Xie Xi also pursed her lips tightly.
If it had been her in the previous battle, although she could still win, would she have handled it as effortlessly as Su Zhan did?
She wasn’t sure.
Feng Jue suddenly spoke up, “Keep training.”
Those three simple words voiced what everyone was thinking.
Su Zhan noticed his teammates’ complex expressions and scanned each person in the preparation area. “Don’t forget, we’re teammates.”
This sentence eased the atmosphere considerably.
Liu Ziming quickly returned to his usual carefree, devil-may-care attitude. “Exactly! Once I break through to the third rank, I’ll make those Starlight Academy guys see what’s what…”
Xie Xi raised her hand and knocked on his head. “Focus on solidifying your second rank strength first.”
The heavy pressure from moments ago instantly dissipated.
“The second match, Xie Xi from Vermilion Bird Academy versus Zhou Lie from Starlight Academy!”
As soon as the referee’s voice fell, Xie Xi stepped onto the arena holding her dark red Scythe of Destruction.
Her gaze was sharper than usual, the blade’s tip dragging across the ground, sparks flying all along the way.
“Life Soul, Scythe of Destruction, SS rank, Dew Realm third rank!”
Opposite her stood a muscular boy who visibly tensed upon hearing the referee’s introduction.
He growled lowly, his body starting to change.
His fingernails turned into tiger claws, tiger stripes appeared on his face, yellow and black fur sprouted, and he swelled in size.
“Life Soul, Tiger Transformation, A rank, Dew Realm first rank!”
The starting whistle blew.
Xie Xi suddenly charged forward.
The Scythe of Destruction was entwined with dark red spiritual energy.
“Roar!”
Zhou Lie let out a tiger’s roar and pounced fiercely.
The Scythe of Destruction swung.
It pierced through the tiger claws’ defense, the blade’s tip pressing against Zhou Lie’s throat.
Dark red spiritual energy condensed on the blade tip; just one more inch forward would end his life.
The entire arena fell silent.
Zhou Lie’s tiger claw froze midair, cold sweat dripping down his cheek.
He had no doubt that if he moved even slightly, the Scythe of Destruction would pierce his throat.
“I admit defeat!”
“The winner, Xie Xi of Vermilion Bird Academy!”
After the referee announced the result, the Scythe of Destruction in Xie Xi’s hand vanished into thin air.
The whole process took less than ten seconds.
Just like Su Zhan, the victory was swift and decisive.
Xie Xi returned to the preparation area, her gaze casually sweeping over Su Zhan.
Liu Ziming was dumbfounded. “Xi-Xi, you just…”
“Shut up.”
Xie Xi said coldly, but the slight curve at the corner of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.
Su Zhan smiled quietly at her performance.
This proud girl would never allow herself to be outdone by anyone.
Even if that person was a teammate.
That last battle wasn’t just about defeating the opponent.
It was more of a silent declaration to him: I, Xie Xi, am no worse than you.
Su Zhan found it both amusing and somewhat touching.
Xie Xi’s competitive spirit tolerated no slight.
From the very first day of enrollment, she always charged ahead, determined to be the strongest.
Even in a friendly match like this, she had to prove herself with overwhelming dominance.
However...
She hadn’t lost her rationality because of that competitive spirit.
Otherwise, her opponent would have lost his head by now.
She had restraint.
“Really…”
Su Zhan shook his head helplessly.
Having such a teammate was both pressure and motivation.
At least he didn’t have to worry about lacking pressure on his cultivation path.
The audience seats of Starlight Academy were deathly silent.
Their proud representative was so easily crushed by Vermilion Bird Academy.
Meanwhile, the other Starlight Academy students in the preparation area no longer wore their initial arrogance, replaced instead by deep apprehension.
“It’s almost my turn. Watch me teach these little brats a lesson.”
Liu Ziming raised his eyebrows confidently and spoke to everyone.
Just as he finished, the referee’s voice rang out.
“The third match, Liu Ziming of Vermilion Bird Academy versus Wu Yan of Starlight Academy!”
Liu Ziming swaggered onto the arena with a blatant disregard for decorum.
As he walked, he gave the audience opposite a middle finger.
This drew a chorus of boos.
“Life Soul Purple Thunder, SS rank, Dew Realm second rank!”
The red-haired boy’s face stiffened.
Liu Ziming immediately perked up. “What’s wrong? Scared? It’s not too late to kneel and call me dad!”
“Life Soul Crimson Flame, A rank, Dew Realm first rank!”
“That’s it?”
Liu Ziming exaggeratedly pulled at his ear. “Does Starlight Academy have no one else? You actually dare to send out an A rank and embarrass yourselves?”
He turned to the referee and winked. “Why don’t you just declare me the winner? Picking on kids isn’t nice.”
The referee scowled and said, “Begin the match.”
“What are you pretending for!”
Wu Yan ignited blazing flames in both hands and lunged forward fiercely.
“Why so impatient? Let dad teach you a lesson—”
Liu Ziming nimbly retreated two steps, then flashed to his opponent’s side. “This is what a real strength gap looks like!”
A bolt of purple lightning struck at Wu Yan’s feet, causing him to stagger backward in fright.
“No good.”
Liu Ziming shook his head in disappointment, then raised his voice toward the audience seats. “Is this the kind of trash your academy produces?”
The crowd instantly lost their composure.
“So arrogant!”
“Wu Yan, beat his ass!”
“He’s asking for it!”
Liu Ziming spun around and gave the audience a double middle finger. “What are you all yelling about? A bunch of losers! If you’re so good, come on up!”
Wu Yan’s body was engulfed in roaring flames again as he charged once more.
Liu Ziming yawned while standing still, his figure flickering as he easily dodged the attack, then casually pushed Wu Yan from behind.
The red-haired youth was caught off guard and fell directly to the edge of the arena.
“Can you fall on flat ground?”
Liu Ziming clapped and laughed loudly. “What move was that? Tell me so I can avoid it.”
Wu Yan got up, his face twisted with anger. “I’m going to tear your mouth apart!”
“Come on, come on~”
Liu Ziming beckoned with his finger, surrounded by swirling Thunder Serpents. “Let me show you what SS rank truly means.”
The two clashed again, fire and lightning violently colliding on the arena.
Liu Ziming still couldn’t help but taunt:
“With your accuracy, I could do better with my feet.
Keep it up, I’m pretty sure you’re about to win. Yeah, yeah, hit here, oh wow, hitting with no strength won’t do.
That’s all you got? Your girlfriend must be suffering following you around.”
The booing from the audience grew louder.
Liu Ziming only got more fired up.
Wu Yan was already panting heavily.
“Had enough fun?”
Liu Ziming dropped the playful attitude, clasped his hands into a seal, and his clothes fluttered despite no wind. “Thunder Punishment!”
A purple thunderbolt descended from the sky, blasting a charred crater in the arena.
“Give up?”
Liu Ziming said coldly, “The next one will strike your head.”
Wu Yan’s face went pale as he raised his hand in surrender.
The referee immediately announced, “Winner, Liu Ziming of Vermilion Bird Academy!”
Liu Ziming turned nonchalantly and shouted to the medical team, “Hurry up! This idiot will be perfectly cooked if you leave him any longer!”
The Starlight Academy audience seats completely erupted.