The Might of a Single Sword, Xiao Haijie Gravely Wounded

"HAHAHAHA!"

"This first-year brat could barely withstand a single punch from the boss, yet he still dared to challenge him?"

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"He simply doesn't know his place! Boss, hurry up and teach him a lesson!"

To the group standing around Xiao Haijie, Qi Dao's words sounded like nothing more than a joke.

Even Xiao Haijie couldn't help but sneer disdainfully.

"You overestimate yourself!"

"Fine. Since you still refuse to give up, I'll beat you down until you beg for mercy!"

Liu Long and Ling Feng's expressions changed in alarm.

Boss, don't be foolish. A gentleman takes revenge even if it takes ten years.

Fighting Xiao Haijie now would just mean taking a beating, wouldn't it?

Just as they were about to speak up and dissuade him, Xiao Chenyu beside them stopped them.

Looking at Qi Dao's current stance, that intangible air about him somehow inspired confidence in Xiao Chenyu.

His instincts told him that Qi Dao would definitely surprise him next!

What if...

What if he really defeated Xiao Haijie!

Meanwhile, at the other end of the plaza, Headmaster Hans, who was preparing to leave with Director Su after the ceremony, suddenly stopped.

He looked into the distance and asked, "What are those children gathered over there for?"

Director Su said, "Perhaps some conflict has broken out."

After taking a few looks, Headmaster Hans's tone grew noticeably sterner.

"A group of upperclassmen surrounding a few lowerclassmen—isn't that bullying?"

Headmaster Hans generally paid little mind to students of the same grade engaging in spirit duels because of disputes.

It was perfectly normal for young spirit masters to have conflicts. A fight would settle it; if you lost, you admitted it. After all, everyone had gone through that stage.

But they certainly did not condone the strong bullying the weak or the old bullying the young.

"Come, let's go take a look!"

"I'd like to see who has such nerve!"

"Do they still have any respect for the academy rules?"

The expression on Director Su's face also turned more serious.

The academy was not only meant to teach students the knowledge of spirit masters, but also how to conduct themselves as people.

Just as the two approached, Xiao Haijie moved again.

He did not take the innate half-rank trash before him seriously at all. Without even summoning his martial soul, he lunged at Qi Dao like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

But at the instant he moved, Qi Dao's heart was as still as water, and Peerless in his hand gave a faint hum.

Xiao Haijie was fast, but not faster than Qi Dao's eyes, his heart, or the sword in his hand!

This was not empty boasting, but Qi Dao's clear understanding of himself.

Xiao Chenyu and the other two beside him could best sense the change in Qi Dao at that moment.

He stood where he was. His appearance had not changed, nor had his movements, but his aura had undergone a complete transformation.

His sharp aura seemed almost tangible, making their skin faintly sting.

Suddenly!

At the instant when only a few feet remained between Qi Dao and Xiao Haijie, and the latter had clenched his right fist and ruthlessly smashed it toward Qi Dao—

Qi Dao moved!

The air around them seemed to stop flowing at that moment.

A flash of sword light!

Though he was only innate half-rank, the speed Qi Dao erupted with in that instant actually surpassed Xiao Haijie's, kicking up a fierce gust of wind.

By the time the others reacted, Qi Dao had already passed Xiao Haijie shoulder to shoulder.

The two stood with their backs to each other. Just as everyone was wondering what had happened, scarlet liquid suddenly began to drip from Xiao Haijie's abdomen.

A look of astonishment appeared on Xiao Haijie's face as he lowered his head to look at his lower abdomen.

Blood had stained his school uniform crimson, a shocking sight to behold.

"This..."

"That's impossible!"

A wave of excruciating pain swept through his body. Xiao Haijie collapsed to the ground with a thud, letting out a hissing cry.

"Boss!"

The group behind him cried out in shock, their faces draining of color.

Xiao Chenyu, Liu Long, and Ling Feng were equally dumbfounded.

"Boss actually... won!"

"He really won!"

"How did he even do that?"

Xiao Chenyu, who knew Xiao Haijie's true strength, found it the most unbelievable.

Xiao Haijie's talent was slightly better than his own. He had innate rank-four soul power and, despite being only eleven, was already a rank-thirteen Soul Master.

Yet he had been severely wounded by Qi Dao, who possessed only innate half-rank soul power, with a single sword strike.

At that moment, Qi Dao could no longer hold on either. His body staggered, and he had to plant Peerless into the ground to steady himself.

His body felt as though it had gone through prolonged, extreme exertion. Every inch of him ached and felt weak, while his mind swam in a haze.

"Boss, are you all right?!"

Xiao Chenyu and the other two turned pale as well and hurried forward to support him.

Meanwhile.

Not far away, Headmaster Hans and Director Su stood frozen in place.

"This..."

"Surely this old man isn't seeing things?"

"That child Qi Dao actually defeated Xiao Haijie!"

Headmaster Hans muttered in astonishment.

He had a rather deep impression of Qi Dao, though it had mainly been because of the boy's politeness, composure, and intelligence.

Oh, and his talent as well.

A malignant martial soul mutation, innate half-rank!

That was fairly rare.

At that moment, Director Su said, "Forget that for now. Xiao Haijie's injuries look serious. He must be treated as soon as possible."

As he spoke, he sprang forward and rushed over faster.

As the grade director, he might not have been young anymore, but he was still a Soul Elder.

"You're right. We'll deal with the urgent matter first!"

Headmaster Hans hurried after him as well.

"Move aside!"

Director Su and Headmaster Hans pushed through the crowd and arrived before Xiao Haijie.

"Greetings, Director! Greetings, Headmaster!"

At the sight of them, Xiao Haijie's group immediately acted like rabbits spotting hawks. They greeted the two, then lowered their heads, not daring to meet their eyes.

After all, a group of upperclassmen had come to trouble a few lowerclassmen, only for their boss to be soloed by a trash with innate half-rank soul power.

If word got out, they would probably become the laughingstock of the entire grade.

Director Su snorted coldly. "All of you, go wait in my office. I'll deal with you later."

He then looked at Xiao Chenyu and the other two, his expression becoming much gentler.

"You three should go with them too. Later, explain everything clearly from beginning to end. As long as you weren't the ones who started it, the director will stand up for you."

Xiao Chenyu asked, "Director, what about our boss?"

Headmaster Hans glanced at Qi Dao, whose face was pale as he leaned on his longsword with both hands, his eyes full of appreciation.

He said solemnly, "Don't worry. Qi Dao merely overexerted his soul power and body. A trip to the infirmary with us will be enough."

Only then did Xiao Chenyu and the other two relax. They then headed toward the director's office alongside the dejected upperclassmen.

Director Su lifted Xiao Haijie with one hand, examined the wound on his abdomen, and immediately injected a mass of soul power into him.

Only then did Xiao Haijie stop screaming. However, his face remained pale, clearly due to excessive blood loss.

Qi Dao's sword strike had cut too deeply. Xiao Haijie had even felt as though he were on the verge of death.

Director Su snorted coldly, showing him no kindness whatsoever.

"You're a sixth-year student. You bullied the weak with your seniority and strength, and in the end, you still lost?"

"You've truly disgraced your father!"

Xiao Haijie immediately wanted to explain.

He wanted to say that he had lost to Qi Dao only because he had not fused with his martial soul and had been careless.

Otherwise, even if he stood still and let Qi Dao slash at him, Qi Dao would not have been able to hurt him!

But the moment he opened his mouth, a sharp pain shot through his wound, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

Xiao Haijie could only glare viciously at Qi Dao, thinking to himself that once he recovered, he would make him repay today's humiliation with interest.

He could already foresee that after today, he would become the laughingstock of the entire academy.

Even if the others appeared to respect and fear him, they would surely mock him behind his back.

He, a dignified Level Thirteen Soul Master, had actually lost to a worthless nobody with only half a level of innate soul power.

This was simply humiliating!