Chapter 214: Yuan Tao vs. Kong Jie

At the head table.

Shen Biru's flawless face showed a trace of frustration and anxiety.

After the Heart Inquiry ended, she had left Tianxuan King City on business and only returned yesterday. As soon as she arrived, she heard about the teacher evaluation and was so shocked she nearly fainted.

Is this Zhang Xuan crazy?

Who is Lu Xun?

The banner of Hongtian Academy, a true star teacher. Competing with him... isn't that asking for a beating?

What's more, this guy had specifically recruited students from other teachers' classes to counter Zhao Ya and the others!

How could he be so reckless...

Biting her jade-like teeth, recalling yesterday's events, Shen Biru grew even more frustrated.

After learning the news, she wanted to dissuade him, but... the guy wasn't there!

She waited at his dormitory door all night... and he never came back.

The competition is tomorrow, and Lu Xun is said to have been teaching his students all night without rest. But you, you abandon your students and stay out all night...

Is this how you prepare for a match?

What a nerve!

Does he think there's no hope of winning and has given up?

After the Library Pavilion, Hongtian Tower, Heart Inquiry, and other events, she had thought Teacher Zhang, despite his poor reputation, was actually a meticulous and serious person. But now...

Meticulous and serious, my foot!

Who has ever seen someone disappear for days right before a competition?

"What are you thinking? You've been distracted since you got back."

Just as she was fuming, a beautiful face appeared before her.

Another beautiful teacher at the academy, Han Qiong!

Han Qiong was also a rare beauty, only slightly less so than Shen Biru. However, at around twenty-five, she was in the prime of her womanhood, and in terms of figure and charm, she far surpassed the latter.

Thus, there were even more people infatuated with Teacher Han Qiong than with Shen Biru.

Both being beautiful teachers, they had a good private relationship and were considered best friends.

"It's that Zhang Xuan again. I really don't know what he's thinking. No sooner had he cleared his name than he insists on competing with Teacher Lu Xun!" Shen Biru huffed angrily. "Once he loses, no one will believe the previous matters either!"

The Heart Inquiry had just proven that the Teaching Office had framed him. If he loses the competition, all sorts of rumors will swarm again, and no one will believe anything he says afterward.

"It seems... you care about him a lot?"

Han Qiong smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Who cares about him! He's just an arrogant fool!" Shen Biru snorted.

"Good that you don't care. I was afraid our great beauty Shen had developed earthly feelings!"

Stretching lazily, revealing a stunning curve, Han Qiong dropped the subject and asked curiously, "By the way, who do you think will win between the two?"

"Zhang Xuan's five students, Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and the others, are not bad. But Teacher Lu Xun has specifically prepared for this, finding Mo Xiao and the others who counter them. I'm afraid... they'll lose from the start."

Speaking of who might win, Shen Biru shed her earlier frustration and anger, her eyes showing calmness and wisdom.

As a teacher at the academy, she knew the students' situations thoroughly. Upon hearing about the competition, she had investigated and learned of Lu Xun's arrangements.

His actions were indeed underhanded, but honestly, it also reflected the qualities of an excellent teacher.

No matter the opponent, giving one's all and striving for the most favorable conditions is a basic quality that teachers and cultivators should possess.

"Unless..."

Pausing, Shen Biru's eyes flashed with intelligence: "If Zhao Ya and the others have all reached Martial Artist Second Rank, they might be able to fight with a level advantage!"

The students Lu Xun found were specifically chosen to counter Zhao Ya and the others. Unless they broke through, they couldn't break this suppression; otherwise, winning was truly hopeless.

"Exactly!" Han Qiong nodded in agreement.

"Look, Teacher Zhang and his students are coming..."

"Such strong auras! Zhao Ya and the others... have reached Martial Artist Second Rank?"

"That... impossible? Only half a month and they're at Martial Artist Second Rank?"

...

Just as the two were worrying, they heard a commotion from the crowd and saw Zhang Xuan approaching with Zhao Ya and the others.

At this moment, Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, Wang Ying, and the others exuded sharp auras, every movement radiating powerful momentum.

Martial Artist Second Rank!

Except for the weakest Yuan Tao, who was only at late Breath Gathering Stage, the others had all reached Dantian Stage!

"This..." Shen Biru's eyes lit up.

"It seems Teacher Zhang Xuan looks unreliable but actually delivers!" Han Qiong smiled.

"Now only Yuan Tao is a bit weaker; the others still have a chance to win..." Shen Biru nodded, but before she could continue, her pretty face turned pale.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her friend's expression, Han Qiong was puzzled.

"It's... Teacher Lu and his students are here!"

Shen Biru clenched her delicate fists.

"Teacher Lu? So what if he's here? Zhao Ya and the others are at Martial Artist Second Rank; they have a good chance of winning..." Han Qiong smiled, but as she spoke, she saw Lu Xun approaching with Zhu Hong, Mo Xiao, and the others, and her mouth twitched as she froze: "Martial Artist Third Rank? His students... have all reached Martial Artist Third Rank?"

"Martial Artist Third Rank, True Energy Stage... they can use true energy, with strength over 300 kilograms... How can they win?"

Both women stood rigid.

Martial Artist Second and Third Ranks are a dividing line. First Rank, Breath Gathering: spiritual energy circulates through the body, transforming an ordinary person into a martial artist's body, enabling cultivation.

Second Rank, Dantian: accumulates and gathers spiritual energy in the body, expanding the dantian.

Third Rank, True Energy: reaching this realm, true energy can circulate within the body. In terms of physique, reaction, and strength, it far surpasses the first two ranks.

Reaching True Energy Stage means a significant increase in life level. If before they were ordinary people, now they are comparable to tigers and wolves. How can they fight?

Just seeing Zhao Ya and the others at Martial Artist Second Rank, they thought victory was assured. Now... victory, my foot!

There's no chance at all!

"To win... a miracle would have to happen!"

Shen Biru smiled bitterly.

If before she still held some hope for Teacher Zhang, thinking he might win, now even that sliver of luck was gone.

The two beauties were utterly shocked, and the other observing teachers were also dumbfounded, silent, casting pitying glances at Zhang Xuan.

Competing with Teacher Lu Xun... indeed, it's asking for a beating!

"Martial Artist Second Rank against Third Rank? Alchemist Zhang... it's very uncertain!"

Like the other teachers, President Ouyang and Alchemist Du Man exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Yes, the life levels are different; there's no chance of winning!"

"It seems... Alchemist Zhang is doomed to lose!"

Many alchemists reached the same conclusion and couldn't help sighing.

As soon as Zhang Xuan and Lu Xun appeared, many had already made their judgment; the scales of victory had tipped toward Lu Xun.

...

"Today's freshman competition will be preceded by a bet between teachers—the teacher evaluation of Teacher Lu Xun and Teacher Zhang Xuan."

Seeing both protagonists arrive, the dean, who had not appeared for a long time, stood on the competition platform, his voice resounding through the academy.

Hearing the call, Zhang Xuan and Lu Xun led their students onto the platform and sat on opposite sides.

In the teacher evaluation, students compete against students; teachers can only watch from the sidelines and may not interfere.

Of course, the competition is only part of the evaluation, which also includes written exams, potential assessments, etc. However, martial artists value strength; if they lose the competition, even winning the subsequent assessments won't bring any glory.

"Who goes first?"

Unconcerned with others' comments, Zhang Xuan looked calmly at his five students.

"I'll go!" Yuan Tao stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

With his Dragon Rhinoceros Bloodline awakened, he was still quite confident.

"Kong Jie, go and defeat this last-place guy!"

Seeing that his first match was against the last-place student in the entrance exam, Lu Xun sneered coldly.

After a night of individual guidance, these five students had already consolidated their cultivation at the early stage of Martial Artist Third Rank and could use true energy proficiently.

With such strength, defeating a few Martial Artist Second Rank students would be a piece of cake.

"Once you're utterly defeated, what right will you have to be an apprentice of the three masters?"

His eyes flashing, Lu Xun sneered coldly.

All his efforts were for today. When his students publicly defeated Zhang Xuan's, let's see how that guy can still shamelessly be an apprentice of the three famous masters.

Then he would make everyone know that he, Lu Xun, was the most invincible existence at Hongtian Academy.

...

"Senior Kong, please go easy on me..."

Looking at his opponent, Yuan Tao put on a pitiful expression: "Look at me, so fat, and my strength is only Martial Artist First Rank..."

"Go easy?" Kong Jie curled his lips, disdain in his eyes: "I never go easy in fights. Either admit defeat now, or... be knocked off the platform by me. Choose!"

"Admit defeat? If I admit defeat, Teacher Zhang will kill me..." Yuan Tao said with a aggrieved look, taking a few steps forward.

"If you don't want to admit defeat, then just wait to be knocked off the platform. Simple!"

Ignoring the other's show of weakness, Kong Jie sneered coldly.

Before the fight even started, this guy was already showing weakness and begging for mercy. What a weirdo.

But from this, it was also clear that Teacher Zhang had no skill; Teacher Lu was sure to win.

"How about this? Since I can't beat you anyway, let's pretend to fight a couple of moves, and then I'll admit defeat. That way, Teacher Zhang won't blame me. If you cooperate, I'll give you a thousand... oh, no, five hundred... three hundred gold coins as a reward."

Stepping closer to the other, Yuan Tao lowered his voice.

"Three hundred gold coins? Fake fight?" Kong Jie was taken aback: "That many gold coins? Do you have them?"

"I do, look!"

Yuan Tao reached into his pocket and fumbled.

Kong Jie couldn't help but look down.

But instead of seeing the so-called gold coins, he saw a fist flying toward him.

"Fell for it..."

Only then did he realize he had been tricked.

Showing weakness, playing pitiful, then bribing, and ambushing... Damn, can you be any more shameless?

With so many students watching, how can you call yourself a hero...

Fuming inwardly, but it was too late. His pupils contracted, and then he felt a surging, overwhelming force rushing at him. Before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his face.

Whoosh!

He flew backward and landed outside the competition platform.