A Demon-Subduing Lord Descended from Heaven, a Fearsome God of Earth

The cheers had not yet fully died down when Situ Xuan suddenly raised his head on the arena platform.

His eyes, once calm as deep pools, abruptly blazed with a terrifying ferocity, as though tangible blades were thrusting out from the depths of his pupils.

The air froze in that instant, and every sound in the stands came to an abrupt halt—as if invisible hands had suddenly seized everyone by the throat.

Like the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, with the Army-Breaker Star descending to earth.

A Demon-Subduing Lord descended from heaven, a fearsome god of earth!

At that moment, the entire venue fell silent, the cheers cut off as though severed by a blade.

Situ Xuan grinned, and a surge of boldness welled up from his chest before bursting forth. "Who else!"

Situ Xuan's voice boomed like thunder, sending ripples through the frozen air. He stood in the center of the arena, his clothes snapping in the wind as his dark eyes swept across the surroundings. Wherever his gaze fell, every student instinctively took half a step back.

Below the platform, Lin Yao and Zhou Tianyang exchanged looks. They had never seen Situ Xuan like this—not the quiet, taciturn classmate they knew, but a beast unleashed from its cage, radiating a suffocating pressure from head to toe.

"What is he going to do..."

Lin Yao swallowed, his voice trembling. Zhou Tianyang gripped his shoulder tightly, his nails nearly digging into flesh.

Situ Xuan suddenly threw back his head and laughed. The sound rang like clashing metal, making everyone's eardrums ache. He took a fierce step forward, and the entire arena platform shook violently beneath his foot.

"No one dares to come up?"

Situ Xuan shifted his gaze to Long Hengxu. "Director, may we hold the Class Promotion Tournament against the second years ahead of schedule?"

Brimming with battle intent that soared to the heavens, Situ Xuan could barely wait. Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi's Martial Soul Fusion Skill had only been an appetizer, stirring up his fighting spirit without letting him truly enjoy himself!

"Nonsense!"

Veins bulged across Long Hengxu's forehead, and his voice rose into a shriek like a rooster being strangled. "The Class Promotion Tournament is a traditional academy event. How can it be changed at your whim just because of one person?"

Situ Xuan frowned on the platform, the battle intent in his eyes still unextinguished. He looked like a predator whose hunt had been forcibly interrupted before it was satisfied. His fists slowly clenched, his knuckles cracking in a series of crisp pops.

Just as the atmosphere became tense once more—

"Oh my! Whose little ancestor is showing off here?"

A lazy voice suddenly came from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw that Long Xiuyuan had somehow already arrived at the edge of the platform. With his arms folded, he looked at Situ Xuan with a teasing expression.

"Teacher Long..." Situ Xuan's aura faltered, and his brows drew together slightly.

"Don't make that face at me."

Long Xiuyuan curled his lip and leaped onto the platform in a few quick strides. Before Situ Xuan could react, he reached out and grabbed his ear. "You beat a Fusion Skill and now you think you're invincible?"

"That hurts!" Caught off guard, Situ Xuan gritted his teeth and let out a low growl.

The students stared in stunned disbelief at the scene—Situ Xuan, who had just swept through the entire venue like a War God, was now being reprimanded by his own teacher with his ear twisted.

"Good! You should know it hurts!"

Not only did Long Xiuyuan refuse to let go, he tightened his grip and dragged Situ Xuan toward the edge of the platform. "Class One-One was at least making a proper challenge. But you? The moment you win, you start running wild?"

As he walked, he offered the surrounding students an apologetic smile. "Please forgive him, everyone. This kid forgot to take his medicine this morning."

"Pfft..." Someone below the platform was the first to laugh, and then the entire Martial Arts Arena erupted in laughter.

Situ Xuan's cheeks flushed red from being dragged around, and the battle intent in his eyes was completely replaced by indignation.

He lowered his voice. "Teacher Long, let go!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So you do care about saving face?"

Long Xiuyuan raised a brow and deliberately raised his voice. "Then who was it yelling 'Who else!' just now?"

Another wave of laughter broke out below the platform.

Lin Yao from Grade One Class Three covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking; even Wu Zhangkong, who always wore a cold expression, could not help curling his lips.

Situ Xuan's face stiffened, and a trace of embarrassment flashed through his eyes.

He suddenly broke free from Long Xiuyuan's grip and was about to say something when a glance from the other man stopped him.

"Enough. Stop making a fool of yourself here."

Long Xiuyuan patted Situ Xuan on the shoulder, his tone suddenly turning serious. "If you really want someone to fight, I'll spar with you later."

He lowered his voice and added, "I guarantee you'll have your fill."

Situ Xuan froze at those words, and the battle intent in his eyes abruptly ignited again. He stared fixedly at Long Xiuyuan, as though confirming whether he truly meant it.

"What? You don't believe me?"

Long Xiuyuan smiled. "But on one condition—right now, this instant, get off the platform."

He pointed at Wang Jinxi, who was sprawled on the ground, and Zhang Yangzi, who was unconscious. "If you don't get lost, the medical teachers won't even dare come up to carry them away."

Situ Xuan followed his finger and saw that Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi were indeed still lying there.

"Everyone, please excuse him."

Long Xiuyuan did not want such a promising talent as Situ Xuan to make too many enemies because of arrogance.

Though they were only first years now, and no one would truly hold it against him, such a habit would never be good for his future.

Situ Xuan pressed his lips together before finally turning and leaping down from the platform. When he landed, his toes touched down lightly without raising the slightest dust, utterly unlike his savage posture in battle just moments ago.

"Everyone, disperse!"

Long Hengxu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead as if granted a pardon. "Our Academic Affairs Office needs to discuss the upcoming Class Promotion Tournament. The results will be announced next week."

The crowd began to disperse in twos and threes, but countless gazes still followed the black-clad youth's departing figure. Long Xiuyuan followed close behind Situ Xuan, still chattering away. "Honestly, winning is winning. Did you have to put on that look like you wanted to eat someone..."

"Lao Long."

Situ Xuan suddenly stopped, an unusual hesitation in his voice. "I can't control it."

Long Xiuyuan's nagging came to an abrupt stop. He looked seriously at Situ Xuan. "What did you say?"

Seeing Long Xiuyuan's tense expression, Situ Xuan smiled faintly. "Lao Long, you misunderstood. I meant that the feeling of battle is too intoxicating. In the heat of the moment, I couldn't restrain myself. I had to vent the energy in my chest before I could feel comfortable."

Situ Xuan's voice was especially clear beneath the setting sun, but disbelief flickered in Long Xiuyuan's narrowed eyes. Without a sound, he clasped Situ Xuan's wrist, his fingertips accurately pressing against the three pulse points.

"His blood and qi are churning like boiling water, and his Soul Power is circulating like blades."

Long Xiuyuan's voice suddenly became very soft, as though afraid of alarming something. "This is not the pulse of someone whose battle intent has yet to fade."

The smile at Situ Xuan's lips did not change in the slightest, yet the gravel at the edge of the platform suddenly began to move without wind. With a twist of his wrist, Long Xiuyuan felt his fingertips go numb, as if he had touched a red-hot branding iron.

"Lao Long, since when did you become a doctor?"

The dark glint in the youth's eyes vanished in an instant. As he turned, his robes swept like black clouds. "Isn't it perfectly normal for one's blood and qi to boil after a fight?"

Seeing that Long Xiuyuan still wanted to say something, Situ Xuan unceremoniously pushed him toward the Training Room. "Come on, come on! You promised to fight me until I was satisfied!"