Chapter 18: First Glimpse of Brilliance

The news that the First and Second Courts were about to contest for five golden leaves spread almost instantly; in an instant, the Phasing Power Tree, towering like a high building, was packed to capacity, with students from every court of the South Wind Academy rushing over to join the spectacle.

The South Wind Academy has a total of four courts: the First Court consists of elites, the Second Court serves as a reserve force, while the Third and Fourth Courts, though perhaps an exaggeration to call mere fillers, are indeed relatively weaker in standard.

Thus, the golden leaf cultivation platforms on the Phasing Power Tree were something they could only gaze upon from afar but never reach; now, being able to watch the First and Second Courts compete was a rare and splendid show.

Although almost no one believed the Second Court could truly snatch victory from the First.

On the eastern side of the Phasing Power Tree, thick branches like giant pythons twisted together, finally forming a wooden platform roughly tens of meters in length and width; in the past, this spot was used as a venue for students to spar and compete after finishing their cultivation sessions.

And at this moment, the area surrounding the platform was packed with people.

The First and Second Courts occupied the east and west sides respectively, yet the atmosphere on both sides was not the same; on the First Court side, most students wore mocking smiles, clearly not taking this contest too seriously, which was normal, as this contest also carried a Phasing Power level restriction—the Six-Seal Realm Phasing Power level, which in the First Court couldn't even rank in the top ten.

This indicated that the truly formidable figures of the First Court would not be participating.

In contrast to the First Court's mockery and leisure, the atmosphere on the Second Court side was a mix of agitation and unease; after all, they belonged to the same academy, so they knew the First Court's overwhelming strength inside out; therefore, if they claimed the Second Court would likely win such a contest, even they themselves would hardly believe it; at present, they only hoped not to lose too disgracefully.

"Truly boring; this kind of contest holds no interest," Ti Ti Faqing said on the viewing stand, stretching lazily; the curves outlined by her school uniform made even some nearby girls cast envious glances, while some hot-blooded youths found their faces subtly flushing.

That Ti Ti Faqing could become one of the four golden flowers of the South Wind Academy clearly had its reasons.

"At least it can pass some time," a soft, gentle laugh sounded from beside her; Ti Ti Faqing turned her head and saw Lu Qing'er, who had flowing long hair, an extremely delicate and captivating appearance, and skin like ice and bone like jade.

"Sister Qing'er," Ti Ti Faqing's beautiful eyes lit up, and she hurriedly greeted her; Lu Qing'er's fame in the South Wind Academy surpassed hers, and most importantly, she was not only renowned for her looks but her strength firmly suppressed many outstanding figures of the First Court.

She was a veritable golden signboard of the South Wind Academy.

If not for Jiang Jiang Qinge's brilliance standing before her like a precious jade, everyone would have thought Lu Qing'er would become a legend of the South Wind Academy.

So if Ti Ti Faqing's number one idol was Jiang Jiang Qinge, then Lu Qing'er ranked second.

As the two women, currently the most outstanding in appearance and temperament within the South Wind Academy, stood together, they immediately became a beautiful scenery line, gradually drawing others toward them.

"Sister Qing'er usually doesn't like to join such spectacles, does she?" Ti Ti Faqing asked with some curiosity.

Lu Qing'er smiled faintly: "Just looking around."

Her beautiful eyes fixed on the direction of the Second Court, she said, "Tell me, which three will the Second Court send out?"

Ti Ti Faqing said carelessly: "In the Second Court, only Zhao Kuo and one Yuan Qiu have reached the Six-Seal Realm, and both only recently promoted."

"And the third?" Lu Qing'er asked.

Ti Ti Faqing paused, and someone nearby chimed in with a laugh: "Most likely Li Luo; although he has an Empty Phasing, he still possesses great talent in Phasing Arts cultivation and can barely manage to spar with those in the Five-Seal Realm."

With Lu Qing'er coming to watch the battle, even the top students of the First Court, who originally had little interest in this contest, gathered over; the one speaking now was a tall, handsome youth.

Ti Ti Faqing glanced at him and said mockingly: "Song Song Yunfeng, you actually ran over to watch the spectacle? Truly, the drunkard's intent is not on the wine."

Song Song Yunfeng was equally famous in the South Wind Academy; in terms of strength, he ranked second only to Lu Qing'er; additionally, he hailed from the Song Family, so his background was not weak either.

And Song Song Yunfeng's affection for Lu Qing'er was no secret in the South Wind Academy, after all, he had never made any special effort to conceal it.

Facing Ti Ti Faqing's teasing, Song Song Yunfeng revealed a gentle smile, offered no rebuttal, and instead fixed his gaze on Lu Qing'er's delicate face.

And facing his direct and fiery gaze, Lu Qing'er remained expressionless, as if she had heard nothing, offering only a polite smile with a hint of distance.

Seeing Lu Qing'er's demeanor, Ti Ti Faqing immediately brought the topic back: "If the Second Court really sends Li Luo to participate, it would be inviting humiliation, after all, the three Six-Seal Realm experts we of the First Court send out will surely be the cream of the crop among Six-Seal practitioners."

Song Song Yunfeng smiled and spoke to the point: "Do you really think the Second Court is approaching this with the intention of winning? It's merely a formality."

"That's true," Ti Ti Faqing laughed.

Lu Qing'er's gaze fixed on the arena; as she looked at Li Luo's figure, for some reason, she felt that today's Li Luo seemed somewhat different.

So she smiled slightly and said, "I don't think that's necessarily the case."

Her speaking out immediately caused Ti Ti Faqing, Song Song Yunfeng, and other outstanding students of the First Court to be somewhat startled.

Song Song Yunfeng followed Lu Qing'er's line of sight and also saw Li Luo, and the faint smile on Lu Qing'er's face made him feel somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

"Qing'er, this is not like the past anymore," Song Song Yunfeng said lightly with implied meaning.

Hearing this, Lu Qing'er did not answer, offering only an ambiguous smile; and for that smile of hers, Song Song Yunfeng, for some reason, felt some anger rising in his heart, while his gaze directed at Li Luo also grew somewhat cold and gloomy.

That bastard, clearly having fallen into the mud, why was he still so persistently haunting?

As the atmosphere in the arena continued to rise, finally three figures walked out from the Second Court side; as expected, they were precisely Li Luo, Zhao Kuo, and Yuan Qiu.

And on the First Court side, three people also walked out.

The one in the center was precisely Bei Kun, whom they had just met; the other two were also two well-known Six-Seal Realm practitioners of the First Court.

"Li Luo, what do you plan to do this time? Continue using that threat from just now?" Bei Kun's gaze locked onto Li Luo, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

Previously, he had led people to deliberately trouble Li Luo, and Li Luo had used underhanded tactics to counterattack; this could not exactly be called breaking the rules, but now that it was a formal contest, if Li Luo still wanted to use that kind of threatening method, he would truly become a laughingstock, and even the Academy itself would punish him.

Li Luo ignored him, instead waving his hand toward Zhao Kuo and Yuan Qiu, saying, "Then I'll go up first."

Zhao Kuo hurriedly said, "Be careful; if you can't hold on, surrender and exit immediately; your face is so handsome, it would be a huge loss if it got damaged."

Li Luo gave a thumbs-up: "Good brother, you have good taste."

Yuan Qiu let out a light sigh, his listless appearance clearly showing he had no confidence in the upcoming contest either.

Under the gaze of all, Li Luo stepped into the arena, then casually pulled an iron rod from the weapon rack; he dragged it idly, the iron rod scraping against the ground producing a grating sound.

And outside the arena, upon seeing Li Luo take the field first, many gazes caused an undercurrent of commotion.

"The Second Court actually sent Li Luo to lead the charge."

"This means they're treating him as cannon fodder."

"Haha, that's interesting; Li Luo, kicked out from the First Court, now comes to fight the First Court; if he wins, that would be truly amusing."

"What are you thinking? He was born with an Empty Phasing; no matter how exquisite his Phasing Arts are, it's hard to defeat someone in the Six-Seal Realm."

"Haha, just a joke to liven up the atmosphere."

"..."

Li Luo's appearance sparked some interest among many students, after all, within the South Wind Academy, Li Luo was also equivalent to an alternative legend.

And most importantly, it was said that last week Senior Sister Jiang Jiang Qinge had returned to South Wind City and even came to the academy entrance to pick up Li Luo, which was simply enviable, jealousy-inducing, and hate-inspiring.

Under this mindset, many still wanted to see Li Luo get beaten up today.

Bei Kun crossed his arms, gazed at Li Luo with an amused look, then turned his head to look at the other two, saying, "Liu Yang, you go play with him."

Although he really wanted to just beat Li Luo up directly, he felt that kind of entrance wasn't quite cool enough, so he planned to let the bystanders warm up the atmosphere first.

The youth called Liu Yang was somewhat tall. Hearing Bei Kun's words, he was a little displeased—so many people watching right now, this was the perfect moment to have a good fight and show off, and being told to take out a piece of trash first was really beneath him.

"If you take Li Luo out in two moves, can't you fight the people behind? If you've got the ability, just beat all three of them directly," Bei Kun said.

"Fair point."

Liu Yang only then nodded. He took up an iron spear, then walked into the arena with a casual gait, smiling at Li Luo: "Li Luo, you'll have to go easy on me."

His words clearly carried a hint of mockery.

Li Luo gripped his iron rod, his expression noncommittal.

Meanwhile, at the high platform, the old dean nodded, so Xu Xu Shanyue and Lin Feng, the two heads of the two academies, simultaneously shouted the announcement: "Begin!"

The instant the shout fell, Li Luo and Liu Yang shot out almost simultaneously.

Liu Yang stared at the figure opposite him, couldn't help but laugh, and said: "Your speed is a bit—"

Bang!

The instant his voice had just fallen, Li Luo ahead suddenly tapped his toes against the ground, his whole body accelerating like a soaring eagle, and in that split second, a sharp sound of cutting wind faintly rose.

Liu Yang's laughter had not yet fully emerged when his vision blurred, and Li Luo's figure had actually appeared directly in front of him.

But following right behind Li Luo's figure was that staff-shadow tearing through the air. The staff-shadow let out a sharp whistle, its speed so fast that Liu Yang didn't even have a sliver of time to react. However, at the critical moment, he still reflexively circulated some Xiang Power, covering his chest.

Li Luo's sudden burst of speed was startling, sure, but after all he had no Xiang Power, so his attack power was limited. As long as he defended against it with Xiang Power, afterward he could make Li Luo pay the price.

While Liu Yang was thinking this in his heart, that staff-shadow came striking like a black python, landing on his chest.

Bang!

A low, muffled sound rang out, and then, intense pain spread from Liu Yang's chest. In that instant, horror surged up in his heart, because the Xiang Power covering his chest had, at the very moment it made contact with Li Luo's staff-shadow, been directly torn apart like a rotten tree being smashed.

At the same time, Liu Yang's body flew backward, crashing heavily outside the arena, and even scraped a few meters of marks along the ground.

Meanwhile, among the many students outside the arena, the various sounds of laughter and chatter had not yet fully faded, when the noise suddenly and abruptly cut off.

The students of the First Academy stared blankly at Liu Yang, who had flown out of the arena and was now rolling around on the ground in pain, their eyes full of bewilderment.

Just now, what happened?

How come the one who flew out wasn't Li Luo?

Their somewhat puzzled gazes turned toward the arena. Li Luo, at this moment, held his iron rod in a posture of having just struck out flat. Meeting those gazes, he looked toward Liu Yang, and on that face handsome enough to make the other party feel ashamed of themselves, a brilliant smile appeared.

"You said… a bit what?"

(End of chapter)