Inside the sprawling Training Ground.
Beneath the tall, majestic buildings, more than a hundred shadowy figures had gathered before the Combat Stage, surrounding a group of people.
A cool, striking young woman stood behind the crowd, her fair fingers tapping against her phone screen.
"Just call their teacher over. These people aren't following the rules."
"Is there no teacher around?"
"No. They're all students from Qingshan First High School, and they've been pressuring us to fight."
"Alright, I understand."
Seeing that reply, Jiang Qingzhu let out a breath and slipped her phone back into her pocket.
That young man had always been reliable. She probably had nothing to worry about.
Jiang Qingzhu raised her head toward the crowd arguing furiously nearby, her beautiful brows knitting slightly.
A hint of warmth quietly rose in her clear eyes.
She had initially thought this would be an ordinary visit.
The supervising teacher, Wang Yongfeng, had not paid much attention to it either. He had gone to the grade-level office, intending to exchange thoughts on teaching and nurturing students with Qingshan First High School's teachers.
However, the moment Jiang Qingzhu and her group entered the Training Ground, the harmonious atmosphere abruptly changed.
Over a hundred Martial Science Students had appeared from nowhere and come over to strike up a "very enthusiastic" conversation.
As the captain, Jiang Qingzhu had exchanged a few words with them out of courtesy.
But after some simple pleasantries, the other side abruptly changed the subject and proposed, "We've long heard that Linhai First High School's School Team is exceptionally strong. Could we have a friendly spar?"
Although Jiang Qingzhu had coldly refused this request.
There was someone named Yu Qianqian among Linhai First High School's group, an overly nice person with no more sense than a fool. She simply could not withstand their repeated requests and directly stepped onto the stage.
Jiang Qingzhu felt vaguely uneasy about this.
But considering Yu Qianqian's First-Tier Level Eight cultivation, sparring with an ordinary Martial Science Student should neither take much time nor consume too much energy, so she ultimately acquiesced.
Yet the moment the match began, trouble broke out.
The other side had directly sent up a feminine-looking boy, who relied on his First-Tier Peak cultivation to knock the caught-off-guard Yu Qianqian unconscious.
This thoroughly enraged everyone from Linhai First High School.
Liu Yangde and his two lackeys charged forward, cursing furiously as they demanded an explanation.
The hundred-plus people from Qingshan First High School refused to yield as well, loudly jeering one after another:
"You're the ones who were inferior in skill, and now you're getting worked up after losing? If you couldn't afford to play, you shouldn't have agreed in the first place!"
The moment Liu Yangde heard that, he completely snapped. "Fuck your Qingshan First High School! Using such low, rotten tactics—if our big brother had come with us, would it be your turn to pull underhanded tricks?"
"That's right! When you first came up to provoke us, our big brother could've slapped all of you to death!"
"You're boasting without even drafting a script! Is everyone at Linhai First High School all talk like you? If you've got the guts, come up here and have a go!"
"..."
The two groups passionately traded insults, swiftly descending into a chaotic shouting match.
One side was driven by anger, while the other had calculations in mind. There was no sign of things easing up.
Throughout it all, the feminine-looking boy on the Combat Stage remained calm-faced, looking incomparably smug.
After helping the unconscious Yu Qianqian down from the stage to rest, Jiang Qingzhu immediately sent Ye Li a message...
At this moment, taking in the arguing crowd, she drew a deep breath and calmed herself.
Then she coldly looked at the feminine-looking boy on the Combat Stage and rose to walk toward him.
He had casually injured one of her teammates. His intent to provoke them could not have been more obvious!
Jiang Qingzhu's Second-Tier Level Four cultivation began to reveal itself. Within a few breaths, she had arrived beneath the Combat Stage.
Seeing the cool young woman, a faint anger appearing on her face, rise and approach, cold sweat seeped down Chen Deng's back on the Combat Stage.
A cool beauty with long black hair—this was most likely the Jiang Family's young miss from Linhai City.
Second-Tier Level Four cultivation, A-Grade Martial Arts Talent, S-Grade Breathing Technique...
After briefly running through her capabilities in his mind, Chen Deng immediately felt enormous pressure. Even among First-Tier Peak martial artists, his strength could only be considered mediocre.
Suppressing the panic in his heart, Chen Deng smiled slightly and deliberately raised his voice. "Classmate Jiang, what are you trying to do?"
His raised voice immediately drew the attention of the people below. The arguments stalled, and more than a hundred pairs of eyes turned toward her.
When they saw the cool young woman slowly stepping onto the stage, everyone's gazes sharpened.
Her Second-Tier Level Four cultivation was exceptionally solid, making them instantly feel pressured.
"You bully the weak with strength, so I will use violence to curb violence."
Jiang Qingzhu's voice was cold, her face like frost.
"You wish to spar? Fine."
Chen Deng was overjoyed inwardly. This was exactly what he had been waiting for her to say!
Considering that he needed to preserve his strength, he immediately turned toward the people below and smiled.
"Is anyone interested in experiencing the strength of Linhai First High School's School Team captain? I can give up this opportunity!"
At once, someone caught on and gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"I'll do it!"
"..."
A trace of coldness flashed through Jiang Qingzhu's eyes. She had already understood their intentions.
They clearly intended to use human-wave tactics to forcibly exhaust the stamina of her entire group, so they could easily win the Exchange Competition that afternoon!
They had even specifically put up a [Temporarily Closed] sign outside the Training Ground and lured away the teacher on duty here...
"Despicable..."
Fortunately, she had notified Ye Li in time.
She believed that before long, he would bring teachers here to resolve the situation...
Thinking this, Jiang Qingzhu summoned a snow-white spear, and the vast aura around her became ever more eye-catching.
The martial artist opposite her could not even last a single exchange before being blasted off the high platform by one thrust.
But soon, someone else volunteered and rushed onto the stage.
Jiang Qingzhu sent that person flying with another thrust. Then another person stepped up, and the cycle continued...
"As expected of the Jiang Family's young miss..."
Chen Deng's eyes flickered as he returned below the stage. "Ordinary First-Tier Martial Artists simply can't defeat her. Even if I went up, I wouldn't last more than a few exchanges."
"Brother Chen, don't worry." Someone beside him smiled.
"An army of ants can bite an elephant to death. We have one hundred and twenty-six First-Tier Martial Artists here—are we supposed to fear that we can't wear her down?
"At most, twenty or thirty people will be enough to drain all her true qi!"
"That's true." Chen Deng nodded slightly, feeling considerably more relaxed.
With the plan having reached this point, it could basically be considered a success.
That vice-captain Liu Yangde was still below the stage, rubbing his fists and preparing to go up. He truly was a clown.
The corners of Chen Deng's lips curled upward slightly.
"Brother Chen, what about Ye Li?"
At that moment, someone leaned closer and asked worriedly, "He didn't come on the visit. After hearing what happened here, could he go find teachers?"
"Let him call them."
Chen Deng shook his head unconcernedly. "Our school has so many teaching buildings. He's an outsider unfamiliar with the place. By the time he finds someone and brings them over, the daylilies will have gone cold."
"What if he comes straight here instead of calling anyone?"
"Then there's even less to worry about. A First-Tier Peak martial artist might not even be my match."
Meanwhile, outside the Training Ground.
Inside the pavilion used to check the identities of those entering and leaving, a student assigned to keep watch was dozing off.
As long as they did not let anyone in for an hour, their plan would be a complete success.
Several students from their own school who had come to wander around the Training Ground had already been turned away because of this.
Just then, a figure appeared around a bend in the distance.
The watchman in the pavilion caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, and his drowsiness instantly vanished as he sat upright.
The newcomer's clothes fluttered, his black hair floated lightly, and he strode toward them with an indifferent expression.
He's so handsome, but he isn't wearing a school uniform. Is he from another school...? The student was subconsciously momentarily dazed.
As he thought this, the black-clad young man had already arrived before him.
Seeing this, the watchman hurriedly rose to his feet and held out a hand, calling out:
"Classmate, this place..."
Boom!!—
Before he could finish speaking, the newcomer snorted coldly, spun on the spot, and drove his right foot into the pavilion like a cannonball blasting out of its barrel!
Amid a tremendous crash, the entire pavilion instantly shattered into pieces. The student assigned to keep watch was sent flying and slammed heavily onto the ground, unconscious.
Ye Li did not even spare him a glance as he continued toward the Training Ground.
His speed grew faster and faster, until he broke into a full sprint!
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