Chapter 87: The Falling Thunder Spear! Using Point to Break Surface!
"Why, as second on the leaderboard, would you bother challenging me?" Xiao Ze voiced his doubts.
Xiao Ze asked what was on his mind.
"Of course, it's because ever since you defeated Lin Lieyang, people in the inner court have been saying you have what it takes to challenge second place."
"I'm also curious about just how strong you are."
Lei Jia said, eyeing Xiao Ze as he spoke.
Feeling Lei Jia's aggressive gaze, Xiao Ze understood.
This was a battle maniac.
The reason prompting him to challenge Xiao Ze might partly stem from too much discussion among the inner court members, which annoyed him.
But more likely, it was because he himself had a desire for battle.
"Alright, let's set a time and place."
"Tomorrow noon, at the central square of the inner court competition!"
Lei Jia said decisively.
"I'm looking forward to our battle."
With these words, Lei Jia turned and left.
The surrounding students also became excited, spreading the news.
After all, this was a battle between the top ten on the leaderboard, definitely a clash of titans.
"It really keeps one on their toes."
Xiao Ze turned to Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yi Xian.
"That's how competitive it is in the inner court. Go for it, Xiao Ze!" Xiao Xuner cheered him on with gestures.
Xiao Yi Xian followed suit.
"Go, Xiao Ze! Second place on the leaderboard is nothing for you!"
Seeing their adorable encouragement, Xiao Ze couldn't help but pat their heads.
"With your support, I'll surely emerge victorious in tomorrow's battle!"
"Alright, with that settled, let's grab some food."
Xiao Ze said, leading the two of them to the cafeteria.
In contrast to the relaxed atmosphere of Xiao Ze and his two companions, the inner court began to stir.
The battle between second and fifth on the leaderboard!
Although it had been speculated before that Xiao Ze had the strength to challenge second place, it was all just speculation.
But now, finally, their speculations could be confirmed.
Tomorrow, they would know whether Xiao Ze could defeat Lei Jia, ranked second.
The next day at noon, Xiao Ze, accompanied by Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yi Xian, arrived at the venue of the inner court competition—the central square.
The central square was usually not open to the public, so it was unclear how Lei Jia managed to get the academy to agree.
The venue was spacious enough to accommodate all the students in the inner court, with plenty of room to spare.
And this battle had also attracted many inner court students.
Except for some students who were on mountain training or seclusion, the vast majority of students flocked to the central square.
In such a fiercely competitive environment, once a battle broke out, every student was eager to participate or watch.
As one of the main characters in today's battle, Xiao Ze also attracted a lot of attention.
Xiao Ze himself didn't belong to any faction.
But based on his appearance and strength, some people in the academy spontaneously cheered for him, even forming groups.
The momentum was immense.
"Go, Xiao Ze! Rise to second place!"
"Go, Xiao Ze! Once again, demonstrate your ability to fight against opposing attributes!"
Amidst the cheers, Xiao Ze stepped onto the stage.
Lei Jia was already prepared at this point.
As one of the top battle maniacs and a practitioner of the thunder attribute, he looked extremely handsome in battle.
Naturally, he had many supporters as well.
"Xiao Ze, your popularity might even surpass mine. It's unbelievable that a newcomer could have such popularity," Lei Jia said somewhat enviously.
His current popularity was still built on the battles he had fought over the years.
Xiao Ze smiled and looked at the faintly visible thunder snakes on Lei Jia's body, squinting his eyes slightly.
In his heart, he couldn't help but think, 'Why does it feel like as a water attribute practitioner, anyone can come and counter me?'
At this moment, a familiar figure slowly descended onto the central stage.
Surprisingly, it was Elder Lin, who had been responsible for arranging Xiao Ze and the others.
"Battles between the top ten in the inner court are rarely conducted publicly, as there is usually little change in rankings," Elder Lin said with a smile. "Your battle today has made the inner court unusually lively."
"It's also a good opportunity for those new students to see the strength of the top ten in the inner court and stimulate them a bit."
After Elder Lin finished speaking, he raised his right hand high and waved it down abruptly, announcing the start of the match.
"Why do I feel like, as a water attribute cultivator, anyone can come and counter me?"
At that moment, a familiar figure slowly descended into the center of the arena.
It was Elder Lin, who had previously been responsible for arranging accommodations for Xiao Ze and others.
"Elder Lin smiled and said, "The fights among the top ten in the inner academy rankings are rarely public because the competitors are often evenly matched and their rankings do not change significantly."
"Your battle has certainly livened things up in the inner academy."
"It's also a good opportunity for the new students to see just how formidable the top ten really are and give them a bit of a boost."
After finishing his speech, Elder Lin raised his right hand high and swung it down forcefully, signaling the start of the match.
Suddenly, Lei Jia pulled out the silver-white spear strapped to his back.
Only a worthy opponent could compel him, a battle maniac, to draw his spear at the very start of the fight.
"Xiao Ze, you better be careful, I am of the thunder attribute!"
After Lei Jia spoke, his violent thunder attribute began to flash, filling the arena with blinding white light.
Taking advantage of this brief burst of intense light, Lei Jia dashed towards Xiao Ze in a sudden flash.
He was a battle maniac and a genius in combat!
Seizing this moment of Xiao Ze's unpreparedness, Lei Jia closed the distance. Unfortunately for him, Xiao Ze was also highly skilled in combat.
Although the arena seemed engulfed in blinding light, even Lei Jia couldn't afford to waste his fighting energy to cover the entire arena.
This gave Xiao Ze the chance to gather his "Azure Sea Whirlpool".
With his keen soul perception, Xiao Ze quickly used the "Azure Sea Whirlpool" at the exact path Lei Jia was taking.
The effectiveness of the move aside, Xiao Ze just hoped to momentarily stop him.
At the same time, Xiao Ze rapidly retreated.
His hands moved to form the gestures for "Azure Sea Surge".
His previous fight with Lin Lieyang had already demonstrated his strong abilities.
Now there was no need for delay; he directly used an earth-level combat technique.
Moreover, the longer the delay against a thunder attribute, the worse it was for him!
The energy of the world around them burst into chaos!
Under the cover of the thunder attribute fighting energy, Lei Jia's expression changed as he thrust his spear fiercely, exploding the "Azure Sea Whirlpool" before it could fully form.
But it was still too late.
Because in his path forward, he still needed to burst through another "Azure Sea Whirlpool"!
"Are you that ruthless? Using an earth-level combat technique right from the start!" Lei Jia thought to himself, deciding not to delay any further.
He used his strongest ability, "Falling Thunder Spear"!
Capturing the essence of thunder from the endless skies above, that is the "Falling Thunder Spear"!
His wild thunder attribute fighting energy spread wildly, turning into a dazzling thunder light that coiled around his spear.
Lei Jia firmly gripped the spear and made a throwing gesture, aiming directly at Xiao Ze's position, and hurled the spear fiercely!
The spear, enveloped in thunder attribute fighting energy, cut through the air like a thunder dragon, its fierce and domineering power causing the audience below to sweat.
If it were them facing that spear, they would have been reduced to ashes already!
They couldn't help but look in Xiao Ze's direction as a gigantic wave suddenly formed out of nowhere, carrying tremendous power towards the other end of the arena.
Xiao Ze's eyes narrowed slightly.
It seems that Lei Jia was well-prepared.
He had already seen through the weakness of Xiao Ze's water attribute combat technique, "Azure Sea Surge".
Indeed, when the two combat techniques collided, the spear pierced through the "Azure Sea Surge" at great speed.
Though the thunder attribute fighting energy on the spear was greatly reduced, it still retained significant power.
The two combat techniques passed each other, heading towards their respective masters.
Now it was a matter of who could withstand the other's combat technique.
(End of chapter)