The two swiped their identity plaques on the challenge stele.

In the next moment, Du Tianyu fiercely attacked, divine light bursting from his hands, like a blazing sun rising with endless killing intent!

"Boom!!"

Just as Mu Jinyu had put away his identity plaque, the brilliant divine light from Du Tianyu's hands suddenly exploded, like a cannonball fired, or a flood raging, fiercely striking towards Mu Jinyu.

"Hmm?"

Mu Jinyu sensed the movement behind him from Du Tianyu.

He wasn't angry; instead, he felt sorry for the opponent.

Daring not to confront him directly, only attacking sneakily from behind.

Did he really think he could catch him off guard like this?

"How could Du Tianyu be so despicable?"

"Clearly ranked twelfth among senior students, why couldn't he wait for Mu Jinyu to turn around before acting?"

"Is he scared?"

"..."

The crowd below, witnessing Du Tianyu's sneak attack, all had somber expressions, each feeling a bit unsettled.

Though they had no fondness for Mu Jinyu.

Yet Du Tianyu's actions made them even more disgusted.

If the rankings were reversed, if Mu Jinyu were the senior and Du Tianyu the newly elevated student, such actions might be understandable.

It would be a newcomer's fear facing a senior, afraid of being trounced, resorting to striking first, hoping to gain an advantage.

Even if he couldn't defeat the senior, having the first strike might allow him to endure a few more exchanges respectfully.

But Du Tianyu was not a novice, nor was Mu Jinyu an elder.

Therefore, his actions appeared disgraceful to those present, making them feel collectively embarrassed.

"Hmph, with such a character, no wonder he remains ranked twelfth instead of breaking into the top ten!"

"If only he could be more fearless, perhaps he could enter the top ten, but alas..."

In secret, some of the top ten Heaven's Pride among senior students looked down on Du Tianyu for this behavior.

"Boom!!"

No matter how much others disparaged him, Du Tianyu wouldn't change his resolve. His eyes were determined, solely focused on defeating Mu Jinyu as early as possible without giving any chance.

Instantly, the brilliant divine light pillar from his hands bombarded Mu Jinyu's body.

Enveloping him completely!

"Buzz!"

"Did it succeed?"

Seeing Mu Jinyu being engulfed and bombarded by the divine light pillar without any resistance, Du Tianyu's face lit up with a joyful smile.

However, in the next second, his smile froze.

"Bang!"

Mu Jinyu's body slightly trembled, and the terrifying divine light pillar capable of grinding the early stage of the Life-and-Death Realm was forcibly shattered by him.

Turning into fragmented light, scattering and disappearing.

"Is that all?"

"If that's all, then you should be leaving."

Mu Jinyu's body remained unscathed, not even a single hair was harmed by Du Tianyu.

After shattering the Destruction Divine Light, Mu Jinyu looked at his opponent indifferently, speaking in a detached tone.

Then slowly raised the firewood knife in his hand.

At this moment, the firewood knife emitted a faint glow.

Though not apparent, it contained a chilling, palpable killing intent.

Facing Mu Jinyu's action, Du Tianyu immediately felt like prey crashing into a wild beast, pinned by its gaze.

He trembled all over, as if plunged into an icy cave, unable to muster any strength.

"Roar!"

Du Tianyu let out an angry roar from his throat, desperately trying to break free from the oppressive suffocation, hoping for a desperate strike against Mu Jinyu!

"Whoosh!"

But Mu Jinyu did not give him that chance.

He raised his hand, casually slashing down with a blade.

Like a seasoned woodcutter with a dull, monotonous chop.

"Bang!!"

Confronted with Mu Jinyu's blade technique, Du Tianyu could distinctly feel the condensed transformation of Heaven and Earth Laws around him, brutally striking towards him.

"Rip!!"

In the next moment, his divine weapon-level armor was torn apart by Mu Jinyu's slash.

Afterwards, his body couldn't resist, directly split open.

"Puff!!"

Instantly, blood splattered.

If Mu Jinyu hadn't held back, Du Tianyu might have been split in two.

"Ah!!"

Du Tianyu let out a sorrowful, desperate cry as his tall figure fell straight down!

"Bang!!"

Blood pooled on the ground, even revealing some intestines!

"Huh?!"

"How could this be?"

"Du Tianyu ranked twelfth, how could he... not withstand even a single slash from Mu Jinyu!"

"Yes, his cultivation is at the Eighth Level of Void Breaking Realm, while Mu Jinyu is only at the Fifth Layer, there's quite a difference, why couldn't he even take one slash?"

"It's terrifying!"

"Does this mean Mu Jinyu truly possesses the potential to challenge the top ten, or even the top three?"

"Are we about to witness a legend? A newly advanced student becoming top three on the same day..."

With Du Tianyu's defeat, the crowd below exclaimed in astonishment, whispering in surprise.

Initially filled with disdain for Mu Jinyu, eyes transformed into fear and admiration.

The boastfulness of the weak is laughable.

The arrogance of the strong is taken for granted.

He had that capability.

At first, they only saw Mu Jinyu as a newly advanced student, not as a strong figure, hence lacked reverence.

But after Mu Jinyu's near-lethal slash against Du Tianyu, showcasing his prowess capable of challenging the top three, none dared underestimate him.

Even if some felt Mu Jinyu's cultivation limited, unlikely to surpass them in the future.

Yet nobody dared say anything.

Though their futures may be bright, at present, Mu Jinyu had them overpowered.

"Take him down for healing!"

Standing on the combat platform, Mu Jinyu swept his gaze over, signaling some to carry the gutted Du Tianyu away for treatment.

Despite his serious injuries, slashed open with exposed intestines.

With his Void Breaking Realm cultivation, such injuries wouldn't be fatal, so Mu Jinyu didn't rush to rescue him post-injury.

Doing so would tarnish his image.

If so, he might as well have spared Du Tianyu from the start!

Soon, Du Tianyu was taken off the combat platform for self-healing.

Meanwhile, Mu Jinyu remained on the platform, scanning below.

His formidable gaze prompted avoidance from the crowd, dodging and evading direct eye contact.

Mu Jinyu spoke, "Are there any top ten-ranked individuals below?"

"Boom!"

Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, the crowd erupted.

Indeed, Mu Jinyu intended to challenge the top ten level, possibly even top three...