Notting Academy's playground.
The principal was giving another speech, while the sixth-graders stood off to the side, looking listless.
In the distance, the students from first through fifth grade stood in five separate groups, listening to the principal's speech with the same lack of enthusiasm.
Teacher Zhao brought Qin Qi to the sixth-graders' group, then returned to the teachers.
"Qin Qi, are you participating in this Graduation Sparring too?"
Someone whispered the question.
"Yeah. The principal insisted I take part."
"But what exactly is this Graduation Sparring? What's the format?"
Qin Qi asked in a low voice.
"It's where us sixth-grade graduates spar with each other."
"At first, it was just something we students did among ourselves."
"But then the principal found out about it, and... he turned it into a school event."
The student sighed helplessly. To be honest, he thought the principal really did have too much time on his hands.
"Ahem. That's all I have to say today. Next, let's have the sixth-graders spar."
"First up..."
The principal finished his speech and looked toward the sixth-graders. His gaze swept across them before finally settling on Qin Qi.
"First, let's welcome our little genius, Qin Qi, to the first match!"
The principal called out, "Qin Qi, come on up."
"Ah."
Qin Qi shook his head and walked onto the platform.
"Now, his opponent will be..."
The principal looked over the sixth-graders again, searching. He had to find someone for Qin Qi—not too strong, but not too weak, either. The first match had to be exciting.
"Principal, don't bother looking. Let all the sixth-grade seniors come up together."
"I'll take on all of them."
Qin Qi looked at the dozen or so sixth-graders and drew a deep breath before speaking.
"This... Qin Qi, our school's sparring matches are one-on-one. This is..."
The principal looked troubled. He watched Qin Qi, his brow furrowing slightly.
He wondered if the boy had received so much praise these past few days that he'd lost sight of himself.
The sixth-graders below also looked displeased.
They admitted Qin Qi was a genius, but they weren't useless, either. What he was doing now was no different from looking down on them and provoking them.
"Principal, let the sixth-grade seniors come up. I want to test my limits."
"If I lose, I'll take a beating. At least then I'll understand how strong I am right now."
Qin Qi said.
"This... What do you all think?"
The principal hesitated for a moment, then looked at the sixth-graders and asked.
"Principal, since Junior Qin Qi is so confident, let him give it a try."
"Don't worry, Principal. We'll know how to hold back."
"Sparring should be like this! It's more fun when things get exciting."
The sixth-graders chimed in.
"Th-then all right. Remember, don't go too far."
The principal nodded. As soon as he did, the sixth-graders eagerly rushed onto the platform.
"What's gotten into that child...?"
Teacher Zhao frowned at the sight, utterly perplexed.
Qin Qi was usually a little cheeky, but she'd never seen him act arrogant. He'd always been steady and honest.
So what was going on now?
"Alas, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring is certainly stronger than a Ten-Year Soul Ring."
"But his level is still too low. He has the advantage one-on-one, but against a group—against more than a dozen people—that advantage disappears completely."
The teacher leading the group sighed. He figured Qin Qi was bound to lose.
"Qin Qi's about to get beaten up."
Wang Sheng watched Qin Qi. He knew Qin Qi could be ruthless, but that was when he attacked by surprise.
In a head-on fight, Wang Sheng really had no idea how strong Qin Qi was.
"Should we go up and help?"
Xiao Wu asked, ready to stand by her friend.
"Sister Xiao Wu, don't joke around. This isn't a brawl; it's a spar."
"Besides, they're all Spirit Masters with Spirit Rings. We can't handle them."
Wang Sheng said helplessly.
Tang San stood nearby in silence, quietly watching the platform as he waited to see how it would end.
"Junior, are you ready?"
"If you are, we're going to start."
"Don't worry. We definitely won't go easy on you."
The sixth-graders rolled their arms and grinned menacingly. They might not have dared to claim they'd win in a one-on-one match.
But now, more than a dozen of them were ganging up on one person. The advantage was theirs—they were sure to win!
"Not yet. Give me a moment."
Qin Qi said.
"Sure. We'll wait."
The sixth-graders replied, showing admirable sportsmanship.
Qin Qi used that time to enter the Study Space and find Tang Jiaren.
"Granduncle, I'm about to spar with some of the academy's graduates."
Qin Qi said.
"Oh? You've run into an opponent you can't beat and come to me for help?"
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi as he spoke.
"No. I can beat them myself, but I want you to watch the fight."
"I want you to see what I've learned during this time!"
Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren with a determined expression. He wasn't taking on so many opponents just to show off.
He wanted Tang Jiaren to see the results of his training.
"I'd like to watch, if I could, but unfortunately I can't get out."
Tang Jiaren paused at Qin Qi's words, then looked at him with the fond gaze of an old man looking at his grandson.
"Even if I can't see it, I believe you can win. Granduncle has faith in you!"
Tang Jiaren patted Qin Qi on the shoulder and encouraged him.
"If you want to watch, that's enough. I have a way to let you see."
"Get ready. You'll be able to watch in a moment."
After saying that, Qin Qi left the Study Space.
"That child..."
Tang Jiaren shook his head, then looked around at the expanse of white. "Watching a junior's training results, huh?"
Back at Notting Academy.
"I'm ready. Are you ready, seniors?"
Qin Qi asked, wearing an honest smile.
"We're ready. Let's go!"
As soon as the sixth-graders spoke, they summoned their Martial Souls. Some had Beast Martial Souls, while others had tool-type Martial Souls.
In an instant, more than a dozen white Spirit Rings appeared around them, and they charged at Qin Qi together.
"Physical Practice function activated!"
Qin Qi said inwardly.
[Physical Practice function activated. During the next five minutes of practical training, the host will receive guidance from a private tutor.]
After entering the Physical Practice function, Qin Qi didn't feel as though another consciousness had taken over his body.
Instead, he felt as if he suddenly understood a great many things.
"Return control of the body."
Qin Qi took back control of his body, but the Physical Practice function remained active, with Tang Jiaren still possessing him.
"Granduncle, can you see?"
Qin Qi looked at the sixth-graders, now less than five steps away. His expression remained calm.
"I can."
Tang Jiaren's voice sounded in Qin Qi's mind. Using Qin Qi's eyes, he could clearly see everything outside.
"Then watch closely. All that teaching you gave me hasn't gone to waste!"
After confirming that it had worked, Qin Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Then he opened the Transparent World to its fullest, focusing all his attention on the opponents before him.