Word Count: 2,716 Words
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In just half a day, the friendly competition had been fully arranged. The Sun Moon Imperial Academy's efficiency was remarkably high; announcements were posted before every dormitory and teaching building, while broadcasts continuously promoted the event.
News that Ling Bai, one of the Shrek Seven Monsters from the last Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament who had defeated the Hongchen siblings in a two-on-one battle and captured Meng Hongchen's heart, would be engaging in a friendly competition with Sun Moon Spirit Guidance Masters spread like wildfire through every corner of the academy.
Diverting attention and calming anxieties was certainly one goal, but allowing Sun Moon students to witness firsthand how top-tier Spirit Masters fought was another genuine aim. Jing Hongchen had issued an order: unless there were special circumstances, all students of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy were required to attend and observe.
The rules were simple and straightforward: defeat Ling Bai. Sun Moon students eligible to participate needed a minimum cultivation of 5-ringed Spirit King or Class 5 Spirit Guidance Master, with the upper limit being 7-ringed Spirit Saint or Class 7 Spirit Guidance Master.
Jing Hongchen offered generous rewards to incentivize student participation. Anyone who defeated Ling Bai would be admitted to Illustrious Virtue Hall without examination, receive a million spirit gold coins, and obtain a Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device personally crafted by him.
Where great rewards are offered, brave contenders will emerge. The Sun Moon Imperial Academy students were young, full of vigor, and unafraid of challenges. Registrants streamed in endlessly, and by that afternoon, the registration area was packed.
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy had lived under Shrek Academy's shadow for thousands of years. The last Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament had been their best chance to turn their fortunes around, but Ling Bai had shattered the hopes of countless people throughout the Sun Moon Empire.
Those who could represent the Sun Moon Imperial Academy in the tournament were geniuses among geniuses. Consequently, the vast majority of Sun Moon students only knew Shrek by its long-standing reputation. Although Ning Tian, Huo Yuhao, and He Caitou had participated in the tournament, they were, after all, only part of the reserve team.
The monster who had now arrived was the same age as Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao but had been recognized as the strongest individual combatant in the previous tournament. Three years had flashed by, and his spirit power had leaped from Rank 55 to Rank 69, with a breakthrough to Spirit Saint possible at any moment. The Sun Moon students eagerly wanted to see just how formidable this monster among monsters truly was, and whether he had somehow grown two extra legs compared to them.
The friendly competition was scheduled to last three days, yet the number of registrants exceeded two hundred in just half a day. With limited spots available, only the best would be selected. The challengers were primarily Class 6 Spirit Guidance Masters, with a small contingent of Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters possessing special abilities, and several Class 7 Spirit Guidance Masters serving as the finale.
When the other Shrek exchange students heard about this enthusiastically organized competition, they were thrown into an uproar. They hurriedly consulted their supervising teacher, Fan Yu, feeling they couldn't let Shrek's prestige be diminished, and resolved to support their fellow student at the competition venue.
…
The next day, early morning.
Testing Ground Zero was the largest above-ground structure at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, capable of accommodating ten thousand people simultaneously. It was normally used for assessments, competitions, and testing offensive Spirit Guidance Devices. Between the spectator seats and the testing ground, a linked defense system comprising multiple defensive Spirit Guidance Devices had been arranged.
Despite the early hour, Testing Ground Zero was already packed to capacity. Students were curious about whether top-tier Spirit Guidance Masters or top-tier Spirit Masters were superior, while teachers wanted to witness the legendary Ling Bai in person, a figure whose reputation had spread throughout the academy despite not being part of it.
Lin Jiayi, Director of Education at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy and host of the friendly competition, stood in the center of Testing Ground Zero. His voice boomed across the venue:
"Upholding the principle of fostering friendship through martial exchange and enhancing mutual learning, the academy has decided to conduct a friendly competition with Shrek Academy.
This competition will last three days. Each day, our academy will send ten genius Spirit Guidance Masters under thirty years of age to challenge Ling Bai, a student from Shrek Academy who performed exceptionally well in the last Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament.
Friendship comes first, competition second. Regardless of victory or defeat, I hope everyone can gain valuable experience from these battles.
Without further ado, let's welcome the contestants to the arena."
From the shadowy contestant entrance, two figures emerged from opposite sides. The person on the left immediately drew waves of cheers from the audience.
Class 6 Spirit Guidance Master Wang Yu was tall and robustly built. His specialization in close-combat Spirit Guidance Devices had sculpted his muscular physique. With a confident smile plastered across his face, he waved continuously to the audience.
Suddenly, tsunami-like gasps of amazement echoed throughout the venue. Wang Yu couldn't help but scratch his head in confusion. His popularity had never seemed this high before. Then he saw the figure slowly approaching from the opposite side.
The morning sunlight illuminated the newcomer from the front, revealing exquisitely handsome features and an elegantly tall figure. A gentle breeze passed by, causing his golden hair to flutter in the wind with a faint, enchanting halo that made it impossible to look away.
Golden hair, golden eyes, a gentle demeanor, and white clothes. He resembled an exquisite painting, a perfectly captured moment.
"Wow! My heavens!"
"Ji Juechen's position as number one handsome guy is about to be taken!"
"I think Sister Meng's judgment is absolutely on point!"
"Go, handsome guy!"
Amidst the chorus of admiration, Wu Feng puffed her cheeks and complained to Ning Tian in the Shrek exchange student section, "Ning Tian, just look at him!
Flirting with girls wherever he goes. At this rate, he doesn't even need us to cheer him on; he can win over a whole legion of young ladies with just his face! Those damned appearance-obsessed fools!"
Ning Tian helplessly consoled her, "Alright, Xiao Feng. Isn't it good that Bai-ge has supporters?"
On the testing ground, gazing at Ling Bai who seemed enveloped in light, Wang Yu stood dumbfounded and muttered, "Is it an illusion? This guy seems to have a built-in spotlight..."
A graceful figure descended from above, dressed in a Sun Moon Imperial Academy teacher's uniform, her black stockings and high heels exuding a distinctive charm.
This was Lin Jiaran, the second-seat Spirit Guidance Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall and referee for the friendly competition.
Jing Hongchen hadn't actually planned who would referee. Acting as referee himself would be beneath the Hall Master's dignity, and the three Class 9 Spirit Guidance Masters were working overtime to restore production of the Humanoid Spirit Guidance Device. Just as he was racking his brains, Lin Jiaran had volunteered.
Ling Bai's mind stirred slightly. He could feel Lin Jiaran's gaze fixed upon him. It was a strange, penetrating stare, as if she were trying to see through his exterior and uncover deeper secrets.
Lin Jiaran's eyes lingered on him for two seconds before she raised her right hand high and announced, "Begin the match!"
The instant her hand fell, Wang Yu donned his full-body Spirit Armor and gripped a dramatically styled greataxe with both hands. Both the armor and axe were Class 6 Spirit Guidance Devices he had personally crafted to complement his various abilities perfectly.
Ling Bai's reputation was too resounding. Wang Yu's nerves were taut as he lowered his body, bracing for the storm-like assault of the God-level Martial Spirit, Seraphim.
Most spectators similarly widened their eyes, unwilling to miss the beautiful moment when the angelic wings would unfold. However, Ling Bai didn't comply with their wishes; only a light-wreathed Angel Sword appeared in his right hand.
"Why aren't you releasing your Seraphim Martial Spirit?" Wang Yu demanded angrily.
"Practicing swordsmanship."
Ling Bai remained unruffled. The strongest opponents in this friendly competition were merely Class 7 Spirit Guidance Masters. Frankly speaking, against his Seraphim with three Ultimates and the First Angel Spirit Core, Spirit Guidance Masters of this level couldn't pose even the slightest threat. It was better to do something more meaningful.
The Seven Kill Sword intent was undoubtedly powerful, but 'having stood on the shoulders of giants' for so long, he wanted to step down, see the scenery, and then transform himself into a 'new giant'.
Ling Bai spoke truthfully, but to Wang Yu's ears, it sounded like enormous mockery. As the vanguard of the first battle, the mission on his shoulders was to display the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's excellence!
"Arrogant!"
Wang Yu bellowed, abandoning his plan to switch from defense to offense. Two streams of scorching flames erupted from the Spirit Thrusters on his armor's back, and the greataxe in his hand swung high, its blade gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight!
Ling Bai shot forward, his initial burst of speed so fast he resembled a phantom. Even without the augmentation of angelic wings, his speed remained unimaginably quick. The Angel Sword erupted with sharp intent, projecting a suffocating pressure over Wang Yu. The front row audience instinctively leaned back, as if trying to avoid the invisible sword energy!
Only a handful of people clearly witnessed Ling Bai's acceleration from zero to full speed. A hundred-meter distance vanished in the instant it took to blink!
Wang Yu's pupils dilated slightly. In his field of vision, he saw only a shining golden longsword, yet it felt as though countless blades were tearing through his flesh. The sword's translucent, glass-like body reflected his own terrified face!
The sky is so blue...
Wait, why am I seeing the sky?!
His mind reeled as he silently pondered this question.
I understand now... you can only see the sky when you're lying on the ground.
A full three minutes passed before Wang Yu finally grasped reality.
The audience fell into an eerie silence. Almost none of the Sun Moon students had processed what had just happened. They looked at each other, each face blank with bewilderment.
Only the Spirit Douluo and Titled Douluo had clearly seen that lightning-fast moment. Jing Hongchen looked at Wang Yu sprawled on the ground, then at Ling Bai standing beside him as calm as still water. He shook his head, sighed, and spoke to Lin Jiayi:
"Wang Yu is a genius close-combat Spirit Guidance Master. Apart from that oddball Ji Juechen, no other Class 6 Spirit Guidance Master in Illustrious Virtue Hall surpasses him. Yet in this battle, his performance—whether in adaptability, raw power, or combat awareness—was extremely poor. He didn't even force Ling Bai to reveal his Seraphim Martial Spirit.
I admit, organizing this friendly competition was partly to divert attention from the attack on Illustrious Virtue Hall. But I also wanted to give our students the opportunity to witness the continent's most powerful Martial Spirit and how a Spirit Master who has awakened such a Martial Spirit fights in actual combat.
Now I see we should be grateful we established the exchange student program with Shrek Academy. The Sun Moon Imperial Academy is lacking in practical combat experience. Spirit Guidance Masters truly don't have much experience dealing with top-tier Martial Spirits. We have a long road ahead..."
"Hall Master, please don't worry."
Lin Jiayi consoled. "I believe this battle will spark a wave of cultivation enthusiasm throughout the academy."
"That would be for the best."
Jing Hongchen stared at Ling Bai holding the Angel Sword below, his expression gradually becoming complex.
Ling Bai placed his sword tip against Wang Yu's heart, signaling the end of the battle, then turned to walk toward the edge of Testing Ground Zero. At that moment, Wang Yu's furious shout erupted from behind:
"I may not be your match, but our Sun Moon Imperial Academy has countless geniuses! Someone will surely put a stop to your arrogance!"
Without turning around, Ling Bai's voice carried throughout the arena:
"Arrogance requires ability, and I happen to have it.
Please clear the field. Next contestant."
In an instant, the entire grandstand erupted into a tumultuous ocean of noise. Curses and shouts rose and fell. Some hot-headed fellows were ready to fire their Spirit Guidance Devices toward the arena from the spectator seats but were quickly restrained by more level-headed classmates who persuaded them not to lose face for their academy.
The second contestant from the Sun Moon Imperial Academy to take the stage was also a male student, a Class 6 Spirit Guidance Master specializing in long-range Spirit Guidance Devices. He shouted loudly as soon as he walked into the testing ground, "Long live the Sun Moon Empire! Shame shall be washed away by blood!"
"Long live the Sun Moon Empire! Liu Xu, take him down!"
This seemed to stir a sense of unity among the Sun Moon students. The audience stands roared in unison, their voices rolling like a tidal wave.
"Begin the match!"
Lin Jiaran announced, perhaps even fanning the flames slightly by commencing the battle just as Liu Xu's momentum reached its peak.
"Behold my cannons!"
Liu Xu carried a Class 6 Spirit Cannon on each shoulder. One spat out streams of Spirit Rays, while the other gathered intense red light.
The Spirit Rays carried a paralyzing effect. Facing Liu Xu's interwoven field of fire, Ling Bai charged straight forward at full speed without even attempting to dodge. The Angel Sword drew a golden arc, and all those Spirit Rays slid harmlessly past him, not a single one finding its mark.
Liu Xu's expression froze. It was his first time seeing a Spirit Master who practically ignored Spirit Rays. A sense of fear surfaced in his heart, but he had already made his bold declaration and couldn't easily admit defeat. He channeled all his spirit power at maximum output, completing the charge of his Class 6 Directional High-Explosive Shell!
The Class 6 Directional High-Explosive Shell possessed lock-on capability. Liu Xu was confident that no matter how fast Ling Bai moved, he couldn't possibly evade it. In the next second, Liu Xu nearly dropped his jaw in shock.
The Class 6 Directional High-Explosive Shell did indeed strike directly at Ling Bai as intended, but then the Angel Sword casually made a gentle slash, perfectly splitting the high-explosive shell in two. From the black clouds created by the dual explosions, Ling Bai emerged without a scratch.
"That's even possible?!"
Liu Xu was dumbfounded. He fumbled to release a Class 6 Spirit Barrier in an attempt to block Ling Bai. Unfortunately, the Class 6 Spirit Barrier offered no resistance whatsoever against the Angel Sword.
The Angel Sword sliced through both Spirit Cannons on his shoulders without harming an inch of his skin.
Both matches had consumed very little time. Watching Ling Bai's receding figure, Liu Xu struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with complicated emotions as he retreated in humiliation.
"I... I don't want to fight anymore..."
The third Sun Moon Imperial Academy student to register clearly lacked psychological fortitude. After watching two classmates whose strength was no less than his own be defeated in seconds, he turned and fled halfway to the arena.
"Come back and fight! Coward!"
Someone in the audience cursed angrily. Jing Hongchen's face instantly darkened.
"What are you yelling about? If you have the guts, go up there yourself!"
The third student bellowed back.
The audience fell silent. Many opened their mouths, then closed them again feebly.
"Next contestant."
A mountain-like majestic aura was suddenly released. A heavy pressure descended upon everyone's hearts, making many struggle to breathe as they unconsciously swallowed.
A brilliant golden light pillar shot straight into the clouds, and a distant, mysterious rumbling echoed as the illusory figure of a six-winged angel gradually materialized.
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red!
Six terrifying spirit rings rose one after another, and Ling Bai's clear, elegant voice resonated throughout the testing ground:
"Please welcome the next genius Spirit Guidance Master."