"WENG!"

The oppressive aura erupted from Levi's body like an invisible tsunami!

His accumulated killing intent from five Celestial Slaughter Marks manifested as tangible pressure, crushing down on the three students with the weight of a mountain!

The temperature seemed to drop. The air grew heavy. And most terrifyingly, the three students suddenly felt as though they were standing before ancient dimensional best that had killed humans to its fill!

Seria's face went pale instantly!

Her confident expression crumbled, replaced by shock and something that looked like fear. Her hand, which had been reaching toward her weapon, suddenly trembled as she darted forwards.

The ninth-ranked student actually took an involuntary step backward, his eyes widening as cold sweat broke out across his forehead. His mouth opened as if he was about to speak, but he wasn't able to say anything!

The eighth-ranked student with the greatsword had the worst reaction. His cultivation was the lowest among the three, only Level 5 Genetic Soldier, which meant Levi's Soul Pressure affected him most severely. His face turned ashen, his knees actually buckled, he had to place his greatsword in the ground to keep from falling to his knees!

"Such… such killing intent …" Seria expression was pale as she stammered. "Just how many people have you killed!?"

Levi didn't answer.

He simply stared at them with cold eyes, his hand still resting on his saber's handle as though he was about to strike.

The silence stretched for three full seconds.

Then Levi spoke.

"I've had a very long day, I've fought dark cultivators. I've been chased by a powerful demon and have lost treasures while killing a Peak Fiend Warrior demon."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"So I'm going to give you three seconds to leave. If you're still here after that, I'll assume you want to fight, I won't give you a chance to surrender."

The three students exchanged panicked glances.

Seria's pride screamed at her to stand her ground, to not back down from someone who had been a nobody just days ago. But her survival instincts were stronger than her pride, and those instincts were screaming that staying here would be a fatal mistake.

The ninth-ranked student was already backing away, his earlier viciousness completely gone. Whatever confidence he'd had evaporated the moment he felt Levi's killing intent.

The eighth-ranked student was openly terrified, his greatsword trembling in his grip.

"One," Levi said calmly.

Seria gritted her teeth, her face flushing with humiliation.

"Two."

The ninth-ranked student turned and ran, not even trying to hide his fear anymore. His figure blurred as he activated a movement technique, disappearing into the ruined settlement within seconds.

The eighth-ranked student followed immediately, stumbling slightly before he managed to get his technique working properly.

"Thr—"

"Wait!" Seria interrupted desperately. "I… I apologize for my rudeness. The fruit is yours.."

With that, she turned and left, trying to salvage some dignity for herself.

Levi watched them disappear before finally relaxing his stance.

"Huff…"

He exhaled slowly, and the oppressive aura around him dissipated like morning mist. His shoulders sagged slightly as fatigue caught up with him.

That had been a bluff, mostly.

Yes, his power had increased dramatically. But his meridians were still being repaired, his Astra energy reserves were depleted from multiple golden drop explosions, and his body was exhausted from constant regeneration.

If they had actually called his bluff and fought, he might have won, but it would have been close. And he might have had to use techniques that would damage his meridians again, setting back his recovery.

Thankfully, they'd backed down.

"Squeak!"

Luna popped her head out of his pocket, squeaking at the feeling students.

Levi smiled slightly and gently scratched behind her ears. "Yes, yes, you're very fierce. I'm sure they were terrified of you."

Luna puffed out her tiny chest proudly.

Levi carefully stored the Blood Refining Fruit in his spatial ring. As valuable as it was, he wasn't going to consume it here in the open where anyone could see. He needed a safe, secluded location where he wouldn't be disturbed during the transformation process.

The fruit's absorption would take hours, maybe even a full day, and during that time he would be completely vulnerable. This wasn't the place for it.

First, he needed to recover properly.

Levi activated his navigation system, pulling up the map of the settlement. He needed somewhere quiet, somewhere the other students were unlikely to go while they were busy hunting the remaining dark cultivators.

His eyes scanned the map, noting the positions of other Elite students based on the periodic energy signatures that flickered across the display. Most of them were concentrated near the central platform where the demon had died, either finishing off surviving dark cultivators or searching for treasures.

But there was a section in the eastern corner of the settlement that showed no activity at all. No energy signatures, no movement, nothing.

Perfect.

Levi checked his Astra energy reserves. Still only about thirty percent recovered. Not enough for extended combat, but enough for basic techniques.

He activated Thunder Step at minimum power.

"Crackle!"

Crimson lightning flickered beneath his feet, and he shot forward at moderate speed. Not the overwhelming burst of power he could unleash at full strength, but fast enough to cross the settlement quickly.

As he moved, he kept his senses alert. His Danger Sense remained active, scanning for threats. His Soul Pressure was ready to activate at a moment's notice if anyone tried to ambush him.

But the journey was surprisingly peaceful.

Most students were too focused on hunting dark cultivators to pay attention to him. A few glanced in his direction as he passed, but none tried to stop him.

Within three minutes, Levi reached the eastern section.

It was a residential area that had been heavily damaged during the initial assault. Buildings were collapsed, streets were cratered, and debris littered everything. But more importantly, it was deserted. The dark cultivators who had lived here were either dead or had fled toward the central platform when the academy students attacked.

Levi found a partially intact building—probably someone's home before the academy destroyed it. Three of its four walls were still standing, and most of the roof remained overhead, providing shelter from view.

He entered through the collapsed doorway and scanned the interior. A single room, maybe fifteen meters square. Furniture was overturned and broken. Dried blood stained one corner where someone had probably died during the fighting.

But it was quiet, secluded, and defensible.

Good enough.

Levi moved to the center of the room and sat cross-legged on the floor. He placed his Severing Abyss saber across his lap, within easy reach. Then he activated his meditation technique.

The Oceanic Soul Scripture immediately began its work.

His breathing fell into the precise rhythm required by the technique—inhale for seven heartbeats, hold for three, exhale for seven, hold for three. His Astra energy began to circulate through his meridians in the specific pattern dictated by the Four Phases.

Fifteen minutes. Thirty minutes. Forty-five.

Steam rose from Levi's body as his regeneration worked in tandem with his cultivation technique. His meridians, which had been shredded like torn fabric, gradually knitted back together. The process was slow, meticulous, but steady.

"Squeak?"

Luna, who had been sleeping in his pocket, suddenly stirred. Her head popped out, nose twitching as she sniffed the air.

Then her ears perked up, and she squeaked more urgently.

Levi's eyes opened immediately.

His Danger Sense hadn't activated, which meant whatever Luna sensed wasn't a direct threat. But the little beast's instincts were often sharper than his skills when it came to finding unusual things.

"What is it?" Levi whispered.

Luna squeaked again and pointed with one tiny paw toward the back wall of the ruined building.

Levi stood slowly, his saber in hand, and approached the wall. At first glance, it looked like any other damaged structure—cracked stone, broken plaster, dried blood.

But Luna was insistent, squeaking repeatedly and pawing at a specific section.

Levi examined the area more carefully.

Then he noticed something odd.

The cracks in the wall here weren't random. They formed a pattern, subtle but deliberate. And beneath the layer of dust and debris, he could see faint lines etched into the stone.

Runes.

"A hidden passage?" Levi muttered.

He reached out and pressed his hand against the section Luna had indicated. Astra energy flowed from his palm into the runes, activating whatever mechanism had been placed here.

"Click. Click. Click."

The sound of ancient gears turning echoed through the room.

Then the wall section slid aside, revealing a dark opening beyond.

Stairs.

Stone steps leading downward into darkness, disappearing beyond the range of normal vision.

Levi's Danger Sense suddenly activated, but only faintly. Whatever was down there wasn't immediately threatening, but it was definitely dangerous in some way.

He glanced at Luna. "You found something interesting, didn't you?"

"Squeak!"

The little beast nodded enthusiastically, clearly proud of herself.

Levi thought for a while as he wondered what might be there.

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