In the center of the grand hall, the students of the Almither Academy’s Division of Incantation could neither hear Zhang Wen’s conversation with the two beautiful young women nor see Captain Raymo of the Hawk Guards laughing out loud. Amidst the rising clamor of discussion, the inexperienced students were overcome with panic. “What should we do?” They silently asked each other with helpless glances.
The main representative of the Incantation Division had suffered a crushing defeat—an unprecedented situation in the recent decade-long rivalry between Almither Academy and Themis Academy! Facing what might be the greatest crisis since the establishment of the Incantation Division, the students turned their eyes toward Robert, who had always considered himself the leader of the Incantation Division’s delegation.
Unfortunately, they soon realized that this seemingly decisive instructor was not someone they could rely on. Luther’s defeat had left Robert completely shaken. All he could do now was mutter to himself, “This is impossible,” as if he had forgotten how to do anything else.
“Go help Luther up first,” said Linoah, who was undoubtedly the calmest among the Incantation Division’s instructors. With a soft sigh, she gently patted a student on the back, motioning toward Luther, who was still lying on the floor.
“Oh!” The students, who had finally found a leader again, hurriedly rushed forward and helped Luther to his feet.
Linoah stepped forward and checked Luther’s condition. Though his appearance was alarming, she quickly determined that he was not physically injured—merely suffering from a mental shock that had caused him to faint temporarily.
“Well then,” Linoah sighed after finishing her assessment. She prepared to step forward and say a few words to salvage the awkward situation. The evening’s contest had undoubtedly ended in a humiliating defeat for Almither Academy, but Linoah understood the importance of maintaining dignity even in loss.
Besides, this banquet match was, after all, just a warm-up. Learning the strength of Themis Academy’s secret ace would actually benefit Almither Academy in the upcoming official competitions. As long as they could endure this evening, most still believed that the overall strength of Almither’s Incantation Division was superior to that of Themis.
Unfortunately, it seemed that fate had no intention of allowing Almither Academy a graceful exit. Just as Linoah stepped out from the crowd, before she could even open her mouth, she saw Robert suddenly leap up again, his mind already on the verge of collapse.
“That’s impossible! You must have used some trickery! I don’t believe it! How could you possibly have found such a little girl just this year? Is she even from another academy?!” Robert shouted loudly, completely ignoring the fearful glances from everyone around him.
Linoah, who had just stepped out from the crowd, was left standing there, both embarrassed and helpless, glaring at the hysterical Robert.
“What a fool…” Even Zhang Wen, who had just been in conflict with Robert, couldn’t help but shake his head slightly at Robert’s clownish behavior.
Robert’s outburst tonight would not only disgrace Almither Academy but also ruin his own reputation completely—this much was evident just by looking at Governor Temiso’s face, filled with shock and fury.
“Haha, it’s quite normal for Instructor Robert to have such doubts. To be honest, even I couldn’t believe it when I first met Sailing. However, Sailing is indeed a freshman who joined Themis Academy this year. I can personally vouch for that,” said Governor Karajan, who had just won a decisive victory. His tone was unusually kind, and despite the faint smile on his face, he refrained from any sarcastic remarks toward Robert.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Karajan’s demeanor was the ultimate mockery of Robert, of Almither Academy, and of Governor Temiso himself. Because not only had they lost the match, but they had also lost their composure!
After hearing Governor Karajan’s words, the hysterical Robert still wanted to press further. However, the angry glances from everyone around him suddenly made him snap back to reality. Then, Robert’s face turned deathly pale, and his previously arrogant demeanor deflated like a burst balloon. He awkwardly lingered for a moment before fleeing back into the Incantation Division’s delegation like a man escaping for his life.
The other instructors of the Incantation Division delegation instinctively distanced themselves from Robert. Yet, exchanging glances, none of them dared to step forward to salvage the now-irreparable situation for Robert.
It takes great effort to build a century-old reputation for an academy, but it is surprisingly easy to destroy it. The instructors of the Incantation Division could all see that Almither Academy’s century-old prestige was now in grave danger. Yet, none of them believed they had the ability to turn the tide, and even fewer dared to shoulder the responsibility of doing so.
Time ticked by, and Governor Karajan’s smile grew wider and more uncontrollable. To be honest, even before arriving on the planet Casares, Governor Karajan had anticipated that Themis Academy’s Incantation Division would finally have its moment of glory this year. But he had never imagined that they would push Almither Academy to the very edge of the cliff like this! If these guys couldn’t come up with a proper way to save face soon, in just a few more minutes, Almither Academy’s glory would become nothing more than history.
Let alone continuing to compete with Themis Academy for the favor of Princess Sophia, they might even lose the very qualification to be considered on equal footing with Themis Academy! In the Empire, an academy without reputation was like a lazy man with all his limbs intact but willingly choosing to rot away in shame.
“This won’t do! If we keep going like this, the academy is doomed!” Suddenly standing up, Carlet whispered fiercely, having stood silently behind Zhang Wen all along.
Seeing the seriousness on Carlet’s face, Amylis immediately understood what the highly responsible student council president intended to do. She was so shocked that she grabbed Carlet’s arm tightly: “Carlet senior, what are you planning to do?”
“Do I really need to explain? If we don’t do something…” Carlet’s words were cut off halfway by Amylis again.
“But, haven’t you noticed that even Teacher Linoah and the others are keeping silent? If you go now, you’ll only be laughed at! Carlet senior, I don’t want to see you doing something reckless!” Amylis furrowed her brows tightly.
“I know. I understand everything you’re saying.” Carlet gently nodded, revealing a pure and beautiful smile that made those around her feel ashamed of their own cowardice. “But even if going now only means being laughed at, I still can’t just stand here and watch helplessly. Amylis, being defeated isn’t scary. What’s truly terrifying is losing the courage to face your opponent and admitting defeat in your heart.”
As Carlet finished speaking, not only did she stun Amylis, who was blocking her path, but she also deeply shocked Zhang Wen, who had been attentively watching the two girls, almost leaving him speechless.
Losing isn’t scary; what’s scary is giving up—Zhang Wen never imagined that this phrase, once spoken by a teacher he deeply respected back on Earth and which he had always cherished as his personal motto, would today be echoed by a teenage girl who hadn’t even come of age yet!
No matter what Zhang Wen had thought of Carlet before, at this moment, the determination and courage emanating from her delicate frame profoundly moved him.
“Wait!” Zhang Wen quickly reached out and stopped Carlet.
“Teacher Zhang, are you going to stop me too?” Carlet smiled sweetly but stubbornly stared at Zhang Wen.
“Haha, yes. Saving the academy’s reputation still doesn’t require your involvement yet.” Zhang Wen shook his head at Carlet.
“I…” Carlet opened her mouth in disappointment, ready to argue, but was immediately interrupted by Zhang Wen’s raised hand.
“In the past, our Physical Arts Division has always been favored by the Incantation Division… It seems like today is the time for us to repay that favor.” Zhang Wen’s lips slowly curved upward. By the time he finished his last word, he had already taken several steps into the center of the grand hall.
As Zhang Wen pushed through the crowd and appeared in the center of the hall, nearly every guest present turned their astonished gazes toward him.
“What’s going on? Who is this guy? Why is he wearing Almither Academy’s uniform?”
“He looks like he might be the representative instructor from the Physical Arts Division of the academy.”
“What? Physical Arts Division? What does someone from the Physical Arts Division want now? Does he want to make Almither Academy look even more ridiculous tonight?”
“Sigh! Who knows? Anyway, I think Almither Academy is finished this year!”
With the acute hearing granted by his Spring Water Technique at the second stage, Zhang Wen could clearly hear all the murmurs in the hall. Obviously, although everyone was hoping for a savior to rescue Almither Academy’s faltering reputation, not a single person welcomed his arrival. A decade of weakness had already caused the guests to look down upon Almither Academy’s Physical Arts Division.
In the center of the hall, the students of the Mind Arts Department of the Almisius Academy could neither hear the conversation between Zhang Wen and the two beautiful girls nor see the laughter of Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guards. Amid the increasingly noisy discussions, the inexperienced students couldn’t help but panic. “What should we do?” they asked each other with their eyes, all at a loss.
The main contender of the Mind Arts Department had suffered a crushing defeat—a situation that had never occurred in the recent decades of rivalry between Almisius Academy and Themis Academy! Facing what might be the greatest crisis since the establishment of the Mind Arts Department, the students turned their gaze to Robert, who had always presented himself as the leader of the Mind Arts Department delegation.
Unfortunately, they soon realized that they probably couldn’t rely on this seemingly decisive instructor. Luther’s defeat had left Robert utterly devastated. Now, apart from muttering “This can’t be,” he seemed to know nothing else.
“First, help Luther up,” said Linoya, who was undoubtedly the calmest among the Mind Arts Department instructors. She sighed softly, patted a student on the back, and gestured toward Luther, who was still lying on the ground.
“Oh!” The students, having found a sense of direction again, quickly scrambled to help Luther up.
Linoya stepped forward to examine him and found that although Luther’s condition looked terrifying, he wasn’t actually injured. He had merely suffered a mental shock and temporarily passed out.
“Alright,” Linoya sighed after checking Luther’s condition, then prepared to step forward and say a few words to handle the awkward situation. The contest at the banquet had undoubtedly ended in a crushing defeat for Almisius Academy, but Linoya understood the principle of losing with dignity.
Moreover, the banquet contest was just a “warm-up.” Understanding the strength of Themis Academy’s secret ace was not necessarily a bad thing for Almisius Academy’s upcoming official matches. As long as they could get through tonight, most people still believed that the overall strength of Almisius Academy’s Mind Arts Department was superior to that of Themis Academy.
Unfortunately, it seemed that heaven wasn’t willing to give Almisius Academy a smooth exit. Just as Linoya stepped out from the crowd and before she could speak, Robert, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown, suddenly jumped up again.
“This can’t be! You must have cheated! I don’t believe it! How could you just happen to find such a little girl this year? Did you bring her from another academy?” Robert shouted, completely ignoring the horrified looks from everyone around him.
Linoya, who had just stepped out of the crowd, was now stuck in an awkward position, standing there both humiliated and helpless, glaring at the hysterical Robert.
“What a fool…” Even Zhang Wen, who had just had a conflict with Robert, couldn’t help but shake his head slightly at Robert’s clownish behavior.
Robert’s outburst not only threatened to tarnish Almisius Academy’s reputation tonight but also completely ruined himself—this was evident from the shocked and angry expression on Governor Temiso’s face.
“Haha, it’s quite normal for Instructor Robert to have such doubts. To be honest, even I couldn’t believe that Sailin was just a fourteen-year-old girl when I first met her. However, Sailin is indeed a new student who joined Themis Academy this year. I can vouch for her,” said Governor Karayan, who had just won a decisive victory. Despite the slight smile on his face, his words carried not a hint of sarcasm toward Robert.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Governor Karayan’s demeanor was the greatest mockery of Robert, Almisius Academy, and Temiso! Not only had they lost the match, but they had also lost their composure!
After hearing Governor Karayan’s words, the hysterical Robert still wanted to press further. However, the furious looks from everyone around him suddenly brought him back to his senses. Robert’s face turned pale, and his imposing presence deflated like a burst balloon. He awkwardly held his ground for a moment before fleeing back to the Mind Arts Department delegation like a man running for his life.
The other teachers in the Mind Arts Department delegation instinctively distanced themselves from Robert, but they exchanged glances, and no one dared to step forward to help Robert clean up the irreparable mess.
Building a century-old reputation for an academy is difficult, but destroying it is easy. The Mind Arts Department teachers present could see that Almisius Academy’s century-old reputation was hanging by a thread. However, none of them dared to claim they had the ability to turn the tide, nor did any of them dare to take on the responsibility of doing so.
As time passed, the smile on Governor Karayan’s lips grew wider and harder to control. Honestly, before coming to the planet Casares, Governor Karayan had anticipated that Themis Academy’s Mind Arts Department would make a name for itself this year, but he never expected they would push Almisius Academy to the brink of a cliff! If these guys couldn’t come up with a proper way to save face, within a few minutes, Almisius Academy’s glory would become history.
Not to mention continuing to compete with Themis Academy for the hand of Princess Sophia, they might even lose the qualification to be mentioned in the same breath as Themis Academy! In the empire, an academy without honor is looked down upon like a lazy man with all his limbs intact but willingly sinking into depravity.
“This won’t do! If this continues, the academy is finished!” Carlet, who had been silently standing behind Zhang Wen, suddenly stood up and spoke softly.
Seeing Carlet’s serious expression, Amelie immediately understood what this highly responsible student council president intended to do. She grabbed her in surprise, “Senior Carlet, what are you planning?”
“Do I even need to say it? If we don’t do something now…” Carlet’s words were cut short by Amelie again.
“But, don’t you see even Instructor Linoya and the others aren’t speaking? What can you do now besides being laughed at? Senior Carlet, I don’t want to see you do something foolish!” Amelie frowned deeply.
“I know, I know everything you’re saying,” Carlet nodded gently, revealing a pure and beautiful smile that made everyone around her feel ashamed. “But even if going over there now means being laughed at, I can’t just stand here and watch. Amelie, being defeated isn’t scary. What’s scary is losing the courage to face your opponent and admitting defeat in your heart before even trying.”
Carlet’s words not only stunned Amelie, who was blocking her path, but also left Zhang Wen, who had been watching the two girls, almost speechless in shock.
Losing isn’t scary; what’s scary is admitting defeat—Zhang Wen never expected that these words, spoken by a teacher he had deeply respected back on Earth and which he had always held as a personal motto, would be uttered again today by a teenage girl!
Regardless of what Zhang Wen had thought of Carlet before, at this moment, the determination and courage emanating from her delicate body deeply moved him.
“Wait!” Zhang Wen reached out like lightning and stopped Carlet.
“Teacher Zhang, are you going to stop me too?” Carlet asked with her pure and beautiful smile, stubbornly looking at Zhang Wen.
“Haha, that’s right. Saving the academy’s reputation isn’t your role—at least not yet,” Zhang Wen shook his head at Carlet.
“I…” Carlet opened her mouth in disappointment, about to argue, but was immediately cut off by Zhang Wen’s gesture.
“Our Physical Arts Department has always been indebted to the Mind Arts Department… It seems today is the day we repay that favor,” Zhang Wen gradually curled the corner of his mouth, and by the time he finished speaking, he had already taken several steps toward the center of the hall.
When Zhang Wen pushed through the crowd and appeared in the center of the hall, almost every guest present turned their astonished gazes toward him.
“What’s going on? Who is this guy? Why is he wearing the Almisius Academy uniform?”
“Looks like he’s the representative instructor from the academy’s Physical Arts Department.”
“What? The Physical Arts Department? What’s a guy from the Physical Arts Department doing here now? Is he trying to add to the embarrassment Almisius Academy has already suffered today?”
“Ugh! Who knows what’s going on? Anyway, it looks like Almisius Academy is finished this year!”
With Zhang Wen’s keen hearing at the second level of the Spring Water Technique, he could almost hear every word of the discussions echoing throughout the hall. Clearly, while everyone was hoping for a savior to rescue Almisius Academy’s teetering reputation, no one welcomed his arrival. A decade of weakness had already led the guests present to look down on Almisius Academy’s Physical Arts Department.
If the guests were asked to choose between “Zhang Wen is here to save Almisius Academy” and “This guy is here to gloat,” over ninety-nine percent would undoubtedly choose the latter!
However, Zhang Wen was someone who, once determined to do something, would never turn back. He wouldn’t change his mind because of the private discussions of a group of outsiders. On the contrary, the guests’ pessimism and malicious speculation only made Zhang Wen more interested in what he was about to do. He was eager to see the expressions on their faces when he succeeded.
From Zhang Wen’s uniform, Governor Karayan easily recognized his identity. Governor Karayan, who was in high spirits, naturally wouldn’t miss another opportunity to strike at Governor Temiso.
“Governor Temiso, this gentleman seems to be an instructor from your Almisius Academy as well? When you introduced the members of the Almisius Academy delegation earlier, how did you manage to leave this instructor out?” Governor Karayan deliberately said with a smile, almost dragging the grim-faced Governor Temiso in front of Zhang Wen.
After knocking Governor Temiso down with one punch, Governor Karayan was about to step on him with another foot! Having been at odds with Governor Temiso for over a decade, Governor Karayan had never felt as satisfied as he did tonight!
“This is Zhang Wen, the leader of the Physical Arts Department at Almisius Academy,” Governor Temiso forced a smile and introduced Zhang Wen.
“Zhang Wen? That name sounds familiar… Oh, right! Governor Temiso, wasn’t it Instructor Zhang Wen who shielded you from the assassin during that assassination attempt?” Governor Karayan was even more pleased with Zhang Wen’s identity. Temiso’s savior—this was an unexpected bonus for him.
“That’s correct,” Governor Temiso nodded reluctantly again.
“This is excellent. Instructor Zhang Wen, you weren’t here earlier and missed quite a show. But no matter, let me introduce you to some of the young talents from Themis Academy,” Governor Karayan spoke enthusiastically to Zhang Wen, leading him to the four members of the Themis Academy delegation.
“Haha, thank you for your kindness, Governor. However, I don’t think introductions are necessary. I’ve already met the members of Themis Academy when the banquet started. Right? Instructor Lasti, and… Sailin?” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile at Governor Karayan, then turned to greet Sailin and the others.
“Instructor Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure,” said Instructor Lasti, her gaze toward Zhang Wen carrying a hint of mockery. Anyone who saw her expression could almost read her thoughts: This fool, even at death’s door, he can still smile so happily.
“Alright, greetings are done. Governors, and everyone from Themis Academy, let’s get to the main point,” Zhang Wen said after shaking hands with the four members of the Themis Academy delegation, immediately throwing out another statement that left everyone stunned.
Although everyone knew that Zhang Wen, as the representative instructor of Almisius Academy’s Physical Arts Department, would inevitably clash with Themis Academy, no one expected him to be so blunt!
“I watched the match between Sailin and Luther earlier. It was indeed a spectacular fight. Our academy’s Luther was no match for Miss Sailin…” Zhang Wen’s smiling words nearly made the Casares nobles around him curse out loud.
Whose side is this guy on? Isn’t he helping Themis Academy humiliate his own teammate?! The guests in the hall were all filled with righteous indignation. However, Zhang Wen quickly shifted the tone.
However, Zhang Wen was a man who, once he made a decision, would never turn back. He would never change his mind because of some outsiders’ whispers. On the contrary, the pessimism and malicious assumptions of the guests only made him more eager to see the astonished expressions on their faces after he succeeded.
From Zhang Wen’s uniform, Governor Karajan easily recognized his identity. Already in high spirits, Governor Karajan naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity to strike another blow at Governor Temiso.
“Governor Temiso, isn’t this person also one of your instructors from Almither Academy? When you introduced the members of Almither Academy’s delegation earlier, why did you leave this instructor out?” Governor Karajan said with a deliberate smile, almost dragging the pale-faced Governor Temiso to Zhang Wen’s side.
After knocking Governor Temiso down with one punch, Governor Karajan was now ready to step on him with another foot! Having been rivals with Governor Temiso for over a decade, Karajan had never felt this exhilarated as he did tonight!
In the center of the hall, the students of the Almicus Academy’s Mind Arts Department could neither hear the conversation between Zhang Wen and the two beautiful girls nor see the laughter of the Eagle Guard Captain, Remiu. Amid the increasingly noisy discussions, the inexperienced students couldn’t help but panic. “What should we do?” they asked each other with their eyes, completely at a loss.
The main force of the Mind Arts Department had suffered a crushing defeat—a situation that had never occurred in the recent decades of rivalry between Almicus Academy and Themis Academy! Facing what might be the greatest crisis since the establishment of the Mind Arts Department, the students turned their gaze to Robert, who had always presented himself as the leader of the Mind Arts Department delegation.
Unfortunately, they soon realized that they couldn’t rely on this seemingly decisive instructor. Luther’s defeat had left Robert utterly devastated. Now, all he could do was mutter to himself, “This can’t be true,” as if he knew nothing else.
“First, help Luther up,” said Linoa, who was undoubtedly the calmest among the Mind Arts Department instructors. She sighed softly, patted a student on the back, and gestured toward Luther, who was still lying on the ground.
“Oh!” The students, who had regained their focus, quickly scrambled to help Luther up.
Linoa stepped forward to examine him and found that although Luther’s condition looked terrifying, he wasn’t actually injured. He had just suffered a mental shock and temporarily passed out.
“Alright,” Linoa sighed after checking Luther’s condition, and she prepared to step forward and say a few words to diffuse the awkward situation. The competition at the banquet had undoubtedly ended in a crushing defeat for Almicus Academy, but Linoa understood the principle of losing the battle without losing one’s dignity.
Moreover, the banquet’s competition was merely a “warm-up.” Understanding the strength of Themis Academy’s secret ace would not be a bad thing for Almicus Academy’s upcoming official matches. As long as they could get through tonight, most people still believed that the overall strength of Almicus Academy’s Mind Arts Department was superior to that of Themis Academy.
Unfortunately, it seemed that fate wasn’t willing to give Almicus Academy a graceful exit. Just as Linoa stepped out from the crowd and was about to speak, Robert, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown, suddenly jumped up again.
“This can’t be! You must have cheated! I don’t believe it! How could you just happen to find such a little girl this year? Did you bring her from another academy?” Robert shouted, completely ignoring the horrified looks from everyone around him.
Linoa, who had just stepped out of the crowd, was now stuck in an awkward position, standing there with a mix of shame and helplessness, glaring at the hysterical Robert.
“What a fool…” Even Zhang Wen, who had just clashed with Robert, couldn’t help but shake his head at Robert’s clownish behavior.
Robert’s outburst not only threatened to tarnish Almicus Academy’s reputation tonight but also marked the end of his own career—this was evident from the look of shock and anger on Governor Temiso’s face.
“Haha, it’s only natural for Instructor Robert to have such doubts. To be honest, even I couldn’t believe that Sailin was just a fourteen-year-old girl when I first met her. However, Sailin is indeed a new student who joined Themis Academy this year. I can vouch for her,” said Governor Karayan, who was in high spirits after winning a decisive victory. Despite the slight smile on his face, there was not a hint of sarcasm in his words toward Robert.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Governor Karayan’s demeanor was the greatest mockery of Robert, Almicus Academy, and Temiso! Not only had they lost the competition, but they had also lost their composure!
After hearing Governor Karayan’s words, the hysterical Robert still wanted to press the issue. But the furious gazes from everyone around him suddenly brought him back to reality. Robert’s face turned pale, and his confidence deflated like a punctured balloon. He awkwardly held his ground for a moment before fleeing back to the Mind Arts Department delegation like a man running for his life.
The other instructors in the Mind Arts Department delegation instinctively distanced themselves from Robert, but they exchanged uneasy glances, and no one dared to step forward to help Robert clean up the irreparable mess.
Building a century-old reputation for an academy is difficult, but destroying it is easy. The Mind Arts Department instructors present could see that Almicus Academy’s century-old reputation was hanging by a thread. However, none of them dared to claim they had the ability to turn the tide, nor did they dare to take on the responsibility of doing so.
As time passed, the smile on Governor Karayan’s lips grew wider and harder to control. Honestly, before coming to the planet of Cassares, Governor Karayan had anticipated that Themis Academy’s Mind Arts Department would make a strong showing this year, but he never expected that they would push Almicus Academy to the brink of disaster! If these guys couldn’t come up with a proper way to save face, Almicus Academy’s glory would become history in just a few minutes.
Not only would they lose the competition with Themis Academy for the hand of Princess Sophia, but they might even lose the right to be compared with Themis Academy! In the empire, an academy without honor is as despised as a lazy man with all his limbs intact but willingly sinking into depravity.
“This won’t do! If this continues, the academy is finished!” Carlet, who had been silently standing behind Zhang Wen, suddenly stood up and spoke softly.
Seeing Carlet’s serious expression, Amelie immediately understood what the highly responsible student council president intended to do. She grabbed her in surprise, “Senior Carlet, what are you planning to do?”
“Do I even need to say it? If we don’t do something now…” Carlet’s words were cut off again by Amelie.
“But didn’t you see that even Instructor Linoa and the others aren’t speaking up? What can you do by going over there now, except make a fool of yourself? Senior Carlet, I don’t want to see you do something foolish!” Amelie frowned deeply.
“I know, I know everything you’re saying,” Carlet nodded gently, revealing a pure and beautiful smile that made everyone around her feel ashamed. “But even if going over there now means being laughed at, I can’t just stand here and watch. Amelie, being defeated isn’t scary. What’s scary is admitting defeat in your heart before even facing your opponent.”
Carlet’s words not only stunned Amelie, who was blocking her path, but also left Zhang Wen, who had been watching the two girls, almost speechless.
Losing isn’t scary; what’s scary is giving up—Zhang Wen never expected that these words, spoken by a teacher he deeply respected back on Earth and which he had always held as a motto, would be uttered again today by a teenage girl!
Whatever Zhang Wen had thought of Carlet before, at this moment, the determination and courage emanating from her delicate figure deeply moved him.
“Wait!” Zhang Wen reached out like lightning and stopped Carlet.
“Teacher Zhang, are you going to stop me too?” Carlet asked with her pure smile, stubbornly looking at Zhang Wen.
“Haha, that’s right. Saving the academy’s reputation isn’t your role—not yet,” Zhang Wen shook his head at Carlet.
“I…” Carlet opened her mouth in disappointment, about to argue, but Zhang Wen quickly cut her off.
“In the past, our Physical Arts Department has always been indebted to the Mind Arts Department… It seems today is the day to repay that favor,” Zhang Wen’s lips curled into a smile again, and as he finished speaking, he had already taken several steps toward the center of the hall.
When Zhang Wen pushed through the crowd and appeared in the center of the hall, almost every guest present turned their astonished gazes toward him.
“What’s going on? Who is this guy? Why is he wearing Almicus Academy’s uniform?”
“Looks like he’s the representative instructor from the academy’s Physical Arts Department.”
“What? The Physical Arts Department? What’s a Physical Arts guy doing here now? Is he trying to add to the embarrassment Almicus Academy has already suffered today?”
“Who knows what’s going on? Anyway, it looks like Almicus Academy is finished this year!”
With the sharp hearing of someone at the second level of the Spring Water Technique, Zhang Wen could clearly hear every word of the discussions echoing throughout the hall. It was obvious that while everyone was hoping for a savior to rescue Almicus Academy’s crumbling reputation, no one welcomed his arrival. A decade of weakness had long since led the guests to look down on Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department.
If the guests were asked to choose between “Zhang Wen is here to save Almicus Academy” and “This guy is here to gloat,” over 99% of them would undoubtedly choose the latter!
However, Zhang Wen was someone who, once he made up his mind to do something, would never turn back. He wouldn’t change his course because of the private discussions of a group of outsiders. On the contrary, the guests’ pessimism and malicious speculation only made Zhang Wen more interested in what he was about to do. He was eager to see the expressions on their faces when he succeeded.
Governor Karayan easily recognized Zhang Wen’s identity from his uniform. Riding high on his victory, Governor Karayan naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity to strike another blow at Governor Temiso.
“Governor Temiso, isn’t this also an instructor from your Almicus Academy? When you introduced the members of the Almicus Academy delegation earlier, how did you manage to leave this instructor out?” Governor Karayan deliberately said with a smile, almost dragging the grim-faced Governor Temiso in front of Zhang Wen.
After knocking Governor Temiso down with one punch, Governor Karayan was ready to step on him with his foot! Having been at odds with Governor Temiso for over a decade, Governor Karayan had never felt as triumphant as he did tonight!
“This is Zhang Wen, the leader of Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department,” Governor Temiso forced a smile and introduced Zhang Wen.
“Zhang Wen? That name sounds familiar… Oh, right! Governor Temiso, wasn’t it Instructor Zhang Wen who saved you from that assassination attempt last time?” Governor Karayan was even more pleased with Zhang Wen’s identity. Temiso’s savior—this was an unexpected bonus for him.
“That’s correct,” Governor Temiso nodded reluctantly again.
“This is perfect. Instructor Zhang Wen, you weren’t here earlier, so you missed quite a show. But no matter, let me introduce you to some of Themis Academy’s finest young talents,” Governor Karayan said warmly to Zhang Wen, leading him to the four members of Themis Academy’s delegation.
“Haha, thank you for your kindness, Governor. But I don’t think introductions are necessary. I’ve already met the members of Themis Academy earlier when the banquet started. Right, Instructor Lasti? And… Sailin?” Zhang Wen smiled and nodded at Governor Karayan, then turned to greet Sailin and the others.
“Instructor Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure,” said Instructor Lasti, her gaze toward Zhang Wen filled with a mocking smile. Anyone who saw her expression could practically read her thoughts: This fool, smiling so happily even when he’s about to meet his doom.
“Alright, greetings are done. Governors, and everyone from Themis Academy, I think it’s time we get down to business,” Zhang Wen said after shaking hands with the four members of Themis Academy’s delegation, once again leaving everyone stunned.
Although everyone knew that Zhang Wen, as the representative instructor of Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department, would inevitably clash with Themis Academy, no one expected him to be so blunt!
“I watched the match between Sailin and Luther earlier. It was indeed a spectacular fight. Our academy’s Luther was no match for Miss Sailin…” Zhang Wen’s words, spoken with a smile, nearly made the Cassares nobles around him curse out loud.
Whose side is this guy on? Isn’t he just helping Themis Academy humiliate his own teammate?! The guests in the hall were seething with indignation. However, Zhang Wen quickly shifted his tone.
“Zhang Wen? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before… Oh right! Governor Temiso, wasn’t it this Zhang Wen who saved you during your last assassination attempt?” Governor Karajan became even more pleased with Zhang Wen’s identity. A savior of Temiso’s life—this was an unexpected bonus for him.
In the center of the hall, the students of the Almicus Academy’s Mind Arts Department could neither hear the conversation between Zhang Wen and the two beautiful girls nor see the laughter of Captain Remiu of the Eagle Guard. Amid the increasingly noisy discussions, the inexperienced students couldn’t help but panic. “What should we do?” they asked each other with their eyes, completely at a loss.
The main force of the Mind Arts Department had suffered a crushing defeat—a situation that had never occurred in the decades-long rivalry between Almicus Academy and Themis Academy! Facing what might be the greatest crisis in the history of the Mind Arts Department, the students turned their gaze to Robert, who had always presented himself as the leader of the Mind Arts Department delegation.
Unfortunately, they soon realized that they couldn’t rely on this seemingly decisive instructor. Luther’s defeat had left Robert utterly devastated. Now, all he could do was mutter “This can’t be true,” as if he knew nothing else.
“First, help Luther up,” said Lenoa, who was undoubtedly the calmest among the Mind Arts Department instructors. She sighed softly, patted a student on the back, and gestured toward Luther, who was still lying on the ground.
“Oh!” The students, who had regained their focus, quickly scrambled to help Luther to his feet.
Lenoa stepped forward to examine him and found that, although Luther’s condition looked terrifying, he wasn’t actually injured. He had merely suffered a mental shock and temporarily fainted.
“Alright,” Lenoa sighed after checking Luther’s condition, and she prepared to step forward to address the awkward situation. The competition at the banquet had undoubtedly ended in a crushing defeat for Almicus Academy, but Lenoa understood the principle of losing the battle without losing one’s dignity.
Moreover, the banquet’s competition was just a “warm-up.” Understanding the strength of Themis Academy’s secret ace would not be a bad thing for Almicus Academy’s upcoming official matches. As long as they could get through tonight, most people still believed that the overall strength of Almicus Academy’s Mind Arts Department was superior to that of Themis Academy.
Unfortunately, it seemed that fate wasn’t going to give Almicus Academy a graceful exit. Just as Lenoa stepped out from the crowd and before she could speak, Robert, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown, suddenly jumped up again.
“This can’t be! You must have cheated! I don’t believe it! How could you just happen to find such a little girl this year? Did you bring her from another academy?” Robert shouted, completely ignoring the horrified looks from everyone around him.
Lenoa, who had just stepped out of the crowd, was now stuck in an awkward position, standing there with a mix of shame and helplessness, glaring at the hysterical Robert.
“What a fool…” Even Zhang Wen, who had just had a conflict with Robert, couldn’t help but shake his head slightly at Robert’s clownish behavior.
Robert’s outburst not only threatened to tarnish Almicus Academy’s reputation tonight but also marked the end of his own career—this was evident from the shocked and angry expression on Governor Termiso’s face.
“Haha, it’s only natural for Instructor Robert to have such doubts. To be honest, even I couldn’t believe that Sailin was just a fourteen-year-old girl when I first met her. However, Sailin truly is a new student who joined Themis Academy this year. I can vouch for her,” said Governor Karayan, who was in high spirits after the decisive victory. Aside from a slight smile, his words carried no hint of sarcasm toward Robert.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Governor Karayan’s demeanor was the greatest mockery of Robert, Almicus Academy, and Termiso! Not only had they lost the competition, but they had also lost their composure!
After hearing Governor Karayan’s words, the hysterical Robert still wanted to press the issue. However, the furious looks from everyone around him suddenly brought him back to his senses. Robert’s face turned pale, and his imposing aura deflated like a burst balloon. He awkwardly stood his ground for a moment longer before fleeing back to the Mind Arts Department delegation like a man running for his life.
The other instructors in the Mind Arts Department delegation instinctively distanced themselves from Robert, but they exchanged uneasy glances, and no one dared to step forward to help him clean up the irreparable mess.
Building a century-old reputation for an academy is difficult, but destroying it is easy. The Mind Arts Department instructors present could see that Almicus Academy’s century-old reputation was hanging by a thread. However, none of them dared to claim they had the ability to turn the tide, nor did they dare to take on the responsibility of doing so.
As time passed, the smile on Governor Karayan’s lips grew wider and harder to control. Honestly, before coming to the planet Cassares, Governor Karayan had anticipated that Themis Academy’s Mind Arts Department would make a name for itself this year, but he never expected that they would push Almicus Academy to the brink of disaster! If these guys couldn’t come up with a proper way to save face, Almicus Academy’s glory would become history in just a few minutes.
Not only would they lose the competition with Themis Academy over Princess Sophia’s favor, but they might even lose the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Themis Academy! In the empire, an academy without honor is as despised as a lazy man who, despite being physically capable, chooses to wallow in self-pity.
“This won’t do! If this continues, the academy is finished!” Suddenly, Carlet, who had been silently standing behind Zhang Wen, stood up and spoke softly.
Seeing Carlet’s serious expression, Amelie immediately understood what the highly responsible student council president intended to do. She grabbed her in surprise: “Senior Carlet, what are you planning?”
“Isn’t it obvious? If we don’t do something now…” Carlet’s words were cut off again by Amelie.
“But didn’t you see that even Instructor Lenoa and the others aren’t speaking? What can you do by going over there now, except make a fool of yourself? Senior Carlet, I don’t want to see you do something foolish!” Amelie frowned deeply.
“I know, I know everything you’re saying,” Carlet nodded gently, revealing a pure and beautiful smile that made those around her feel ashamed. “But even if going over there now means being laughed at, I can’t just stand here and watch. Amelie, being defeated isn’t scary. What’s scary is admitting defeat in your heart before even facing your opponent.”
Carlet’s words not only stunned Amelie, who was blocking her path, but also left Zhang Wen, who had been watching the two girls, almost speechless.
Losing isn’t scary; what’s scary is giving up—Zhang Wen never expected that these words, spoken by a teacher he had deeply respected back on Earth and which he had always held as a personal motto, would be echoed today by a teenage girl!
Regardless of Zhang Wen’s previous opinions of Carlet, at this moment, the determination and courage emanating from her delicate frame deeply moved him.
“Wait!” Zhang Wen reached out like lightning to stop Carlet.
“Teacher Zhang, are you going to stop me too?” Carlet asked with her pure smile, stubbornly looking at Zhang Wen.
“Haha, that’s right. Saving the academy’s reputation isn’t your role—not yet,” Zhang Wen shook his head at Carlet.
“I…” Carlet opened her mouth in disappointment, about to argue, but Zhang Wen quickly cut her off.
“Our Physical Arts Department has always been indebted to the Mind Arts Department… It seems today is the day to repay that favor,” Zhang Wen said, a slight smile creeping onto his lips. By the time he finished speaking, he had already taken several steps toward the center of the hall.
When Zhang Wen pushed through the crowd and appeared in the center of the hall, almost every guest present turned their astonished eyes toward him.
“What’s going on? Who is this guy? Why is he wearing Almicus Academy’s uniform?”
“Looks like he’s the representative instructor from the academy’s Physical Arts Department.”
“What? The Physical Arts Department? What are they doing here now? Is he trying to add to the humiliation Almicus Academy has already suffered today?”
“Who knows? Anyway, it looks like Almicus Academy is finished this year!”
With the heightened senses of Zhang Wen’s Spring Water Technique at the second level, he could clearly hear every word of the discussions echoing through the hall. Clearly, while everyone was hoping for a savior to rescue Almicus Academy’s teetering reputation, no one welcomed his arrival. A decade of weakness had long since led the guests to look down on Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department.
If the guests had to choose between “Zhang Wen is here to save Almicus Academy” and “This guy is here to gloat,” over 99% would undoubtedly choose the latter!
However, Zhang Wen was someone who, once he made up his mind to do something, would never turn back. He wouldn’t change his decision because of the private discussions of a group of outsiders. On the contrary, the guests’ pessimism and malicious speculation only made Zhang Wen more interested in what he was about to do. He was eager to see the expressions on their faces once he succeeded.
Governor Karayan easily recognized Zhang Wen’s identity from his uniform. The governor, who was in high spirits, naturally wouldn’t miss another opportunity to strike at Governor Termiso.
“Governor Termiso, this gentleman seems to be an instructor from your Almicus Academy, doesn’t he? When you introduced the members of the Almicus Academy delegation earlier, how did you manage to leave him out?” Governor Karayan said with a deliberate smile, almost dragging the grim-faced Governor Termiso in front of Zhang Wen.
After knocking Governor Termiso down with one punch, Governor Karayan was ready to step on him with his foot! Having been at odds with Governor Termiso for over a decade, Governor Karayan had never felt as triumphant as he did tonight!
“This is Zhang Wen, the leader of Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department,” Governor Termiso forced a smile and introduced Zhang Wen.
“Zhang Wen? That name sounds familiar… Oh, right! Governor Termiso, wasn’t it Instructor Zhang Wen who saved you from that assassination attempt last time?” Governor Karayan was increasingly pleased with Zhang Wen’s identity. Termiso’s savior—this was an unexpected bonus for him.
“That’s correct,” Governor Termiso nodded reluctantly again.
“This is wonderful. Instructor Zhang Wen, you weren’t here earlier, so you missed quite a show. But no matter, let me introduce you to some of Themis Academy’s finest young talents,” Governor Karayan said enthusiastically to Zhang Wen, leading him to the four members of Themis Academy’s delegation.
“Haha, thank you for your kindness, Governor. However, I don’t think introductions are necessary. I’ve already met the members of Themis Academy earlier when the banquet started. Right? Instructor Lasti, and… Sailin?” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile to Governor Karayan, then turned to greet Sailin and the others.
“Instructor Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure,” said Instructor Lasti, her gaze carrying a hint of mockery. Anyone who saw her expression could almost read her thoughts: This fool, how can he still be smiling so happily when he’s about to meet his doom?
“Alright, greetings are done. Governors, and everyone from Themis Academy, let’s get to the main event,” Zhang Wen said after shaking hands with the four members of Themis Academy’s delegation, once again leaving everyone stunned.
While everyone knew that Zhang Wen, as the representative instructor of Almicus Academy’s Physical Arts Department, would inevitably clash with Themis Academy, no one expected him to be so blunt!
“I watched the match between Sailin and Luther earlier. It was indeed a spectacular fight. Our academy’s Luther was no match for Miss Sailin…” Zhang Wen’s words, spoken with a smile, nearly made the surrounding Cassares nobles curse out loud.
Whose side is this guy on? Isn’t he just helping Themis Academy humiliate his own teammate?! The guests in the hall were filled with righteous indignation. However, Zhang Wen quickly changed his tone.
“That’s wonderful. Instructor Zhang Wen, you missed quite a show just now since you weren’t here. But no worries, I’ll introduce you to several outstanding young talents from Themis Academy,” Governor Karajan enthusiastically said to Zhang Wen, leading him toward the four representatives from Themis Academy.
“Haha, thank you for your kind offer, Your Excellency. However, I think an introduction won’t be necessary. I’ve already met everyone from Themis Academy at the beginning of the banquet. Right, Instructor Lashty, and… Sailing?” Zhang Wen smiled at Governor Karajan and then turned to greet Sailing and the others.
“Instructor Zhang Wen, it’s a pleasure to meet you again,” said Instructor Lashty, her gaze now carrying a mocking smirk. Anyone who saw her expression could practically read her thoughts aloud: This fool actually dares to smile so happily when he’s about to die.
“Alright, the greetings are done. Your Excellencies, and everyone from Themis Academy, I think it’s time we got down to business.” After shaking hands with each of the four representatives from Themis, Zhang Wen immediately threw out another sentence that left everyone stunned.
Although everyone knew that Zhang Wen, the representative instructor from Almither Academy’s Physical Arts Division, would inevitably engage in some confrontation with Themis Academy’s representatives, no one had expected him to be so blunt!
“I also witnessed the match between Sailing and Luther earlier. It was indeed an impressive battle. Our academy’s Luther was clearly no match for Miss Sailing…” Zhang Wen’s smiling words nearly made the nobles of Casares lose their tempers.
Which side is this guy on?! Isn’t he just helping Themis Academy humiliate his own teammate?! The guests in the hall were all filled with righteous indignation. However, Zhang Wen quickly shifted the tone.
“…But from what I understand, this match between our Almace Academy and your esteemed institution isn’t merely a routine friendly visit. It also involves the issue of which academy Princess Sophia the Elder will choose for her studies. Am I right?” Zhang Wen paused slightly at this point, but without waiting for a response from the Temis Academy side, he continued with a smile, “If the true purpose of this match is indeed to determine which academy can provide Princess Sophia with a better education, then what we should be comparing is the ability of each academy to educate their students, rather than which academy is luckier in having more talented students, right?”
When Zhang Wen finished speaking, not only did Governor Termis’ previously darkened expression gradually return to normal, but even the guests who had been cursing him inwardly just moments ago couldn’t help but silently cheer for him.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s words had struck the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Temis Academy’s earlier victory—they had only managed to defeat Almace Academy thanks to “Sairin” alone!
“…However, as far as I know, the upcoming match between our Almisus Academy and your esteemed institution is not merely a routine exchange. It also involves the decision of which academy Princess Sophia will attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly but didn’t wait for a response from the Themist Academy representatives before continuing with a smile, “Since the true essence of this competition is to determine which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, shouldn’t we be comparing the educational capabilities of the two institutions rather than which school is luckier to have more talented students?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s previously grim expression soften considerably, but the guests who had been silently cursing him moments ago couldn’t help but cheer for him in their hearts.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s remarks hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Themist Academy’s recent victory—they had won against Almisus Academy solely because of “Sailing”!
In other words, without Sailing, Themist Academy’s Spellcasting Department would still be no match for Almisus Academy. If they had a genius like Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Themist Academy or any obscure institution; they could still win against Almisus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang makes a valid point. However, an academy’s ability to attract talented students is also a testament to its teaching capabilities. Moreover, there will always be disparities in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the talented students and compete with average ones?” This time, it was the male teacher from Themist Academy’s Physical Arts Department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclair.
Among the Themist Academy teachers present at the arena, Enclair was the only one who hadn’t participated in the matches. This was also the key reason he could attend tonight’s banquet—the more senior Physical Arts teachers, who were supposed to be here, had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen during the matches and likely wouldn’t be presentable for a couple of days.
However, precisely because of this, Enclair, having finally seized a spotlight opportunity, wasn’t about to let the Spellcasting Department’s Lasti steal all the limelight.
“Teacher Enclair, I think you’ve misunderstood me,” Zhang Wen shook his head with a smile as soon as Enclair finished speaking. “I never said we should discard talented students. My point is that during a competition, a genius student’s victory is expected and unremarkable. However, if a non-genius student surpasses one deemed a genius, that would truly speak volumes.”
“Oh?” Enclair felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and eagerly retorted, “Teacher Zhang, are you suggesting that you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Themist Academy’s genius students?” With that, Enclair sneered at Zhang Wen, expecting him to falter and scramble for an explanation.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Wh…what?” Zhang Wen’s response left everyone stunned, and the unprepared Enclair was left speechless.
“Arrogant!” The female teacher Lasti sneered from the side, spitting out the word disdainfully.
“Teacher Zhang, such jokes are not amusing!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclair’s face quickly darkened. Tonight, Themist Academy’s Spellcasting Department had stolen the show, making Enclair particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, his gaze shifting past Enclair to the Themist Academy student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your Physical Arts Department, right?”
“Of course!” Enclair glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him tonight wasn’t the strongest from Themist Academy’s Physical Arts Department, Enclair was certain that against Almisus Academy’s weak Physical Arts Department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep through!
Moreover, Enclair wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen pulling any tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Themist Academy, brought out a super-genius from the first-year students, Enclair could expose it on the spot, making Zhang Wen look foolish. In any case, Enclair believed he was in an unbeatable position.
“Good,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amelie nearby and called out, “Amelie, come here!”
“Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly making her way to Zhang Wen’s side. The stern gazes of the two governors then frightened the poor girl, and even the surrounding guests couldn’t help but frown at her expression.
“Damn it! That scoundrel Zhang Wen isn’t seriously planning to let Amelie compete, is he?” A Spellcasting Department teacher clenched his fist, muttering angrily to his companion. Amelie was originally a Spellcasting Department student, and her capabilities were well-known to these teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen pulled Amelie in front of him, addressing Enclair with a smile. “Because she isn’t technically a Physical Arts Department student yet. This student, Amelie, is a second-year Spellcasting Department student at Almisus Academy. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my Physical Arts course, so she is also considered a member of our Physical Arts team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclair erupted in fury as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A Spellcasting Department student with a Physical Arts level no higher than four—what are you trying to do? Competing with such an opponent is an insult to our Themist Academy’s team!”
“Haha!” Enclair’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, he shook his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclair, you haven’t heard me out yet. What I’m saying is not that Amelie can surpass your Themist Academy’s genius students; it’s that Amelie could defeat your Themist Academy’s genius students even with her eyes closed!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words, the entire hall fell into complete silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The Spellcasting Department teachers of Almisus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were left speechless by Zhang Wen’s audacious declaration.
“Hehe, what Master Zhang said does make sense. However, being able to attract talented students is also a part of proving one’s teaching capability. Besides, students naturally differ in their innate abilities. Following Master Zhang’s logic, are we supposed to deliberately avoid talented students and instead compete using those with mediocre abilities?” This time, the speaker was the male instructor from Temis Academy’s physical combat department. Zhang Wen had learned his name—Enkai—back at the arena.
Among the Temis Academy instructors who had arrived at the arena, Enkai was the one who hadn’t participated in the match. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the other physical combat instructors who were more qualified to attend according to the regulations had all been left bruised and battered by Zhang Wen’s attacks and wouldn’t be fit to be seen for at least a couple of days.
“…However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almicus Academy and your esteemed institution this time seems to be more than just a simple exchange visit. It also involves the question of which academy Princess Sophia will choose to attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly here but didn’t wait for a response from the representatives of Themist Academy. He continued with a smile, “Since the true meaning of this competition is to assess which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, then what we should be comparing is the ability of the two academies to educate students, rather than which school has better luck in encountering more talented students, right?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s livid complexion return to normal, but the guests who had just been cursing him in their hearts couldn’t help but cheer for him internally.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s words hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Themist Academy’s recent victory—they had only managed to defeat Almicus Academy because of one person, “Sailing”!
In other words, without Sailing, Themist Academy’s Spellcasting Department would still be no match for Almicus Academy. If they had a student as talented as Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Themist Academy or any other unknown institution; they could still win against Almicus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang’s words do make sense. However, an academy’s ability to attract talented students is also part of proving its teaching capabilities. Moreover, there will always be differences in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the talented students and use average ones for the competition?” This time, it was the male teacher from Themist Academy’s Physical Arts Department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclave.
Among the Themist Academy teachers who had come to the arena, Enclave was the one who hadn’t taken the stage. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the more qualified Physical Arts Department teachers who should have been present were all beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen in the fights and probably wouldn’t be able to show their faces for a couple of days.
But precisely because of this, Enclave, having finally seized a spotlight opportunity, certainly wouldn’t let all the attention go to the Spellcasting Department’s Lastie alone.
“Teacher Enclave, I think you’ve misunderstood my point,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, shaking his head as soon as Enclave finished speaking. “I never said we should discard talented students. What I meant was that in a competition, it’s only natural for a talented student to win—it’s nothing surprising. However, if a student who isn’t considered a genius defeats one who is, then that really says something.”
“Oh?” Enclave felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and immediately retorted eagerly, “Teacher Zhang, are you saying you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Themist Academy’s genius student?” After saying this, Enclave sneered and stared at Zhang Wen, expecting him to be at a loss for words and hastily explain himself.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile and said, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Wh…what?” Zhang Wen’s response took everyone by surprise, leaving the unprepared Enclave utterly speechless.
“Arrogant!” The female teacher Lastie sneered coldly from the side, spitting out four disdainful words.
“Teacher Zhang, such a joke isn’t funny at all!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclave’s expression quickly turned grim. Tonight, Themist Academy’s Spellcasting Department had stolen the show, making Enclave particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen said with a faint smile, his gaze passing over Enclave and landing on the Themist Academy student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your Physical Arts Department, right?”
“Yes, of course!” Enclave glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest from Themist Academy’s Physical Arts Department, Enclave was quite sure that dealing with Almicus Academy’s weak Physical Arts Department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep through them!
Moreover, Enclave wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen playing tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Themist Academy, pulled out a super-genius from the first-year students, he could expose it on the spot, and Zhang Wen would be slapping his own face. In any case, Enclave believed he was already in an invincible position.
“Very well,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amelie not far away and called out to her, “Amelie, come here!”
“Ah? Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s call. She was stunned for a moment before hurriedly running over to Zhang Wen. Then, the stern gazes of the two governors frightened the poor girl. Seeing her expression, even the surrounding guests couldn’t help but frown.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t really planning to let Amelie take the stage, is he?” A Spellcasting Department teacher clenched his fist, angrily muttering to his companion. Amelie was originally a Spellcasting Department student, and her capabilities were well-known to these teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, pulling Amelie in front of him and addressing Enclave. “Because she isn’t actually a Physical Arts Department student. This student, Amelie, is a second-year Spellcasting Department student at Almicus Academy. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my Physical Arts Department course, so she is also considered part of our Physical Arts Department’s competition team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclave exploded in anger as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A Spellcasting Department student with no more than a fourth-level Physical Arts ability—what are you trying to do? Competing with such an opponent is an insult to our Themist Academy’s team!”
“Haha!” Enclave’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, it made him shake his finger with a smile. “Tsk tsk tsk! Instructor Enclave, you haven’t heard me out yet. What I actually meant to say isn’t that Amelie can defeat your Themist Academy’s genius student; it’s that Amelie could defeat your Themist Academy’s genius student even with her eyes closed!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words fell, the entire hall was silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The Spellcasting Department teachers of Almicus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were stunned by Zhang Wen’s earth-shattering declaration.
“Master Enkai, I think you’ve misunderstood me,” Zhang Wen immediately shook his head with a smile as soon as Enkai finished speaking. “I never said we should abandon talented students. What I meant is that it’s only natural for talented students to win victories, nothing surprising about that. However, if a non-talented student can defeat someone regarded as a genius, that would say a lot.”
“Oh?” Enkai felt he had caught Zhang Wen in a contradiction and couldn’t wait to counter, “Master Zhang, are you saying that you can defeat Temis Academy’s talented students using non-talented ones?”
After speaking, Enkai fixed Zhang Wen with a cold stare, anticipating the moment when Zhang would be at a loss for words and forced to explain himself.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining at all. In fact, he didn’t even pretend to be modest and simply nodded with a smile, “More or less, that’s exactly what I meant.”
“W-what… What did you say?” Zhang Wen’s response caught everyone off guard, leaving an unprepared Enkai momentarily speechless.
“Arrogant nonsense!” The female instructor Rusty coldly interjected with a sneer, uttering those four words disdainfully.
“…However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almisus Academy and your esteemed institution this time is not merely a routine exchange visit. It also involves the matter of which academy Princess Sophia will choose to attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly here but didn’t wait for a response from the Thamis Academy representatives before continuing with a smile, “Since the true essence of this competition is to evaluate which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, shouldn’t we be comparing the educational capabilities of the two institutions rather than which school is luckier to have more talented students?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s grim expression normalize significantly, but the guests who had been silently cursing him moments ago couldn’t help but cheer for him in their hearts.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s remarks hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Thamis Academy’s recent victory—they had only managed to defeat Almisus Academy because of one individual, “Sailing”!
In other words, without Sailing, Thamis Academy’s Spellcasting Department would still be no match for Almisus Academy. If they had a student as talented as Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Thamis Academy or any obscure institution; they could still win against Almisus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang’s words do make sense. However, an academy’s ability to attract talented students is also a testament to its teaching capabilities. Moreover, there will always be disparities in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the more talented students and compete with average ones?” This time, it was the male teacher from Thamis Academy’s Physical Arts Department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclave.
Among the Thamis Academy teachers present at the arena, Enclave was the one who hadn’t participated in the competition. This was also the key reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the more senior Physical Arts teachers who were supposed to attend had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen during the competition and likely wouldn’t be presentable for a couple of days.
However, precisely because of this, Enclave wasn’t about to let the spotlight fall solely on Lastie from the Spellcasting Department, having finally caught a moment in the limelight.
“Teacher Enclave, I believe you’ve misunderstood my point,” Zhang Wen shook his head with a smile as soon as Enclave finished speaking. “I never said we should discard the more talented students. My point is that during competitions, it’s natural and unsurprising for a talented student to win. However, if a student who isn’t considered a genius defeats one who is, that would indeed be telling.”
“Oh?” Enclave felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and eagerly retorted, “Teacher Zhang, are you suggesting that you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Thamis Academy’s genius students?” With that, Enclave sneered at Zhang Wen, expecting him to be at a loss for words and scramble for an explanation.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining himself. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Wh…what?” Zhang Wen’s response took everyone by surprise, leaving the unprepared Enclave utterly speechless.
“Braggart!” The female teacher Lastie sneered coldly from the side, spitting out the word disdainfully.
“Teacher Zhang, such jokes are not amusing!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclave’s expression quickly darkened. Tonight, Thamis Academy’s Spellcasting Department had stolen the show, making Enclave particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“Joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, his gaze shifting past Enclave to land on the Thamis student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your Physical Arts Department, right?”
“Of course!” Enclave glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest from Thamis Academy’s Physical Arts delegation, Enclave was certain that against Almisus Academy’s weak Physical Arts Department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep the competition!
Moreover, Enclave wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen playing tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Thamis Academy, pulled out a super-genius from the first-year students, Enclave could expose him on the spot, effectively making Zhang Wen slap his own face. No matter what, Enclave believed he was in an unbeatable position.
“Very well,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amelie not far away and called out to her, “Amelie, come here!”
“Ah? Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly running over to Zhang Wen. The stern gazes of the two governors then frightened the poor girl, making the surrounding guests frown in concern.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t seriously planning to have Amelie compete, is he?” A Spellcasting teacher clenched his fist, muttering angrily to his companion. Amelie was originally a Spellcasting student, and her capabilities were well-known to the Spellcasting teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen pulled Amelie in front of him and addressed Enclave with a smile. “Because she isn’t technically a Physical Arts student yet. This student, Amelie, is a second-year Spellcasting student at Almisus Academy. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my Physical Arts course, so she is also considered a member of our Physical Arts team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclave exploded in anger as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A Spellcasting student with no more than Level 4 Physical Arts ability—what are you trying to do? Competing with such an opponent is an insult to our Thamis Academy team!”
“Haha!” Enclave’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, he shook his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclave, you haven’t let me finish. What I’m actually saying is not that Amelie can defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student, but that Amelie could defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student even with her eyes closed!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words fell, the entire hall was silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The Spellcasting teachers of Almisus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were stunned by Zhang Wen’s audacious declaration.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters.” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, but his gaze shifted past Enkai to the Temis Academy student standing behind him. “This student here must be the talented one you’ve handpicked from your physical combat department, right?”
“Of course!” Enkai glanced briefly at the student behind him and confidently nodded. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest among Temis Academy’s physical combat representatives, Enkai was still confident enough that this student alone would be more than capable of sweeping aside Almace Academy’s weak physical combat department.
Moreover, Enkai wasn’t afraid of any tricks Zhang Wen might pull. If Zhang Wen had also brought forth a super-genius from the freshman class like Temis Academy had, Enkai was ready to expose him on the spot, which would essentially make Zhang Wen slap his own face publicly. Either way, Enkai felt he had already secured an unbeatable position.
“Excellent.” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, suddenly shifting his gaze toward Amelice, who was standing not far away, and called out loudly, “Amelice, come here!”
“Eh? Me?” Amelice clearly hadn’t expected Zhang Wen to call her at this moment. She stood there in shock for quite a while before hastily rushing over to his side. Then, the stern gazes from the two governors frightened the poor girl terribly. Seeing her expression, even the surrounding guests couldn’t help but furrow their brows.
“…However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almisus Academy and your esteemed institution this time seems to be more than just a simple exchange visit. It also involves the issue of which academy Princess Sophia will attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly here but didn’t wait for a response from the Thamis Academy representatives before continuing with a smile, “Since the true meaning of this competition is to evaluate which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, shouldn’t we be comparing the educational capabilities of our two academies rather than which school has the luck to encounter more talented students?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s previously livid expression normalize significantly, but the guests who had been silently cursing him also couldn’t help but cheer for him in their hearts.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s words hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Thamis Academy’s recent victory—they had only managed to defeat Almisus Academy because of “Sailing,” a single individual!
In other words, without Sailing, Thamis Academy’s spellcasting department would still be no match for Almisus Academy. If they had a student as talented as Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Thamis Academy or any other obscure institution; they could still win against Almisus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang makes a valid point. However, the ability to attract talented students is also part of proving an academy’s educational capabilities. Moreover, there will always be differences in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the talented students and use average ones for the competition?” This time, it was the male teacher from Thamis Academy’s physical arts department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclair.
Among the Thamis Academy teachers present at the arena, Enclair was the only one who hadn’t participated in the matches. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—several physical arts teachers who were more qualified to attend according to the rules had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen in the fights and likely wouldn’t be presentable for a couple of days.
However, precisely because of this, Enclair, having finally seized a moment in the spotlight, naturally wouldn’t let the spellcasting department’s Lasti steal all the attention.
“Teacher Enclair, I think you’ve misunderstood my point,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, shaking his head as soon as Enclair finished speaking. “I never said we should discard talented students. My point is that during a competition, it’s only natural for a talented student to win—there’s nothing surprising about that. However, if a student who isn’t considered a genius defeats one who is, that would truly be telling.”
“Oh?” Enclair felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and immediately retorted eagerly, “Teacher Zhang, are you saying you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Thamis Academy’s genius students?” After saying this, Enclair smirked, staring at Zhang Wen, expecting him to be at a loss for words and scramble to explain.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Wh… what?” Zhang Wen’s response took everyone by surprise, leaving the unprepared Enclair utterly speechless.
“Brazen arrogance!” The female teacher Lasti sneered coldly from the side, spitting out the words disdainfully.
“Teacher Zhang, this kind of joke isn’t funny at all!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclair’s expression quickly darkened. Tonight, Thamis Academy’s spellcasting department had stolen the show, making Enclair particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“Joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen said with a faint smile, his gaze shifting past Enclair to land on the Thamis Academy student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your physical arts department, right?”
“Of course!” Enclair glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest from Thamis Academy’s physical arts department, Enclair was confident that against Almisus Academy’s weak physical arts department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep through them!
Moreover, Enclair wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen playing tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Thamis Academy, pulled out a super-genius from the first-year students, Enclair could expose it on the spot, making Zhang Wen look foolish. In any case, Enclair believed he was already in an unbeatable position.
“Good,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amelie, who was not far away, and called out loudly, “Amelie, come here!”
“Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s sudden call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly running over to him. The stern gazes of the two governors then frightened the poor girl, making even the surrounding guests frown.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t seriously planning to let Amelie compete, is he?” A spellcasting teacher clenched his fist, muttering angrily to his companion. Amelie was originally a spellcasting student, and her capabilities were well-known to the spellcasting teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, pulling Amelie in front of him and addressing Enclair. “She isn’t actually a physical arts student. This student, Amelie, is a second-year spellcasting student at Almisus Academy. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my physical arts course, so she is also considered a member of our physical arts team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclair exploded in anger as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A spellcasting student with no more than a fourth-level physical arts ability—what are you trying to do? Competing against such an opponent is an insult to our Thamis Academy’s team!”
“Haha!” Enclair’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, he shook his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclair, you haven’t heard me out yet. What I’m saying isn’t that Amelie can defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student; it’s that Amelie could defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student even with her eyes closed!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words fell, the entire hall was silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The spellcasting teachers of Almisus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were stunned by Zhang Wen’s outrageous declaration.
“…However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almissus Academy and your esteemed institution this time seems to be more than just a simple exchange visit. It also involves the question of which academy Princess Sophia will choose to attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly here but didn’t wait for a response from the representatives of Themis Academy before continuing with a smile, “Since the true meaning of this competition is to evaluate which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, then what we should be comparing is the ability of the two academies to educate students, rather than which school is luckier to encounter more talented students, right?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s livid complexion return to normal, but the guests who had been silently cursing him couldn’t help but cheer for him in their hearts.
Indeed, Zhang Wen’s words hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Themis Academy’s recent victory—they had only managed to defeat Almissus Academy because of one person: “Sailing”!
In other words, without Sailing, Themis Academy’s spellcasting department would still be no match for Almissus Academy. If they had a genius student like Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Themis Academy or some unknown, insignificant institution; they could still win against Almissus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang’s words do make sense. However, the ability of an academy to attract talented students is also part of proving its teaching capabilities. Moreover, there will always be differences in the aptitudes of students. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the talented students and use average ones for the competition?” This time, it was the male teacher from Themis Academy’s physical arts department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclair.
Among the Themis Academy teachers who had come to the arena, Enclair was the one who hadn’t participated in the matches. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the more qualified physical arts teachers who should have been present were all beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen in the fights and likely wouldn’t be able to show their faces for a couple of days.
But precisely because of this, Enclair, having finally seized a moment in the spotlight, naturally wouldn’t let the spellcasting department’s Lasti steal all the attention.
“Teacher Enclair, I think you’ve misunderstood my meaning,” Zhang Wen shook his head with a smile as soon as Enclair finished speaking. “I never said we should discard talented students. What I meant is that during the competition, it’s only natural for a genius student to win—it’s nothing surprising. However, if a student who isn’t a genius defeats one who is considered a genius, then that would truly be telling.”
“Oh?” Enclair felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and immediately retorted eagerly, “Teacher Zhang, are you saying that you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Themis Academy’s genius students?” After saying this, Enclair sneered and stared at Zhang Wen, expecting him to be at a loss for words and scrambling to explain.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile and said, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“What… what?” Zhang Wen’s response took everyone by surprise, leaving the unprepared Enclair utterly speechless.
“Arrogant nonsense!” The female teacher Lasti sneered coldly from the side, spitting out four disdainful words.
“Teacher Zhang, such a joke is not funny at all!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclair’s expression quickly darkened. Tonight, Themis Academy’s spellcasting department had stolen the show, making Enclair particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen smiled faintly, his gaze shifting past Enclair to land on the Themis Academy student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your physical arts department, right?”
“Of course!” Enclair glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest from Themis Academy’s physical arts department, Enclair was certain that against Almissus Academy’s weak physical arts department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep through them!
Moreover, Enclair wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen playing tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Themis Academy, pulled out a super-genius from the first-year students, Enclair could expose it on the spot, making Zhang Wen look like a fool. No matter what, Enclair believed he was in an unbeatable position.
“Good,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amilis nearby and called out to her, “Amilis, come here!”
“Me?” Amilis was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly running over to Zhang Wen. The stern gazes of the two governors then frightened the poor girl, making the surrounding guests frown in concern.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t really planning to let Amilis compete, is he?” A spellcasting department teacher clenched his fist, angrily muttering to his companion. Amilis was originally a student of the spellcasting department, and her capabilities were well-known to these teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen smiled as he pulled Amilis forward, addressing Enclair. “Because she isn’t actually a student of the physical arts department. This student, Amilis, is a second-year student in our Almissus Academy’s spellcasting department. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my physical arts course, so she is also considered a member of our physical arts team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclair exploded in rage as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amilis. “A spellcasting department student with no more than a fourth-level physical arts ability—what are you trying to do? Competing against such an opponent is an insult to our Themis Academy’s team!”
“Haha!” Enclair’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, he shook his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclair, you haven’t let me finish. What I wanted to say is not that Amilis can defeat your Themis Academy’s genius student, but that Amilis could defeat your Themis Academy’s genius student even with her eyes closed!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words fell, the entire hall was silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The teachers from Almissus Academy’s spellcasting department were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were stunned by Zhang Wen’s outrageous declaration.
“However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almicus Academy and your esteemed institution this time is not merely a simple exchange visit. It also involves the question of which academy Princess Sophia will choose to attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly but didn’t wait for a response from the Thamis Academy representatives before continuing with a smile, “Since the true essence of this competition is to determine which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, shouldn’t we be comparing the educational capabilities of the two institutions rather than which school is luckier to have more talented students?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s grim expression ease significantly, but even the guests who had been silently cursing him couldn’t help but applaud him inwardly. Indeed, Zhang Wen’s remarks hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Thamis Academy’s recent victory—they had won against Almicus Academy solely because of “Sailing,” a single individual.
In other words, without Sailing, Thamis Academy’s Spellcasting Department would still be no match for Almicus Academy. If a student as talented as Sailing existed, it wouldn’t matter if they were at Thamis Academy or some obscure, no-name institution—they could still secure a victory against Almicus Academy.
“Ha, Teacher Zhang makes a fair point. However, a school’s ability to attract talented students is also a testament to its educational prowess. Moreover, there will always be differences in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the more talented students and compete with average ones instead?” This time, it was the male teacher from Thamis Academy’s Physical Arts Department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclair.
Among the Thamis Academy teachers present at the arena, Enclair was the only one who hadn’t participated in the competition. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the other Physical Arts teachers, who were more qualified to attend according to the rules, had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen during the matches and likely wouldn’t be presentable for a couple of days.
However, precisely because of this, Enclair wasn’t about to let the spotlight fall solely on Lasti from the Spellcasting Department. He seized the opportunity to make his mark.
“Teacher Enclair, I think you’ve misunderstood me,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, shaking his head as soon as Enclair finished speaking. “I never said we should discard talented students. My point is that when a talented student wins, it’s expected and not particularly noteworthy. But if a non-talented student defeats someone considered a genius, that would truly speak volumes.”
“Oh?” Enclair felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and immediately retorted, “Teacher Zhang, are you suggesting that you can use a non-talented student to defeat our Thamis Academy’s genius students?” With that, Enclair smirked, expecting Zhang Wen to stumble over his words and scramble for an explanation.
However, Zhang Wen showed no sign of hesitation. Without a hint of modesty, he nodded confidently and said, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Wha… what?” Zhang Wen’s response left everyone stunned, including Enclair, who was caught completely off guard.
“Arrogant nonsense!” Lasti, the female teacher, sneered coldly, spitting out those four words with disdain.
“Teacher Zhang, this kind of joke isn’t funny at all!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclair’s face darkened rapidly. Tonight, Thamis Academy’s Spellcasting Department had stolen the show, making Enclair particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen replied with a faint smile, his gaze shifting past Enclair to land on the Thamis Academy student standing behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your Physical Arts Department, right?”
“Yes, of course!” Enclair glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him tonight wasn’t the strongest from Thamis Academy’s Physical Arts Department, Enclair was certain that he alone would be more than enough to sweep through Almicus Academy’s weak Physical Arts Department.
Moreover, Enclair wasn’t worried about Zhang Wen pulling any tricks. If Zhang Wen were to produce a super-talented freshman from Almicus Academy, Enclair could simply expose the ruse on the spot, making Zhang Wen look like a fool. Either way, Enclair believed he was in an unbeatable position.
“Good,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his attention to Amelie, who was standing nearby, and called out, “Amelie, come here!”
“Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s sudden call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly making her way to his side. The stern gazes of the two governors immediately made the poor girl nervous, and even the surrounding guests couldn’t help but frown at her expression.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t actually planning to have Amelie compete, is he?” one of the Spellcasting Department teachers clenched his fist, muttering angrily to his companion. Amelie was originally a student from the Spellcasting Department, and her capabilities were well-known to the teachers there.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, pulling Amelie in front of him and addressing Enclair. “Because she isn’t technically a Physical Arts student. This student, Amelie, is a second-year from our Almicus Academy’s Spellcasting Department. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my Physical Arts course, so she is also considered part of our Physical Arts team this year.”
“Enough! Stop joking around!” Enclair erupted in anger as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A Spellcasting Department student with no more than Level 4 Physical Arts skills—what are you trying to do? Competing against such an opponent would be an insult to our Thamis Academy’s team!”
“Ha!” Enclair’s fury didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, it made him shake his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclair, you haven’t heard me out yet. What I’m saying isn’t that Amelie can defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student—it’s that even with her eyes closed, Amelie can still defeat your Thamis Academy’s genius student!”
Shocking—absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words, the entire hall fell into complete silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The Spellcasting Department teachers from Almicus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were left speechless by Zhang Wen’s audacious declaration.
“Hehe!” Instead of being provoked into embarrassment or anger, Zhang Wen smiled even more broadly at Enkai’s outburst and shook his finger at him, “Tsk tsk tsk! Instructor Enkai, you haven’t even heard me finish yet. What I meant wasn’t that Amelice could defeat your talented Temis Academy student. What I meant was that even with her eyes closed, Amelice could still defeat your Temis Academy’s talented student!”
“However, as far as I know, the competition between our Almicus Academy and your esteemed institution this time isn’t just a simple exchange visit. It also involves the issue of which academy Princess Sophia will attend. Am I correct?” Zhang Wen paused briefly but didn’t wait for a response from the Themis Academy representatives before continuing with a smile, “Since the true meaning of this competition is to assess which academy can provide Sophia with a superior education, shouldn’t we be comparing the educational capabilities of the two academies rather than which school is luckier to have more talented students?”
As Zhang Wen’s words fell, not only did Governor Temiso’s grim expression ease considerably, but even the guests who had been silently cursing him couldn’t help but cheer for him in their hearts. Indeed, Zhang Wen’s remarks hit the nail on the head, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in Themis Academy’s recent victory—they had won against Almicus Academy solely because of one person, “Sailing”!
In other words, without Sailing, Themis Academy’s Spellcasting Department would still be no match for Almicus Academy. If they had such a talented student as Sailing, it wouldn’t matter if it were Themis Academy or some unknown, insignificant institution; they could still win against Almicus Academy.
“Haha, Teacher Zhang makes a valid point. However, a school’s ability to attract talented students is also a testament to its teaching capabilities. Moreover, there will always be differences in students’ aptitudes. If we follow Teacher Zhang’s logic, should we deliberately discard the more talented students and use average ones for the competition?” This time, it was the male teacher from Themis Academy’s Physical Arts Department who spoke. Zhang Wen had learned his name earlier at the arena: Enclair.
Among the Themis Academy teachers who had come to the arena, Enclair was the only one who hadn’t participated in the matches. This was also the main reason he could attend the banquet tonight—the more qualified Physical Arts teachers, who should have been present according to the rules, had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Wen during the fights and likely wouldn’t be able to show their faces for a couple of days.
But precisely because of this, Enclair, having finally seized a moment in the spotlight, certainly wasn’t going to let the Spellcasting Department’s Lasti steal all the attention.
“Teacher Enclair, I think you’ve misunderstood me,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, shaking his head as soon as Enclair finished speaking. “I never said we should discard the more talented students. My point is that during a competition, it’s only natural for a talented student to win—there’s nothing surprising about that. However, if a student who isn’t considered a genius defeats one who is, that would indeed be telling.”
“Oh?” Enclair felt he had caught a flaw in Zhang Wen’s argument and immediately retorted, “Teacher Zhang, are you saying you can use a non-genius student to defeat our Themis Academy’s genius students?” After saying this, Enclair sneered and stared at Zhang Wen, expecting him to be at a loss for words and scramble to explain.
However, Zhang Wen showed no intention of explaining. In fact, without a hint of modesty, he nodded with a smile and said, “Pretty much, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“What… what?” Zhang Wen’s response took everyone by surprise, leaving the unprepared Enclair utterly speechless.
“Arrogant nonsense!” The female teacher Lasti sneered from the side, spitting out four disdainful words.
“Teacher Zhang, such jokes are not funny at all!” After a brief moment of shock, Enclair’s face quickly darkened. Tonight, Themis Academy’s Spellcasting Department had stolen the show, making Enclair particularly intolerant of any provocation from Zhang Wen.
“A joke? No, I never joke about serious matters,” Zhang Wen said with a faint smile, his gaze shifting past Enclair to land on the Themis Academy student behind him. “This student must be one of the geniuses selected from your Physical Arts Department, right?”
“Of course!” Enclair glanced back at the student and nodded confidently. Although the student accompanying him to the banquet wasn’t the strongest from Themis Academy’s Physical Arts Department, Enclair was certain that against Almicus Academy’s weak Physical Arts Department, this student alone would be more than enough to sweep the competition!
Moreover, Enclair wasn’t afraid of Zhang Wen playing tricks. If Zhang Wen, like Themis Academy, pulled out a super-genius from the first-year students, Enclair could expose it on the spot, making Zhang Wen look like a fool. In any case, Enclair believed he was already in an unbeatable position.
“Good,” Zhang Wen nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze to Amelie nearby and called out, “Amelie, come here!”
“Me?” Amelie was clearly caught off guard by Zhang Wen’s call. She hesitated for a moment before hurriedly running over to Zhang Wen. The stern gazes of the two governors then frightened the poor girl, making the surrounding guests frown in concern.
“Damn it! That bastard Zhang Wen isn’t really planning to have Amelie compete, is he?” A Spellcasting Department teacher clenched his fist, angrily muttering to his companion. Amelie was originally a Spellcasting Department student, and her capabilities were well-known to the Spellcasting teachers.
“Alright, I’m sure none of you know her,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, pulling Amelie in front of him and addressing Enclair. “Because she isn’t technically a Physical Arts student yet. This student, Amelie, is a second-year Spellcasting Department student at Almicus Academy. However, she is one of only three students who have chosen to take my Physical Arts course, so this year she is also considered a member of our Physical Arts team.”
“Enough! Stop joking!” Enclair exploded in anger as soon as Zhang Wen finished introducing Amelie. “A Spellcasting Department student with no more than Level 4 Physical Arts skills—what are you trying to do? Competing against such an opponent would be an insult to our Themis Academy’s team!”
“Haha!” Enclair’s anger didn’t provoke Zhang Wen; instead, it made him shake his finger with a smile. “Tsk, tsk, tsk! Instructor Enclair, you haven’t heard me out yet. What I’m saying isn’t that Amelie can defeat your Themis Academy’s genius student; it’s that even with her eyes closed, Amelie can defeat your Themis Academy’s genius student!”
Shocking, absolutely shocking. For a full minute after Zhang Wen’s words, the entire hall fell into complete silence, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! The Spellcasting Department teachers of Almicus Academy were stunned, the guests were stunned, and even Governors Temiso and Karayan were left speechless by Zhang Wen’s outrageous declaration.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage