Amid a buzzing murmur of whispers, a burly man suddenly leaped into the air and landed steadily on Xiao Wu's arena platform, making it tremble slightly.
"Just you two little girls dare claim you'll challenge the prodigies of every academy?" With his hands on his hips, he burst into loud laughter, his tone full of disdain. "Hahaha, you really don't know your own limits. Aren't you afraid the wind will cut your tongues off?"
"My name is Tai Long. My martial soul is the Great Strength Gorilla. Let me test you today and see what you're really capable of!"
At last, someone had come up to challenge her. Xiao Wu quietly breathed a sigh of relief—this awkward "spectator segment" could finally end.
Her eyes curved into crescents, anticipation and excitement flickering in them as she softly said, "My name is Xiao Wu. My martial soul is the Guanghan Jade Rabbit. Please advise me."
As soon as she finished speaking, the two of them released their martial souls and soul rings almost simultaneously. On the arena, waiting for one's opponent to finish releasing their martial soul seemed to be an unspoken form of respect, even if it wasted a little time.
In truth, both Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing now possessed attacks that could be used without activating soul rings. But for the sake of that "respect," they still followed the rules.
Before Tai Long could even assume a fighting stance, Xiao Wu's figure appeared before him like a ghost. A faint pink gleam flashed through her eyes—she had activated the soul skill Moon Gaze Bewitching Heart.
Could a muscular brute really resist mental enchantment?
Sure enough, after exchanging only a single glance with Xiao Wu, Tai Long's eyes immediately went blank. He froze where he stood, completely motionless.
Xiao Wu chuckled, raised her hand, and lightly patted forward. Soul Power condensed at her fingertips as she unleashed the Guanghan Branch Breaking Hand, moving so quickly that only several afterimages remained.
Two crisp cracking sounds rang out, especially clear amid the noisy crowd—the sound of joints being dislocated.
Awakened by the intense pain, Tai Long discovered that both his arms were hanging limply at his sides. Their joints had clearly been dislocated.
He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, glaring viciously at Xiao Wu. "Ah—y-you, what did you do to me just now?"
Blinking her large watery eyes, Xiao Wu replied innocently, "Nothing much. I just dislocated both your arms, that's all~ Can you still keep fighting?"
She had already shown mercy. If she had fully unleashed the Guanghan Branch Breaking Hand, dislocated joints would have been the least of it. Broken hands and legs were normal outcomes.
With both arms dislocated in one exchange, how could he possibly fight?
Tai Long was furious and humiliated, yet powerless to do anything. His opponent had actually used such an underhanded mental attack. He had not even gotten the chance to unleash his strength.
Didn't she know that people with well-developed limbs were often simple-minded?
"Y-you just wait! Once I get my arms fixed, I'll definitely come challenge you again!" After leaving behind that threat, he clutched his arms, jumped off the platform, and left while cursing.
On a distant elevated platform, a woman watching the battle could not help gritting her teeth and cursing, "What a brute. He lost, so he lost. Why is he still making threats?"
Xiao Wu lowered her gaze toward the crowd below, her eyes full of pride, as though silently provoking them: Who else wanted to come up and try?
Ending the fight so decisively and easily defeating an opponent of the same rank truly made the spectators see her in a new light.
Xiao Wu secretly felt rather pleased with herself. So this is what showing off feels like. It's actually pretty great!
Of course, plenty of people remained unconvinced, especially the male spectators. They believed Xiao Wu had merely relied on tricks, and many rolled up their sleeves, eager to get onstage and try for themselves.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing also received her first opponent.
The challenger was Huo Wu from Blazing Fire Academy. Impatient by nature, she did not wait for anyone else to test the waters before leaping directly onto the platform. "Blazing Fire Academy's Huo Wu. Martial soul, Fire Shadow. Please advise me!"
"Supreme Academy's Zhu Zhuqing. Martial soul, Nine Nether Spirit Cat. Please advise me." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cool and detached, in stark contrast to Huo Wu's impatience.
The instant both women finished releasing their martial souls and soul rings, Zhu Zhuqing vanished from where she stood. The Profound Nether Step had been pushed to its limit, leaving only several blurred afterimages.
Before Huo Wu could react and while she was preparing to release a soul skill, she felt a chill at her neck. Zhu Zhuqing's Instant Hell Kill had already silently arrived, with sharp cat claws pressed against her throat.
This was a killing move with extremely high single-target damage, and it was aimed at a vital point. If this had been a life-or-death battle, Huo Wu would already have stopped breathing.
"You lost." Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice sounded beside Huo Wu's ear, carrying unquestionable certainty.
"S-so fast..." Every hair on Huo Wu's body stood on end, and cold sweat instantly seeped from her back.
She had not even seen Zhu Zhuqing move before the fight had already ended. If it had truly been a fight to the death, she probably would not even have had the chance to react.
"I surrender, I surrender." Huo Wu hurriedly said, then could not help asking curiously, "But can you tell me why you're so fast?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing answered seriously, "If you want to learn, join Supreme Academy."
Huo Wu froze, instantly at a loss for words. She suddenly realized that this might be Supreme Academy's "show of force," and its true purpose was recruitment!
"Sorry, I already have an academy. I can't join yours." She refused directly, though she could not stop herself from wavering inside.
"I was careless just now! Even though I lost this time, I'm not convinced. If you've got the guts, fight me again!" Huo Wu said unwillingly.
Zhu Zhuqing did not say much. She merely nodded lightly. "Fine, but the result will be the same."
Huo Wu refusing to join the academy was already within Zhu Zhuqing's expectations. How could anyone possibly poach a genius from another academy in one go?
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's serious expression, Huo Wu became even angrier. "What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"
"Fine, then I'll show you what I'm really capable of!"
This time, Zhu Zhuqing made a gesture of invitation, signaling for Huo Wu to attack first.
Huo Wu gritted her teeth in anger and immediately released a soul skill. Yet before the skill was even halfway complete, Zhu Zhuqing vanished again.
The soul skill struck empty air. Just as Huo Wu was about to launch another attack, she felt a chill between her brows. Zhu Zhuqing's cat claws were once again pressed against one of her vital points.
"You lost again. Do you still want to fight?" Zhu Zhuqing's tone remained calm, yet it carried an invisible sense of oppression.
Huo Wu instantly deflated like a punctured balloon and was completely convinced. Zhu Zhuqing was simply too fast. She had no chance to fight back at all.
"I-I'm not fighting anymore," Huo Wu said dejectedly.
Just then, Ning Rongrong suddenly stepped forward and said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Senior Sister Zhuqing, let me play for a while?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded without hesitation. Several consecutive fights had been entirely one-sided, and she was indeed getting a little bored. There had not even been an opponent she could truly exchange blows with.
Ning Rongrong turned toward Huo Wu and smiled. "Huo Wu, come on up. I won't attack. As long as you can make me take one step back, you win."
The moment Huo Wu heard that, her anger flared up again. A support-type soul master actually dared to be this arrogant?
Fine, then she would see whether she could win! She was taking those ten thousand Gold Coins today!
Without hesitation, she leaped onto the arena. "Fine, then I'll give it a try!"
"Come on. You attack first." Ning Rongrong curled a finger at her, her smile as radiant as ever.
Huo Wu was completely enraged. She circulated her Soul Power to the limit and bombarded Ning Rongrong with soul skills as though they cost nothing.
Yet Ning Rongrong stood in place without moving, still wearing a calm smile.
After Huo Wu finished releasing her soul skill, her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She had been too agitated just now and had not held back at all. What if she hurt Ning Rongrong?
But the next second, Huo Wu felt a sharp pain in her chest. She violently spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the ground before her red.
Her eyes full of confusion, she pointed at Ning Rongrong and asked, "Y-you, what did you do? Are all the people at Supreme Academy monsters?"
"We're not monsters. We're Teacher's little darlings~" Ning Rongrong stepped forward and gently helped Huo Wu up. Lowering her voice, she spoke with a hint of temptation. "Do you want to become as strong as us too? Join Supreme Academy, and your dream can come true."
Huo Wu was one of the "key targets" on Ye Feiyang's list. Ning Rongrong had to give her a proper push and make her tempted.
"Supreme Academy again?" Huo Wu paused, then could not help asking, "If I join you, can I really become as strong as you?"
Ning Rongrong nodded without hesitation. "Of course! Look at me, Senior Sister Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu. Which one of us do you think you can beat?"
Huo Wu instantly withdrew into herself, turmoil churning through her heart. She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, then at Xiao Wu, before finally lowering her head in dejection.
She could not even defeat a support-type soul master anymore? That was far too humiliating!
Not to mention Xiao Wu, the rabbit-eared girl. She looked adorable, but she struck harder than anyone else. In a true fight to the death, she would probably be the type to stop at the exact point of death.
A chill suddenly rose from the depths of Huo Wu's heart, and she could not help shivering.
If all three disciples were this monstrous, then Supreme Academy's dean was probably truly as formidable as the rumors claimed.
At that moment, a thunderous boom suddenly came from the neighboring arena, drawing everyone's attention.
It turned out that Xiao Wu was fighting Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy.
With Xiao Wu's strength, she could have instantly defeated Shui Bing'er. But she knew that Shui Bing'er was also on Ye Feiyang's list, so she deliberately allowed Shui Bing'er to attack first. That would hurt the other woman's confidence even more, wouldn't it?
Even after giving her an opening, the result was still the same. Shui Bing'er remained completely unable to fight back.
That loud boom had been the sound of Xiao Wu using the Eight Stage Throw to viciously slam Shui Bing'er into the arena.
Normally elegant and intellectual, Shui Bing'er was now sprawled across the platform without a shred of dignity, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground. She would never fight Xiao Wu again, that girl who dressed pinker and hit harder!
Those few strikes had nearly shaken her organs out of place.
"Damn! Are all of you people from Supreme Academy freaks?" someone below the platform could not help complaining.
"Exactly! Xiao Wu looks adorable, but she hits so hard! Why don't we challenge Zhu Zhuqing instead? She looks relatively 'gentle.' Her attacks probably won't be as heavy."
"Ah, there isn't even one decent opponent~" Ning Rongrong deliberately raised her voice and continued provoking the crowd. "I'm a support type! If you can't beat them, come fight me instead~"
The words made everyone's teeth itch, but no one had forgotten the sight of Huo Wu coughing blood moments earlier. No one dared step forward so easily again.
At that moment, Ye Feiyang knew the time was ripe and slowly walked to the front of the crowd.
He wore a fitted black robe that emphasized his tall, slender figure. Combined with his flawless handsome face, he looked like an immortal cast down from heaven, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Some stared at him in a daze, while others were filled with jealousy. The male spectators in particular were openly hostile toward Ye Feiyang's "charm."
A charm value of ninety-nine was no joke. Those who liked him would like him even more, while those who disliked him would dislike him even more intensely.
This kind of polarization was actually based on the same principle as the mutual force between objects—the more interested someone was in him, the stronger his attraction became; conversely, the more someone rejected him, the more dazzlingly irritating he appeared.
With a faint smile on his face, Ye Feiyang said to the crowd, "Hello, everyone. I am Ye Feiyang, dean of Supreme Academy. Welcome to this arena competition."
"This event follows the principle of 'friendship first, competition second.' I hope everyone can gain something from the battles and develop a deeper understanding of Supreme Academy."
The crowd inwardly grumbled: Gain something? The only things we gained were injuries and humiliation!
Ignoring their expressions, Ye Feiyang continued, "Supreme Academy has only recently been established and urgently needs fresh blood. If you possess the ambition to become strong and desire greater strength, then Supreme Academy's doors will always be open to you."
"The academy tuition is only 999 Gold Coins. The environment is beautiful, the training facilities are fully equipped, and there are even adorable Beast-Ear Girls to keep you company. Everyone is welcome to visit at any time and experience the academy's atmosphere."
"Although our academy is newly founded, all our qualifications and procedures are complete. You can join with confidence."
As he spoke, Ye Feiyang deliberately let his gaze linger on Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er for several extra seconds, leaving them with a meaningful smile.
The two women were somewhat surprised. Under his gaze, they lowered their heads almost simultaneously, their cheeks faintly flushing.
Ye Feiyang was handsome, spoke gently, and the academy's strength was undeniably impressive. Still, the 999 Gold Coin tuition was somewhat expensive for most people.
Even so, quite a few people from wealthy families who desired strength began to waver. They were merely reluctant to publicly "switch schools" while still students of other academies.
Ye Feiyang swept his gaze across the crowd but did not see Dugu Yan or Ye Lingling. He secretly thought, It seems the Royal Fight Team still needs some time to return.
But that was fine. He had plenty of patience. Whether these people came early or late, they would eventually be unable to escape the palm of his hand.
Soon, someone could not help stepping forward and asking tentatively, "Dean Ye, can we really visit the academy freely?"
"Of course. Anyone who wants to enter may come in." Ye Feiyang smiled and nodded, then clapped his hands.
Ten elegantly dressed Beast-Ear Girls emerged from the academy, neatly forming two rows and preparing to receive the visitors.
"Wow, there are actually so many Beast Girls! They're really pleasing to the eye!"
"For the sake of these Beast Girls alone, I have to go in and take a look!"
Many male spectators instantly lost all hesitation and headed toward the academy entrance.
Ye Feiyang gave Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong a look, signaling them to accompany the visitors on their tour and do a little "brainwashing" along the way—ideally convincing more geniuses to stay.
Ning Rongrong immediately understood and raised an eyebrow at Ye Feiyang. She was clearly very practiced in this sort of "business."
In the distance, Liu Erlong hid on Blue Tyrant Academy's elevated platform. Watching Ye Feiyang's actions, she gritted her teeth in fury. Was this man trying to poach the prodigies of every academy?
But on second thought, Blue Tyrant Academy did not seem to have any outstanding geniuses worth mentioning. Most were "brutes" like Tai Long.
"Forget it. Whether other people's academies live or die has nothing to do with me," Liu Erlong comforted herself.
Yet when she thought of how Ye Feiyang had looked the night before, her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. That man had seemed even more attractive than before in his black robe.
Damn it, she was losing control again...
Supreme Academy was already packed with visitors, and waves of astonished cries occasionally rang out.
"Holy shit, there are actually ten Beast Girls here! Every single one is so cute!"
"This environment is way too good! It's much better than our academy!"
"Hehe, tonight's 'material' is here!"
Of course, most of those cheers came from male visitors, while the female visitors mostly muttered under their breath, "What a bunch of disgusting men. All they know is staring at Beast Girls!"
Looking at the lively scene before him, Ye Feiyang could not help curling his lips into a faint smile. The recruitment plan had only just begun.
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