Chapter 10: A Single Sentence Shocks the Crowd – All Eyes on Him

This man’s name was Xu Lang, one of the top-ranked prodigies among the new students at Tianlan Academy.

Just then, the barrier flickered again—another tall, stunning girl appeared inside.

Her expression was icy, like a snow-capped peak untouched by time.

With her long legs and perfectly proportioned figure, she drew every gaze without effort.

She stepped calmly out of the barrier, leading her team, and stood quietly at its edge.

This was the goddess among the new students—Mu Qing.

Xi Qinyu frowned and immediately stepped forward, asking:

“What happened in there?”

Xu Lang, seeing the instructor, responded respectfully but briefly:

“Teacher, there was a sudden change inside the barrier. We fought and defeated the strengthened ghost to get out.”

A teammate behind Xu Lang quickly added:

“Xu Lang led us in slaying a B-rank ghost, that’s how we got teleported out!”

The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted.

Everyone knew Xu Lang was strong—but strong enough to defeat a B-rank ghost?

And not just that—on a terror-level difficulty map?

After all, ghost rank and map difficulty amplified each other.

A B-rank ghost on a terror map was several times stronger than normal.

Just then—

“Hmph. What’s so impressive about needing a team to beat a B-rank ghost?”

“Mu Qing took one down on her own—that’s far beyond Xu Lang.”

Xu Lang’s expression turned a little awkward.

Mu Qing, on the other hand, remained expressionless—utterly calm.

Xi Qinyu was about to speak when the barrier shimmered again, and several more figures appeared.

It was the final group to emerge—Su Nan’s team.

Xi Qinyu finally let out a breath of relief.

That last team had taken the longest to return.

But when they came out, everyone looked disoriented and pale.

Some were staggering, a few coughing blood.

“Isn’t that Su Nan’s team—the one that caused all that stir earlier?”

“Why are they in such bad shape?”

“Where is Su Nan? His teammates look half-dead… could he have…”

The crowd’s mood shifted to concern.

People remembered the ridiculously handsome newcomer—how bright his start had been.

“In the end, strength is what matters most.”

A boy clenched his fist tightly, his eyes burning with renewed resolve.

Meanwhile, a large number of girls grew increasingly anxious—desperate to rush in and save their “prince.”

At that moment, the barrier’s glow faded completely.

Su Nan’s team had exited—all but one.

Su Nan himself was missing.

Xi Qinyu’s brows furrowed slightly.

She stepped forward quickly and asked:

“What happened in there? What did you encounter?”

The team members looked panicked and dazed, still overwhelmed by what they’d just survived.

Only when they saw Instructor Xi did they realize—they were safe now.

“Speak! What happened? Where is Su Nan!?”

Her voice turned sharp.

Something felt wrong.

But… the protective talisman she had given him hadn’t been triggered—right?

Finally, the team came to their senses.

“T-Teacher…”

“Miss Xi…”

A few girls spoke with tears in their eyes, their voices trembling—sparking mockery from some onlookers.

“It’s over. Something really happened this time.”

“He didn’t even make it through the new student trial? What a waste.”

“Silence!”

Xi Qinyu ignored the muttering and snapped coldly.

Her frown deepened.

“You’re safe now. Tell me—what did you face?”

“We ran into… a C-rank ghost,” one girl whispered.

Xi Qinyu looked tense, then asked quickly:

“A C-rank ghost? Judging by your condition, you must’ve dealt with it. Then what about Su Nan?”

Another girl spoke even softer:

“He… was killed.”

Instantly, the entire crowd fell into chaos.

Many girls clutched their chests, faces pale with grief.

Even Xi Qinyu’s face turned white.

“What!?”

But Chang Xinxin quickly stepped forward to correct them:

“No! What we meant was—the C-rank ghost was killed by Su Nan.”

“I see…”

Xi Qinyu let out a heavy breath—though she was now even more surprised.

“Wait, are you saying Su Nan… killed a C-rank ghost?”

The other students gasped in shock—completely caught off guard.

That stunningly handsome new student… actually killed a C-rank ghost?

Xu Lang, however, didn’t look impressed.

From the battered state of the group, he figured it must’ve been a desperate fight.

Probably just exaggerated hero-worship because of Su Nan’s good looks.

No way could Su Nan’s raw strength compare to his own.

His team had crushed a C-rank ghost with ease, and he had earned the maximum 3,000 points for leading the charge.

But before the group could explain further—

“After the C-rank ghost, there was… there was…”

The girl speaking turned ghostly pale, clearly shaken by the memory of what came next.

“We encountered an A-rank ghost!”

Chang Xinxin finished the sentence for her, still managing to keep her composure.

“What!?”

“No way an A-rank showed up. You must be seeing things!”

The words sparked a wave of disbelief.

This was just the new student trial barrier—how could an A-rank ghost appear here?

Even Mu Qing—the aloof ice goddess—showed rare surprise.

They had only fought C-rank threats.

Yet this group claimed to have met an A-rank?

“Enough!”

Xi Qinyu snapped, silencing the crowd.

“The barrier has been invaded by foreign spirits. It’s upgraded to Terror Level. An A-rank ghost appearing is no longer impossible.”

The crowd instantly quieted—no one dared challenge the Iron-Faced Demon Instructor.

“Continue. How did you survive?”

Xi Qinyu’s voice softened as she turned to Chang Xinxin.

“Once the A-rank ghost appeared, none of us were a match,” she said quietly.

“The situation was extremely dangerous.”

“But in the end, we defeated the A-rank ghost. After completing the trial, we were automatically teleported out.”

“What!? That’s impossible!”

“A-rank ghost? Defeated? Don’t joke like that!”

“That’s not even funny—how could a few new students beat something like that?”

The room filled with doubting voices once again—even Xi Qinyu looked skeptical.

After all, the jump from C to A wasn’t just one rank—it was like the difference between earth and sky.

A-rank ghosts were far beyond what any new student should be able to face.