Invincible in the Melee, Second in the Grade

Above the sky.

The principal of Yan'an No. 7 High School, an Outer Scenery Level expert, watched as Su Nianying, also an Outer Scenery expert, returned to the sky above. He looked down at the entire school and the ten arenas, and asked curiously:

"I heard that the student Li Xijun, whom Teacher Su, you think highly of, is about to start his match. Why did you come back so quickly after going down?"

He had also heard about the student's progress. He was a remarkably hardworking and inspiring genius who soared to success once he received the Blood Essence resources, becoming unstoppable.

Previously, Su Nianying had promised that if he could break into the top 30 in his grade, she would personally teach him blade techniques as his instructor.

Now that Li Xijun's match was starting, he had expected her to go down to the observation platform for teachers and carefully watch Li Xijun's performance in the entire arena free-for-all.

He hadn't expected that this Teacher Su would only be gone for a moment before returning, seemingly no longer caring much about Li Xijun's match.

"There's nothing more to see."

Su Nianying shook her head and said:

"If it were the previous format, judged solely on Blood Essence scores, Martial Arts scores, and a 10% bonus for Martial Dao Spirituality awakening, the top dozen geniuses in the Elite Class could still hold him back."

"After all, Li Xijun started a year later, and it will take some time to catch up."

"But in this kind of caged free-for-all combat test, with his strength, only my sister could defeat him. The practical gap between him and everyone else is too vast."

As soon as she finished speaking, a school-wide gasp of surprise erupted from arena number 9, where Li Xijun was competing.

The middle-aged principal, who had been curious due to Su Nianying's words, looked towards arena number 9, his expression turning peculiar.

On the arena, Zhou Shenghao, who had the highest Blood Essence Level in the entire competition, did not hold back his strength, nor did he consider the possibility of being targeted and ganged up on by multiple opponents later.

The moment the referee's starting gun fired in arena number 9, He erupted, accelerating to 19.1 meters per second and transforming into a fierce black shadow. In the blink of an eye, he crossed half the arena and, like a furious black tiger, swung his long saber, aiming directly at Li Xijun.

A Martial Warrior student standing directly in his path saw this and was utterly panicked, instinctively raising his spear to attack.

But in the next instant, The standard steel spear flew into the sky.

Its sharp tip glinted coldly under the sun.

The Martial Warrior student was sent flying along with his spear, his chest caved in, spitting blood, and he was slammed into the protective net at the edge of the arena like a cannonball.

He was immediately pulled onto a stretcher and swiftly placed into a medical pod that resembled a freezer.

With this saber strike, Zhou Shenghao's momentum grew even stronger, as if his ferocity had been ignited. He roared:

"Those who block me... die!"

For a moment, The Martial Warriors on the entire arena were intimidated by Zhou Shenghao's battle intent and aura, which resembled that of a furious beast.

They scrambled to flee and make way, scattering instantly to the edges.

This transformed the originally vast martial arts arena into an absolute stage for the two central figures.

All the spectators watching from the perimeter witnessed this scene with perfect clarity. They were instantly captivated by the spectacle, their discussions erupting in fervor.

"So fierce!"

"It's really close to the college entrance examination, and geniuses are emerging one after another."

"Before, when I spoke to Zhou Shenghao, I thought he was too good at socializing and maneuvering, lacking any sharpness. I didn't expect him to be so strong in combat."

"Good heavens, his mastery of this new style of ancient martial arts, the 'Five Tiger Soul Severing Blade,' is quite high. He'll definitely score 360 points, reaching the advanced stage of the third level in the college entrance examination. He's definitely a lock for the Nine Schools Alliance."

"I want to see how that combat genius Li Xijun will block this!"

"I heard he's the one who used his sword to kill that Blood God Cult member. Let's see his swordsmanship."

Almost everyone eagerly anticipated Li Xijun drawing his sword.

But, In the next moment, everyone was dumbfounded.

Facing such a fierce, domineering, and murderous saber strike, The young man standing on the spot didn't even move.

He didn't even draw the standard long sword from his waist.

He casually raised his hand to catch the sharp, tiger-head saber.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Many girls screamed and squeezed their eyes shut tightly.

Zhou Shenghao's eyes sharpened further, and he unleashed more power, intending to sever the hand and send the opponent flying.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed throughout the arena.

The scene of flesh and blood flying, and severed limbs, that was expected did not happen.

Zhou Shenghao's full-power strike was easily blocked by Li Xijun.

Not only was he uninjured, but his palm didn't even have a scratch or a drop of blood!

Almost everyone in the audience watched this scene in disbelief!

Zhou Shenghao himself looked as if he had lost his soul, his eyes wide open as he stared at Li Xijun and the long saber in his hand, unable to believe it.

Logically, he should have continued to fight.

But at this moment, he felt as though the sky had fallen, lost in a nightmare.

"Impossible, how is this possible?"

"We're all apprentices cultivating Blood Essence, how can anyone have such a physique?"

Zhou Shenghao muttered to himself like he was sleepwalking.

The entire No. 9 arena was first silent, but then a thunderous roar shot towards the sky.

"Huh?"

"Good heavens, what's going on!"

"How did he block that strike without getting hurt? Is he made of iron?"

"The news must be wrong. I suspect a Blood God Cult member must have been audacious enough to try and attack Brother Li back then, only to be utterly destroyed."

This scene made the principal, who was watching from the Outer Scenery level, gasp in astonishment.

"This... this is steel bones and iron sinews? While his Blood Essence Level was rapidly increasing, he actually found time to practice ancient external martial arts?"

"Steel bones and iron sinews, impervious to blades and spears. A physique at this level, if it were before the Great Cataclysm, could be called a master of tough training."

The principal could hardly believe it, even feeling anger towards the teachers from the first and second years.

If you have such a genius, why didn't you say so earlier? Does our No. 7 High School lack a bit of Blood Essence Potion?

Otherwise, how could Zhang Haifeng have gotten such a huge bargain!

At this moment, the principal was lamenting that he had missed a genius and that Zhang Haifeng had profited from it.

The next moment, Zhang Haifeng, standing on the high platform in the classroom, suddenly stood up and couldn't help but exclaim:

"He... he actually mastered it!"

The teachers on the high platform were all startled, and they instinctively focused their attention as Zhang Haifeng spoke.

They saw Li Xijun holding the opponent's saber with his left hand, and with his right hand, which had appeared from somewhere, he had already placed it on Zhou Shenghao's chest.

"Bang!"

A crisp sound suddenly erupted from within Zhou Shenghao.

The next instant, He collapsed onto the ground limply, Like grass falling in the autumn wind, insignificant.

The sight of this made the faces of the other two teachers turn instantly pale.

"True Martial Killing Move - Void Shock! He has completely mastered the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms!"

"Teacher Zhang, your student has actually mastered this move? Won't someone die?"

Even the principal outside the arena hadn't expected anyone among this batch of students to master the third True Martial Killing Move, Void Shock. He quickly manipulated his spiritual energy to pull Zhou Shenghao out.

Seeing that his internal organs were only damaged, which would affect his cultivation beyond Blood Essence Level 9.0 but was not life-threatening, he breathed a sigh of relief and casually tossed him into the medical bay.

Su Nianying, who was also sensing with spiritual energy, couldn't maintain her usual calm and aloof demeanor. Her cherry lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Because the injury was too precise, It was exactly enough to not be life-threatening, yet it damaged his internal organs, preventing him from breaking through to Blood Essence Level 9.0 before the college entrance examination.

"He didn't just master it, he's likely perfected it!"

"The third True Martial Killing Move, Void Shock, is now under his complete control. Even I back then, and my sister now, haven't reached this level."

Su Nianying's heart confirmed this thought.

"Compared to his so-called progress in Blood Essence, his martial arts talent is truly outrageous."

"We must seize him and have him accept my tutelage!"

On the stage, Li Xijun, still standing in the center of the arena, remained still.

The remaining 28 martial arts students gradually moved towards the center from the scattered edges.

Although it looked like they had surrounded him.

However, The closer these martial arts students, each wielding swords, sabers, and great hammers, got...

It felt as if their group was surrounded by just one person from the opposing side.

They were so intimidated they didn't dare move, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

"If we lose, we lose together! Let's go!"

Someone with a weaker mental fortitude couldn't stand the atmosphere and shouted, charging forward first with their spear.

Once the first brave soul stepped up, The other 20-plus people made up their minds and gritted their teeth, charging forward together.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The sound of clashing metal echoed endlessly.

Li Xijun, who was surrounded in the center by this group, felt no psychological burden and counterattacked without mercy.

He leaped forward like a tiger entering a wolf pack, casually sending people flying with a punch or kick, leaving them unable to get up.

In the blink of an eye, the entire vast arena was cleared.

Only one person remained standing.

"Beep—!"

The referee teacher who had stepped off the stage blew his whistle, announcing the winner of the arena free-for-all.

Finding it fun to toy with weaker opponents, Li Xijun walked out of the arena with light steps.

However, waiting for him at the exit this time wasn't Ye Liuyun, but Su Nianyi, who had come to watch his match.

"I didn't expect you to have grown this much. If I didn't use my psychic powers, I'd probably be instantly killed by you too."

Su Nianyi handed him a bottle of sparkling energy water, her purple eyes appraising the young man before her.

Even with her current personality, she felt a sense of unreality.

Just at the start of the semester, he was still a good student who was ostracized by his supposed friends and looked down upon by students in the Elite Class.

In the span of just one semester, he had progressed to the point where he could defeat all the students in the entire grade except for her.

Moreover, He had even mastered the most difficult move in the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms, the True Martial Killing Move: Void Shock.

This level of martial skill talent was something even she couldn't achieve.

"You played a part in this too. Otherwise, my Azure Dragon Heaven-Reaching Method wouldn't have broken through so quickly. I'll never forget that day."

Li Xijun had not forgotten the favor Su Nianyi did for him, spending a whole day at the zoo helping him advance his basic cultivation method to the proficient level.

However, When Su Nianyi heard the latter half of his sentence, her thoughts clearly wandered.

Hearing Li Xijun say "I'll never forget that day," she was instantly reminded of the scene where he had collapsed into her arms, his slime also being squashed, and her cheeks flushed.

"You... you don't need to remember that."

Suppressing the shame that made her want to flee, Su Nianyi, who now somewhat understood her sister's feelings, got down to business. "I've reached Blood Essence Level 9.0. If you have time, come to my private martial arts room and teach me how to cultivate Void Shock."

As an officially promoted martial art, the True Martial Thirty-Six Forms naturally had its unique merits.

Mastering the third move, the True Martial Killing Move: Void Shock, was highly beneficial for cultivation after reaching Blood Essence Level 9.0.

Aside from the martial warrior's own innate talent, it was essentially the only method that could provide assistance in deeply developing their potential.

It was normal for Su Nianyi to make such a request, and Li Xijun was naturally willing to help.

"Then let's go. We don't have any classes anyway, it's all rest time. Come on, let's go to your room to practice."

Li Xijun's decisiveness surprised Su Nianyi for a moment, but she was quickly pulled along directly into the private martial arts room.

Ye Liuyun, who had just returned with two bottles of sparkling energy water, saw this scene, sighed silently, and opened a bottle to drink both himself.

As for the vast majority of onlookers, students like Zhou Yibai, they could only look on enviously as the young man and woman walked away.

That day, Even though the news that the first and second place in the grade had basically been decided had spread throughout Yan'an No. 7 High School.

When the final exam results were posted, most students still came as usual to check their scores and to reconfirm their rankings.

Ye Liuyun, who had come to watch, saw his name in the 11th position in the grade without any surprise.

Thanks to Li Xijun's daily sparring sessions, not only had his Blood Essence Level improved significantly, but his practical combat ability had also seen the fastest rate of improvement.

The scene of the group from the arena being beaten to a pulp was just a daily occurrence for him, Ye Liuyun.

He didn't know how he had endured it.

Thinking of this, the young nobleman, feeling a sense of pride, continued to look forward.

Similarly, Zhou Yibai saw that he was still firmly in the Elite Class, and with his cousin Zhou Shenghao having dropped out due to his poor performance after being instantly defeated, he secretly rejoiced as he looked ahead.

Finally, one by one, all eyes gathered at the very top of the rankings:

[First Place: Su Nianyi]

[Second Place: Li Xijun]

Even though he had been mentally prepared for this, Even though he knew in his heart it was highly likely, When Li Xijun's name appeared in second place for the grade, All the students who had been in the same class as Li Xijun in their first and second years, and who knew him in Class Six of their third year, felt a complex mix of emotions at that moment.

There was envy, jealousy, and regret, But everyone knew at that moment, Li Xijun would undoubtedly become a disciple of an Outer Scenery Expert and a seeded contender to aim for the 'Imperial Capital Two Heavens' in the college entrance examination.

A chasm that could not be crossed had already opened between them.