Chapter 40: This Is No Ordinary Ritual!

Everyone was watching the scene with bated breath. Though they stood at some distance, they could still see just how terrifying Yuan Si’s speed truly was. At such extremes, those of lower rank simply could not follow his movements at all. Let alone Lin Han, who now stood before him.

Yet the referee had more faith in Lin Han. Merely this speed? In a previous match, Lin Han had dodged a volley of arrows from an archer with an uncanny, almost spectral movement. The precision and judgment he displayed were already far beyond what one would expect from a recent graduate.

But the violent priest before them now had indeed achieved just that—moving with such elegance, completely unruffled. Would anyone believe that someone like Lin Han couldn’t see through an assassin’s attack? Only a fool would!

Yuan Si’s dagger traced a graceful arc through the air, its target Lin Han’s back. He left no opportunity for Lin Han to see his movements—a strike that could not miss!

Yet just as he was about to make contact, Lin Han bent over suddenly, once more dodging the attack with perfect timing.

“He can really see my moves?” Yuan Si was incredulous, but at that moment Lin Han’s large hand swept toward him. The assassin’s instincts screamed at Yuan Si to evade, and he reflexively retreated to the side, instantly widening the distance between them.

Lin Han chuckled lightly. “What’s wrong? Why is an assassin afraid of a priest like me? I only reached out a hand, yet you bolted away so quickly.”

Yuan Si was drenched in sweat, more uncertain than ever about the strength of the man before him. It was hard to accept—he’d just gone all out to avoid a priest’s move. He was an assassin! Yet the warning that had flashed through his mind was all too real.

The instant Lin Han reached for him, every cell in his body seemed to leap in alarm. Since his awakening, nothing—not even facing monsters above his own rank—had triggered such a reaction. But now, a mere priest had inspired such fear. If anyone heard of it, they’d think it a joke.

Yuan Si muttered, “Are you sure you’re a priest? I’m starting to doubt your profession.”

“You’re insane,” Lin Han replied, exasperated.

The entrance exam was tied directly to the school’s records—he’d have liked to claim a different class, something like a warrior, which would have been more convincing. But his class was registered and reported the moment he awakened; he had no chance to alter his information.

Yuan Si realized as much. What kind of background would it take to make the school risk such a thing? So, Lin Han truly was a priest? Even so, Yuan Si struggled to believe it. He hardly recognized himself anymore—so afraid, so cautious in a contest with a priest.

“It must be some trick—showing off in front of an expert!” Yuan Si would hesitate no longer. As an assassin, he had the advantage over a priest. If he let himself be cowed now, he might as well give up on life.

“Lin Han, prepare yourself for my grand performance!”

Lin Han replied coolly, “I hope your performance is as grand as you say. Don’t disappoint me.”

Yuan Si laughed lightly. “Hope you’ll still be able to think straight in a moment!”

In a flash, Yuan Si vanished again—this time, holding nothing back, striking at Lin Han’s head the moment he saw an opening.

Lin Han reacted instantly, spinning and launching a kick. Seeing the move, Yuan Si didn’t hesitate; he parried with his blade and braced himself. He took the blow directly, flying backward through the air. Still, as a second-rank assassin, his control over his body was superb; he stabbed his blade into the ground to slow his momentum.

But as soon as he stopped, Lin Han’s fist followed. Yuan Si dodged hastily, bracing himself with one hand and kicking back in response. But Lin Han simply caught his foot in his hand—a grip so strong there was no chance of breaking free.

Yuan Si’s eyes widened in shock. In this situation, his foot was actually caught! What terrifying reflexes!

Before he could recover, Lin Han hefted him with one hand, swung him around in the air several times, and flung him away. Yuan Si completely lost his sense of direction, staggering dizzily when he landed before finally regaining his balance.

Such overwhelming strength! Though Yuan Si was light, to be swung around like that was almost inconceivable.

Especially by a priest.

“Lin Han, what are you?” Yuan Si called, his earlier arrogance mostly gone, replaced by seriousness. “How can you possess such strength?”

Lin Han only replied calmly, “Just the result of good training.”

“I hope that’s all it is,” Yuan Si muttered, not pressing the point—after all, even if he questioned further, Lin Han might not answer. Such strength would put even warriors of the same rank to shame.

Lin Han took two steps forward, unwilling to give Yuan Si a moment’s respite. Yet Yuan Si was still a second-rank assassin, and his reactions were swift. He drew his blade to meet Lin Han head-on.

Though Lin Han wasn’t worried about the blade—even a direct hit would be minor—he still had to defend. After all, the higher-ups were watching; he couldn’t let them notice anything unusual about him.

Yuan Si slashed again, the two of them trading blows in quick succession.

“Lin Han, try this on for size!”

As Yuan Si spoke, suddenly another Yuan Si appeared on the field—a clone!

Lin Han was surprised. Such skills typically only awakened in third- or even fourth-rank assassins. Did Yuan Si have extraordinary talent, or had his family secured a rare skill book for Doppelganger?

Skill books for that technique were among the rarest, commanding sky-high prices for those lucky enough to find them.

Yuan Si smiled. “What good is your quick reaction? Facing two of me, everything you do is just child’s play.”

Both figures spoke in unison, making it impossible to tell which was real.

Lin Han’s expression turned grave; he truly hadn’t awakened any similar ability and couldn’t tell the real from the fake.

No matter. If he beat them both, the problem would solve itself.