"Principal Liu, are your students really this uncultured?"
A Huangshui Middle School teacher questioned Liu Hair-Ren with a frosty expression. Everyone had seen Ai Ning mock Huangshui Middle School just now.
Liu Hair-Ren wore an apologetic expression on the surface, but inwardly he was delighted. "Ah, well, they're young people. A little pride is only natural. I'll apologize to you on behalf of that brat Ai Ning, hahaha."
Huangshui Middle School's principal: ...
"Hmph. When Ai Ning runs into that boy later, I'd like to see how he deals with it."
Liu Hair-Ren was unconcerned. Jiang Yan might be strong, but compared to Ai Ning?
"Impossible."
At present, Ai Ning of Linjiang First High School was leaving everyone in the dust with his Blood Coagulation Mid Stage cultivation and A Grade talent. His points exceeded those of second place by more than double. If he gave some points to his little brothers, taking the top three spots would be as easy as turning over one's hand.
How could Liu Hair-Ren not be thrilled? Even the frustration Jiang Yan had brought him had eased somewhat because of this.
Moreover, as long as Ai Ning defeated Jiang Yan, Shen Donglin would personally decide to add three bottles of Body Tempering Fluid as a reward. With those resources, Ai Ning might even touch the threshold of Blood Condensation Perfection before the College Entrance Exam!
Liu Hair-Ren sighed with emotion. "Linjiang First High School is about to produce a dragon~"
Now, all they needed was for Ai Ning to defeat Jiang Yan. Then this Joint Exam would come to a perfect close with Linjiang First High School's victory.
Liu Hair-Ren awaited it eagerly, and so did everyone else.
On the screen, the two peerless youths finally appeared in the same frame, and everyone's breathing froze for a second.
"I heard you were looking for me?"
A nonchalant voice traveled through the crowd and fell into Ai Ning's ears.
He looked toward the sound and saw a fellow covered in blood and grime, his original clothes unrecognizable, staring at him with icy eyes. A chill rose in Ai Ning's heart.
He glanced sideways at Jiang Yan, a trace of disdain in his eyes. "What? You want to fight me?"
Jiang Yan found him rather amusing. Clearly, Ai Ning had sent people to cause him trouble, yet now he was asking pointless questions to put on an act.
"Forget it. I'm too lazy to talk."
Jiang Yan raised his saber and charged. To hell with the details—just fight. Battle was the best language.
"Bold!"
Ai Ning shouted furiously. Though he did not know why this weirdo wanted to fight him, his pride would not allow him to show the slightest fear.
Blood Coagulation Mid Stage against Blood Coagulation Mid Stage—their realms were evenly matched.
Ai Ning immediately unleashed his mid-grade Profound-rank martial skill, Soaring Cloud Swordplay.
A Silver Sword gleamed with cold light. Frigid energy wrapped around the blade, and his Subtlety-level mastery filled him with incomparable confidence.
The higher a martial skill's grade, the harder it was to cultivate. Fresh-faced newcomers to martial arts would usually choose lower-grade skills to practice with first.
But Ai Ning was different. He began with a Profound-rank martial skill, and without delaying his cultivation, had trained it to the realm of Subtlety. His strength was terrifying.
Jiang Yan's expression remained unchanged. He still used his Basic Saber Technique.
Although the Basic Saber Technique had reached perfection and could not advance further, Jiang Yan had not had time in the Wilderness these past days to purchase a new martial skill. Besides, for someone who possessed Blade Momentum, the Basic Saber Technique was already enough.
The saber blade trembled, letting out a rapid hum.
A pure clash of saber and sword!
There was none of the expected evenly matched contest. Jiang Yan's saber struck the sword as though it had met tofu, sinking completely into the blade. The sword tip shot away and buried itself in the mud nearby. A wriggling earthworm suffered a calamity from the sky, its body severed into two pieces.
"H-How is that possible?"
Ai Ning stared blankly at the scene, utterly unable to believe that the precious sword he had bought at a high price had been casually cut in two.
As for Jiang Yan's broken saber, its edge was curled beyond recognition. It probably could not even break a pig's skin if used for slaughter.
Yet that battered saber, so trashy it could not possibly be any trashier, had shattered his pride with a single strike.
Disappointment appeared on Jiang Yan's face. He had thought this would be an evenly matched battle, but the famous Ai Ning was merely strong on the outside and weak within.
He had not even used his Trait talent.
"Impossible! I'm getting serious now!"
Ai Ning roared and began gathering power.
"Damn it, another power-charging freak?"
Jiang Yan kicked out, driving straight into Ai Ning's abdomen.
Boom!
Ai Ning's eyes bulged wide as he flew away like a ball, crashing heavily into the grass more than ten meters away. Whether he lived or died was unknown.
Jiang Yan did not lower his guard. He knew the battle was not over.
Sure enough.
A furious roar came from within the grass.
"Sword Constellation Heaven!"
A dangerous aura appeared out of nowhere in the void.
Jiang Yan frowned, feeling a trace of pressure—but... only a trace.
"Sword Constellation Heaven? Sounds pretty damn impressive," Jiang Yan muttered, preparing to take it seriously.
Before him, the translucent outline of a sword condensed, its sharpness fully displayed. Though it had not yet completely formed, its peerless edge could not be underestimated.
Ai Ning climbed up from the ground in a sorry state and walked toward Jiang Yan step by step. "I admit that you're strong enough to make me use my talent."
That incorporeal Sword Embryo floated behind Ai Ning. At this moment, he resembled a Sword Saint walking the mortal world, advancing upon Jiang Yan with sharpness capable of destroying everything.
A Grade talent: Sword Constellation Heaven.
It nurtured a divine sword within the body. It was somewhat weak in its early stages, but once it took shape in the later stages, its power would come close to an S Grade talent!
No one knew how much painstaking effort Ai Ning's Lineage had spent nurturing that divine sword.
Three years. A full three years. This was the first time Ai Ning had used his trump card.
"Then I'll use an overwhelming victory to consecrate my sword!"
His excited tone stirred everyone present. People watched that sacred Sword Embryo as though on a pilgrimage.
"Battle... Saint... Armor."
Jiang Yan stepped forward. A golden battle cloak condensed around him, while silver incorporeal armor appeared over his body. His soaring, undying Battle Intent climbed to a new height.
The attributes of the Blade Bearer and Battle Saint Armor stacked together. The battered Alloy Long Blade could no longer bear the burden, and irreparable cracks spread across its blade.
The two attacked at the same time.
The cries of saber and sword rang out, soaring and unyielding!
"Ding, you have engaged in a splendid duel. Battle Saint Armor has improved slightly, saber insight has increased, and your realm has improved slightly."
Rumble!
A violent impact erupted from their bodies. Invisible currents of air swept outward, ripping up the turf as towering clouds of dust engulfed heaven and earth.
Everyone was swept up by the collision, their bodies sent flying uncontrollably backward. The terrifying pressure was so great that the others could not utter a single word.
Dust billowed everywhere. At the center of the battle, only two blurry figures could be seen.
One knelt, while one stood.
"Who won?" someone asked softly.
No one answered.
Before you continue