I gain permanent defense when attacked; even gods and demons can't hurt me.

Looking down at the freshmen below, though disheveled, their formation remained intact.

Li Feng smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Not bad, in just fifteen days, they've already come together."

"They're starting to look like soldiers now, no longer those spoiled young masters and ladies who only know how to cry and whine."

Lin Yuan nodded and commented calmly, "Barely passable, but the real test is yet to come."

"The location of the Abyss Beacon is deeper inside."

The center of the battlefield.

Chu Tianxing cleaved a wolf in two with a single stroke, panting heavily.

His black trench coat was tattered and his face was covered in blood, but the fighting spirit in his eyes grew even stronger.

During a lull in the battle, he subconsciously looked up and glanced at the figure standing like a mountain on the distant high ground.

Lin Yuan.

These past fifteen days.

The attitude of these newly admitted students towards Lin Yuan has undergone a complete transformation.

From initial dissatisfaction to current admiration, and even awe.

Even Chu Tianxing.

Although he always harbored the intention to compete with Lin Yuan and reclaim the glory of "number one".

But he also had to admit a cruel truth.

"I am indeed not as good as him now."

Chu Tianxing gripped his battle sword tightly.

His Asura War God, though growing stronger with each battle, possesses unlimited potential for growth.

In a one-on-one duel, given enough time to build up his stats, he might be able to put up a fight against Lin Yuan.

However, when he thought of the corpses of the demons that had been killed by Lin Yuan's counterattack, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Lin Yuan's profession is too abnormal; he is not only strong in one-on-one situations, but also strong in one-on-many situations, and even stronger.

That was absolute defense in the truest sense!

While his attacks were ferocious, they were not absolutely effective.

If we can't defeat him, everything else is just empty talk.

Chu Tianxing took a deep breath, his fighting spirit not extinguished, but instead became even purer.

Unless one day I awaken the talent of "True Damage with Every Strike" or "Ignore Defense".

Otherwise, he would probably always be second best.

Time flies, and it's already the twenty-fifth day.

Blood-red wasteland, on the edge of the heartland.

Under the blazing sun, the reddish-brown earth was baked until it looked like a branding iron.

Beneath a massive wind-eroded rock, the four training teams finally reunited as planned.

Compared to when she was first transferred here more than twenty days ago, she was naive and delicate.

At this moment, these new students seem to have undergone a transformative baptism.

The once gleaming robes and armor were now covered in scratches and bloodstains.

Her once fair and delicate face has become rough and dark from the wind and sand.

But their eyes changed.

Gone is the initial confusion and arrogance, replaced by a fierce determination and tenacity.

"Instructor Lin, it's been a long time."

The instructor of the second team was a burly man. He looked at the thirty spirited and well-organized trainees behind Lin Yuan and a hint of envy flashed in his eyes: "It seems that your team has controlled the casualty rate very well."

"Unlike my few kids, who got seriously injured in the first week because they were too eager for quick success and almost had to quit."

Lin Yuan smiled, without taking credit: "Just good luck."

"And these kids really lived up to my expectations; they didn't embarrass me."

After a brief exchange of information, the instructors began to organize the team and prepare to head towards the final destination.

Just then.

A shout suddenly rang out from the crowd, tinged with surprise yet tinged with hesitation:

"Lin Yuan?"

I heard this sound.

Xia Chen and Ouyang Xue, who were behind Lin Yuan, frowned instantly, as if they had heard a familiar voice.

Ye Cang and Ji Qingyue exchanged a glance, sensing a strong whiff of gossip.

Lin Yuan turned around and looked in the direction of the sound.

At the end of the third team stood a girl dressed in the robes of a priest of light.

Chen Xiaoman.

The class beauty who used to always follow Lin Yuan around, but who would side with someone else at crucial moments.

At this moment, she has long lost the delicate and pretentious "green tea" temperament of the past.

Her once meticulously styled long hair was cut into a neat short haircut, and her face was without makeup, even covered in some dust.

She gripped the staff tightly in her hand, her eyes revealing an unprecedented tenacity.

[Chen Xiaoman (Pastor Guangming)]

[Level: lv23]

Upon seeing this level, a hint of surprise flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

As a support class, the fact that she was able to reach level 23 in such harsh conditions since graduation shows that she didn't slack off during those 25 days.

"It's you."

Lin Yuan looked at her, his tone as calm as a stagnant pool, without the slightest ripple.

Why Chen Xiaoman enrolled in the War Academy was not very important to him.

Chen Xiaoman took a deep breath and walked over.

She ignored Xia Chen and Ouyang Xue's gazes and stared straight at Lin Yuan, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was regret, there was shame, but more than anything, there was a sense of relief.

"have not seen you for a long time."

Chen Xiaoman gave a bitter laugh, her voice a little hoarse: "Lin Yuan, I know it's too late for anything I say now."

"But I still wanted to tell you."

Chen Xiaoman lowered her head and bowed deeply to Lin Yuan. "I'm sorry. I was too naive and too materialistic back then."

I don't ask for your forgiveness, nor do I expect to be friends with you again.

"I just wanted to tell you..."

Chen Xiaoman raised her head, her eyes slightly red, but her gaze was unusually firm:

"The Chen Xiaoman who used to hide behind others and take advantage of their goodwill has died in the secret realm of the college entrance examination."

"I will try my best to live on now."

After saying this...

Chen Xiaoman seemed to have been relieved of a heavy burden, and her whole body felt much lighter.

Ye Cang nudged Xia Chen with his elbow, lowered his voice, and asked with a gossipy look, "Hey, Lao Xia."

"What's going on?"

"Is it a case of chasing after her husband only to end up in a crematorium? Or is it love turned to hate?"

"This plot development is quite interesting! Tell me, what exactly happened back then?"

Xia Chen rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Go away, you're everywhere."

"It's a long story, and it's not appropriate for me to tell you. Anyway, you just need to know that Brother Yuan was almost tricked by this woman back then."

Looking at Chen Xiaoman, whose demeanor had changed drastically, Xia Chen muttered, "However, it seems that this War Academy really is a melting pot."

"Even someone like that can be molded into someone decent."

In response to Chen Xiaoman's apology.

Lin Yuan simply looked at her quietly, showing neither mockery nor emotion.

After a moment, he nodded and said calmly, "Yes, I understand. I forgive you."

These words were spoken softly, yet with unwavering resolve.

Forgiveness does not mean acceptance.

Rather, it is a complete disregard.

In Lin Yuan's heart, that past event had long since vanished with the improvement of his strength.

Right now, all he can think about is how to become stronger.

As for Chen Xiaoman?

He was just a passerby.

"People always have to grow up."