SSS Grade Saint Knight - Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Overwhelming Oppression! Instant Kill!

TL: Etude Translations

When Liu Jing stepped forward to question Zhou Yi’s strength and issued a challenge, many freshmen wondered if he had been driven mad by Zhou Yi’s whip kick during the Special Admissions Meeting.

Faced with the astonished and doubtful gazes of the crowd, Liu Jing appeared unfazed. Instead, a mysterious smile played at the corners of his mouth.

As if he held the truth in his hands, he loudly declared:

“Don’t you see? Professionals who have mastered Holy Light or light-type skills tend to clear the additional challenge stages significantly faster than others!”

“Zhou Yi’s rapid completion of the most difficult additional challenge is simply due to attribute restraint! His ranking as number one doesn’t actually reflect his true strength!”

This statement was like a stone dropped into a pond, causing ripples of shock and contemplation.

“Attribute restraint? Indeed, professionals who master light-type skills or embrace Holy Light seem to clear the additional challenge stages faster than ordinary professionals.”

“I’ve heard Zhou Yi’s S+ talent greatly enhances his affinity with the light attribute. Could it be that his record-breaking time in the additional challenge was only due to attribute restraint?”

“So, Zhou Yi’s strength might not be as impressive as it seems. After all, we’re not ghosts and don’t fear Holy Light.”

Everyone present had been tormented by the Bear Monster Wraiths in the additional challenge stage and knew firsthand how difficult it was.

For people like Jiang Churan and Shen Lingfeng, completing the stage in seven to eight minutes was already considered an extraordinary feat.

But 1 minute and 12 seconds…

Zhou Yi’s completion time was so exaggerated that it made people question its authenticity.

Now, with Liu Jing’s mention of attribute restraint, many Special Admissions students began to reconsider. Could Zhou Yi’s strength be overrated?

“Foolishness!”

Seeing the smug expression on Liu Jing’s face, Shen Lingfeng muttered a quiet curse from a distance.

Holy Light and light-attribute attacks indeed had a certain restraining effect on wraiths.

However, at most, they could only amplify damage slightly, making a completion time of 1 minute and 12 seconds utterly impossible.

In Shen Lingfeng’s opinion, Zhou Yi’s record-breaking time must have been achieved using some other hidden trump card.

“Heh, this little guy has an interesting idea, but attribute restraint isn’t as effective as he thinks.”

On the ceremonial stage, the instructors shook their heads slightly.

The Bear Monster Dungeon’s Wraith Challenge Stage had been studied thoroughly by influential family powers after being used in Suhang University’s New Student Competition for over a hundred years.

If this stage could be easily cleared with attribute restraint, why would the aristocratic families bother with elaborate preparations? Wouldn’t a simple light-attribute magic scroll suffice?

Moreover, considering Zhou Yi’s formidable performance in the dungeon, any monster, even one unaffected by Holy Light, would likely meet the same fate—being obliterated under the might of his Divine Hand.

The referee in charge of the Free Challenge Match was well aware of this as well.

Frowning at Liu Jing’s increasingly complacent demeanor, he reminded, “Once a challenge is issued, you must take the stage within a minute, or it will be considered a forfeit!”

“Ahem, yes, yes,” Liu Jing coughed awkwardly, returning to his senses.

He strode toward a nearby arena platform.

At that moment, the tall, slender figure everyone was watching stood silently on the platform.

Zhou Yi’s expression was indifferent, as though entirely unaffected by the crowd’s discussion.

Standing straight like a javelin, his presence exuded a calm and unshakable aura.

It was noon, and the blazing sunlight reflected off the sharp blade of the massive battle axe on his back, casting a cold, sinister glint.

Just by standing there, he radiated an overpowering sense of oppression.

“His aura is impressive. He already has the makings of a true powerhouse.”

“Such an aura can only be tempered on a real battlefield. How did Zhou Yi achieve this?”

Noticing the icy atmosphere emanating from Zhou Yi, the instructors, including Wu Mang, were slightly surprised.

Aura was a tangible energy radiance.

High-level professionals could even repel certain magical beasts and monsters with their aura alone.

Typically, professionals who frequently ventured into the wild or onto battlefields were more likely to develop such a presence.

Although Zhou Yi’s aura was still somewhat immature, it already carried a certain level of deterrence.

This left everyone amazed and, at the same time, slightly worried for Liu Jing, who was about to fight him.

“Let the priests prepare.”

“With Zhou Yi’s strength, things could get problematic if he doesn’t hold back…”

…

Soon…

Under the crowd’s watchful eyes, Liu Jing also stepped onto the arena platform.

“Zhou Yi, didn’t expect it, huh? I’m the first to challenge you!”

Liu Jing looked at Zhou Yi from a distance, his expression brimming with arrogance.

“For this day, do you know how I’ve spent this past month?!”

“Every day, I woke up before six to train and didn’t sleep until midnight!”

“Because of this, I’ve risen from rank 38 to rank 20!”

“To perfectly defeat you, I watched your college entrance examination clearing video over a hundred times!”

Liu Jing seemed to have held back his words for a long time and couldn’t stop speaking, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.

“Rising from rank 38 to rank 20—this Retribution Knight really is something!”

“Indeed, most Special Admissions students only manage to improve by five or six ranks, and even that is impressive. But he jumped 18 places—unbelievable!”

It was worth noting that the top 50 in the ranking sequence were almost exclusively the top five from each province across the nation.

Every one of them possessed exceptional strength and remarkable self-discipline.

While you trained hard, I also trained hard.

In the end, pulling ahead in the New Student Competition was an exceedingly challenging task.

Yet Liu Jing not only achieved this but climbed an incredible 18 ranks, showcasing his undeniable talent.

Hearing the murmurs below the arena, Liu Jing grew increasingly proud. With his greatsword in hand, he pointed it forward and declared:

“Zhou Yi, prepare yourself.

I will completely erase the humiliation you brought upon me!”

He was full of confidence, expecting to see fear or seriousness on Zhou Yi’s face.

However, Zhou Yi merely furrowed his brows slightly, seemingly unsure, and said,

“Who are you?”

Liu Jing froze momentarily, but soon his expression twisted as an unnamed fury rose from his chest.

He actually forgot me!!

In that moment, he felt as though he had suffered an immense insult.

For the past month, he had trained day and night, fueled by the sole purpose of repaying Zhou Yi for the humiliation of that whip kick a month ago.

Yet Zhou Yi didn’t even remember who he was!

Liu Jing’s complex emotions were something Zhou Yi could not understand.

After all, the Special Admissions Meeting had taken place a month ago.

During that time, Zhou Yi had been exploring the Tempest Mountain Range, searching for traces of the Extreme Cold Ice Lotus, hunting magical beasts to improve his strength.

Later, he had thrown himself into fierce battles against the Flame Demon Legion.

His encounter with Liu Jing had lasted only a few minutes, so it was unsurprising that Zhou Yi didn’t remember.

Of course, this wasn’t exclusive to Liu Jing.

Apart from a few familiar faces like Jiang Churan, Zhou Yi could barely recall the names of the other Special Admissions students.

Though anger surged in his heart, Liu Jing was, after all, one of the top students. After taking a few deep breaths, he regained his composure.

But his eyes now gleamed with a dangerous light.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t recognize me now. Once I defeat you, you’ll never forget me again.”

“Referee, let’s begin.”

Both sides were ready.

The referee below the arena activated the arena platform mechanism.

A low humming sound echoed as a magical energy barrier rose slowly, enveloping the entire platform.

This energy shield was designed to withstand high levels of damage, ensuring the safety of the spectators.

At the same time, the arena’s electronic prompt sounded:

“3!”

“2!”

“1!”

“Begin!”

As soon as the word fell, Liu Jing, wielding his greatsword, launched the first attack.

With red light flashing beneath his feet, he stepped forward.

In a single stride, he crossed a 9-meter distance to appear directly before Zhou Yi!

Then, with a reverse grip, he swung his greatsword, the heavy blade cutting through the air with a loud, oppressive sound.

Charge!

Followed by Vitality Slash!

It was a classic Retribution Knight combo.

However, compared to the Special Admissions Meeting, Liu Jing’s execution of this combo was now significantly more refined.

The Charge skill was executed almost instantly, and the greatsword’s blade glowed with a sharp crimson light from Vitality Slash, exuding a lethal aura.

“What a seamless combo! There’s not even a hint of delay between skills!”

“That sword light is so sharp that just looking at it gives me goosebumps!”

The spectators widened their eyes in astonishment.

This perfectly executed combo was something 95% of those present couldn’t withstand!

“Zhou Yi moved too! He’s so fast!”

Without much time to consider, Zhou Yi shifted his body slightly and effortlessly dodged the slash.

He didn’t even draw his Army Breaker Battle Axe. Instead, his arms crossed, forming a slashing motion in mid-air:

“Pure White Blade.”

Accompanied by his calm voice, a cross-shaped light-attribute magical blade struck Liu Jing directly.

Immediately afterward!

The stun effect succeeded!

Losing control of his body, Liu Jing collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.

On the ground, Liu Jing had barely registered what had happened when he felt something cold and sharp pressed against his neck.

What followed was Zhou Yi’s cold, indifferent voice:

“You lost.”