Grandmaster (7135 / 16000)
Swordsmanship — Master (6935 / 8000)
Observation Haki — Master (20323 / 80000)
Armament Haki — Master (14831 / 80000)
Conqueror's Haki — Master (500 / 80000)
Azure Dragon Fruit — Master (11956 / 80000)
Holy—!!
It was REAL.
He hadn't misheard.
The gains were REAL.
Unprecedented joy surged through him.
The eighth-rank kings could clearly sense Zhao Xuan's emotional state—
since all of them possessed Observation Haki as well.
They exchanged glances—
Their expressions turning weird.
"He… doesn't have some kind of masochistic tendency, right? He was almost killed, practically exhausted to death—
Yet he looks ecstatic."
That was the shared thought among all of them.
At that moment—
Footsteps approached rapidly.
The seventh-rank ability user returned.
"My lords!"
He saluted.
"How is the situation?" Fang Tao asked.
"He escaped. According to local residents, the wild mushroom soup restaurant closed yesterday morning. Most likely, the culprit fled right after planting the worm in Ruan Zhe."
"Hmph. Demon Cult scum. They sure ran fast."
Fang Tao snorted coldly.
"Run? Where can they run? We've been tracking their lair for a long time—
We were just waiting to catch a bigger fish.
But they actually dared cause trouble openly during the National Exam?"
His voice chilled.
"Li Shengzhang."
"Here!" the seventh-ranker responded.
"Go. Destroy the Demon Cult stronghold we located earlier."
"Yes, my lord!"
As they spoke—
Zhao Xuan finally recovered from the euphoric shock.
Hearing their conversation—
He couldn't help but ask:
"Lord Fang, that insect that attacked me… was the Demon Cult behind it?"
"Yes."
Fang Tao nodded.
"The Puppet Worm Fruit allows its user to implant worms into other people's bodies—giving them temporary control, even twisting the target's thoughts."
"Damn…"
Zhao Xuan sucked in a breath.
"There's a fruit like THAT?"
"The world is vast. The Demon Fruits born in the Demon Realm number in the thousands. There is nothing impossible."
Fang Tao continued:
"But don't worry.
Puppet Worm users cannot freely create worms. Each one consumes their lifespan, and when a worm dies, the backlash is severe.
They wouldn't normally sacrifice one unless absolutely necessary."
"I see…" Zhao Xuan nodded thoughtfully.
"But don't be too relaxed."
Fang Tao added.
"You are a publicly recognized genius.
All major evil cults will target you sooner or later."
"Really!?"
Zhao Xuan's eyes lit up instantly.
"That's great!"
"You…"
Fang Tao stared speechlessly at Zhao Xuan's excited, battle-hungry expression—
Suddenly feeling old.
And completely out of touch with this new generation.
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