Chapter 21: New Grand Fighting Masters, Terrifying as This!

On the plaza, the seniors mockingly sized up the newly arrived freshman, eyes full of wonder; the beatings they once endured could finally be experienced.

Because they got rained on, they must tear other people's umbrellas apart.

Today, the confidence of these so‑called "geniuses" will at last be shattered.

Most seniors look toward the person at the front of the line, a hint of envy in their gaze; he is the strongest among their senior team, and after this torture of the freshman ends, he should head to the inner courtyard.

At the front of the line, Wu Jinchang, the strongest of the squad, cannot feel any joy, because as the strongest one is usually not chosen by a freshman for a challenge.

Freshmen may choose their opponents themselves, and for a freshman whose choice makes no difference, picking a second‑year student lets him lose with a bit of dignity; Wu Jinchang is merely here to keep the field in order—his Eight‑Star Fighting Master strength is enough to make any freshman balk.

Xiao Li mingles among the freshmen while Vice Dean Hu Qian of the Outer Courtyard speaks at the front of the formation; his Fighting Emperor power is gathered within his body, his aura vast and heavy, and even without targeting Xiao Li and the others it still presses on them.

"New students may select a senior on the plaza to challenge; those below Fighter rank are not required, those of Fighter rank one star and above must challenge; defeat carries no penalty, victory brings rewards according to the senior's strength."

Hu Qian finishes speaking and leaves the plaza, moving to the judging platform to watch.

On the judging platform sit several elders of the Outer Courtyard.

Although Xiao Li arrived at Canaan Academy seven years earlier than the original storyline, the seniors are unfamiliar faces, yet the veteran elders remain unchanged—still Hu Qian, Huo Laotou and the like.

"Where's that little guy Su Fei mentioned? I was busy talking earlier and didn't find him," Hu Qian says gloomily.

When the recruitment teachers, including Su Fei, return they report the intake; Grand Fighting Master‑level Xiao Li has practically captured the attention of every Outer Courtyard instructor, and even a few from the Inner Courtyard have noticed this little fellow.

Huo Laotou's stiff expression does not change; he snorts coldly, "What a pity, this talented little fellow happens to be of Thunder attribute, so he can't refine pills."

Hearing Huo Laotou's demon‑talk about pill‑refining, a few black lines appear on Hu Qian's forehead; he's too lazy to argue, and simply scans the freshman crowd for Xiao Li's figure.

The teachers have now divided those with Fighter cultivation and those with Fighting Qi cultivation into two teams; the number of Fighters is only one‑tenth that of Fighting‑Qi cultivators.

Hu Qian strokes his chin, "You all think, should we add a Fighting‑Qi assessment next year? It's uncomfortable seeing them can't take a hit."

The other elders hear this and mutter, "Vice Dean, some people already have low cultivation; seeing a classmate who is a Fighter already hurts them enough, no need for an assessment."

"Indeed, we set up challenge rounds to crush those little geniuses' confidence, not to betray the original purpose; fighting for the sake of fighting isn't good."

Hearing the elders say that, Hu Qian reluctantly abandons the idea, but then he becomes excited again.

"Look, isn't that black‑clad kid Xiao Li? His energy fluctuation is almost stronger than the combined power of dozens around him."

Xiao Li's aura cannot be hidden from these big shots; the Grand Fighting Master's energy ripple shines like a lantern in a night of fireflies, and Hu Qian, once idle, immediately spots him.

The pill‑expert Huo Laotou is the first to notice the detail, "His aura is very dense; his cultivation must be forged through hard work, not by popping pills."

Hu Qian nods; this is one of the aspects he greatly admires in Xiao Li—an innate talent yet still steadfast, diligent in cultivation, truly a good seedling.

"You see, I'll go see what reward we should prepare for Xiao Li."

Hu Qian has never imagined he would have to prepare a reward for a freshman defeating a third‑year, so he now must make one on the spot.

Hu Qian stands up; today's battle is without suspense—Xiao Li, at such a young age, has cultivated to this realm with a solid foundation, his temperament surely impeccable, so Hu Qian did not arrange the Outer Courtyard's top students to strike him; once he enters the Inner Courtyard, Xiao Li will know there are stronger ones.

"If you leave now, you'll never see the first strike of a future Fighting Sect master in Canaan."

Huo Laotou raises an eyebrow; no one doubts his words—given Xiao Li's talent, his promotion to Fighting Sect is practically a done deal.

Hu Qian's figure pauses, he sits back calmly, "Then, let's see."

Seeing Hu Qian's pretentious air, Huo Laotou's mouth curls into a stiff grin.

Below the judging platform, Xiao Li and the others ready themselves, lining up one by one toward the senior squad.

The first freshman looks a bit pale; seniors each have a placard in front of them, the frontmost third‑yearers are almost all Fighting Masters, the second‑yearers behind are Fighter‑five‑star strength; he, a mere one‑star Fighter, truly doesn't know what to pick.

In the end, the freshman can only helplessly choose a five‑star Fighter senior.

Xiao Li stands near the front of the line, about ten battles will occur in one go, and it's his turn soon.

"The stronger you defeat, the better the spoils…"

Xiao Li scans the seniors ahead and immediately fixes his gaze on Wu Jinchang at the front.

"Eight‑Star Fighting Master, you're up."

Being stared at by Xiao Li makes Wu Jinchang feel suddenly uneasy, as if he's become a commodity under scrutiny.

Wu Jinchang looks around, finally locking onto Xiao Li in the freshman ranks; seeing Xiao Li's unabashed stare, Wu Jinchang's eyes sharpen.

Interesting, you treat me as an opponent? I can't tell if you have some skill or just crave attention.

Freshmen fall one by one; even those two‑star to three‑star Fighters can't beat the seasoned seniors, and soon it's Xiao Li's turn.

The seniors on the stands giggle, proud of themselves as seniors, loving to watch the freshmen suffer; it gives them a strange grown‑up vanity.

It's like senior students in a past life looking down on juniors, always with an inexplicable sense of superiority.

Hu Qian laughs, "Looks like this year the ones getting beaten are the seniors."

Huo Laotou shrugs, "Last year it was first‑year freshmen; this year it's naturally the second‑year seniors."

Seeing the fire‑master whose alchemy went wrong, Hu Qian twitches his mouth but doesn't argue whether they're the same batch.

"Look, Xiao Li is about to step onto the stage."

The elders on the judging platform subconsciously straighten their bodies, looking toward the advancing Xiao Li.

"Freshman Xiao Li, challenge Senior Wu Jinchang."

When the plain voice rang out, the whole arena erupted in clamor.

"What a joke, challenging Wu Jinchang? He's the senior who booked an Inner Courtyard slot this year."

"Exactly, this kid probably thinks he can fight any wandering Fighter from outside, but Wu Jinchang is a genuine Eight‑Star Fighting Master!"

The noise on the stands doesn't affect Xiao Li; instead Wu Jinchang enjoys the atmosphere, brandishing his long sword in a pretended expert's pose.

"Kid, don't get it wrong—you're looking at an Eight‑Star Fighting Master, not an Eight‑Star Fighter."

Seeing the arrogant Wu Jinchang, Xiao Li sighs helplessly; how can people be so presumptuous now? He's not a fool, he can't be sure he can challenge.

"Xiao Li, two‑star Grand Fighting Master, please teach."

A sapphire‑blue thunder armor materializes, strands of lightning crackle, the popping sounds instantly drown the arena's din.

The towering Fighting Qi armor appears, as if it pressed a mute button on the whole venue; then the sound rebounds like a compressed spring, and the clamor erupts.

"Heaven above, don't tell me he's a freshman; he must be one of those Inner Courtyard fighters sent to torture us!"

"A new student of the Grand Fighting Master level—terrifying!"

Please keep reading, I earnestly ask all you big shots not to sample the book; during the new book period, keeping reading is related to recommendation, the new book is stagnating in sales, please please all you readers big shots help me out QAQ

(End of chapter)