Ling Feng had just returned to the entrance of Dorm Seven.
Wang Sheng rushed out in a blazing hurry.
"Brother Feng!"
"You're finally back!"
"Big news!"
"The academy's holding a tournament for the grades!"
"It's tomorrow!"
Zhang Tiedan came over too.
His face was full of excitement.
"I heard the prizes are generous!"
"The champion gets a hundred Gold Soul Coins!"
A hundred Gold Soul Coins.
An astronomical sum for work-study students.
Ling Feng's expression remained calm.
Money-he had just earned some.
He wasn't short of it.
But this tournament.
Its significance was different.
It was his chance to formally establish his might at Nuoding Academy.
"Who's competing?"
he asked.
"Every grade!"
"Anyone whose Soul Power is above rank ten can sign up!"
Wang Sheng counted on his fingers.
"Those elites in the upper grades have all signed up!"
"That guy Xiao Chenyu signed up too!"
"I heard that after what happened to his brother."
"He's been holding it in, itching to settle the score!"
The corners of Ling Feng's mouth curled slightly.
Settle the score?
Him?
What a joke.
"Brother Feng, you're definitely signing up, right?"
Zhang Tiedan asked eagerly.
"Of course."
Ling Feng nodded.
An opportunity to crush the entire field like this.
Why wouldn't I go?
Just right for testing the hammer.
"Great!"
Wang Sheng pumped his fist.
"Let's see who still dares look down on us work-study students!"
Ling Feng said nothing more.
He walked into Dorm Seven.
He stuffed the cloth sack holding the ore under his bed.
The Deep Sea Sunken Silver Mother Raw Ore was heavy.
The future held promise.
For now.
He would deal with the tournament before him first.
The road to invincibility.
Would begin by crushing Nuoding Academy.
The next day.
The academy grounds were a sea of people.
Ten temporary arenas had been set up.
Colorful flags fluttered.
The atmosphere was lively.
Nearly all the academy's teachers and students had come.
The dean and the director of studies sat in the main stands.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang also sat in a corner.
His gaze swept over the students below.
It lingered on Ling Feng in particular for a moment.
With a probing look.
Ling Feng stood among the first-year students.
He stood out.
He was tall.
His bearing was cold.
A ring of empty space surrounded him.
No one dared approach.
Xiao Chenyu stood opposite him among the upper-year students.
His eyes were vicious.
He glared fixedly at Ling Feng.
As though he wanted to swallow him alive.
Ling Feng ignored him outright.
A prancing clown.
Not worth any attention.
The drawing of lots began.
Ling Feng drew Arena Three.
His preliminary-round opponent.
Was a tall, thin second-year student.
His Martial Soul was Green Vine.
A control type.
His Soul Power was rank twelve.
When he saw that his opponent was Ling Feng.
The tall, thin boy's face went white.
His hands shook.
"C-can I forfeit?"
he asked the referee in a trembling voice.
The referee was a young teacher.
He frowned.
"Forfeit without even fighting?"
"What kind of conduct is that!"
The tall, thin boy was on the verge of tears.
Who didn't know Ling Feng had taken even a teacher out with one hammer strike?
With his scrawny arms and legs.
What could he possibly do?
Ling Feng walked onto the arena.
He came to a stop.
He didn't even look at his opponent.
His gaze was calm.
"Begin!"
The referee waved his hand.
The tall, thin boy gritted his teeth.
He steeled himself and released his Martial Soul.
"Green Vine! Entanglement!"
Several green vines shot up from the ground.
They writhed toward Ling Feng to coil around him.
They weren't fast.
Their power was weak too.
Ling Feng didn't move at all.
Only when the vines were almost upon him.
Did he casually raise his right hand.
The phantom of a small black hammer flashed into view.
It hadn't even fully solidified.
At the air before him.
He gave a light strike.
Whoosh!
An invisible blast of air erupted!
Bang!
The green vines looked as though an immense force had rolled over them.
They instantly snapped apart inch by inch!
Shattered into debris!
The tall, thin boy was caught by the aftershock of the air blast.
"Aah!"
With a startled cry.
His entire body flew backward.
He fell straight out of the arena.
He passed out.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Then cries of astonishment erupted.
"One strike!"
"Just one strike!"
"He didn't even fully release his Martial Soul!"
"Isn't he way too strong!"
The referee froze for several seconds.
Only then did he come to his senses.
"L-Ling Feng wins!"
Ling Feng put away his hammer.
He turned and stepped down.
His face was expressionless.
As though he had done something utterly insignificant.
Xiao Chenyu watched from a distance.
His expression grew uglier still.
His fists clenched until they turned white.
The preliminary rounds held no suspense.
Ling Feng swept through everyone.
No matter who his opponent was.
What their Martial Soul was.
Or how much Soul Power they had.
He used only one hammer strike against them all.
Sometimes he sent his opponent's weapon flying.
Sometimes, the impact sent his opponents staggering back to concede.
The worst off among them.
Had a small shield for a Martial Soul.
He tried to tank the blow.
But when Ling Feng brought his hammer down.
The shield, along with the Martial Soul.
Shattered.
He coughed up blood on the spot.
And was carried away for emergency treatment.
"Monster..."
"There's no fighting him..."
"Just what rank is that hammer of his?"
Fear spread among the students.
Those who faced Ling Feng.
Either forfeited outright.
Or went onstage to go through the motions.
And were sent packing with one hammer blow.
Ling Feng's title of "Nuoding One Hammer."
Spread without wings.
Growing more renowned with every telling.
In the main stands.
The dean stroked his beard.
His eyes filled with wonder.
"This boy... has boundless prospects."
The director of studies nodded repeatedly.
"Since Nuoding Academy was founded."
"There has never been such a genius."
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang listened in silence.
A barely perceptible smile touched his lips.
Ling Feng's performance.
Perfectly validated his new theory.
Absolute strength.
Was absolute core competitiveness.
The semifinals.
Ling Feng's opponent was an elite upper-year student.
His Martial Soul was the Lie Yan Blade.
His Soul Power was rank fifteen.
His offensive power was considerable.
He had something of a reputation at the academy.
He felt he had some grounds for confidence.
Before going onstage, he even made threats.
"Ling Feng!"
"Don't get too cocky!"
"My Lie Yan Blade isn't some vegetarian!"
Ling Feng couldn't be bothered with him.
The match began.
The Lie Yan Blade Soul Master gave a loud shout.
Martial Soul Possession.
A long blade wreathed in flames appeared in his hand.
"First Soul Skill! Flame Slash!"
He slashed down.
Bringing a wave of heat.
With ferocious momentum.
The spectators below held their breath.
Waiting to see how Ling Feng would respond.
Ling Feng finally gave him a proper look.
Then.
Raised his hand.
The Clear Sky Hammer solidified.
Its pitch-black body gleamed coldly.
Toward the incoming Flame Slash.
Once again, it was.
One hammer blow.
No technique.
All strength.
Boom!
The hammer and blade collided!
The flames went out instantly!
That seemingly decent Lie Yan Blade.
Was like something made of paper.
Crack!
It shattered!
The backlash from his shattered Martial Soul made the elite student scream.
He flew backward.
Hit the ground.
And passed out.
An instant defeat.
Another single hammer blow.
The entire venue fell deathly silent.
Then erupted into an even louder uproar.
"Rank fifteen! The Lie Yan Blade! And still just one hammer blow!"
"He's invincible!"
"He's definitely the champion!"
No one doubted it anymore.
Ling Feng was the strongest at Nuoding Academy.
Beyond all dispute.
The finals.
His opponent was unexpected.
It was Xiao Chenyu.
He had actually stumbled his way into the finals.
His luck had been good.
The draw had kept him away from several strong opponents.
One opponent had even forfeited at the last minute because of diarrhea.
He looked at Ling Feng on the stage.
His calves cramped.
But with everyone watching.
Especially in the main stands.
Where people from the city lord's residence had also come to watch.
He couldn't chicken out.
He steeled himself and went onstage.
"Ling Feng!"
Xiao Chenyu blustered, fierce on the outside but fainthearted within.
"Don't think you've won!"
"I... I have a trump card!"
Ling Feng looked at him as though he were an idiot.
"Begin the match!"
The referee gave the order.
Xiao Chenyu sucked in a deep breath.
And released his Martial Soul.
It was a gray wolf.
His Soul Power was rank eleven.
Even lower than Ling Feng's.
He let out a strange cry.
But instead of charging forward.
He...
Pulled a handful of powder from inside his clothes.
And flung it at Ling Feng!
"It's poison powder!"
Someone below the stage cried out.
"Xiao Chenyu is cheating!"
"Despicable!"
The referee frowned as well.
He wanted to stop it.
But it was too late.
The powder enveloped Ling Feng.
Xiao Chenyu grinned viciously.
"Let's see you stay standing now!"
This was a knockout drug he had paid a hefty sum to obtain.
Even a Soul Master would faint if affected.
The powder dispersed.
Ling Feng stood where he was.
Without having budged an inch.
His gaze was ice-cold.
As though he were looking at a dead man.
"That's it?"
He spoke.
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet it made Xiao Chenyu feel as though he had plunged into an ice cavern.
"Im... impossible!"
Xiao Chenyu panicked.
Ling Feng moved.
He took one step.
And was instantly in front of Xiao Chenyu.
So fast he left an afterimage.
He raised his hand.
The Clear Sky Hammer appeared.
But he didn't smash it down.
Instead, he used the hammer's face.
And, against Xiao Chenyu's face.
Gave a gentle pat.
Like swatting a fly.
Smack!
A crisp, resounding slap rang out!
Xiao Chenyu was slapped so hard he spun three times on the spot!
A mouthful of teeth flew out with blood!
His face instantly swelled into a pig's head!
Then he toppled over stiffly.
He convulsed.
He lost control of his bladder.
A foul stench of urine spread.
Below the stage, not a peep could be heard.
Everyone was stunned by this brutal, direct display.
Ling Feng put away his hammer.
He told the referee.
"You can announce it now."
Only then did the referee come to his senses.
He swallowed.
"The final! Ling Feng wins!"
"The champion of this year's grade tournament!"
"Ling Feng!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
The work-study students jumped up in excitement.
Wang Sheng shouted himself hoarse.
Xiao Wu clapped hard too.
Tang San looked at Ling Feng on the stage.
His gaze was complicated.
There was admiration.
And an even deeper sense of urgency.
The awards ceremony.
The dean personally presented Ling Feng with his prize.
A hefty money pouch.
One hundred Gold Soul Coins.
"Congratulations, Ling Feng."
The dean smiled kindly.
"You are the pride of Nuoding Academy."
Ling Feng took the pouch.
He weighed it in his hand.
Then casually tucked it into his robe.
His manner was indifferent.
As though he had merely received a piece of candy.
The dean did not mind.
Geniuses always had their quirks.
To one side of the main viewing stand.
The representative from the city lord's residence.
A middle-aged man in a brocade robe.
His face was livid.
He was a member of the Xiao Clan.
Watching his young master being carried away like a dead dog.
Watching Ling Feng bask in boundless glory.
His lungs nearly burst with rage.
Yet he could not lash out.
Holding it in was unbearable.
Ling Feng sensed that venomous gaze.
He glanced over.
He did not care in the slightest.
A capering clown.
The awards ceremony ended.
The crowd began to disperse.
Ling Feng was surrounded by the work-study students.
They were getting ready to return to Dorm Seven to celebrate.
As they reached the edge of the field.
In the shadows of the crowd.
An even colder, more sinister gaze.
Like that of a venomous snake.
Was fixed firmly on Ling Feng's back.
Filled with bone-deep hatred.
It was Xiao Yan!
He had not left Nuoding City!
He was hiding in the shadows!
Watching his enemy shine with dazzling glory!
While he himself had become a cripple!
His teeth ground audibly.
His nails dug into his palms.
He did not even notice the bleeding.
"Ling Feng..."
A hoarse growl rose from his throat.
"Just you wait..."
"This... isn't over!"
"I can't get to you..."
"But someone can kill you!"
The shadows stirred.
He withdrew without a sound.
Like a wounded venomous snake.
Slithering into deeper darkness.
Brewing an even more vicious counterattack.
Ling Feng seemed to sense something.
He glanced back at that patch of shadow.
It was utterly empty.
But the corner of his mouth.
Curled into an icy arc.
I'm not afraid you'll come.
I'm only afraid you won't dare.
Perfect.
My hammer hasn't hammered enough yet.