Under the gaze of countless people in the square, the giant axe had already swung toward Xiao Tian. As though the bloody outcome had already been witnessed, some of the more timid spectators quietly shut their eyes.
Even the referee braced himself to intervene.
Xiao Tian slowly raised his eyes. A subtle curve formed at the corner of his mouth. He spoke softly, "One move."
He channeled Dou Qi into his hand, which now crackled with terrifying lightning power, and swung it forward with ferocious force. His fist collided directly with the axe blade.
"Boom!"
A deafening roar erupted. At the point of impact between fist and blade, the axe, before this horrifying lightning power, shattered instantly like fragile tissue. The fist drove straight into Cai Ji's body.
"Bang!"
With the brutal sound of fist meeting flesh, Cai Ji's body shot out of the arena like a meteor and crashed heavily into the wall at the edge of the square, instantly kicking up an enormous cloud of dust.
Xiao Tian stood motionless, his expression utterly calm, as though he had done something entirely insignificant. He withdrew his Dou Qi and gently dusted his sleeve, every inch the image of a man who had accomplished his task, brushed off his robes, and concealed his deeds deep within.
The referee had no time to announce the result. He flashed immediately to the wall, peering at Cai Ji, who lay unconscious within the rubble.
"Phew. Fortunately, he is not dead. It seems he held back, but every rib is shattered. He will likely be confined to bed for a very long time."
Medical personnel arrived and bore him away. Only then did the referee return to the arena to proclaim,
"Xiao Tian... wins."
The square, which had fallen deathly silent in the wake of Xiao Tian's violence, instantly erupted in a ferocious roar.
A single punch. Weapon shattered. Man crippled.
Was this in any way reasonable?
Several who had secretly admired Xun'er, and who had even contemplated finding an opportunity to teach Xiao Tian a lesson, could not suppress shrinking their heads. They secretly counted themselves fortunate for not having rushed forward. What if he had declared, "What if I do not eat beef?"
Grateful eyes turned in unison toward Cai Ji, who was being carried away.
*What a good man. He set an example for us all with his own body.*
"Not bad. He is indeed a formidable opponent. It seems this will prove entertaining. I will make you understand that before a true genius, you are nothing. She shall forever belong to me."
Bai Shan watched as his subordinate was battered into utter helplessness, yet he paid it scant attention. His expression barely shifted, as though the underling held no relation to him whatsoever.
"That punch carried considerable force. Is this the extent of your strength? I hope you do not disappoint me too greatly."
Hu Jia observed Xiao Tian end the battle with ruthless finality. She studied him with keen interest and murmured under her breath.
"The one Xiao Xun'er dwells upon so constantly could hardly be mediocre. Do you feel the pressure now? You may not prove his match should you face him."
Hu Gan's cultivation was lofty, so he naturally perceived far more. He distinctly sensed that this young man was still concealing a great deal, and he could not even see through his cultivation level. He had likely encountered an extraordinary stroke of fortune.
"I will defeat him and prove it to Xun'er—and to you."
Hu Jia heard her grandfather's words. She folded her arms across her chest and fixed her gaze upon Xiao Tian's retreating figure.
Her already devilish silhouette grew only more alluring, provoking those secretly observing her to swallow hard.
Gazing at his granddaughter's confident face, Hu Gan shook his head. "I hope so."
Xiao Tian returned directly to Xun'er's side. Xun'er seized his hand, her face alight with delight.
"Brother Tian, you were incredible."
"You know my strength. There was no challenge whatsoever."
Xiao Tian felt a surge of secret joy upon hearing Xun'er's praise. What could be more satisfying than being praised by one's beloved?
"Xiao Tian, I never imagined your strength would be so immense. A Dou Master seems no more than a paper puppet before you. What exactly is your cultivation level?"
Xiao Yu, with her long, graceful legs, approached Xiao Tian and scrutinized him from every angle. Even Xiao Yan cast a deeply interested glance. Not even Old Yao could detect Xiao Tian's cultivation now.
"It remains a secret for the time being. You will learn of it later."
Xiao Tian departed with nothing more than a cryptic remark, pulling Xun'er along to sit down.
"You little rascal! Even your brother has been tainted by it. What exactly have you been teaching your older brother?"
Xiao Yu stalked over to Xiao Yan in irritation and pinched his face.
Xiao Yan: *???? What does this have to do with me? I am merely the younger brother. How would I dare teach him anything?*
Xiao Tian and Xun'er observed the two bickering and both dissolved into laughter, sighing that they were truly a pair of destined rivals since childhood.
As time slipped onward, dusk gradually descended, and the day's matches officially concluded. Some sighed with regret, while others rejoiced.
After the victor of the day's final match was proclaimed, the crowd in the square dispersed in clusters.
Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan had amassed a great many admirers that day. The two only managed to leave the venue safely under Instructor Ruo Lin's guidance, thus avoiding any trouble.
Xiao Tian and Xun'er, beneath the protesting stares of a legion of solitary onlookers, lingered together for a long while before finally parting to cultivate.
---
Jia Nan Academy, Outer Court.
In a chamber filled with towering bookshelves, seven or eight elderly men were seated within. Among them were several who had occupied the high platform earlier that day. These were the power holders of the Outer Court.
Vice Dean Hu Gan of the Outer Court, together with various elders and influential figures, had assembled.
"Take a look at this intelligence."
Hu Gan laid a document before them.
"Xiao Yan defeated the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect and, some time ago, slew the Young Sect Master of the Blood Sect. You should know that his strength now stands at the Dou Spirit level."
"As for Xiao Tian, he once defeated a Dou King—a high-level Dou King at that—within the Misty Cloud Sect. No further achievements have been uncovered. I suspect he is connected to Heaven Suppressing Hall, which annihilated the Blood Sect not long ago."
"Because Xiao Tian has been sighted within Heaven Suppressing Hall, and both his elder brother and second brother hold high-ranking positions there."
Hu Gan observed them all examining the documents in their hands and spoke at a measured pace.
"It appears both of them harbor immense potential—especially Xiao Tian. If properly nurtured, he might well become another formidable powerhouse."
The Vice Dean set down the document, tapped his fingers upon the table, and spoke in a deep tone.
"Indeed. If he is genuinely involved with Heaven Suppressing Hall—this mysterious force that has emerged so abruptly—we have yet to ascertain whether they are friend or foe."
A black-robed elder furrowed his brow, looked toward Hu Gan, and murmured.
"Let us observe them in secret for now. If they prove worthy of cultivation, we shall then render our decision."
Hu Gan ultimately decreed the matter settled. The others nodded without objection. It was far too early to entertain such considerations.
---
In the early morning, sunlight streamed into Xiao Tian's chamber.
Xiao Tian roused from his bed. These past few days, he had not dared to seek out Ya Fei and the others. Otherwise, Xun'er would likely refuse to speak with him, and he could not afford such a blunder.
He had to endure when endurance was required. Otherwise, harmony within the household would shatter.
"Sigh. I waited the entire night. Why did he not come seeking trouble with me? I had originally assumed he, too, possessed the lightning attribute, so I intended to teach him how to wield it—and also teach him some manners. What a pity."
Xiao Tian stretched his limbs and performed a simple wash. He had prepared himself thoroughly the previous night, even contemplating precisely how to execute his moves, with sole emphasis on looking utterly magnificent.
"Brother Tian, are you awake?"
A clear, gentle voice sounded from beyond the door.
"Yes. Enter, little one."
Hearing Xiao Tian's voice, Xun'er pushed the door open directly and stepped inside.
She drew close to Xiao Tian, her small nose wrinkling faintly as she sniffed.
Observing her behavior, Xiao Tian could not resist pinching her nose. "What, checking whether I went to find them?"
Xun'er, seeing her little scheme laid bare, turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes. "No, I merely... merely..."
"Merely missed my scent?"
Xiao Tian could not suppress a laugh.
"No, no! I do not possess such a perversion."
Flustered, Xun'er blurted out the words, blindly following Xiao Tian's lead. Only then did she register what she had said and hastily corrected herself.
"Haha. I understand what you meant to convey. I am with you now, so I did not go seeking them. Do not worry."
Xiao Tian stroked Xun'er's hair and walked out of the chamber.
Xiao Tian silently congratulated himself. *Fortunately, I was clever last night. Otherwise, today would have been exceedingly difficult.*
"That is well done of you. Hehe." Xun'er quickened her lotus steps and swiftly followed after Xiao Tian.
They arrived once more at the Yellow Class Two section in the square. This time, the crowd in the plaza no longer bothered to conceal their hostility toward Xiao Tian.
Xiao Yan, Instructor Ruo Lin, and the others were already seated there.
"Now that everyone is present, I shall inform you of other matters."
Ruo Lin spotted Xiao Tian's arrival and beckoned them over.