Chapter 217: A Draw

Silence.

Complete silence throughout the arena.

Everyone's mouths hung open, stunned and dumbfounded.

Shen Biru, who had just declared Wang Ying's certain defeat, looked as if she had been slapped, her dark eyes nearly falling out of their sockets.

“One kick… and she sent Du Lei flying? How… did she know which was the phantom and which was the real body?”

Du Lei was so fast that even experts of the same level might not be able to distinguish them, but Wang Ying casually kicked him flying like a torn sack.

“Not only did she distinguish the phantoms, but the speed of that kick had to be much faster than Du Lei’s; otherwise, she couldn’t even catch up to him, let alone injure him.”

Han Qiong’s expression turned grave: “It seems Wang Ying’s leg injury has not only healed, but she has also learned formidable leg techniques and movement arts.”

“Indeed!”

Shen Biru also came to her senses.

It wasn’t just about seeing through the opponent’s figure; without sufficient martial skills to match, how could she have kicked him flying with one blow?

“This…” Wang Chao tugged at his hair.

He had just called her an idiot when she kicked Du Lei flying—this was no way to play; it would drive a person crazy.

Elder Hong Hao on the side also felt as if he had been slapped, on the verge of tears.

He had come here to see Zhang Xuan slapped in the face and disgraced, but somehow, Zhang Xuan’s reputation was growing louder, and instead, Lu Xun had been hit?

“Cough, cough, cough!”

On the other side of the arena, Lu Xun choked on his saliva, nearly collapsing.

Elder Hong Hao was crying, but he cried even harder.

What was going on?

This was the Phantom Nine Palace Step, and Du Lei executed it flawlessly. Although it was still a distance from his own level, for a True Qi realm cultivator to perform at this level was already considered exceptional talent!

Such a formidable footwork technique, and she kicked him flying with one blow?

Most importantly…

The young girl on the stage now had red-rimmed eyes, constantly apologizing, saying she had kicked too hard…

Too hard, my ass!

Could it be that your hesitation earlier wasn’t about not knowing how to strike, but about how to strike without being too heavy?

If not heavy already sent a man flying over ten meters, once heavy, wouldn’t it kick him to death on the spot?

The spectators were going mad, and on the stage, Du Lei finally struggled to his feet. Looking at the apologetic girl before him, he couldn’t hold back and spat out another mouthful of blood.

“Are you okay… I really didn’t mean it… I just learned the martial technique, can’t control the strength, used too much force…”

Wang Ying’s eyes were red.

“Too much force, my ass!”

With a roar, Du Lei lunged at her fiercely.

He was truly enraged.

Kicking me flying is one thing, but why apologize? Do you think I’m not your match, deliberately humiliating me?

And keep emphasizing that you used too much force… do you think I’m too weak, not worth your full effort?

“Ah?”

Not expecting that her sincere apology would provoke him to charge at her like a madman, Wang Ying’s face turned pale with fright.

Although her cultivation was higher than Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, and others, she had no combat experience and was too gentle. Seeing him rush at her, she was scared white.

In panic, she shifted her feet.

Whoosh!

In a flash, she was already over ten meters away.

“What?”

“In the blink of an eye, she darted over ten meters? This is… what movement technique?”

“Too fast! How is this possible?”

…

The surroundings were first silent, then erupted in explosive noise.

Everyone had thought Du Lei’s Phantom Nine Palace Step was the most impressive movement technique, but they never dreamed Wang Ying’s was even more terrifying.

In less than half a breath, she had covered over ten meters—this could no longer be described as movement technique but as ghostly apparition.

Even Dantian realm or even Aperture Opening realm martial artists couldn’t be this fast.

How did she do it?

“The Wang family definitely doesn’t have this kind of movement technique; if they did, they would have been famous long ago…”

“True, but if not from the Wang family, who taught her?”

“It must be Teacher Zhang. Wasn’t Zheng Yang’s amazing spear technique also taught by Teacher Zhang?”

“Such a formidable movement technique, taught so easily? I want to withdraw from the class and study under Teacher Zhang!”

“Not just you, I want to as well…”

…

Everyone below the stage had fiery eyes.

Spear techniques weren’t something everyone could practice, not enough to tempt them, but movement techniques were different—they were the greatest asset for survival and victory in battle. If one could learn them, even in future dangers, their chances of survival would increase.

Who wouldn’t want to learn such a powerful martial technique?

“I’ll make you lose…”

Seeing Wang Ying flash over ten meters away, Du Lei was also dizzy, but now blinded by rage, he charged again without caring.

“Ah!”

Seeing him ferocious and bloody-mouthed, Wang Ying screamed in fright again, swayed her body, and fled once more.

One chased, one fled.

“Her personality is indeed too weak. I’ll need to train her well in the future.”

Watching this scene, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

At this point, not to mention Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, and Yuan Tao, even Zhao Ya would have kicked Du Lei flying, if not killed him, at least made him unable to stand.

But Wang Ying was being chased all over the stage.

Her naive and indecisive personality led to this situation.

It seemed what she lacked was not martial techniques or cultivation, but combat experience.

“The Heaven’s Path Movement Technique consumes a lot of stamina; once or twice is fine, but more than that won’t work!”

The Heaven’s Path Movement Technique was extremely fast, covering over ten meters in a blink, but it had a flaw.

It consumed too much physical strength.

Wang Ying could escape once or twice like this, but after several times, she would surely be caught.

Sure enough, before his thought ended, he saw Wang Ying sweating, panting heavily, unable to run anymore.

By then, she had also been forced to the edge of the stage.

Swish!

Du Lei came beside her and grabbed her arm: “If I can’t win, I won’t let you win either…”

After shouting, he leaped off the stage.

“You…”

Not expecting him to be so underhanded, trying to drag her off the stage, Wang Ying, in panic, could no longer care and kicked him again.

Whoosh!

Du Lei was sent flying like a kicked ball, tumbling several times in the air before landing over thirty meters away.

Thud!

However, after kicking him, she also exhausted her strength and fell off the stage, landing on the ground.

Both fell off the stage and landed at almost the same time, resulting in only one outcome… a draw!

Du Lei knew he couldn’t beat Wang Ying, so he deliberately acted fierce to drag her down.

But Wang Ying’s desperate counterattack was also powerful, sending him flying over thirty meters; even if he didn’t die, he would be bedridden for at least two months.

“This… this is cheating!”

“Shameless…”

“Clearly not a match, yet he drags her off the stage; he deserves to be kicked flying…”

“How can he be so brazen? Even more shameless than Yuan Tao!”

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Everyone could see that Du Lei was cheating.

In a match, it was clear his movement and leg techniques were inferior; he bullied her for being a girl and used brute force to drag her down—utterly shameless.

As for being kicked flying, he deserved it… no one sympathized.

Hearing the curses, Yuan Tao was speechless. How did he get dragged into this without saying a word?

Who’s shameless? You’re the shameless ones, your whole family is shameless…

“Both landed at the same time, a draw!”

Hearing the commotion, the referee teacher was a bit overwhelmed, but still nodded and announced the result.

Although Du Lei was somewhat suspected of cheating, they did indeed fall off together, so it could only be counted as a tie.

“Teacher…”

Hearing this result, Wang Ying pouted and came to Zhang Xuan, her face full of apology.

Teacher Zhang trusted her so much, not only healing her leg but also teaching her leg techniques and movement arts, yet she didn’t win—she felt deeply ashamed.

“It’s okay. Just pay attention next time. Don’t take it to heart.” Zhang Xuan nodded. “It was my oversight. What you lack is not cultivation or techniques, but mental fortitude.”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Seeing he didn’t blame her but instead comforted her, Wang Ying felt even more embarrassed. But the outcome was already set and couldn’t be changed, so she walked gloomily to the back of the crowd.

If Du Lei saw her expression, he would probably go crazy.

I’m lying on the ground unable to move after being kicked by you, and you’re still upset… I should be the one upset, okay?

“Teacher Zhang has won two matches and drawn one; he’s already undefeated.”

“Indeed. Even if Teacher Lu wins the next two matches, it’ll only be a draw.”

“It depends on how the rest goes. I think Teacher Lu’s chances of winning are slim.”

“I think so too. I originally thought Teacher Lu would definitely crush him, but… Teacher Zhang crushed him instead. What’s going on?”

…

Although they felt Du Lei’s actions were too shameless, everyone soon accepted the fact.

The rules were the rules; even if it seemed unfair, there was nothing to be done.

With a draw, the problem arose again.

In the five-student match, Teacher Zhang had two wins and one draw, putting all the pressure on Teacher Lu. If the next student lost again, the last match wouldn’t even need to be held.

But if he won all the remaining matches, the overall result would be a draw, saving face for both sides—the best possible outcome.

Thinking of this, everyone turned their eyes to Lu Xun, wondering who he would send next and how the fight would go.

“I can’t lose again… I initiated the teacher evaluation to boost my reputation; if I lose again, I’ll have no face left to see anyone…”

Lu Xun gritted his teeth.

Others could figure it out, and so could he.

He couldn’t afford to lose anymore; if he did, not only would he fail to establish his authority, but he would never be able to hold his head high in the entire academy.

“Zhu Hong once lost to Zhao Ya; even if his cultivation has improved, he might still have a psychological shadow. Sending him out can’t guarantee a 100% win… Bai Chao, go! He’s good at fist techniques; dealing with Liu Yang shouldn’t be a problem.”

In an instant, Lu Xun made his decision and beckoned.

Bai Chao stepped out from the crowd and strode onto the stage.

“My turn.”

Seeing him step up, Liu Yang smiled lightly and, without waiting for Zhang Xuan’s instruction, also walked onto the stage.