When it's time to strike, strike decisively. If you can end the battle in a single blow, don't hold back—there's no need for hesitation or mercy! After all, in combat, anything can happen at any moment. That's something Goku always taught the girls.
Thankfully, Qing Lin had already restrained most of the attack's power. Otherwise, with Xue Beng's strength, he definitely would've been killed on the spot! Even now, his chest was a bloody mess, his breathing ragged and uneven. Without several days of rest, there was no way he'd recover.
"External Battle Aura release… Great Battle Master!"
Gasps erupted across the plaza. After a stunned moment of silence, the crowd burst into an uproar! Staring at the petite, slightly shy girl standing in the arena, the male students' eyes gleamed with an emotion that could only be described as fiery enthusiasm.
Unlike Launch, Qing Lin was only fifteen years old. A fifteen-year-old Great Battle Master—such talent was nothing short of shocking! To them, she was a true heaven-sent prodigy. And only a girl like her could truly capture hearts.
"Winner: Qing Lin." After the initial surprise, the elder acting as referee offered her a warm smile. A fifteen-year-old Great Battle Master would easily rank among the top even in the Inner Academy.
The crowd's attention left Qing Lin at a loss. Having always been looked down upon, when had she ever received such admiration? The moment the elder declared the result, she leapt off the platform and ran straight to Goku, hiding behind him like a frightened kitten.
Goku gently ruffled her hair and smiled. "Hold your head high. Look—you've already earned everyone's recognition. I've told you before, you're not someone the mediocre masses can compare to."
"Mm!" Qing Lin responded with a soft hum, her eyes glimmering faintly with emerald light, a mysterious brilliance flickering within. Her heart grew even more attached to Goku. To her, all of this was thanks to him. It was Goku who had pulled her out of a world of scorn and into the light.
The other girls gathered around to comfort Qing Lin as well. They all knew she'd grown up at the bottom of society. Because of her unusual traits, she was often bullied and lacked confidence. Even among them, she always saw herself as a mere servant. But now, with everyone watching, this was the perfect chance for her to rebuild her self-esteem, and they eagerly took the opportunity to encourage her.
With this match, Qing Lin's name was destined to spread throughout the entire Jia Nan Academy.
And the tournament continued.
Not everyone could participate in the Inner Academy selection. Only those whose strength had been approved by their instructor were allowed to sign up. This time, the class with the most participants was Yellow Rank Class 2—with thirty-one students! And among those, twenty-eight were connected to Goku!
"Next up… Karin of Class 2 versus Mu Li of Class 1!"
"Ah! Karin, it's your turn! Do your best! Knock him flying with one punch!" Zi Yan's eyes sparkled as she looked at Karin, who was nestled in Goku's arms. She grinned wide, revealing her tiny tiger fangs.
"Karin, don't listen to Zi Yan. A girl shouldn't be too violent," Shizuka said softly, gently patting her head.
"Got it! Goku-nee, make sure to cheer for me!"
Karin beamed, her bright eyes full of excitement. After a nod from Goku, she hopped down from his arms and skipped toward the arena.
Mu Li looked to be around twenty years old, tall and muscular with bulging biceps. He gave off an air of raw strength.
But the moment he saw his opponent, his expression twisted in disbelief.
A little girl, barely reaching his waist, stood confidently in front of him. Mu Li felt like a breeze could blow her over. He looked utterly bewildered. After a long pause, he glanced at the elder referee and asked, "She's my opponent… seriously?"
Seeing the referee nod, Mu Li stood there silently for a moment before speaking, his tone tinged with anger: "What is this? Are you mocking me? Letting a little girl fight me? Is this a joke? Has the Inner Academy selection become this ridiculous?"
"Hey, big guy! Don't underestimate me!"
Karin puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed.
"You'll be crying for your mama once I'm done with you!" Her exaggerated anger only made her look more adorable.
Mu Li sighed. Looking at the little girl in front of him, he suddenly felt a huge amount of pressure. She was so cute—he didn't even have the heart to yell at her. Turning back to the elder, he said, "I request a different opponent. I'm not here to play house with kids."
"Isn't that the girl who's always running around with Zi Yan, causing trouble at the Academy? What's she doing in the Inner Academy selection?"
"Wait, she doesn't even look eight years old! Are they seriously letting a toddler enter this tournament?"
"Has Instructor Ruo Lin gone mad? Letting a kid join this is just plain reckless!"
The students and even some instructors began whispering and grumbling. Although Karin was undeniably cute, putting her in this setting seemed absurd. None of them believed a child like her could possibly be strong enough to compete.
Only a few instructors—and the Vice Dean—noticed something different. This little girl… there was something unusual about her. Her movements were light and precise, and her aura didn't feel weak at all.
The white-haired referee narrowed his eyes, carefully observing Karin. The more he watched, the more shocked he became. He stole a glance at Goku—who, along with the others, wore calm, relaxed expressions. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. If this girl was truly what he suspected… then this was no ordinary child!
"You're all so mean! Underestimating me like that!" Karin shouted, clearly fed up. "Goku-nee says I'm a little genius! That's it—I'm sending you flying into the sky!"
Having spent a lot of time playing with the wild and fiery Zi Yan, Karin had picked up some of her boldness. She released her aura—and in an instant, a brilliant green light enveloped her, forming a glowing robe of pure energy. She looked even more adorable, yet dazzlingly powerful at the same time.
The entire arena fell into stunned silence, as if they'd seen a ghost.
Then, a burst of shocked cries exploded.
If Qing Lin's earlier performance was described as stunning, then Karin's was earth-shattering.
"G-Great Battle Master…"
Someone muttered the words under their breath, but the voice carried across the entire arena like a thunderclap. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat, and a chorus of gasps filled the air.
Xiao Yu turned to look at Goku, her expression filled with disbelief. If Karin's talent was unbelievable, then Goku's existence was even more monstrous—because all of this was due to him! Without Goku, there was no way such freakishly powerful girls could exist.
Xiao Yan started cultivating at four, reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi at ten, and became a Fighter at eleven. That level of talent was already rare across the continent.
But compared to this little girl in front of them? That was nothing! An eight-year-old Great battle master? Who's ever seen that? If you hadn't witnessed it with your own eyes, saying it out loud would get you labeled a lunatic.
This kind of existence… was enough to terrify people. All those so-called geniuses instantly felt like worms in comparison.
The silence that followed was eerie. To them, Karin could no longer be called a "genius." Not even "monster" seemed adequate.
"Hmph! Now you know how awesome I am!" Karin proudly declared, forgetting all her earlier frustration. Kids were like that—moods shifting in an instant.
"Phew…" The elder referee let out a long breath, suppressing the shock in his chest. He turned to the still-stunned Mu Li and said calmly, "So, do you have any more objections?"
"N-No…" Mu Li shook his head blankly. This was way beyond his expectations. Like everyone else, he still hadn't fully recovered from the shock.
'What kind of monster is this guy?' Hu Gan stared at Goku, stunned. 'Every woman around him is freakishly talented! Even a little girl is this terrifying…' He was awestruck—but also filled with excitement. With someone like Goku at Jia Nan Academy, their name was bound to shake the continent!
"Well then—let the match begin!"
As the elder's voice fell, the crowd finally snapped back to reality, eyes glued to the stage. They were eager to see what kind of dazzling performance this once-in-a-generation prodigy would deliver.
Looking at the little girl he had just mocked—but now felt a crushing pressure from—Mu Li sighed. He was a grown man. If he got beaten by a child, how would he ever face anyone again?
"Still," he muttered, "I'm a Nine-Star Fighter. Even if she's a Great battle master, she's still a kid. I might stand a chance."
Trying to boost his own confidence, he focused his gaze on Karin. "Come. Let me see just how strong this so-called once-in-a-lifetime genius really is."
"I already told you," Karin replied seriously, "I'm going to send you flying. I never lie."
Her tiny fists clenched tight. Fierce battle aura surged around her, concentrating into her hands. The very air began to swirl violently, forming cyclones that converged around her fists.
Mu Li's expression changed dramatically. The kind of battle technique that could stir the very heavens and earth had to be Earth-grade or higher. And for an Earth-grade technique to be used by a Great battle master? The power was unimaginable!
Mu Li's face turned pale. He hadn't expected such a small child to launch such an overwhelming attack. Without hesitation, he activated his strongest technique: Tiger Roar Fist, a mid-tier Earth-grade battle skill.
As his aura surged, the sound of a tiger's roar echoed through the arena. His fists burned with energy, filled with explosive force. He wasn't holding back—if he did, he'd be crushed.
Meanwhile, Karin's energy flared. "Let me show you the battle technique Goku-nee taught me—Phoenix Dance!"
With a sharp cry, a massive golden phoenix took form above her. She threw a punch, and the phoenix let out a piercing screech, becoming a stream of golden light. In an instant, it obliterated Mu Li's Tiger Roar Fist and struck him head-on. Within that golden radiance, Mu Li, though already unconscious, continued coughing up blood, his body battered and broken. The terrifying golden phoenix seemed as though it would tear him apart at any moment.
"So young, and yet so reckless…" the referee elder atop the platform sighed softly. In a flash, he vanished, tearing through the air at high speed. Battle aura surged in his palm as his embroidered robe fluttered with force. With a single wave of his sleeve, a violent surge of energy burst forth—the golden phoenix shattered instantly, reduced to a storm of dissipating light, revealing Mu Li's heavily wounded body.
The elder caught him mid-air and slowly descended to the ground. Mu Li's body was covered in wounds, drenched in blood. The elder looked at the small figure still standing confidently on the stage and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of shock.
Such power at such a young age!
That last strike—if it had landed in full on a Dou Spirit-level expert, it would've caused serious injury at the very least. Had he not intervened in time, Mu Li might have been in mortal danger.
Of course, he also noticed that although the technique was immensely powerful, it lacked refinement—form without substance. Clearly, Karin had only scratched the surface of this Heaven-tier battle technique. If she had truly mastered it, Mu Li wouldn't just be injured—he would've been reduced to a pile of blood and flesh the moment he was struck.
"Whew… this Heaven-tier technique really eats up my energy. It almost drained all my battle aura…" Karin's face had gone a bit pale as she muttered to herself. She took out a few recovery pills and casually popped them into her mouth like candy.