Outside the Trial Tower.

A flash of white light, and Yasuo's figure appeared out of thin air.

He looked around, a perfectly appropriate look of confusion on his face.

"Hmm?"

Several dark figures quickly darted out from the shadows, surrounding him.

Leading them was a burly man in a black suit, with a fierce, fleshy face.

Yasuo's brows furrowed slightly.

He slowly spoke, his voice carrying a touch of ancient elegance: "Sirs, why do you seek me?"

The men in black suits exchanged glances.

Why was this guy speaking so formally?

"What's your name?" the leading strongman asked gruffly.

Yasuo's hand rested on his sword hilt, his gaze calm: "I am a swordsman, Yasuo."

"A swordsman?"

"Is this guy crazy?" a subordinate whispered beside him.

The strongman impatiently waved his hand: "Who cares if he's crazy or not! Young Master Lu ordered us to detain anyone with a long-haired, 'uncle' face, and anyone named Yasuo! Just take him down first!"

He glared at Yasuo, menacingly saying: "Kid, come with us!"

A flicker of wariness crossed Yasuo's eyes: "Who are you? Why do you block my path?"

"Enough talk!"

The strongman roared, his fist, the size of a cooking pot, whistled through the air, heading straight for Yasuo's face!

He was a Rank 22 Fighter, confident that this punch was enough to lay this seemingly frail guy up for half a year!

However, Yasuo merely swayed.

Like a ghost, he easily dodged.

The strongman's punch missed, and he was somewhat surprised.

The other black-suited men also rushed forward simultaneously, blades flashing, working in perfect coordination.

These people were all around Rank 20, with rich experience.

But Yasuo's figure, under the siege of several people, was like a withered leaf in the wind, unpredictable.

Each attack narrowly brushed past his clothes, missing him by a hair's breadth.

Yet, they couldn't even touch him!

"Damn it! Is this kid a loach?!"

"He's too fast!"

The black-suited men grew increasingly alarmed as they fought.

Yasuo tapped his toe, instantly creating several meters of distance.

He slowly drew the black iron longsword from his waist, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground.

A melodious flute sound seemed to come from the Void Realm, carrying a hint of desolation and resolve.

"You villains, do not blame me for being merciless!"

A chilling killing intent emanated from Yasuo.

Just as both sides were at daggers drawn, and a great battle was about to erupt—

"Stop!"

An angry shout came.

Four figures quickly arrived, precisely the principals of Tianhai City's four major vocational high schools.

Principal Zhang of First High, who was leading, glared at the black-suited men: "In broad daylight, you dare to openly commit violence outside the Trial Tower! Do you have any regard for the law?!"

Seeing the four principals, the black-suited men's arrogance immediately deflated.

They recognized these figures; they were all prominent individuals in Tianhai City.

The leading strongman blustered: "We just wanted to invite this... friend for a chat, nothing else."

"A chat?" Principal Li sneered, "I think you wanted to 'chat' him into the hospital!"

"If you dare to make another move, don't blame us for being impolite!" the Principal of Third High also warned in a deep voice.

The black-suited strongman's face turned pale, then red.

He glared fiercely at Yasuo: "Kid, you're lucky!"

With that, he slunk away with his subordinates.

The four principals finally breathed a sigh of relief, turning in unison to Yasuo.

When they clearly saw Yasuo's slightly weathered face, they were all stunned.

"Student, you..." Principal Zhang hesitated, "Are you Yasuo?"

He looked at least thirty, didn't he?

A student participating in this year's Trial Tower challenge?

Yasuo sheathed his sword, looked up at the night sky at a forty-five-degree angle, giving the principals a profound and mysterious back.

"Indeed, it is I, Suo."

"His name is Yasuo, so he must be the one at the top of the leaderboard!"

"But this person... looks a bit strange."

The old principals all murmured to themselves.

Principal Zhang cleared his throat and continued to ask: "Student Yasuo, which school are you from?"

Yasuo slowly turned around, his gaze distant: "I have drifted all my life, with no place to rest."

"What was that?"

The four principals were collectively confused.

What was all this about?

Yasuo slightly cupped his hands towards the four principals: "Many thanks to you Seniors for your assistance, I am eternally grateful."

"It is late, and I have important matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

After speaking, he turned to leave.

"Hey, student, don't be in such a hurry to leave!" Principal Zhang quickly stopped him.

He rubbed his hands, his face eager: "Um... I wanted to ask, what exactly is your profession? And which school are you from?"

Yasuo lowered his head, gently rubbing the stubble on his chin with his index finger, pondering for a moment.

"I am a Lightning Swordsman."

"Orphaned from a young age, I have drifted without a home, taking the heavens and earth as my dwelling, and the four seas as my home."

"My only wish in life is to punish evil and uphold the Dao!"

The Principal of Third High's eyes lit up, and he quickly leaned forward: "Young Hero Yasuo! I see you have extraordinary bones and exceptional talent! Are you interested in coming to our Tianhai Third High?"

"As long as you come, I guarantee you a spot to Cultivate in a top-tier Empire academy!"

"Old Liu, you're being unfair!" The Principal of Fourth High refused to be outdone, "Student Yasuo, come to our Fourth High! We have many beautiful girls! Ah, bah! I mean, rich Cultivate resources! Top-tier mentors will personally guide you!"

Principal Li also grew anxious: "Student Yasuo, our Second High..."

Principal Zhang directly interrupted: "Stop arguing! Student Yasuo, our First High is the best choice in Tianhai City! As long as you nod, you can name your terms!"

The four principals nearly started fighting on the spot to recruit him.

However, Yasuo merely listened quietly.

After they finished speaking, he slowly shook his head and cupped his hands again.

"I appreciate the kindness of you Seniors."

"However, I am accustomed to being a free spirit, like a wild crane, and dislike constraints."

"There is no feast that does not end; let us part ways here."

As his voice fell, he turned gracefully.

He softly recited: "With sword I ride, unleashing ghostly rain, white bones like mountains, birds take flight. Worldly affairs like tides, people like water, I only sigh, how many return to the Jianghu?"

Then, he strode away, without looking back, towards the outside of the plaza.

Leaving behind only an arrogant and resolute back.

"Hiss..."

The four principals exchanged glances, at a loss for words for a moment.

After a while, it was Principal Li of Second High who murmured: "How do I feel... this child's mind seems a little... not quite normal?"

The other three principals nodded in agreement.

The Principal of Third High suddenly slapped his thigh: "Oh no! This kid got first place, but it seems he hasn't claimed his reward yet!"

...

At this moment, Yasuo had already left the Trial Tower plaza quite a distance.

The night deepened, and pedestrians on the street were sparse.

Suddenly, several dark figures once again flashed out from both sides of the alley, blocking his path.

It was the same group of black-suited men from before.

The leading strongman's face bore a ferocious sneer: "Kid, I thought you'd stick with those old geezers forever."

"I didn't expect you to be so bold as to actually run out alone!"

"You didn't take the road to Heaven, but you broke into the gate of Hell!"

"Surrender obediently, and you'll suffer less physical pain! Otherwise, hmph!"

Yasuo silently lowered his head, his right hand slowly gripping the sword hilt.

"Bold ruffians!"

His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a bone-chilling frost.

"Repeatedly unrepentant, your crimes are unforgivable!"

"Clang!"

The black iron longsword suddenly unsheathed, emitting a clear, resonant Dragon's roar!

"You're courting death!"

The strongman roared, attacking first!

This time, he held nothing back, his muscles bulging, his professional skill 【Mountain Crushing Fist】 fully unleashed!

The others also attacked simultaneously, various skill lights flashing, sealing off all of Yasuo's escape routes!

However—

"Rip!"

A dazzling flash of Lightning suddenly lit up!

Yasuo's figure seemed to transform into a bolt of lightning, instantly passing through the encirclement!

【Lightning Rush】!

"Puff!"

Blood spurted!

A professional assassin holding a short blade clutched his throat, falling down in disbelief.

At his neck, a slender sword mark was deep enough to reveal bone!

Fast!

Too fast!

They couldn't even see how he drew his sword!

"Third Brother!" the strongman's eyes were bloodshot.

Yasuo's figure did not stop, the sword light, like a bolt of silk, struck out again!

【Thunderous Strike】!

A sword imbued with the power of thunder, sweeping out with violent might!

"Ah—!"

Screams rang out one after another.

Two more black-suited men were hit by the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) sword light, their bodies sparking with arcs, twitching and falling to the ground, charred black.

In a flash, only the leading strongman remained standing.

The ferocious sneer on his face had long vanished, replaced by endless fear.

"You... what kind of monster are you?!"

Yasuo did not answer.

He advanced step by step, the longsword in his hand glinting with cold light.

On the tip of the sword, dense electric snakes danced erratically.

The strongman was scared, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and turned to flee.

But Yasuo's speed was even faster!

"Swish!"

The sword light flashed and disappeared.

The strongman's body froze in place, then slowly knelt, his life extinguished.

Yasuo expressionlessly sheathed his sword.

He walked to the side of the corpses, squatted down, and began to search them.

A moment later, he put some scattered Summer coins and a few relatively intact black iron-grade equipment into his embrace, and silently stood up.

Just then—

"Clap, clap, clap!"

A crisp round of applause suddenly came from the darkness not far away.

"Splendid! Truly splendid!"

A slightly playful male voice rang out: "To be able to so cleanly resolve several professionals above Rank 20, while still under Rank 10."

"Your profession is indeed very powerful, I am truly growing to appreciate you more and more."

Yasuo suddenly looked up, gripping his sword hilt, his eyes flashing with sharp light!

"Who is lurking here so furtively?!"