The Final Move (Please Keep Reading)

"You..."

Instructor Ruo Lin was completely stunned. She hadn't expected this little guy to have such a sharp tongue—or to dare call her old.

Although she was about ten years older than him, she was only twenty-one. With her age, her three-star Da Dou Shi cultivation, and her status, who would dare speak to her like that?

"Phew..."

"Little brother, it seems your big sister has been too gentle with you, so you've lost touch with reality. In that case, I'll help you come to your senses. We wouldn't want you spouting nonsense."

As soon as she finished speaking, Instructor Ruo Lin didn't give him a chance to reply. She immediately roused her Dou Qi, forming a vine whip as thick as an adult's arm, and lashed it at the white-clad boy.

"Crack!"

The whip broke the sound barrier. The woman was clearly furious; otherwise, with her gentle nature, she wouldn't have struck so viciously.

That attack had clearly reached the level of an eight-star Dou Master.

Watching the woman attack in anger, the onlookers all felt a pang of sympathy for the unlucky boy. Of all the people he could've provoked, why pick a woman?

Especially one this strong... What was that if not asking for trouble?

Xiao Ling, however, didn't see it that way. As he watched the vine whip come lashing toward him, the glint of cold light at its tip caught his eye, and he calmed down once more.

He knew perfectly well what would happen if he provoked her, but that was exactly what he wanted: an angry Instructor Ruo Lin. He planned to gauge his own combat strength and get a clear sense of his abilities.

For the past four years, he'd never really fought for his life, nor had he provoked any powerful magical beasts. After all, he only wanted a longer lifespan... He wasn't looking to risk his life...

With that thought, Xiao Ling didn't dodge. He roused the Dou Qi within him—ten times that of a One-Star Dou Shi—and used Yan Huang Finger to meet her attack.

"Fsssh!"

When the two attacks collided, they didn't produce a thunderous crash. Instead, they slowly dissolved as they eroded each other.

Instructor Ruo Lin wasn't surprised in the least. She simply continued attacking, each strike a little stronger than the last. Clearly, the woman had no intention of holding back.

At first, Xiao Ling could still handle each attack as it grew stronger. But when Instructor Ruo Lin reached her tenth move, he began to struggle to keep up.

Every head-on clash sent a considerable jolt through him, but he wasn't injured.

After all, his true strength wasn't much lower than Instructor Ruo Lin's. He was only displaying the strength of a One-Star Dou Shi. Even if he was ten times stronger than an ordinary One-Star Dou Shi, there was still a limit.

"Boom!"

The two exchanged another palm strike. Xiao Ling stumbled back more than a dozen steps before regaining his balance. Ignoring the crowd's shock and chatter, he looked at the woman across from him, who hadn't taken a single step back...

He planned to stoke the fire a little more.

"Big sister Ruo Lin, this is already your nineteenth move. You have one last move left. If you can't beat me with it, I only have one small request: let me hug you. How about it?"

"Phew..."

Hearing that, Instructor Ruo Lin drew a deep breath. Her full chest rose and fell slightly, forming another alluring curve. She looked at the white-clad boy across from her but didn't answer right away, instead falling into thought.

The arena grew quieter for a moment, interrupted only by a series of swallowed breaths... and the complaints of quite a few women...

Xun'er was the most upset of all. She first glanced at her own small figure, then at her cousin beside her, whose figure was considerably more developed. She couldn't help cursing Xiao Ling in her heart.

You stinky Xiao Ling big brother... You bad Xiao Ling big brother... When Xun'er grows up, I definitely... definitely won't let you touch me... Hmph...

Xiao Yu was a little jealous too, but she knew her Xiao Ling big brother wasn't that kind of person...

Otherwise... otherwise, he would've already...

As she thought about it, the girl's cheeks flushed red. She raised her head and looked around. Only after confirming no one was paying attention to her did she secretly let out a breath of relief.

Meanwhile, over by Jia Nan Academy, Bai Zhi's plump, pretty face was flushed red as she muttered a curse under her breath.

She hadn't expected this guy to be such a little lecher...

If that was true, wouldn't she have to offer herself to him the next time she asked him for help?

"Phew..."

As if she'd made up her mind, Instructor Ruo Lin raised her limpid eyes and looked at the white-clad boy staring at her. She smiled gently and said softly,

"In that case, if I lose this match, then what happened between you and Wu Ming will be considered a personal grudge and have nothing to do with Jia Nan Academy."

"As for your little request... I'm not saying I can't agree to it."

"But I have one condition: when you join Jia Nan Academy, you'll have to become my disciple."

"One more thing: for my final move, I'll use ninety percent of my strength. If you don't think you can handle it, you can still admit defeat now."

"How about it?"

That was the conclusion she'd reached after thinking it over repeatedly. Her decision also involved a bit of self-interest.

Only students under her tutelage would count toward her record. As long as she showed an astonishing ability to nurture talent and a keen eye for spotting it, she could still be promoted to Xuan-tier Instructor.

At her words, Xiao Ling froze for a moment, then figured out what the woman was scheming.

He guessed that this gentle, water-like woman had had her eye on him from the very beginning.

He could also guess her motive: she wanted to be promoted to Xuan-tier Instructor.

Jia Nan Academy had two paths to promotion. One required meeting three prerequisites.

First, one had to reach Peak Dou Ling. Second, one had to serve as a Huang-tier Instructor for five years. Third, one had to specialize in a particular field. This could mean mastering a unique Dou Technique of the High Xuan Tier or above, or excelling in fields such as alchemy, forging, or beast-taming.

The other path to promotion was much simpler.

Of course, it only seemed simple. In reality, it was much harder than the first path. It depended largely on an instructor's luck and ability to recognize talent.

An instructor had to cultivate a prodigy who reached the top three of the Inner Academy's Qiang Bang during their term.

Jia Nan Academy had plenty of talented students, but one could count the true prodigies on one hand.

So ever since Jia Nan Academy was founded, this path had basically been nothing more than a formality... Far too few people had ever qualified...

As countless thoughts passed through his mind, Xiao Ling looked up at Instructor Ruo Lin, who was watching him, and smiled.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, big sister Ruo Lin. I have no plans to join Jia Nan Academy right now. When I've made up my mind, I'll let you know. Just don't go back on your word then..."

"No problem. Once you've made up your mind, little brother, you can contact me anytime. I'll save that hug for you... Now, big sister's about to make her move. Are you ready, little brother?"

A trace of disappointment flashed through Instructor Ruo Lin's eyes, but she quickly replied gently.

"Then please make your move, big sister Ruo Lin." Xiao Ling nodded with a smile.

"Okay~"