Challenging a Dou Grandmaster

In the central plaza of Wutan City, the recruitment area of Jia Nan Academy was bustling with people, the atmosphere heated.

Young men and women, filled with dreams, nervously awaited the test of the magic stone tablet that would decide their fate.

Mo Lin, blending into the crowd, swept his gaze across them and quickly locked onto the clear-skinned girl in a light purple dress within the Xiao family's contingent—Xiao Xun'er.

As if sensing something, her clear eyes flickered over, meeting Mo Lin's gaze for a fleeting moment before parting. Deep within her eyes, however, a barely perceptible hint of surprise and inquiry flashed.

Mo Lin's heart tightened slightly. He stopped looking and turned his attention back to the center of the field.

The testing proceeded quickly. The Xiao family produced a few promising talents at the seventh and eighth stages of Dou Disciple, drawing frequent nods from Instructor Ruo Lin.

Instructor Ruo Lin was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her figure was full and graceful, and her azure instructor robe further accentuated her mature charm. Her eyes were gentle yet held a hint of competence.

After the Xiao family's tests were completed, just as Ruo Lin was about to announce the results, a clear voice suddenly rang out:

"Excuse me, Instructor, if a student wishes to apply for a one-year leave of absence, what are the requirements?"

Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. A young man in a green shirt calmly emerged from the crowd.

He was about eighteen years old, with a tall and straight posture, a handsome face, and a faint, indifferent smile playing on his lips. It was Mo Lin.

Instructor Ruo Lin was slightly taken aback. She looked at Mo Lin and smiled gently, "May I ask who this student is? According to academy regulations, those whose potential assessment reaches S-Class or above may be granted a half-year leave of absence. However, you must first pass the test before an assessment can be made."

"My name is Mo Lin, just a traveler," Mo Lin said, walking to the magic stone tablet and placing his hand on it. "We can discuss the leave of absence after the test."

As his voice fell, Dou Qi slowly flowed into the tablet.

Buzz—!

The magic stone tablet suddenly erupted with dazzling, brilliant light! The scale soared wildly!

Dou Practitioner! One star, two stars... nine stars!

Dou Grandmaster! One star, two stars... five stars!

The light finally stopped steadily at—Peak Nine-Star Fighter!

The entire plaza fell into dead silence! Everyone's jaws dropped, as if their throats had been constricted!

A peak Nine-Star Fighter at eighteen years old?! This was simply a legendary monster! Even the geniuses in the inner court of Jia Nan Academy rarely reached such heights at this age!

The gentle smile on Instructor Ruo Lin's face completely froze. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her chest heaved violently with shock.

Xiao Zhan's teacup slipped from his hand and shattered. The members of the Xiao family turned pale with horror.

Even Xiao Xun'er's calm eyes stirred with obvious ripples as she stared intently at Mo Lin.

"Eigh... eighteen years old, peak Nine-Star Fighter..." Instructor Ruo Lin's voice trembled. Her gaze towards Mo Lin instantly became incredibly fervent. "Student Mo Lin! On behalf of Jia Nan Academy, I sincerely invite you to join us! The academy will definitely spare no resources to cultivate you!"

Mo Lin, however, shook his head. "I can join, but I need a one-year leave of absence, effective immediately."

"Requesting a year's leave right after enrollment? This..." Instructor Ruo Lin's delicate eyebrows furrowed. How could academy rules be so easily bent? Even S-Class geniuses only received half a year's leave.

A slight smile played on Mo Lin's lips, carrying a hint of defiance. "Rules are rigid. I've heard that the academy encourages challenging traditions. If a student disagrees with the arrangements, they can initiate a free spar with an instructor, and strength will speak for itself.

How about I spar with you, Instructor? No limits on rounds, no limits on methods, until one party concedes or is unable to continue. If I can earn your recognition of my strength, will you grant me a year's leave, what do you say?"

No limits on rounds, no limits on methods?! The crowd erupted in an uproar! This was no longer a simple spar, but a battle akin to actual combat!

Between a five-star Dou Grandmaster and a nine-star Dou Grandmaster, there was a vast chasm. What gave this young man such confidence?

Instructor Ruo Lin's competitive spirit was also ignited by this arrogant and direct proposal.

She put away her gentle expression, her demeanor becoming serious and focused. "Alright! Since you insist, I will fight you with all my might! Let me see what your limits truly are! If you truly possess the strength to earn my recognition, I will personally apply for your leave of absence with the academy!"

"It's a deal!"

The area was quickly cleared. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Mo Lin stood tall in his green robes, while Instructor Ruo Lin's blue robe fluttered. Their gazes met, and the air was filled with a heavy, killing aura. This was a battle without any reservations!

"Be careful!" Instructor Ruo Lin was no longer holding back. With a sharp cry, the formidable aura of a five-star Dou Grandmaster erupted completely!

The azure long whip in her hand was like a awakened giant python, carrying a whistling sound that tore through the air. It transformed into a solidified blue lightning bolt, thrusting directly at Mo Lin's chest!

This strike, in terms of speed, power, and angle, had reached perfection, with no hint of probing!

Mo Lin's pupils contracted. He dared not be careless. The icy Dou Qi within him surged like a torrent. The Ice Emperor's Claw instantly covered his arms, which he crossed to block!

"Clang!"

A deafening clang, like metal striking metal, exploded!

Mo Lin's body trembled violently. The bluestone beneath his feet cracked inch by inch. He slid back several feet before stabilizing himself, his arms throbbing with a dull ache.

The full power of a five-star Dou Grandmaster's strike was astonishing!

"Water Mandala!" Instructor Ruo Lin pressed her advantage, her long whip dancing. Dou Qi surged out, condensing in mid-air into a lifelike, colossal water serpent, seven to eight meters long!

The water serpent roared silently towards the sky, carrying a majestic wave of energy. It opened its massive maw and lunged towards Mo Lin, covering the sky!

This was the true power of the Mysterious Tier Intermediate Combat Skill, "Water Mandala"!

Facing this terrifying strike, a fierce glint flashed in Mo Lin's eyes. He let out a low roar, pushing the defensive power of the Ice Emperor's Armor to its limit. A layer of crystalline ice armor shimmered around his body!

At the same time, the Ice Emperor's Claw glowed brightly. The twin claws, carrying a bone-chilling cold, ferociously met the water serpent's gaping maw!

"Rumble—!"

A deafening explosion sounded! Ice shards and water splashed, and an energy shockwave swept out!

Mo Lin grunted, a trickle of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His ice crystal armor shattered, and his body was violently flung away, crashing heavily onto the ground.

But he quickly flipped over and leaped up, his gaze still as sharp as a knife!

Instructor Ruo Lin was even more shocked! She hadn't expected Mo Lin to withstand her full-power "Water Mandala" without falling! This defense and resilience far surpassed that of an ordinary Dou Grandmaster!

"Raging Waves Whip Shadow: Nine Layers!" She no longer hesitated and unleashed her ultimate Mysterious Tier Advanced Combat Skill!

Her long whip transformed into nine incredibly solid blue whip shadows, one layer after another, like a continuous tsunami, carrying destructive power as they enveloped Mo Lin!

The power of each layer was comparable to the previous Water Mandala!

Sensing the fatal threat, Mo Lin knew he couldn't hold back any longer.

He stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, and the blue light in his eyes flared intensely!

"Snow Dance... Blazing Sun!"

Hummm--!

Centering on him, the temperature within a ten-zhang radius plummeted to below -180 degrees Celsius!

Countless snowflakes, like goose feathers, appeared out of thin air, spinning and dancing wildly, and a clearly visible light blue domain suddenly unfolded!

Within the domain, Mo Lin's aura surged, and his speed, perception, and the power of his ice-element Dou Skills all received significant boosts!

Meanwhile, Instructor Ruo Lin felt her body sink, her movements as if trapped in mud, and her Dou Qi circulation became sluggish.

"What kind of Combat Skill is this?! Its effect is so powerful!!" Instructor Ruo Lin exclaimed in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment!

Seizing the moment of her profound shock, Mo Lin moved!

Empowered by the Snow Dance Blazing Sun domain, his speed was as elusive as a ghost, narrowly dodging the first few layers of whip waves.

The Ice Emperor's Claw swung repeatedly, shattering the subsequent whip shadows.

However, the power of the Nine Layers was too terrifying. He was still shaken, his blood churning, and his injuries worsened.

Seeing the final, strongest whip wave about to hit him, a look of determination flashed in Mo Lin's eyes!

He compressed and condensed the power of his domain frantically onto his fingertips, pouring all his extreme ice-cold Dou Qi without reservation!

"Emperor Sword: Peerless Ice Extreme!"

A sword, about three feet long, crystal clear throughout, as if carved from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, instantly materialized.

Cold air coiled around the sword's body, causing space itself to warp slightly. An extremely sharp sword intent, capable of freezing the soul, soared into the sky!

Mo Lin gripped the sword with both hands and slashed towards the final, tangible blue giant wave!

There was no loud explosion, only a faint "hiss." The ice sword's edge sliced through the blue giant wave. The attack, imbued with Instructor Ruo Lin's vast Dou Qi, was split in two as easily as a hot knife through butter!

The sharp, unparalleled sword intent even pierced through the whip shadow, heading straight for Instructor Ruo Lin herself!

Instructor Ruo Lin's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly swung her whip to block!

"Bang!"

The ice sword's phantom collided with the long whip and shattered with a roar!

But the extreme cold and sharp sword intent made Instructor Ruo Lin's wrist go numb, and the whip almost slipped from her grasp!

She retreated seven or eight steps before dissipating the impact, her internal blood churning!

She stared ahead blankly.

Mo Lin knelt on one knee, propping himself up with his sword. His face was as pale as paper, his aura utterly depleted. He was clearly at the end of his strength, unable to even maintain his domain.

But he had blocked it! He had blocked her full-power consecutive attacks as a Five-Star Dou Grandmaster!

That final sword strike was breathtakingly brilliant, making even her feel a fatal threat!

The entire arena fell silent! So quiet you could hear a pin drop! Everyone was stunned by the fierce battle that far exceeded their imaginations!

Instructor Ruo Lin looked at Mo Lin, who was gasping for breath but whose eyes remained resolute, her shock immeasurable!

This was no longer describable as genius! This was a monster! A peerless prodigy rarely seen in a thousand years!

His terrifying combat power that allowed him to fight above his level, his unheard-of domain skill, his astonishing ice-element sword technique... each aspect overturned her understanding!

What rules? What holiday? None of it mattered at this moment! What mattered was that this young man must join Jia Nan Academy! At any cost!

Instructor Ruo Lin strode quickly to Mo Lin's front. The seriousness and shock on her face had long been replaced by an almost "shameless" enthusiasm and earnestness.

She even disregarded her dignity as an instructor, half-crouching down, her gaze fixed intently on Mo Lin, her voice filled with excitement:

"Mo Lin! No! Classmate Mo Lin! You won! I, Ruo Lin Ge Lan, swear by my name as a Five-Star Dou Grandmaster: one year of holiday! No! If you need it, we can even discuss two years!

As long as you agree to join Jia Nan Academy! I will personally handle all the procedures for you immediately and apply for the highest level of training resources from headquarters! Jia Nan Academy needs a student like you! No, a future star!"

Mo Lin gasped for air, looking at the Five-Star Dou Grandmaster instructor before him, who had completely shed her usual demeanor and whose eyes burned as if she wanted to devour him. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily, and he complained inwardly: This change in attitude is too extreme... Where's the dignity of a Five-Star Dou Grandmaster? But... the goal has finally been achieved.

He struggled to stand up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and smiled helplessly, "Alright, Instructor Ruo Lin's hospitality is hard to refuse. One year of holiday is enough. I'll join."

"That's wonderful!" Instructor Ruo Lin was overjoyed. She immediately took out a student jade token and special holiday documents from her Storage Ring, practically shoving them into Mo Lin's hands, fearing he might go back on his word, "This is your proof of identity and holiday documents! One year later, Jia Nan Academy will always welcome you! No, we will eagerly await your arrival!"

Mo Lin accepted the jade token and documents, feeling the academy's imprint within them, and nodded, "I will go in a year."

After speaking, he ignored the countless gazes of awe and admiration, as if looking at a deity, from all around. He gave a slight nod in Instructor Ruo Lin's direction, turned, and, dragging his exhausted but still upright body, slowly walked away.

The setting sun cast his long shadow behind him. Today's unrestrained fierce battle was destined to become a legend in the history of Wutan City, and even in the admissions history of Jia Nan Academy.