Teacher, Can I Only Chop Once?

Two years after crossing over,

The [Martial Arts Space] section had remained gray-white, never showing any change.

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

Li Qingshan's gaze burned as he looked through the illusory Status Panel at the Fierce Beast standing motionless like a statue.

Could it be the turning point for unlocking the [Martial Arts Space]?

"Star Realm Fierce Beast, Wolf Poison."

With a smile on his lips, Wan Keshan reached his hand through the Alloy Railing and patted the Fierce Beast's exposed scalp amid the students' shocked stares.

Perhaps because of the Steel Ring around its neck, the Fierce Beast did not react at all.

Quite a few eyes lit up.

If that was the case, chopping it once did not seem so difficult after all.

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

"But..."

Wan Keshan withdrew his hand. His smile faded as he said sternly,

"The scum who worship Evil Gods may be hiding right beside you!"

"Just last night, Evil God Cultists completed a Sacrifice in the outskirts of the city."

"Search your hearts. If you had encountered those scum yourselves last night, would you have dared to swing a blade at them?"

Evil God Cultists?

Li Qingshan withdrew his gaze from Wolf Poison and suppressed his eagerness to give it a try.

He had not expected that, aside from seeing a Fierce Beast today, he would also hear news of Evil God Cultists.

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

Not to mention Luoying City—even across all one hundred and seven provinces of the Old Continent, there was not much news about Evil God Cultists.

But scarce did not mean nonexistent.

According to the history books, the Old Continent had once possessed One Hundred and Eight provinces.

That vanished province had been destroyed because Evil God Cultists sacrificed an entire city's living beings, drawing down the Corruption of an Evil God.

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

A student could not help asking.

After all, Evil God Cultists were in Luoying City and had even completed a Sacrifice. How could they not be worried?

"If we had caught them, Wolf Poison would not be the one locked in the cage right now."

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

"The Patrol Bureau will issue a notice about the Evil God Cultists soon enough. Go read it yourselves when the time comes."

"This Wolf Poison was specially prepared for you today."

"Now, I'll teach you the First Lesson of Martial Arts—swinging a blade!"

Wan Keshan suddenly slapped the Alloy Railing. The Chopping Knife laid across the cage sprang into the air on its own, its handle falling into his hand.

"The Senior Martial Arts Class was established by the Federation and cannot be changed."

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

Wan Keshan extended his right arm, holding the Chopping Knife upside down, and gestured to the students.

"The opportunity is right here. Chop it once, and you can stay. Those 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 puffed out his chest as he stepped forward first.

Hong Qian followed him out of the line without saying a word.

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

The three walked to the center of the hall and stood before Wan Keshan.

Damn, one step too late!

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

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

Besides, Wan Keshan had already demonstrated it himself.

The Wolf Poison locked in the cage could not move in the slightest. What was there to fear?

But the three "top students" had already stepped out.

They could only hold themselves back for now and turn their gazes toward Li Qingshan.

At a time like this, it was time for the "top student in the class" to step out and suppress the whole scene.

Unfortunately, their stares had no effect whatsoever.

Li Qingshan was standing with his hands behind his back, studying Wolf Poison in the cage without any intention of moving.

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

And he did not believe Wan Keshan's first lesson was merely about chopping a "wooden stake."

"Teacher, I'll do it!"

Someone could not hold back any longer and raised a hand, wanting to step forward.

But the crowd in front of him blocked his path.

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

"Teacher, give me the knife. I'll chop this Fierce Beast to death."

Without anyone noticing, a circle had already formed in the center of the hall, making the place exceedingly lively.

"You students are certainly enthusiastic! It seems I worried for nothing and underestimated your courage."

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

Behind them, several people still stood where they were 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 Teacher wants you to go up."

"You saw wrong."

Li Qingshan's expression did not change.

He had noticed Wan Keshan watching him as well.

But what he noticed even more was the obvious trace of regret that flashed over Wan Keshan's face after he withdrew his gaze.

Knowing Wan Keshan's wicked sense of humor well, 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, her arms crossed over her chest.

She was clearly not tall, yet she somehow wore an expression of looking down from on high.

Li Qingshan swung out a kick. 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 and looked back, her face full of disbelief.

"Just a spar," Li Qingshan said blandly.

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

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

Zhao Hongzhou spoke in a muffled voice, his face utterly serious.

"The reason you fell is because you're too cumbersome. Personally, I suggest you learn from Yu Lei."

"You just wait!"

Liu Jingya's face flushed red with fury. Clutching her butt, she ran over to Liang Mingyu and whispered a few words in his ear.

That Li Qingshan again!

Liang Mingyu's face sank. After glancing at Li Qingshan behind the crowd, he said to Wan Keshan,

"Teacher, let me go first. I'll give the other students a demonstration."

Having his test results crushed was already a settled matter.

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

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

Wan Keshan's smile grew increasingly genial as he gripped the handle.

"Watch closely!"

The movement was fast—so fast that no one could even catch the knife's shadow.

Metal rang against metal as the Chopping Knife stopped against the Alloy Railing.

Every student's eyes widened, their faces full of confusion.

Was he demonstrating how to chop the cage?

Just then,

Crack, crack, crack!

Fine fractures appeared where the blade met the railing and rapidly spread.

In the blink of an eye,

The cage's surrounding bars and roof, even the Steel Ring around Wolf Poison's neck, were covered in dense cracks.

With a muffled boom, the cage shattered, iron fragments flying everywhere.

A layer of silver powder coated the Fierce Beast's body. Two crimson points abruptly appeared on its head.

Wolf Poison had opened its eyes.

Its bloody maw opened wide, and a reeking wind rushed toward them.

A terrifying roar shook their ears.

"The Fierce Beast is alive!"

The students screamed in panic and fled in confusion.

At the rear of the crowd, Li Qingshan's eyes suddenly lit up.

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

In the center of the hall,

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

The "revived" Wolf Poison was far more terrifying than they had imagined.

The unluckiest ones,

Were still Liang Mingyu and Liu Jingya, right beside the cage.

Liu Jingya rolled her eyes back and fainted directly onto the floor.

Liang Mingyu collapsed onto the ground, his eyes empty.

Ding!

The Chopping Knife landed on 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 Chopping Knife on the floor, he raised his trembling right hand, but could not reach out no matter what.

Just then,

A pair of legs suddenly entered his view and stopped beside the Chopping Knife.

Li Qingshan bent down to pick up the Chopping Knife. His eyes blazed as he stared at Wolf Poison, licking his lips.

"Teacher, can I only chop once?"