"This! This is!" The national teacher stared in astonishment at the calm-looking Sen Yan beside him.
Sen Yan smiled at the national teacher.
In fact, when he had imparted the spiritual technique to his son, he had hoped it would simply take form. He hadn't expected his son to be so talented that he could directly manifest it!
This was beyond his expectations. Despite his calm demeanor, he was already in shock internally.
On the battlefield, there was a loud "boom!" and a body was thrown far into the distance.
Upon closer inspection, the once pristine black robe had become tattered, and the previously calm expression had transformed into one of utter shock.
In the crowd, Wen Wan watched Sen Lei standing tall on the platform, his charismatic figure filling her with complex emotions. She muttered softly, "The Crown Prince is really so powerful..."
Su Qianyi slowly stood up, dusted himself off, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He sighed, "The Crown Prince is indeed strong. I underestimated you. But now, I won't hold back!" With that, he smiled slightly, drew the short sword from his waist, and charged towards Sen Lei.
He unleashed a profound spiritual technique! Star Moving Blade!
Seeing Su Qianyi draw his dagger and activate the spiritual technique, the audience fell silent, their expressions tense with anticipation.
"It's a profound spiritual technique!" National Teacher Wei An's face turned serious, and even Wei Xiaoxiao dared not tug on his beard anymore.
Wei An was so shocked because in the past, possessing a profound spiritual technique could establish a school and pass it down as a legacy. Having such a technique meant one could start their own sect within the academy.
Although Su Qianyi's use of the profound spiritual technique wasn't very powerful, its aura and the color of the spiritual energy he used clearly indicated its level.
Sen Yan on the platform thoughtfully watched Su Qianyi and Su Tao.
Su Tao, however, leisurely sipped his tea, looking quite pleased with himself.
This spiritual technique was something Su Tao had forced out of a rebel leader during an interrogation. He didn't report it to the court and kept it for himself.
Since he didn't use daggers, he gave it to his son. His son quickly mastered it and became proficient in using the dagger for spiritual techniques. Although its power was still lacking, it was enough to use in combat. In the realm of the seventh level of spiritual body, no one could stop his son's progress—not even the Crown Prince!
But he thought to himself, he had worked hard for the country, guarding the borders for three years, missing the opportunity for his son to enter the academy. He was angry!
In the end, he couldn't even secure a future for his son. He was resentful and tightly clenched his fist. The initial smug expression suddenly changed. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the tea to spill.
Sen Yan, who had been observing Su Tao's every move, was slightly moved. He knew the resentment Su Tao harbored.
When Sen Yan had foreseen that the Feng Kingdom would target his son, he had to harden his resolve and send Su Tao to guard the borders. At that time, the Rad Academy was recruiting, and Su Qianyi missed the opportunity.
As a parent, he had to be there in person to sign the blood contract agreement for his child.
Su Tao couldn't make it!
Sen Luo Empire had nine Dao realm experts. Originally, there were ten, three of whom were students of Rad Academy, including Sen Yan. Back then, the admission standards of Rad Academy were not as stringent; anyone with strength and talent could enter.
The three of them entered the academy together, eating, cultivating, and even falling in love without hiding anything from each other.
Those were Sen Yan's most carefree and happiest times, where they treated each other as brothers without any barriers, distances, or titles.
None of them knew that Sen Yan was a crown prince from a distant land. They quickly graduated, but none had the qualifications to enter the higher realm, so they returned home.
A few years later, Sen Yan ascended to the throne and declared them generals. Their relationship changed from that point, becoming more about commands and promotions, lacking the warmth of brotherhood.
The distance between them grew. Su Tao was one of those three, the second in strength only to Sen Yan. The other was Chu Ge, who was secretly investigating the plot against the crown prince and was responsible for intelligence work. Chu Ge had reported the Tian Division incident.
Regardless, Sen Yan wouldn't blame Su Tao. The hardships and experiences over the years, combined with the bonds of having children, had turned him from a hot-blooded youth into a cunning old man. Sen Yan still felt a bit guilty.
On the battlefield, Sen Lei watched Su Qianyi charging towards him and finally spoke, "The spiritual technique is good, but you misjudged my level." With that, his body surged with blood energy, a strange blood-red aura slowly creeping up his left arm. Sen Lei met Su Qianyi's profound spiritual technique head-on.
"What!" Su Qianyi exclaimed, "You've already reached the eighth level!"
Su Tao stood up and shouted, "That's impossible!"
Even if the crown prince could recover from being crippled, he couldn't possibly become stronger than before!
The common people in the audience didn't understand the intricacies. They saw Su Qianyi using a weapon and spiritual technique but still being blocked by Sen Lei. They cheered in unison,
"Crown Prince mighty! Crown Prince mighty!"
Sen Yan, watching the red spiritual energy, asked the national teacher, "What did Sun Hongru diagnose about this anomaly?"
The national teacher whispered a few words, and Sen Yan's expression grew worried, as if contemplating something.
He kept muttering the words "seal."
Su Qianyi was thrown far away, spitting blood, lying on the ground. His once neatly tied hair was now disheveled, and he looked defeated. In his envisioned scenario, he would be the one in the spotlight! Everything was lost, including the academy admission.
The crowd began to cheer,
"The crown prince wins!"
"The crown prince is still a genius."
"Whoever said the crown prince was crippled, I'll fight them!"
"Yeah! Whoever spread those rumors is full of it! I'll pluck their hair out!"
Su Qianyi coughed up blood and lay back, unwilling but helpless. He knew from his battlefield experience that when fighting, one must be decisive and leave no retreat.
Seeing the crown prince's undeniable strength, he hadn't held back and used his full power from the start.
He hadn't expected to lose.
Wei Xiaoxiao jumped off the platform, ran to Sen Lei, and started frantically checking him for injuries, making Sen Lei blush.
"What are you doing! Stop touching me! Ow!" Sen Lei was furious, grabbing Wei Xiaoxiao's hands and glaring at her.
Wei Xiaoxiao pouted, "I was checking if you were hurt. What were you thinking!"
Sen Lei blushed, trying to stay composed, "I wasn't thinking anything. You were! Go back!"
In the crowd, Wen Wan watched Wei Xiaoxiao bravely rush onto the stage, feeling deeply envious. When could she be as brave?
On the stage, Su Tao's face was full of frustration as he helped his son up. He no longer had the previous smugness, looking like he had aged decades.
He had cut off his own retreat, fought for everything without holding back, and still lost.
Su Qianyi leaned on his father's shoulder, looking at the crown prince, "You won."
Sen Lei, slightly surprised by Su Qianyi's honesty, said, "You're pretty strong too."
Su Qianyi shook his head, "Losing is losing. I thought... never mind. It's pointless to say anything now. Father, let's go." He exhaled deeply.
"Alright!" Su Tao slowly helped his son down the steps.
No one mocked them. Su Tao's actions weren't wrong in fighting for his son, but defying the emperor's will went against righteousness.
He wasn't a good subject, but he was a good father!
Sen Yan watched Su Tao's hunched figure, sighed, and muttered something.
"Taozi! Come back," Sen Yan finally called out.
Su Tao paused, looked up, and laughed, "Let's leave it at that. I need to take care of my son and his mother. I've gotten used to the hardships outside and don't fit in with the luxuries of the capital. I thank Your Majesty, but we're leaving!" With that, he quickly left, leaving the crowd bewildered.
"Taozi? Who's that?" A burly man scratched his "smart" bald head.
"Isn't that... General Su?" A skinny man looked shocked by his own guess.
"Never thought the general had that name, ha..." The crowd laughed heartily.