The Strongest Talent Tree

In the Main Battle Academy of Five Provinces Academy, the Central Square had been converted into a competition venue. By tradition, during the academy-wide tournament, the four major zones of the Central Square would cease their normal operations and be dedicated entirely to the competition.

When Feng Hao arrived, the Central Square was already packed with people. Students from every department had gathered, cheering for the competitors!

The competition had now reached its second round, and the rivalry was growing fiercer. Students from the Main Battle Academy who were on the Crystal Stele had also begun to compete, making the matches even more exciting.

"Whoa, this is quite a scene. I just wonder if the quality of the fights is any good," Feng Hao muttered to himself, squeezed into the crowd, unnoticed.

Using the Listening Stone to communicate, Feng Hao had already learned the location for the two-person team match. He quickly spotted Xiyue Frost and Houhuiyao.

At that moment, Houhuiyao was on top of the world. A large cheerleading squad composed of students from the Apothecary and Medical Departments followed him. He stood proudly in the waiting area, occasionally striking a cool pose—he was as flamboyant as they come.

Xiyue Frost, on the other hand, was much more composed. She stood there quietly, waiting for the match to begin, her expression as stoic as ever.

"Xiaoshuang, can I borrow that little underling of yours for a few days?" Man Tiaotiao pestered Xiyue Frost, her face alight with excitement. Ever since yesterday’s match, she had been captivated by Houhuiyao’s miraculous effects.

That invincible, unstoppable fighting style was just too perfect for her!

Unfortunately, she had spent most of the day searching but couldn’t find a single Healing Mage like Houhuiyao, much to her frustration.

Xiyue Frost gave her a calm glance and said irritably, "Stop messing around. We have a match soon."

"Fine." Man Tiaotiao pouted in disappointment, then asked out of curiosity, "By the way, where did you find a Healing Mage like him?"

"Feng Hao introduced him," Xiyue Frost answered truthfully.

Man Tiaotiao froze, surprised. "Feng Hao? Wasn’t that country bumpkin expelled? He’s still in Five States City?"

"Mhm." Xiyue Frost nodded lightly.

Just then, Feng Hao arrived at the perfect moment. He looked at Man Tiaotiao with an amused glint in his eyes and said, "Daughter, who says someone who’s been expelled can’t stay in Five States City?"

"Bastard, who are you calling daughter?!" Man Tiaotiao instantly became livid, her voice a furious shriek.

"What’s all the shouting about? Go play in the mud. I don’t have a daughter like you." Feng Hao teasingly brushed her aside and walked over to Xiyue Frost. "I heard you two stole the show yesterday. How did it feel?"

Xiyue Frost didn’t answer his question. Her brow furrowed as she said, "You shouldn’t have come."

Feng Hao smirked, and just as he was about to say something cool, Man Tiaotiao charged over in a rage. "You damn country bumpkin! Make yourself clear! Since when did I become your daughter?!"

"Weren’t you the one who wanted to give me three punches? What, are you denying it now?" Feng Hao asked with a grin.

Man Tiaotiao froze, only then remembering the request she had posted in the Thief God Hall under the title "Three Punches to Kill a Dad." She was instantly so angry she was speechless.

Just then, Houhuiyao, who had been showing off and flirting with girls on the other side, ran over with a smug look on his face. "Brother Feng, you’re here!"

"So you still remember me, huh, kid?" Feng Hao said irritably.

"What are you saying? Your little brother owes all his success to Brother Feng’s guidance," Houhuiyao said with a sheepish grin.

Before they knew it, a commotion began to stir in the crowd.

Feng Hao hadn’t drawn much attention at first, but after standing with Xiyue Frost and her companions, he quickly became the center of everyone’s gaze.

In an instant, gasps erupted from all sides. All eyes were fixed on Feng Hao. Immediately after, the previous incident involving the killing was brought up, and countless students from the Strength Department began to glare at him with fury.

The Strength Department had always been the strongest within the Main Battle Academy. Feng Hao’s previous killing of Cao Heng was a huge slap in the face to them, so many Strength Department students wanted to settle the score with Feng Hao.

The matches hadn’t started yet, and the students were bored out of their minds. Feng Hao’s unexpected appearance immediately piqued everyone’s interest.

"You’re Feng Hao?" A few experts from the Strength Department quickly surrounded him.

Feng Hao had expected this. He met their gazes with an amused look. "That’s right. Is there a problem?"

"Good," said the leader, a young man in black with a giant axe slung across his back. His face was grim. "I heard you’re powerful, that you defeated Cao Heng when you were only level twenty-eight. But as they say, seeing is believing. We brothers from the Strength Department find that a little hard to believe."

Hearing this, Houhuiyao angrily stepped forward and said, "Xu Long, are you fucking looking for a fight?"

Xu Long’s eyes were filled with contempt. "Hilarious. A mere Healing Mage dares to challenge me? Don’t think I won’t beat you down just because Xiyue Frost has your back. This has nothing to do with you. If you know what’s good for you, stay out of it!"

"You...!"

"Senior Xu Long, are you trying to publicly disrupt the competition grounds?" Xiyue Frost asked coldly as she stepped forward.

Seeing Xiyue Frost, Xu Long immediately put on a more amiable expression and said righteously, "Junior Sister Xiyue, you misunderstand. He is no longer a student of Five Provinces Academy. I am merely maintaining order on the competition grounds."

"Shameless," Xiyue Frost gritted her teeth and snorted, but she didn’t know how to refute him.

Man Tiaotiao stood to the side as if watching a good show, wishing she could see Feng Hao make a fool of himself right away.

Meanwhile, countless onlookers had already gathered around. Many Strength Department students began to jeer, shouting for Xu Long to "maintain order."

Seeing the situation rapidly spiraling out of control, the expressions on Xiyue Frost and Houhuiyao’s faces grew heavier.

Feng Hao calmly pulled them behind him and said confidently, "You two just watch from the side. I’ll handle this."

"Be careful. He’s ranked sixtieth on the Strength Department’s Crystal Stele," Xiyue Frost reminded him softly.

"Only sixtieth?" Feng Hao pouted in disappointment. ’I thought he was some big shot, but he’s just small fry.’ "Don’t worry. My strength has increased a lot. Crushing him will be a piece of cake."

With that, under the disdainful gazes of the crowd, he strode proudly before Xu Long, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Alright, name your terms. How do you want to fight?"

As soon as he said this, the entire crowd erupted in laughter. Everyone thought Feng Hao was overestimating himself. Only a few students from the Apothecary Department cheered for him, but their voices were too few and were quickly drowned out by the endless wave of ridicule.

Xu Long raised an eyebrow at Feng Hao, his eyes full of contempt. "Since you’re so eager to die, don’t blame me for what happens next."

"So much nonsense." Feng Hao smirked, and the Su Mu Dagger instantly appeared in his hand. He raised his arm and struck with [Darkmoon Carnage].

Accompanied by gasps from the entire crowd, the battle began in a flash.

Xu Long dodged the attack with a cold smile, pulling the giant axe from his back and sweeping it toward Feng Hao.

In that instant, lightning crackled around the giant axe. A massive wave of energy, flickering with sky-blue electricity, crashed toward Feng Hao like a thunderbolt!

’Oh? A lightning-based Secret Technique?’

Feng Hao grinned playfully. His figure suddenly vanished from the spot, and in the next moment, he appeared in front of Xu Long. [Moon Wheel Dance] rained down upon him. The unfortunate Xu Long had no time to react, stunned by the terrifying dark energy damage.

’Damn it, it’s a shadow strike!’

Xu Long cursed inwardly and began to take the fight seriously. Just as he swung his axe to counterattack, Feng Hao’s figure vanished once again.

Having fought his way into the top sixty of the Crystal Stele, Xu Long was no slouch. He swung his giant axe in a 360-degree sweep, forcing back Feng Hao, who had shadow-stepped behind him.