"Hahahaha!"
"This first-year brat could barely take one punch from the boss, and he still dares to challenge him?"
"He doesn't know when to quit! Boss, teach him a lesson!"
To the group around Xiao Haijie, Qi Dao's words were a joke.
Even Xiao Haijie couldn't help smiling contemptuously.
"You overestimate yourself!"
"Fine. If you still won't give up, I'll beat you until you beg for mercy!"
Liu Long and Ling Feng were startled.
Boss, don't be foolish! A gentleman can wait ten years to take revenge.
Fighting Xiao Haijie now is just asking to get beaten up!
They were about to speak, but Xiao Chenyu stopped them.
Watching Qi Dao's stance, he felt an inexplicable trust in that intangible air about him.
His instincts told him Qi Dao was about to give him a surprise!
What if...
What if he really beats Xiao Haijie?
Meanwhile, at the other end of the square, Headmaster Hans stopped as he was about to leave with Director Su after the ceremony.
He looked into the distance and asked, "What are those children gathered there for?"
Director Su said, "Perhaps there's some conflict."
Headmaster Hans watched for a moment, his tone growing stern.
"A group of older students surrounding a few younger ones? Isn't that bullying?"
Headmaster Hans generally paid little attention when students in the same year settled conflicts through Soul Fighting.
Conflicts between young Soul Masters were only natural. They could fight it out, and the loser could accept defeat. Everyone had been through that stage.
But the academy did not condone the older bullying the younger or the strong preying on the weak.
"Come on. Let's take a look!"
"I want to see who has the nerve!"
"Do they have any respect for academy rules?"
Director Su's expression grew serious as well.
The academy had to teach its students more than knowledge about Soul Masters. It also had to teach the children how to conduct themselves.
As the two approached, Xiao Haijie moved again.
He paid no mind to the trash with half a level of innate Soul Power before him. Without even using Martial Soul Possession, he sprang toward Qi Dao like an arrow loosed from a bow.
But the instant Xiao Haijie moved, Qi Dao's heart was still as water. Peerless gave a faint hum in his hand.
Xiao Haijie was fast, but not faster than Qi Dao's eyes, his mind, or the sword in his hand!
This was no empty boast, but Qi Dao's clear understanding of himself.
Xiao Chenyu and the other two, standing nearby, felt the change in Qi Dao most keenly.
He stood where he was, his appearance and posture unchanged, yet his bearing had changed as utterly as heaven and earth turning over.
His sharp aura seemed almost tangible, making their skin prickle.
Suddenly!
Only a few feet remained between Qi Dao and Xiao Haijie. Xiao Haijie clenched his right fist and swung it mercilessly at Qi Dao.
Qi Dao moved!
The air around them seemed to stop flowing.
A flash of Sword Light!
Though he had only half a level of innate Soul Power, Qi Dao burst forward faster than Xiao Haijie, whipping up a fierce gust.
By the time the others reacted, Qi Dao and Xiao Haijie had already passed each other.
They stood back to back. As everyone stared in confusion, bright red blood began to drip from Xiao Haijie's abdomen.
Astonishment crossed Xiao Haijie's face as he looked down at his lower abdomen.
Blood had soaked his uniform there, a shocking sight.
"This..."
"That's impossible!"
A wave of searing pain swept through him. Xiao Haijie collapsed to the ground with a thud, a ragged cry escaping his mouth.
"Boss!"
The group behind him cried out, their faces draining of color.
Xiao Chenyu, Liu Long, and Ling Feng were equally dumbstruck.
"Boss actually... won!"
"He really won!"
"How did he do it?"
Xiao Chenyu, who knew Xiao Haijie's abilities, found it hardest to believe.
Xiao Haijie was slightly more talented than he was, born with four levels of innate Soul Power. Though only eleven, he was already a level-thirteen Soul Master.
Yet Qi Dao's Sword, wielded by an Innate Half Rank, had gravely wounded him with one stroke.
Just then, Qi Dao could no longer hold out. He staggered and had to plant Peerless in the ground to steady himself.
His body felt as though he had pushed himself through a long bout of exercise at his absolute limit. Every muscle ached with exhaustion, and his mind was hazy.
"Boss, are you all right?"
Xiao Chenyu and the others went pale and hurried forward to support him.
Meanwhile.
Not far away, Headmaster Hans and Director Su stood frozen.
"This..."
"Surely my old eyes are playing tricks on me!"
"That child Qi Dao actually defeated Xiao Haijie!"
Headmaster Hans muttered in disbelief.
He remembered Qi Dao quite clearly, mainly for his courtesy, composure, and intelligence.
Oh, and his talent.
A malignant mutation of his Martial Soul, and half a level of innate Soul Power!
That was fairly rare.
Director Su spoke up. "Never mind that for now. Xiao Haijie's injuries look serious. He needs treatment as soon as possible."
With that, he sprang forward and hurried over.
Though the year director was no longer young, he was still a Soul Elder.
"Right. The urgent matter first!"
Headmaster Hans hurried after him.
"Out of the way!"
Director Su and Headmaster Hans pushed through the crowd to Xiao Haijie.
"Good day, Director! Good day, Headmaster!"
At the sight of them, Xiao Haijie's companions were like rabbits spotting a hawk. They greeted the two, then lowered their heads, not daring to look at them.
After all, a group of older students had come to trouble a few younger ones, only for the boss to be beaten single-handedly by someone with half a level of innate Soul Power.
If word got out, they would become the laughingstock of the entire year.
Director Su snorted. "All of you, wait for me in my office. I'll deal with you shortly."
Then he turned to Xiao Chenyu and the others, his expression much kinder.
"You three come along too. Tell me exactly what happened. If you didn't start this, I'll make sure you get justice."
Xiao Chenyu asked, "Director, what about our boss?"
Headmaster Hans glanced at Qi Dao, whose face was pale as he leaned on his sword with both hands. His eyes were full of appreciation.
"Don't worry. Qi Dao has only overtaxed his Soul Power and his body. He'll be fine after a visit to the infirmary with us."
Only then did Xiao Chenyu and the others relax. They headed toward the director's office with the dejected older students.
Director Su lifted Xiao Haijie with one hand, examined the wound on his abdomen, then channeled a mass of Soul Power into him.
Xiao Haijie finally stopped screaming, though his face remained pale. Clearly, he had lost too much blood.
Qi Dao's stroke had cut far too deep. Xiao Haijie had even felt for a moment that he was on the brink of death.
Director Su snorted, showing him no sympathy.
"You're a sixth-year student. You bullied younger students and preyed on the weak, and you still lost?"
"What a disgrace to your father!"
Xiao Haijie immediately tried to explain.
He wanted to say he had only lost to Qi Dao because he had not used Martial Soul Possession and had let his guard down.
Otherwise, even if he had stood still and let Qi Dao hack at him, Qi Dao could not have hurt him!
But the moment he opened his mouth, pain shot through his wound, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Xiao Haijie could only glare viciously at Qi Dao. Once he recovered, he would repay today's humiliation with interest.
He could already foresee becoming the laughingstock of the entire academy after today.
Even if others showed him respect to his face, they would laugh at him behind his back.
He, a level-thirteen Soul Master, had lost to someone born with half a level of innate Soul Power.
It was an utter disgrace!
Before you continue