"Sure enough, he's just a kid. He charged straight at me without a second thought!"
Tang San's eyes lit up. He thought Qin Qi had been fooled by his Ghost Shadow, which was why he'd walked right up to him.
He seized the opportunity and launched an attack!
But the instant his attack reached Qin Qi, Qin Qi's body dodged with uncanny ease, like willow catkins blown by the wind!
Tang Sect's Catkin Step: move like willow catkins drifting on the wind!
As he dodged, Qin Qi's completely relaxed muscles tensed in an instant!
Fast, fierce, and powerful—his strength erupted in an instant. Tang Sect's close-combat technique: Instant Strike!
Tang San still hadn't recovered from the shock of Qin Qi dodging his attack when the swift, ferocious blow struck him squarely on the chin.
The world spun around him. His head swam, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground!
"Why?"
Tang San had a concussion. He lay face-down on the ground and used the last of his strength to raise his head and look at Qin Qi, his eyes full of confusion and disbelief!
Why had he been defeated in an instant? Why were Qin Qi's movements so fast?
Tang San couldn't understand. He didn't know why he, the Tang Sect's most talented disciple, had been defeated like this!
Qin Qi looked at Tang San lying on the ground. His whole body was still relaxed, and he hadn't let out the slightest trace of aura.
"He got beaten that easily?"
"Has this kid been picking on noobs so much that he's forgotten how to play at the highest level?"
Qin Qi looked at how easily he'd defeated Tang San, and he couldn't quite understand it either.
He was a disciple of another Tang Sect, after all. How could he have been so careless?
All that effort I put in earlier had gone to waste.
The principals, teachers, and students all stared in astonishment, mouths agape, but not a sound came from any of them.
"This..."
Principal of Notting watched the scene, at a complete loss for how to judge it. If he said Qin Qi was impressive...
Qin Qi hadn't done much just now. From their perspective, he'd simply walked over and knocked Tang San down with a punch.
There'd been no flashy moves, just a simple, direct attack.
But if he said Qin Qi wasn't impressive, Tang San had still been instantly defeated, even though he was a Spirit Master with a Hundred-Year Soul Ring just like Qin Qi.
Principal of Notting didn't know what to say.
"Are you people throwing the match?"
"You old coot, seriously? You've got three contestants with Hundred-Year Soul Rings already, and you're still throwing the match?"
"And your acting is this bad, too. Do you think we're all idiots?"
The principals of the other three schools looked thoroughly displeased. They thought this was obviously a rigged match.
That kid called Tang San had such impressive footwork just now. How could he have been knocked down by such a simple punch?
They were obviously putting on a show for them. Principal of Notting was far too underhanded!
"This time, that really isn't the case. You have to believe me."
Principal of Notting tried to explain.
"Believe you? Not a chance, you rotten old fox!"
"You've lost all credibility with us."
"Heh, go on, keep talking. If I believe a word of it, I'm an idiot."
The three principals looked at him and sneered.
"I'm telling the truth this time!"
Principal of Notting looked at the arena and swallowed. How come nobody believed him, even when he was telling the truth?
"Qin Qi really is amazing!"
"I always knew that kid had potential. Now look at him—he really came through!"
"Teacher Zhao, you're quite close to that kid, aren't you?"
The teachers began chatting, mostly praising Qin Qi, while also slipping in a few compliments for Teacher Zhao.
"We just know each other. The kid's talented on his own; it has nothing to do with me. I didn't do much to help."
Teacher Zhao smiled, but she didn't take credit for his achievements.
She knew her own limits. She could teach ordinary children, but a genius like Qin Qi was beyond her. Everything he'd achieved was thanks to his own efforts.
"Ah, that Tang San kid's a shame, too."
"That child had some ability, but it's a shame!"
"Yeah. If Grandmaster hadn't held him back, and he'd just focused on his studies, maybe he wouldn't have lost so badly."
The teachers didn't lower their voices. Their words reached Grandmaster's ears—or rather, they were deliberately saying them for him to hear.
"Grrk, grrk!"
Grandmaster clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding, but he had no way to argue back.
"If you ask me, there's nothing to feel sorry about. That kid's got a rotten heart."
"As a Work-Study Student, he should've been studying hard and putting in the effort. Instead, he went and begged Grandmaster to take him as a disciple."
"He thought he'd found a powerful backer. Turns out he'd just saddled himself with a huge burden."
One of the teachers spoke up.
"Ah, a good-for-nothing's student is still a good-for-nothing. A clown's disciple is still a clown."
A teacher sighed and shook his head.
"Pfft!"
Grandmaster couldn't take it anymore. Rage surged through him, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Not one of the teachers nearby came over to check on him. Instead, they all moved farther away, as if worried they'd get blood on themselves.
"Medical staff, hurry and get him emergency treatment!"
Principal of Notting frowned at the sight and called out.
The academy's medical staff rushed over at the principal's order, laid Yu Xiaogang on a stretcher, and carried him away.
Someone carried Tang San away as well. His mind was still clear, and he saw the look Yu Xiaogang gave him.
It was the look of someone regarding an entirely useless thing—a piece of trash!
"!!!"
Tang San's head was spinning, and he couldn't speak, but he refused to accept it. He refused to accept defeat by Qin Qi, and he refused to accept Yu Xiaogang!
I still have more tricks. I haven't used my other Martial Soul, and I haven't used my Hidden Weapons!
I've got plenty of other moves I haven't tried! I was just careless. If we fought again, I'd definitely win!
Tang San resented Qin Qi. He felt he'd only lost because he'd been careless. If they fought again...
He would definitely win!
And you, you useless wretch! If you hadn't wasted my time, if you'd given me more time to train...
I definitely wouldn't have lost!
Useless Yu Xiaogang! Not only can you do nothing to help me, you even hold back my cultivation!
I should've killed you back in the Soul Hunting Forest!
Tang San glared at Grandmaster through gritted teeth. That look, as though he were nothing but a useless object, cut him to the core!
After Grandmaster and Tang San were carried away, the competition continued. In the end, the ones left standing in the arena...
It was Qin Qi and Xiao Wu, just as expected. They took the stage to spar, and the fight ended with a single move as well.
An assassination offered only one chance. Seize it, and either the enemy fell—or you did.
Qin Qi had learned that lesson well from Tang Jiaren and put it into practice perfectly!
[ Ding! Congratulations! You have won first place in the Soul Master Academy sparring competition. Reward: Achievement Points +10, Academy Credits +500 ] [ Ding! Congratulations! You have unlocked the Academy Series Mission: Unprecedented, Unmatched—the number-one figure in Notting Academy's history! ]
Hearing the notifications in his mind, Qin Qi didn't check them. He had to give a speech first, then collect his prize.