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"Well?"
Peng Ming looked at Lin Jin in surprise. He had underestimated the young man standing before him.
With a gesture, he signaled for a few people to step back, then slowly walked forward, his eyes locked onto Lin Jin's.
"It seems you have some skill. In that case, prove to me you're worthy of teaching my son!"
A wave of killing intent surged into the air, sharp and cold—like a blade brushing against the skin.
It sent a chill down the spine.
"Murderous intent?"
Lin Jin felt the chill in his body, but he remained composed.
He was only slightly surprised. It was rare for an ordinary Spirit master to manifest such intent.
Peng Ming wasn't as simple as he seemed.
[Ding! Mission triggered!]
[Quest: Conviction Through Strength]
[Description: When the academy is met with doubt, only overwhelming strength can win trust!]
[Completion Condition: Defeat your opponent.]
[Reward: Unknown.]
A smirk curled at the corner of Lin Jin's mouth.
"What a surprise."
He turned his gaze back to Peng Ming and activated the Eye of Insight to scan his stats.
[Name: Peng Ming, Martial Spirit: Cloud-Pattern Staff, Spirit Power Level: 44, Threat Level: R]
"An R-level threat... That's higher than Ding Sanshi."
Lin Jin was intrigued. When he'd fought Ding Sanshi, the man had been stronger in terms of cultivation, but his threat level was only N.
Now, with Lin Jin three levels above Peng Ming, the danger was somehow greater.
Peng Ming continued walking forward, casting a cold glance at Lin Jin.
"Let's go."
With that, he headed toward the academy's training ground.
Lin Jin chuckled and followed.
"If I had more money, I'd have built a proper Spirit Fighting Arena by now. Fighting on the playground every time is getting old. Pity it'll need repairs again."
"Hey, look! Someone's challenging the Dean!"
"Seriously?"
"Where?!"
A wave of excited voices erupted from the dormitory.
Heads popped out from behind the second-floor railings, eyes wide with anticipation as they looked down at the playground.
Lin Jin grinned at the commotion. "Watch closely, everyone. Today, I'll show you how Spirit masters fight."
Peng Ming, now facing Lin Jin, reined in his aura and narrowed his eyes.
"Don't look down on me."
Hooom—
With a flash of light, Peng Ming summoned his martial spirit.
A staff appeared in his right hand—roughly seven feet long, seemingly carved from white jade, etched with intricate cloud-like patterns that seemed to flow along its surface.
Four Spirit rings materialized around him: two yellow, two purple.
"Peng Ming—Cloud-Pattern Staff! Level 44 Battle Spirit Sect! Dean Lin, please give me your guidance!"
Lin Jin nodded, then glanced up at the students in the dormitory.
"Take note, everyone. This is how a formal duel begins. The opponent introduces their martial spirit and cultivation level. It's part of the etiquette."
"But remember this—if it's a battle to the death, anyone who wastes time doing that is a fool. Got it?"
"I see!"
The students leaning over the dormitory railings responded in unison, excitement bubbling in their voices.
Lin Jin smiled faintly at their reaction.
In his hand, a gleaming ruler materialized—his martial spirit was evident.
He held it with effortless grace, his long robes fluttering slightly in the breeze, his presence serene and dignified—like an immortal who had descended to the mortal world.
"Lin Jin—Martial Spirit: Ruler. Level 47 Battle Spirit Sect. Please offer your guidance."
"Level 47?"
Peng Ming froze for a second, his voice almost a whisper. The number echoed in his mind.
"Yes. Forty-seven, my dear Viscount," Lin Jin replied with a calm smile.
Four Spirit rings emerged at his feet— four white.
Peng Ming's eyes widened in disbelief.
White?This kid's... strange!
Peng Ming was experienced. He'd seen all sorts of martial spirits and battle techniques, but this one felt different.
Not just the strange Spirit ring color, but the cultivation speed.
Lin Jin looked so young. How did he reach this level so quickly?
"Well? Aren't you going to make the first move, Viscount?" Lin Jin asked casually, seeing the hesitation in Peng Ming's eyes.
"If you don't, you might not get the chance later. And besides..."
He grinned. "If you don't attack, how am I supposed to show off?"
Everyone knows—the first move usually fails. The drama demands it.
Wham! Without warning, Peng Ming struck!
His cloud-patterned staff, gleaming like white jade, shot forward like a dragon bursting from the water, aiming straight for Lin Jin's chest.
His form, surprisingly agile despite his slightly stocky build, twisted through the air like a... flying toad?
Lin Jin didn't flinch. Calmly, he raised the ruler.
Though his motion looked slow, the ruler struck the side of the staff with perfect timing, redirecting the path of the attack.
"When facing a long weapon, never clash head-on," Lin Jin said coolly.
The key is to redirect the strike and then close the distance.
As he spoke, he slipped past the redirected blow and moved in, flicking the ruler toward Peng Ming's cheek with practiced precision.
But Peng Ming reacted instantly.
His expression stayed calm as he pulled his staff back and spun around, launching a powerful kick at Lin Jin's wrist.
Lin Jin withdrew just in time, avoiding the strike.
But Peng Ming wasn't finished.
With a swift motion, he brought his staff down again in a crushing vertical blow.
At that moment, his third Spirit ring lit up with a brilliant glow.
"Third Spirit Skill — Cold Cloud!"
An overwhelming pressure burst forth as the cloud-patterned staff split into dozens of afterimages—dense layers of jade-white strikes cascading down like a storm of clouds.
Lin Jin's eyes flashed.
"Not bad... Cold Cloud indeed!"
He laughed, his second Spirit ring lighting up in response.
"Second Spirit Skill — Vertical Split!"
His ruler surged with radiant white energy as he raised it high and brought it down.
A gleaming arc of Spirit power erupted forth like a shooting star, colliding head-on with the barrage of clouded strikes.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the skies over Yon Village.
In the academy's training hall, several people startled awake.
"What was that?!" Shen Xin exclaimed, leaping up.
"Spirit power... someone's fighting!" Dai Mubai said, his white eyes gleaming with intensity.
He sprang to the window, followed by the others.
When they looked out, two figures were already locked in battle on the playground.
Peng Fan froze at the sight. He muttered in disbelief, "Dad...?"
"Huh?" Dai Mubai glanced at him, surprised.
"That's your father out there? Fighting the Dean?"
"Yeah..." Peng Fan nodded slowly, his eyes locked on the clash.
Waves of energy rippled through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
"He came for me..." Peng Fan's fists clenched as he shouted, voice full of tension:
"Dean! You have to win!"
Peng Ming's ears twitched at the sound of his son's voice.
In the middle of the battle, his face twisted with fury.
"You little brat! Just wait till I'm done here!"