"Yesterday, 137 students passed the preliminary rounds. Today, they will battle for fifty coveted spots in the Inner Academy. Let us watch closely!"
Vice Principal Hu Qian's voice, amplified by Dou Qi, rolled across the vast plaza like thunder. The moment his words fell, the entire square erupted in cheers, wave after wave of excitement surging through the sea of students.
Hu Qian surveyed the eager young faces below, eyes brimming with approval. With a satisfied nod, he gestured for the referee to begin before returning to his seat on the high platform.
The referee stepped onto the arena stage and raised his hand for silence. Gradually, the noise died down.
"From this point on, I will be overseeing the matches. When your name is called, step onto the stage at once."
"First match—Liu Lingfeng of Xuan Class One versus Guan Jie of Xuan Class Two!"
---
The battles moved swiftly, one after another, until the thirteenth match.
"Thirteenth match—Liu Xi of Huang Class One versus Wang Shan of Xuan Class One!"
Hearing his name, Liu Xi stepped calmly onto the arena. At once, the audience erupted into cheers, many of them shouting his name.
His opponent, Wang Shan, strode heavily up the stage, towering nearly two meters tall. His thick arms and broad frame made him look like a human fortress, and a massive greataxe rested easily in his grip.
"Liu Xi," Wang Shan declared proudly, "I know you're a genius from the Alchemy Department. But when it comes to battle, the Enforcement Squad is unmatched!"
"Oh? We haven't fought yet. Best not to speak too soon." Liu Xi's eyes scanned the giant calmly.
"Hmph, then don't blame me for being merciless. Be ready!"
The referee raised his arm. "Begin!"
---
Wang Shan charged, his colossal axe sweeping with the force of a mountain.
Liu Xi's sword flashed free, golden flames coiling instantly along the blade. He lunged, his thrust aimed straight at Wang Shan's chest.
With sharp reflexes, Wang Shan swung his greataxe sideways, intercepting the strike. The two weapons collided, sparks flying. A tremendous force surged through the clash, forcing Liu Xi back several steps before he steadied himself.
'Such strength!' Liu Xi's gaze sharpened, already hunting for flaws in his opponent's stance.
But Wang Shan pressed the attack without pause. His greataxe rose high, then came crashing down with a force like a falling boulder.
Liu Xi braced with both hands, blocking. His arms trembled violently, nearly tearing the sword from his grip. His teeth clenched. 'Tch, how can his power be this monstrous?'
Realizing raw strength would not prevail, Liu Xi leapt back and drew deeply upon his Dou Qi. Golden flames surged madly along his blade, twisting the very air.
"Blazing Flame Sword Technique!"
A massive arc of fire burst forth, searing across the arena with a blazing howl.
Yet Wang Shan's expression remained fearless. Earth-element Dou Qi enveloped his body, thick and unyielding, armor-like radiance spreading across him and his axe.
"Mountain-Crushing Chop!"
With a bellow, he brought his greataxe down. Axe and sword qi clashed, shrieking as steel and fire scraped against air. Step by step, Wang Shan advanced, forcing Liu Xi's fiery arc backward until it shattered into scattered embers that hissed out on the stone floor.
---
Liu Xi's brows furrowed. 'So even my Blazing Flame Sword Qi cannot pierce his defense. His strength overwhelms mine, and his earth Dou Qi resists my flames… Unless I possess a Heavenly Flame, my fire attribute quality will always lag behind.'
On stage, Wang Shan smirked proudly. "Liu Xi, within the Alchemy Department, you may be brilliant. But against me, you cannot win. Admit defeat!"
Liu Xi's expression remained serene. "It's not over yet. Come again."
He swept his sword. Then again. And again.
One blazing arc after another filled the sky, a storm of flame descending upon the stage.
Wang Shan's confidence faltered. His enormous body twisted with surprising agility as he dodged left and right. But cold sweat trickled down his back. 'Impossible! His Dou Qi is far too abundant. Without pills, how can he maintain this? At this rate, I'll lose for sure!'
Determined, Wang Shan roared and charged headlong at Liu Xi, his axe raised for a decisive strike.
This time, Liu Xi did not move. He neither raised his blade to block nor attempted to dodge.
The greataxe carved down mercilessly, splitting through Liu Xi's shoulder—cleaving his head and arm clean off. Blood sprayed violently across Wang Shan's face.
The audience gasped in shock. Wang Shan froze, horrified. 'I… I killed him? I killed a fellow student during the Inner Academy Selection?!'
But then—
"You lost."
The calm voice came from his side.
Wang Shan's head whipped around. The "corpse" on the ground dissolved into glowing motes of light, vanishing into the air. A scorching breath grazed his skin.
Turning stiffly, he saw Liu Xi standing intact beside him, golden flames dancing along his sword as the tip pressed gently against his throat. The heat singed his hair and reddened his skin.
"You… you're not dead?!" Wang Shan stammered hoarsely, eyes wide.
The referee raised his hand. "Winner: Liu Xi!"
Liu Xi sheathed his sword with a smile. "Of course I'm not dead."
---
Only he knew the truth. The instant his Blazing Flame Sword Qi had been shattered, he had quietly unleashed his soul skill—Illusionary Heart Technique. Everything Wang Shan saw after that moment had been nothing but a carefully woven illusion.
In the stands, however, chaos erupted.
"Fake! He's throwing the fight!"
"Yeah, I saw it—Wang Shan split him in half, then started swinging at thin air! What nonsense is this?!"
From their vantage, it looked absurd: Wang Shan had shattered Liu Xi's flames, gloated, then suddenly panicked, dodging unseen threats before lunging to cleave "air." And then Liu Xi casually placed his sword on Wang Shan's throat to claim victory.
To most students, it seemed like a blatant farce.
Yet on the high platform, the vice principal and several elders exchanged knowing glances. They had all felt the subtle fluctuation of Spiritual Power when Liu Xi made his move.
---
As the next match was called, Liu Xi and Wang Shan left the stage.
Wang Shan barely took two steps before furious classmates swarmed him. "Why did you throw the match?!"
"I didn't!" Wang Shan nearly wept. "I don't even know what happened!"
Meanwhile, Liu Xi was escorted respectfully up to the high platform. Vice Principal Hu Qian regarded him with warm eyes.
"That student you just fought… his strange behavior was due to your influence, wasn't it?"
"Yes." Liu Xi nodded lightly, offering no further explanation.
This was Jia Nan Academy—no one here would attempt to steal a student's secret technique. Were they the type to rob their own pupils, no one in the continent would dare send their children here.
"Very well. Go rest." Hu Qian smiled faintly, asking nothing more.
Liu Xi bowed slightly, then turned to leave, a small spark of satisfaction in his eyes. His first true test of the Illusionary Heart Technique had been a resounding success.
(End of Chapter)
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