Jiang Ping'an vs. Princess Bailing

Jiang Ping'an walked down from the platform, and the final of Platform D immediately began. Princess Bailing stepped onto the platform.

Perhaps influenced by Jiang Ping'an, Princess Bailing went all out the moment she came up, unleashing the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon and giving her opponent no chance at all. Before long, she claimed the championship of Platform D.

Princess Bailing walked down from the platform, and Jiang Ping'an and Hong Feng went up together to congratulate her.

Looking at Jiang Ping'an, Princess Bailing said, "Tomorrow, I will also go all out from the start, just as I did today. You have one day to consider your countermeasures."

According to the competition rules, the semifinals would pit Platform C against Platform D. In other words, Jiang Ping'an would face Princess Bailing on the same platform.

"Thank you for the reminder." Jiang Ping'an smiled. "In return, I'll also reveal something to you: I have a way to withstand the phoenix cry from your Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon."

Shock appeared in Princess Bailing's eyes. Even peak experts of the Dragon Transformation Realm could hardly escape being affected by the phoenix cry of her Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon.

The next moment, intense doubt appeared on her face. "Really? My phoenix cry isn't something you can block just by covering your ears."

Jiang Ping'an merely gave a mysterious smile and offered no explanation.

That afternoon, Jiang Ping'an had no matches. Nor did he wish to watch the other ranking battles, so he went to the Alchemy Room to refine pills.

"You're Jiang Ping'an, aren't you?" The Instructor in the Alchemy Room could not help asking when he saw Jiang Ping'an preparing to refine pills.

Jiang Ping'an nodded. "I am."

"Tomorrow is the final competition for the Chief Student position. Shouldn't you be resting properly and conserving your strength?" the Instructor kindly reminded him.

This Instructor had a deep impression of Jiang Ping'an, because Jiang Ping'an was the biggest dark horse of the tournament, with luck so good it made people jealous.

Jiang Ping'an said somewhat mischievously, "I'm already in the Top Four. Whether I win or lose tomorrow doesn't matter. Fate will arrange everything."

What rest? What conserving his strength? He did not need any of that.

He had won easily to begin with, and his True Essence was as vast as an ocean. After the last three matches, he had barely expended anything.

From the beginning of the Genius Ranking Competition until now, he had almost always won with the least possible strength. It was not easy for him to accumulate True Essence, so how could he squander it carelessly?

The Instructor was speechless. He might as well have said outright that tomorrow depended on luck.

However, on second thought, it seemed Jiang Ping'an could only do this.

By the semifinals, no one would underestimate their opponent or act carelessly again. No matter how good his luck was, it would be useless.

Moreover, Jiang Ping'an's opponent was Princess Bailing. In today's match, Princess Bailing had barely expended any strength and had not suffered any injuries.

Uh, the outcome was already decided. In that case, refining pills now did seem reasonable.

With that thought, the Instructor showed a hint of approval. "You do have some self-awareness, and you're open-minded as well."

Jiang Ping'an: "..."

Jiang Ping'an went off to refine pills. The Instructor sat there for quite a while, but not a second student came in to refine pills.

The competition was still in full swing, and the Fifth to Eighth Place Competition was also thrilling. Everyone was watching the matches—who had the mind to refine pills?

After sitting around with nothing to do for an Incense Stick, the Instructor dusted off his backside and left the Alchemy Room to watch the matches as well.

When he arrived near the platforms, he saw a sea of people packed so tightly that not even a needle could be slipped through.

Still, that did not trouble him. He was an Instructor after all, and he quickly headed to the Instructor Viewing Area.

Just as he took a seat in the Instructor Viewing Area, the previous match ended, and everyone waited for the next one.

Feeling somewhat bored, he smiled at the Instructors beside him and said, "Guess who I saw in the Alchemy Room just now. You'll never guess."

"There are so many people in Taiwu Academy. Of course we can't guess," the other Instructors said with a smile, shaking their heads.

The Instructor was a little speechless, so he said it directly. "I saw Jiang Ping'an in the Alchemy Room."

"That Jiang Ping'an with unbelievably good luck?" The other Instructors immediately became interested.

At the same time, someone questioned, "Impossible, right? Tomorrow he'll be competing for the Chief Student position. Why would he be refining pills in the Alchemy Room instead of properly conserving his strength?"

"Did you see wrong?"

Seeing his colleagues so astonished and unwilling to believe him, the Instructor could not help feeling smug. "That's where you don't understand. Jiang Ping'an may be young, but he's quite open-minded and sees things clearly. He knows he definitely can't beat Princess Bailing tomorrow, so there's no need to dwell on it. He simply goes and does whatever he should be doing."

"Huh, when you put it that way, it does seem right." The other Instructors said in surprise, "This Jiang Ping'an has a very good mindset. His good luck hasn't gone to his head at all. He's quite broad-minded."

The conversation among the Instructors was overheard by several nearby students. Those students could not help telling other students, who then told still more people.

By evening, word that Jiang Ping'an had gone to the Alchemy Room to refine pills that afternoon had spread throughout the entire academy. It was even distorted into rumors that Jiang Ping'an would directly surrender in tomorrow's semifinal, without even the courage to fight a proper battle.

These rumors seemed to further confirm that Jiang Ping'an had only made it into the Top Four through luck, that he was merely a fortunate opportunist.

The next morning, the semifinals arrived.

Taiwu Academy was practically deserted, and even a group of peak Dragon Transformation Realm experts from the upper ranks of Taiwu Academy appeared to watch. They sat high above in a conspicuous row.

After the breathtaking and soul-stirring first semifinal ended, the referee announced, "The second match is about to begin. Students Ji Bailing and Jiang Ping'an, please step onto the platform."

As soon as the referee's voice fell, many students beneath the platform began preparing to leave.

"Let's go. The morning matches are over."

"Why? Didn't the referee just announce that the second match was about to begin?"

"Hehe, you're out of touch, aren't you? How would Jiang Ping'an dare to truly fight a match? He'll directly admit defeat."

"I'm not leaving. I want to see Princess Bailing."

Although many students made motions as if they were about to leave, no one actually left right away. After all, they were not short of the time it took to drink half a cup of tea.

After the referee announced the match was about to begin, Princess Bailing directly used the Flight Technique and flew from beneath the platform onto it.

Princess Bailing wore a fiery red long dress today. Its skirts fluttered like blazing flames, yet also like a phoenix reborn from fire. Her skin, whiter than snow, looked even more radiant against the scarlet dress. The red dress also set off her exquisite features to perfection, making her seem like a Fairy from a painting—brows like crescent moons, eyes brimming with autumn waves, a delicate upright nose, and crimson lips gently pursed.

As she flew from beneath the platform onto it, she was like a fire phoenix soaring through the sky, stunning every eye.

As expected of Princess Bailing, the beloved daughter most favored by Emperor Qian. Almost everyone could not help sighing inwardly.

Jiang Ping'an quietly walked onto the platform without using the Flight Technique.

He had only used his Flight Technique for an instant when defeating Zhao Zhenming. For the time being, no one had discovered it, and everyone simply thought his movement technique was exceptionally good.

"Begin!" the referee announced loudly.

The instant the referee's voice fell, Princess Bailing immediately unleashed the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon.

Kree—

Along with a high, resounding phoenix cry, a phantom phoenix shining with golden light appeared in the air behind Princess Bailing and shot toward the heavens. Countless phantom spirit birds flew toward the phoenix from all directions.

Beneath the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon, Princess Bailing automatically rose into the air, like a fire phoenix that ruled over ten thousand birds.

Below the platform, everyone was affected by the phoenix cry, including those Dragon Transformation Realm Instructors. The weaker students closer to the platform were shaken until their True Essence scattered, nearly suffering cultivation deviation.

On the platform, Jiang Ping'an, possessing the Ancient Sacred Body, completely ignored the effects of the phoenix cry. Sword in hand, he fully unleashed the Flowing Willow movement technique as he charged at Princess Bailing. He was swift as lightning and his figure elusive, appearing on the left one moment and the right the next, like an unpredictable ghost.

The spectators beneath the platform were greatly startled when they saw it, and could not help thinking, What an incredible movement technique! With this technique to attack, who could possibly block Jiang Ping'an?

"Huh, this movement technique is quite good." One of Taiwu Academy's upper ranks commented, "With this movement technique alone, this student is more than qualified to enter the Top Four."

Another upper rank of Taiwu Academy stroked his beard and laughed. "How could there be so many lucky breaks? Jiang Ping'an has won so easily—his strength is probably simply too great."

The other upper ranks of Taiwu Academy nodded in agreement.