On the fourteenth day of Qi Dao's visualization of Peerless.
In the first-year dormitory, he sat cross-legged on his bed, as still as an old monk in meditation.
While he cultivated, Xiao Chenyu and the others did not dare make the slightest sound.
Someone in the neighboring dormitory had once made a racket, but after Qi Dao paid them a visit with his sword, no one dared raise their voice again.
Just then, Qi Dao's motionless body suddenly trembled.
His eyes slowly opened, a delighted gleam shining in them.
At last, he had reached level one!
The breakthrough had also brought a modest increase to both his physique and his 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 looked a little surprised, then quickly grinned. "Congratulations, Boss. You've climbed another rung in strength."
"You nearly beat Xiao Haijie half to death when you were only level half. Now that you're level one, won't dealing with him be even easier?"
The others in the dormitory chimed in.
"Of course!"
"Boss Qi is the undisputed strongest student at Notting Academy now."
Xiao Chenyu suddenly put on a sly grin. "Boss, Xiao Haijie had more or less recovered from his injuries a few days ago. Lately, he's been spreading word that he only lost to you because he let his guard down."
"If you're sure you can beat him, I'll goad him a little. I guarantee I can get him to cough up some Gold Soul Coins."
Qi Dao narrowed his eyes, then nodded.
"Go ahead and arrange it. We'll split the winnings seventy-thirty."
Xiao Chenyu grew even more enthusiastic. He thumped his chest. "Consider it done!"
The woods on the back hill!
The place was packed with students from every year, first through sixth.
In a clearing amid the crowd, two figures faced each other.
Seeing Qi Dao standing across from him with such a relaxed expression, Xiao Haijie thought, You got lucky and beat me once, and now you think you can look down on me?
Today I'll show you just how wide the gap between us really is!
Xiao Chenyu stepped forward with a chuckle. "Xiao Haijie, don't say I didn't help you. Our boss has accepted your challenge. Time to hand over the challenge fee, wouldn't you say?"
Xiao Haijie glared at him. "Second Brother, aren't you getting ahead of yourself? I haven't lost yet!"
Ever since recovering from his injuries, he had wanted to seek out Qi Dao and wipe away the shame of his defeat. But he was afraid Qi Dao would complain to the headmaster or Director Su.
If Headmaster Hans and Director Su learned he had gone after Qi Dao again, he would be in for a world of trouble.
Then Xiao Chenyu had approached him, saying he could arrange a match with Qi Dao for just five thousand Gold Soul Coins.
Xiao Haijie's first thought had been, Has that pauper Qi Dao gone mad for money?
Five thousand Gold Soul Coins was no small sum even for him. Losing it would sting for a long time.
But Xiao Haijie had complete confidence in his own strength.
He had lost to Qi Dao last time, but he refused to accept that defeat.
He had not even used Martial Soul Possession or a Soul Skill. Qi Dao's victory had clearly been unfair.
So he agreed to Xiao Chenyu's proposal.
But he had no intention of handing Qi Dao five thousand Gold Soul Coins for nothing. He insisted that if he won, the payment would be canceled.
And so today's duel came to be!
To wash away his humiliation, Xiao Haijie had even spread news of the match far and wide.
He intended to crush Qi Dao beneath his feet before the entire academy.
Word spread so widely that even the academy's teachers took notice.
At the back of the crowd, Headmaster Hans, Director Su, and Yu Xiaogang watched from a distance.
Director Su smiled. "Who do you think will win?"
Hans considered it, then said, "Xiao Haijie lost last time mainly because he never expected Qi Dao's sudden burst of strength. He also let his guard down and didn't use Martial Soul Possession."
Director Su asked, "So you think Xiao Haijie will win this time, Headmaster?"
"Heh." Hans shook his head. "Quite the opposite. Rationally speaking, I think Xiao Haijie has the better odds. But I'd rather believe Qi Dao will work another miracle."
"So I still think Qi Dao will win!"
"Hahaha!" Director Su laughed. "What a coincidence. I think so too."
Then he looked at Yu Xiaogang and asked with a hint of teasing,
"What about you, Grandmaster?"
"Who do you think will win in the end?"
In fact, they both knew what had happened a few days earlier. Yu Xiaogang had tried to take Qi Dao as a nominal disciple, only for Qi Dao to refuse without hesitation.
Qi Dao had even told him, "You're not worthy of being my teacher."
To be honest, Director Su had been rather pleased when he heard about it.
Though he treated Yu Xiaogang with respect on the surface, Director Su had never believed he deserved the title of "Grandmaster."
Headmaster Hans had been just as speechless when he learned of it.
If only you'd known it would come to this, you wouldn't have done what you did!
Yu Xiaogang spoke, his expression perfectly composed.
"I disagree with you both. I admit Qi Dao has some ability, but once Xiao Haijie uses Martial Soul Possession, I can't see any chance of Qi Dao winning."
"Heh. Then let's wait and see!"
Director Su and Hans spoke with easy smiles.
While the three talked, at the center of the crowd,
Xiao Haijie's expression grew more serious.
"Xiao Haijie. Sixth-year student. Martial Soul: Wolf. Level-thirteen, one-ring Battle Soul Master!"
As he spoke, cyan light enveloped him.
Within the flickering glow, his muscles swelled, his eyes gradually turned pale green, and his nails sharpened into claws.
Clearly, though he looked down on Qi Dao, his actions showed no trace of carelessness.
Qi Dao slowly drew his sword.
"Qi Dao. First-year student. Martial Soul: Peerless Sword. Level-one Soul Scholar!"
He followed the local custom. This was not, after all, a fight to the death.
After they had introduced themselves, Xiao Haijie gave a cold laugh. "This time, I won't give you any chance to turn things around!"
Before his words had faded, a Yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.
"It's Boss Xiao's Hundred-Year Soul Ring!"
"That first-year kid's in trouble now!"
Cheers broke out among the sixth-year students.
Qi Dao remained unmoved. He idly traced a flourish with his sword, then stepped forward.
He lowered his body slightly and slowly arched his back like a great bow drawn to its limit. Every inch of muscle tightened along that curve, holding a startling force ready to erupt at any moment.
His gaze never left Xiao Haijie, as though searching for an opening.
If he doesn't move, neither will I!
Though Qi Dao was only a level-one Soul Scholar, Xiao Haijie felt an inexplicable pressure from him.
When he saw the sword's edge glinting coldly, goosebumps rose all over his body. He could not help remembering that earth-shaking sword strike from half a month ago.
In that moment, he had almost heard his long-dead great-grandmother calling to him.
But the cheers from the crowd quickly steadied his nerves.
He's just a level-one Soul Scholar. What's he going to do, turn the world upside down?
In an instant, his First Soul Ring flashed, and a faint, cold gleam spread across his wolf claws.
A single word burst from his throat.
"Kill!"
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