Qi Dao introduced himself while glancing over the members of Heavenly Subtlety Class One.
He did not see Dugu Yan, but he spotted Ye Lingling.
She was still young, yet she bore some resemblance to Madam Ye, which was how Qi Dao recognized her.
After Qi Dao finished his introduction, a stir ran through the class as everyone whispered among themselves.
"Quiet down."
Zhou Huan spoke. He commanded great respect in the class, and the room fell silent the instant he opened his mouth.
He then looked at Qi Dao. "Go on in."
Qi Dao stepped into the group.
Zhou Huan surveyed the class and offered a few words of encouragement about their training. Finally, he said, "All right. You've been home for two months over the break. Let me see whether you've neglected your training."
Just like the practice exams at the start of a school term in Qi Dao's previous life, his announcement sparked another minor uproar.
Zhou Huan had everyone sit and rest where they were, then called students up in pairs to spar.
He clearly knew his students' abilities well; each pair was more or less evenly matched.
Anyone who performed poorly during a match received a sharp scolding from him.
Injuries were no problem, either. The class had five support Soul Masters, including Ye Lingling, who possessed the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
Qi Dao sat in a corner of the crowd and watched every match, gauging the general strength of Heavenly Subtlety Class One.
As time passed, nearly everyone except the support Soul Masters had fought a round.
The lowest Soul Power Level was only Level Fifteen, though that student was still young.
The highest belonged to the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, both at Level Twenty-Five.
As for Osler and Yu Feng, the other members of the Imperial Fighting Team from the original story, they were both Level Twenty-Three.
"Qi Dao!"
Once everyone had finished sparring, Zhou Huan looked toward Qi Dao.
"Teacher!" Qi Dao stood.
Zhou Huan said, "As your teacher, I need to know exactly how strong you are so I can make a training plan for you."
"Now pick yourself an opponent!"
Qi Dao swept his gaze over the class. It came to rest on Zhou Huan, and he grinned.
"In that case, I'll choose you as my opponent, Teacher."
The moment he said it, the place fell silent.
The other students stared at Qi Dao, mouths slightly open in disbelief.
"Is the new guy crazy? He's challenging Teacher Zhou Huan outright?"
"He must want to show off in front of us. I bet he doesn't know Teacher Zhou Huan is a Level 47 Soul Ancestor."
"That kid's in for it."
The challenge took Zhou Huan by surprise too, but he soon recovered.
Like the others, he assumed Qi Dao had challenged him to show off.
After all, boys of eleven or twelve loved being the center of attention.
Zhou Huan smiled. "Qi Dao, you'd better choose someone else. The gap between our levels is too great."
"How about Osler?"
"He's a Level Twenty-Three Agility Attack Soul Master. He'd make a good opponent for you."
At that, Osler looked up from where he sat among the others and thought, Am I really going to have to fight again?
Qi Dao remained composed. With a casual smile, he said, "I don't mind. But if I do, you might not be able to see my true strength, Teacher."
His words set the crowd clamoring.
"Damn, this guy's full of himself!"
"Osler, sounds like the newcomer looks down on you!"
"You going to put up with that?"
"Get up there and take him down! Don't embarrass Heavenly Subtlety Class One!"
Osler could not stand it either. He sprang to his feet.
"New guy, who do you think you're looking down on?"
A trace of apology appeared on Qi Dao's face.
"Oh, you feel like I'm looking down on you?"
"Sorry, I didn't consider your feelings. I was only judging by my own strength."
"But if we have to fight, then let's do it!"
Qi Dao did not want to attend classes obediently like an ordinary student. He preferred to set his own study schedule.
So he planned to do what he had done at Notting Academy.
Beat his classmates into submission and win over his teacher.
"Damn it, I can't take this anymore!"
Osler strode out of the crowd and instantly activated Martial Soul Possession.
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
"Osler. Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard. Level Twenty-Three Soul Grandmaster."
At that, Qi Dao slowly drew the Peerless Sword, exposing its dark-gold blade to the air.
One yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
"Qi Dao. Martial Soul: Peerless Sword. Level Twenty-Two Soul Grandmaster!"
"Let's begin!"
"A... a Millennium Soul Ring!"
"How does the new guy have a Millennium Soul Ring as his second ring?"
Cries of astonishment burst from the crowd. Zhou Huan looked just as shocked.
A thousand-year second ring? How was that possible?
He snapped his gaze toward Qi Dao, his emotions surging.
How on earth had Qi Dao done it?
Osler, too, froze for a moment at the sight.
Qi Dao called out a reminder.
"Are you going to fight or not?"
Osler shook off his shock. "Fight? Of course I am!"
"I don't care if your second ring is a thousand years old. I'm not giving up that easily!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the muscles in Osler's thighs tensed. He shot forward in a gust of wind.
My speed's scared him stiff, hasn't it?
So what if he has a Millennium Soul Ring? If he can't use a Soul Skill, he's no different from any other Soul Grandmaster.
Osler was less than three meters from Qi Dao, yet Qi Dao still had not moved. Osler gave a cold smile.
He spread his hands, ten sharp claws gleaming coldly, and slashed at Qi Dao with both of them.
But just as he thought his attack was about to land, Qi Dao moved. The instant Osler raised his hands to strike, Qi Dao swung his sword. The slash was blindingly fast. Sword Light flashed, followed by the sound of the blade tearing through the air.
Osler flew backward, a bloody line appearing across his chest.
In fact, the Peerless Sword had never touched him. Only the Sword Qi unleashed by Qi Dao's swing had struck him.
Osler had been so intent on defeating Qi Dao that he had let down his guard. His sweeping attack left him wide open, allowing Qi Dao to seize the opening and defeat him with a single burst of Sword Qi.
Bang!
"Hiss—"
Osler hit the ground, his face pale as he sucked in a sharp breath through the pain.
The entire place fell silent. Not a bird chirped.
Even Zhou Huan looked stunned.
Osler was a higher level than Qi Dao, yet he had failed to withstand a single sword strike.
And Qi Dao had not even used a Soul Skill!
No wonder he had dared to choose Zhou Huan as his opponent.
He really did have what it took!
Meanwhile, Osler bit back a cry to save face and muttered through clenched teeth, "Lingling, I might be hurt pretty badly. Give me a hand."
"Okay." Ye Lingling replied with a single word and immediately released her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
A Soul Ring lit up beneath her feet, and a beam of purple light shot toward Osler.
Osler's chest wound quickly healed, and much of the color returned to his face.
Once Ye Lingling saw that he was all right, she stopped healing him.
Qi Dao looked over and smiled. "Now you know I was telling the truth, don't you?"
Osler blushed, but he still gave Qi Dao a thumbs-up, his highest form of praise.
"I'll give you that. You're good!"
Qi Dao's lips curved upward. Then he turned back to Zhou Huan, who still looked a little dazed.
"Teacher, can I challenge you now?"
Before you continue