Chapter 35: Battle of Calmness and Arrogancy!

Swoosh!

A sharp line slit across his torso from his right shoulder to his left waist, and a geyser of blood splattered violently. With a loud thud, Chi Fenglian collapsed to the ground instantly. The murmurs of the academy grounds were consumed by an eerie silence. Even Chen Ming frowned slightly. He hadn’t expected the battle to end so quickly. The slash he unleashed instinctively with his Wind-Falcon essence was stronger than expected. The difference between Spirit Beast Realm and Baby Beast Realm was simply too great.

"Hahaha..." A weak laugh crawled on Chi Fenglian’s mouth. A faint trickle of blood sprawled from the wound across his torso. His fingers slowly dug into the stone platform as he struggled to sit up.

"Fenglian!" a few Chi Clan elders and guards shouted from the viewing stands.

"Stay down, idiot!" Huo Ren yelled.

But Chi Fenglian ignored everyone, his trembling hand reaching into his robe, pulling out a crimson pill. The pill shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight while dense medicinal essence flowed around its surface.

"High-grade recovery pill." Dan Zhenren sneered, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Beside him, Shen Ruoxi nodded slowly. "He prepared it himself?"

Without hesitation, Chi Fenglian threw the pill into his mouth.

Crunch!

The pill dissolved instantly, slipping into his throat. A faint red glow spread throughout his body. The slash wound across his chest slowly stopped bleeding while beast essence began recovering inside his aperture. The crowd watched in silence. They knew exactly how difficult such a pill was to refine.

For disciples of their age, producing a high-grade healing pill required tremendous effort.

"Three.. Nah Four hours..." Dan Zhenren whispered, calmly sipping his tea. Mo Qinghe glanced toward him. Dan Zhenren smirked. "I guess that brat spent four hours refining that pill yesterday."

The old alchemist’s words immediately surprised several assistant masters. Four hours for a single pill. That level of patience was rare among younger cultivators.

Meanwhile, Chi Fenglian slowly rose to his feet, his breathing remained frantic. His face was pale and cold, but his eyes were burning.

"You should give up, Fenglian," Chen Ming muttered, his gaze locked onto Chi Fenglian.

"No." Chi Fenglian wheezed, smearing blood from the corner of his mouth. "I am not done yet."

The snow white boar essence around him erupted once more. The phantom silhouette of a giant boar appeared behind his body, the dense essence coating his skin like armor. The spectators immediately became excited again.

"He can still fight?"

"That pill recovered him?"

"What persistence."

Chen Ming quietly clenched his fists. For the first time, he felt genuine respect toward Chi Fenglian. It is because of Fenglian’s determination.

"Come then." Chen Ming roared, gritting his teeth. Green essence surged from Chen Ming’s body. The ordinary Wind-Falcon cultivators preferred ranged attacks, but Chen Ming suddenly concentrated the wind around his arms. The spectators became frantic.

Then his fists tightened.

WHOOSH!

Wind essence wrapped around both arms like sharp blades.

"Hand-to-hand combat?" Teng Lianhua raised an eyebrow, his face filled with disdain.

"He was like that ruthless Lin Yuan," Mo Qinghe smirked, raising his head sluggishly.

On the competitor stand, Lin Yuan watched quietly, a faint smile appeared on his face. Chen Ming had always hidden behind others. During beast hunts, academy trials and also during dangerous situations. But now he was choosing to fight directly, because he wanted to become stronger. Because he wanted to stand beside someone. Lin Yuan always saved Chen Ming with his life at stake. Chen Ming wantonly practiced hard to stand beside Lin Yuan like a support.

’I don’t want to be a burden,’ Chen Ming thought, clenching his blade like fists tightly. ’I want to be a person whom Lin Yuan can rely on in dangerous situations!’

Lin Yuan’s gaze softened slightly. And then instantly the battle stage exploded into motion.

BOOM!

Chi Fenglian charged like a rampaging beast, his boar pathway enhanced pure physical power and defense. Every step cracked the stone beneath his feet. Chen Ming didn’t retreat, he rushed forward.

BANG!

Fist collided against fist, a shockwave exploded outward. The disciples in the competitors’ stand widened their eyes.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Punch after punch collided, both of them exchanged many devastating punches. Chi Fenglian’s strength was overwhelming and Chen Ming’s speed was superior. The battle instantly became far more entertaining than before.

The audience erupted into cheers, even clan elders nodded approvingly.

"This is a fight."

"Good combat instincts."

"Not bad."

Chi Fenglian roared and slammed both fists downward. Chen Ming dodged sideways in a brink of a second.

CRACK!

The platform shattered, the debris splattered across the arena stage. Chen Ming counterattacked instantly. A wind-coated fist slammed into Chi Fenglian’s ribs.

BANG!

The impact sent him sliding backward, but Chi Fenglian remained still, the thick blood dripping from his lips. His body was trembling vehemently, but his eyes remained stubborn.

"I won’t lose." Chi Fenglian wheezed, spatting a mouthful of blood out. Chen Ming suddenly remembered the countless times Lin Yuan fought alone, and every time Chen Ming felt it like dead weight.

’It was a heavy burden, always relying on someone constantly protecting us.’ Chen Ming thought, his fists tightening harshly.

"No!" Chen Ming ranted, his wind essence erupted around him. This time his aura became sharper. "I refuse to remain behind forever."

WHOOSH!

His figure vanished instantly. The spectators’ eyes frantically frowned, darting to find Chen Ming. Chen Ming appeared directly before Chi Fenglian. One punch. Then another, and then another. Each strike carried a compressed wind essence.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The boar armor surrounding Chi Fenglian slowly cracked, his defense was reaching its limit. Sweat poured down his face. His beast essence rapidly depleted, but he still continued fighting.

CRACK!

The boar phantom shattered. The defensive essence surrounding Chi Fenglian exploded apart. The audience immediately understood. It was over. Chen Ming inhaled deeply, and then swung. A shimmering wind slash erupted from his fist.

WHOOSH!

The slash cut diagonally across Chi Fenglian’s torso, a thick geyser of blood spraying through the air. The impact blasted Fenglian back again.

THUD!

He collapsed heavily onto the ground. Silence followed across the arena. Chi Fenglian attempted to rise, but he collapsed completely. Luo Zhen stepped forward.

"The match has concluded!" Chen Ming rumbled, his amplified voice echoing throughout the academy. "The winner is Chen Ming."

The crowd erupted into applause. Meanwhile, Chen Ming stood silently, his breathing was ragged and his fists trembled slightly. Then he looked toward Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan simply nodded once with a proud smile resting on his face.

Chen Ming grinned. That single nod felt better than victory itself. Soon academy healers carried Chi Fenglian away from the arena. Despite his defeat, many spectators looked at him differently now. He had lost, but he had earned respect.

Luo Zhen raised his hand again. "The second battle will now begin."

The arena gradually quieted.

"Lian Nichang versus Huo Ren."

Two figures slowly stepped onto the platform. Huo Ren cracked his neck loudly, flames flickering around his body. Behind him appeared the phantom outline of a Fire-Falcon. Opposite him stood Lian Nichang. The white beast essence around his body flowed calmly like moonlit mist.

The atmosphere instantly became tense. One was aggressive, and another was patient. One specialized in overwhelming attacks, and the other specialized in precision and hunting. Luo Zhen glanced toward both disciples, and then stepped away.

"Begin."

BOOM!

Huo Ren immediately launched forward. The Fire-Falcon phantom shrieked behind him as flames erupted across the battlefield. Lian Nichang disappeared sideways. The battle instantly converted into chaos and before long, the entire arena realized this would become far bloodier than the first match.

The moment the battle began, Huo Ren rushed forward recklessly. Flames exploded around his body while the phantom silhouette of a Fire-Falcon emerged behind him. The scorching heat immediately swept across the arena as Huo Ren grinned arrogantly.

"Two attacks," Huo Ren declared loudly, pointing toward Lian Nichang. "I only need two attacks to defeat you."

The crowd erupted into murmurs. Lian Nichang remained silent, his wolf essence swirled calmly throughout his body. Unlike Huo Ren’s violent flames, his white essence flowed quietly around his feet.

"You heard me?" Huo Ren laughed. "At least say something before losing."

Lian Nichang slowly raised his eyes, and then he spoke. "You talk too much."

"You fucking bastard!" Huo Ren’s expression stiffened.

BOOM!

He immediately launched himself forward. Flames erupted beneath his feet while the Fire-Falcon phantom shrieked behind him. His speed exploded as he closed the distance within moments.

"Flame Falcon Strike!" A blazing fist descended toward Lian Nichang’s chest.

However, Lian Nichang merely shifted one step sideways.

WHOOSH!

The flaming punch brushed past his robes. It missed Lian Nichang’s chest. The spectators blinked, because it was a small movement. Yet it completely avoided the attack.

"Luck!" Huo Ren frowned, twisting his body and unleashed another strike. This time flames erupted from both fists.

BOOM! BOOM!

Multiple attacks rained down continuously. Yet Lian Nichang simply moved. One step. Another step, and a half step. Every movement was minimal, and every dodge was efficient. The spectators fell into disdain and eerie silence. He wasn’t faster than Huo Ren. He was just simply predicting Huo Ren.

"Good," On the VIP stand, Mo Qinghe slowly nodded.

"He’s watching Huo Ren’s shoulders," Dan Zhenren smirked, waving his sleeve once.

Nearby, Qin Yuze narrowed his eyes. ’Indeed.’

Every time Huo Ren attacked, Lian Nichang observed the movement of his shoulders and hips before the strike was released. He was reading Huo Ren completely. Meanwhile, Huo Ren became increasingly frustrated.

"STOP RUNNING!" Huo Ren yelled, clenching his fists.

"I am standing right here," Lian Nichang replied calmly.

That single sentence instantly ignited his anger. Flames surged violently around Huo Ren, his beast essence output increased dramatically. The Fire-Falcon phantom expanded. The surrounding temperature rose sharply. The spectators cheered loudly.

"This should end it!"

"Huo Ren is finally serious!"

Meanwhile, Lian Nichang quietly observed, his wolf beast essence slowly gathering around his right hand. The opportunity was clearly visible. Huo Ren no longer fought rationally. He fought emotionally, and emotional opponents always revealed openings.

"Flame Falcon Dive!" Huo Ren roared, his entire body shot forward like a blazing meteor. The attack was powerful, fast and overwhelming. But there is a flaw; it was reckless. Lian Nichang’s eyes narrowed slightly. He saw the flaw clearly. A tiny opening near his left flank created by excessive essence concentration.

’Enough.’ Lian Nichang thought, taking a sickening side step to dodge the attack.

WHOOSH!

Huo Ren flew past Lian Nichang, his attack striking the empty air. The crowd widened their eyes. Then, Lian Nichang attacked, his movement resembling a hunting wolf. It was silent, sudden and precise, leaving the spectators in frenzy disdain. Wolf essence exploded from his palm.

BANG!

The strike landed vehemently on Huo Ren’s exposed ribs. A dull cracking sound echoed throughout the arena.

"Cough!" Huo Ren spat blood instantly. The force disrupted his beast essence concentration abruptly.

Before he could recover, Lian Nichang moved again. The second attack arrived immediately, his hand transforming into a wolf claw coated with gray beast essence.

SLASH!

The attack carved across Huo Ren’s chest, thick blood spraying through the air. The Fire-Falcon phantom shattered instantly. Huo Ren’s eyes widened, his body staggering backward. Then collapsed heavily onto the arena floor.

THUD!

The arena fell into eerie silence, because the battle had ended in just two attacks. Huo Ren challenged that he would win with only two attacks. But this ending is not from Huo Ren’s win. It was from Lian Nichang. The spectators stared blankly at the arena, even the clan elders appeared surprised. The fight had lasted barely a few minutes. Yet the result was decisive. Lian Nichang calmly stood where he was, his breathing remained steady and his robes were barely fluttered against the wind. Meanwhile Huo Ren lay on the ground clutching his chest, his face was pale and arrogance had vanished completely.

Luo Zhen stepped forward and examined him briefly. After confirming that he could no longer continue, he raised his hand.

"Lian Nichang wins." Luo Zhen announced, his voice cracking in disdain. The crowd immediately erupted into cheers.

On the competitor stand, Lin Yuan quietly watched. "Interesting."

Most people would say Lian Nichang won because he was stronger. But Lin Yuan disagreed. He won because he was calmer. Huo Ren possessed strength, but strength without control was merely waste. And today, arrogance had lost against precision.