As the students participating in the hunting king competition set off and started hunting, the remaining students weren’t idle. They immediately started to search for targets to be their first opponents.
The competition to become the champion of the Dragon Subduing Rankings didn’t merely test one’s combat strength. It included testing for the participants’ judgment in selecting enemies, using battle strategies, and proper allocation of their capabilities, etc.
Because the Autumn Hunting Sacrificial Ceremony had been held so many times, the rules were already perfect and there were no loopholes. Hence, the ones surviving until the end would definitely be experts.
So if one wanted to become the champion, they had to experience at least ten rounds of battles. This was why many students would choose weaker opponents for their starting rounds in the early phase.
You needed judgment for that.
Naturally, some people’s strength didn’t need to be doubted by others, like Xiao Ri`nan.
Although a few months ago, this fellow was a genius, his legs had been broken by Wanyan Zhenghe and he was now walking with crutches. No matter how one looked at it, he was a freebie.
“Student Xiao, please come and fight!”
A male student came over and interjected before Xiao Ri`nan could speak.
“Oi, do you know what is queuing up? This fellow is mine!”
A 1.9-meter-tall youth walked over with a ferocious gaze. However, he couldn’t scare anyone away. Over ten people had crowded over, keen on challenging Xiao Ri`nan.
“Oi, do you guys still have a sense of honor?”
A few female students immediately cried out in indignation when they saw this scene while passing by.
The students were still in their teens and wanted face. When they heard this, all of them felt ashamed. However, the 1.9-meter-tall Luo Tan still had a calm expression.
“This is called battle strategy. Do you understand? The Central Plains has the story of Tianji Horse Racing. Right now, I’m choosing the weakest person to target.”
Luo Tan disputed.
A young girl with rosy cheeks rolled her eyes. “The Tianji Horse Racing strategy isn’t used like this. Not studying isn’t your mistake, but blindly speaking makes you clearly in the wrong.”
“Are you courting death?”
Luo Tan angrily cursed. He knew this girl was named Sang Duo. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also a good archer with decent blade skills. She was even skilled in zither, chess, reading, and calligraphy. A multi-talented woman.
If she scolded him for not being cultured, he truly had no way to rebut against her.
“If you are really strong, go and challenge Basangzhuoma!”
Sang Duo urged.
“If Basang can enter the competition, I will fight him then.”
Luo Tan spoke confidently, but he was ridiculing her in his heart. (Do you think my brains are damaged? Why would I fight Basangzhouma? He has been personally praised by the headmaster before, a genius with strength that ranks within the top five of the school. If I look for a fight with him, my head will surely be crushed within ten rounds.)
“If you don’t dare, just scram. Does bullying Xiao Ri`nan count as a capability?”
Sang Duo was fond of Xiao Ri`nan, or she wouldn’t have jumped out and helped him.
(Sigh! What a pity. If Xiao Ri`nan didn’t have broken legs, he would be able to handle a person like Luo Tan like killing a chicken.)
When Sang Duo thought of this, her gaze landed on Xiao Ri`nan’s legs and his crutches. She then sighed heavily.
A genius was crippled like that. That Wanyan Zhenghe was truly abominable.
“Who are you to care about this? Besides, Xiao Ri`nan is known as a genius!”
Luo Tan argued, not wanting to let his prey go.
He wanted to become part of the top 100 to get the rewards. So, he didn’t mind using some tricks.
Moreover, given Xiao Ri`nan’s current state, he would lose no matter who challenged him. (Since that’s the case, why won’t I do it myself?)
“You are shameless!”
Sang Duo cursed, rolling her sleeves up. “If you are capable, fight me then!”
The girls of the barbarian race were simply so ferocious.
“Oi, do you still want face?”
Luo Tan was depressed.
Although the school didn’t prohibit combat between males and females, usually speaking, unless they had no choice but to fight, males wouldn’t target females. Because to men of the plains, even if they won, it would be a shameful victory.
“Forget it, forget it. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
After seeing the gazes of the few girls that were filled with hostility, Luo Tan waved his hand in annoyance and turned to leave. He then scolded, “Damn, so what if you are handsome? After your legs are healed, this daddy is going to disfigure you.”
“Why is there a need to wait until my legs heal? Just come at me now!”
Xiao Ri`nan, who hadn’t spoken at all, was now looking at Luo Tan calmly as he issued a challenge.
He didn’t come here to watch shows.
He wanted to prove himself. (I can still fight!)
The other male students also felt unhappy when they saw Xiao Ri`nan being protected by this group of girls, but they could only leave. However, all of them started when they heard what Xiao Ri`nan said.
(Is this fellow a fool? Luo Tan has chosen to let you go, yet you are still provoking him?)
“Xiao Ri`nan, have you gone mad?”
Sang Duo was astonished.
“Thank you for your good intentions, but this is a matter between men.”
Xiao Ri`nan rejected. “Luo Tan, bring it on!”
“Haha since you are courting death, don’t blame me!”
Luo Tan was happy now. He even flashed a thumbs-up. “However, I have to praise you. You are really courageous.”
Sang Duo grew anxious. Clearly, Xiao Ri`nan wanted face and was acting beyond his means. But he would likely lose and get beaten up badly. (No way, I have to stop him.)
At this moment, Sang Duo, who was originally very intelligent, suddenly had an idea. After that, her expression was filled with joy as she shouted, “Wait a minute, this battle is not tenable.”
“You are annoying! Do you think it is not tenable just because you said so?”
Luo Tan was speechless and felt somewhat envious. (A crazy fan like this who keeps shielding her man, please give me one too!)
“Xiao Ri`nan’s legs are broken. It’s impossible for him to have arrived at the Scarlet Stone Mountain on time. Hence, he isn’t qualified to participate in the ranking battle.”
After Sang Duo spoke, everyone started and regained their senses as they stared at the crutches of Xiao Ri`nan.
“Damn, what a waste of time.”
Luo Tan cursed and even smacked himself lightly before he prepared to leave.
He was so foolish. He wanted a freebie and forgot about this matter. Unless Xiao Ri`nan rode on a horse, it was impossible for him to arrive here.
And it would be against the rules if a student rode a horse. Hence, even if he defeated Xiao Ri`nan in a fight, the results wouldn’t be valid.
“Oi!”
Xiao Ri`nan didn’t talk nonsense. Rather, he took out a fingernail-sized copper insignia and showed it to Luo Tan.
“You…”
Everyone was stunned. Because this insignia meant that he had the qualifications to participate in the competition.
“Don’t waste time. Let’s fight!”
Xiao Ri`nan urged. After that, he coughed and used his hand to cover his mouth.
“Haha, I won’t stand on ceremony then!”
Luo Tan licked his lips. He was worried the situation might change, hence, he hurried things along.
“Luo Tan, Spirit-refinement Realm, 68 acupoints opened. Please guide me!”
Upon hearing this, all the male students frowned, while Sang Duo had a face filled with worry.
This Luo Tang was a little strong!
“Xiao Ri`nan. Spirit-refinement Realm, 98 acupoints opened. Please guide me!”
After hearing the number of acupoints opened by Xiao Ri`nan, Luo Tan’s heart thumped. As expected of a genius. If Xiao Ri`nan wasn’t crippled, Luo Tan wouldn’t dare to challenge him.
“The disparity between our cultivation bases is quite large. Are you sure you want to fight?”
Xiao Ri`nan asked with a laugh.
According to the rules, the difference between cultivation realms could at most be three minor stages, or the battle wouldn’t be valid. However, things were different for the autumn hunt. A genius was someone who turned the impossible into possible. Hence, the Dragon Subduing Academy encouraged their students to jump levels to fight.
Naturally, the higher-level ones couldn’t take the initiative to challenge the lower-level cultivators.
“You don’t have to worry about this!”
Luo Tan pulled out his curved blade and glared at Xiao Ri`nan while he pondered over his battle strategy. He had to defeat Xiao Ri`nan in a single strike and not fight a war of attrition, or he would only be losing face.
Xiao Ri`nan looked at Luo Tan as his lips moved. He rapidly recited a spiritual incantation and then bit his finger before wiping some blood on his palms. After that, he swiftly drew a spiritual formation and clapped his palms together.
Bzz~
A ball of spirit qi spread out.
“What the hell?”
Luo Tan frowned. This looked like the art of spiritual control, but he had never heard anything about Xiao Ri`nan knowing this?
As a famous genius of the Dragon Subduing Academy, everyone knew that Xiao Ri`nan was famous for being proficient in blade techniques.
(Ignore it, I’ll attack first!)
Luo Tan charged forward and arrived before Xiao Ri`nan in the span it took to blink a few times. After that, he roared and slashed his blade out.
Azure Waves Turbid Water!
Luo Tan was executing his ultimate skill halfway, but all of a sudden, a feeling of intense bites spread from his legs. It felt like he was being bitten and pierced by a bunch of hornets, causing his legs to grow soft as his momentum subconsciously weakened.
As for his attacks, they lost momentum as well.
This was such an excellent opportunity, and Xiao Ri`nan naturally wouldn’t miss it. He directly used his crutches as a blade and hacked toward Luo Tan’s neck.
Bang!
Luo Tan’s eyes rolled up as he slipped into unconsciousness.
“…”
The surrounding people were silent; all the students stared at the two of them in a dumbfounded manner.
What was Luo Tan doing?
This was a freebie!
(You can’t even win against a crippled person?)
“Thanks for letting me win!”
Xiao Ri`nan smiled.
The art of spiritual control could catch people off guard. As expected, it was very useful!
Speaking of which, it must be very painful to have a bunch of bugs biting your legs.
“What’s going on?”
Sang Duo walked over and prodded Xiao Ri`nan’s arm, hoping that he would explain.
“This is a spiritual controlling technique Teacher Sun taught me!”
Xiao Ri`nan was acquainted with Sang Duo but not too familiar with her. When he thought about how she shielded him earlier, he decided to become friends with her.
“Art of spiritual control?” Sang Duo was astonished. “Teacher Sun knows this?”
“Mn!”
Xiao Ri`nan nodded, mentally musing that there were many things Teacher Sun knew. (You basically cannot imagine how vast his knowledge is.)
Ding!
Favorable impression points from Xiao Ri`nan +500. Respect (1,997/10,000).
Xiao Ri`nan stared at the unconscious Luo Tan and sighed. If it wasn’t for the fact that Teacher Sun had taught him meticulously. The one being trampled now would be him instead.
“Why have I not seen him using it before?” Sang Duo frowned. “How high is his standard?”
“Definitely at the grandmaster level!”
Xiao Ri`nan was very certain.
“Si~”
Sang Duo involuntarily drew in a breath of cold air as she stared at Xiao Ri`nan. “Are you certain that you are not joking?”
“His level can only be higher and not lower than the grandmaster level!”
Honestly speaking, Xiao Ri`nan wouldn’t have believed it if he didn’t see it personally.
“This Teacher Sun is truly immeasurable!”
Sang Duo exclaimed in wonder.
She had seen Sun Mo fighting the draconic humans before but had never seen him use the art of spiritual control at all. This meant that he wasn’t going all out.
(Heavenly deities above, how strong is he exactly?)
For a record that everyone wanted to hold, Sun Mo had broken it in such a relaxed manner.
“That’s right. Being able to obtain his guidance must be the accumulated fortune I have gotten through three lifetimes.”
Xiao Ri`nan spoke and bowed to the south. That was the direction of the Central Plains.
“What the hell is Luo Tan doing? Did he screw up?”
“What trash, he can’t even take down a crippled person!”
“There seems to be something wrong!”
The male students discussed and stared at Xiao Ri`nan suspiciously, wanting to challenge him but didn’t dare to do so. After all, Luo Tan was lying on the ground and he was the best example.
Xiao Ri`nan leaned on his crutches and walked away.
Sang Duo caught up to him and asked with curiosity about Sun Mo’s matters. “Recently, have you been following Teacher Sun to cultivate?”
“Mn!”
Xiao Ri`nan nodded.
“How is it?”
Sang Duo turned her head. The other male students were evidently stunned and didn’t dare to act recklessly.
