Great Split Coffin Claw

Lin Xiuyai saw the attack was already upon him and softly exhaled. Green Dou Qi gathered in his palms along his meridians, and his arms moved in an extremely strange posture, compressing the attack unleashed by the greatsword into a tiny space before him.

His arms twisted continuously. From afar, they looked like two nimble little snakes, while that incomparably fierce offensive was gradually weakened and dismantled within their coils, finally dissipating with a muffled bang.

Seeing his strongest attack so easily neutralized by his opponent, the new student Dou Shi could only smile helplessly. He leaped out of the plaza, signaling his withdrawal from the match.

He was no fool. It was perfectly normal to encounter opponents he could not defeat. Of those qualified to enter Jia Nan Academy, which one was not a prodigy? He understood well enough that there was always someone stronger.

Though he had accepted the fact of his defeat, being so easily beaten by someone his own age still dealt the new student a severe blow. The Fourth-grade Alchemist supported by his clan had put in no small effort to help him attain his current strength, yet he had still lost. It truly left him unwilling to accept it.

Lin Xiuyai cupped his hands in salute, a handsome and dashing smile on his face.

Liu Qing inwardly praised him as well. Jia Nan Academy truly lived up to its reputation. It seemed that man would become a formidable rival of his.

However, before challenging anyone else, he needed to send this fairly capable new student in front of him out first.

These people rushed forward together. Apart from Xiao Shuang, every new student in the Yellow Tier class now faced two opponents.

Their strength had already been inferior to those from the Profound Tier classes, and now they were outnumbered as well. Even though these new students unleashed their strongest attacks, they were defeated within a dozen seconds and could only concede the match and leave the plaza.

Instructor Ruolin could only smile helplessly at the sight. She knew her class's new students' strength very well. If they had not been besieged by so many people, they could have held on for a while longer.

Perhaps that little extra time would have raised their rankings by quite a bit.

What a pity. Now that these Profound Tier classes had joined forces, things had gone beyond expectations. Besides, the rules did not say that teaming up was forbidden...

Xiao Shuang fixed his gaze on the domineering youth before him. The others had all gone around him. Perhaps they had done their homework and knew he was a new student Dou Shi, so they deliberately avoided him and left him for another Dou Shi to handle.

"My name is Liu Qing. Only after you defeat me will you be qualified to tell me your name!"

The youth called Liu Qing did not draw the pitch-black heavy spear from his back. Instead, he thrust both hands forward, claws carrying fierce and savage gusts of wind as they seized at Xiao Shuang.

Xiao Shuang did not take out the weapon in his storage ring either. Instead, icy-blue Dou Qi coiled around his hands as he met the attack head-on without dodging.

"After you lose, I'll bestow my name upon you."

Their figures collided in an instant. After years of harsh training, Liu Qing possessed abundant experience in close combat, while Xiao Shuang had fought magical beasts and likewise would not fall behind in close-quarters fighting.

If Lin Xiuyai's fighting style was elegant and refined, then Xiao Shuang and Liu Qing's battle was filled with brutality. As they clashed, Dou Qi surged, and all that mattered was overwhelming strength.

After several exchanges, Xiao Shuang gradually fell into a disadvantage and could only use Dou Qi to help fend off Liu Qing's attacks. When it came to fighting experience, Xiao Shuang had only battled magical beasts. That single-minded combat style was quickly seen through by Liu Qing.

Liu Qing had trained his body relentlessly since childhood and had extensive close-combat experience. However, he was currently only a Four-Star Dou Master, so his Dou Qi was still slightly inferior to Xiao Shuang's. He could only make up for it with his fighting experience.

After another fierce clash, Liu Qing leaped backward. Dou Qi churned around his hands as his fingers curled, pale golden Dou Qi winding around his fingertips. Then he suddenly thrust forward, viciously striking toward Xiao Shuang's chest.

"Great Split Coffin Claw!"

This attack made Xiao Shuang's expression change. Icy-blue Dou Qi wrapped around his fingertips, and even the water molecules in the air were affected by the extreme cold, turning into shards of ice that fell to the ground.

"Ice Breaking Finger!"

As Xiao Shuang thrust out a finger, Liu Qing raised his brows. Rather than retreating, he advanced, and the attack in his hands grew even fiercer.

The watching students were greatly shocked by this clash. Were these really new students? Either one of them was probably far stronger than old students like them, who had studied at Jia Nan Academy for an entire year.

Under the assault of the Great Split Coffin Claw, Xiao Shuang's Ice Breaking Finger held out for a while before trembling and dispersing.

Yet just as the Ice Breaking Finger dissipated, an even more violent surge of Dou Qi struck out, catching Liu Qing off guard. He immediately raised both hands before his chest.

The second Ice Breaking Finger carried Xiao Shuang's special Dou Qi. After his Extreme Cold Physique awakened, Xiao Shuang gained control over the Dou Qi within his body. That peculiar Ice Dou Qi also required him to actively use it before it would be released.

To Xiao Shuang, Liu Qing truly was a troublesome opponent. His close-combat experience was exceptionally rich.

However, empowered by this special Ice Dou Qi, the Ice Breaking Finger's might increased by more than a single level. It could be said to have easily shattered Liu Qing's Great Split Coffin Claw.

How many close-quarters battles had Liu Qing experienced? Even he probably could not say. Thus, he immediately sensed the strangeness of Xiao Shuang's Dou Qi. He swiftly turned back, tightly gripped the Mountain Splitting Spear, and held it horizontally before his body.

The instant he came into contact with Xiao Shuang's Dou Qi, Liu Qing's expression changed. He felt the Dou Qi flowing through his body slow considerably, but after a few seconds, that sluggish feeling abruptly vanished.

Naturally, Xiao Shuang had controlled it. This new student competition was ultimately only a sparring match, so he had to leave some room. Just like Liu Qing's attack earlier, it had appeared fierce but would not truly have seriously injured him.

Besides, he believed Liu Qing still had other trump cards, such as the pitch-black heavy spear in his hands. Xiao Shuang did want to experience its power. If Liu Qing's condition were weakened beforehand, he would not be able to unleash his full strength.

"You are qualified to make me use the Mountain Splitting Spear. State your name. I acknowledge you!"

Liu Qing gripped the Mountain Splitting Spear as a Dou Qi Gauze Robe emerged over his body. An incomparably domineering aura rose from him, faintly carrying the presence of a Five-star Dou Master. It seemed he would break through in only a few days.

With a flick of Xiao Shuang's finger, the white spear in his storage ring landed in his hand. A frost-white Dou Qi Gauze Robe covered his body as all the Dou Qi within him erupted.

"I said it already. Once you have been defeated, you will naturally learn my name!"

In truth, Liu Qing knew of Xiao Shuang as well. The instructor had already introduced him to the outstanding new students, and Xiao Shuang was naturally among them. With the strength of a Five-star Dou Master, he stood at the top!

However, Liu Qing had been raised as the heir of the Liu Clan. He had consumed no shortage of medicinal pills that enhanced his strength and physique, so naturally, he did not fear anyone his age.