Chapter 51: The Mockery Resumes, Ye Wen Replaces a High-Level Soul Master for the Match
Huyan Li's defense and strength instantly surged.
Bang!
The Tianshui student's attack felt like hitting solid iron.
"Hahahaha! Are you trying to scratch my back? My defense is unbreakable, not a single student in this entire exchange can break through it!"
"Fall down for me!"
Huyan Li laughed loudly and threw a powerful punch at the Tianshui student.
"Ah~"
The Tianshui student was knocked down by a single punch. At this point, the match could have almost ended, but Huyan Li did not stop and immediately moved to attack again.
"Third Soul Skill, Crushing Strike!"
Huyan Li jumped and threw another punch towards the already downed Tianshui student.
"Stop!!!"
Bang!
"Ahhh..." The Tianshui student was struck hard in the abdomen, blood began to spill from the corner of his mouth.
This punch seriously injured him, and it was likely that he could not continue in the competition.
And that was exactly the goal of the Xiangjia Academy—they wanted to make sure the students from other academies could not continue in the next rounds, preventing them from earning points. This way, Xiangjia wouldn't end up last. They had been last for four consecutive rounds and couldn't afford to lose again this time.
"Sister Sisi!!"
The Tianshui girls rushed up to the stage, anxiously checking her condition. Shui Bing'er, with a cold expression, yelled at Huyan Li, "Huyan Li, you're going too far! She clearly lost, why are you still attacking her?!"
"Am I to blame? Injuries happen in matches. How would I know if she can stand up again?" Huyan Li replied innocently.
"You could have attacked, but you didn't need to hit her so hard. The match would have still been judged in your favor. Why did you have to hurt her like that?" Shui Bing'er retorted angrily.
"Yeah! I see that Xiangjia just can't stand losing, deliberately injuring others to prevent our senior from continuing the competition!"
Shui Bing'er and the other Tianshui students angrily pointed at Huyan Li.
"This intentional injury is too obvious," Ye Wen furrowed his brow slightly.
The Tianshui Academy's Dean's face darkened as he spoke sternly, "Xiangjia Dean, this student of yours has gone too far, don't you think?"
"Indeed, indeed, I'll have a good talk with him!" Xiangjia's Dean said, feigning strictness. "Ali! How could you do this? Even if it was an accident, you should at least apologize to her!"
"Sorry then," Huyan Li shrugged indifferently.
"Is that all? Just a 'sorry'?" Shui Bing'er shouted angrily.
"Alright, students, let's return to our positions," the Tianshui Academy Dean said with a solemn expression, clenching his fists as he addressed his students.
"But Dean, Huyan Li clearly did this on purpose! They broke the rules of the exchange match!"
"Enough, come down now," the Tianshui Dean repeated. Whether it's sparring or anything else, accidents can happen in battle, mistakes can lead to injuries, and if the other side doesn't admit it, what can be done? We'll have to silently accept this loss.
"So, if Sister Sisi can't continue, are we just going to give up the next few matches?"
The Five Elements Academy Exchange had been going on for ten sessions, and this was the first time a student had been seriously injured and unable to continue.
In past matches, it was considered a victory if a match ended with a weapon held to the opponent's throat or if someone made a punch but chose to stop. As long as a clear winner emerged, it was deemed a win.
There had never been a situation where a student was seriously injured and could no longer compete, and there were no substitute spots available.
"Huyan Li from Xiangjia has indeed engaged in intentional injury, which is unfair to Tianshui Academy. I suggest that Tianshui be allowed to replace their student for the match. What do you all think?" said the Vice Dean of Leiting.
"I have no objections."
"Me neither."
The members of Shenfeng, Chihuo, and Leiting all voiced their agreement.
If substitutions weren't allowed, then in the future, whenever an academy knew they would be last, they could just deliberately injure someone to raise their ranking. What would be the point of continuing the exchange?
"Tch," Xiangjia's Dean shot a glance, not very pleased, and said, "Fine, let's replace her then."
"Dean, if we are replacing, then let me do it," Ye Wen's voice rang out from the crowd. He walked slowly to the stage, coldly glanced at Huyan Li, and then spoke to the Dean.
Ye Wen's words once again sparked ridicule and laughter from the other four academies.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"A second-year student thinks he can replace a high-level Soul Master? This is so funny!"
"Hey! The kid named Ye Wen, I admit you're strong in second year, you have the right to be arrogant, but this is a high-level student competition, what business do you have here?"
"Yeah! Just because you beat four students in second year, does that make you so great? Have you inflated your ego? Stop being so arrogant! Do you really think you can do it? Can you?!"
"Can you recognize yourself for once? You're just a second-year student. If you can defeat any of us senior students, I'll kneel down and bow to you!"
The mockery from the four academies was fiercer than before when Ye Wen defeated four opponents, because if that was shocking, then a second-year defeating high-level students? If that happened, it would be a miracle.
It was 100% impossible. Even the top geniuses on the continent wouldn't dare claim they could beat high-level students as second-year students.
"Ye Wen, do you really think you can do this?" the Tianshui Dean was also somewhat doubtful. He knew Ye Wen was strong, but he definitely couldn't compete with the higher-level students!
He knew Ye Wen had just reached the second ring recently—how could he possibly fight against a third-ring Soul Master?
"How about this, Dean? If I can defeat Huyan Li, will you allow me to replace my senior and continue her matches?" Ye Wen said calmly. He didn't want to say too much, as proving himself through strength was the best way to demonstrate his capabilities.
"Hahaha! Dean Shui, your second-year student is really eager! Let him try, I don't mind letting Huyan Li face him. I'm curious to see how talented this kid is," Xiangjia's Dean laughed, with obvious disdain and mockery.
"Speaking of which, I'm also quite curious about this second-year kid," the members of Shenfeng, Chihuo, and Leiting were all interested in seeing Ye Wen's martial soul and strength.
This would be helpful for them to understand the talent from Tianshui for future Soul Master competitions.
"Ye Wen, are you really sure you want to face Huyan Li?" the Tianshui Dean asked.
"Yes, Dean," Ye Wen nodded firmly.
In these three days of competition, he had seen the Tianshui girls' joy from victories, their cheers, excitement, and happiness. He had also seen their dejection, sadness, and sorrow from their defeats. Every time, it felt as though his emotions were influenced by them, and he had gradually started to care about the outcome of this exchange.
(END CHAPTER)
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