Impact

The moment the match on the platform was decided, Jian Zangfeng, seated on the raised dais to the north, positively beamed.

Though the process had been full of twists and turns, he had still achieved his goal.

Ye Zhiqiu's East Court had taken first place in this practical combat assessment after all.

Ye Zhiqiu had only been in charge of the martial academy's East Court for a year, yet she had already trained such an outstanding disciple. Her future looked promising!

The lad on the platform was quite impressive too.

He had not interfered at all in this final match, yet Chu Xisheng had actually won.

Shao Lingshan looked unwilling to accept it and was furious. "This isn't fair! This boy's methods were utterly underhanded."

"Why do you say that, Junior Brother Shao?" Jian Zangfeng's expression turned displeased. "Since we're assessing practical combat, everything must be approached from the standpoint of actual combat. Chu Xisheng's strength was indeed a notch below his opponent's, but what's wrong with winning through ingenuity?"

He turned to Ye Zhiqiu with a smile. "Instructor Ye certainly knows how to teach her disciples."

Ye Zhiqiu's expression was complicated in the extreme.

What did he mean, she knew how to teach her disciples? She had never taught Chu Xisheng to cut someone's belt-

Still, Chu Xisheng had indeed won this match beautifully. Martial Cultivators ought to use every means at their disposal in a fight.

Yet her feelings were difficult to put into words.

Naturally, she was delighted that Chu Xisheng had emerged victorious.

Especially since the opponent Chu Xisheng had defeated was He Chao of the West Court.

But whenever Ye Zhiqiu thought of how their East Court clearly had two disciples no less capable than Liu Xingruo and He Chao, yet neither had been selected to take the platform, she felt helpless and regretful.

It was like having the finest jewelry in her dressing case, only for a strange twist of fate to leave her unable to display it before others.

Their East Court could have won fair and square, but Jian Zangfeng's meddling had turned this practical combat tournament into a complete mess.

After giving it a little thought, Ye Zhiqiu decided not to give Jian Zangfeng a pleasant face.

With an icy expression, she cupped her fist toward Jian Zangfeng. "Inspector, since the matches are over, I'll take my leave."

She did not even call him senior brother anymore, simply sweeping her sleeve aside and walking off the dais.

Jian Zangfeng grew anxious at the sight and hurried after her. "Eh? Junior Sister, Junior Sister Ye, don't go! Don't be angry."

The others on the dais followed Jian Zangfeng with their eyes. Realizing that the inspector truly had no intention of attending to the four thousand-odd disciples below, they could only turn their gazes toward Lei Yuan.

Helpless, Lei Yuan could only handle the remaining matters himself. "Junior Brother Zi Jing, sorry for the trouble, but please put away this Four Symbols Duel Disk. Also, notify the instructors below to arrange an orderly departure for the disciples after I finish addressing them."

As he spoke, he walked to the front of the stone dais.

He had originally arranged for Jian Zangfeng, as inspector, to address the academy's disciples with some admonition and encouragement. Now that Jian Zangfeng had left, he could only do it in his stead.

By now, Chu Xisheng had been moved back to his original position.

Beside him, Chu Yunyun asked curiously, "When did you learn Light-Cloud Movement?"

Chu Xisheng could now lie without batting an eye. "I don't know. I somehow knew how to do it at the time. It felt like something suddenly clicked."

He had no way to explain to Chu Yunyun that he had a system.

Chu Yunyun did not suspect anything either. She merely assumed Chu Xisheng had experienced an epiphany in battle.

Her eyes flickered thoughtfully.

It seemed Chu Xisheng's comprehension and talent were far greater than she had previously judged.

Still, Chu Yunyun had seen people of Chu Xisheng's type before.

Their talent was like rapeseed: normally, it showed neither mountain nor water, but once pressure was applied, oil came out.

The heavier the pressure and the greater the crisis, the greater the potential they unleashed-

Chu Xisheng, meanwhile, looked at the system panel in his vision.

Character: Chu Xisheng

Reputation: Ninth-Rank Upper (actual)

Martial arts: Wind-Chasing Saber Technique (second level), Light-Cloud Movement (first level)

Martial intent: Yazi Remnant Intent (first level)

Origin art: Origin-Nourishing Art (second level / Ninth-Rank Lower)

Martial Dao Points: 4

Talents: Eagle Eye, Wind-Chasing, Lightning-Pursuing Hands (first tier), Pure Yang Thunder Body (first tier), Body of Light-Speed Shadow (first tier)

Status: Six Yin Soul-Returning Incantation, Yazi

Lifespan: 29 days

Chu Xisheng remembered that he had previously had 8 Martial Dao Points. Redeeming the first level of Light-Cloud Movement had cost 3, yet now he had 4.

After winning the final, his Martial Dao Points had actually fallen rather than risen, decreasing by 1.

Besides that, "Yazi" had appeared in his status field again.

When Chu Xisheng stared at it, four pieces of information appeared in his mind.

-You sensed the malice around you and insisted on retaliation, invoking Yazi Saber Intent. Your saber strikes can carry a mental impact.

-More than one hundred people harbor malice toward you. Your Yazi Saber Intent has increased to faint intensity.

-More than three hundred people harbor malice toward you. Your Yazi Saber Intent has increased to weak intensity.

-More than one thousand people harbor malice toward you. Your Yazi Saber Intent has increased to moderate intensity.

Chu Xisheng raised his brows and swept his gaze around, only to find countless eyes staring at him from every direction across the training ground.

Those from their East Court were somewhat better; at most, some refused to accept his victory.

But many inner and outer disciples from the West Court, North Court, and South Court were glaring at him.

Chu Xisheng's swordlike brows rose slightly as he realized he had provoked everyone's wrath.

Though he had defeated He Chao today, he had won through a clever ploy and could not convince the crowd.

In their eyes, he had stolen the honor of first place in the practical combat assessment.

Whether it was the saber intent's influence or not, Chu Xisheng felt extremely annoyed and glared right back at them.

What are you staring at?

My cultivation is weaker than He Chao's and the others', but I won fair and square.

Am I not allowed to win through strategy?

Chu Xisheng then looked thoughtfully at the word "Yazi" in his status field.

This Yazi Saber Intent is really interesting. Does that mean the more enemies I face, the stronger my saber intent becomes?

Just then, Lei Yuan finally finished his address on the dais.

As though granted a great amnesty, the disciples below scattered like birds and beasts.

It was nearly noon, and the vast majority were ravenous. They swarmed toward the Dining Hall.

Chu Xisheng immediately opened his umbrella, blocking out the scorching sunlight.

While on the platform, he had already found the sun unbearably uncomfortable, but mindful of the occasion, he had forced himself to endure without opening his umbrella.

Just as he too was about to head for the Dining Hall, he saw Liu Xingruo walking toward him.

Liu Xingruo blocked his path and looked at him coldly. "Junior Brother Chu, I've had a taste of your methods and scheming today. But for Martial Cultivators like us, our own strength is still what matters most. You may win once through your schemes, but you can never win twice-"

The scene attracted the passersby around them. They stopped one after another and looked over curiously.

Chu Xisheng frowned deeply. He was thinking about the chicken legs in the Dining Hall. If he arrived late, there would be none left.

He had missed out on the lamb soup and meat-stuffed flatbread that morning. He absolutely could not miss the chicken legs at noon too.

Resting his hand on the saber at his waist, he raised his swordlike brows impatiently. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Liu Xingruo gave a cold laugh, and an unnatural red appeared in his eyes.

This was an unusual talent he possessed, capable of catching others off guard and attacking their minds.

But just then, he saw Chu Xisheng's narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes suddenly widen, a sharp gleam emerging in his pupils.

Liu Xingruo instantly felt as though his mind had been struck by an incomparably keen blade, cutting straight into the depths of his soul. Not only did it inflict excruciating pain on his mind, but his thoughts also froze solid in that instant.

Chu Xisheng found it a little strange. Seeing Liu Xingruo standing blankly in place without moving for a long time, he could not be bothered with him anymore and hurried toward the Dining Hall.

Behind him, Chu Yunyun gave Liu Xingruo an odd look, then followed Chu Xisheng away.

Seeing there was no spectacle to watch, the surrounding crowd also dispersed.

Only Xiang Kui, who was among the crowd, sensed something was wrong and walked over. "Senior Brother Liu? What's wrong?"

Finding Liu Xingruo still utterly motionless, he patted his arm. "Brother Liu, wake up. What's happened to you?"

At that moment, however, he felt a needlelike prickling in his right hand.

Liu Xingruo shuddered all over, a trickle of blood escaping his mouth. A trace of alarm appeared in his eyes at the same time. "Saber intent! That fellow has cultivated saber intent!"

And his saber intent was powerful enough to suppress Liu Xingruo's mind for a full ten breaths!

Xiang Kui froze for a moment, then looked toward Chu Xisheng's retreating figure with a complicated gaze.

This Junior Brother Chu truly was a devious bastard who kept his depths well hidden-