The promotion tournament has entered its final two days.
Currently, the top five in the promotion tournament's point rankings are as follows.
First place, as everyone expected, Peach Garden Academy, twelve matches, twelve consecutive wins! Their minor match points also set a new record in the promotion tournament! A commanding lead!
Second place, Tianshui Academy, twelve matches, eleven wins; the captain of Tianshui Academy, Water Binger, also performed excellently.
Third place, Divine Wind Academy, twelve matches, ten wins; Feng Xiaotian of Divine Wind Academy also performed outstandingly, but for some reason this academy falters when facing Peach Garden Academy and Blazing Academy.
Fourth place, Blazing Academy, twelve matches, ten wins.
Fifth place goes to Plant Academy. Plant Academy has risen unexpectedly, though the exact reason is unclear. Since their matches against Peach Garden Academy, the students seem to have awakened; their overall strength has jumped a level. As long as they don't face particularly strong fire‑type teams, they perform well. Their record: twelve matches, nine wins.
After Liu Erlong put on the Jingang Zhengxin Circle, she stayed by Ning Rongrong's side as the Liuli Guardian. Over the past few days, she hasn't done anything out of line, but she often faces pointing fingers and gossip from students and teachers of other academies.
Liu Erlong has a belly full of frustration, yet she dares not vent it.
She doesn't know what she's living like now.
She dares not think about Yu Xiaogang, because it would make her head ache as if it were exploding.
She also dares not stir up trouble or lose her temper, for that might scorch all the effort she put into joining Peach Garden Academy.
The promotion tournament continues in an orderly fashion, as if the pain only befalls those connected to Yu Xiaogang, while other academies are barely affected.
No, the impact on other academies is significant, especially for the four major Elemental Academies, now missing a formidable rival.
On the tournament field, Liu Erlong stared absentmindedly at Su Ran's back. Though she hadn't spoken much with that Taoyuan Teacher these past days, she has been closely watching him.
She discovered that this Taoyuan master isn't as Xiaogang described. In Yu Xiaogang's words, Su Ran is a stubborn, arrogant troublemaker who leans on his teaching skill and Cultivation Technique to act as if no one matters.
In reality, Su Ran rarely interacts with outsiders, appearing like a detached, pristine hermit; only when a few academy students cling to him does his mood show any ripple.
Liu Erlong now harbors some doubts:
How could such a serene, indifferent person make such a vicious bet with Xiaogang?
Is Su Ran a wolf in sheep's clothing?
Or... whose fault is this really?
'Our Tianshui Academy concedes this match.'
'Congratulations early to Teacher Su's team for becoming first in the promotion tournament.'
In the preparation area, before the Peach Garden Academy vs. Tianshui Academy match even began, Water Binger had already arrived here, gently winking at Teacher Su, and surrendered outright.
Su Ran said calmly:
'Your Tianshui Academy ranks among the top among the fifteen teams; don't you feel regret surrendering like this?'
'Regret? We'd only regret if we fought and lost. Our Tianshui Academy doesn't want to be mentally broken like Thunder Academy.'
'Teacher Su, your team is too strong; I just hope to meet you later in the finals, otherwise we won't even make the top eight, which would be terrible.'
Water Binger, with a tone of a disciple pleading to a master, had already arranged with Teacher Su after the matches to become his disciple. After several rounds and witnessing Peach Garden Academy's stunning performance, it's no exaggeration to say she now regards Su Ran as her teacher.
Shui Yueer followed Water Binger over, playfully saying:
'If we meet in the finals, Teacher Su, could you let your students ease up? Don't let us lose disgracefully! Especially Dugu Yan, please don't poison us; I don't want my skin to rot like the Thunder Academy students—so ugly!'
When Shui Yueer thought of Dugu Yan single‑handedly poisoning several Thunder Academy teammates into toad‑like rags, a chill ran down her spine.
Tianshui Academy wouldn't refuse to face Peach Garden Academy just because they're strong, but against Dugu Yan's lethal poison, Tianshui students can hardly endure it.
When a person isn't beautiful, it's even more painful than being weak.
Hearing that, Su Ran couldn't help but let a smile bloom across his face like a spring breeze over a ridge:
'Sure.'
'Teacher Su, you're so aloof, just answer with two words.'
Shui Yueer widened her eyes at Su Ran, clearly curious:
'Teacher Su, may I boldly ask if you could remove your mask so I can see your face?'
'I've been watching you, Teacher Su, for a long time, but you wear a mask every match. Why is that? I really want to know what you look like.'
Shui Yueer's question is also the one Water Binger and Liu Erlong are puzzled about.
'This...?'
Su Ran brushed his peach blossom mask, 'Want to see?'
'Want to!'
Shui Yueer, her eyes shimmering like spring water, looked at Su Ran. With her years of experience evaluating looks and being Tianshui Academy's resident beauty judge, she instinctively felt that Su Ran's appearance was certainly not lacking.
Water Binger also felt a bit hopeful.
'You can't see,' Su Ran said calmly.
Immediately, Shui Yueer's hopeful expression flipped:
'Teacher Su, you're so boring. You won't even let us see your face; I don't even want to look anymore.'
'By the way, if we join Peach Garden Academy, could we see your face?'
Shui Yueer changed tack, leaving Su Ran bewildered.
'That can be considered.'
'Of course not! Teacher, how can you do this? We have to win the tournament first, and then you consider letting us join your academy? That's discrimination, against school rules, unfair! This is unfair!'
Su Ran only muttered that, and Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling instantly became agitated.
'Huh? Your Peach Garden Academy has this tradition? You have to win the match before we can see the teacher's face?'
'Teacher Su, how good‑looking you must be to lure students like that.'
Shui Yueer was stunned.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu gave Shui Yueer a malicious glare:
'The teacher isn't good‑looking, stop thinking about him. Admit defeat and go prepare for tomorrow's final match, hurry up.'
'No way.'
'You all are so nervous; are you scared that we'll also join Peach Garden Academy to see Teacher Su? You're abnormal.'
Shui Yueer's lively eyes scanned Ning Rongrong and the others; she noticed that whenever Teacher Su's appearance was mentioned, they grew uneasy.
'Ahem, Teacher Su, I've decided. After the match, my sister and I will withdraw from Tianshui Academy and enroll in your Peach Garden Academy. Can your academy teach us water and ice Spirit Masters? I also want to learn a Water Clock Shield and an Ice Clock Shield.'
Shui Yueer cleared her throat and said to Su Ran.
Su Ran sounded a bit hoarse; Shui Yueer's playful nature even brought up the Water Clock Shield.
Su Ran said calmly:
'Peach Garden Academy welcomes you. I don't have a Water Clock Shield to teach, but I have a technique called Fubo Technique and another called Heaven Frost Fist that might suit you.'
'Really? So there are indeed supreme arts for us to learn? Are they as powerful as theirs?'
'Then, can I see your face when I apprentice?'
This Shui Yueer, so stubborn!
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, 'Don't call! If you call again, close the door and call Erlong!'
Rongrong, you little girl, what do you know? I'm Shui Yueer, full of water, a divine‑beauty flow, so what?
Bold! I'm the senior Grandmaster!
The gazes of the two pairs of girls clashed, splashing water.
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