Su Xiuyi shook his head in disappointment, withdrew his gaze, and resumed cultivating. Although cultivation was unbearably monotonous, he was imprisoned here, and apart from cultivating, he could find nothing else to do.
The next day, outside Southern Heaven Academy, a gigantic lion came thundering toward the gates. Its body was three or four times the size of an ordinary lion's, and its mane shone golden. With every breath it took, flames flickered faintly from its nostrils. A gloomy-looking young man sat on its back, dressed entirely in black and radiating a terrifying presence. This was Zhan Wushuang, who had been traveling around issuing challenges. Today, he had finally reached Southern Heaven Academy.
Zhan Wushuang's mount was a genius of the Demon Race's Blazing Flame Berserk Lion clan. After Zhan Wushuang defeated him, he took him as a mount. The lion was also at the Skysoaring realm.
The arrival of two Skysoaring experts sent a chill through everyone's hearts, especially since both Zhan Wushuang and the Blazing Flame Berserk Lion beneath him were men who lived for battle.
Zhan Wushuang and the Blazing Flame Berserk Lion unleashed their terrifying Sha Qi without restraint. Zhan Wushuang did not dismount, but called out in a clear voice, "Zhan Wushuang of the Battle Sect has come to pay a visit to Southern Heaven Academy."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At that moment, Zhan Wushuang used a Will Character to amplify his voice. It rolled out like heavenly thunder descending upon the world, setting the sky above Southern Heaven Academy humming. Under the force of that terrifying voice, the academy's disciples trembled inwardly, fear appearing in their eyes. The name Zhan Wushuang itself carried a deterrent force.
"Zhan Wushuang of the Battle Sect!"
Inside Southern Heaven Academy, Ji Zhan, the academy master, heard Zhan Wushuang's unrestrained voice. His pupils immediately contracted.
"Why has that Battle Sect madman really come? Our Southern Heaven Academy has already been suppressed to this extent. Why must he do this?"
At that moment, an academy elder's expression also turned grim.
Zhan Wushuang came from the Battle Sect, and his method of cultivation was exceptionally overbearing. His methods were even more ruthless. In recent days, he had challenged the genius disciples of academy after academy, using exceedingly vicious methods to temper his own invincible battle intent.
By now, Zhan Wushuang had swept all opposition aside, relying on his terrifying talent in Will Characters and martial arts to crush a full ninety-nine prodigies. His battle intent had grown stronger with every fight, and now it could be said to be nearing its peak.
For in ninety-nine battles, he had not suffered a single defeat.
Zhan Wushuang's name now rang throughout the Great Zhou Kingdom. He was one of the most renowned people of the younger generation, and he had the makings of one who could claim the top spot.
"Zhan Wushuang specifically named Wuming as the one he wanted to challenge, but after Shen Dong defeated Wuming with a single strike yesterday, Wuming instead touched upon an opportunity to break through. There's hope that he can manifest his fifth Divine Rune, and he's in seclusion now. Academy Master, how should we handle this?"
An elder's expression was grim. Zhan Wushuang had come at the worst possible time.
Standing in the main hall, Ji Zhan's expression flickered. Although Ji Wuming's defeat at Shen Dong's hands had instead sparked an opportunity for a breakthrough, if he came out of seclusion now and fought immediately, he would be facing Zhan Wushuang, who had won all ninety-nine of his battles and whose battle intent had risen to its peak. If Wuming lost again, his Dao heart would likely be damaged. After pondering for a moment, Ji Zhan said, "Go and notify the chief disciples and heads of each institute. They will accompany me outside the academy to welcome Zhan Wushuang."
"Yes, Academy Master!"
Before long, nearly everyone in Southern Heaven Academy had been set in motion.
Zhan Wushuang was not yet thirty, but he had already cultivated to Peak Skysoaring. With the Battle Sect master's support behind him, he was an unparalleled genius of the present age and would surely become a supreme expert in the future. Thus, Ji Zhan did not dare to underestimate or slight him in the least.
Soon, Ji Zhan and the others arrived together in front of the academy.
"I am Zhan Wushuang. Greetings, seniors and fellow Daoists."
Seeing that quite a few people had come out of Southern Heaven Academy and sensing the oppressive pressure of countless elders bearing down on him, Zhan Wushuang remained seated on the Blazing Sun Berserk Lion. His expression was neither servile nor overbearing as he merely cupped his fists slightly toward them.
"Young friend Wushuang, you've come from a thousand li away. You must be weary from the journey. How about coming into Southern Heaven Academy to rest a while first?" Given who Ji Zhan was, he naturally would not show any displeasure, and he spoke with a gracious smile.
"No need!"
Seated atop the Blazing Sun Berserk Lion, Zhan Wushuang shook his head and refused outright. With a resolute expression, he said, "Senior, I assume you already know why I've come. My challenge has already been issued, has it not?"
Ji Zhan's expression changed slightly. Zhan Wushuang really was a difficult fellow, forceful and overbearing.
Ji Zhan had no choice but to nod. "Naturally, I know. You wish to challenge Wuming."
Zhan Wushuang nodded and said gravely, "That's right. I've heard that Ji Wuming has a complete set of Will Characters and, together with the Ji Clan's powerful divine techniques, their might is immense, sealing everything and piercing through everything. He is one of the prodigies of the current younger generation. I, Zhan Wushuang, was born for battle, and I've long been itching to fight him."
Ji Zhan said helplessly, "But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, young friend Wushuang. Yesterday, Wuming lost to Shen Dong and happened to gain some insight, making a breakthrough with his Will Characters. He's in seclusion now. Who knows when he'll come out?"
Ji Zhan did not want Ji Wuming to fight.
"That third-place examination candidate, Shen Dong?"
"In that case, I can challenge Shen Dong instead. Shen Dong defeated Ji Wuming, so he's a more suitable opponent, isn't he? I trust that, as the Great Zhou Dynasty's third-place examination candidate, he won't avoid a fight. I've challenged countless people, but not one person or faction has avoided a fight." Zhan Wushuang spoke evenly, but there was a faint note of coercion in his words. Moreover, Shen Dong had originally placed third in the examination; he had become the top scorer because of what happened to Su Xiuyi.
Zhan Wushuang showed them no consideration, brimming with battle intent and fearing no one.
Moreover, if Shen Dong refused, Southern Heaven Academy and the Great Zhou Kingdom would become laughingstocks. Zhan Wushuang had chosen his opportunity with uncanny precision.
Hearing this, Ji Zhan frowned. After a moment's thought, he said to an institute head beside him, "Go and notify Shen Dong."
"Yes!"
The institute head hurried off in person. Shen Dong was now the top examination scorer, his star at its zenith.
"Young friend Wushuang, wait a moment. I've already sent someone to invite Shen Dong. After all, Shen Dong is now the top examination scorer, and I don't yet know whether he'll be willing to fight today." Ji Zhan spoke honestly.
"I'll wait for him. I believe he'll come. He may be a false top scorer, but he won't shrink from a fight!"
Zhan Wushuang said no more, but sneered inwardly. You're nothing but a third-place candidate. I'd like to see whether you dare refuse to fight, and whether you still care about your reputation.
If he doesn't come out, I'll fight my way in.
"Senior, I've heard that Southern Heaven Academy has countless prodigies. Since we don't know when Shen Dong will come out, could you have the academy's disciples offer me some pointers?" Zhan Wushuang stared at Ji Zhan, utterly overbearing.
"This..." Ji Zhan hesitated.
But Shen Dong's teacher's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Academy Master, let's do as he wishes. After all, he's won ninety-nine battles without a loss. This will let us see just how capable he is."
After he spoke, a cold light flickered in his eyes. He believed that Ji Zhan was going along with Zhan Wushuang today because he wanted to scheme against Shen Dong. If Shen Dong lost, he would surely have no future left in the Great Zhou Kingdom. After all, although Shen Dong was favored, he had ruined Su Xiuyi's reputation, while Southern Heaven Academy had also suffered grievously. Now, no genius was willing to enter Southern Heaven Academy, so it was only natural that someone would scheme against Shen Dong. He himself was a schemer.
(End of chapter)