Battle Ai Ning

"Principal Liu, is this the caliber of students from your school?"

The teacher from Huangshui Middle School coldly confronted Liu Hair-Ren, as Ai Ning's earlier mockery of their school had been witnessed by everyone.

Liu Hair-Ren feigned an apologetic expression, but inwardly he was gleeful: "Ah, they're young after all—a bit of pride is normal. I'll apologize on Ai Ning's behalf for that, hahaha."

The principal of Huangshui Middle School: ...

"Hmph, when Ai Ning runs into that kid later, I'd like to see how he handles it."

Liu Hair-Ren dismissed it lightly. Jiang Yan was strong, sure, but compared to Ai Ning?

"Impossible."

Right now, Ai Ning of Linjiang First High School was leagues ahead with his Blood Coagulation Mid Stage and A Grade talent, his Points more than double the second-place contender. If he shared some Points with his underlings, sweeping the top three would be more than enough.

How could Liu Hair-Ren not be thrilled? Even the frustration Jiang Yan had brought him was soothed by this turn of events.

What's more, if Ai Ning defeated Jiang Yan, Shen Donglin would personally authorize three extra bottles of Body Tempering Fluid as a reward. With those resources, Ai Ning could even touch the threshold of Blood Condensation Perfection before the College Entrance Exam!

Liu Hair-Ren sighed with emotion: "My Linjiang First High School is about to produce a dragon~"

For now, all that remained was to wait for Ai Ning to beat Jiang Yan, and this Joint Exam would end in a perfect victory for Linjiang First High School.

Liu Hair-Ren waited eagerly, and so did everyone else, anticipating this battle.

On the screen, the two extraordinary youths finally appeared in the same frame, and everyone's breath hitched for a second.

"I heard you were looking for me?"

A casual voice cut through the crowd, reaching Ai Ning's ears.

He turned to look and saw a figure, so bloodstained the original fabric was unrecognizable, staring at him with icy eyes. A chill ran down Ai Ning's spine.

He glanced sidelong at Jiang Yan, a hint of disdain in his eyes: "What? You want to fight me?"

Jiang Yan found him amusing. He was the one who sent people to cause trouble, and now he was playing dumb to act tough.

"Forget it, I can't be bothered."

Jiang Yan charged with his blade drawn. Screw the formalities—just fight. Action speaks louder than words.

"Bold!"

Ai Ning roared. Though he didn't know why this weirdo wanted to fight him, his pride wouldn't let him back down an inch.

Blood Coagulation Mid Stage versus Blood Coagulation Mid Stage—an evenly matched realm.

Ai Ning immediately unleashed his Profound Grade mid-tier martial skill, Soaring Cloud Swordplay.

A silver sword gleamed with cold light, a biting aura wrapping around the blade. His mastery at Subtlety gave him unparalleled confidence.

The higher the martial skill's grade, the harder it was to train. Rookies fresh to martial arts usually picked lower-grade skills to practice.

But Ai Ning was different. He went straight for a Profound Grade skill and had honed it to Subtlety without lagging in his realm—his strength was terrifying.

Jiang Yan remained calm, sticking to his Basic Saber Technique.

Though Basic Saber Technique had reached Perfection and couldn't advance further, Jiang Yan had spent his days in the Wilderness with no time to buy new skills. Besides, with his Blade Momentum, Basic Saber Technique was more than enough.

The blade trembled, emitting a sharp hum.

A pure clash of blade and sword!

But there was no expected stalemate. Jiang Yan's saber cut through the sword like tofu, shearing it clean through. The sword tip flew off, embedding itself in the muddy ground nearby, where a wriggling earthworm was bisected by the sudden disaster.

"How... how is that possible?"

Ai Ning stared dumbfounded, unable to believe his expensive sword had been so casually snapped.

Jiang Yan's battered blade, on the other hand, had its edge so curled it probably couldn't even pierce a pig's hide.

Yet this piece of junk, the worst of the worst, had shattered his pride in one stroke.

Disappointment flickered across Jiang Yan's face. He'd expected an even fight, but the famed Ai Ning was just a paper tiger.

He hadn't even used his trait talent.

"Impossible! I'm getting serious now!"

Ai Ning roared, beginning to gather power.

"Damn, another charge-up freak?"

Jiang Yan kicked out, slamming straight into Ai Ning's stomach.

Boom!

Ai Ning's eyes bulged as he flew back like a ball, crashing heavily into the grass a dozen meters away, his condition unknown.

Jiang Yan didn't let his guard down. He knew the fight wasn't over.

Sure enough.

A furious shout erupted from the grass.

"Sword Constellation Heaven!"

A dangerous aura materialized out of thin air in the void.

Jiang Yan frowned, sensing a hint of pressure—but only a hint.

"Sword Constellation Heaven? Sounds pretty impressive." Jiang Yan muttered to himself, deciding to take it seriously.

Before him, a transparent sword embryo began to take shape, its edge fully exposed. Though not yet complete, its unmatched sharpness was not to be underestimated.

Ai Ning scrambled up from the ground, step by step advancing toward Jiang Yan. "I admit you're strong—strong enough to make me use my talent."

The ethereal sword embryo materialized behind Ai Ning, and at that moment, he was like a Sword Saint roaming the world, carrying a destructive edge as he walked toward Jiang Yan.

A Grade talent: Sword Constellation Heaven. Nurturing a divine sword within the body—weak in the early stages, but once fully formed, its power rivals S Grade talents!

No one knew how much effort his family had poured into nurturing that divine sword.

Three years. A full three years. This was the first time Ai Ning had revealed his trump card.

"Then let me offer my sword a crushing victory!"

His fervent tone stirred the emotions of everyone present. They gazed at the sacred sword embryo as if in pilgrimage.

"Battle. Saint. Armor."

Jiang Yan took a step forward. A golden battle cloak coalesced, and a silver ethereal armor materialized over his body, his indomitable battle intent rising to a new height.

The attributes of the Blade Bearer and the Battle Saint Armor stacked together. The battered Alloy Long Blade, unable to bear the strain, spread with irreversible cracks.

Both struck at once.

The clash of blade and sword rang out, fierce and unyielding!

"Ding. You have engaged in a brilliant duel. Battle Saint Armor slightly enhanced. Blade Dao comprehension improved. Realm slightly elevated."

Boom!

A violent shockwave erupted from their bodies, sending invisible currents sweeping in all directions. The turf was torn up, and the sky and earth were shrouded in billowing dust.

Everyone was caught in the collision, their bodies uncontrollably flung backward. The overwhelming pressure left them speechless.

Dust rose everywhere. At the center of the battle, only two blurry figures could be seen.

One knelt. One stood.

"Who won?" someone whispered.

No one answered.