Two years since the crossing,
the "Martial Dao Space" entry had remained grey-white, never changing.
The flicker just now was the only anomaly in those two years.
Li Qingshan's eyes burned as he stared through the virtual panel at the motionless beast that looked like a statue.
Could it be the unlock opportunity for the "Martial Dao Space"?
"An interstellar ferocious beast — Langdu," Wan Keshan said with a smile at the corner of his mouth. In the shocked gazes of the students he reached a hand through the alloy bars and slapped the beast's exposed scalp.
Perhaps because of the steel collar around its neck, the beast gave no reaction.
Many students' eyes lit up.
If that's the case, then hacking it once didn't seem so hard?
"The beast itself can't break the star-realm binding, so it appeared on our planet."
"However..." Wan Keshan withdrew his hand, his smile gone as he grew serious.
"Those scum who worship evil gods might be hiding among you!"
"Just last night, an evil-god worshiper completed a sacrifice in the suburbs."
"Ask yourselves honestly—if you had met them last night, would you dare swing your blade at that scum?"
Evil-god worshipers?
Li Qingshan tore his gaze away from Langdu and restrained his urge to rush forward.
He hadn't expected to see a ferocious beast today and also hear news about evil-god worshipers.
Worshipers are humans turned over—extremely covert.
Not just in Luoying City; across the whole Old Continent's 107 provinces, there wasn't much news about them.
But scarce doesn't mean nonexistent.
In history books, the Old Continent once had 108 provinces.
The one that disappeared had been destroyed when an evil-god worshiper sacrificed an entire city, inviting the god's corruption and annihilation.
"Teacher Wan, have the worshipers who committed the crime been caught?" a student couldn't help asking.
After all, the worshiper had acted in Luoying City—how could they not worry?
"If they had been caught, the cage wouldn't be holding Langdu right now," Wan Keshan's voice turned cold. Seeing another student about to speak, he cut them off.
"The patrol bureau will soon release a report on the worshiper; check it yourselves then."
"This Langdu is something I specially prepared for you today."
"Now, I'll teach you your first Martial Dao lesson: swing your blade!"
Wan Keshan struck the alloy bars; the cleaver lying across the cage sprang up, its handle landing in his hand.
"Senior-year Martial Dao class placements are set by the Federation and cannot be changed."
"But I, Wan Keshan, don't teach trash!"
Wan Keshan extended his right hand, inverted the cleaver in salute, and motioned toward the students.
"The opportunity is here—cut it once and you can stay. Those without the guts, step out."
Sure enough, the students had expected this.
"Teacher, let me go first!" Liang Mingyu strode out proudly.
Hong Qian followed in silence.
Yu Lei, who had stood in the front row and had already tested first, naturally stepped out too.
Many others silently thought, Damn, too slow!
Some even among the previous low-scorers saw this as a rare chance to perform.
Besides, Wan Keshan had demonstrated himself—Langdu couldn't move at all inside the cage; what was there to fear?
But the three top students had already come forward.
They could only hold their tongues and turn their attention to Li Qingshan.
At a moment like this, the "class first" should step up and dominate the scene.
Unfortunately, their stares had no effect.
Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, assessing Langdu in the cage without the slightest movement.
The beast was trapped here; it couldn't escape.
And he didn't think Wan Keshan's first lesson would be merely chopping at a wooden block.
"Teacher, I'll go!" someone couldn't help raising a hand, wanting to step forward.
But bodies crowded in front and blocked his path.
"Teacher, I'm not afraid—let me cut it first."
"Teacher, give me the knife, I'll kill this beast."
Before long, a circle had formed around the center of the arena; it was bustling.
"You students are enthusiastic—seems I underestimated your courage," Wan Keshan said with a smile, his gaze sweeping past the crowd.
Several people remained motionless at the back.
Li Qingshan, the "class first," stood conspicuous.
Zhao Hongzhou nudged Li Qingshan's shoulder and whispered, "Shan-ge, it looks like the teacher wants you to go up."
"You're seeing things," Li Qingshan replied flatly.
He felt Wan Keshan's scrutiny but noticed a trace of regret on the teacher's face as he looked away.
Li Qingshan, well acquainted with Wan Keshan's vicious sense of humor, looked at the eager students with sympathy.
"Class first, that's it?" Liu Jingya walked by with her arms folded, adopting a condescending air despite her short stature.
Bang!
Li Qingshan gave a light kick—enough to make contact.
Liu Jingya stumbled forward two steps and fell.
"You kicked me?" she clutched her butt and turned, incredulous.
"Just sparring," Li Qingshan replied evenly. "We're all in the Martial Dao class; if you're interested, we can spar often."
"Liang, Shan-ge really didn't use full strength—otherwise you'd have flown," Zhao Hongzhou muttered seriously.
"You fell because you're too clumsy. My advice: learn from Yu Lei."
"You'll pay!" Liu Jingya flushed with anger, ran to Liang Mingyu, and whispered in his ear.
Again this Li Qingshan!
Liang Mingyu's face darkened; after glancing from the crowd to Li Qingshan, he addressed Wan Keshan.
"Teacher, let me go first and demonstrate for the class."
He hoped that by swinging first he could wrest back dominance.
"Not in a rush—demonstrations should, of course, be given by the teacher," Wan Keshan said, smiling ever warmer as he tightened his grip on the cleaver.
"Watch closely!"
His motion was so fast the students couldn't catch the blade's trace.
Clang!
Metal rang; the cleaver struck the alloy cage.
All the students stared, bewildered—was the teacher demonstrating how to cut the cage?
At that moment,
crack crack crack!
Fine fissures appeared where the blades met and rapidly spread.
In the blink of an eye,
the cage's sides and top rails, even the steel collar around Langdu's neck, were covered in dense cracks.
Boom!
With a dull roar the cage shattered; metal shavings flew.
A layer of silver dust coated the beast's hide, and two red dots suddenly appeared on its head.
Langdu's eyes opened.
A howl!
Its jaws gaped, and the stench of blood hit them.
A terrifying roar that shattered ears.
"The beast's alive!"
Students screamed and fled in panic.
At the back of the crowd, Li Qingshan's eyes flared bright.
The moment the beast "came alive," the "Martial Dao Space" entry on the panel flickered again.
In the center of the arena,
Yu Lei and Hong Qian stepped back several paces together, faces ashen.
The "alive" Langdu was far more terrifying than they'd imagined.
The worst off were those near the cage—Liang Mingyu and Liu Jingya.
Liu Jingya rolled her eyes and fainted to the ground.
Liang Mingyu collapsed, staring blankly.
Ding dong!
The cleaver dropped onto the floor; Wan Keshan's amiable voice sounded.
"The teacher has demonstrated; now it's your turn."
"Me?" Liang Mingyu snapped back to reality, his lips trembling.
He looked at the cleaver on the ground and reached a shaking right hand but couldn't bring himself to pick it up.
At that moment,
two legs suddenly appeared in his line of sight, stopping beside the cleaver.
Li Qingshan bent down, picked up the cleaver, his gaze burning on the beast, licked his lips, and said:
"Teacher—are we only allowed one cut?"