"Heh, let's see how many times you can use those afterimages." Tong Yanbin found Lei Yunfan a little troublesome to deal with. Every time he struck Lei Yunfan, he hit only an afterimage. And whenever Lei Yunfan tried to seize an opening and counterattack, Tong Yanbin could dodge with his Silver Mid-tier strength. They had exchanged blows for more than ten rounds, yet neither could hurt the other.
There's only one way to turn this around, Lei Yunfan silently thought as he worked out a plan. He was only at the middle tier of Bronze. Even though Tong Yanbin had already fought two matches, his Silver Mid-tier Spiritual Power was still beyond what a Bronze mid-tier fighter like Lei Yunfan could match. If they kept this up until the end, Lei Yunfan would lose. Below the ring, the Shancheng Martial University team was on pins and needles for him.
When Tong Yanbin thrust at Lei Yunfan again, Lei Yunfan turned slightly, dodging the blade away from his vital organs. The blade plunged straight into his left shoulder. Just as Tong Yanbin thought he had struck another afterimage, bright red blood began to run down the blade.
Tong Yanbin froze. How had he actually hit him? Was Lei Yunfan running out of Spiritual Power? In that split second when Tong Yanbin was distracted, Lei Yunfan reached out with his left hand and clamped it around Tong Yanbin's right wrist. Then he grinned savagely. "Finally, I've got you."
Tong Yanbin sensed disaster looming. The breath of death rushed toward him. Lei Yunfan held him fast with his left hand, then drove the Sky Qilin Halberd in his right hand toward Tong Yanbin's left leg. A scream rang out.
It all happened in an instant. Tong Yanbin counterattacked, thrusting the blade in his left hand toward Lei Yunfan's left shoulder. He wanted to force Lei Yunfan back with this attack. But Lei Yunfan didn't dodge. He ignored the short blade coming at him and, with a single tug, yanked the Sky Qilin Halberd out of Tong Yanbin's left leg, then drove it straight into his right leg.
Tong Yanbin was horrified. "Bastard, do you have a death wish?"
Lei Yunfan ignored him. He pulled out the Sky Qilin Halberd and thrust at Tong Yanbin again. Seeing Lei Yunfan attack once more, Tong Yanbin quickly parried and retreated beyond the fighting area. By then, both of them were covered in blood.
"Damn it, what kind of freaks are the people from Shancheng Martial University? Do none of them care if they die?" Tong Yanbin cursed inwardly. But Lei Yunfan gave him no chance to catch his breath. He stamped his foot and charged at Tong Yanbin again. Tong Yanbin was furious by now and began fighting Lei Yunfan at close quarters.
Lei Yunfan didn't defend himself at all. If Tong Yanbin stabbed him, he would put a hole in Tong Yanbin in return. Their fight dragged on for a full five minutes, and by then both men were drenched in blood.
"Shouldn't we stop them?" Fang Wei and Jiang Tianhai were watching the match too. "No. The students at the martial universities need a match like this. When they face Fierce Beasts in the future, it'll be even more brutal. Just make sure no one dies." Jiang Tianhai shook his head.
The spectators below and the teachers and students from both martial universities were stunned. There was no cheering, only silence. In the VIP seats, Fang Yao had covered Lin Xiaorou's eyes long ago; the scene was too bloody. Both fighters' weapons were now smeared with blood.
Lei Yunfan continued to attack Tong Yanbin without pause. With his strength, Tong Yanbin should have been able to avoid Lei Yunfan's attacks, but Lei Yunfan had already injured both his legs, greatly slowing him down. On top of that, Lei Yunfan's willingness to trade wounds for wounds made fear take root in Tong Yanbin's heart.
When the two attacked each other again, Tong Yanbin panicked and tried to defend himself at the very moment he was struck. But Lei Yunfan kept coming at him. As long as Tong Yanbin dared to attack, Lei Yunfan would trade wound for wound. A minute later, fear finally overwhelmed Tong Yanbin, and he shouted for the referee to save him.
Even then, Lei Yunfan's attacks didn't slow. He looked as if he meant to kill Tong Yanbin. As the spearpoint loomed larger and larger in his vision, Tong Yanbin wet himself. He felt like he was about to die. The students from Shancheng Martial University were lunatics, hell-bent on killing him.
The referee rushed in and grabbed the Sky Qilin Halberd. Then he announced loudly, "Third match, Modu Martial University versus Shancheng Martial University: Shancheng Martial University wins. Modu Martial University, please send out your second competitor."
As soon as the referee finished speaking, Lei Yunfan shot Tong Yanbin a contemptuous look.
"Isn't your Modu Martial University all about strength deciding who's worthy? Don't you look down on teammates weaker than you? Then how come you lost? How come you begged for help? You toy with and humiliate people weaker than you, but the moment someone dares to risk his life against you, you start screaming for help. You don't even have the resolve to fight to the death. On a battlefield, you'd be nothing but dead weight. What teammate would dare turn his back on a bully like you? Is everyone at Modu Martial University like this? Trash."
With that, he turned and walked back to Shancheng Martial University's waiting area without looking back.
The principal of Modu Martial University was livid, his face ashen. How many years had it been since anyone dared to insult Modu Martial University like this—and on the nationally televised Hundred Schools League, no less? As the principal of a top martial university, he had to defend its dignity. That kid is dead! the principal of Modu Martial University seethed.
When Lei Yunfan returned to the waiting area, the medical staff hurried to examine his injuries. He had thirty-seven wounds, large and small, all over his body. They immediately began emergency treatment, then carried him to the infirmary.
The other members of Shancheng Martial University looked at Lin Hao with complicated expressions. Jiang Weiwei and Su Xiaorui watched him with worry, too. Black Thunder already coiled around Lin Hao. His fists were clenched tight. "Xiaoxiao, Wang Meng, Xia Qiuling, I'm leaving Lei Yunfan in your care." He said little, and his voice was perfectly calm. But everyone knew Lin Hao was furious.
Xiaoxiao tried to plead with him again. "Lin Hao, I..."
Lin Hao cut her off. "Go. They need someone to look after them."
Jiang Weiwei gave Xiaoxiao a look as well. She understood Lin Hao better than the others. On the surface, he was calm, but inside he had to be furious beyond measure.
Lin Hao walked slowly onto the fighting platform, without any flourish. Modu Martial University sent out their second competitor as well. The referee gave Lin Hao a strange look, then checked the list of competitors in his hand. "The Shancheng Martial University competitor for this match is Xiaoxiao. Are you Xiaoxiao?"
Lin Hao replied calmly, "Xiaoxiao forfeits. I'm the next competitor."
At that moment, Jiang Tianhai's eyes lit up from the judges' panel. Has that kid Lin Hao finally had enough? Fang Wei, meanwhile, looked over Shancheng Martial University's roster. The instant he saw Lin Hao's information, his eyes widened. So he's Lin Hao? The Lin Hao Yaoyao can't stop thinking about? An E-rank talent with a Lightning elemental ability—what can he possibly do up there?
"Big brother's up!" When Lin Xiaorou saw her brother step onto the fighting platform, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her little hands. Fang Yao and Lin Yueyue were both worried for Lin Hao. After seeing what had happened to Shancheng Martial University's earlier competitors, they couldn't hide their concern.
"What's that brat going up there for?" Lin Yueyue was filled with worry. Fang Yao said nothing. Her small hand was clenched tight, damp with sweat.
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