“Oh? So they’re really going to fight it out?” Upon hearing the host announce Zhang Wen’s decision, General William, who had already reached the exit of the training hall, raised his eyebrows and suddenly stopped in his tracks. After a moment of contemplation, he turned back with renewed interest.
“Oh! General William?” Countess Melissa looked surprised as the general returned to her side. “Why did you come back?”
“Oh. That physical training instructor from Almest Academy isn’t as spineless as I thought,” General William said with a grin, lifting his chin.
“Hehe. It’s rare to earn a compliment from General William. One must really risk their life to earn such praise,” Countess Melissa joked with a smile. “However, now that General William has taken an interest, our Governor Kallan will have a headache.” Saying this, the countess turned her graceful, slender neck, guiding General William’s gaze toward Governor Kallan, who was seated two rows ahead of them.
Due to the principal of Themis Academy, a Saint-ranked individual, being in seclusion for cultivation, he did not attend this competition against Almest Academy. Therefore, the two leading figures of Themis Academy’s physical and mental arts divisions were fortunate to sit beside Governor Kallan during this event.
Among them, the head of Themis Academy’s physical arts division was naturally none other than the head instructor Gelt, whom Zhang Wen was quite “familiar” with.
The commotion caused by Zhang Wen caught the instructors of Themis Academy off guard. His subsequent request further infuriated the physical arts division instructors, who saw it as a grave insult.
Have all ten official representatives of Themis Academy’s renowned physical arts division fight against merely four students from Almest Academy? What a joke! What did that bastard Zhang Wen think Themis Academy was?
Most of the physical arts instructors at Themis Academy wanted to immediately and firmly reject Zhang Wen’s request, planning to tell the arrogant fool in the most disdainful tone that they only needed four students to defeat his ragtag bunch! They wanted to slap the shameless bastard hard across the face!
However, several “more composed and prudent” instructors disagreed with the younger ones’ angry outbursts.
“Hey! Don’t you think that Almest guy’s behavior seems suspicious? He might be deliberately trying to provoke us. Let’s not fall for his taunts!”
“Taunts or not, are we really afraid of Almest Academy? That’s ridiculous!” The radical faction shouted, waving their fists.
“Hey! If you can guarantee that sending four people will definitely win, we won’t mind.”
“Well…,” the radicals were momentarily silenced.
Against the backdrop of a resounding victory in the mental arts division, the physical arts division of Themis Academy was now in a difficult position. If they couldn’t help Themis Academy achieve dominance in the southern region, even if Governor Kallan didn’t hold it against them, the disapproval of the people of Fira planet would be enough to drown them.
“So what do you suggest? Should we really send everyone? That would mean no matter if we win or lose, we still lose in the end?”
“No choice. This is no longer a situation we can decide on our own. In my opinion, we should consult with Head Instructor Gelt.”
The moderate faction proposed a suggestion that even the radicals couldn’t refute.
Thus, one of the Themis instructors quickly ran up to the stands while the training hall was in chaos.
The dilemma that had troubled the Themis instructors was now placed before Head Instructor Gelt. Facing this difficult choice, Gelt hesitated as well. Glancing at Governor Kallan beside him, Gelt noticed that the governor seemed indifferent to the report from the Themis instructor, indicating that the decision was left to Gelt himself. Gelt had to abandon his wishful thinking of letting Governor Kallan take responsibility and furrowed his brow in deep contemplation.
“Hay! Governor Kallan.” As Gelt was still undecided between the two options, General William suddenly appeared beside Governor Kallan’s VIP seat.
“General William.” Governor Kallan, facing the commander of the Imperial Guards, naturally did not put on airs of his governorship.
“Congratulations to your Excellency on Themis Academy’s great victory. This should be good news, so why does your Excellency still have a frown on your face?”
“Hmm… Nothing much, just a minor concern.”
“Oh! Is it because of that request from the Almest Academy instructor? What’s there to worry about? If the opponent has made such a presumptuous request, then Themis Academy should show them just how high the sky and how deep the earth are, shouldn’t they?” General William said casually, spreading his hands.
Even when smiling, General William’s tall and muscular body exuded a strong sense of pressure. Governor Kallan, who had long been accustomed to being in high positions, might have been able to handle it, but the Themis instructors couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by General William’s powerful aura. Even the Saint-ranked Head Instructor Gelt was momentarily taken aback, swallowing back the words he was about to say.
Governor Kallan stared seriously at General William for a few seconds before his expression slowly softened.
“You’re absolutely right.” Governor Kallan smiled at Gelt and said, “Head Instructor Gelt, did you hear General William’s opinion?”
“Ah! Of course.” Gelt nodded slightly and immediately whispered instructions to the Themis instructor who had run up to the stands.
“Hehe. I will certainly offer my respect and applause when Themis Academy reaches the pinnacle of the southern region.” General William nodded politely and then left Governor Kallan’s VIP seat.
“Tch!” As soon as General William’s back disappeared outside the box, the smile on Governor Kallan’s face quickly turned back to its previous seriousness. He grabbed Gelt’s shoulders tightly, staring at the head instructor of Themis Academy’s physical arts division, and sternly said, “Gelt, don’t worry about any trivial details anymore. I only care about the result now. I must ensure that the Almest people fall down with a hundred percent certainty.”
“Of course, Your Excellency. They won’t have a chance.”
“No! I don’t want you to make me promises or vows. I want you to come up with a concrete plan!”
“What?… I’m not quite sure what you mean, Your Excellency.”
“Hmph! I remember that last time at old Temiso’s house, that little girl from Almest Academy who displayed extraordinary strength needed to follow her teacher’s instructions, right?” Governor Kallan stared at Gelt expressionlessly.
“Ah… According to the report from Teacher Douglas, that was indeed the case.” After a moment of hesitation, Head Instructor Gelt finally nodded firmly. “Alright, Your Excellency. I understand what I need to do.”
The efficiency with which the Empire handled emergencies had always been the envy of the Alliance and the Federation. In just a short moment, Enklay had already made his way to Zhang Wen’s side amidst the crowd’s uproar.
“In respect of the century-old reciprocal visitation rules between the two academies, we accept your request. However, given that your request is a serious insult to our Themis Academy, I, on behalf of the academy, hereby declare that you are no longer welcome here. Please leave Themis Academy immediately. Of course, considering that you are the sole representative instructor of Almest Academy’s physical arts division, to ensure the fairness of the competition, our Themis Academy physical arts division instructors will also withdraw from the venue for the remainder of the competition. The match itself will be conducted under the supervision of the mental arts divisions of both academies.”
“Oh! Finally got some payback!”
“Haha, we should kick all those Almest fools out!”
“Well done! You arrogant fool, don’t you dare to leave now!”
“Hmph! Fighting you with ten people is already too lenient for you!”
Enklay’s response on behalf of Themis Academy immediately sparked a thunderous cheer in the training hall. On the surface, every decision made by Themis Academy was justified, even making sacrifices to ensure the fairness of the competition.
On the basis of “fairness,” Enklay’s firm stance against the “audacious challenger to Themis’ dignity,” Zhang Wen, naturally made the Themis people feel triumphant.
Everyone loves a hawkish stance.
The waves of insults coming from all directions did not affect Zhang Wen’s mood. The demand from Themis Academy to force him to leave merely caused Zhang Wen to sneer.
“Oh? Is Themis Academy really so afraid of losing?” Zhang Wen looked at Enklay.
“Stop talking nonsense. Just get lost!” Enklay hissed in a low voice, though a hint of shame involuntarily appeared on his face.
Unlike the spectators who were unaware of the situation, most of the informed individuals probably understood what it truly meant for Themis Academy to force Zhang Wen to leave.
They were genuinely afraid of this arrogant guy! Themis Academy had to reach the pinnacle today and become the number one in the southern region! Therefore, they dared not let Zhang Wen stay, fearing he might conjure some unexpected “tricks.”
“You’ve already issued the expulsion order, so what reason do I have to stay?” Zhang Wen continued to sneer at Enklay. “However, before I leave, I need to say goodbye to my students. Surely, the great Themis Academy won’t be afraid of that, will they?”
“This…,” Enklay’s face turned red from Zhang Wen’s jab. After hesitating for a long time, he finally reluctantly nodded.
After all, this guy was about to be driven away. What major trouble could he cause by seeing those few students before leaving?
“Haha!” Laughing heartily, Zhang Wen left Enklay and returned to the edge of the rest area where his four students were.
“Teacher Zhang!” The four students were already furious about Themis Academy’s despicable decision. The piercing boos from the surrounding audience further enraged them, causing them all to clench their fists tightly.
“Hey! How do you all feel now?” Zhang Wen asked.
“As if it couldn’t get any worse! I mean, are you really going to let Themis Academy push us around and just abandon us like this?” Zack couldn’t help but shout out.
“Idiot! What do you mean by letting Themis Academy push us around? I never intended to give you any on-site guidance for today’s match anyway.”
“What? Huh?”
“What? Do you mean to say you don’t have confidence in winning without my guidance? Hey! What exactly did you learn during your special training?” Zhang Wen scratched his head helplessly, suddenly smiling again. “Listen up, you guys. You’ve been following me for almost three months now, right?”
“Ah… Yeah, about three months.”
“Oh? Are we really going to fight to the death?” Upon hearing the host announce Zhang Wen’s decision, General William, who had already reached the exit of the training hall, raised his eyebrows and suddenly halted. After a moment of contemplation, General William turned back with renewed interest.
“Oh! General William?” Countess Melissa looked surprised as she saw General William return to her side. “Why have you come back?”
“Oh. That martial arts instructor from Almytheus Academy isn’t as spineless as I thought,” General William said with a chuckle, tilting his chin upward.
“Haha. It’s not easy to earn praise from General William. One has to risk their life to get it,” Countess Melissa joked with a smile. “But now that you’re interested, our Governor Karajan is going to have a headache.” As she spoke, the countess turned her slender, fair neck, guiding General William’s gaze toward Governor Karajan, who was seated two rows ahead.
Due to the fact that the saint-level principal of Themis Academy was in seclusion, he did not attend this match against Almytheus Academy. Therefore, the privilege of sitting beside Governor Karajan during this competition fell to the two giants of Themis Academy’s martial arts and psychic arts departments.
The giant of Themis Academy’s martial arts department was naturally the “familiar” Themis Chief Instructor, Gert.
The commotion caused by Zhang Wen had caught the instructors of Themis Academy off guard, and his subsequent demands felt almost like an insult to the martial arts department.
Having ten renowned representatives from Themis Academy’s martial arts department face off against a mere four students from Almytheus Academy? What a joke! What kind of place did that bastard Zhang Wen think Themis Academy was?
According to the wishes of most instructors in Themis Academy’s martial arts department, they should have immediately and sternly rejected Zhang Wen’s demand, then told this arrogant fool in the most disdainful tone that they only needed four students to defeat his trash team! They should have slapped this shameless bastard right in the face!
However, a few “prudent” instructors raised objections to the angry clamor of the younger ones.
“Hey! Don’t you think that Almytheus guy’s behavior is suspicious? Maybe he’s deliberately trying to provoke us. Let’s not fall for his bait!”
“Provocation or not, are we afraid of Almytheus Academy? What a joke!” the radicals shouted, waving their fists in agitation.
“Hey! If you can guarantee that sending four people up will definitely win, then we have no problem with it.”
“Well…” The radicals were left speechless.
With the psychic arts department having already achieved a great victory, the martial arts department of Themis Academy was now in a difficult position. If they couldn’t help Themis Academy reach the pinnacle of the southern realm, even if Governor Karajan didn’t hold them accountable, the residents of Fila Planet would drown them in their own spit.
“So, what do you suggest? Should we really send everyone up? Wouldn’t that mean that whether we win or lose, we still lose in the end?”
“There’s no other way. This is no longer a situation we can decide on. In my opinion, we should seek Chief Instructor Gert’s advice,” the moderates proposed, a suggestion that even the radicals couldn’t refute.
Thus, a Themis instructor quickly ran up to the stands while the training hall was in chaos.
The dilemma that had been tormenting the Themis instructors was now placed before Chief Instructor Gert. Faced with a difficult choice, Gert also hesitated. Glancing at Governor Karajan beside him, Gert noticed that the governor seemed oblivious to the report from the Themis instructor, indicating that he was leaving the decision to the chief instructor. Gert had to abandon any hope of shifting the responsibility to Governor Karajan and furrowed his brow in deep thought.
“Hey, Governor Karajan,” General William suddenly appeared beside the governor’s VIP seat while Gert was still torn between the two options.
“General William,” Governor Karajan greeted, not daring to put on airs in front of the commander of the Imperial Guard.
“Congratulations on Themis Academy’s great victory. This should be a joyous occasion, so why are you frowning?”
“Hmm… It’s nothing, just a minor annoyance.”
“Oh! Is it because of that demand from the Almytheus Academy instructor? What’s there to worry about? Since the other party has made an overreaching request, why not let Themis Academy show them the vastness of the heavens? Isn’t that a good idea?” General William casually spread his hands.
Even when smiling, General William’s imposing physique exuded a powerful sense of pressure. While Governor Karajan, having been in a high position for years, might have grown accustomed to it, the Themis instructors couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by General William’s commanding presence. Even the saint-level Chief Instructor Gert momentarily froze, swallowing the words he was about to say.
Governor Karajan stared at General William for a few seconds, his expression gradually softening.
“That’s indeed the way to go,” Governor Karajan said with a smile, turning to Gert. “Chief Instructor Gert, you heard General William’s opinion, right?”
“Ah! Of course,” Gert nodded slightly and immediately whispered instructions into the ear of the Themis instructor who had run up to the stands.
“Haha. When Themis Academy reaches the pinnacle of the southern realm, I will surely offer my respect and applause to the governor and all of you,” General William said with a nod and a smile, then left Governor Karajan’s VIP seat.
“Tch!” As soon as General William’s figure disappeared outside the box, the smile on Governor Karajan’s face quickly reverted to its previous seriousness. He grabbed Gert’s shoulder and stared at the chief instructor of Themis Academy’s martial arts department, saying sternly, “Gert, forget about the trivial details. All I want now is results. You must ensure that the Almytheus people are completely defeated.”
“Of course, Governor. They won’t stand a chance.”
“No! I don’t want you making promises to me. I want you to come up with a concrete plan!”
“What? I’m not sure I understand, Governor.”
“Hmph! I remember that during our last visit to old Temiso’s place, that Almytheus Academy girl who displayed extraordinary strength needed to be directed by her teacher, didn’t she?” Governor Karajan said expressionlessly, staring at Gert.
“Ah… According to Instructor Douglas’s report, that’s indeed the case,” Chief Instructor Gert hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly. “Alright, Governor. I understand what needs to be done.”
The efficiency of the Empire in handling unexpected events has always been the envy of the Alliance and the Federation. In just a short while, Enclave walked over to Zhang Wen amidst the clamor of the crowd.
“In respect of the century-old tradition of mutual visits between our two academies, we agree to your request. However, given that your demand is a severe insult to Themis Academy, I, on behalf of the academy, declare that from this moment on, you are persona non grata at our institution. Please leave Themis Academy immediately. Of course, considering that you are the sole representative instructor of Almytheus Academy’s martial arts department, to ensure the fairness of the competition, our Themis Academy martial arts department instructors will also withdraw and refrain from participating. The match will proceed under the supervision of the psychic arts departments of both academies.”
“Wow! Finally, some justice!”
“Haha, we should kick these Almytheus pigs out!”
“Well done! Overconfident fools, get out of here!”
“Hmph! Using ten people to fight you is already too generous!”
The response from Enclave on behalf of Themis Academy immediately sparked a wave of deafening cheers in the training hall. On the surface, every decision made by Themis Academy seemed justified, even making sacrifices to ensure the fairness of the competition.
On the basis of “fairness,” Enclave’s tough stance against Zhang Wen, who “dared to challenge Themis’s dignity,” naturally made the Themis people feel proud.
Everyone loves a hawk.
The insults hurled from all directions didn’t affect Zhang Wen’s mood, and Themis Academy’s demand for him to leave only elicited a cold laugh.
“Oh? Is Themis Academy really that afraid of losing?” Zhang Wen looked at Enclave.
“Enough talk. Get out of here!” Enclave growled in a low voice, though a hint of shame involuntarily crept onto his face.
Unlike the clueless spectators around them, most insiders likely understood what Themis Academy’s expulsion of Zhang Wen truly meant.
They were actually afraid of this arrogant guy! Themis Academy had to reach the pinnacle today and become the number one in the southern realm! So, they didn’t dare let Zhang Wen stay, fearing he might pull off some unexpected “trick.”
“You’ve already issued the expulsion order. How could I not leave?” Zhang Wen continued to sneer at Enclave. “But before I go, I need to say goodbye to my students. Surely the prestigious Themis Academy isn’t so cowardly as to deny me that?”
“Well…” Enclave’s face turned red from Zhang Wen’s jab. After a long hesitation, he finally nodded reluctantly.
After all, this guy is about to be kicked out. What harm could it do to let him see his students one last time?
“Haha!” Zhang Wen laughed heartily, leaving Enclave behind and returning to the four students at the edge of the rest area.
“Teacher Zhang!” The shameless decision by Themis Academy had already infuriated Zhang Wen’s four students. The jeers from the surrounding crowd only made them clench their fists tighter.
“Hey! How are you all feeling now?”
“What do you think? Terrible! Are you really going to let Themis Academy have their way and just abandon us?” Zacks couldn’t help but shout.
“Idiot! What do you mean by ‘letting Themis Academy have their way’? I never planned to give you any on-the-spot guidance for today’s match.”
“Huh? What?”
“What? Without my guidance, you don’t have the confidence to win? Hey, hey! What exactly did you learn during your special training?” Zhang Wen scratched his head in frustration, then suddenly laughed. “Listen up, all of you. You’ve been learning from me for about three months now, right?”
“Ah… Yeah, it’s been about three months.”
“I’ve seen how much effort you’ve put in during this time. Especially Zacks and Cloud. I know that after completing the tasks I assigned, you often trained on your own. Practicing for over ten hours a day, spending every moment outside of eating and sleeping on training. Even though it’s only been three months, not everyone can keep up with that kind of intensity. Before I came to Almytheus Academy, you were probably already training yourselves in this ‘dumb’ way. And Amelie too.”
“Ah? Amelie too?”
“Of course! Idiot! Why do you think I agreed to let her join my team? I didn’t pick her to be a mere decoration!”
“How could I not know?” Zacks looked at Amelie in surprise.
“It’s because she eventually gave up. No matter how much she trained, she couldn’t see any results. Putting in a hundred times the effort, yet still watching others leave her far behind. That feeling of helplessness, you should all understand it. But that’s just how the world is. Never think that your efforts are in vain, and never give up. As long as you’ve worked hard, the sweat you’ve shed will leave its mark somewhere.”
“The techniques I taught you aren’t particularly special in themselves. However, they require the user to perfectly coordinate their body and weapon. To achieve that, the only thing needed is a lot of tedious, fundamental training. And in Themis Academy, the only ones who’ve done this ‘stupid’ thing are you. So, don’t think that your improvement over the past three months is solely because of me. Your strength has been accumulating over years, even decades of hard work. These three months, all I did was help you reclaim it.”
“Lift your heads and listen to the sounds around you,” Zhang Wen spread his arms wide.
What they heard, of course, was only the jeers and insults from the Themis crowd. Every second Zhang Wen remained in the training hall, the boos grew louder.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the training hall seemed on the verge of erupting, the host couldn’t stay put any longer. He quickly walked over to Zhang Wen and urged loudly, “Teacher Zhang, it’s about time. Please leave.”
“On the opponent’s turf, standing against the entire world. Even if faced with ten thousand, I will march forward! Today’s battle against Themis Academy is your stage, a stage that belongs only to you.” Zhang Wen laughed and shouted, “Don’t you think this is the best stage you could ever hope to encounter in your lifetime?”
“Ah? Amyris too?”
“Of course! Idiot! Do you think I agreed to let her join our team just to be a decorative vase?”
“How could I not know that?” Zack looked at Amyris in surprise.
“That’s because she eventually became desperate. No matter how hard she trained, she couldn’t see any results. She put in a hundredfold effort but still could only watch helplessly as others left her far behind. You should all understand that feeling of helplessness. But you know what? This world works this way. Never think your efforts are in vain, and never give up. As long as people strive and work hard, their sweat will leave a mark somewhere.”
“The techniques I’ve taught you aren’t anything special in themselves. However, they require the user to perfectly coordinate their body and weapon! To achieve this, the only thing needed is a lot of tedious basic training. And in Themis Academy, the only ones who have ever done such ‘stupid things’ are you guys. So, don’t think you’ve improved because you studied with me for three months. Your strength was accumulated over years and even decades of hard work. What I did in these three months was just help you get it back.”
“Lift your heads up and listen to the sounds around you,” Zhang Wen said, spreading his arms toward them.
Of course, what came from around them was only the jeers and curses from the Themis crowd. Each second Zhang Wen stayed in the training hall, the louder the jeers directed at him became.
As the atmosphere in the training hall seemed on the verge of getting out of control, the host could no longer hold back. He quickly approached Zhang Wen and urged him loudly, “Teacher Zhang, it’s about time. Please leave.”
“To stand against the entire world on enemy territory. Though there may be a thousand enemies, I shall go forth! Today’s battle against Themis Academy is your stage, a stage that belongs solely to you,” Zhang Wen shouted with a loud laugh. “Don’t you think this is the best stage that rarely comes in a lifetime?”
Facing a rising tide of boos, Zhang Wen suddenly snatched the microphone from the host.
“Morons of Temis, have you figured out how you’ll save face after losing the match?” Zhang Wen raised his right arm high, pointing straight at the stands. With an arc of his finger, he encompassed every single person inside the training hall.
Enkle stared in disbelief, the host was equally stunned, and even many of the spectators who had been shouting the loudest moments ago couldn’t help but gape. They had seen rebellious people before, but never anyone as defiant as Zhang Wen—someone who could stand tall and hurl curses right back at the entire world amidst universal disapproval, someone who dared to challenge the whole world without a hint of concern!
“Hey! Catch!” Before Enkle and others could recover from their shock, Zhang Wen had already thrown the seized microphone back to the host and left the training hall decisively, without hesitation.
“Hmph!” When the audience in Training Hall No. 7 finally regained their senses, Zhang Wen’s provocation naturally ignited even greater fury. However, since Zhang Wen had already left the venue, there was nothing they could do to teach him a lesson. Instead, they directed their furious boos—loud enough to pierce through the roof—at Zhang Wen’s four students.
“Hehe… this instructor from Almace Academy is the most interesting martial arts teacher I’ve ever seen from the Empire,” Countess Melissa openly expressed her admiration for Zhang Wen.
“I can only agree with half of that,” General William replied with a smile. “If those students really win this match, he might indeed be an intriguing martial arts instructor. But if they lose, he’ll just be a foolish gambler.”
“Oh, General William, aren’t you being results-oriented?”
“Isn’t the world itself results-oriented?”
“Hmm…” Melissa furrowed her delicate brows slightly, her lips pouting just a little, as if mildly displeased by General William’s perspective.
If most other women displayed such a charmingly annoyed expression, it might have seemed somewhat artificial. But on Melissa’s face—so delicately beautiful, like that of a young girl—it appeared subtly harmonious. It was almost impossible to tell at which stage of life this woman belonged to, one who possessed both the allure of a mature woman and the innocence of a young girl.
“Countess Melissa, sometimes I really wonder how old you are. Back in the capital, there are countless betting pools about your age. Bets have been placed every year ranging from seventeen to thirty, yet your official records claim you’re forty-two. Of course, that number has long been considered a joke in the capital.”
General William gazed at Melissa’s slightly annoyed face for quite a while before speaking in a teasing tone.
“Hehe, General William, are you complimenting me or trying to extract some information so you can win a bet when you return to the capital?” Melissa’s smile was full of charm. “Don’t you know that a woman’s age is always a secret?”
“A secret, huh…” General William smiled as if he didn’t care and turned his gaze back to the arena.
Back at Training Hall No. 7 of Temis Academy.
The four from Almace Academy, led by Xi Xiao, showed a stubborn refusal to bow before Temis’s geniuses, which made the latter feel extremely, extremely annoyed once again.
And the Temis students, forced to compete with ten against four, were naturally furious beyond belief. From the moment they stepped onto the battlefield, they had already begun a fierce exchange of glares with Zak’s group.
Compared to the men, the women at the edge of the competition field clearly didn’t display such strong local bias. When Zhang Wen had provoked them, they had angrily cursed along with the men, flipping him off. But after Zak and Cloud appeared, these emotional women quickly changed their stance.
Of course, two handsome, masculine young men were naturally more likely to win the favor of noblewomen than the muscular men from Temis Academy. Especially when these two charming young men also came with noble backgrounds that easily sparked fantasies among the noblewomen.
As a result, although Zhang Wen had left the training hall a long time ago, the boos coming from all directions showed no sign of decreasing. In fact, they clearly carried an extra tinge of jealousy now.
“Are both sides ready?” Once the students from both sides had adjusted their weapons, the host stepped to the very edge of the competition area and raised his right hand for the final confirmation.
“No problem.” Both sides gave the same brief reply.
“Then, the match will now begin.” The host forcefully swung his hand downward and took one step back to exit the competition area. The decisive battle that would determine the fates of the two academies had finally begun.
By this time, Zhang Wen had long left the training hall.
Closing the hall’s door behind him, all the noise was instantly left behind. In the afternoon sunlight, which had just acquired a hint of golden red, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but squint his eyes.
“Just in time!” After adjusting to the blinding brightness outside the training hall, Zhang Wen stretched luxuriously, then lazily hailed a passing psychokinetic taxi along the “Sky Avenue” that ran through the entire Temis Academy.
The driver of the psychokinetic taxi Zhang Wen boarded was clearly a martial arts enthusiast. As soon as Zhang Wen entered the vehicle, he could hear two men on the taxi’s built-in radio endlessly discussing the match between Almace Academy and Temis Academy. On a small screen at the front of the taxi, a blurry video feed of the match was also playing.
However, the psychokinetic transmission system of this somewhat aged taxi seemed to have a minor malfunction, causing the images on the screen to keep flickering.
As Zhang Wen opened the taxi door, the martial arts enthusiast driver was already cursing while repeatedly slapping the small device. “Damn! What’s going on? This damned piece of junk always breaks down at the most critical moments!”
“Alright, after Almace Academy’s martial arts instructor, Zhang Wen, was expelled by Temis Academy, all the martial arts instructors from Temis Academy voluntarily retreated to the spectator stands. Now both sides’ competitors have entered the arena… As everyone knows, Temis Academy currently boasts the top martial arts genius in the South, the versatile ninth-stage competitor, Link. Surprisingly, this year, Almace Academy, which has long been considered weak in martial arts, has also astonishingly produced a ninth-stage competitor!”
After a few hard slaps, the image on the screen finally stabilized. At that moment, the driver finally remembered the passenger in his car.
“Oh! Welcome! Where are you headed?” He turned around with a warm smile and asked Zhang Wen.
“137 Linwei Street.” Zhang Wen smiled back at the driver.
“…Both sides are ready. They’re entering the arena! Four versus ten, in both numbers and quality, Almace Academy is clearly at a disadvantage. It seems that Temis Academy’s victory was already unshakable even before the match started! Sir Wilson, as a master-level martial artist and an instructor who often leads teams against Temis Academy, do you think Almace Academy still has any hope this year?”
“Hope? Has Almace Academy’s martial arts department ever had that?” The middle-aged man addressed as Sir Wilson joked with a grin.
On the planet Fira, at least nine out of ten people supported Temis Academy. Sir Wilson was someone who proudly considered himself a diehard fan of Temis Academy. His sharp and sarcastic attitude toward Temis’s rivals had earned him considerable popularity on Fira.
And today, Sir Wilson was even more enthusiastic than usual. Because he wasn’t just a diehard fan of Temis Academy—he was also a diehard critic of Almace Academy.
After hearing Wilson’s words, the taxi driver carrying Zhang Wen couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Of course, the martial arts enthusiast driver had no idea that the person sitting in his car was none other than Zhang Wen, the very instructor who had just been expelled from the training hall by Temis Academy.
“Still, we don’t have to worry about that arrogant idiot instructor from Almace Academy having no way to save face if they lose the match.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Bolt? If Almace Academy had to step down every time they lost a match, their ‘stepping down’ would have already dug a hole through the entire planet Fira. There wouldn’t be anywhere left to go!”
“Hahaha! Sir Wilson, you’re so witty. Anyway, let’s now turn our attention to the match situation. Oh! Standing before the ten most outstanding martial arts geniuses of Temis Academy, the four students thrown onto the battlefield by Almace’s instructor haven’t shown any signs of backing down. They’re still standing tall and proud here—I think that alone deserves a round of applause. Well done, Almace people! You’ve already surpassed your predecessors by a million light-years!”
Bolter, the commentator at the broadcast booth, happily burst into laughter, continuing for quite a while before finally shifting the topic back to the match.
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