Chapter 12: Dominating the Arena, Seeking Treasure in the Forbidden Land

The freshman tournament officially began! The deafening cheers nearly shook the entire arena, filling the air with an electrifying tension. Mao Yu stood beneath the stage, his gaze sweeping over the eager challengers, a confident smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Is that all? Just a warm-up," he muttered under his breath, feeling utterly unshaken, even amused.

In the first round, his opponent was a burly man wielding earth powers. The giant immediately unleashed a massive boulder hurtling toward Mao Yu. "Is that it? Mere child's play!" Mao Yu dodged effortlessly, the rock barely grazing his cloak before smashing into the stage floor, leaving a deep crater. With a swift counterattack, he unleashed a "Wind Blade"—a sharp gust slicing through the air—and sent the giant flying off the platform in a perfect knockout! The crowd erupted in astonished applause. That was unbelievably fast!

In the rounds that followed, Mao Yu seemed unstoppable, performing dazzling feats with ease. Fireballs and ice shards became mere toys in his hands. His opponents were helpless, each one retreating in desperation as they tumbled off the stage.

"That kid’s got some serious skill!" Li Yang, lurking in the crowd, scowled deeply, his fists clenched tightly. He hadn’t expected Mao Yu’s strength to be so overwhelming. The earlier tests were no fluke. Gathering with the other defeated challengers, Li Yang exchanged glances and silently formed an alliance to take Mao Yu down and prevent his easy advancement.

From this point on, Mao Yu sensed the pressure intensify. His foes no longer fought alone but coordinated attacks, surrounding him with a barrage of abilities. Fiery blasts and piercing ice spikes interwove into a deadly net of power. The very space around Mao Yu warped and twisted under the crushing energies. His clothes were shredded by the surging waves of energy, yet his eyes remained unwavering and resolute.

"Heh, kid, now you see what real power looks like," Li Yang sneered from below the stage, his grin dripping with malice. Mao Yu was cornered near the platform’s edge, the situation growing perilous.

Then, suddenly, a strange energy ripple reached him... Mao Yu snorted coldly, "You think teaming up can beat me? Today, I’ll show you what true strength is!" In a flash, he appeared like a phantom before Li Yang, striking him with a precise thunderbolt. Li Yang screamed, convulsing violently before collapsing to the ground. Every attack Mao Yu launched struck with pinpoint accuracy, and the opponents fell one by one, powerless to resist.

"Anyone else?!" Mao Yu swept the arena with a proud glare, radiating dominance.

The remaining challengers trembled in fear, their courage shattered, retreating hastily without daring to confront him further. "Big brother, I’m sorry! Please spare me!" "I have elders and children to care for—please show mercy!" Mao Yu regarded them calmly. "You all have potential, but today, I was just better." Then, unleashing his full fury like a tiger descending the mountain, he defeated the rest without mercy.

"Awesome! Mao Shao is invincible!" "So cool! Mao Shao, you’re my idol!" The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, Mao Yu’s name echoing throughout the arena. Standing atop the stage, basking in the glory of victory, his heart surged with pride and ambition.

The freshman tournament ended, and Mao Yu successfully advanced into the top ten. Yet he did not indulge in celebration, knowing this was only the beginning. "Feng Yao, just wait. I’ll show you my true power," he declared, his eyes burning as he glanced toward the stands—where a cold, elegant figure silently watched him.

Night fell. Mao Ling clung to Mao Yu, pleading, "Brother, I heard the Forbidden Zone has many interesting things. Take me there." Mao Yu refused firmly, "It’s too dangerous. You can’t come." Secretly, he slipped into the school’s Forbidden Zone, unaware that Mao Ling followed quietly behind.

According to the system’s prompts, hidden within was a secret to enhancing supernatural abilities. "Who’s there?" a deep voice rumbled through the darkness. A man in black, sword in hand, blocked Mao Yu’s path. "Restricted area. No trespassers allowed!"

Mao Yu’s lips curved slightly. "I’m no trespasser..." he said with a wicked smile. "Guess who?" Before the man could react, Mao Yu vanished in a flash. The guard barely had time to realize before a sharp pain exploded in his back, sending him flying hard onto the ground.

"Is that all? I expected more," Mao Yu scoffed, clapping his hands with disdain.

The system promptly announced, "Congratulations, host! You have defeated the guard and earned a reward: Advanced Invisibility Talisman!"

"Not bad," Mao Yu thought with a grin. With this, his upcoming explorations would be much easier. Activating the talisman, he vanished like a ghost, slipping through the Forbidden Zone unseen.

The area was fraught with traps and dangers, but with the system as his guide, none posed a real threat. The system acted like an all-knowing navigator, steering him clear of every hazard.

"High-energy warning ahead! High-energy warning ahead!" the system suddenly blared. Mao Yu halted, spotting up ahead a massive stone door etched with mysterious runes, exuding an eerie aura.

"How do I open this?" Mao Yu scratched his head, puzzled.

"Beep beep beep! Hidden mechanism detected. Please locate clues," the system instructed.

Scanning the surroundings, Mao Yu spotted an inconspicuous stone tablet in a corner. Approaching it, he studied the strange carvings carefully.

"Brother Mao Yu, look!" Mao Ling suddenly pointed at the runes on the door. "These runes look just like the patterns on the tablet!"

Mao Yu’s eyes lit up with understanding.

Following the tablet’s design, he pressed the runes on the door in sequence. A thunderous rumble echoed as the stone door slowly opened, revealing a hidden chamber.

At the center floated a dazzling crystal stone, radiating brilliant light.

"This is the key to enhancing my powers!" Mao Yu exclaimed excitedly, reaching out to grasp the crystal. Suddenly, a powerful force surged out, blasting him backward.

He cried out, looking up to see Feng Yao standing at the chamber’s entrance, eyes wide with shock. Around them, lights flickered as their gazes locked—Mao Yu’s filled with suspicion and caution, Feng Yao’s glowing with admiration. Time seemed to freeze in that charged moment, the air thick with tension and unspoken emotion.

Seeing Feng Yao’s look, warmth blossomed in Mao Yu’s heart. A faint smile crossed his lips as he clutched the crystal. A surge of energy flooded through him, instantly magnifying his abilities.

Witnessing this, Feng Yao’s respect for Mao Yu deepened. He stood there, as if the center of the entire school’s attention, stepping ever closer to his goal.

"Looks like someone’s getting restless..." Mao Yu murmured, a playful smile tugging at his lips.