Teacher, Can I Only Strike Once?

Two years after transmigrating,

the [Martial Arts Space] section had remained gray and white, never changing in the slightest.

That flicker just now was the only abnormality in two years.

Li Qingshan's eyes burned as he looked through the illusory panel at the motionless Feral Beast, standing like a statue.

Could it be the opportunity to unlock the [Martial Arts Space]?

"A Star Realm Feral Beast, Wolf Venom."

With a smile at the corner of his lips, Wan Keshan passed his hand through the alloy bars and patted the Feral Beast's exposed scalp beneath the stunned gazes of the students.

Perhaps because of the steel collar around its neck, the Feral Beast showed no reaction at all.

Quite a few students' eyes lit up.

If that was the case, taking one swing did not seem so difficult.

"Feral Beasts themselves find it difficult to break through the Star Realm's restraints and appear on our planet."

"However..."

Wan Keshan withdrew his hand, his smile fading as he said solemnly,

"Scum who worship the Evil God may be hiding right beside you!"

"Just last night, Evil God Followers completed a sacrifice on the outskirts of the city."

"Ask yourselves honestly: if you had encountered those scum last night, would you have dared to raise your blades against them?"

Evil God Followers?

Li Qingshan pulled his gaze away from Wolf Venom and suppressed his eagerness to try.

He had not expected that, besides seeing a Feral Beast today, he would also hear news about Evil God Followers.

Evil God Followers were transformed from humans, making them far too difficult to detect.

Not just in Fallen Blossom City—even across all one hundred and seven provinces of the Old Continent, there was not much news about Evil God Followers.

But scarce did not mean nonexistent.

According to the history books, the Old Continent had once had one hundred and eight provinces.

That missing province had been destroyed after Evil God Followers sacrificed an entire city's living beings and brought down the Evil God's Contamination.

"Teacher Wan, have the Evil God Followers responsible been caught?"

A student could not help asking.

After all, Evil God Followers were in Fallen Blossom City and had already completed a sacrifice. How could they not be worried?

"If they had been caught, Wolf Venom would not be the one locked in that cage right now."

Wan Keshan's voice turned icy. Seeing more students about to speak, he cut them off directly.

"The Patrol Bureau will issue a report on the Evil God Followers soon enough. Go read it yourselves when the time comes."

"I specifically prepared this Wolf Venom for you today."

"Now, I will teach you your first martial dao lesson—swinging a blade!"

Wan Keshan suddenly slapped the alloy bars. The cleaver lying across the cage sprang into the air on its own, its handle landing in his hand.

"The Federation established Grade 3 Martial Arts Classes, and that cannot be changed."

"But I, Wan Keshan, do not teach trash!"

Holding the cleaver upside down in his outstretched right hand, Wan Keshan gestured to the students.

"The opportunity is right here. Strike it once, and you can stay. Anyone without the guts can withdraw on their own."

Just as expected!

The students had long anticipated this, so there was not much surprise.

"Teacher, I'll go first!"

Liang Mingyu held his head high and chest out as he stepped forward first.

Hong Qian said nothing and followed him out of the line.

At the front of the group, Yu Lei had already been standing in the first row and had also been the first during the earlier test, so naturally she stepped out without hesitation.

The three walked to the center of the venue and stopped before Wan Keshan.

Damn it, one step too slow!

The thought flashed through many students' minds, including some who had ranked at the bottom of the previous test.

After all, this was a rare chance to show themselves.

Besides, Wan Keshan had personally demonstrated it earlier.

The Wolf Venom locked inside the cage could not move at all. What was there to fear?

However, the three "top students" had already stepped up.

The others could only hold back for now and shift their attention to Li Qingshan.

At a time like this, the "top student in the class" ought to step out and dominate the scene.

Unfortunately, their stares had no effect whatsoever.

Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, studying Wolf Venom in the cage without the slightest intention of moving.

The Feral Beast was right there. It was not going anywhere.

Besides, he did not think Wan Keshan's first lesson was simply about chopping a "wooden post."

"Teacher, I'll do it!"

Someone could no longer hold back and raised his hand, wanting to go forward.

But the mass of figures ahead blocked his path.

"Teacher, I'm not afraid of it. Let me strike first."

"Teacher, give me the blade. I'll chop this Feral Beast to death."

Before anyone realized it, a circle had formed in the center of the venue, creating a lively commotion.

"You're all quite enthusiastic! Looks like I worried for nothing and underestimated your courage."

Wan Keshan said with a smile, his gaze passing over the crowd.

Behind them, several people were still standing in place without moving.

Li Qingshan, the "top student in the class," was especially conspicuous.

Zhao Hongzhou bumped Li Qingshan's shoulder and whispered,

"Brother Shan, I think the teacher wants you to go up."

"You're seeing things."

Li Qingshan's expression did not change.

He had sensed Wan Keshan's gaze as well.

But after Wan Keshan looked away, Li Qingshan had noticed the obvious trace of regret that flashed across his face.

Thinking of Wan Keshan's twisted sense of humor, Li Qingshan looked at the eager students ahead with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

"The top student in the class, huh?"

Liu Jingya walked past from the side with her arms folded across her chest.

She was clearly not tall, yet she wore an expression as though she were looking down on everyone.

Bang!

Li Qingshan swung out his foot. The feel was not bad.

Liu Jingya involuntarily stumbled two steps forward and fell to the ground.

"You dared to kick me?"

Liu Jingya clutched her butt as she turned back, her face full of disbelief.

"Just a spar," Li Qingshan said indifferently.

"Since we're in the same Martial Arts Class, if you're interested, we can spar often in the future."

"Classmate Liu, Brother Shan didn't even use any force. Otherwise, you would have been sent flying already."

Zhao Hongzhou spoke in a muffled voice, looking utterly serious.

"The reason you fell is because you're too burdensome. My personal advice is for you to learn from Yu Lei."

"Just you wait!"

Liu Jingya's face flushed red with anger. Clutching her butt, she ran to Liang Mingyu and muttered a few words into his ear.

That Li Qingshan again!

Liang Mingyu's expression darkened. After glancing at Li Qingshan behind the crowd, he spoke to Wan Keshan.

"Teacher, let me go first and set an example for everyone."

Having been beaten in the test scores was already a settled matter.

Whether Li Qingshan truly lacked the courage to come over or not, as long as he, Liang Mingyu, was the first to swing his blade, he could still suppress him again!

"No rush. For a demonstration, of course the teacher should do it personally."

Wan Keshan's smile grew gentler as he tightened his grip on the handle.

"Watch closely!"

His movement was so fast that no one could even catch the blade's shadow.

Clang!

Metal rang against metal as the cleaver stopped against the alloy bars.

Every student widened their eyes, utterly bewildered.

Was he demonstrating how to chop the cage?

Just then,

Crack, crack, crack!

Fine cracks appeared where the blade had struck, spreading rapidly.

In the blink of an eye,

the bars around and above the iron cage, even the steel collar around Wolf Venom's neck, were covered in dense cracks.

Boom!

With a muffled explosion, the cage shattered and iron fragments flew everywhere.

A layer of silver powder covered the Feral Beast's body. Two crimson points suddenly appeared on its head.

Wolf Venom had opened its eyes.

Roar!

Its bloody maw opened wide, and a stench-laden gust rushed toward them.

The terrifying roar was deafening.

"The Feral Beast is alive!"

The students screamed in panic and fled in all directions.

Behind the crowd, Li Qingshan's eyes suddenly lit up.

At the moment the Feral Beast "came alive," the [Martial Arts Space] section flickered once more.

At the center of the venue,

Yu Lei and Hong Qian, being closer, both staggered several steps back, their faces pale.

The "awakened" Wolf Venom was far more terrifying than they had imagined.

The unluckiest ones

were Liang Mingyu and Liu Jingya, who stood right beside the cage.

Liu Jingya rolled her eyes back and fainted on the spot.

Liang Mingyu collapsed onto the ground, his eyes vacant.

Clang!

The cleaver fell onto the floor before him, and Wan Keshan's kindly voice rang out.

"The teacher's demonstration is over. Now it's your turn."

"Me?"

Liang Mingyu blankly came back to himself, his lips trembling.

Looking at the cleaver on the ground, he shakily raised his right hand but could not reach out no matter what.

Just then,

a pair of legs suddenly appeared in his line of sight and stopped beside the cleaver.

Li Qingshan bent down to pick up the cleaver. Fixing his blazing gaze on the Feral Beast Wolf Venom, he licked his lips.

"Teacher, can I only strike once?"