On the arena, the young man holding a long staff looked relaxed.
On the high platform, Elder Ye Nian of the Weaponry Academy also looked somewhat astonished. "Qin Xin's moves seem effortless, but every movement is perfect. It would be difficult to possess such agility without countless life-and-death battles."
As Ye Nian spoke, the two deans and other elders beside him nodded in agreement. However, Jia Yan spoke up directly, saying, "This is nothing but unorthodox methods. This boy is not fit for any great task."
"Then I must have misjudged him." Ye Nian had been an elder in the Weaponry Academy for many years and naturally knew Jia Yan. Seeing his evaluation, he dared not contradict him and quickly echoed him.
However, what Ye Nian didn't know was that Qin Xin was a spiritual cultivator, whose perception surpassed that of martial artists of the same realm. Therefore, he was able to quickly find openings to dodge Ruan Cheng's seemingly fierce attacks.
Ruan Cheng, holding a dark red dagger behind his back, looked up at Qin Xin, who was carrying a long staff in front of him, his eyes filled with malice, and said coldly, "It seems you have some skill. I wonder if you can withstand my attack."
"High-level Yellow Rank Martial Art, Shadow Blade - Instant Kill!"
With a soft hum, Ruan Yuan channeled the true energy from his five acupoints into the dark red dagger in his hand. Instantly, the entire dagger emitted a black aura, giving it a mysterious feel. However, the tip of the dagger emitted a chilling light, making one's scalp tingle. If one were to be lightly grazed by this dagger, it would likely tear through the true energy veil, leaving one with lacerations.
"Talking too much nonsense is not a good habit."
Holding the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff on his back, Qin Xin casually held it horizontally in front of him. As soon as the staff lightly touched the stone slab of the arena, golden light flowed continuously from a True Aperture that emitted a distinct brilliance. Even the staff itself was covered with golden patterns. With a light step, the True Qi in the True Aperture circulated throughout his body, like a golden armor adhering to Qin Xin's body.
Seeing Qin Xin's suddenly surging aura, Ruan Yuan was not surprised. This was because many people in the outer courtyard knew that Qin Xin possessed the Martial Spirit Mark. He had been ordered to cripple Qin Xin, so he had naturally already obtained information about him.
"Martial Spirit Mark? Let's see how long you can keep this up!"
Ruan Yuan slid his left foot to the side, his figure transforming into a black shadow, and a dagger emitting a chilling light came straight at his face.
As Ruan Yuan moved, pale yellow true qi flames suddenly condensed on the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff in Qin Xin's hand, and a fire blade shot out with a light swing of the staff.
"bite!"
As the dagger approached Qin Xin, the long staff suddenly leaped and flew after touching the dagger. Qin Xin used the powerful thrust of his opponent's martial arts energy to retreat backward and escape Ruan Yuan's attack range.
Seeing Qin Xin flee, Ruan Yuan sneered, believing that Qin Xin was now too cowardly to withstand his attack.
But when Ruan Yuan's gaze shifted to Qin Xin, who had retreated to the back, his previously disdainful expression froze.
"burst!"
Qin Xin smiled and uttered a single word.
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge fireball suddenly rose up on the entire arena, and even the solid ground showed a crack.
When the flames subsided, Ruan Yuan's even more eerie gaze was revealed. At this moment, he was wearing what appeared to be a black cloak, which was his True Qi Veil. The explosion of the Crimson Flame Blade did not break the defense of this True Qi Veil, and Ruan Yuan was not harmed in any way.
Upon seeing this scene, Qin Xin's expression became somewhat solemn. Although activating the Heavenly Phoenix Martial Spirit Pattern allowed his violent true energy to temporarily boost his aura, making him stronger than Ruan Yuan in front of him.
However, Ruan Yuan is a genuine fifth-level Qi Opening Realm cultivator, so breaking through the True Qi Gauze wouldn't be so easy for him. The reason why Qi Opening Realm cultivators can easily crush Innate Realm cultivators is also because of the existence of the True Qi Gauze.
"It seems you do have some strength. I originally only wanted to cripple you, but now I've changed my mind."
Ruan Yuan brushed away the sparks that had accidentally hit the corner of his clothes. Although the explosion had not broken through his defenses, the intense heat had singed his hair, darkened his face, and filled his eyes with murderous intent.
Seeing Ruan Yuan attack head-on again, Qin Xin raised an eyebrow. The true energy in his martial elixir gathered in his true acupoint like a rushing river, flowing rapidly through his meridians and filling every part of his body, making him full and powerful. He gripped his long staff tightly, and a huge fire blade suddenly gathered. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around the arena also began to stir.
"The essence of martial arts, a prairie fire that cuts a hundred times!"
Qin Xin stared intently at Ruan Yuan's rapidly approaching figure. His crimson giant blade, carrying an aura of annihilation, slashed down without holding back, employing a level-one martial art.
The students watching from the sidelines gasped in surprise at the sight, thoroughly excited by the intense battle in the arena. However, a few of them looked towards the ring with a hint of worry.
"Oh no, Ruan Yuan is about to use that strange move!"
As Ruan Yuan's figure suddenly froze, something shot out from his sleeve.
"puff!"
Seeing a streak of light shooting towards him, Qin Xin instinctively picked up his long staff to block it, but the light was as invisible as it was, passing directly through the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff and ignoring the true qi veil covering Qin Xin's body.
"ah!"
A sharp pain shot through his Niwan Palace, like being bitten by thousands of ants. If it weren't for his spiritual consciousness resisting it, Qin Xin would probably have collapsed by now, and his soul would have been wiped out, turning him into a walking corpse.
"puff!"
The deep red weapon that was being slashed down suddenly shattered, its true energy scattering in all directions. Qin Xin coughed up a mouthful of blood, and the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff in his hand fell to the ground. He sat down cross-legged, his closed eyes seemingly filled with endless pain.
"Hahaha, how does this Soul-Devouring Nail feel? It's not pleasant, is it!"
Ruan Yuan brandished a dark red dagger, his eyes filled with smugness as he looked at Qin Xin, who sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Ruan Yuan, stop!"
As Ruan Yuan prepared to step forward and finish off Qin Xin, several voices rang out.
“I am Xia Yue of the Great Xia Dynasty. Ruan Yuan, you have already won, why must you be so ruthless?”
Xia Yue, standing on the high platform, was somewhat conflicted, but Qin Xin had helped her resolve her hidden ailment, so she was grateful and stepped forward to save his life.
"This is the Eastern Wilderness Academy, not your Great Xia Dynasty's imperial palace. Since no one has admitted defeat on the arena, the competition is not over," Lin Jinglei said coldly.
The students below also felt that Lin Jinglei's words made a lot of sense. Since Qin Xin had closed his eyes and had not admitted defeat, it meant that the competition was not yet over.
"Qin Xin can't speak now, how can he admit defeat!" Xia Yue's eyes were also filled with anger as she stared at Lin Jinglei.
Just as the two were talking, Ruan Yuan had already walked in front of Qin Xin, and Qin Xin had no reaction. The dark red dagger was raised in mid-air and stabbed directly towards his dantian.
"Qin Xin!"
"Boss!"
...
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