Yu Liang felt a sting of humiliation on his face and quickly spoke up, "The Spirit Stone shattered under the pressure of the Spirit's aura, who knows what that beam of light was about. Since the examination was interrupted, it only makes sense that we retest."
"Yes, yes, a retest is necessary!"
The students from Class Four began shouting. They had come specifically to watch Yang Qingxuan make a fool of himself. If he passed, it would be too embarrassing for them.
Qin Zhen's face darkened, his voice icy as he said, "Yu Liang, don't overstep. When did it become your place to meddle in my class's affairs?"
Yu Liang sneered, "What, are you feeling guilty? If there's no retest, I'll report you for exam fraud and favoritism."
At that moment, a cold voice rang out, "A retest is too troublesome. Teacher Qin, I believe there's a rule where the last-ranked student can challenge anyone. If they win, their scores are swapped."
The speaker was Zuo Heng. Qin Zhen's expression changed slightly, as he realized what Zuo Heng was implying. Since it was a rule, he replied, "That's true."
"Well, then it's simple."
Zuo Heng smiled faintly and casually pointed toward the crowd. "Zuo Feng, you'll take the last spot, then challenge Yang Qingxuan. If you succeed, there's a reward waiting for you."
Qin Zhen's face turned pale with anger.
Wu Qiyue's sharp gaze flickered with cold light, but she quickly regained her composure.
Yang Qingxuan's performance had already shocked her, but despite passing the test, his expression was devoid of joy, as if it were a matter of course. His calm demeanor was beyond that of a typical fifteen-year-old; it was unnervingly steady.
Wu Qiyue's mind raced—Could it be that his previous foolishness was all an act?
She was both surprised and intrigued, thinking it might be interesting to let Zuo Feng test him further.
Zuo Feng, though from the Zuo family, was not as gifted or well-positioned as Zuo Heng. Upon hearing the challenge, he cupped his hands and said, "Yes!"
He was at the seventh level of the Qi Martial Realm and possessed Spirit potential, making him one of the top students in Class Three.
Zuo Feng walked straight to the testing device, punched out lightly, and with a "whoosh," the air didn't even ripple. Expressionless, he said, "Teacher Qin, I score zero, last place. Now I challenge Yang Qingxuan."
Qin Zhen trembled with fury and stared at him coldly, "Good, very good. You truly are my student!"
Zuo Feng, slightly intimidated by Qin Zhen's glare, quickly calmed himself. He thought to himself that once he entered the Inner Academy, he would no longer be under Qin Zhen's control. Besides, offending Zuo Heng was far worse than angering Qin Zhen.
With a calmer heart, Zuo Feng strode toward Yang Qingxuan. A trace of disdain crossed his eyes, but he still cupped his hands and said, "Yang Qingxuan, I humbly ask for your guidance."
Yang Qingxuan's voice was calm as he replied, "We have no enmity. Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?"
Zuo Feng smiled, his tone dripping with mockery, "You really shouldn't have offended Young Master Heng. This is the consequence of your actions, and you can't blame me. But since we're classmates, I'll go easy on you. After all, you were born a fool, so your brain doesn't function properly, right?"
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter erupted around them, filled with ridicule. "He finally awakens his Spirit potential, but offends Zuo Heng. This is worse than being expelled!"
"Who knows how long this fool will last under Zuo Feng's hands?"
"Last long? Ha! Zuo Feng's at the seventh level of Qi Martial, that fool will be lucky to take even one blow!"
"Haha, exactly."
Yang Qingxuan stood silently, unaffected by the jeers. His eyes glinted coldly, his voice calm as he said, "An old saying goes: 'Good people are taken advantage of, and good horses are ridden.' It seems I've been too tolerant, allowing you all to cross the line, step by step. It's time to change the atmosphere of this academy and teach you all some values. Maybe I should educate you on the Five Virtues, Four Beauties, and Three Warmths."
"What? You mean you've been gracious all along? Hahaha, what a lie! Ridiculous!"
Zuo Feng laughed maniacally, his eyes flashing with cruelty. His aura surged, his energy gathered in his sleeves as he said, "So now that you have a Spirit, you think you're above everyone, huh? Who in this class doesn't have better Spirit potential than you? Today, I'll make you see the truth. Even with a Spirit, you're still bottom-tier trash!"
Yang Qingxuan's smile was cold and his gaze unflinching. His tone carried an edge, "You call me a fool, trash—rather than being angry, I'm too lazy to argue. But just because I'm too lazy to argue doesn't mean I'll keep tolerating you. Since you've crossed my line today, I'll show you exactly why you should never step on others!"
"What, you dare treat me like a chicken?! I was going to go easy and just beat you into a cripple, but now it seems there's no need. I'll just cripple you completely!"
Zuo Feng roared in fury, his sleeve torn by the explosion of his energy. He lunged forward, throwing a punch that was like a mountain crashing down!
"Earthquake Fist!"
"Boom!!"
The shockwave from his punch reverberated across the arena, a tidal wave of energy shooting in all directions and rushing toward Yang Qingxuan like an unstoppable force.
"Such terrifying energy! Is this the power of the seventh level of Qi Martial?!"
"Zuo Feng is really angry now. He's known for his domineering style, and with this mid-tier martial skill, Earthquake Fist, he's exerting the power of an eighth-level Qi Martial. This blow could be enough to completely crush Yang Qingxuan!"
"I think it's even more than that. Earthquake Fist is the highest form of the Earth-shattering Fist, and with Zuo Feng's power, he could easily unleash the force of a ninth-level Qi Martial, or even reach full mastery. He really wants to cripple this fool."
"Hah, let him be crippled. Who told this fool to act so arrogantly? Let's see him die!"
The crowd murmured in awe and scorn as the punch sped toward Yang Qingxuan.
Yang Qingxuan remained calm, his robe fluttering wildly as the wind surged.
In this world, strength reigned supreme. Only those with power commanded respect.
Being kind to others only made them see you as weak and cowardly, giving them the audacity to bully and trample on you.
Thus, what he needed to do now was shatter the feet of those who trampled on him!
With a sudden crack from his knuckles, Yang Qingxuan's aura exploded, and he moved like a swift breeze, stepping forward to meet the punch head-on!
"So fast!"
Everyone was taken aback by his speed, their eyes wide in shock.
Zuo Feng's Earthquake Fist was one of the most powerful martial techniques, gathering all his energy into a single explosive punch, capable of shattering mountains!
"No way... he's actually charging in?!"
A chorus of astonished voices rang out.
Qin Zhen and Wu Qiyue's expressions changed drastically. Zuo Heng clapped his fan, laughing, "Fool is still a fool. Zuo Feng's Earthquake Fist is at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Martial. This Yang Qingxuan is finished!"
Suddenly, a mighty tiger's roar shook the air, the force of it sending waves of vibration through the atmosphere.
Before anyone could react, a dragon's roar followed, soaring into the sky!
Yang Qingxuan's cold voice rang out on the arena, yet it reached everyone's ears with crystal clarity, "Tiger Roar, Dragon's Song—Sword Qi Sweeps the Sky!"