Imperial Fighting Team Challenges the Heavenly Apex Class-Who Says Our Class Is Short a Fighter?!

Fresh from training, Ning Chengyi wiped away his sweat and rested for fifteen minutes before Su Yao urged him into a medicinal bath.

Ning Chengyi was happy to oblige. The moment he stepped into the bath, he felt the difference.

The medicinal properties made his Soul Power more active.

"Wonderful!" Ning Chengyi exclaimed. Su Yao looked at his silhouette behind the screen. She still blushed a little, but not as badly as before.

"You should count yourself lucky. The crown prince personally secured these resources to see if you can make another breakthrough within half a month."

Ning Chengyi did not answer. He closed his eyes, focused on the changes in his body, and guided the Soul Power within the medicine into himself.

As he absorbed the medicinal properties, his Soul Power grew faster than it did through ordinary cultivation.

Training with weights and pushing past his limits, combined with this stronger medicinal bath, brought his Soul Power close to a bottleneck again. Just a little more, and he might reach level eighteen.

"Phew!"

Once he had absorbed every last bit of the medicine, Ning Chengyi felt stronger. He sprang to his feet and exhaled.

"Put your clothes on, quick."

Su Yao came over at the sound. It was not her first time seeing him through the screen, but her face still reddened. Curiosity and deep shock filled her eyes.

"This afternoon, we're going to watch the Imperial Fighting Team fight the Heavenly Apex Class."

"Teacher Su, has Ye Heng from the Heavenly Apex Class settled down lately?"

Remembering that he had no more than half a month left, Ning Chengyi asked the question in passing.

"Ever since that day, he's trained like a madman. Even his Soul Power seems to have improved." Su Yao spoke as she recalled it.

"That's good."

More than half the month they had agreed on had already passed. If he could not break through, he could not be completely sure of beating them.

Unless... he used poison!

That afternoon, Ning Chengyi got up on time. Su Yao had risen even earlier and was already waiting.

The Imperial Fighting Team and the Heavenly Apex Class had a building to themselves. Students rarely came this way, but today was different.

The academy had promoted a match between two of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's top teams, drawing many students eager to watch.

Some students had even brought younger members of their families along, hoping they would learn something.

By the time Ning Chengyi and Su Yao arrived, several hundred people had gathered to watch.

Even the Three Education Committee Members had appeared.

Beside the Imperial Fighting Team stood a reserved, steady man who looked quite ordinary.

Su Yao introduced him as Qin Ming.

From the way Su Yao spoke, Ning Chengyi could tell there was considerable friction between them.

"Don't underestimate him. He may look unkempt, but he's only a little weaker than I am."

"His Martial Soul is the mutated Blazing Fire Wolf, a Power Attack System Martial Soul. He's especially troublesome up close, with explosive strength. His Soul Ring configuration is yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black."

"In this entire academy, I'm the only one who's beaten him. So, is your teacher impressive or not?"

Su Yao smiled as she asked.

"Very impressive."

There was a dangerous edge to Su Yao's smile. If he said otherwise, she would surely pin him to the wall the next second and demand another answer.

"Smart answer." Su Yao's smile brightened.

"Imperial Fighting Team!"

"Imperial Fighting Team!"

"..."

Excited shouts rang through the enormous sparring hall.

As the cheers rose and fell, seven people slowly emerged from the waiting room.

They were the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

"See those seven? Yu Tianheng is the one in front. The rest are his teammates."

"Here. I knew you wouldn't have this, so I'll generously let you take a look." Su Yao took a piece of cloth from her storage ring. It listed brief profiles of all seven.

Ning Chengyi read through it carefully. His gaze lingered on the name Dugu Yan for a couple of seconds.

"Caught your eye, has she?" Su Yao asked teasingly, though a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes.

"No. If anyone caught my eye, it would be you first, Teacher Su. I just thought Dugu was an uncommon surname." Ning Chengyi rarely joked like that, but Su Yao clearly enjoyed it. A shy look appeared on her face.

"Are you asking for a beating? You're teasing me now?" Despite her words, she made no move against him. Instead, she edged closer.

Ning Chengyi felt her warm breath and the heat of her body against his arm. He wanted to move away, but when he glanced at Su Yao, she showed no reaction. Afraid that pulling away might provoke this temperamental tigress, he stayed still.

"Heavenly Apex! Heavenly Apex!"

"The Heavenly Apex Class is amazing!"

The cheers for the Imperial Fighting Team had not yet died down when supporters of the Heavenly Apex Class raised their arms and shouted with equal excitement.

"The Imperial Fighting Team is the strongest! The Heavenly Apex Class is trash!"

"Bullshit! Ye Heng's Soul Power is lower than Yu Tianheng's, and he still fought him to a draw. What are you barking about?"

"The Imperial Fighting Team is stronger!"

"Heavenly Apex is stronger!"

The two sides began arguing.

Then Ye Heng and the other Heavenly Apex Class members appeared. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch as cheers and shouts thundered through the hall!

"Why are there only six?" Ning Chengyi asked with a frown.

Su Yao rolled her eyes at him and said with a hint of reproach, "You have the nerve to ask? That spiky-haired boy and the big guy were originally on this team. What do you think happened?"

Ning Chengyi gave an awkward smile and said nothing. His eyes shifted as though he were considering something.

"Ye Heng, where's the rest of your team?" Yu Tianheng stood at the front of the Imperial Fighting Team, frowning at the six members of the Heavenly Apex Class.

"We don't need anyone else. The six of us are enough!"

Ye Heng was not about to advertise his team's weakness, especially now.

"Exactly! Six members of the Heavenly Apex Class can still crush the Imperial Fighting Team."

"Arrogant fools!"

The crowd outside the arena erupted into another argument.

"Or have you run out of people? I heard something happened to your class," a handsome young man said with a mocking smile.

"What happened to the Heavenly Apex Class?"

"I don't know either. Maybe the Imperial Fighting Team has inside information."

"Didn't they have seven members before, plus a substitute?"

"No idea. But look how quiet the Heavenly Apex Class is. Did something really happen?"

Discussion spread through the crowd. The Heavenly Apex Class students said nothing, each looking like a defeated rooster.

Even the female students stayed silent, heads lowered and eyes fixed downward.

In the arena, Ye Heng's face turned livid with anger. He was about to retort when a quiet but steady voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

Even the Three Education Committee Members looked over from their seats, strange smiles on their faces.

The Heavenly Apex Class students, meanwhile, stared as though they had seen a ghost, disbelief written all over their faces.

They had never expected this person to show up, much less speak on behalf of their class.

"Who says our class is short a fighter?!"