The Final Move

"You..."

Ruo Lin was completely stunned at this moment. She never imagined this little guy's words could be so sharp—he actually dared to call her old?

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

"Hoo..."

"Little brother, looks like big sis has been too gentle with you, making you lose touch with reality. In that case, big sis will help you sober up properly next, so you stop spouting nonsense."

The words had barely fallen when Instructor Ruo Lin gave him no chance to reply. She directly mobilized the Dou Qi in her body, condensing a vine whip as thick as an adult's arm, and lashed it toward the white-clothed boy.

"Pa!"

The air cracked with a sonic boom. Clearly, this woman was truly angry—otherwise, with her gentle, watery nature, she wouldn't strike so viciously.

This strike's power had clearly reached the level of an eight-star Dou Shi.

The crowd around watched the furious woman strike, all sweating for this unlucky kid. Why provoke anyone else when you go and provoke a woman?

Especially one whose strength was ridiculously strong... wasn't this just courting death?

But Xiao Ling didn't see it that way right now. He gazed at the vine whip lashing toward him, at the cold glint flashing at its tip, and in that instant, he regained his calm once more.

He was well aware of the consequences of enraging her, but what he wanted was an angry Instructor Ruo Lin. He planned to gauge his own combat power, getting a true sense of his strength.

In these four years, he had basically never fought for his life, never provoking those powerful Magic Beasts. After all, he only wanted lifespan... not to risk his neck...

With that thought, Xiao Ling didn't dodge. He mobilized the Dou Qi in his body—equivalent to ten times that of a one-star Dou Shi—and unleashed Yan Huang Finger, meeting it head-on.

"Sizzle!"

The moment they collided, no earth-shaking noise rang out. Instead, they gradually eroded and melted away against each other.

Instructor Ruo Lin showed no surprise at this. She pressed the attack, each strike a bit stronger than the last. Clearly, this woman had no intention of holding back.

Facing attacks that grew stronger with each one, Xiao Ling could still manage at the start. But when Instructor Ruo Lin unleashed her tenth move...

He began to struggle, each clash sending notable shockwaves through him. Yet he wasn't injured.

After all, his true strength wasn't much inferior to Instructor Ruo Lin's. He was just using only one-star Dou Shi power now—and even if it was ten times stronger than a normal one-star Dou Shi, there was still a limit.

"Boom!"

They clashed palms again. Xiao Ling staggered back more than a dozen steps before steadying himself. Ignoring the crowd's shock and murmurs, he looked toward the woman who hadn't retreated a single step...

He planned to add more fuel to the fire.

"Ruo Lin sis, that's already your nineteenth move. You have one last one. If you don't beat me, I have just a tiny request—let me hug you, how about it?"

"Hoo..."

Hearing this, Instructor Ruo Lin took a deep breath. Her full chest rose and fell slightly, tracing another alluring curve. She gazed at the white-clothed boy opposite, not rushing to answer as she pondered.

The arena quieted for a moment, filled only with a series of gulping sounds... and complaints from quite a few women...

Xun'er, that little girl, felt the worst. She glanced at her own petite figure, then at her cousin beside her whose chest was even larger, and couldn't help cursing inwardly.

Stinky Xiao Ling brother... bad Xiao Ling brother... When Xun'er grows up later, definitely... definitely won't let you touch... hmph...

Meanwhile, though Xiao Yu felt a bit jealous too, she knew her Xiao Ling brother wasn't like that...

Otherwise... otherwise he would've...

As she thought, the girl's cheeks flushed red. She lifted her little head to glance around, seeing no one noticed her, and secretly sighed in relief.

On the other side, from Jianan Academy's direction, a blush colored Bai Zhi's baby-fat, delicate face as she cursed under her breath.

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

If that was really the case, then asking him for help later would mean offering herself up?

"Hoo..."

Instructor Ruo Lin seemed to have made up her mind. She raised her autumn-water eyes, looked at the white-clothed boy staring at her, smiled gently, and said softly.

"In that case, if I lose this time, your matter with Wu Ming will be treated as a personal grudge, having nothing to do with Jianan Academy."

"As for your little request... I wouldn't mind agreeing."

"But I have a condition too—that is, only after you join Jianan Academy and become my disciple."

"One more thing: for the final move, I'll use ninety percent of my strength. If you feel you can't handle it, surrender now while you still can."

"How about it?"

This was the result of her earlier deliberations, mixed with her own selfish motives.

Because only taking him as her disciple would count as her achievement. As long as she had astonishing mentoring talent and the eye to spot geniuses.

She too could advance to Xuan-rank instructor.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling was momentarily stunned, then realized what scheme this woman was playing.

He figured this watery woman had been eyeing him from the start.

And her purpose, he could guess: nothing more than advancing to Xuan-rank instructor.

Because Jianan Academy had two promotion paths, one of which had three prerequisites.

The first requirement is to reach the peak of the Dou Ling realm, the second is to have served as a Huang-class instructor for at least five years, and the third is to specialize in a specific field, which could be mastering a unique Dou Technique of the Xuan-class high tier or above, or perhaps alchemy, artifact refining, or beast taming.

The other path to promotion is much simpler.

Of course, it only looks simple; in reality, it is far more difficult than the first, as it relies more on an instructor's luck and their ability to judge character.

This is because it requires the instructor to cultivate a monster of a student who reaches the top three of the Inner Academy Qiang Bang during their tenure.

One must realize that although Jianan Academy has no shortage of geniuses, those who can truly be called monsters can be counted on one hand.

Therefore, ever since Jianan Academy was founded, this path has basically been just for show... far too few people have achieved it...

With various thoughts flashing through his mind, Xiao Ling raised his eyes to look at Ruo Lin, who was staring at him from across the way, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Sister Ruo Lin on this point; I currently have no intention of entering Jianan Academy. When I've made up my mind, I'll let Sister Ruo Lin know, and I just hope Sister Ruo Lin won't go back on her word then..."

"No problem. Whenever you've made up your mind, little brother, you can contact me anytime. I'll keep that hug waiting for you... Now, sister is going to make her move, are you ready, little brother?"

Hearing this, a flash of disappointment crossed Ruo Lin's eyes, but she immediately replied with a gentle smile.

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

"Alright~"