Void Absorption: Rise of the Martial God

3

Dorian slowly lifted his head, his expression chillingly blank as he fixed his gaze on the sharp-faced youth. "Seems like... you still don't quite grasp your current situation."

His voice was like the bite of midwinter, sending an icy shudder down the other's spine.

Then their eyes met.

"Ah... ah..."

The sharp-faced youth felt as if he were staring into the abyss — Dorian's dark, fathomless eyes radiated a bone-deep cold, like a bloodthirsty predator had locked onto him.

His scrawny frame trembled uncontrollably, his pupils dilating in terror.

His mouth gaped soundlessly before his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed in a dead faint.

He had actually passed out from sheer fright.

"Pathetic. With a will that weak, what's the point of practicing martial arts?"

Dorian glanced down at the unconscious youth with disdain, shaking his head in cold amusement.

Without another word, he grabbed both the sharp-faced weakling and the stocky thug by their collars and hurled them out the door like discarded trash.

Thud. Thud.

Of course, he had relieved them of their coin purses first — fair compensation for their provocation and the damage to his door.

After a quick tidy-up, Dorian strode out without a backward glance.

After leaving Lowgate District, Dorian leaned against a large tree by the roadside, pondering his next move.

Renting a place was unnecessary now.

After all, these were the days when martial academies from across the kingdom would come recruiting students. With his current strength, getting admitted was practically a done deal!

The Nine Solar Sovereign Art — this supreme martial technique — was likely even more formidable than Heaven-tier cultivation methods. Just mastering its initial stage without even unblocking a single pressure point had already elevated his mid-level One-Star strength to rival late-stage Two-Star!

Even...

Dorian clenched his fist, feeling the surging power coursing through his body. Taking on a Two-Star peak-level martial artist wasn't entirely out of the question!

This filled him with anticipation.

If one day he could unblock all 720 pressure points in his body, perhaps even as a Postnatal-stage warrior, he could stand toe-to-toe with those legendary Innate Realm experts!

In the path of martial arts, the gap between each realm was vast — especially in the later stages, where even a minor difference in cultivation could feel insurmountable.

Those who could fight above their level in the early stages were considered geniuses. Being invincible within the same realm in the later stages was already extraordinary. And those who could still surpass a minor realm? They were geniuses among geniuses!

But as for a Postnatal-stage warrior rivaling an Innate Realm expert...

Dorian searched his inherited memories but drew a blank. If such a person existed, they were likely one of those legendary prodigies from the ancient martial sects.

Then again, even if he couldn't achieve that, he still had the system!

Though his system was unreliable — acting like a mute most of the time — its capabilities never failed to impress him.

With enough enhancement points, he could grow infinitely stronger!

It seemed the system wasn't interested in ordinary items — no enhancement points from absorbing them. Dorian realized he would need to experiment with other objects when the opportunity arose.

Things like elixirs, weapons, martial techniques...

He would likely gain access to those once he entered a martial academy.

"Sigh, I'll worry about the future later. For now, getting into a martial academy is the priority!"

A determined glint flashed in Dorian's eyes as he snapped out of his thoughts. Relying on his inherited memory, he quickly found a nearby inn and checked in.

What else could he do?

The door to his rented room was broken, and at this late hour, finding someone to fix it was impossible. Dorian wasn't the type to sleep with the door wide open, letting the chilly breeze in. Besides, he couldn't risk unwanted visitors disturbing his rest.

Soon enough, morning arrived.

Duskfall Academy — Ironveil City

As Dorian approached the entrance of Duskfall Academy, he ran into Elder Harwick, the head combat instructor for third-year students.

"Dorian, come here. There's something I need to tell you."

Dorian raised an eyebrow but walked over.

Half a minute later, his expression darkened.

"Elder Harwick, are you saying the academy is expelling me?"

"No, no, no, it's not what you think."

Elder Harwick gave a faint smile. "Although you've been skipping classes and violating the academy's rules these past few days, the administration has decided to be lenient. They won't expel you."

He paused, his tone measured. "The academy's suggestion is for you to take a temporary leave of absence. You don't need to come in for the next couple of days. Focus on training at home and return next year."

"Oh? Why's that?"

Dorian narrowed his eyes.

"Come now, Dorian," Elder Harwick chuckled, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "You know your own level. To be frank, representatives from martial academies across the Ironveil Kingdom have arrived today for student recruitment."

His voice took on a patronizing edge. "With your current skills, you'd only embarrass yourself if you participated. Why not take this time to train harder? Come back next year with some dignity — wouldn't that be better?"

Embarrass myself?

You mean embarrass YOU.

A cold smirk curled at the corner of Dorian's lips, though his expression remained unreadable. The words burned in his chest, unspoken but razor-sharp.

Forcing me to take a leave of absence, withdraw from the enrollment assessment, and go home to train — was this the academy leadership's idea?

Don't tell me... you, the head instructor of the third-year division, had nothing to do with this?!

Making weaker students temporarily drop out served two purposes: first, it prevented them from embarrassing the academy in front of the prestigious martial houses, and second, it ensured tuition fees could still be collected next year to pad the numbers!

What a clever little scheme!

"Elder Harwick, what if I insist on taking the enrollment assessment?" Dorian said calmly, his expression unreadable.

Hmm?

Elder Harwick's eyebrows arched slightly. For some reason, the Dorian standing before him seemed like a completely different person. But he brushed the thought aside, his smile fading as he replied,

"Dorian, I'm only looking out for you. Skipping classes for seven days without reason is already a serious offense. The academy has every right to expel you and deny your re-enrollment next year. And let me remind you — the leadership of Duskfall Academy has close ties with other academies. One word from us, and no institution will ever accept a subpar student like you again."

He leaned in slightly, his tone turning icy.

"A man should know his place. Understand?"

At those words, Dorian's eyes narrowed to slits.

Oh? So persuasion didn't work, and now we've moved straight to threats?

How laughable.

Too bad for you.

If it were the old Dorian, he might have cowardly agreed!

But now!

The soul residing in this body was that of Dorian Ash — a martial arts grandmaster from Valdris, proud as the soaring clouds!

He was determined to reach the pinnacle of martial arts!

Fearless and unrivaled!

How could he possibly back down now?!