Jiang Ping'an vs. Zhao Zhenming

Jiang Ping'an had been waiting for a letter from Mother. He waited a full seven days, and just as he began to worry that something had happened to her, Jiang Shuyue's letter finally arrived.

The letter gave him an address and told him to come by when he had time soon, so he could familiarize himself with the way.

That very day, with no matches scheduled, Jiang Ping'an took Jiang Yiyi and Chen Donglai to see Jiang Shuyue.

The courtyard Jiang Shuyue rented was in Xuanyang Ward. It was not large, and she had hired two maids to handle chores.

Xuanyang Ward was not far from Taiwu Academy, separated by only two wards. By carriage, it took roughly an Incense Stick—about half an hour. Jiang Shuyue had presumably chosen to rent a place near Taiwu Academy on purpose.

In the small hall, Jiang Ping'an, Jiang Shuyue, and Jiang Yiyi sat together, talking and chatting.

When Jiang Yiyi asked about the soap shop, Jiang Shuyue shook her head. "Yujing is the capital, a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons abound. Divine Treasury Realm experts can be found everywhere in Yujing. But Yujing is also a muddle of dragons and snakes. Over the past few days, I discovered two or three fights to the death in back alleys. We need to put off opening the soap shop until I advance to the Dragon Transformation Realm."

It turned out she feared the soap shop would attract covetous eyes. Her Divine Treasury Realm Fifth Heaven cultivation alone was not enough to intimidate them.

After nightfall, Jiang Ping'an and Jiang Yiyi returned to Taiwu Academy.

The top-ranking matches had finally arrived. The top two students from each of the previous nineteen victorious squads—a total of thirty-eight students—together with ten replacement students, the top ten winners from the secondary-ranking matches, drew lots to determine their platforms.

The rules were that the matches would be held across four platforms. The champions of each platform would then compete against one another for the title of Chief Student.

Jiang Ping'an drew number three on Platform C.

Once the drawing results were posted, Jiang Ping'an saw his own name—and Zhao Zhenming's as well. Zhao Zhenming was also assigned to Platform C, and he was number one.

According to the rules, he would engage Zhao Zhenming and Yuan Ruolan, number two on Platform C, in a three-way melee. Only one person could emerge victorious.

"I didn't expect that you and I would still have a battle."

A voice came from behind him. Jiang Ping'an turned and saw Zhao Zhenming.

Zhao Zhenming was dressed like a noble young master of a marquis estate. A Purple Gold Crown sat atop his head, the ribbon binding his hair fluttering lightly in the wind. He wore a moon-white brocade robe, its collar and cuffs trimmed with fine silver thread. A Jade Belt circled his waist, with a warm, lustrous jade pendant hanging from it, while black boots patterned with clouds covered his feet.

His sword brows and starry eyes were lifted slightly. Yet he did not give off an arrogant impression; rather, he seemed reservedly noble, as though he had been born to be this way.

Jiang Ping'an did not catch the hidden meaning in Zhao Zhenming's words. He merely felt that Zhao Zhenming was being far too arrogant. Within Taiwu Academy, even princesses and princes had to step onto the platform and compete in person. What was so special about the son of the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate?

"And then?" he asked with a faintly mocking tone, disdaining to point out Zhao Zhenming's conceit.

But Zhao Zhenming answered a different question. "Fine. I'll let you personally experience the gap between a Mortal Body and a top-tier battle physique, so you understand why Mortal Bodies are destined for mediocrity."

"I'll let you know why Dad never liked you."

"And I'll let you know what a tragedy it was that your Mother insisted on giving birth to you."

Jiang Ping'an could not help sneering. "I truly wish we were on the platform right now, so I could smash that ugly face of yours with one punch."

"First, Zhao Yingpeng is only your father, Zhao Zhenming—not mine, Jiang Ping'an's. Why should I need him to like me?"

"Second, if my Mother had not insisted on giving birth to me back then, you would never have had the chance to come into this world. Every time you see my Mother, you should kneel and kowtow in gratitude. Even ordinary people repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring, yet you mock my Mother instead. What staggering ingratitude!"

"What exactly are you so smug about, standing before me?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Zhao Zhenming's face, along with some anger born of humiliation. "Lip service will always be nothing but lip service. It can't stir up any real waves. Once we get on the platform, let's see how your mouth talks to my sword!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked away.

Less than an Incense Stick after the drawing concluded, the top-ranking matches began.

On Platform C, Jiang Ping'an, Zhao Zhenming, and Yuan Ruolan stepped onto the platform under the watchful eyes of countless students.

Yuan Ruolan was a beautiful girl from an aristocratic family, sixteen or seventeen years old. She had a delicate figure, an orchid-like temperament, and late-stage Primordial Sea Realm cultivation.

The moment she stepped onto the platform, she moved close to Jiang Ping'an and quickly whispered, "How about we join forces to defeat Zhao Zhenming first?"

Although many students believed the claim that Jiang Ping'an had a Mortal Body was merely a rumor, they still labeled him comparatively weak, believing that he had coasted to victory by following behind Princess Bailing.

As for Zhao Zhenming, he had displayed extremely formidable strength during the squad matches and was considered one of the strongest candidates for Chief Student.

"Sure," Jiang Ping'an replied with a smile.

Yuan Ruolan added, "I'm skilled in spell arts."

"I'm skilled in martial techniques," Jiang Ping'an said as well.

Below the platform, most of the descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate had gathered to watch.

"That trash running into the True Fate Young Master means his luck has run out," one Zhennan Marquis Estate descendant said jealously.

As a dignified descendant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, he had failed to enter the top-ranking matches. It was utterly humiliating.

The other Zhennan Marquis Estate descendants burst into laughter. "This is demon mist meeting the sun. The True Fate Young Master only needs a single glance to make that trash evaporate and reveal his true form!"

"I just hope the True Fate Young Master won't be too merciful. He should give him a good beating, teach him a lesson, and let him understand the distinction between the honored and lowly, the legitimate and the concubine-born."

Zhao Jinglian was naturally watching beneath the platform as well. Her face was full of eager excitement as she waited to see her brother viciously beat that trash and vent her anger for her.

Although she knew that trash would soon be "delivered from suffering," beating him viciously in public beforehand and exposing his true form would at least be somewhat satisfying.

Princess Bailing was also watching beneath the platform. Her own match was the third one on another platform.

Jiang Ping'an had fought alongside her as a teammate and was also her neighbor in the Residence, so she was still willing to pay him some attention.

Moreover, Zhao Zhenming, who was fighting Jiang Ping'an, was also one of her strongest competitors for the position of Chief Student.

Yes, she simply did not believe Jiang Ping'an could win.

Besides Princess Bailing, the other former members of Squad 135 were all watching beneath the platform, standing beside her.

Neither Zhang Jingtian nor Lu Zhaisheng had made it into the top ten of the secondary-ranking matches, so they had no chance to participate in the top-ranking matches.

Still, they remained unconvinced that Jiang Ping'an had qualified for the top-ranking matches. They believed he had deliberately acted weak from the beginning to lull them into complacency and seize the initiative.

"I sincerely hope Brother Jiang can win," Hong Feng said expectantly.

His information was relatively limited, and for the moment, he did not know Zhao Zhenming's strength.

Lu Zhaisheng immediately laughed. "That's impossible!"

"Why?" Hong Feng asked.

Pointing at Zhao Zhenming on the platform, Zhang Jingtian smiled with a sense of superiority. "Do you know who he is?"

"Who?" Hong Feng asked in confusion.

Zhang Jingtian wore the expression of someone laughing at a country bumpkin for lacking discernment. "Zhao Zhenming, son of the Young Lord of the Zhennan Marquis Estate."

"Oh—so he is Zhao Zhenming," Hong Feng said in sudden realization. "The one who, the moment the estate was established, indulged his vicious servants in kicking down other students' doors."

"No, who told you to remember that?!" Zhang Jingtian snapped in annoyance. "Zhao Zhenming was born of noble blood, and his bloodline is extraordinarily powerful. I hear he also possesses a Primordial Sea Phenomenon."

Hong Feng could not help revealing a shocked, envious expression. "Zhao Zhenming has a Primordial Sea Phenomenon? That's incredible! Brother Jiang probably has no chance of winning."

"I heard Zhao Zhenming had cultivated on Pudu Mountain, one of the Great Qian Kingdom's two great holy lands of cultivation, since childhood. He received the personal teachings of a divine monk on Pudu Mountain," Lu Zhaisheng cut in, unable to resist showing off how well-informed he was. "When he first opened his Essence Sea, it exceeded Ten Thousand Feet. He is a genius among geniuses!"

"Ah—" Hong Feng exclaimed in amazement again, utterly shaken. "Then Brother Jiang truly has no chance of winning."

Zhang Jingtian laughed. "Compared to Zhao Zhenming, Jiang Ping'an is like a firefly before the bright moon in the heavens—not worth mentioning at all!"

"Indeed, they are as different as mud and clouds!" Lu Zhaisheng declared.

Princess Bailing finally could not stand it any longer and spoke displeasedly. "Jiang Ping'an used to be our teammate. You're raising others' prestige while crushing your own spirit!"

"Her Highness is right," Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng hurriedly replied with ingratiating smiles. "Whether Jiang Ping'an can win or not, we should cheer him on."

Princess Bailing gave a light snort. "If he is defeated easily, you will be even more humiliated, because you aren't even Jiang Ping'an's equals!"

The ingratiating smiles on Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng's faces instantly froze. Their faces flushed red, and their expressions became exceedingly awkward.