"If you are able to keep your attacks around this realm, you could learn a lot, but you have to hold back that much. He will be able to dodge it, but you have to also adapt to those kinds of situations."
"All right!"
Zayn was in a small state of rush, because of his attack. It was his first intended attack in the whole tournament. The attack against the female cultivator was in a state of adrenaline, so he didn't really notice that.
His only reference was his attacks against the Snow Wolfs. There he felt like a Superman, barehanded fighting against wolfs. Now his attack felt like a whole world apart from his first attacks. It felt incredible. Zayn became a sucker to this worlds customary. Fighting, Cultivation, Martial Skills. Everything was fun to do and felt incredible after learning.
He was hooked on it. He now wanted to have a real fight, without holding back at all. The excitement he got only from thinking about it was already stimulating. In order to fight like that, he had to learn as much as possible. He was aware of it.
Zayn's opponent, on the other hand, wasn't that thrilled about his attack. He was recovering gradually from it but still felt a bit numbed. The fact that a 3-Star Body Refinement Cultivator was able to knock him barely out with an attack was shocking to him. He went into the fight thinking that he could teach Zayn a lesson with his strength, but now the tables were turned. He really shouldn't have underestimated Zayn.
After a few breaths, he recovered enough to stand up properly. He knew that he was able to dodge Zayn's attack. So the fight wasn't decided. He had to give his all. His speed was slower than Zayn's general speed, but with Zayn's attack being that slow he could overturn the odds.
The crowd was hyped about this development. Many people who were actively hating on him stopped. A few were afraid of his new status in the academy. And a small part genuinely started to like him. Strength ruled everything in this world. So the strong were loved while the weak were hated.
"I knew it! He was just holding back all the time. He isn't who you think he is. He is a gentleman."
"Wait... Weren't you the one who wanted to throw him out of the academy?"
"No... You- You must be confusing me with someone else!"
Zayn didn't notice the crowds chatter. He was still focused on the fight.
After his opponent stood up, Zayn charged him with another attack. But this time his opponent was prepared and easily dodged the attack. Zayn was answered with a counterattack, but it was also dodged by Zayn.
The fists were sent flying towards each other, but it was always dodged. Both of their speeds only increased during their fight.
Zayn didn't use more strength than his first attack against him. Infinite Star wanted Zayn to adjust and improve his attacking and not tap into his superior strength, derived from the Infinite Star Arts.
He improved his technique at a visible space and got far closer to his opponent than the previous times. Each attack was better than the former.
Unfortunately, his opponent couldn't keep with that kind of pace and Zayn lost the pressure of hitting him. The opponent was visibly exhausted. His breathing was heavy, and his movements only deteriorated. The fight was already in Zayn's pocket.
"Infinite Star? Can you teach me attacks with legs or something else?"
"No! I told you attacking was the last part of your battle experience learning. Punching should be enough for the attacking part. Concentrating on new things would only make it complicated. Your goal now is to sharpen your learned skills in the next fight. You can end this fight, it's pointless now."
Zayn was obviously disappointed. He was always interested in learning new things, but he understood Infinite Star's arguments. "Can I at least use my full strength to finish him?"
"Your full strength?!? Do you want to cripple this poor boy? I told you many times, with the Infinite Star Arts you prowess is higher than half a realm. Right now it should be around the 8-Star of the Body Refinement Realm. Taking your lacking experience into account it should be around the 6-Star or 7-Star of the Body Refinement Realm. And the full force of that should be far from enough to cripple him! Just put only a bit more strength than you did in the previous times. It is enough"
"All right..."
Following that Zayn casually walked up to his opponent and just punched him to his stomach. His opponent was already too exhausted so he just dropped on the floor and lost consciousness.
The crowd went into an uproar. Zayn wasn't only able to keep up with a 5-Star Body Refinement Realm Cultivator, but he was also able to defeat him. This was far harder than a mere skip of 2-Stars. Everyone was speechless. Zayn's name would soar into great heights in the future with that kind of achievement. Everyone was sure that the principal would take Zayn in as his direct disciple. With that kind of status, he was even higher situated than the teachers. And following that status, he would receive many resources for his cultivation.
Everyone wanted to befriend him immediately. They started to applaud him and fawned over him.
"You are my new idol! That fight was amazing!"
"My junior student, if you need anything at all, you can always call me. It would be my pleasure."
As Zayn left the arena and walked to Vown and Ryu, he was greeted by a swarm of students. They started to chat with him and tried to befriend him.
Vown and Ryue were eaten up by this swarm of students. The longer they were in the swarm, the farther they got to Zayn.
"Z-... ayn..."
.
"Listen up Flint! I don't want you to antagonize Zayn anymore. His status will only rise, and after that, even your family background can't protect you. After all, you are from a branch family. The main family may be able to protect you, but I don't think they have any desire towards that. You have to apologize after the tournament. I will talk to him and maybe we can retrieve your family's Martial Skill."
Teacher Leaf knew how important Zayn became after this fight. He wanted to also befriend him. He had to clear up Flint's and Zayn's grudge. He couldn't afford getting hated by Zayn, because of his student. And he also wasn't able to justify Flint's action against Zayn. He was the one he would be responsible for his student's mess. If he had Zayn as his student that would have been fantastic, but unfortunately he landed on Vown.
Flint was still boiling with anger. Teacher Leaf only added oil into the fire. Flint didn't predict this kind of development. Now his status and fame were below Zayn and he could do nothing about it. He was now below that worm that he could've crushed last week. The worst part of it was that he had to apologize to Zayn. Flint has never before apologized to a peer. It was his first time. He would lose his face again. And there was nothing he could do. His rage was eating him up
Teacher Leaf walked up to the stage and announced the Semi-Finals.
After hearing the announcement Flint's mood rose. He now was able to vent his anger out. Destroying his opponent would calm him a bit down. He was eager to step in the arena.
"Wait!" Teacher Leaf commented. "I know you aren't in a good mood, but you can't cripple your opponent. I can't protect you again! If you cripple him, this is it. The end!"
Flint's excitement died out. The only thing that would make him happy wasn't possible anymore. Why?!? He was only trashing a mere worm! Their life and death wouldn't make much of a difference. If they helped him venture his anger then their life would at least be meaningful.
All because of the fucking worm Zayn! If he didn't exist nothing of that would've happened!
He gazed over Zayn, who was currently in the middle of a swarm. His rage flew into new heights. While he was such in a bad mood, Zayn was amusing himself. He stared at him, hoping to be able to kill people with stares.
Zayn noticed Flint's stare by coincidence. He noticed Flint boiling with rage. After seeing that a broad smile appeared on Zayn's face and he was nearly bursting out in laughter.
'YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!! HOW DARE YOU SMILE AT ME LIKE THAT?!?'