"His Excellency Chu Ge's disciple..."
"If he came to Shrek to teach just to stay by her side, how could she possibly be mediocre?"
Watching Chu Ge walk away, Du Weilun sighed with feeling.
He was not surprised that Chu Ge had come to teach at the academy, but coming specifically to take better care of a student was something he had never seen or even heard of.
Even now, he could not forget the sight of Chu Ge releasing his Soul Rings before him.
Someone so young would surely stand at the very summit of the continent in the future. With a teacher like that, how could his disciple be lacking?
Even if she fell short of the academy's Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao, she would still rank just below those two top-tier talents. At the very least, she would not struggle much against a mere Dai Huabin.
That brat is in for it.
Du Weilun's gaze settled on Dai Huabin as the thought crossed his mind.
So, really...
Even a genius was better off showing a little humility.
She's here.
Noticing Huo Yudie and the others taking their seats in the front row as well, Dai Huabin's smile widened as he thought coldly.
She actually came. What a courageous weakling.
She can be the stepping stone that raises my reputation in the outer court even higher.
He had already made his inquiries. This good-for-nothing with only level-one innate soul power had somehow broken through to Soul Grandmaster. But so what?
"So what if she became a Soul Grandmaster?"
"In my eyes, she's no different from a Soul Master."
Dai Huabin sneered. What did it matter if she had gotten lucky? Before him, she was still trash he could wipe out with a single move.
He had even begun imagining her kneeling before him and apologizing.
I beat her mother to death, yet she'll still have to apologize to me. What a waste of space.
"Huabin, you should still be a little careful."
Just then, Zhu Lu spoke softly beside him, holding his arm with concern in her voice.
She did not know why the two had turned against each other so fiercely, but since their relationship had already become this strained, he needed to be fully prepared.
If he lost, he would only sink deeper into the mess.
And his excessive confidence now undoubtedly made it all too easy for things to go disastrously wrong.
"Why are you nagging so much?"
"She's just trash. I can crush her with a flick of my hand."
Dai Huabin impatiently pulled free and spoke coldly.
"I..."
"Understood."
Zhu Lu pressed her lips together, her eyes dimming as she answered.
Meanwhile, with Chu Ge, Tang Wutong, and Xiao Xiao watching over her, Huo Yudie calmly awaited her match.
"Yudie, you can do it."
Tang Wutong offered her encouragement.
Though she was terribly worried that something might happen to Yudie, as her close friend, her job was to believe in her and encourage her.
Besides, since Yudie was so confident...
Perhaps she really would win!
"You can do it~"
Even Xiao Xiao, whose attention was always fixed on Chu Ge, looked at her earnestly now, her adorable face full of encouragement.
Chu Ge said nothing, but the complete faith in his eyes said everything.
"Mm!"
"I will."
Huo Yudie gave them a sweet smile and answered cheerfully.
This is my first battle.
And my...
First confrontation with the Dai Family.
Her expression was calm, but an unusual gleam flashed through her eyes as she thought to herself.
This battle...
Will be a beautiful victory!
Soon, as the previous match ended, Huo Yudie slowly rose to her feet and prepared to enter the arena.
Her eyes brimmed with fighting spirit.
"Will the contestants for the next match please enter the arena."
"Both contestants are first-year students from the outer court."
Du Weilun's commanding voice rang through the Soul Fighting Arena, and the noisy venue instantly fell silent.
As the referee for these matches and the director of the entire academy's Martial Soul Department, Du Weilun's standing needed no explanation.
When everyone heard that the first-years were taking the stage, their gazes all turned to the arena.
More than half of those present had come after hearing of Dai Huabin's reputation as the strongest first-year.
This was the match they truly wanted to see.
"First year, Class Two, Dai Huabin."
"Level thirty-four Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
Dai Huabin entered first, strolling into the arena with an air of casual ease. As he released his martial soul, three Soul Rings-two yellow and one purple-circled him, and he introduced himself indifferently.
Carried through the loudspeakers, his cold, arrogant voice immediately echoed throughout the Soul Fighting Arena, causing a stir.
A level thirty-four Soul Elder was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns among any year's incoming students. Ordinarily, that was a level only third-years should reach.
Moreover, his martial soul was the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, an inheritance passed down for ten thousand years. In the eyes of ordinary students, it was already a symbol of strength.
"He really deserves his reputation as the strongest in the outer court."
"This boy is terrifying indeed!"
Exclamations rose here and there, but Dai Huabin's next words stirred the entire venue once more.
"Referee, please bear witness."
"Whoever loses today must kowtow three times to the other in front of everyone as an apology."
A sinister look crossed Dai Huabin's cold, arrogant face as he spoke icily.
"This..."
"What!"
Even those present who already knew about this could not help feeling a jolt upon hearing it. Those who had not known nearly had their jaws drop.
Kowtow in apology?
They were raising the stakes that high!
Du Weilun casually glanced toward Chu Ge. Seeing the smile on his face, he could only nod.
Dai Huabin... you'd better pray for your own good fortune.
"Do young people these days really take things this far?"
Off to one side of the spectator stands, Bei Bei could not help sighing with feeling beside Tang Ya, who also wore a thoughtful expression.
Just what sort of young talent would face this boy?
"Wait..."
"Why is it her!"
Tang Ya's gaze fell on the platform. Seeing Huo Yudie calmly walk forward, she looked utterly incredulous.
Yu... Yudie?!
She was certainly not the only one shocked. Under everyone's astonished gazes, Huo Yudie walked onto the platform with calm composure.
"Huo Yudie."
"Level twenty-six Control System Soul Grandmaster."
Two yellow Soul Rings appeared beside her. Her expression was cool, and she was ready to strike at any moment.
"A Soul Grandmaster?"
"Has Dai Huabin lost his mind? He's picking on a girl?"
The spectators were stunned. The opponent they had waited so long to see was not another genius Soul Elder, but an adorable Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster!
"This boy is actually picking on a girl!"
Outrage swept through the spectators in the stands.
"How could he bully Yudie like this!"
Tang Ya's eyes were already wide, her heart full of anger as she spoke through gritted teeth.
Perhaps everyone present had originally been like her, looking forward to a battle between two genius Soul Elders. But now...
What was there left to look forward to? Watching Yudie get trounced?
"Let the match begin."
Just then, a voice reached Tang Ya's ears, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally sank dead.
As Du Weilun spoke, he focused all his attention on the platform, wanting to see just what powerful abilities Huo Yudie possessed.
"Third Soul Skill."
"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Dai Huabin's third Soul Ring, his only purple one, blazed with light. His body instantly swelled, and he lunged fiercely at the girl before him.
He was already taller and larger than her. Now, he looked even more intimidating.
Yet Huo Yudie merely stood quietly in place, doing nothing. Even so, in the next instant, Dai Huabin suddenly froze where he stood.
Like a wooden puppet, he stopped dead despite showing no sign of anything wrong. Moments later, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out completely, collapsing to the ground.
"Referee."
"I think..."
"It's time to announce the result, isn't it?"
Her face full of smiles, Huo Yudie turned toward Du Weilun beside the platform and spoke with perfect calm.
At that moment, everyone present was stunned.
Du Weilun himself looked utterly bewildered.
"An instant..."
"An instant knockout?"
(End of chapter)
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