A Mere Level-One Soul Scholar—What Could He Possibly Do?

It was Qi Dao's fourteenth day of meditating on Peerless.

In the first-year dormitory, he sat cross-legged on his bed like an old monk in meditation.

Whenever he cultivated, Xiao Chenyu and the others did not dare make the slightest sound.

People in the neighboring dormitory had caused a commotion before, but after Qi Dao paid them a visit with his sword, no one dared make loud noises again.

Just then, Qi Dao's motionless body suddenly trembled.

His eyes slowly opened as well, revealing a gleam of delighted light.

At last, he had broken through to Level One!

The benefits of the breakthrough were a slight increase in both his physique and soul power.

Noticing this, Xiao Chenyu asked, "Boss, are you done cultivating for today?"

Qi Dao smiled. "I broke through to Level One."

Xiao Chenyu was slightly surprised upon hearing that, but he quickly grinned. "Congratulations, Boss. Your strength has risen to another level."

"Boss, when you were only half a level, you beat Xiao Haijie half to death. Now that you've broken through to Level One, won't dealing with him be even easier?"

The others in the dormitory chimed in.

"Of course!"

"Boss Qi is now undoubtedly the strongest student in all of Notting Academy."

Xiao Chenyu suddenly said with a sly grin, "Boss, Xiao Haijie's injuries had mostly healed a few days ago. Lately, he's been spreading word that he only lost to you last time because he was careless."

"If you're really confident you can beat him, I'll go provoke him a little. I guarantee I can make him cough up some gold soul coins."

Qi Dao narrowed his eyes, then nodded.

"Fine. Go handle it. We'll split the gold soul coins three-seven."

Xiao Chenyu immediately became even more energized and thumped his chest. "Mission guaranteed!"

The forest behind the mountain!

The area was packed with people, with students ranging from first-years to sixth-years.

In the open space amid the crowd, two figures stood facing each other.

Seeing Qi Dao standing opposite him with a lazy expression, Xiao Haijie thought, You think that just because you got lucky and beat me once, you can look down on me?

Today, I'll show you just how vast the gap between us really is!

At that moment, Xiao Chenyu stepped forward and chuckled. "Xiao Haijie, don't say I didn't help you. Our boss has accepted your challenge, so shouldn't you hand over the challenge fee?"

Xiao Haijie shot Xiao Chenyu a vicious glare. "Second Brother, aren't you being a little too impatient? I haven't lost yet!"

After recovering from his injuries, he had constantly wanted to find Qi Dao and wipe away his humiliation. However, he was afraid Qi Dao would run to Headmaster Hans or Director Su to complain.

If Headmaster Hans and Director Su found out that he was causing trouble for Qi Dao again, there would definitely be no good outcome for him.

Then, Xiao Chenyu had approached him and said that for five thousand gold soul coins, he could arrange a duel with Qi Dao.

Xiao Haijie's first reaction had been, Has that poor bastard Qi Dao gone mad from wanting money?

Five thousand gold soul coins was no small sum even for him, enough to make his heart ache for a long time.

However, Xiao Haijie was very confident in his own strength.

Although he had lost to Qi Dao last time, he was completely unconvinced.

He had not even possessed his martial soul or used any soul skills. Qi Dao had clearly won unfairly.

So, he agreed to Xiao Chenyu's proposal.

However, he did not want to give Qi Dao five thousand gold soul coins for nothing, so he strongly demanded that if he won, the five thousand gold soul coins would be waived.

And thus, today's duel came to be!

In order to wash away his shame, Xiao Haijie had even spread the news far and wide.

Before all the students in the academy, he would ruthlessly crush Qi Dao beneath his feet.

Once word spread, even the academy's teachers were alerted.

Behind the crowd, Headmaster Hans, Director Su, and Yu Xiaogang watched the scene from afar.

Director Su smiled. "Who do you think will win between those two?"

Hans thought for a moment before analyzing, "The main reason Xiao Haijie lost last time was that he never expected Qi Dao to suddenly erupt, and he was careless enough not to possess his martial soul."

Director Su asked again, "So, Headmaster, do you think Xiao Haijie will win this match?"

"Hehe." Hans shook his head. "Quite the opposite. Rationally speaking, I think Xiao Haijie has better odds of winning, but I would rather believe that a miracle will happen again with this child Qi Dao."

"So I still think Qi Dao will be the winner!"

"Hahaha!" Director Su laughed heartily, then said, "What a coincidence. That's what I think too."

Having said that, he looked at Yu Xiaogang and asked with a hint of teasing.

"What about you, Master?"

"Who do you think will win in the end?"

In truth, they all knew about what had happened a few days ago—for example, Yu Xiaogang's attempt to take Qi Dao as a nominal disciple, only to be flatly rejected by Qi Dao.

He had even said, "You're not worthy to be my teacher."

To be honest, when Director Su heard about it, he had felt rather pleased.

Although he showed Yu Xiaogang respect on the surface, Director Su did not acknowledge the title of "Master" in his heart.

As for Headmaster Hans, he had been equally speechless upon learning of it.

If only you had known this would happen, why act that way in the first place?

At that moment, Yu Xiaogang spoke with an utterly calm expression.

"My view differs from yours. I admit that Qi Dao has some ability, but once Xiao Haijie possesses his martial soul, I can't see any chance of Qi Dao winning."

"Hehe, then let's wait and see!"

Director Su and Hans said with smiles.

As the three conversed, in the center of the crowd—

Xiao Haijie's face grew several degrees more serious.

"Xiao Haijie, sixth-year student. Martial soul: Wolf. Thirteenth-rank, one-ring Battle Soul Master!"

As he spoke, a layer of azure light enveloped him.

Amid the flickering blue light, Xiao Haijie's muscles began to swell. His eyes gradually turned pale green, and his nails slowly sharpened.

Clearly, although he looked down on Qi Dao in his heart, his actions were exceedingly cautious.

Qi Dao slowly drew his sword.

"Qi Dao, first-year student. Martial soul: Peerless Sword. First-rank Soul Scholar!"

When in Rome—besides, this was not a battle to the death.

After exchanging their information, Xiao Haijie gave a cold laugh. "This time, I won't give you any chance to turn things around!"

Before his words had even faded, a yellow soul ring rose beneath his feet.

"It's Boss Xiao's hundred-year soul ring!"

"That first-year brat is in trouble now!"

Cheers erupted from the sixth-year students.

Qi Dao remained unmoved. He casually flicked his sword in a flourish, then stepped forward.

His body dipped slightly, his waist and back slowly drawing into an arc like a fully drawn greatbow. Every inch of muscle tensed along that curve, as though it contained astonishing power ready to burst forth at any moment.

Qi Dao's gaze, meanwhile, remained fixed on Xiao Haijie, as if searching for an opening in his defenses.

If the enemy did not move, neither would he!

Though he was clearly only a first-rank Soul Scholar, he inexplicably made Xiao Haijie feel a trace of pressure.

Especially when he saw the blade, seemingly flashing with a cold glint, goosebumps immediately rose all over his body. He could not help recalling that earth-shattering sword strike from half a month ago.

In that instant, it was as if he heard his late great-grandmother calling to him.

But upon hearing the cheers from the crowd, Xiao Haijie quickly steadied himself.

He was only a first-rank Soul Scholar. What could he possibly do?

In an instant, his first soul ring flashed, and a dim, cold gleam appeared on Xiao Haijie's wolf claws.

A single word burst from his throat!

"Kill!"