The practice arena of Cosmic Star Academy was crowded. Dozens of new students whispered as they gathered, waiting for the duel about to unfold.
Chen Caixiu stood in the center, her face filled with cold arrogance. At only eight years old, she had already become the strongest of the new students, suppressing everyone with her Mid-Phase 3rd Order cultivation.
Her Martial Spirit appeared behind her—a silver-flowered golden needle that pulsed with sharp light. With a flash, it elongated into a shining spear, its edge radiating killing intent.
"Huang Kong Di!" she shouted, her clear voice echoing. "I don't care if you entered with a recommendation letter. Strength decides everything here! I'll crush your arrogance in front of everyone!"
The students around jeered. Many had long felt suffocated by Kong Di's presence—his calm indifference and the oppressive aura he carried. They were waiting for someone to humiliate him.
----
Huang Kong Di walked forward step by step, his face calm, eyes indifferent.
With a flicker of light, his Hollow Hydra Martial Spirit appeared. The massive phantom hydra loomed behind him, empty eyes glowing with black light. The moment it appeared, the air grew heavy, suffocating, as though the entire arena was being pressed down by an invisible weight.
A shiver went down the backs of the watching students.
Chen Caixiu snorted coldly. "Trying to scare me with pressure? Watch closely!"
She shot forward like lightning, her spear piercing directly at Kong Di's chest.
"Take my Piercing needle attack", she shouted with cute aggression -
"Rain of Flowers!"
The needle split into a rain of glowing needles like falling flower petals that shot forward like heavy raindrops.
Kong Di raised his eyebrows a little, then calmly raised his hand. A black palm print condensed in the air, vast and crushing.
He slowly spoke with incredible confidence -
"Hollow Palm!"
and then
BOOM—!,
An explosion erupted when his palm print made contact with her attack.
The palm smashed down, instantly shattering the storm of silver needles. The explosion echoed like thunder, forcing students nearby to stagger backward.
The crowd gasped. That one move had dispersed her proudest technique like nothing!
Chen Caixiu's face paled, as she too took a dozen steps backward.
She couldn't be that with her Mid-phase Intermediate 3rd Order Cultivation; she would be the one retreating rather than a 7-year-old new student.
Clenching her teeth, she executed another attack, shouting -
"Petal Flower Needle Dance!"
Her Martial Spirit bloomed again, countless silver needles swirling in a deadly storm before shooting out in a spiraling dance, covering the sky.
The destructive power was enough to tear holes in the arena floor. Even instructors watching from afar frowned slightly—this little girl's combat power truly rivaled Grade Nine Martial Spirits.
But Kong Di only looked impressed at the power she wielded. So, to respect his opponent for using all her power and abilities, he too slowly unleased his full cultivation. It was the same as hers, Mid-phase Intermediate 3rd Order Cultivation.
He clenched his fists, battle qi surged violently, and a black aura wrapped around his arms like chains.
"Nine Fists of Hallow Darkness! - 1st Fist"
His arms blurred, punching out a single powerful fist in the blink of an eye. The fist carried mountain-like weight, shattering the spiraling needles into fragments. Explosions erupted in succession, the arena tiles shaking under the impact.
All her needles, like summer snow, disappeared in the hollow darkness of the fist imprint.
Before the last echoes faded, Kong Di stepped forward again. The Hollow Hydra behind him opened its jaws. Black aura condensed into a terrifying wave. Without giving her another chance to retaliate, he used one more of his newly created battle techniques from his cultivation method.
"Hydra Roaring from the Black Sky"
A Huge Hydra manifested in the sky before Chen Caixiu. It roared like it unleashed the wrath of an ancient demonic beast. Black waves of qi swept across the arena, crashing into Chen Caixiu.
Her face paled as the force struck her. Her needle Martial spirit quivered violently, her arms went numb, and she was thrown backward several meters before crashing into the ground hard out of the arena. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her battle qi in chaos, and soon fainted from the pain she was feeling.
----
The arena fell silent. The teachers, students, and everyone watching had their lips twitching as they scolded Huang Kong Di in their hearts for being so ruthless towards a beautiful and cute girl like Chen Caixiu.
Huang Kong Di stood tall, ignoring all their expressions, had his hands behind him, the hydra phantom looming silently above him. His expression was serious, calculated—like a hunter looking at its prey.
Under the restoring power of a teacher, Chen Caixiu struggled to rise, her legs trembling. The arrogance in her eyes had vanished, replaced with disbelief and fear.
Kong Di looked at her indifferently.
"You are strong compared to these gaping sheep. But compared to me, you are still too weak. So, from the next time onwards, be careful before you run your mouth off to anyone."
His words were not loud, yet they struck heavier than his attacks.
The students around shuddered. Not a single one dared to critisize him anymore or look him in the eye.
From this day on, the name Huang Kong Di spread through the Cosmic Star Academy like wildfire.