Duan Chongfang announced the result, "Chu Baxing defeats Hu Chan, 30:27. Their rankings are swapped. Chu Baxing is now second place in the freshman rankings. Chu Baxing, do you want to continue and challenge Qin Siyang?"
Chu Baxing shook his head.
"I'm not challenging him."
Qin Siyang had already stepped onto the path of a believer, while Chu Baxing was still Sequence Level 5. The gap between them simply could not be made up.
Especially after that casual kick from Qin Siyang just now, which left all of his internal organs feeling uncomfortable.
It made him realize even more clearly that he was no match for Qin Siyang.
Even though Chu Baxing hated admitting defeat, right now he had no choice but to do so.
With Chu Baxing giving up his challenge, the freshman ranking tournament officially came to an end.
"The freshman rankings are now finalized. The top five freshmen may individually enter the combat arena with Teaching Assistant Shi Tao for sparring and guidance."
Shi Tao waved at Zhao Sifang.
"Let's go. You first."
"Alright, thank you, Senior Shi."
The two entered the combat arena. Five minutes later, they came out together.
Zhao Sifang and Shi Tao were chatting happily, "I learned a lot from Senior Shi's guidance."
"It's nothing. Giving guidance is part of an assistant's job. Gu Yunpeng, your turn."
When Gu Yunpeng came out, he was similar to Zhao Sifang and also expressed his thanks to Shi Tao.
Then it was Hu Chan's turn.
Just when everyone thought this friendly atmosphere of senior guiding junior students would continue, Hu Chan and Shi Tao came out with cold expressions.
Hu Chan seemed somewhat unconvinced.
Shi Tao's expression was very complicated.
Neither of them spoke.
The mood immediately cooled.
The students secretly guessed what had happened inside the combat arena.
Hu Chan walked to Chu Baxing's side and said quietly, "Thirty-point system. I got seven points."
Chu Baxing understood what he meant.
Hu Chan had obviously sparred with Shi Tao in the combat arena and ultimately lost 30 to 7.
Hu Chan seemed unwilling to accept his earlier loss to Chu Baxing, so he had come over to provoke him again.
Chu Baxing replied coldly, "Just wait."
Then he followed Shi Tao into the combat arena.
About three minutes later, the two came out.
Chu Baxing's face was icy, while Shi Tao's expression had become even harder to read.
When Chu Baxing reached Hu Chan's side, he said quietly, "I got nine points. Accept it, 'Third' Brother Hu."
After hearing that, Hu Chan's gaze became even colder.
"Hmph!"
Shi Tao waved at Qin Siyang, "Qin Siyang, your turn."
"Okay."
Qin Siyang happily followed behind Shi Tao and entered the combat arena.
Hu Chan and Chu Baxing stared at Qin Siyang's back, both wondering what result would come from his fight with Shi Tao.
———
One minute later, the two walked out.
Qin Siyang still looked happy.
Shi Tao, however, looked completely drained.
Duan Chongfang announced,
"The first class is over. Next week's lesson will explain various combat techniques used in actual battle. I hope everyone arrives on time."
After speaking, he left the Practical Combat Building with Shi Tao and Ban Dingyuan.
As soon as they walked out of the building, Duan Chongfang and Ban Dingyuan could not help asking Shi Tao, "Shi Tao, after guiding the top five freshmen, what do you think?"
Shi Tao said, "Gu Yunpeng and Zhao Sifang are indeed talented freshmen. Both are very strong, at least somewhat stronger than I was in my first year."
Then he paused and added, "As for Chu Baxing and Hu Chan, neither one's combat ability can be underestimated. If they were in our year, they probably would have kept Ban Dingyuan and me from lifting our heads."
Ban Dingyuan glanced at Shi Tao, "Really? You're not exaggerating, are you? Did they beat you?"
"They can't beat me right now because they haven't taken combat technique classes or entered the God Arena. They also haven't gone on missions with classmates. But that doesn't stop me from judging their talent."
Ban Dingyuan thought about it, "Is that why you didn't seem very happy when you came out with them?"
"No," Shi Tao shook his head, "I'm not the type to envy talented people. South Glory University has treated me well. Seeing freshmen this strong makes me genuinely happy."
"Then who are you making that sour face for?"
"Because Chu Baxing's and Hu Chan's fighting styles surprised me. Every move they make is aimed at killing. Every action comes from someone with a lot of experience. Both of them fight with intense killing intent, but there are differences," Shi Tao looked at the road ahead.
"If I'm not mistaken, Chu Baxing has killed many gods, while Hu Chan has killed many people."
"Killing gods is normal. Killing people is also normal. But people who kill as often as those two are quite rare. To be honest, even though I beat them, I still felt a trace of fear and doubt. Compared to them, with killing intent coming from every part of them, I felt like a rookie soldier."
After hearing Shi Tao's evaluation of the two, Duan Chongfang and Ban Dingyuan both fell silent in thought.
Shi Tao continued, "Ban Dingyuan, I think you're right. Real geniuses can rapidly improve their strength through constant fighting. Just like Chu Baxing and Hu Chan."
Ban Dingyuan said calmly,
"Use it or lose it. That's a law of nature."
"Not exactly. A person's combat ability can't improve forever. People also differ in talent and understanding. Fighting endlessly will eventually hit a bottleneck. I've already touched that bottleneck. I feel it's difficult for me to improve any further. But they haven't reached it yet."
Then Shi Tao looked at Ban Dingyuan.
"Have you not reached your bottleneck either? Is that why you're obsessed with fighting and constantly challenging people from other schools and accepting challenges?"
Ban Dingyuan nodded slightly, which was basically an admission.
Shi Tao let out a bitter laugh.
"I always thought our strength was about the same. Only after fighting several freshmen today did I realize the gap between us. That's really depressing."
After commenting on four of the five geniuses, Shi Tao stopped talking.
Duan Chongfang could not help asking, "What about Qin Siyang? What's your evaluation of him?"
Shi Tao sighed.
"The two of us entered the combat arena. I can't talk about the details. Anyway, I lost. I've spent a year training at South Glory University and still lost to him. What right do I have to evaluate him?"
Ban Dingyuan asked in confusion, "You lost? Has Qin Siyang already stepped onto the path of a believer?"
Shi Tao looked elsewhere.
"I didn't say that. You guessed it yourself. If you spread it around, don't say I leaked the secrets of the combat arena."
Duan Chongfang asked again, "Starting school already at Sequence Level 6 is certainly shocking. But if they were at the same level, do you think he could beat gifted people like Hu Chan and Chu Baxing?"
Shi Tao's eyes were deep, "Qin Siyang is different from Chu Baxing and Hu Chan."
"How is he different?"
"Hu Chan and Chu Baxing want to end battles as quickly as possible. But Qin Siyang..."
Shi Tao once again recalled Qin Siyang's smile during their fight when he leaped up and kicked toward him.
"He enjoys fighting. It's like fighting is what he lives for."
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