While Feng Qingxuan was in seclusion attempting to break through to the Titled Douluo, all sorts of affairs, big and small, fell on the shoulders of several acting teachers. However, there were some matters they didn't have the authority to handle, so they just piled up on their desks. After his breakthrough, it took several days just to completely clear away the backlog of documents.
That morning, just as Feng Qingxuan finished organizing the last batch of documents, letters arrived from the other four academies of the Five Elements.
The first letter was opened, and it was in the handwriting of Yu Leiting, the dean of the Thunder Academy. The wording was as direct as ever—"Congratulations on your breakthrough! Our exchange competition team is already on its way. Why don't we hold this year's exchange competition earlier?" The letters from the other three academies were opened next, and the meanings were similar—the congratulations were on the surface, but the real purpose was to hold the exchange competition earlier.
Feng Qingxuan placed the four letters on the table and chuckled. "They want to use congratulations as a pretext to probe my strength. Well, let them come."
The first to arrive was the Blazing Fire Academy team. On the evening they arrived, the setting sun bathed the training ground in a warm orange hue. Dean Huo Xiao personally led the team; he was a burly middle-aged man with short, dark red hair, standing there like a silent furnace.
After settling the team, Huo Wushuang walked alone to the edge of the training ground. Feng Xiaotian had just finished a round of sparring and was standing by the field drinking water. When he saw Huo Wushuang coming over, he put down his water bottle. The two looked at each other, Huo Wushuang spoke first.
"Long time no see." Huo Wushuang extended his hand, and Feng Xiaotian shook it. "It's been several years since we last parted ways in the Heavenly Wind Mountain Range. What level are you now?"
Fifty-eight.
Huo Wushuang raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Then I'll have to give you a good fight in this exchange match. Don't hold back."
Feng Xiaotian's lips twitched slightly. "The same goes for you."
Huo Wushuang patted his shoulder and turned back to the guesthouse. In the training ground, Huo Wu stood in the Blazing Fire Academy's team, watching her brother talk to Feng Xiaotian from afar. She pursed her lips slightly and looked away. She clearly hadn't forgotten how this man had berated her back in the Heavenly Wind Mountain Range.
Next up was Thunder Academy. Dean Yu Leiting led a group of students through the gates of the Godwind Academy, each member exuding arrogance— Thunder Academy was renowned for its Lightning Attribute Martial Soul, and their students always considered themselves superior to those of other academies. The captain, Lei Zhen, walking at the head of the group, was half a head taller than the others, his short hair standing on end, and he walked with a commanding presence. Upon seeing Feng Qingxuan, Yu Leiting strode forward and patted him heavily on the shoulder. "Well done, Titled Douluo!"
Two days later, Skywater Academy and Elephant Armor Academy arrived one after another. The team members from each academy were arranged to stay at the guesthouse, and several deans were invited to meet with Feng Qingxuan. The public greetings were no different from usual— Yu Leiting slammed his fist on the table and said that Thunder Academy would not show any mercy; Huyan Zhen had a smile on his face, but his words were full of probing; Shui Lingyuan didn't say much, but just sat quietly to the side.
The truly significant conversation took place late that night. Huo Xiao and Shui Lingyuan stayed behind, and the three deans sat in Feng Qingxuan's study for a long time. With no one else present, Huo Xiao finally spoke freely.
"Back then, none of our three academies— Blazing Fire Academy, Skywater Academy, and Godwind Academy —had Titled Douluo backing them up. Compared to the Thunder Academy and Elephant Armor, we were always a step behind." Huo Xiao put down his teacup and looked at Feng Qingxuan. "Now that you've broken through—our three academies finally have someone who can hold their own."
Shui Lingyuan sat beside them and nodded slightly. She was younger than the two of them and didn't talk much, but her nod was very firm.
Feng Qingxuan didn't mince words. All three knew that while the Five Elements Academy were nominally equal, they were never truly so. Thunder Academy was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and Elephant Armor Academy by the Spirit Hall; both academies never lacked the support of Titled Douluo. Blazing Fire Academy, Skywater Academy, and Godwind Academy Academies, however, had no backing and had to rely on themselves. This was precisely why the relationship between the three academies had always been closer than that between the other two.
The opening day of the exchange competition was a sunny day. Five-colored flags were laid out on the trial field, representing the five academies. The five teams lined up in a row, and Feng Qingxuan stood on the high platform. After a brief speech, he announced the start of the exchange competition.
As is customary, the first round will feature the host team accepting the challenge – Godwind Academy versus Thunder Academy.
Lei Zhen, the captain of the Thunder Academy, strode onto the field, followed closely by his six teammates. The seven of them standing on the field exuded an aura like a muffled thunderclap. Lei Zhen was the highest-level student in the Thunder Academy's current cohort, having just broken through to level thirty-seven, already a top-tier existence among Lightning Attribute Soul Master. However, before coming, he had heard that Feng Xiaotian, the captain of the Godwind Academy, was already level fifty-eight. Yu Leiting sat on the sidelines, arms crossed, his gaze calm.
Feng Xiaotian stood at the very front of the Godwind Academy team. To his left and right were Lu Qing and Ji Ning, and behind him were Feng Lingtian, Su Mei'er, Zhong Yue, and Ye Qingyu. Bai Yu sat on the sidelines, holding Wind Chime in her hands and resting it on her knees.
The referee raised the flag. Lei Zhen looked at Feng Xiaotian, remained silent for two seconds, and then suddenly grinned. The difference between level 37 and level 58—a difference of 21 levels—was undeniable; it would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous. But as the captain of the Thunder Academy, his pride wouldn't allow him to back down.
"I heard you're level 58? Then let me see just how capable the son of Titled Douluo really is. I have to give it a try." Feng Xiaotian didn't answer, but simply moved his right foot back half an inch—the starting stance of the Gale Flash Step.
The match begins.
Lei Zhen made the first move. His First Soul Ring lit up, and his right fist was wrapped in a blinding arc of lightning. He charged straight at Feng Xiaotian like a cannonball encased in lightning—Thunder Fist: Collapse. The power of this punch was enough to shatter the shield of Defense System Soul Master of the same level.
Feng Xiaotian didn't take the blow head-on. He stomped his toes on the ground and used the Gale Flash Step, shifting his body half an inch to the left. Just as Lei Zhen's fist was about to touch his chest, he dodged to the side. The arc of lightning grazed his clothes and struck empty air, leaving a scorched crack on the stone floor.
"Good speed!" Lei Zhen roared, his Second Soul Ring lit up, and his left fist followed up from the side, smashing into Feng Xiaotian's ribs—Thunder Fist: Chain Attack. His attack style was consistent with the fighting style of the Thunder Academy: fast, fierce, and giving no chance to breathe.
But Feng Xiaotian was faster. With a second Gale Flash Step, he changed direction, passing under Lei Zhen's left fist and circling behind him.
"Behind you."
Lei Zhen's pupils contracted sharply as he turned to block. But in the instant he turned, Feng Xiaotian had already vanished from behind him— the Gale Flash Step changed direction for the third time, pulling him back to the front. He pushed off the ground with his right foot, his fist aimed straight for his chest.
Lei Zhen gritted his teeth and raised his arms to take the punch head-on. A muffled thud resounded, and his feet slid two shallow marks on the stone floor. He took a full three steps back before regaining his balance.
On the sidelines, Yu Leiting's hand, holding a teacup, froze in mid-air. Huo Xiao sat in the stands not far away, his gaze fixed on the young man on the field ever since Feng Xiaotian first used his Instant Step to change direction.
Huo Wu, who had been leaning back in her seat, unconsciously sat up straight when she saw the third Instant Step change of direction. "This speed is more than twice as fast as it was a few years ago," Huo Wushuang said in a low voice. Huo Wu didn't reply, her eyes fixed on the arena.
"Impressive footwork!" Lei Zhen shook his arm, which was numb from the impact, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Again!"
The two clashed again. Lei Zhen's fists were fierce and domineering, each punch carrying the tearing sensation of lightning; Feng Xiaotian's Instant Steps were agile and graceful, each dodge perfectly avoiding the most powerful point of the punch. One hard, one soft, they fought for more than ten rounds on the training ground.
In these dozen or so rounds, the entire Godwind Academy team's coordination had quietly unfolded— Ji Ning darted out from behind Feng Xiaotian, his finger strikes silently blocking the retreat of the Thunder Academy vice-captain; Lu Qing's twin scythes pressed down on the Thunder Academy's Defense System shield, forcing the opponent to take the hit head-on; Feng Lingtian's Falcon Strike cut in from above, separating Lei Zhen and his Agility Attack System teammates; Su Mei'er's Wind Lightning Chain moved along the ground, blocking the movement of the Thunder Academy team members every time they tried to change formation; Ye Qingyu's Wind Zither - Light Sound laid the foundation, and the whole team continuously accelerated to the rhythm.
On the sidelines, Huo Xiao watched the smooth rotations and changes of position among the Godwind Academy team members and nodded slightly. Yu Leiting's gaze shifted from Feng Xiaotian to Ji Ning, Lu Qing, and Feng Lingtian —each person's position in the formation was just right, and no one was superfluous.
"Stop." Yu Leiting suddenly raised his hand. The referee looked at him. Yu Leiting stood up, looked at Lei Zhen on the field, then at Feng Xiaotian and his teammates, paused for two seconds, and then laughed.
"These kids from the Godwind Academy have excellent teamwork; we at the Thunder Academy concede defeat."
Lei Zhen withdrew his fist, panting heavily, but his face showed no resentment. He strode up to Feng Xiaotian and extended his fist. "This fight was satisfying. We'll fight again next time, but I believe the gap won't be so big next time."
Feng Xiaotian bumped fists with him. "I'll be waiting for you."
Godwind Academy vs. Thunder Academy, the host team wins the first game.
Someone on the sidelines clapped—it was Feng Qingxuan. He sat at the very edge of the platform, having remained silent throughout the entire performance. He clapped lightly twice before tucking his hands back into his sleeves. His gaze fell on Feng Xiaotian, then swept over the faces of everyone on the team, a faint smile playing on his lips.