Little Jade, Didn't You Say I Could Win?

"Chen, forget it..."

Standing behind Chen Zhuo, Meng Yan lowered his voice. "He's at the Middle Qi Refinement stage. He's not like us. Going at him now is just asking for a beating. Your Immortal Dao Potential is clearly higher than his. Once you reach the Middle Qi Refinement stage too, you can get revenge whenever you want."

In the Immortal Estate, dignity meant nothing!

When someone stepped on your head, there was nothing you could do. You could only sum it up in two words: "Take it."

"Don't worry."

Chen Zhuo said, "The academy has an explicit rule: outside special circumstances, students can't attack each other with spiritual energy. In other words, Wang Heng can only fight me with his body. What's there to fear?"

Indeed, that didn't frighten Chen Zhuo.

Wang Heng was unsteady on his feet. Clearly, after reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, he had neglected physical training.

Many of the Immortal Estate's top cultivators trained in both magic and the body to maintain their fighting strength to the greatest extent.

But for cultivators like Wang Heng, who came from an ordinary family, training in both was unrealistic. He didn't have the money to train his body as well.

So, generally speaking, cultivators trained their bodies only in the Early Qi Refinement stage to lay a foundation. Once their bodies could withstand the strength of Spiritual Qi, they focused entirely on Qi Refinement and gave no further thought to physical training.

Wang Heng frowned and again asked under his breath, "Little Jade, Little Jade, he isn't backing down. He knows I'm at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and still wants to fight. Could he have some trump card?"

"Haha. Next, I'll tell you in the plainest, most direct, least roundabout, truest, most cutting... sharpest terms: I can't even keep a straight face. What trump card could a Qi Refining Second Layer cultivator with an Acquired Spiritual Root have? If you can't beat him, go get your Spiritual Root removed and sell it! Believe in yourself. You'll definitely win!"

I'll definitely win?

Hearing Little Jade say that, Wang Heng relaxed completely.

Right. What am I worried about?

If he had a trump card, would he be stuck at the Qi Refining Second Layer with an implanted Spiritual Root?

Wang Heng felt reassured at once.

What's this guy muttering about?

Chen Zhuo watched Wang Heng talk at length to his Spirit Message Jade Slip, utterly baffled.

After a while, Chen Zhuo guessed Wang Heng might be asking "Little Jade."

Without a doubt, Wang Heng's Little Jade seemed more capable than his own.

Still, Chen Zhuo felt somewhat reassured too.

If he needs Little Jade just to think, what am I worried about? Am I really going to lose?

"Chen Zhuo, right? If that's how you want it, I'll oblige!"

Wang Heng said haughtily, "Don't worry, I'll hold back. I'll break a few ribs at most, so you won't have to spend too much on medical bills."

Chen Zhuo's face remained expressionless. "Enough talk. Come on."

They left their seats at the same time and moved into an open area.

Wang Heng might have looked down on Chen Zhuo, but he was, after all, a cultivator at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. He still had basic combat training.

Wang Heng immediately took a standard Immortal Estate Military Fist stance. "Please."

By comparison, Chen Zhuo's opening stance was far simpler: one hand in front, the other behind.

Wing Chun. Chen Zhuo!

The students with Innate Spiritual Roots around them shook their heads. Several began murmuring:

"The underdog's taking on his superior? Wang Heng, teach this kid a lesson!"

"Wang Heng's Spiritual Root might be poor, but he's trained for over a decade. He's got the basics down."

"Just watch. Chen Zhuo will be on the floor within ten moves."

"No chance."

"..."

Plenty of people were watching, but no one wanted to get involved.

Their cultivation levels weren't low, but what if they got hurt?

Healing would consume their own Immortal Dao Potential!

It wasn't worth it!

Meng Yan watched the fight nervously, misgivings churning in his heart.

Liang Ningwan, who had taken a seat in the corner of the classroom at some point, also looked over curiously.

The moment the two finished cupping their fists, Chen Zhuo stamped forward and charged at Wang Heng!

That single step drew cries of surprise from the classroom.

"Whoa, that low-tier cultivator's attacking!"

"No way. He dares to make the first move?!"

"..."

Wang Heng froze at the sight. He couldn't understand why Chen Zhuo dared attack first. Instinctively, he started to retreat, but Chen Zhuo was already in front of him, throwing a punch!

Boom!

Wang Heng hurriedly raised his arms to block.

But a moment later, he was puzzled.

He had felt the force behind Chen Zhuo's blow.

Except...

That didn't feel very strong.

So why did he dare provoke me?

I thought this Chen Zhuo might have the build of a laborer and be born with superhuman strength.

Before Wang Heng could work it out, Chen Zhuo threw another punch.

This one was faster! Fiercer!

Wang Heng swept aside every stray thought and dodged, striking back at the same time!

Chen Zhuo had expected it. Seeing Wang Heng counterattack, he gave a cold laugh and drove out a vicious punch with his left hand!

Thud!

The punch landed with a muffled impact.

"Ah!"

Wang Heng grunted. A sharp pain shot through his ribs.

Pain or not, Wang Heng knew he couldn't just clutch his stomach and collapse. Without hesitation, he drove his spiritual energy into his palm and brought it down toward Chen Zhuo's head!

The academy forbade private duels using spells.

But merely reinforcing a blow with Spiritual Qi was still, in theory, a contest of fists and feet. It didn't violate the academy's rules.

To Wang Heng's surprise, Chen Zhuo neither dodged nor retreated. He threw another punch straight at him!

He's willing to trade blows!

Wang Heng's heart lurched!

He only wanted to teach Chen Zhuo a lesson, not fight him to the death.

If his palm strike hit Chen Zhuo, he would definitely take a solid punch himself.

Me, at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, trading injuries with a Qi Refining Second Layer cultivator with an Acquired Spiritual Root?

Not worth it!

After a moment's thought, Wang Heng immediately pulled back, trying to put some distance between himself and Chen Zhuo before finding another way.

But his retreat delighted Chen Zhuo.

You think you can back away now?

Chen Zhuo pressed forward, hounding him step by step!

As soon as he closed in, Chen Zhuo unleashed the Turtle Fist, raining blows down on Wang Heng's head and face.

He meant to trade injuries with Wang Heng!

Wang Heng could only block in a fluster. Chen Zhuo had him completely suppressed, leaving him no chance to strike back!

"What? How is this happening?!"

Panic seized Wang Heng. Faced with Chen Zhuo's gaze and ferocity, he didn't know what to do.

His opponent was far too direct.

It was as though this weren't a simple school match, but a fight to the death!

What? I say a couple of things, and you're willing to trade injuries?

Are you that hotheaded?

The longer Wang Heng fought, the more alarmed he grew, and the more his footwork fell apart.

His cultivation was clearly higher, and he had more spiritual energy. Yet against Chen Zhuo's storm of attacks, he could only defend, unable to hit back.

How does he dare?

Isn't he afraid of getting hurt and having to spend Spirit Stones on treatment?

Wang Heng felt utterly stifled. This was nothing like the fight he had imagined.

Meng Yan's eyes widened as he stared at the scene in disbelief. "That's it! Get him, Zhuo!"

Just then, Chen Zhuo gave a low shout and threw a punch with all his strength!

Thud!

Wang Heng screamed and crumpled to the floor.

The classroom fell silent.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Wang Heng groaning on the floor, then at Chen Zhuo standing where he was, chest heaving.

Only after several seconds did someone finally react and cry out, "Wang Heng lost?!"

"Qi Refining Fourth Layer lost to Qi Refining Second Layer?!"

"Am I the only one who thinks that's normal? Wang Heng's grandfather had an Acquired Spiritual Root, and his father and brother are both mortals. Sure, Wang Heng has an Innate Spiritual Root, but his Spiritual Qi sensitivity is only twenty. I don't see much difference between him and a cultivator with an Acquired Spiritual Root."

"..."

The students whispered among themselves, already ready to strike Wang Heng from the ranks of those with Innate Spiritual Roots.

Wang Heng still lay on the floor in a daze. Rather than getting up or saying anything to the others, he picked up his Spirit Message Jade Slip. Enduring the pain, he whispered, "Little Jade, Little Jade, didn't you say I could win? How did I lose?"

A moment later, a gentle woman's voice answered.

"I'm sorry, I got it wrong... Next, I'll answer you in the most direct, plainest, least roundabout terms: you can't beat him! He might have some kind of Innate Dao Body but no Spiritual Root. The odds are very low, but it isn't impossible! His family might also have a military background and be skilled at fighting..."