"Damn it! That bastard only knows how to talk big!"
"Exactly! Just because he has an SS-grade Life Soul, he thinks he can bully everyone. What a joke!"
"Despicable and shameless! Is this the kind of trash Vermilion Bird Academy produces?"
"No martial ethics at all! Winning is one thing, but humiliating others after winning? Garbage!"
"These young people nowadays, a little talent and they don’t know their place. We Starlight Academy students lose with dignity!"
These were the shouts and curses.
To Liu Ziming, they sounded more like compliments.
The more they said that, the more it proved how badly they were rattled.
He deliberately slowed his steps, turned to the audience stands, and blew a flying kiss, instantly igniting another wave of uproar.
"So shameless!"
"Does the referee not care?"
Even the referee couldn’t help but frown and look toward the Vermilion Bird Academy preparation area.
But there…
Wang Mingyuan calmly pushed up his glasses, the corners of his mouth carrying a faint, subtle smile.
Uh… if even the teacher tacitly approves, then there’s nothing to be done.
At the Vermilion Bird Academy preparation area,
After Liu Ziming left the stage, he winked at Su Zhan, "How was that? Isn’t my move cool?"
Xie Xi snorted coldly, "What a waste of time."
"Oh, Xie classmate, are you jealous of my popularity~"
Liu Ziming said with a grin, "Honestly, I didn’t even use my full power just now. These scrubs don’t deserve to see my true skills."
Su Zhan shook his head helplessly, "Aren’t you afraid they’ll gang up on you?"
This playboy, when being obnoxious, can be summed up in two words: invincible.
The opponents were so frustrated they were about to spit blood.
They couldn’t beat him in a fight, and they couldn’t outcurse him either.
"Afraid of what?"
Liu Ziming flicked his hair carelessly, "If they have the ability, let them send a freshman who can fight! If there’s no martial ethics and the old fight the young, then Vermilion Bird Academy isn’t afraid of them either."
Unexpectedly,
Wang Mingyuan pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and instead of scolding, he slightly nodded, "Though the method is improper… the reasoning is correct."
Everyone’s eyes widened.
No one expected this refined-looking teacher to act so ruthlessly.
The curses from Starlight Academy continued.
But at this moment, everyone at Vermilion Bird Academy felt a refreshing satisfaction.
"Fourth match: Vermilion Bird Academy’s Feng Jue versus Starlight Academy’s Zhang Yan!"
Feng Jue silently stepped onto the stage, his whole presence like a sword drawn from its sheath—restrained yet sharp, not to be underestimated.
"Life Soul Startling Swan Sword, SS-grade, Dew Realm Second Stage!"
Opposite him was a muscular, rugged man whose expression shifted slightly, "Another SS-grade? Does Vermilion Bird Academy wholesale geniuses?"
"Life Soul Rock Armor, A-grade, Dew Realm First Stage!"
"Fight start!"
Zhang Yan’s skin quickly solidified into armor like stone.
He sneered and punched his chest, "Come on! Let’s see if your sword can break through my defense!"
Feng Jue didn’t reply, his right hand forming a fist in the air as the Startling Swan Sword appeared out of thin air.
In an instant, a clear, sharp sword chime rang throughout the arena.
"Playing tricks!"
Zhang Yan roared as he charged, raising his right fist. Sharp spikes suddenly appeared on his rock armor, smashing down toward Feng Jue’s head.
Feng Jue lifted his sword to meet the attack; the sword light was like a white rainbow piercing the sun.
The audience’s vision blurred for a moment.
Feng Jue had already appeared three meters behind Zhang Yan, slowly sheathing his sword.
"Crack…"
A fine line appeared on Zhang Yan’s rock armor, then it suddenly shattered with a rumble, stones falling all over the ground.
He stood there stunned, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
If that sword had pierced just half a centimeter deeper… he would have surely died, and the scene would have been gruesome.
Hmm… being cut in half, you can imagine how horrifying that would look.
"The winner, Vermilion Bird Academy’s Feng Jue!"
The referee’s announcement snapped the stunned audience back to reality.
Without looking back, Feng Jue returned to the preparation area.
On the Starlight Academy spectator stands, someone muttered, "What… what was that?"
"Didn’t see clearly how he struck."
"Terrifying…"
At the preparation area,
Liu Ziming applauded exaggeratedly, "Poker face is awesome! That sword strike was too cool!"
Feng Jue returned to his seat, still silent and reserved.
"Fifth match: Vermilion Bird Academy’s Xu Hao versus Starlight Academy’s Lin Ying!"
Xu Hao took a deep breath, gripping the jet-black dagger as he stepped onto the stage.
Unlike the flamboyant teammates before him,
His steps were slightly hesitant, and his eyes carried some nervousness.
"Life Soul Teleportation, S-grade, Dew Realm Second Stage!"
The tall, skinny boy opposite sneered, "Finally, someone who isn’t SS-grade."
He flipped his hands, six throwing knives appearing between his fingers.
"Life Soul Shadow Blade, A-grade, Dew Realm First Stage!"
"Fight start!"
Lin Ying immediately threw three throwing knives, aiming straight for Xu Hao’s face.
Xu Hao’s figure suddenly blurred.
The next second,
He appeared on Lin Ying’s left side, the dagger aiming straight at his ribs.
Lin Ying hurriedly dodged but his sleeve was slashed.
"Interesting."
Lin Ying licked his lips, suddenly accelerating, circling behind Xu Hao.
But Xu Hao was faster.
In an instant,
Three images of Xu Hao appeared simultaneously on the stage, attacking Lin Ying from different angles.
The audience erupted:
"Clones!?"
"His Life Soul is Teleportation, right? What’s going on!?"
"No, it’s afterimages caused by his incredible speed!"
Lin Ying rolled awkwardly to dodge, furious and embarrassed, throwing all his throwing knives wildly, "Hit him!"
The knives split mid-air, transforming into dozens of cold gleams covering the entire stage.
Xu Hao smirked, his figure completely vanishing.
The next moment,
Lin Ying suddenly felt a chill at his neck.
Xu Hao’s dagger was pressed against his throat, while all the throwing knives were stuck in midair.
"Give up?"
Xu Hao asked softly.
Lin Ying’s face went ashen, nodding.
"The winner, Vermilion Bird Academy’s Xu Hao!"
Back at the preparation area, Xu Hao exhaled deeply.
Liu Ziming hugged him, "Not bad, Mouse! Usually so sluggish, but you’re pretty cool on stage!"
Wang Mingyuan’s gaze was filled with satisfaction.
Five matches, five wins—Vermilion Bird Academy’s momentum was fully unleashed.
Su Zhan’s eyes narrowed.
It seemed no one was willing to fall behind.
Xie Xi’s decisive strike.
Feng Jue’s dazzling sword light.
Xu Hao’s teleportation moves that were hard to follow.
Even Liu Ziming’s flashy yet effective tactics.
Everyone was proving in their own way
That their team was no one-man show.
Su Zhan’s gaze slowly swept across his teammates.
The fierce fighting spirit still burning on their faces.
These so-called geniuses from their hometowns would never be willing to be mere background players for him.
Indeed, how could they be willing?
Xie Xi grew up under the aura of a military family.
Feng Jue and Xu Hao’s backgrounds were unknown, but their pride must be just as strong.
After all, who coming to Vermilion Bird Academy wasn’t a genius?
Even Liu Ziming, who seemed carefree, was the heir of a wealthy conglomerate born with a silver spoon.
Their pride wouldn’t allow them to be mere sidekicks.
Su Zhan himself was no different.
"According to the exchange meeting rules, each of you must fight five matches."
Wang Mingyuan pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, "But you only need to complete them within 15 days. Today, each of you has finished one match. Do you want to continue?"