The Matchup!

Faced with Wang Bufan's arrogance, one of the male students behind Qin Rushuang from the Great Xia Dynasty could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, clasped his hands, and volunteered, "Teacher Qin, I request to fight!"

The other two Seed Class students beside him echoed his sentiments:

"That's right, Junior Brother Li's cultivation is also at the Bone Tempering Perfection, and he has rich practical combat experience!"

"That Wang Bufan is so young. Even if we're at the same level, his martial arts skills are definitely lacking. Junior Brother Li will surely defeat him!"

Qin Rushuang's cool gaze swept over the student surnamed Li who had volunteered for the battle, and then subtly swept over the Great Yan Dynasty's team opposite. With just one glance, she made a rough judgment on the strength of the people from the Great Yan Dynasty.

'One person at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, two at the Tendon Transformation Realm, and one at the Bone Tempering Perfection ...' Qin Rushuang's heart sank slightly. 'With such a lineup, Great Xia indeed has little chance against them. This exchange is probably... already decided. Unless...'

Another figure involuntarily surfaced in her mind— Lin Qingyao. 'That girl's background is mysterious and unpredictable. If she were willing to make a move... But, at most, she's only at the Bone Tempering, perhaps barely touching the threshold of the Tendon Transformation stage? Even if she could challenge someone of a higher level, who could match that Marrow Cleansing Realm expert opposite her?'

In a flash, Qin Rushuang pulled herself together from her chaotic thoughts; the current situation left her no time to dwell on it. Facing the high fighting spirit of her own students, she nodded slightly and calmly said, "Go, but stop short of a decisive exchange."

Upon receiving permission, the student surnamed Li perked up, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He took a deep breath, pushed off with his feet, and nimbly leaped onto the stage, landing steadily opposite Wang Bufan.

"Great Xia Martial Arts Academy, Li Mu, Bone Tempering Perfection!" Li Mu announced his name loudly, then looked at Wang Bufan and said with a hint of senior instructing junior, "Junior Brother Wang is still young, and his cultivation is not easy. In our sparring later, I will go easy on you."

Upon hearing Li Mu's words, the students of Great Xia erupted in thunderous cheers!

"Senior Brother Li is awesome!"

"Well said! That's how a senior brother should act!"

"Let that brat know how powerful our Great Xia Martial Arts Academy is!"

Hearing the cheers around him, a smug look appeared on Li Mu's face, and he straightened his back even more.

Seeing this, Wang Bufan, standing on the opposite side of the arena, curled his lip in disdain, his eyes full of mockery.

In the Great Yan Dynasty team, both Zhao Jin and another male student at the Tendon Transformation Realm named Zhao Yi had slightly furrowed brows.

"This guy is even more arrogant than Wang Bufan!" Zhao Jin muttered under his breath.

Zhao Yi snorted coldly, "Ignorant fool."

"Hey! You big oaf!" Wang Bufan suddenly spoke, his voice crisp yet laced with hostility, "So what if you're old? Enough with the nonsense! If you want to fight, then fight! Stop whining like a woman!"

Li Mu's smug expression froze instantly, his brows furrowed, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

The students in the audience were in an uproar:

"Outrageous! This kid has absolutely no manners!"

"Senior Brother Li, don't be polite with him, teach him a lesson!"

"Let him know what respect is!"

At this tense moment, Wang Xijing, the young man in the Marrow Cleansing Realm who had been silent in the Great Yan Dynasty's ranks, noticed that his mentor Zhao Qingfeng still seemed somewhat dazed, and couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "Mentor?"

Zhao Qingfeng snapped back to his senses, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed his surprise and doubt. 'This is a normal exchange between the Martial Dao Academy of the two countries. She... shouldn't have attacked without reason, right?' He composed himself and refocused his attention on the arena.

On the other side, Qin Rushuang also noticed the strange gaze cast by the Qi Refining Realm instructor opposite her, and understood. 'Looks like he recognized me? But it doesn't matter.' Her expression remained indifferent, without the slightest change.

Seeing that the atmosphere had been built up, the two mentors— Qin Rushuang and Zhao Qingfeng —speaked almost simultaneously, their voices carrying clearly throughout the venue:

"The competition begins!"