First Battle Against Zhao Jinglian

Upon hearing that the stunningly beautiful girl was actually Princess Bailing, the other three youths' gazes immediately grew even more fervent, unable to hide the excitement on their faces.

Before last night, word that Princess Bailing was also a Taiwu Academy student had already spread among the students. Anyone who paid even slight attention to news from Taiwu Academy knew it. Every male student longed for a chance to approach Princess Bailing and win her favor.

Jiang Ping'an could not help showing surprise as well. There was actually a princess among his teammates. Their chances of winning should improve somewhat, right?

He was one of the few who had not known about Princess Bailing for the time being. It was not because he was aloof, but because he was poorly informed. Moreover, he had only entered Taiwu Academy yesterday and had not had time to inquire about its various affairs.

"Princess Bailing, my name is Lu Zhaisheng, and I come from the Lu Family of Yunzhou." A handsome youth of seventeen or eighteen was the first to recover, stepping forward ahead of the others to introduce himself to Princess Bailing. "I'm at the middle stage of the Primordial Sea Realm, and when I first opened my Essence Sea, it exceeded a thousand zhang..."

Before he could finish introducing himself, another teammate could no longer resist interrupting. "Your Highness Princess Bailing, my name is Zhang Jingtian, and I come from the Yangling Marquis Estate in Yujing..."

The third youth did not compete to introduce himself to Princess Bailing. He wore plain clothes, possessed an unpretentious air, had dark skin, and concealed inferiority in his eyes.

After Lu Zhaisheng and Zhang Jingtian rushed to introduce themselves, Princess Bailing's snow-bright gaze fell upon Jiang Ping'an. With a smile playing at the corner of her lips, she asked, "And you?"

After Princess Bailing's gaze fell on Jiang Ping'an, it did not move away. Her eyes wandered over him, shimmering with radiant light.

Seeing this, Lu Zhaisheng and Zhang Jingtian secretly felt both jealousy and wariness.

"Brother, you go first," Jiang Ping'an said to the dark-skinned youth instead.

The dark-skinned youth gave an "Ah," flustered. He clearly had not expected Jiang Ping'an to let him introduce himself first.

"I—I'm Hong Feng, from Gaoping County, Dongjiang Prefecture. I'm at the early stage of the Primordial Sea Realm, and when I first opened my Essence Sea, it reached three thousand zhang..." After saying a few words, the dark-skinned youth's voice became steadier. "It is an honor to meet Princess Bailing, Young Master Jiang, Young Master Lu, and..."

His gaze shifted to Jiang Ping'an, carrying a trace of gratitude.

"My name is Jiang Ping'an," Jiang Ping'an said with a smile.

"And Young Master Jiang," Hong Feng continued. "Please give me your guidance."

Everyone's gaze focused on Jiang Ping'an as he introduced himself. "I am from the Jiang Family of White Emperor City in the Southern Border, at the middle stage of the Primordial Sea Realm."

"Is the Jiang Family an aristocratic family? I've only heard of Madam Zhao of the Zhennan Marquis Estate in White Emperor City," Lu Zhaisheng asked with feigned curiosity.

Zhang Jingtian also smiled in agreement. "I too have only heard that White Emperor City has Madam Zhao of the Zhennan Marquis Estate."

Jiang Ping'an understood what Lu Zhaisheng and Zhang Jingtian meant, but he did not take it to heart. Smiling, he said, "The Jiang Family is indeed an ordinary family. Our results in the tournament will have to rely on Princess Bailing, Young Master Jiang, and Princess Lu, as well as Brother Hong."

Hearing Jiang Ping'an directly show weakness, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng immediately felt satisfied.

Princess Bailing, however, seemed somewhat displeased and gave a soft snort, believing Jiang Ping'an to be too weak.

The moment she heard the name "Jiang Ping'an," she guessed that he was her neighboring resident. She thought Jiang Ping'an ought to take the initiative to use their neighborly connection to ingratiate himself with her.

No wonder a servant kicked his door to pieces. All glitter on the outside, rotten cotton within—what a waste of such a handsome face, she thought.

After getting acquainted, the team took Princess Bailing as its core and further familiarized themselves with each other's martial skills and spells before discussing tactics.

Jiang Ping'an held some things back, saying only that he had mastered a set of high-grade swordsmanship and a high-grade movement technique.

Princess Bailing was proficient in spells and had mastered two high-grade spells and three mid-grade spells.

Zhang Jingtian introduced himself as proficient in a set of high-grade swordsmanship, a set of high-grade palm techniques, a high-grade movement technique, and a mid-grade spell.

Lu Zhaisheng was about the same as Zhang Jingtian.

Hong Feng was the weakest in terms of martial skills and spells. He was only proficient in a set of mid-grade fist techniques and a set of mid-grade movement techniques.

Princess Bailing became the Temporary Team Leader without any dispute. There was almost no disagreement over the tactical arrangements, and before lunch, they had even rehearsed their tactical coordination two or three times.

At lunchtime, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng both suggested dining together to further deepen their understanding of one another.

"There's no need for that." Princess Bailing refused without a second thought, then turned and drifted away.

She did not think much of these teammates. Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng were too showy, their auras obviously unsteady, yet they claimed to be proficient in three high-grade martial skills and a mid-grade spell. Who were they trying to fool? How could high-grade martial skills be so easy to learn, much less master? Jiang Ping'an was too weak, while Hong Feng was too insecure.

She was somewhat worried that these pig teammates would drag her down and prevent her from reaching the fourth round.

Although their suggestion had been rejected by Princess Bailing without the slightest courtesy, Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng were not at all embarrassed or angered. They had expected it.

Princess Bailing was Emperor Qian's most beloved princess. How could she possibly be easy to approach?

Still, they believed that in the battles to come, they would surely win Princess Bailing's favor with their overwhelming strength, peerlessly handsome appearances, and considerate manners.

"Since Princess Bailing says there's no need, then let's disperse," Zhang Jingtian said with a smile to Jiang Ping'an and Hong Feng.

Jiang Ping'an cupped his hands and said, "Farewell," before leaving in an unhurried manner.

Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng exchanged a few polite words and left as well.

Hong Feng was the only one left behind.

He felt somewhat regretful, having thought he could use the opportunity to befriend Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng. As for Princess Bailing, he did not dare entertain such hopes.

After returning to the Upper Kun Courtyard, Jiang Ping'an was nearing Jia Chen Dorm when he accidentally caught sight of Princess Bailing's graceful, delicate back. Her waist-length black hair, like a cascading waterfall, swayed in the wind.

So she lives nearby too, Jiang Ping'an thought. Then he recalled how his neighbor's maidservant had said that her mistress was a princess. Could she be my neighbor?

The next moment, he saw Princess Bailing truly about to enter Jia Mao Dorm.

"Princess Bailing," he called out from afar.

Since they were both neighbors and teammates, he naturally could not pretend not to know.

Hearing his call, Princess Bailing merely turned her head and glanced at Jiang Ping'an before continuing into her Residence.

Jiang Ping'an could not help shaking his head. "Fairy tales are all lies. A princess could never be so approachable."

That afternoon, the team met again and continued rehearsing their tactical coordination.

More than two hours later, the team dispersed.

As they parted, Hong Feng said to Jiang Ping'an, "Brother Jiang, I know a good place to practice martial skills. It's quiet there, and no one will disturb you."

He had already thought it through. Since Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng were also beyond his reach, he should honestly befriend Jiang Ping'an, whose background was not too different from his own.

"Thank you, Brother Hong, but unfortunately I have something to take care of today. Another day, I'll ask Brother Hong to take me there," Jiang Ping'an said sincerely.

Seeing the sincerity in Jiang Ping'an's eyes and that it did not seem like an excuse, Hong Feng felt better. "Since Brother Jiang is busy, I won't disturb you."

After parting with his teammates, Jiang Ping'an first returned to the Upper Kun Courtyard, then entered its Alchemy Room to refine pills.

Taiwu Academy did not permit students to refine pills or forge artifacts within their Residences. It provided dedicated Alchemy Rooms and artifact-forging rooms instead. The fees were not expensive, and the facilities were better and more complete.

Jiang Ping'an refined a batch of Essence Pills. Whether because Taiwu Academy's Alchemy Furnace was superior or because the medicinal ingredients he had purchased this time were of higher quality, he unexpectedly obtained four Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills, five Superior Essence Pills, and one Normal Quality Essence Pill—a first for him.

He would consume the Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills himself and sell those of other grades to purchase more pill-refining ingredients.

Essence Pills were expensive. Even a Normal Quality Essence Pill sold for eight hundred taels of silver each, while Superior Essence Pills sold for one thousand two hundred taels, and Pinnacle Grade Essence Pills fetched as much as two thousand four hundred taels.

However, the medicinal ingredients for Essence Pills were costly as well. Even ingredients of merely average quality cost more than one thousand five hundred taels. Each set of pill-refining ingredients Jiang Ping'an used cost two thousand five hundred taels of silver.

"Not bad. I made a net profit of five and a half times." In high spirits, Jiang Ping'an left the Alchemy Room and returned to his Residence.

The next moment, thinking of his bottomless Essence Sea, he could not help feeling troubled. "Pill refining still doesn't make enough money."

"Having an Essence Sea that's too large isn't necessarily a good thing!"

The next morning, the Genius Ranking Tournament officially began, with thirty arenas holding matches simultaneously.

As the Temporary Team Leader, Princess Bailing drew the first match at Arena Seven on behalf of Team 135.

Arena Seven was located at the Central Grand Martial Arts Plaza.

Once all teams had drawn lots, the matches immediately began.

By the time Jiang Ping'an and the others arrived before Arena Seven, the area around it was already packed so tightly that not even water could pass through—three layers inside, three layers outside, and three more layers in between.

Princess Bailing truly was the most sought-after.

The two teams stepped onto the arena, and Jiang Ping'an was surprised to discover an acquaintance among the opposing team.

It was Zhao Jinglian!

Zhao Jinglian saw Jiang Ping'an as well. Her unpleasant expression could not help giving way to a smile.

When she had first learned that her opening battle was against Princess Bailing, she had felt that she had little chance of winning. But upon suddenly discovering Jiang Ping'an in Princess Bailing's team, she immediately felt as though the mountain paths had turned and the river bent, with willows dark and flowers bright beyond.

They only needed to swiftly defeat Jiang Ping'an and create the advantageous situation of five against four.

Thus, she quickly whispered to her teammates, "Don't be afraid. Princess Bailing's team has a huge weakness. The person at the far right of their team is very weak—I know him. As long as we defeat him quickly in one or two moves, we can fight five against four!"

Hearing this, Zhao Jinglian's teammates were immediately invigorated and could not help staring at Jiang Ping'an.

Jiang Ping'an was tall and slender, his skin fair as jade, his bearing tranquil. He really did look like a weakling.