Chapter 525

Zou Ping finished speaking, and with eyes full of anticipation, looked at Jiang Cheng.

What he just said was not mere pleasantries, but what he truly thought.

Although it was only a sparring match between tenth-level warriors, he felt that there were subtle flaws in his most basic swordsmanship.

If he could make up for this flaw, it might greatly increase his combat power, and even raise his current swordsmanship cultivation level by a notch!

This was something he had not experienced in previous spars with others.

Upon hearing this, many people present showed surprise in their eyes.

Knowing that Zou Ping is a Fifth-Level Master while Jiang Cheng is only a First-level Grandmaster, yet the former seeks advice from the latter, this undoubtedly shows Jiang Cheng's attainment in swordsmanship.

Immediately, many eyes filled with envy.

Being able to establish a good relationship with a Fifth-Level Master is something one could only wish for!

"Sure."

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, then agreed.

It wasn't that he truly wanted to ask for advice; rather, with so many people watching, it would be awkward to refuse, and besides, building a good relationship with someone stronger than himself harms nothing.

It's just a bit of sparring, not wasting much time.

Of course, the opponent's strength is only temporary; if given time for his spiritual power to break through to Fifth-Level Master, he would be confident of defeating him.

Seeing Jiang Cheng agree, Zou Ping smiled, "Good, then it's settled; after the competition ends, we'll spar."

Returning to the backstage lounge, Jiang Cheng once again became the center of attention.

"Impressive, Instructor Jiang; if we meet in the second round, please go easy on me and don't let me lose too embarrassingly."

"Yes, Instructor Jiang, you're too strong; if I were to face you, I'd likely be eliminated."

"Indeed, in my view, not just the top ten, even the top three—Instructor Jiang has a good chance of making it."

Hearing these words, Jiang Cheng laughed and cried at once.

"Instructor Jiang, I truly look forward to our battle." At that moment, Yao Jun stepped forward actively, stopping when he was about twenty to thirty centimeters from Jiang Cheng.

"I also look forward to meeting Instructor Jiang."

Another voice sounded, different from the others, much more pleasant.

It was Lin Ziwei.

She also walked up to Jiang Cheng and smiled, saying, "But let me say beforehand, I will only fight using Force."

"Hahaha, Instructor Lin is right; we're not like Instructor Jiang, who can both use psychic weapons and swordsmanship." Shao Dong stepped forward.

Like Lin Ziwei, he follows the energy path, except she uses the water element while he uses the metal element.

Seeing this, Jiang Cheng also felt amused and exasperated, quickly saying that if they ever met, he would go all out.

The bystanders, including Zou Ping who had followed Jiang Cheng back, were all filled with envy.

The three who actively greeted Jiang Cheng were either Seventh-Level Spirit Masters or Seventh-Level Force Masters; in short, they were all Seventh-Level Masters, and aside from Principal Xu's few individuals, they were already the strongest in the academy.

They all regarded Jiang Cheng differently; to speak plainly, even if he were eliminated in the upcoming second round, it would be no loss.

First, based on his ability, reaching this point is already remarkable; whether anyone else can achieve this afterward is unknown, but prior to this there had been none, and moreover, he is doing so as an alchemist.

Second, being able to attract the attention of the academy's strongest few, as long as one isn't too dull, seizing the opportunity can surely forge good ties; the benefits of befriending a Seventh-Level Master need no elaboration, and among them is Lin Ziwei, the academy's acknowledged first beauty.

Even if they didn't build good relations with the other two, just befriending this one they considered more than worthwhile.

After a while, the lounge finally quieted down.

After a few more rounds, it was Yao Jun's turn to go on stage.

Jiang Cheng immediately perked up.

As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be imperiled; as more people are eliminated, the chances of him encountering Yao Jun and a few others will only increase, possibly even facing them in the next round, so he ought to closely watch their upcoming performance.

Of course, in the earlier qualifying matches he had also watched Yao Jun's bouts, but unfortunately, since the opponents weren't particularly strong, it was obvious to anyone that Yao Jun was holding back.

However, this upcoming match is different; Yao Jun's opponent is a Fifth-Level Spirit Master, also capable of reaching the top ten, and will not be easily defeated as before.

As soon as the two stepped onto the stage, the venue erupted with a thunderous cheer, obviously Yao Jun is very popular.

By contrast, the other teacher's smile was a bit awkward, but there's nothing to be done—who let him be the champion of the last Grand Competition, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will stop here.

Soon, both entered the Virtual Battlefield.

When the countdown ended, the opponent launched his strongest strike, merging five flying darts into one and shooting them toward the other side.

Yao Jun smiled faintly, likewise controlling his psychic weapon to fly toward the opponent; looking closely, one would see that he had actually gathered six flying knives together.

"Clang!"

A loud boom.

The five flying darts were instantly deflected, whereas Yao Jun's six flying knives under his control remained clustered together, unchanged.

Seeing this, the opponent showed a wry smile.

At the moment of the draw, he already knew this would be the outcome.

Yet now that it has come to this, he could only grit his teeth and proceed.

The next second, he gathered the scattered flying darts again and attacked; each time they were easily neutralized, after several attempts he could only sigh and choose to concede.

After all, anyone can see that if Yao Jun truly went on the offensive, he wouldn't just defend, and the opponent couldn't possibly hold out that long.

In the lounge, Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes.

Indeed, just as he had thought.

Yao Luo, as a real Seventh-Level Spirit Master, in the use of psychic weapons, even if not the academy's top person, could rank among the top three; since he himself can simultaneously control six psychic weapons, he naturally can do so as well.

In that case, their contest in psychic weapons would likely be evenly matched.

Of course, to outsiders he would seem not a match for his opponent, since he can only wield five psychic weapons.

However, from Yao Jun's earlier words, one could roughly guess that he had held back some of his strength.

"Meeting Instructor Yao seems like the best option; if I were to meet Instructor Lin and the others……" Jiang Cheng furrowed his brow. (End of chapter)