Chapter 54: The Academy Chief
Bang!
Before Tang San could speak, Xiao Wu had already slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
She had been the 'big sister' at Nuoding Academy for six years, and her fierce aura made the four tall young men tremble, instinctively taking a step back.
With her left hand on her hip and her right hand pointing at the four, she angrily shouted, "I left for a few months! Are you guys still so idle? Get lost, or don't blame me, Sister Xiao Wu, for being impolite."
The burly man felt a bit embarrassed by Xiao Wu's scolding and said, "Xiao Wu, this is a matter between us men. Don't interfere. I've always been lenient with you, but it's not because I'm afraid of you. Otherwise, do you think I'm the academy's chief for nothing?"
Tang San couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, what does 'academy chief' mean?"
A lanky young man scoffed, "Where are you from, country bumpkin? You don't even know what 'academy chief' means. Chief means the most powerful person in the entire academy."
"So that's how it is." Tang San nodded, his gaze toward the burly young man becoming cautious.
In his opinion, Chen Sheng and the others had been studying at the academy for some time, and if this person could still hold the position of academy chief, his strength must be considerable.
However, he didn't know that Chen Sheng had no intention of competing for this chief position.
"Should we go help?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in a low voice, her face flushed from the hand that kept moving around her waist.
"I'll go and see." Chen Sheng shook his head slightly, and that hand gave her waist a gentle squeeze before he stood up.
Chen Sheng walked over calmly. Xiao Wu immediately moved to his side, feeling safer with him there.
The burly young man looked Chen Sheng up and down, then sneered. "And who are you? Another new student? You look even younger than that kid."
"I'm Chen Sheng," he said simply.
"Chen Sheng?" The burly man frowned. "Never heard of you. Listen, kid, the rules here are simple. No one sits next to Xiao Wu except those who can beat me."
Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow. "That's a stupid rule."
"What did you say?!" The burly man's face darkened.
"I said it's stupid," Chen Sheng repeated calmly. "Xiao Wu can sit next to whoever she wants. She's not your property."
Xiao Wu's grabbed his arm. "Brother Sheng is right!"
The burly man's face turned red with anger. "You arrogant brat! Do you know who you're talking to? I'm Tai Long, the academy chief! My spirit power is level thirty-seven!"
"So what?" Chen Sheng said with a slight smile.
Tai Long felt his pride wounded. This kid was looking down on him! "Fine! Since you want to be a hero, let's have a duel. If you lose, you and that other new kid stay away from Xiao Wu!"
"And when I win?" Chen Sheng asked.
"IF you win," Tai Long emphasized, "then I'll acknowledge you and leave you alone. But that won't happen!"
Chen Sheng nodded. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
He released his forty level spirit power, letting it flow naturally around him. The air pressure in the classroom immediately changed.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple—four soul rings rose from beneath his feet, pulsing with energy.
"Level forty-three Spirit Ancestor," Chen Sheng said casually.
"What?! Your spirit power is over forty?!" The burly young man's jaw dropped. His three companions behind him took several steps back in shock.
[DETECTED! Tai Long's Emotion (Shock, Wounded Pride) Congratulations to Host! Treasure Chest acquired!]
Chen Sheng was at least seven years younger than him, yet his spirit power level was already Spirit Ancestor. The gap was enormous.
However, Tai Long had initiated this challenge, and in front of Xiao Wu, he naturally couldn't back down. His pride wouldn't allow it.
He released his martial soul. Brown light erupted from his body as his muscles swelled dramatically. His already large frame grew even more imposing.
"Tai Long, martial soul Herculean Ape, level thirty-seven assault-type Spirit Elder. Please advise!" His three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—appeared around him.
Tai Long beckoned to Chen Sheng, signaling him to make the first move.
Chen Sheng didn't stand on ceremony. He raised his hand, and thunder flashed on his palm. A bolt of lightning shot toward Tai Long's body.
CRACK!
Most of the students in the classroom only saw a flash of silver light, and the next moment, Tai Long's burly figure was thrown against the wall.
Thud!
Tai Long's burly body fell to the ground, his upper garments torn and smoking, his expression pained.
The entire classroom fell silent.
Just then, a teacher walked into the classroom.
"Little Sheng, what's going on?" Shao Xin saw Tai Long on the ground with a painful expression and torn upper garments, and his gaze immediately shifted to Chen Sheng, frowning slightly. "How can you bully a classmate on your first day of class?"
"Teacher, he was the first to bully us." Xiao Wu raised her right hand.
"I... I'm not convinced yet. I want a duel!" Tai Long barely got up from the ground, but he was also straightforward and explained to Shao Xin. "Teacher, it was I who challenged him just now. I was just careless, that's why I was defeated."
Xiao Wu couldn't help but say, "Aren't you a fool to fight Brother Sheng?
Are you out of your mind?"
Tai Long thought about Chen Sheng's attack method and high spirit power. Even if he hadn't been careless just now, he would definitely not have been his opponent with martial souls.
"If you have the guts, let's fight without martial souls, based on physical fitness alone!"
Tai Long said, feeling a little embarrassed himself as he spoke. Then he pointed at Tang San. "And you, kid, I'll see you later too!"
Chen Sheng agreed simply. "Alright."
Shao Xin frowned. "This is class time."
Tai Long glanced at Chen Sheng. "After school, meet me on the back mountain."
Chen Sheng nodded casually.
Xiao Wu leaned closer to Chen Sheng and whispered, "Brother Sheng must teach him a good lesson later, so he doesn't bother me anymore."
When she said this, she didn't know if she really wanted to teach Tai Long a lesson or if she was worried that Chen Sheng would misunderstand her relationship with Tai Long.
Chen Sheng smiled and patted her head gently. "Don't worry."
"Everyone, settle down. This class will be about the role of food-type Spirit Masters on the battlefield..." Shao Xin began to lecture.
Aside from Oscar, who listened with great interest, most people looked sleepy. Chen Sheng sat with Zhu Zhuqing on one side and Xiao Wu on the other, both girls leaning slightly against him.
One class quickly ended.
The advanced class only had one class a day, and the rest of the time was for self-cultivation.
"Kid, come with me." Just then, Tai Long blocked Chen Sheng again at the classroom door, his expression determined despite the earlier defeat.
Chen Sheng stood up. "Let's go then."
Xiao Wu immediately grabbed his arm. "I'm coming too!"
Zhu Zhuqing silently took his other arm. "Me too."
Tang San started to follow, but Tai Long pointed at him. "Not you. You wait your turn. I'll deal with you after I settle things with him."
Tang San frowned but nodded, watching them leave.
---
Tai Long led Chen Sheng, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing into the forest behind the academy. The trees grew thick here, creating natural clearings perfect for sparring.
"This is far enough," Tai Long said, stopping in a wide clearing. He began stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders. "No martial souls, no soul skills. Just pure physical combat. Man to man."
"Fine by me," Chen Sheng said, removing his outer robe and handing it to Zhu Zhuqing.
Xiao Wu looked worried. "Brother Sheng, be careful. Tai Long's martial soul is the Herculean Ape. Even without releasing it, his physical strength is naturally enhanced."
"I know," Chen Sheng said with a slight smile.
Tai Long cracked his knuckles. His muscles bulged even without his martial soul active. "I'll give you one more chance to back out, kid. I might accidentally hurt you."
"Talk less, fight more," Chen Sheng said.
"You asked for it!"
Tai Long charged forward with a roar, his fist flying toward Chen Sheng's face with tremendous force. The speed and power were impressive for someone his age and level.
Chen Sheng didn't dodge. He simply raised his hand and caught Tai Long's fist in his palm.
Smack!
The sound echoed through the forest.
Tai Long's eyes widened. His full-force punch had been stopped as easily as catching a ball.
"Is that all?" Chen Sheng asked calmly.
"Don't get cocky!" Tai Long roared, throwing his other fist.
Chen Sheng caught that one too. Then, with a casual push, he sent Tai Long stumbling backward several steps.
Tai Long's face darkened. He charged again, this time using his superior size and weight to try to grapple Chen Sheng.
But every attack was effortlessly blocked or deflected. Chen Sheng moved with minimal effort, his footwork perfect, his counters precise.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Chen Sheng began his counterattack. Each punch and kick landed with devastating accuracy. Tai Long tried to block, tried to dodge, but it was useless.
Chen Sheng's physical power was on a completely different level. With thirty awakened Dragon Elephant cells giving him three million kilograms of pure physical strength, combined with his Indestructible Golden Body training and Chaos Fire Spirit Body constitution, his body had become a divine weapon that even gods would envy.
Against Tai Long, it was like an world champion fighting a child.
Bang!
Crash!
Boom!
Tai Long was sent flying again and again. He crashed into trees, rolled across the ground, struggled back to his feet, and charged once more—only to be beaten back again.
[DETECTED! Tai Long's Emotion (Frustration, Stubborn Determination) Congratulations to Host! Treasure Chest acquired!]
"Brother Sheng is amazing!" Xiao Wu cheered from the sidelines.
Zhu Zhuqing watched with admiration in her eyes.
[DETECTED! Xiao Wu's, Zhu Zhuqing's Emotions (Admiration, Love) Congratulations to Host! 2× Treasure Chests acquired!]
After fifteen minutes of continuous beating, Tai Long finally collapsed to his ground, his body was covered in bruises.
Xiao Wu immediately hugged Chen Sheng's arm. "Brother Sheng, you're so cool! The way you beat him without even trying!"
"He's very tenacious," Zhu Zhuqing commented. "Even after being beaten so badly, he kept getting up."
"That's his strength of character," Chen Sheng said. "He's not weak. I'm just much stronger."
Xiao Wu suddenly grabbed his other arm. "Come on! Let's go get food in the city! I'm starving after watching that fight!"
Zhu Zhuqing also held his arm tighter. "I'm hungry too."
Chen Sheng chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's go eat."
The two girls practically dragged him away from the forest, chatting and laughing.
---
They arrived in Heaven Dou City's commercial district about half an hour later. The streets were bustling with people, vendors calling out their wares, and the smell of various foods filling the air.
"There's a really good noodle restaurant here!" Xiao Wu said excitedly, pointing ahead. "They have the best spicy beef noodles!"
They found the restaurant and ordered several dishes. While waiting for their food, Xiao Wu suddenly pointed out the window.
"Oh! Look at that building!" She pointed to an impressive structure across the street. It had grand columns and a red banner hanging from the entrance.
"That's the Heaven Dou Auction House," Zhu Zhuqing said. "One of the largest in the empire."
"An auction house?" Chen Sheng looked at it with interest.
"Yeah! They auction all kinds of rare items—spirit bones, rare herbs, weapons, and treasures from all over the continent," Xiao Wu explained. "I've never been inside though. I heard you need money just to get in."
"We should go take a look after we eat," Chen Sheng suggested.
"Really?!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.
"I'm curious too," Zhu Zhuqing said quietly.
"Then it's decided," Chen Sheng said.
Their food arrived, and they ate heartily. Chen Sheng paid for the meal with some of his gold coins, and then the three of them walked toward the auction house.
As they approached the entrance, a well-dressed attendant bowed. "Welcome to Heaven Dou Auction House. Do you have membership badges?"
"No," Chen Sheng said.
"Then I'm afraid there's an entry fee of one hundred gold coins per person for non-members," the attendant said politely.
"Three hundred gold coins just to look around?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened.
Chen Sheng pulled out a pouch and counted out three hundred gold coins without hesitation. "Here."
The attendant's eyes widened slightly at how casually Chen Sheng paid such a sum. "Thank you, young master. Please, come inside. The next auction begins in one hour."
They stepped through the grand doors into a luxurious lobby with marble floors and crystal chandeliers.
"Wow..." Xiao Wu looked around in wonder. "This place is amazing!"
"Let's see what they're auctioning today," Chen Sheng said, leading them deeper inside.
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