"You know, Yan Qingshan, about what you did during the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, not only do I have no objections, but I also think it's a good thing."
Yang Sheng of the Little Sword Gang looked at Yan Qingshan and suddenly smiled. The skin at the corner of his mouth twitched across his face. Only the side with the scar had some nerve issues, so his smile looked strange.
Yang Sheng continued, "This scar on my face is the result of the Fire Energy Hunting Competition when I first entered the Inner Academy. Back then, the senior students from that class knocked our team to the ground. With just a single swipe of a sword, they left this mark on my face.
So, I particularly understand Bai Cheng's desire for revenge. Some senior students were indeed unruly during the Fire Energy Hunting Competition. In fact, I don't think the Inner Academy's procedure for new students is a good thing at all.
You don't understand Bai Cheng, but I do. So, I'll avenge him. The 'Little Sword' of the Little Sword Gang isn't a hidden weapon. It's literally shaped like a small knife, the one that almost smashed my left ear back then."
As Yang Sheng spoke, a small knife with bloodstains appeared in his palm, looking well-preserved. "I used this knife to break that bastard's tendons in his hands and feet."
"Senior Yang Sheng, you have quite a bit of murderous aura!"
Yan Qingshan remained calm, showing no significant emotional fluctuations. One who has not experienced another's suffering should not advise them to be kind.
He hadn't experienced anything similar and probably wouldn't let himself get into such a situation. So, he couldn't empathize with Yang Sheng and Bai Cheng, and he didn't think it was a good thing.
In the end, while some senior students might have gone too far in the Inner Academy's Fire Energy Hunting Competition, there was indeed a reason for the students to hold such a ritual.
It was to temper the arrogance of the geniuses, ensuring they wouldn't lose their lives due to pride in the future. That should be a good thing.
As for Yang Sheng and Bai Cheng feeling their dignity was humiliated, he thought the latter was more important compared to losing their lives. Of course, people like him, who were born geniuses and spent their early lives smoothly amidst praise, might think dignity was more important!
"You think this is a small matter?"
Yang Sheng's eyes narrowed, locking onto Yan Qingshan's position. His Dou Qi gathered secretly, ready for a thunderous strike at any moment.
Yan Qingshan seemed oblivious and replied calmly, "Compared to losing one's life due to pride in the future, is this a big deal?"
"Good, good, well said!"
Yang Sheng smiled again, closing his eyes slightly with a smile. When he opened his eyes again, a cold light flashed. A sharp bolt of lightning rapidly enlarged in Yan Qingshan's eyes. It was a small knife being shot out, and then Yang Sheng's figure flashed and disappeared from his original spot.
"Dawn, lock onto his trajectory."
A blue light flashed in Yan Qingshan's eyes, determining that Yang Sheng was using an extremely high-level lightning-type movement Dou Technique. Even with his eyesight, he almost couldn't capture Yang Sheng's true form.
"Clang..."
Yan Qingshan's eyes narrowed, and his left hand moved swiftly, accurately catching the silver knife that emitted electric arcs. Then, a lightning shadow with white electricity arrived in front of him, grabbing the knife and twisting his wrist in a counter-clockwise motion.
"Exploding Thunder Flash!"
"Thunderbolt Step!"
Yan Qingshan's eyes flashed with sharp lightning. His left finger rapidly emitted lightning to counter. But Yang Sheng's speed was even faster. His figure turned illusory in an instant, changing positions three times in a single breath to attack again.
Yan Qingshan's Exploding Thunder Flash was always used to catch others off guard. But this time, he missed. Yang Sheng's movement was indeed extremely subtle. He was almost right in front of Yan Qingshan, yet Yan Qingshan still couldn't catch his true trajectory.
"It's interesting to watch these two fight. The higher-level cultivator is dodging, while the lower-level cultivator is constantly attacking."
"Yang Sheng's Thunderbolt Step is a rare high-level Xuan-rank movement technique. Although this newcomer is impressive, he lacks experience against such close-range, high-speed opponents!"
"That's the truth. Yang Sheng's cultivation level isn't that high in the Inner Academy, but with this movement technique, even the top ten on the Strong Ranking wouldn't be able to handle it. They'd have to rely on their cultivation to withstand and counterattack."
…
The Dou Spirit experts around the platform discussed, giving their opinions on the two in the arena. Most of them clearly didn't think highly of Yan Qingshan.
A lightning arc kept flashing around Yan Qingshan, while he shook his head, trying to catch Yang Sheng's trail. He occasionally threw out attacks as probes, but they mostly missed.
"Movement trajectory pattern confirmed. Simulation loading..."
The voice of Dawn suddenly sounded in Yan Qingshan's mind. Then, an electric figure ran a simulation. The data Dawn organized flashed in his mind, giving him some understanding of the subtleties of this movement technique.
Yan Qingshan suddenly stopped probing and looked up at the sky. The bright sunlight scattered across the arena with its open skylight. The scorching sun hung high in the dome.
"What a brilliant movement technique. It's not just subtle footwork; it also involves a strange illusion, using the refraction of light to affect others' vision.
The shadow that's broadcasted to the enemy's eyes in real-time is actually fake. The real figure is slightly off to the side. The refraction rate of light?"
Yan Qingshan's eyes flashed with a hint of understanding. Then, he smiled slightly, drawing down the essence of the great sun from the sky.
"Such energy fluctuations. Di-rank Dou Technique? Is this Newcomer Leader so easily provoked that he's throwing a tantrum?"
This sudden scene stunned the experts below the platform. Yang Sheng's movement was indeed tricky, but it wasn't necessary to use an Di-rank Dou Technique. Could it be that this Newcomer Leader lacked composure?
With a flash of electricity, Yang Sheng's figure appeared three steps away from Yan Qingshan, cautiously watching the dazzling light in Yan Qingshan's palm. He didn't understand Yan Qingshan's actions.
Di-rank Dou Techniques were indeed powerful, but they were useless if they couldn't hit anyone. This arena was indeed troublesome, limiting his movements, and he might not be able to block an Di-rank Dou Technique.
But if Yan Qingshan really won with such means, then Yang Sheng would make him understand that it wasn't over. If they met outside the arena in the Inner Academy, he would definitely give this kid an unforgettable experience.
"Your movement technique isn't just footwork, is it?"
Yan Qingshan stared at Yang Sheng three steps away and suddenly smiled. The ball of great sun essence in his palm emitted a bright light like a dazzling light bulb.
"This kid, could it be..."
Yang Sheng's gaze suddenly shifted, staring at the light in Yan Qingshan's hand. Yan Qingshan's words gave him an ominous feeling. How could a cultivator not know the secrets of his own movement technique?
But precisely because he knew, he felt even more unbelievable. The mystery of the Thunderbolt Step's ability to distort and interfere with others' vision through the refraction of lightning was unknown even to most cultivators in his family who practiced this Dou Technique. How could this kid have cracked the secret? He didn't believe it!