Wang Mingyuan returned to the group and pushed up his glasses, saying:
“Don’t take their attitude to heart. Although Starlight Academy can’t compare to the top five elite schools, it’s still considered one of the reputable awakened academies in Daxia.”
“Reputable but this low-quality?”
Liu Ziming sneered, “The local academy is just way too rude.”
“That’s just their school culture.”
Wang Mingyuan said calmly, “Every exchange meeting is like this; they all act like they fear nothing and no one.”
“Like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger.”
Wang Mingyuan nodded, “But the solution is simple—just beat them into submission.”
“Exactly.”
“So this time—”
Liu Ziming suddenly perked up, rubbing his hands eagerly, “It’s our turn to show off.”
Xu Hao timidly raised his hand, “Um… shouldn’t we set up some tactics first…?”
“Tactics for dealing with these guys?” Xie Xi scoffed coldly, “Are tactics even necessary?”
Wang Mingyuan looked at their high spirits and nodded in satisfaction: “Remember, the outcome of the exchange doesn’t matter; what’s important is—”
“To show the spirit of Vermilion Bird Academy.”
Su Zhan chimed in, “And not holding back.”
The group was chatting when Su Zhan’s gaze inadvertently swept over the crowd from Starlight Academy and suddenly fixed on a familiar figure.
Li Yuqin.
She wore Starlight Academy’s uniform, chatting and laughing with classmates nearby.
She was here.
Memories flooded uncontrollably like a tidal wave.
The original self had once chased after her, skipping classes to deliver breakfast, saving cultivation resources to buy her gifts, even setting up candles all over the girls’ dormitory on her birthday…
Only to be used as a scapegoat.
“Hey, isn’t that Li Yuqin?”
Liu Ziming noticed Su Zhan’s unusual expression and followed his gaze: “I heard after she was measured to have an A-grade life soul, she was admitted to Starlight Academy.”
Su Zhan looked at him in surprise.
How does this playboy know her?
Or did Liu Ziming purposely look into this?
Xie Xi glanced at him, “You know her?”
“She was the school beauty of Jiang City No. 3 High School.”
Liu Ziming winked, “Back in the day, Su Zhan was…”
“Alright, I get it, you know a lot.”
Su Zhan’s voice was calm and flat, “Just a high school classmate.”
Li Yuqin seemed to sense the gaze, turning her head in this direction.
Their eyes met.
She was clearly stunned for a moment, then revealed a complex expression.
But Su Zhan had already looked away, as if seeing an irrelevant passerby.
“Time to get on stage.”
He said quietly and turned toward the contestants’ area.
Li Yuqin stood still, her lips trembling slightly as if wanting to say something.
But in the end, she silently turned away, disappearing into the crowd.
Their current statuses were worlds apart: one was an SSS-grade life soul, a genius of Vermilion Bird Academy.
The other was just someone with some looks, not even able to step foot into any of the five great awakened academies.
Their talent was vastly different.
Their statuses, too.
The referee announced loudly:
“Solo duel!
First match.
From Starlight Academy, contestant Zhang Shan, A-grade life soul, Black Dragon Staff, offensive awakened, Dew Realm Stage 2!”
As the introduction finished,
A towering man about 1.9 meters tall strode onto the stage.
Bare-chested, muscles bulging, holding a pitch-black staff as thick as an adult’s arm, he slammed it heavily on the ground.
Boom!
The stage cracked beneath the impact.
The Starlight Academy audience instantly erupted:
“Zhang Shan! Crush them!”
“Show them the strength of Starlight Academy!”
“Knock them down with one staff strike! Don’t give them any face!”
Zhang Shan sneered and gave a thumbs-up toward Vermilion Bird Academy, then slowly spun around, full of provocation.
The referee continued:
“From Vermilion Bird Academy, contestant Su Zhan, SSS-grade life soul, Eye of Time Abyss, control-type awakened, Dew Realm Stage 3!”
Su Zhan calmly walked onto the stage, two silver long knives hanging at his waist, an antique pocket watch floating over his chest.
The two knives were just enough for his level, and he had spent quite a bit of money on them.
Booing immediately came from Starlight Academy:
“Playing tricks!”
“Zhang Shan, send him home with one strike!”
“Just because the life soul and realm levels are high, does that mean control-type life souls can also do solo duels?”
Su Zhan’s expression didn’t change; his eyes calmly swept over the entire venue.
The referee raised his right hand: “Start!”
As soon as the words fell,
Su Zhan drew his twin knives from his waist.
Zhang Shan snorted disdainfully, “Is this a tiny little body? Doesn’t Vermilion Bird Academy have anyone else?”
At the next moment,
He roared furiously, swinging the Black Dragon Staff in a wide arc.
“Slow down.”
Golden light from Eye of Time Abyss surged.
Zhang Shan’s movements slowed, as if pressed to slow motion.
Su Zhan easily sidestepped, his twin knives fluttering like butterflies, leaving several bloody slashes on his opponent.
“Impossible!?”
Zhang Shan’s face was full of terror; his body disobeyed him, and every movement cost him several times the effort.
Su Zhan didn’t reply, moving within the slowing field.
Every strike was incredibly precise, avoiding vital points but causing unbearable pain.
“Surrender.”
Su Zhan’s voice was terrifyingly calm.
“Never!”
Zhang Shan gritted his teeth and roared, desperately activating his life soul to break free.
He had studied Su Zhan’s life soul but never expected such strong control.
No matter what he did, it was all in vain.
Eye of Time Abyss firmly imprisoned him.
Three seconds later,
Zhang Shan knelt on the ground, bleeding all over, unable to even hold his weapon.
The entire venue was deathly silent, shocked by this overwhelming victory.
“The winner, Su Zhan of Vermilion Bird Academy!”
After the referee announced the result,
Su Zhan sheathed his twin knives, his eyes casually sweeping over Starlight Academy’s audience.
Everyone avoided his gaze, no trace of the earlier arrogance remained.
Li Yuqin covered her mouth, staring at him in disbelief.
But Su Zhan turned quietly and left the stage, showing no hint of joy.
It was like stepping on an ant—no one would feel happy for killing an ant.
“Su bro is awesome!”
Liu Ziming was the first to rush up, excitedly slinging an arm over Su Zhan’s shoulder: “See that? Those Starlight Academy guys all turned green! Hahaha!”
He deliberately raised his voice so the Starlight Academy people nearby could hear: “Weren’t you all so cocky before? Why aren’t you shouting now?”
Not a single person from Starlight Academy made a sound.
Xu Hao’s eyes were full of admiration: “Su bro, they didn’t even have a chance to fight back. Have you really reached this level?”
Liu Ziming’s face was serious: “Honestly, Su Zhan, your strength has improved too fast. You’re this strong at Stage 3.”
His tone was clearly jealous and unwilling.
As a second-generation rich kid, he was used to making up for gaps with money and resources, but in front of absolute strength, those external things felt so pale.
Su Zhan waved his hand: “That big guy is only Dew Realm Stage 2, but his foundation is unstable, and his footing is shaky.
It’s obvious his cultivation relies on drugs, and the kind you consume as much as you want. If it were you guys up there, you’d win easily too.”
He said he only used drugs in moderation.
Every week, he had to check his body to see how well the drugs were metabolized, afraid of accidentally overdosing.
Unexpectedly, the opponent’s foundation was obviously built on heavy drug use.
Thinking he was like Ronnie, with super drug tolerance?
Very disappointing.
Yes, very disappointing.
Hopefully, this was just a test from Starlight Academy.
Because the solo match is not just five fights in total.
By convention, Vermilion Bird Academy’s contestants fight five matches each, but no need to worry about stamina—if you have stamina, you continue; if not, you fight the next day.
If this isn’t a test, then Starlight Academy really only has this level of strength.
Then this exchange meeting was a complete waste of time.