Chapter 105: One Minute

"Once you're done with your match, wait for me here. I'll come find you."

After greeting Chen Mobai, Shi Jingjing spoke to Cao Yaling, who nodded slightly and stood quietly in place.

"She doesn't talk much. If you're eliminated early, could you wait for her to finish?" Shi Jingjing suddenly returned to Chen Mobai's side after leaving, pointing at Cao Yaling and asking for a favor.

"Sure." Chen Mobai readily agreed. As the top student from Immortal Gate Fifth High School in this year's college entrance exam, he naturally considered himself their leader. It was his duty to look after his teammates.

Soon, students began arriving at the peak in small groups. Chen Mobai spotted his opponent. The betting website provided by Shi Jingjing had photos and profiles of everyone, which he quickly scanned and memorized.

"Very strong vital energy." Cao Yaling, who had quietly walked over to Chen Mobai's side, also noticed Qiao Xingwen. She pushed up her glasses, and her eyes behind the lenses sparkled, as if discerning something, and she offered a subtle hint.

"Don't you usually not talk much?" Chen Mobai asked.

"If she's around, I don't," Cao Yaling replied. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai surveyed the delicate and quiet female student with the round glasses, feeling utterly perplexed.

"The meridians in three fingers of his right hand are 30% wider than the other two; he might have practiced a spell similar to 'Spirit Pellet'," Cao Yaling continued speaking to herself, raising her right hand and extending her middle three slender, fair fingers, gesturing towards Chen Mobai.

"Thank you," Chen Mobai managed to utter after a long pause to the perplexing female student. Although he felt he could easily win against Qiao Xingwen even without this information, Cao Yaling's intentions were good, so he could only express his gratitude.

"My Spirit Eyes cultivation isn't perfected yet; I can only see this much."

"That's already quite enough. It seems Shi Jingjing also cultivates these Spirit Eyes."

"Yes, my master is her father, and our spiritual root attributes are quite similar, so we practice the same cultivation method."

"Then between the two of you, whose Spirit Eyes are stronger?" Cao Yaling hesitated, then shook her head, not directly answering. However, Chen Mobai already knew the answer: she was likely stronger. It turned out she was the most formidable female student in this year's class from Immortal Gate Fifth High School.

"Now, the two students whose names I call, please come up to the stage." Just then, a cultivator in the uniform of a Danzhu Academy teacher flew onto the newly prepared stone arena in the center of the peak. Holding today's match schedule, he spoke softly, yet his voice clearly reached all the students and spectators on the peak.

"I'm going up. I'll be right back, so just wait here." Chen Mobai rose from the long stone bench. The first match on this arena was between him and Qiao Xingwen. Originally, he had planned to finish quickly because he had agreed yesterday with Chan Si and Shen Juanxiu to explore Danzhu Academy and then treat them to lunch as a thank you. However, since he had promised Shi Jingjing to look after Cao Yaling, he, as the leader of Immortal Gate Fifth High School, would not break his word. Mainly, Chan Si and Shen Juanxiu hadn't arrived yet. What a pity, they wouldn't get to see his valiant quick victory over his opponent.

"Fifth High School, Chen Mobai."

"Third High School, Qiao Xingwen." At that moment, the Danzhu Academy teacher on the stage called out the names of the two participants for the first match. Both immediately used their movement techniques to land on the stage, exchanging glances.

"Are there any questions about the rules? Only spells are allowed, along with a specified number of talismans of a particular grade." After the referee teacher finished speaking, both Chen Mobai and Qiao Xingwen nodded slightly. Qiao Xingwen had a long face and a buzz cut; combined with his upright posture and sharp demeanor, he looked very formidable.

"Level 7 Qi Cultivation versus Level 6 Qi Cultivation—a complete rout."

"More like a benefit match, this first one is just to warm up the crowd."

"On this arena today, Qiao Xingwen's strength is probably among the top five."

"Glad I wasn't drawn; it's a walkover for Qiao Xingwen." As the idle chatter reached his ears, Qiao Xingwen, despite having been tempered in the military, couldn't help but smile faintly. Today, he was the protagonist. He extended his right thumb and pinky finger, intending to follow his pre-designed strategy: first, use his two weakest Spirit Pellets to test his opponent's talisman effectiveness. Once the opponent's hidden cards were fully revealed, he would use his three strongest Spirit Pellets for a decisive blow. This first-round opponent, a mere Level 6 Qi Cultivator, probably wouldn't even force him to use a talisman. Full of confidence, Qiao Xingwen made his move.

One minute later.

Everyone in the audience gaped, their faces filled with disbelief. Is that all? And he was trained in the military? Chen Mobai looked at his unconscious opponent, shaking his head. He then turned to the referee teacher, who had just stepped off the stage and hadn't even had time to sit down for a drink of water.

"Alright, first round, Chen Mobai wins." The teacher flew onto the stage, confirmed that Qiao Xingwen was indeed incapacitated and unconscious, and promptly announced the result. After bowing to the teacher, Chen Mobai descended from the stage, ignoring the astonished gazes of the hundreds of people around him, and leisurely walked back to the long stone bench and sat down. Cao Yaling was indeed well-behaved, standing exactly where he told her, not moving an inch. Of course, it was mainly because he was too fast.

"You…" Cao Yaling's cherry lips parted slightly; she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

"If I remember correctly, your match is the third one, and it's coming up soon. Have you observed your opponent? What insights did your Spirit Eyes reveal? I'm quite skilled in combat, so tell me, and I can help you devise a strategy." Chen Mobai felt that as a leader, he not only needed to look after his schoolmates off the field but also leverage his advanced experience from the Tianhe Realm in combat techniques and practical battles.

"No need. He's just an ordinary Level 6 Qi Cultivator. My winning probability is 98%." Cao Yaling adjusted her glasses, glanced at a boy with a bowl cut nearby, and spoke calmly yet with absolute confidence.

"Alright then. I hope our school can have everyone advance in the first round; that would honor our alma mater's cultivation." Chen Mobai's words made Cao Yaling roll her eyes. This guy, so young, yet he speaks with such official formality—who did he learn that from?

Half an hour later, Shi Jingjing arrived.

"Why are you so slow? I have other things to do this morning." Chen Mobai was somewhat displeased with Shi Jingjing's speed.

"It's easy for you to be eliminated quickly. My opponent somehow got a set of Turtle Shield Talismans and defended against me for ten whole minutes! It almost forced me to use a first-grade top-tier talisman." Chen Mobai didn't bother to retort, as Chan Si and Senior Sister Fu had just messaged him that they were arriving soon.

"I'm returning her to you as promised. I have to go now."