Bai Xuan stood in the center of the shattered bricks, looking down at the white robe that was already in tatters.
The cuffs were torn with several large gashes, and the hem was reduced to a few tattered shreds hanging around his waist, looking completely ruined.
He casually tugged at a loose thread, which came completely off with a gentle pull. This white robe was clearly unable to withstand another battle or skill test.
He had originally only wanted to test the strength of his newly acquired skill, but he hadn't expected to crash straight through several walls.
This explosive speed far exceeded his estimates.
Now that his level was close to Level 13, Hero Rank, his own attributes were already outstanding. Even with the passive effects of Strength Augmentation and Physique Tempering stacked, he still couldn't react in time at the moment the skill erupted.
The instant the skill was triggered, even though he was prepared, his entire body was still violently thrown forward by the immense momentum.
The stinging sensation of his body being forcibly pulled was incredibly clear, and the tearing force from the high-speed movement even brought a burning pain to the surface of his skin.
If it had been a Mage class of the same level, the backlash of this single move alone would have been enough to cause physical trauma.
Moreover, this was his first time using this skill. He hadn't deliberately adjusted his exertion rhythm or precisely controlled his direction; it was entirely an instinctive charge upon activating the skill.
Once he mastered it in the future, his speed would definitely increase even further.
He could sense that this skill possessed extreme mobility. During the charge, it was entirely possible to turn, accelerate a second time, or chain it into attacks or other skills. However, the exact mechanical ceiling and practical combat applications would still require a lot of trial and error in real combat.
He stood quietly in place, feeling the mana fluctuations within his body that had yet to stabilize.
Holy Charge was a continuous mana-consuming skill. In theory, as long as his physical strength and mana reserves were sufficient, he could maintain this high-speed movement indefinitely.
But the corresponding consumption cost was also extremely high. The mana consumed by just that short charge just now was enough to cast several conventional basic skills.
Whether it was for long-distance travel or continuous positioning and damage output in team battles, he had to carefully manage its frequency of use and could not squander it recklessly.
Bai Xuan looked down at his white robe again. The tears ran all the way from his shoulders to his waist, and the fine shreds of cloth hung at his side, fluttering gently in the breeze.
He sighed helplessly, planning to ask around tomorrow about durable clothing materials or specialized armor. Under these circumstances, ruining his clothes every time he used a skill was simply too troublesome.
Earlier, when his strength was still low, he would take off his white robe and put it into his Space Ring before every battle, wearing only wear-resistant leather armor to fight.
But now that his strength had increased significantly, the high-intensity burst of high-tier skills frequently destroyed his clothes instead, forcing him to re-select protective gear suitable for combat.
He happened to have an Armor Rank-Up Scroll in hand. He hadn't decided on a suitable piece of equipment before, but now it seemed perfect for crafting a custom magic robe that could withstand the backlash of his skills and combat wear.
He dismissed the thought of continuing the test. The town was densely built, and rashly testing his skills would only damage more houses and walls.
It would be better to find an open area in the wilderness later to slowly refine the details of the skill. This place was not suitable for testing his abilities.
Bai Xuan brushed the dust off his shoulders. Just as he was about to turn and leave, a hurried set of footsteps suddenly echoed from deep down the corridor.
The town patrol arrived first. Holding torches and unsheathed blades, they scanned the damaged walls and the rubble-strewn ground with alert expressions.
One of the patrol members saw Bai Xuan standing in the center of the ruins. His steps suddenly slowed, and he quietly lowered the torch in his hand.
His gaze darted back and forth between Bai Xuan's tattered white robe and the completely collapsed walls, silently piecing the scene together in his mind.
“My lord, this... did you do this?” His tone was filled with hesitation, finding it hard to believe what he was seeing.
“I was practicing a new skill just now and didn't control my strength well,” Bai Xuan said with a hint of embarrassment, quickly apologizing. “My apologies for the trouble.”
The patrol members looked at each other, then back at the three walls that had been completely smashed through. The tension in their eyes vanished, replaced by complex expressions.
Everyone silently re-evaluated this lord's strength. To violently smash through three stone walls and still stand here talking to them as if nothing had happened was incredible.
No one pressed further. Someone sheathed their sword, the crisp metallic clank echoing in the corridor. “Let's disperse.”
Yvonne walked quickly from the end of the corridor. The moment she saw the scene before her, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her gaze locked onto the shattered gaps in the walls, her expression suddenly tightening.
In the next second, she looked at Bai Xuan, her gaze quickly sweeping from head to toe before finally resting on his torn cuffs and tattered hem.
Her breath visibly caught for a moment, and her speech quickened. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
Bai Xuan shook his head gently. “It's nothing. I just lost control while trying out a new magic spell.”
Yvonne did not respond immediately, her eyes still glued to his tattered robe. Clearly, she did not fully believe his casual reassurance.
Her gaze swept over Bai Xuan's exposed arms again, and only after confirming there were no injuries did she slightly withdraw her eyes.
“I suddenly heard a loud noise just now,” she said, her voice still carrying lingering anxiety. “I thought you were in danger.”
She instinctively took a step forward, then forced herself to stop, checking carefully once more. “Are you truly completely unharmed?”
“I'm really fine.” Bai Xuan looked down at his ruined white robe and smiled helplessly. “It's just that my clothes are completely ruined.”
Yvonne looked at the damaged walls once more, then withdrew her gaze. “I will arrange for someone to handle the repair work on the walls tomorrow. You don't need to worry about this.”
“Then thank you very much. I was just worrying about how to handle it,” Bai Xuan's tone softened significantly.
After confirming that Bai Xuan was safe and sound, Yvonne's tense expression finally relaxed completely. “By the way, your room has been tidied up.”
“Thank you for your hard work,” Bai Xuan nodded in gratitude.
Yvonne quickly waved her hands. “Please don't say that. It's the least I could do. You saved the entire town; my tidying up a room is absolutely nothing in comparison.”
As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Bai Xuan's damaged white robe once more.
“Is there anything else you need my help with?” she asked softly, trying to make the offer of help sound as natural as possible.
Bai Xuan thought for a moment, retrieved a Skill Engraving Stone from his breast, and held it out in his open palm.
“There is indeed something I need your help with. I want to do a small test to see the effects of this magic item.”
Yvonne's gaze was instantly drawn to the engraving stone in his palm. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity.
The stone was only about the size of a palm, with a highly polished, smooth surface. It was translucent, resembling a pebble that had been washed by running water for years.
She took it and held it in her hand. It was of moderate weight, not heavy, yet it carried a sense of solidity.
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