The Great Reversal of Public Opinion

With the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon empowering her, Princess Bailing not only saw the power of her spells surge severalfold, but her spellcasting speed also increased dramatically.

She had originally intended to cast a high-grade spell—the Li Fire Xuan Dragon—but she discovered that Jiang Ping'an could actually withstand the phoenix cry. Moreover, he was charging toward her at an astonishing speed. She had no choice but to sweep her long sleeve and launch seven or eight fireballs more than three feet in diameter, sealing off Jiang Ping'an's path of advance.

The seven or eight fireballs spread out, forming a wide-area attack. Jiang Ping'an could either retreat or charge through the fireballs head-on.

Jiang Ping'an chose to charge through them. With one sword slash, he split apart the fireball hurtling toward him and continued advancing through the gap.

However, his speed was still slowed somewhat.

Just as he was about to reach Princess Bailing, a massive flaming dragon head opened its jaws and swallowed at him.

It was swallowing him in the literal sense, because the flaming dragon head was truly enormous.

Princess Bailing had already successfully cast the Li Fire Xuan Dragon. Empowered by the Myriad Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix phenomenon, the Li Fire Xuan Dragon was as thick as a water vat and over a dozen zhang long. The intense heat it radiated distorted even the air.

So powerful! Jiang Ping'an could not help sighing inwardly. The Willow Branching Movement and Xun Star Swordplay alone were no longer enough to deal with Princess Bailing.

Just as he was about to be devoured by the enormous Li Fire Xuan Dragon, Jiang Ping'an neither retreated nor dodged. Instead, he struck out with his left palm, carrying wind and rain.

Wind and Rain Life-Stealing Palm!

Roar—

The Li Fire Xuan Dragon let out an unwilling, mournful cry. Its dragon head and nearly half its body were blasted apart and extinguished in an instant.

"This is..." The Taiwu Academy higher-ups seated on the elevated platform, all peak experts of the Dragon Transformation Realm, could not help straightening up in surprise. "That palm strike of his has already gone beyond the scope of the high-grade Martial Skill Fine Rain Golden Wind Palm!"

"Indeed. From what I can see, its power is already equivalent to a Supreme Martial Skill!"

"What astonishing martial arts comprehension! Not only has he completely mastered the Fine Rain Golden Wind Palm, he has also cast off the old and brought forth the new, comprehending a palm technique comparable to a Supreme Martial Skill!"

"How old is he? Yet he has already comprehended a Martial Skill on an even higher level!"

The Taiwu Academy higher-ups all marveled at Jiang Ping'an's martial arts comprehension.

When the other spectators beneath the arena saw Jiang Ping'an disperse and extinguish the terrifyingly imposing Li Fire Xuan Dragon with one palm strike, they involuntarily cried out in shock, "Wow—"

Every one of them was dumbstruck. Their minds temporarily ceased to function, filled with nothing but shock.

Zhao Zhenming was also watching beneath the arena. He saw everything clearly, and his heart shook violently. H-He, he is actually this strong? Isn't he a Mortal Body?

"How can he be this strong? He's clearly a worthless Mortal Body!" Zhao Jinglian shrieked jealously beside him, unable to accept that Jiang Ping'an was truly stronger than her.

Princess Bailing was also greatly startled when she saw the Li Fire Xuan Dragon shattered by Jiang Ping'an's palm. She hurriedly tried to cast another spell.

At that moment, Jiang Ping'an bent his legs slightly and crouched down. Then he kicked off with all his strength. The stone arena floor exploded, fragments of rock flew everywhere, and a huge crater was kicked into the ground.

Jiang Ping'an shot toward Princess Bailing, who was suspended in midair, like a cannonball freshly fired from its barrel.

Seeing this, Princess Bailing immediately used the Flight Technique to move toward the rear left.

Judging by their respective speeds, Jiang Ping'an's leap from the ground was incredibly fast, but it was still just slightly slower.

Yet Jiang Ping'an's cannonball-like body suddenly shifted to the left, once again aligning perfectly with Princess Bailing.

Princess Bailing was startled again, but it was already too late to dodge. She could only hurriedly cast the Three Revolutions Earth Shield in front of herself.

The Three Revolutions Earth Shield was as impregnable as a fortress. Even a Top-Grade Mortal Artifact could not split it open.

"Break!" Jiang Ping'an shouted. He fully unleashed a killing move from the Xun Star Swordplay. A solid, dazzling sword aura clung to the blade, and the sword abruptly grew more than twice as long and large.

Bang!

The Three Revolutions Earth Shield was pierced in one stroke. The sword tip stopped against Princess Bailing's full chest.

Princess Bailing lowered her head in disbelief to look at the sword tip before her chest.

She had actually lost—to Jiang Ping'an, whose strength she had always thought was nothing special.

She raised her beautiful eyes and looked at Jiang Ping'an. When she noticed a pair of transparent wind wings behind him, she immediately understood why she had lost.

"I lost. You are very strong," Princess Bailing said dejectedly.

Jiang Ping'an withdrew his sword and smiled. "You are also very strong. You forced me to reveal all my trump cards."

Beneath the arena, there was dead silence. Everyone remained plunged in overwhelming shock, unable to recover for a long while.

"Lucky bastard" Jiang Ping'an had actually defeated Princess Bailing!!!

Zhao Zhenming stared fixedly at Jiang Ping'an, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms and drew blood, yet he did not notice.

He finally understood how he had lost back then. Jiang Ping'an could also use the Flight Technique. His defeat had not been unjust in the slightest.

If he had merely lost publicly to Jiang Ping'an before, he would have only considered it a humiliation, with no impact on his Dao Heart. Jiang Ping'an had been too weak; he himself had merely been careless and underestimated his opponent for a moment. If he had taken things even slightly seriously, one finger would have been enough to crush Jiang Ping'an.

But now, realizing that he might not be Jiang Ping'an's match, a tiny crack appeared in his Dao Heart.

This half-brother of his not only possessed a Mortal Body, but had never received even the slightest bit of cultivation from the Zhennan Marquis Estate. He had even been confined to a small courtyard for twelve whole years since childhood!

And what about himself?

He possessed the two supreme bloodlines of the Zhennan Marquis Estate's Zhao lineage and the Qingzhou Su Clan. Since childhood, he had enjoyed the very best resources of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, and he had cultivated at Pudu Mountain, a holy land of cultivation, since he was young, receiving personal guidance from eminent monks under the Buddha Lord.

The difference between them was as clear as heaven and earth!

"Jiang Ping'an wins!" The referee was the first to recover from his shock and announced loudly.

Hearing the referee's voice, the spectators beneath the arena gradually came back to their senses and involuntarily let out shocked cries, "Roar—"

Then a massive wave of discussion erupted, and the crowd completely boiled over.

"Am I really not seeing things? Jiang Ping'an actually defeated Princess Bailing!"

"Too shocking! So Jiang Ping'an is this strong! If anyone dares call Jiang Ping'an a lucky bastard again, I'll slap him across the face!"

"Who spread the rumor that Jiang Ping'an relied on luck? I'll beat him to death! He actually misled me for so long!"

"Princess Bailing went all out from the very beginning. Let's see who still dares say Jiang Ping'an won by luck again!"

At this moment, some female students began discussing something different.

"Jiang Ping'an is so handsome and dashing. Just looking at him makes my heart itch."

"Ah—Jiang Ping'an is looking at me! He's looking at me! He really is looking at me..."

"I heard Jiang Ping'an comes from an ordinary lineage. My family is rich enough to rival a nation, so we can support him—as long as he is willing to associate with me!"

The Dragon Transformation Realm higher-ups of Taiwu Academy all nodded in satisfaction and began talking among themselves.

"Jiang Ping'an is concubine-born in the Zhennan Marquis Estate. He was previously suppressed and buried away. Now that our Taiwu Academy has unearthed him, he shines brilliantly. He is perfect as an example!"

"Haha, that is only right. Otherwise, what meaning would there be in the existence of our Taiwu Academy?"

"We must nurture him well!"

"I heard he and Zhao Zhenming are half-brothers. Now the Zhennan Marquis Estate will have quite a show to watch."

The morning matches ended. The spectators all left reluctantly, gathering in groups of three or five as they walked and discussed the events excitedly.

"By the way, who spread the rumor last night that Senior Brother Jiang would directly admit defeat today?" one student suddenly remembered and asked loudly.

Another student smiled in some surprise. "Eh—you call him Senior Brother now? Taiwu Academy isn't a sect."

The other students all laughed along.

Without blushing or missing a beat, that student said, "We'll be cultivating together for five years in the future, so naturally we're fellow disciples. Jiang Ping'an is so strong; calling him Senior Brother is only proper!"

"That is true." The other students all agreed.

That student said, "You still haven't answered my question."

"I roughly know about this," a third student cut in. "It was passed from mouth to mouth until it became distorted. Senior Brother Jiang had no match yesterday afternoon, so he went to the Alchemy Room to refine pills. The Alchemy Room's Instructor recognized Senior Brother Jiang and told the other Instructors. Some students overheard it nearby, and then the news spread."

"So that was it." The student suddenly understood. "Senior Brother Jiang did not rest yesterday afternoon or conserve his strength. Clearly, he had absolute confidence and sufficient backing to win. Yet in the mouths of some Petty Thieves, it became that Senior Brother Jiang knew he had won by luck and did not dare fight Princess Bailing."

The other students all joined in, cursing, "Rumormongers are despicable!"

After his fair and open battle with Princess Bailing, the formidable strength Jiang Ping'an displayed caused every rumor to collapse on its own. Public opinion underwent a great reversal.

Although Jiang Ping'an had yet to claim the position of Chief Student, in the hearts of countless students, he was already the strongest student.

Many students even believed that Jiang Ping'an would definitely seize the position of Chief Student!