Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Yu Xiaogang remained calm and composed.
Even though he knew the upcoming battle would become the center of attention, there was no fear on his face.
Instead, he appeared unusually relaxed.
To him, the doubts and ridicule surrounding him meant nothing.
Strength would eventually prove everything.
At the front of the training grounds, Zhao Xunxing swept his gaze across the students before speaking indifferently.
"Fan Yun. Meng Yan."
"You two will go first."
Hearing those names, many students immediately revealed disappointed expressions.
Of course, it was only slight disappointment.
Everyone knew clearly that Yu Xiaogang could not avoid today's challenge forever.
Sooner or later, he would have to step onto the battlefield.
The two selected students quickly walked toward the center of the arena and began their sparring match under Zhao Xunxing's supervision.
Both of them were four-ring Spirit Ancestors.
And both possessed the standard optimal spirit ring configuration.
Two yellow rings.
Two purple rings.
Such battles among young spirit masters were rarely seen outside the Spirit Hall Academy.
The fight itself was intense and skillful.
Spirit skills flashed continuously across the arena while powerful spirit power waves spread through the air.
However, despite the excitement of the match, many students remained distracted.
Their eyes kept drifting toward Yu Xiaogang.
Clearly, they were more interested in him than the ongoing battle.
Before long, Fan Yun and Meng Yan's spar ended with a decisive victory.
Zhao Xunxing immediately called the next group.
One battle after another unfolded.
As time passed, students continuously entered the arena, displayed their abilities, and completed their evaluations.
The atmosphere gradually became heated.
Then finally—
"Next group…"
Zhao Xunxing paused slightly.
His gaze slowly shifted toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Qin Haoyue."
"Your opponent will be…"
"Yu Xiaogang."
The moment those words were spoken, the training grounds instantly erupted into noise.
Yu Xiaogang slowly stood from his seat.
At the same time, another young man stood up from the opposite side.
He had sharp eyebrows, star-like eyes, black hair, and a calm expression. Dressed in green clothing, he did not possess an especially muscular build, yet his entire body radiated confidence and stability.
The moment everyone saw Qin Haoyue stepping forward, many students immediately became excited.
"Hehe, it's actually Qin Haoyue."
"It seems Teacher Zhao really dislikes this transfer student."
"Isn't that obvious? Everyone knows Teacher Zhao hates noble connections the most."
"Tsk, tsk… with Qin Haoyue's strength, this guy is definitely finished."
"That's how it should be. Otherwise, people might think just anyone can enter our Elite Class."
A few students even began openly making bets.
"Come on, place your wagers!"
"How long do you think Yu Xiaogang can last?"
"Three minutes."
"Three minutes? You're overestimating him. I bet one minute."
"Hah! Against a Level 45 Spirit Ancestor? That Level 20-something Spirit Grandmaster probably won't survive more than a few exchanges."
The mocking laughter spread through the crowd.
However, Zhao Xunxing ignored all of it completely.
In truth, the students were correct.
He had intentionally arranged Qin Haoyue as Yu Xiaogang's opponent.
The reason was simple.
He wanted Yu Xiaogang to understand the gap between himself and the true elite students of Spirit Hall Academy.
Only after suffering enough humiliation would this transfer student understand reality and abandon his arrogance.
Soon, both participants arrived at the center of the arena.
They stood roughly ten meters apart.
Qin Haoyue spoke first in a calm voice.
"Qin Haoyue."
"Level 45 Battle Spirit Ancestor."
"Spirit: Jade Wind Sword."
As he introduced himself, he raised his right hand slightly.
A jade-green longsword immediately appeared within his grasp.
The blade emitted a faint wind attribute aura, and sharp sword intent spread outward instantly.
Yu Xiaogang nodded calmly.
"Yu Xiaogang."
"Level 24 Battle Spirit Master."
"Spirit: Xiao Long."
The moment he finished speaking, a flash of light erupted beside him.
A loud dragon roar echoed across the training grounds.
Roar—!
A small dragon-like creature instantly appeared next to Yu Xiaogang.
Its eyes locked directly onto Qin Haoyue with intense battle intent.
The little dragon lowered its body slightly, ready to attack at any moment.
The scene immediately confused many people.
"Is… that a spirit beast?"
"What kind of spirit is that?"
"I've never seen anything like it."
Even Zhao Xunxing slightly narrowed his eyes.
The two most famous things about Yu Xiaogang were his rumored thousand-year first spirit ring and his unusual beast spirit.
But this was Zhao Xunxing's first time personally seeing Xiao Long.
And even with his experience, he found it strange.
Unlike ordinary beast spirits, Xiao Long looked almost completely alive.
Its gaze, breathing, and movements felt natural, not like a summoned spirit at all.
Not far away, Bibi Dong watched silently.
Unlike the others, she understood the nature of Xiao Long.
However, she had no intention of explaining anything right now.
Instead, she simply observed Yu Xiaogang quietly, curious to see how he would fight.
Meanwhile, Qin Haoyue looked at Xiao Long with visible confusion.
"Your spirit?"
He hesitated slightly.
Clearly, he was worried that attacking Xiao Long might somehow injure Yu Xiaogang directly.
Seeing his hesitation, Yu Xiaogang spoke calmly.
"Just fight normally."
"You don't need to worry about me."
Yu Xiaogang naturally understood Qin Haoyue's concerns.
After all, Xiao Long was unlike any spirit most people had ever encountered.
Fortunately, Yu Xiaogang had already conducted extensive experiments regarding Xiao Long's nature.
Its body was completely formed from spirit power.
Ordinary damage posed no real danger to it.
Even if Xiao Long were destroyed during battle, Yu Xiaogang only needed to dismiss the spirit and summon it again later.
Of course, restoring Xiao Long consumed a significant amount of spirit power.
Through repeated testing, Yu Xiaogang had also discovered an important detail.
Physical damage to Xiao Long merely consumed his spirit power.
However, if Xiao Long suffered mental or spiritual damage, it would directly affect Yu Xiaogang's own spirit.
Qin Haoyue frowned slightly.
"Are you certain?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded confidently.
"I know my spirit better than anyone."
Hearing his answer, Qin Haoyue finally relaxed slightly.
"Alright."
The next moment, spirit power surged from his body.
Four spirit rings rose beneath his feet.
Two yellow.
Two purple.
The standard optimal spirit ring configuration instantly drew admiration from the surrounding students.
But before the crowd could react further—
Another surge of spirit power exploded from Yu Xiaogang.
Then—
Two purple spirit rings slowly rose beneath his feet.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
For a brief moment, the entire training grounds froze completely.
Then chaos erupted.
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
"Two purple spirit rings?!"
"Oh my God!"
The crowd exploded into countless shocked cries.
Everyone stared at Yu Xiaogang in complete disbelief.
They all knew Yu Xiaogang was only Level 24.
That meant he could possess no more than two spirit rings.
Which also meant—
Both of those spirit rings were his first and second rings.
And both were thousand-year spirit rings.
How was that even possible?
A thousand-year first spirit ring?
That completely shattered the common understanding of spirit masters.
Even many teachers widened their eyes in shock.
A student in the crowd could no longer restrain himself and shouted toward Zhao Xunxing.
"Teacher Zhao!"
"Those spirit rings are fake, right?!"
His voice carried both hope and desperation.
Because if Yu Xiaogang's spirit rings were truly real…
Then everything they believed about cultivation would collapse.
Even Qin Haoyue subconsciously looked toward Zhao Xunxing.
Clearly, he also hoped for clarification.
Under everyone's gaze, Zhao Xunxing slowly spoke.
"Yu Xiaogang's thousand-year first spirit ring…"
"Is real."
Boom!
Those simple words completely shattered the final traces of doubt.
The crowd instantly descended into uproar once more.
Some students stared blankly.
Others looked at Yu Xiaogang as though staring at a monster.
Even the breathing of several students became hurried.
This was something no one in history had ever achieved.
Not even the legendary Titled Douluos of the continent had possessed thousand-year spirit rings as their first rings.
Yet Yu Xiaogang had done it.
One student hurriedly shouted again.
"Teacher Zhao!"
"How did he do it?!"
The moment that question was asked, everyone immediately fell silent.
Every pair of eyes locked onto Zhao Xunxing.
Even Bibi Dong's gaze flickered slightly.
Unfortunately, Zhao Xunxing shook his head.
"That method is a secret belonging to Yu Xiaogang's sect."
"Even His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff does not know the details."
Hearing this, the students revealed disappointed expressions.
However, their gazes toward Yu Xiaogang had already changed completely.
The previous ridicule and contempt were gone.
Replaced instead by shock…
Curiosity…
And caution.
At the center of the arena, Qin Haoyue slowly exhaled.
Then he looked at Yu Xiaogang seriously.
"It seems…"
"We underestimated you."
"I didn't expect you to be such a monster."
His tone no longer contained arrogance.
Only seriousness remained.
The existence of two thousand-year spirit rings alone was enough to earn respect.
Qin Haoyue tightened his grip on the Jade Wind Sword.
"In this battle…"
"I will not hold back."
"If you can't endure it, surrender immediately."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang smiled slightly.
His expression remained calm and confident from beginning to end.
"My attitude hasn't changed."
"I just hope you won't talk big…"
"Only to prove incapable once the battle starts."
Surprisingly, Qin Haoyue did not become angry this time.
Nor did the surrounding Elite Class students react as emotionally as before.
Because the shock brought by Yu Xiaogang's spirit rings was simply too overwhelming.
At this moment, no one dared look down on him anymore.
Perhaps his spirit power level was still low.
But anyone capable of obtaining two thousand-year spirit rings could never be ordinary.
If they still mocked Yu Xiaogang now…
Then the real fools would be them.
The atmosphere within the arena gradually became tense.
Spirit power fluctuations spread outward from both sides.
Qin Haoyue slowly raised the Jade Wind Sword.
Sharp wind blades began circling around him.
Meanwhile, Xiao Long let out another low dragon roar beside Yu Xiaogang.
Its eyes burned with battle intent.
Everyone held their breath unconsciously.
Because they all understood one thing now.
This battle…
Would not be the one-sided humiliation they originally expected.
Instead—
It might become the moment Yu Xiaogang truly shocked the entire Spirit Hall Academy.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)