Chapter 191: The Uncrowned Number One

Sheng Yuanyao led a group of limping subordinates on a city patrol: "I told you to spread rumors! You even dare to fabricate rumors about your superior! If I don't beat you to death, I won't be surnamed Sheng!"

The subordinates dared not speak their anger: "Did we really spread rumors?"

"Oh, so it's not morning sickness, it doesn't match the facts, so it's a rumor, right?"

Using this to argue, everyone could only admit it; she indeed had no morning sickness...

But is it false that you sat in someone's lap? Precise rumor-refutation, is it? You refuted the morning sickness, so the rest must be false too, right?

And dragging us out for a public parade as part of the rumor-refutation... Women are truly ruthless.

"Eh, what's happening at the entrance of the Imperial Academy? So many people watching?" Sheng Yuanyao glanced over, stopped caring about the rumor-refutation, and darted through the crowd: "What's the scoop, what's the scoop?"

Pushing left and right, she forced her way to the very front; upon seeing it, Sheng Yuanyao's heart skipped a beat.

The first thing she saw was Qi Tuizhi's sword emerging like a dragon, slashing straight for the opponent's throat!

The opponent was Lu Xingzhou!

Sheng Yuanyao almost shouted, "The Demon Suppression Bureau is here, no fighting allowed!"

But the words had barely reached her throat when she saw Lu Xingzhou move.

The sword passed just beside his body.

Lu Xingzhou turned sideways, one hand blocking Qi Tuizhi's wrist, while his right elbow thrust toward Qi Tuizhi's chest; the posture was so handsome it bubbled over.

Amidst the screams of a crowd of Imperial Academy girls, Qi Tuizhi raised a hand to block the elbow; with a "Bang," the power of both sides exploded, and dust and smoke surged wildly in all directions.

"Fourth Grade, Mid-Tier!" many blurted out: "Wasn't this Lu Xingzhou Fifth Grade before? How can his cultivation surge so fast!"

"He must have been hiding his cultivation before, or perhaps now that his legs are healed, he's releasing his accumulated strength?"

"Don't say it, he really looks handsome fighting while standing up."

Sheng Yuanyao's face turned red.

Could this have something to do with my dual cultivation with him in the volcano?

Pei Chuyun's face turned red.

This was the one I dual cultivated with...

"Whoosh!" Lu Xingzhou retracted his elbow and simultaneously launched a kick; Qi Tuizhi swept his palm horizontally, striking Lu Xingzhou's lower leg.

The result was like cutting steel; it did not hinder Lu Xingzhou's kick in the slightest, while Qi Tuizhi's own palm edge felt excruciatingly painful. Qi Tuizhi's heart chilled, and he urgently retreated.

Lu Xingzhou's kick missed, and he smoothly followed up with another kick in rapid succession.

The Imperial Academy girls screamed again; it was too handsome.

As long as a person is handsome, any posture looks dashing. Actually, Sheng Yuanyao thought Lu Xingzhou looked very handsome fighting while seated in his wheelchair back then, possessing a unique broken beauty; these vulgar women understand nothing.

"Bang, bang, bang," a series of kicks; with every block, Qi Tuizhi retreated a step, until he "Bang" collided with a pillar at the Imperial Academy entrance, his expression filled with utter shock.

Those who have not faced Lu Xingzhou directly will never know how disgusting his combination kicks are.

Watching him without a weapon, yet in reality his legs were his weapons. Even when a sword struck his legs, he did not dodge; the impact rang out with a "clang," and the sword was even deflected off course. The force transmitted through was even more horrifying—one leg erupted in violent flames, and switching legs suddenly transformed into long, continuous true energy, vast as a river or sea.

This alternating combination was almost like fighting two people simultaneously; every strike required adjusting a different response, twisting the flow of power within one's own body into a knot.

It is hard to imagine how Lu Xingzhou manages to make every kick operate with completely opposite energy flows; won't he twist himself into a knot?

"Bang!" Lu Xingzhou kicked the pillar.

Qi Tuizhi found an opening; his body moved like a wandering dragon, turning to Lu Xingzhou's side, and slashed his sword toward Lu Xingzhou's neck.

Lu Xingzhou said leisurely, "Brother Qi, guess what I've been doing with my hands while I kept kicking?"

Qi Tuizhi's heart jumped violently; he wanted to withdraw his attack but it was already too late.

The ashes of several talismans fell into the dust.

Lu Xingzhou moved like lightning, seizing Qi Tuizhi's wrist; beneath him, fierce flames erupted, and violent flames like a volcano surged upward straight to the clouds; above the clouds, layers of clouds split open, five thunderclaps roared wildly, and crashed down to the ground with a boom.

The Wu Xiu style of fist-to-flesh combat suddenly transformed into heavenly thunder and earthly fire; and these were not ordinary thunder or fire techniques, but ones that utilized such a long time to set up arrays!

Qi Tuizhi let out a fierce shout, wanting to retreat but was firmly caught by Lu Xingzhou; he could not escape even if he wanted to.

He could clearly feel Lu Xingzhou's killing intent.

A sparring match at the Imperial Academy entrance, and he wants to kill someone?

"He wants to kill someone?" Many minds also flashed with this thought, and some were already wanting to step forward to break up the fight.

A smile appeared on Lu Xingzhou's lips; the force he held on Qi Tuizhi suddenly loosened. Qi Tuizhi, having misjudged the force, stumbled violently backward, nearly falling.

But he was stunned to discover that the heavenly thunder and earthly fire had all vanished.

Illusion technique!

"How could I kill anyone?" Lu Xingzhou, his body like a ghost, followed the stumbling Qi Tuizhi like a shadow, and even turned his head to chat: "Your lower body is quite good; with such a massive force pulling you back, you only stumbled and didn't directly fall on your backside."

Qi Tuizhi, both ashamed and angry, furiously slashed his sword horizontally again.

Lu Xingzhou casually kicked out; how could the completely disordered Qi Tuizhi avoid it? He was kicked solidly, his whole body flying up as if riding clouds and mist, "Bang" colliding with the pillar on the other side, then falling to the ground, in a most wretched state.

"Brother Qi, your name is nice; named 'Tuizhi,' indeed you retreat and retreat until you are kicked away." Lu Xingzhou brushed his clothes, then bowed to all sides: "Forgive my rudeness, forgive my rudeness."

Silence fell everywhere; all stared blankly at Qi Tuizhi, who had struggled to climb to his feet, and many had lost the ability to think.

How to put it? Actually, many could have predicted Lu Xingzhou would win. After all, Ye Wufeng was killed by Lu Xingzhou and his master, and most people would not calculate A Nuo's combat power very highly, so Lu Xingzhou's combat power was automatically upgraded in people's minds. Previously ranking him seventh among the new talents as a Fifth Grade was questioned by almost no one; otherwise, an ordinary Fifth Grade would be lucky to rank in the lower ranks...

But even while overestimating Lu Xingzhou as much as possible, no one could have imagined him defeating Qi Tuizhi so casually, as if playing with a child. Qi Tuizhi was actually not weak; the sound of wind and thunder in every sword strike was known by experts to contain immense power. Many Fourth and Fifth Grade onlookers putting themselves in his shoes felt their own response would be very difficult.

But for those who know, it is not difficult; in front of Dugu Qingli, Pei Chuyun, and now Lu Xingzhou, that sword shows no threat at all. It is because these three are awesome, not because Qi Tuizhi is particularly weak.

Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun being strong is one thing, but why can Lu Xingzhou be so strong?

He is neither a direct disciple of a Sacred Land nor a legitimate son of a noble family... To reach such a level, won't the Huo family truly regret it until their intestines turn green?

But those who know are far fewer than those watching the spectacle; in the eyes of the spectators, this Qi Tuizhi was as useless as a melon, and someone even shouted out: "How did Editor Sheng rank him as the number one new talent! Can he even make the top ten?"

A clear female voice answered immediately: "Go ask the person who ranked him second before! What does it have to do with me!"

People turned their heads; Sheng Yuanyao stood there with hands on her hips: "Ranking him first, I myself am not convinced either. Come, come, surname Qi, fight me?"

The melon-girl felt she was ready.

After breaking through to the fourth grade, Qi Tuizhi felt he really wasn't any stronger than himself.

People suppressed their laughter and looked at each other, so this was the fourth challenge?

Qi Tuizhi spat out a mouthful of blood and, having broken the jar, gave up: "Please, Editor Sheng, reshuffle the Newcomer List! I, Qi, cannot bear the first place! Go challenge someone else!"

Damn, everyone comes to challenge, yet not a single one can defeat me; can this life go on? Forget about studying at the Imperial Academy, I can barely stay in the Capital!

Sheng Yuanyao sighed regretfully: "The new issue was only published a little over half a month ago, there's no way... maybe later, when we have the strength to update the rankings in real time..."

Qi Tuizhi was so angry he swore: "I don't even want to be first, is that not allowed?!"

Sheng Yuanyao smiled apologetically: "Sorry, but please keep sitting in first place for another two months or so."

Qi Tuizhi spat out another mouthful of blood and left in hatred.

A busybody asked: "Editor Sheng, if you were to reshuffle the list right now, who do you think should be first?"

Sheng Yuanyao glanced at Pei Chuyun; Pei Chuyun shook her head slightly, signaling not to reveal yet that she had already reached the third grade.

Sheng Yuanyao pouted: "That day, Miss Dugu crossed the minor heavenly tribulation; many people saw it. She should enter the Heroes List directly and not participate in the Newcomer rankings. As for the Newcomer List... anyway, my choice as Editor is Lu Xingzhou. If Miss Pei disagrees, you can challenge him."

Pei Chuyun looked at Lu Xingzhou, her eyes like water, her voice softened by three degrees: "If it is Young Master Lu... Chuyun is willing to rank below him."

In broad daylight, under the gaze of all, the onlookers dared not think that this "willing to rank below" was physical.

Sheng Yuanyao dared to think it; her eyes widened instantly: "You..."

Pei Chuyun didn't even look at her, speaking softly to Lu Xingzhou: "Young Master Lu, did you come to the Imperial Academy today for something?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "I came to find Miss Pei to discuss something."

Pei Chuyun smiled lightly: "Then, Young Master Lu, would you mind escorting Chuyun home? We can talk slowly along the way."

The onlookers also sighed; it seemed Miss Pei truly had taken a fancy to Lu Xingzhou... many girls sighed too, it seemed Lu Xingzhou had no chance either, whim-whim-whim...

Uh, what about the one rumored to have morning sickness? Won't she say a few words?

Turning to look, Sheng Yuanyao's head seemed to be steaming with fire, yet she remained silent, watching Lu Xingzhou approach Pei Chuyun and part the crowd to leave.

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth, glanced and saw A'nuo secretly following her master to leave, strode forward and grabbed her: "Lu Xiao'nuo, wait a moment!"

A'nuo struggled: "What do you want?!"

Sheng Yuanyao rubbed A'nuo's face: "Your master has been snatched away by a fox spirit; can't I snatch you to balance my inner feelings?"

A'nuo: "... You could just go and ruin it directly."

"I was just about to clear up the morning sickness rumor; how can I do that?" Sheng Yuanyao picked up A'nuo, turned, and glared at a group of subordinates: "It's all your fault! Go, continue the street parade to debunk the rumors!"

A'nuo sighed: "If you clear it up again, there won't even be soup left."

Sheng Yuanyao stuck out her neck: "Wh-what soup? Who wants soup? We are brothers; do you know what brothers are?"

A light suddenly lit up in the little girl's head.

That divination back then said you would be the junior; so the object was my master!

If that's the case, what about the divination done for Lady Ye back then? Is it the same object? Judging from the teaching scene today where their heads were so close, it's very likely.

But when divining for Sister Yao back then, she was only sixth grade; being a junior isn't strange. Lady Ye is first grade! Will master die?

Sheng Yuanyao pinched her face: "Were you listening to me?"

"Yes... wait until master dies, and we'll go burn incense together."

"Eh? You little thing, quite filial, aren't you?"

The crowd gradually dispersed.

People, having eaten their fill of gossip, went home contentedly to eat.

No one knew the hundred twists and turns in the young men and women's hearts; what people could see on the surface was Lu Xingzhou and Miss Pei's seemingly mutual affection, and Editor Sheng's stated first choice in public.

Although uncrowned, it will surely spread through the Capital, and perhaps even throughout the world.

(End of this chapter)