Chapter 112: Challenging the Two Champions

For three consecutive rounds, and now on the fifth day.

Although it’s been tough, the new book receiving everyone’s approval makes Xiao Hei very happy.

Also, the fan rankings have surprisingly filled up... Thank you all.

I’ll strive to keep updating three times a day over the weekend.

Please recommend!

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Leo, nineteen years old, an earth-element magic swordsman, holds a considerable reputation within the academy. Mastering the colossal rock-style combat technique that blends offense and defense, he is rarely matched by his peers in Qingyun Academy. Several duels against top-twenty fighters within the school ended in draws, with no clear victor. Even Ma Jiyang holds him in high regard.

Yet, lamentably...

Leo is a solitary soul by nature, never making friends within the academy. He is aloof, taciturn, and handles relationships with fellow students poorly.

The teachers and even the academy dean find him difficult to manage; otherwise, the last time when seven students were summoned for a talk in a carriage, it would not have been just Xu Wen and six others.

Truth be told!

Leo is gifted and powerful, a five-star novice magic swordsman whose level of cultivation has made him a coveted recruit for the six major mercenary groups.

Unfortunately, this man refuses to yield to anyone.

Every approach to recruit him has been rebuffed, including from the most prestigious figures like Ma Jiyang and Nangong Wanrou.

Yet, no one knows that Leo’s refusal to join the academy’s self-established mercenary groups harbors a certain resentment and unwillingness deep down—the night those seven were received by Dean Nodding, he was excluded, leaving him somewhat dejected and resistant.

He even contemplated founding his own mercenary band to surpass Ma Jiyang’s six-person team.

For this very reason, Leo emerged early from his room, roaming far and wide to gather information and seek opportunities.

The fierce competition of the official arena caught his attention. After observing a few matches, understanding the arena’s rules, he found himself eager to test his skills.

As a five-star novice magic swordsman, his overall combat power rivals that of a peak five-star swordsman or mage.

Provided no six-star powerhouse intervenes, he is confident he can secure twenty consecutive victories before opponents fully decipher his tactics!

To that end, he deliberately sought out an arena offering a particularly enticing reward.

Hosted by the official mercenary group “Iron Arm,” the spoils were a bottle of six-star potion called “Marrow Purifier,” worth 3,500 gold coins. It could refine a cultivator’s fighting spirit and mental strength. Although it might slightly reduce cultivation level, it greatly aids those whose progress has slowed.

Especially for magic swordsmen!

Dual-class practitioners often accumulate a chaotic mix of fighting spirit and mental strength within, hindering further cultivation.

The Marrow Purifier would be invaluable.

After watching the abilities of the arena’s defenders for a while, Leo finally submitted his application. Utilizing a novel, interlaced earth-element magic fighting technique, he won the first match without difficulty, then, with high spirits, claimed two more victories, defeating a five-star intermediate swordsman and a water-element mage.

The third opponent was a four-star cultivator—a young upstart...

Also a magic swordsman, like Leo, exuding a cold aura, but with dark, glossy skin.

Perhaps because he was a fellow magic swordsman, Leo immediately sensed a familiar pressure emanating from him, stronger than that of his previous two adversaries.

As soon as the duel began, both knew they had met a formidable rival!

One was a five-star novice practitioner of the colossal rock style; the other a four-star advanced disciple of the flowing sand school. Both earth-element magic swordsmen, both wielding a balanced blend of hardness and softness.

Each was intimately familiar with earth magic, their attack rhythms nearly identical...

Several rounds of evenly matched, intense clashes ignited the audience’s excitement—what could be more thrilling for cultivators than a fierce battle between equals?

Xu Wen and his companions had already reached the vibrant arena below, observing the unfolding battle. Suddenly, Aileen turned and glanced oddly at the self-proclaimed “mentor,” a seven-star swordsman.

“Do you think he will lose?”

Aileen thought Leo was already slightly ahead; with comparable fighting spirit consumption, naturally the lower-level opponent would tire first.

The latter smiled gently, slowly uttering:

“Leo will lose.”

“Why?”

The other three looked puzzled and pressed the seven-star swordsman for details, but he stopped, leaning forward slightly to scan Xu Wen’s calm face, then shook his head with a sigh of boredom.

“Better ask your deputy captain; he seems to have figured it out.”

“Until the very last moment, no one can easily decide the winner of a match.”

Before Aileen and the others could question further, Xu Wen cut them off, his unwavering eyes fixed intently on the arena. The earth-element magic swordsman duel was indeed intriguing.

Leo’s attacks were broad and unrestrained, fierce yet steady like a rock, his swordplay interspersed with low-level earth magic, unexpectedly catching opponents off guard. His strength and agility justified his status as one of Qingyun Academy’s elite.

In contrast, the dark-skinned youth’s prowess was no less impressive. His flowing sand fighting spirit embodied a defense-offense hybrid style, focusing on parrying and entrapment, evading sharp attacks and then striking suddenly at weak spots. The sand hardened to granite like a swift, venomous serpent, making him a formidable foe.

“These two are both so strong.”

“Who is that black kid? He looks a year or two younger than Leo, yet he can hold his ground so evenly.”

The group grew increasingly astonished. Unable to contain herself, Aileen turned to the sole representative from the Crimson Alliance beside her.

“Him?”

The seven-star swordsman smiled faintly.

“He’s considered one of the rising stars among the Crimson Mansion’s youth. Half a month ago, he successfully defended an arena challenge in one place.”

“Ah? Four-star too?”

Someone blurted out.

“What’s wrong with four-star?”

A young mage, who had been quietly observing Xu Wen’s group, suddenly interjected.

“If you’re dissatisfied, you can challenge him. Or, we can find another arena and have a match. I’m also a four-star mage; I’ll show you the gap between your Qingyun four-stars and our Crimson Mansion’s four-stars.”

Hearing the pointed provocation, Xu Wen raised an eyebrow, casting a displeased glance at the speaker. Such words were harsh, dismissing all Qingyun Academy disciples, as well as their teachers.

Is Qingyun Academy really inferior to Crimson Mansion?

Not necessarily!

The speaker was a four-star ninth-rank mage, clad in a sky-blue robe. Elemental fluctuations revealed icy breath, a water-element ice mage. Yet his demeanor was unpleasant—arrogant and self-satisfied, glaring at them with disdain, only slightly restraining himself when looking at Aileen.

“A match is a match. I’d like to see if your so-called Crimson disciples’ skills match their words!”

The target of the provocation was the only four-star beast tamer in the Soul Extinguishing Mercenary Group—Silver Moon Clan’s “Silver Moon Proud Dragon.” His face red with indignation, he glared fiercely at the mage.

“Oh, oh, oh.”

The seven-star swordsman chuckled lazily, cutting in:

“If this is a battle representing each academy, I advise against accepting lightly. I know this fellow’s strength... He also has a record of successfully defending an arena match once, with power similar to that black kid on stage.”

As he spoke, he flashed Xu Wen a smile that only deepened Xu Wen’s displeasure. The implication was clear.

Upon hearing this, Silver Moon Proud Dragon’s expression faltered, growing grim.

He already had a rough estimate of the two fighters’ strength on stage. As a four-star sixth-rank, he would never be arrogant enough to think he could contend with an opponent of Leo’s caliber.

Losing would embarrass Qingyun Academy, but retreating out of fear because of someone’s words would be even more humiliating—a dilemma.

“We admit we may not represent Qingyun Academy fully, but whether you truly represent Crimson Mansion is another question...” Xu Wen spoke timely, drawing the crowd’s attention away from Silver Moon Proud Dragon, who relaxed and cast him a grateful glance.

“I don’t claim to represent all Crimson disciples, but among four-star students... I should qualify.”

The ice mage lifted his proud face, clearly perceiving that the five Qingyun students seemed to follow Xu Wen’s lead.

No wonder he was confident; defending twenty arena matches at the four-star level was indeed a boast-worthy feat!

To cultivators nearby, Xu Wen was merely a four-star fourth-rank mage, two ranks below a beast tamer.

Yet this seemingly unassuming four-star fourth-rank mage spoke boldly:

“Since you can represent Crimson Mansion’s four-star disciples, I consider myself half a representative of Qingyun Academy’s students. How about a duel to see if Crimson Mansion’s disciples truly outmatch ours?”

Had these words come from any other four-star fourth-rank mage, the cultivators present would have jeered. But from Xu Wen’s calm delivery, no one laughed.

After watching the arena battle, anyone issuing a challenge like this was no simple figure—especially as his four companions showed no displeasure.

“Fine!”

The proud, confident man shouted, accepting the challenge.

“I’ll see what Qingyun Academy’s four-star disciples can do. Follow me; there’s a smaller arena nearby where we can fight...”

Turning to leave, Xu Wen suddenly called out from behind:

“No need for extra trouble; this one’s nearly over. Let’s fight right here!”

At once,

Countless eyes snapped to him.

Issuing such a statement while someone still fought on the arena stage was tantamount to a challenge declaration!

The seven-star swordsman watched Xu Wen thoughtfully, stroking his chin and tugging at his coarse beard, eyes flickering.

Originally, he only wanted to provoke Xu Wen to display his skills, to see how this much-discussed protégé of Dean Harman truly measured up after a year of study.

Unexpectedly, Xu Wen, provoked by his words, abandoned his previous calm and meticulous demeanor to declare a challenge against two Crimson Mansion four-star arena champions.

“...Interesting.”

At that moment, the battle on the arena stage finally reached its climax!

“Get down!”

The black youth suddenly roared, his fighting spirit soaring! Three cone-shaped venomous snakes formed from flowing sand fighting spirit smashed through Leo’s fighting spirit armor with overwhelming force.

With a loud thud, Leo was sent flying off the stage.

“Who just said they want to challenge me? Step forward!”

With a voice like rolling thunder, all eyes in the crowd instantly focused on Xu Wen.