The people from Ming... Academy entered the Imperial Capital Ghost Market.
Jiang Yu glanced around. Aside from the Imperial Academy's tall, powerful men and a few old acquaintances, she saw no sign of the Ghost Wolf.
She had thought he would be hiding in a corner, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Zhuo Jian, find a four-person team and have them work together. Three teams, all right?"
The first team immediately laid out their plan.
The black wolf nodded in agreement, then turned to Jiang Yu.
"Good. Jiang Yu, you can arrange a few people to go with them."
Following the principal and the first team, they arrived at a nearby viewing platform. He was looking forward to the competition that was about to begin.
Before Jiang Yu had finished making arrangements, the people from Ming... Academy had already gathered.
"Hey, isn't that Ming... Academy's team? What are they doing here?"
"Exactly. They've got the nerve to show up? They'll be crying soon enough!"
The people from the Imperial Academy, Xu Dalong and Lu Zhenghe, spoke up.
Lu Zhenghe was especially unhappy.
He was an exceptionally talented, ruthless genius! One man alone could take on everyone from Ming... Academy!
Jiang Yu glanced at him, then immediately made her arrangements.
"Mo Fan, Zhuo Jian, you two go together. Shen Mingxiao, you're on Zhuo Jian's team."
"Got it!"
Mo Fan leaped straight onto the platform. He could hardly wait to teach those so-called noble young masters a vicious lesson.
The other members of Ming... Academy followed Jiang Yu's arrangements without complaint.
After all, this was about their reputations. They couldn't afford to get on the wrong side of the Imperial Academy's students...
That was asking for trouble.
Lu Zhenghe clenched his fist. A huge, powerful Ghost Wolf appeared with a roar, its savage aura shaking the air.
"Mo Fan, I heard you have a wolf-type summoned beast, too. Why don't you summon that little pup of yours?"
The Ghost Wolf summoned by Mo Fan was far weaker than the one before them. It wouldn't be much use in a fight.
But Mo Fan didn't back down. He replied,
"No need. I don't need a summoned beast to beat you!"
Lu Zhenghe's face darkened. Everyone knew how much nerve it took to provoke someone from the Imperial Academy.
"Bang—!"
As a long, resonant bell rang out, the competition officially began.
In an instant, the vicious Ghost Wolf moved with such speed that no one could react. It crossed dozens of meters and charged straight for Mo Fan.
"Come on!"
Mo Fan let out a loud shout.
Light flashed across his body. His magical artifact and Demonic Law glimmered together.
"Light—Holy Shield!"
"Water—Water Curtain!"
"Earth—Earth Demon Shield!"
"Control-type magic—Light Restraint!"
Four defensive spells enveloped Zhuo Jian, forming an impenetrable barrier around him.
The corner of Lu Zhenghe's mouth twitched.
The Imperial Academy's young masters were unhappy.
They had all wanted to show off their offensive magic, yet he had gone and put up a defensive barrier first.
Meanwhile, the first team watched the scene and laughed.
"You're the Imperial Academy's star student? Is that the best you can do?"
The next second, Zhuo Jian charged into the massive Ghost Wolf.
Its half-meter-long claws slammed into his body, sending out a metallic clang.
Then, right before their eyes, Lu Zhenghe...
Everyone was stunned.
He had a powerful summoned beast, and could summon it at will. How could it be so huge and so tough?
But the next moment—
"Thousand Thunderbolt—Lightning Strike!"
Mo Fan sent a terrifying bolt of lightning crashing down.
The Ghost Wolf, drawn toward Zhuo Jian, couldn't dodge in time. In an instant, it was swallowed by the dazzling light.
"What the hell?!"
Lu Zhenghe shouted in shock.
How dare he? He had actually dared to use his summoned beast as bait!
That bastard from Ming... Academy!
"Make a move! Xu Dalong!"
"You idiot! My magic can't reach that far!"
Xu Dalong shouted angrily.
He was now dozens of meters away from the people from Ming... Academy.
Lu Zhenghe was furious. The idiot had insisted on summoning his own beast, only to get it sent flying.
He had thought he could avoid the trouble. Who could have known that he'd still have to run over?
He hurried over without stopping.
The Ghost Wolf had already been blasted away. Lu Zhenghe gritted his teeth in rage and recalled it into the summoning space.
But the next moment, Zhuo Jian suddenly sprang up like a bow released from its string. He charged straight toward the furious Lu Zhenghe.
The man who had just been roaring with rage was immediately sent flying!
"Bang!"
He spun through the air and crashed outside the platform. The cloud of dust he kicked up was accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.
A one-sided fight had ended just like that.
The first team's victory was obvious. Mo Fan and Zhuo Jian threw their arms over each other's shoulders and looked toward the Imperial Academy's students.
"That's it?"
"I thought you'd be more of a threat. You got beaten down in one move."
"And Jiang Yu is much stronger than I am. Even you, from the Imperial Academy, want to challenge him?"
Mo Fan's face was full of contempt.
The spectators around the platform burst into excited chatter.
The Imperial Academy wasn't like Ming... Academy. Its students were famous, and this was the grandest competition in a hundred years.
On the viewing platform, the principal laughed heartily, while the first team's faces had gone dark.
He was furious at Lu Zhenghe.
He had clearly known they wanted to pick a fight with Ming... Academy, and even had a powerful Ghost Wolf. But Lu Zhenghe had been so eager to provoke them that he'd sent the wolf charging at the other team.
In the end, it was blasted away by Zhuo Jian's lightning magic.
It was a complete fiasco.
"Ha! That was one impressive move. Looks like I underestimated him."
The first team said coldly.
"By the way, what exactly did Jiang Yu arrange? Why does it seem like you're the only one with a trump card?"
The principal asked curiously.
At that, the first team felt a little better. He folded his arms and said,
"I don't know either. I just know that Jiang Yu's arrangements must have involved the Imperial Academy's dean!"
"Jiang Yu couldn't possibly—"
Just as they were discussing this, the Imperial Academy's people let out a loud gasp.
The viewing platform fell silent.
A figure rose from a seat in the corner, a stunningly beautiful woman whose presence seemed to radiate icy coldness.
Before she stepped forward, her long, snow-white hair shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, trailing behind her like a silvery waterfall and making her figure all the more striking.
Then she came into view.
Her tall boots, adorned with white feathers, framed her slender legs. The high slits in her long dress revealed her long, pale legs, while a white coat draped over her shoulders accentuated her alluring curves.
She carried an elegant, mysterious air. It was hard to tell whether she was a breathtaking beauty who could captivate anyone at a glance, or a lofty figure who stood above the world.
She had only appeared on the platform, yet every sound had stopped.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the peerless beauty.
"Dean!"
The Imperial Academy students hurriedly called out in respectful voices.
A woman with beauty like hers was rare even among the powerful figures of the various nations.
But when you added her formidable strength—
She really did command everyone's respect.
"That's the Ghost Wolf! The rumors were right—she really is a peerless beauty!"
"She's not just beautiful. She's incredibly powerful. I can feel an oppressive force even from here!"
Someone on the viewing platform identified the woman.
However, the Ghost Wolf didn't spare the Imperial Academy's students a glance.
Her beautiful eyes, as clear as spring water, settled on one person in the opposite camp.
Jiang Yu stood there in a black dress, her clothes fluttering in the wind.
Her tall figure was straight as a pine, her features beautiful, her hair as dark as ink.
The most striking thing about her was her deep, dark eyes. When her gaze swept over the crowd, it was as cold as a winter night.
A chill emanated from her, an icy presence that seemed to freeze anyone who came near.
Jiang Yu and the Ghost Wolf faced each other, the two of them locked in a silent contest.
The entire viewing platform was stunned. They watched the handsome man and beautiful woman facing each other, not knowing what was going on. Their excitement only grew.
The Ghost Wolf's cold voice drifted over like the sound of ice cracking.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time..."
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