Chapter 228: Tie

Silence.

The entire arena was silent.

Everyone stood with their mouths agape, utterly dumbfounded.

Shen Biru, who had just declared Wang Ying would surely lose, looked as if she had been slapped, her beautiful dark eyes wide with disbelief.

"She kicked Du Lei flying with one strike? How did she know which was a phantom and which was his true body?"

Du Lei's speed was so fast that even masters of the same level might not be able to distinguish him. Yet, Wang Ying casually kicked him away as easily as kicking a rag sack.

"Not only did she distinguish the phantom, but the speed of her kick must have been much faster than Du Lei's. Otherwise, how could she have injured him if she couldn't even catch up?"

Han Qiong's expression was grave. "It seems Wang Ying's leg injury has not only healed, but she has also learned some incredibly powerful leg techniques and movement skills."

"Indeed!" Shen Biru also came to her senses. It wasn't merely about discerning the opponent's figure; without sufficient martial arts coordination, how could she possibly kick him flying with one blow?

"This..." Wang Chao clutched his hair. He had just called her an idiot, and now she'd kicked Du Lei flying. This wasn't how you played; someone could get seriously hurt!

Elder Hong Hao, standing nearby, also looked as if he had been slapped, nearly in tears. He had come to see Zhang Xuan humiliated and his reputation ruined. How had things turned out this way? Zhang Xuan's fame was soaring, while Lu Xun was the one suffering setbacks?

"Cough, cough, cough!" On the other side of the sparring platform, Lu Xun choked on his saliva, nearly toppling over. Elder Hong Hao was crying, but Lu Xun was crying even harder.

What was going on? This was the Phantom Nine Palace Steps! Du Lei had executed it flawlessly. Although he was still some distance from mastering it, reaching this level in the True Qi realm was already considered exceptionally talented! Such a powerful movement technique, yet he was kicked flying with one blow?

The most crucial thing was that the little girl on the stage now had red-rimmed eyes and was repeatedly apologizing, saying she had kicked too hard…

What do you mean, 'heavy'?!

Could it be that her hesitation just now wasn't because she didn't know how to attack, but because she was trying to figure out how to attack without using too much force? If not using too much force could send someone flying over ten meters, what would happen if she used her full strength? Would she kick them to death on the spot?

The spectators looked as if they had gone mad. On the stage, Du Lei finally struggled to his feet. Seeing the apologetic girl before him, he couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of blood.

"Are you alright? I really didn't mean to... I just learned this martial art and can't control my strength yet; I used too much force..." Wang Ying's eyes were red-rimmed.

"What do you mean, 'too much force'?! Nonsense!" With a roar, Du Lei viciously lunged forward. He was truly enraged. It was bad enough that she kicked him flying, but why apologize? Did she think he was inferior to her, deliberately trying to humiliate him? And constantly emphasizing she used "too much force"—did she think he was too weak? Not even worthy of her full effort?

"Ah?" Wang Ying was surprised. She had sincerely apologized, but the other party had charged at her like a madman. Her face paled in fright. Although her cultivation was higher than Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, and others, she had no practical combat experience and an overly gentle personality. Seeing her opponent lunge, she turned pale with fear. In her panic, she twisted her foot. With a flash, she was already more than ten meters away.

"What?"

"She darted over ten meters in the blink of an eye? What kind of movement technique is that?"

"Too fast! How is that possible?"

First, there was stunned silence, then the surrounding area erupted in an explosion of sound. Everyone had thought Du Lei's Phantom Nine Palace Steps was the most impressive movement technique. They never dreamed that Wang Ying's was even more terrifying. Darting over ten meters in less than half a breath—this could no longer be described as a mere movement technique, but rather as a phantom's speed. Let alone a Meridians realm expert, even a Puncturing Acupoint realm martial artist surely wouldn't be this fast. How did she do it?

"The Wang family definitely doesn't have this kind of movement technique. If they did, it would have been famous long ago..."

"Exactly, if not the Wang family, then who taught her?"

"It must be Teacher Zhang. Wasn't Zheng Yang's amazing spear technique also taught by Teacher Zhang?"

"Such a powerful movement technique, easily passed on? I want to withdraw from my class and become a disciple of Teacher Zhang!"

"You're not the only one; I do too..."

Everyone below the stage had eyes burning with fervor. Spear techniques weren't for everyone and weren't enough to stir such desire. But movement techniques were different; they were the greatest reliance for self-preservation and victory in battle. If they could learn it, even if they encountered danger in the future, their means of survival would increase significantly. Who wouldn't want to learn such a formidable martial art?

"I want you to lose!" Seeing Wang Ying flash over ten meters away, Du Lei was also somewhat dazed. However, at this moment, he was consumed by anger and couldn't care less about anything else. He charged again.

"Ah!" Seeing her opponent's fierce expression and blood still smeared on his mouth, Wang Ying gasped in fright again. Her body swayed, and she fled once more. One chased, and one fled.

"Her personality is indeed too weak. It seems she'll need a lot of practical training in the future." Zhang Xuan shook his head, observing the scene. In this situation, let alone Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, and Yuan Tao (the three male students), even if Zhao Ya had encountered it, she would have kicked Du Lei flying—if not dead, at least unable to stand again. Yet, Wang Ying was being chased all over the arena. Her naive and indecisive personality was what led to this situation. It seemed what she lacked wasn't cultivation or martial arts, but rather experience in combat against an enemy.

"The Heavenly Dao Movement Technique consumes a lot of stamina. It's fine for one or two uses, but not for more!" The Heavenly Dao Movement Technique was extremely fast, covering more than ten meters in a blink of an eye. It seemed very impressive but had its flaws: it consumed an enormous amount of stamina. Wang Ying could escape once or twice like this, but if she tried more, she would surely be caught.

Indeed, before his thought finished, he saw Wang Ying's forehead covered in sweat, breathing heavily, no longer able to run. At this point, she was also cornered by her opponent at the edge of the sparring platform.

Whoosh! Du Lei reached her, grabbing her arm. "I can't win, but I won't let you win either!" After shouting, he jumped off the platform.

"You!" Wang Ying was shocked. She hadn't expected this guy to cheat by trying to pull her off the platform. In her panic, she couldn't think of anything else and kicked again. Du Lei instantly flew out like a kicked ball, flipping several times in the air before falling more than thirty meters away.

Thud! However, after kicking her opponent, she also ran out of strength and fell directly from the sparring platform, landing on the ground. Both of them had fallen off the platform and landed almost simultaneously. There was only one outcome: a draw!

Du Lei knew he couldn't win against Wang Ying, so he deliberately acted fierce and pulled her down. However, Wang Ying's panicked counterattack at the end was also very powerful, sending him flying more than thirty meters. Even if he wasn't dead, he would probably be bedridden for two months.

"This, this is cheating!"

"Shameless!"

"He's clearly no match, yet he dragged her off the platform. He deserved to be kicked flying!"

"How can he be so shameless? He's even more shameless than Yuan Tao!"

A clamor erupted below the stage. Everyone saw that Du Lei was cheating. It was a proper match, and he was clearly inferior in movement and leg techniques. He took advantage of her being a girl, using brute force to pull her down, which was utterly disgraceful. As for being kicked flying, he deserved it; no one felt any sympathy. Hearing the scolding, Yuan Tao looked speechless. Why was he getting flak when he hadn't said anything? Who was shameless? You're the shameless ones, your whole family is shameless!

"Simultaneous landing, it's a draw!" Hearing the arguments, the referee teacher felt a headache coming on. However, he nodded and announced the result. Although Du Lei was suspected of cheating, they had indeed fallen at the same time, so it could only be considered a draw.

"Teacher..." Hearing this result, Wang Ying pouted her lips and came to Zhang Xuan's side, her face full of apologies. Teacher Zhang had trusted her so much, not only helping to cure her leg injury but also teaching her leg techniques and movement skills. Yet, she hadn't won, which made her feel very ashamed.

"It's alright. Just be more careful next time. Don't take it to heart." Zhang Xuan nodded. "I was negligent. What you lack is not cultivation or techniques, but your temperament."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Seeing that he didn't blame her but instead comforted her, Wang Ying felt even more embarrassed. However, the result had been decided and could not be changed, so she walked gloomily to the back of the crowd. If Du Lei had seen her expression, he would probably have gone crazy. "I'm lying on the ground unable to move from your kick, and you're still gloomy? I'm the one who should be gloomy, alright?"

"Teacher Zhang has won two matches and drawn one; he's already in an unbeatable position."

"Indeed, even if Teacher Lu wins both remaining matches, it will only be a draw."

"We'll see how the next matches go. I don't think Teacher Lu has a high chance of winning anymore."

"I agree. I originally thought Teacher Lu would completely dominate, but unexpectedly, Teacher Zhang dominated instead. What happened?"

Although they felt Du Lei's actions were utterly shameless, everyone quickly accepted the fact. The rules were as they were; even if it seemed unfair, there was nothing to be done. With both sides drawing, a new problem arose. Out of five student matches, Teacher Zhang had already won two and drawn one. All the pressure was now on Teacher Lu. If his remaining students lost again, the last match wouldn't even need to be played. But if all of them won, their competition would be a draw, and neither side would lose face, which would be the best outcome. Thinking of this, everyone's gaze focused on Lu Xun, wondering whom he would send out next and how they would fight.

"I can't lose again! I initiated this teacher assessment, hoping to regain my prestige, but if I lose again, I won't be able to face anyone!" Lu Xun gritted his teeth. Others could understand, and he naturally did too. He couldn't afford to lose any more matches now. If he continued to lose, let alone establishing his authority, he wouldn't be able to hold his head high in the entire academy again.

"Zhu Hong once lost to Zhao Ya. Even if his cultivation has improved, he might still have a psychological shadow. Sending him out won't guarantee a 100% win. Bai Chao, go! He specializes in fist techniques; dealing with Liu Yang shouldn't be a problem."

In an instant, Lu Xun made his decision and waved his hand. Bai Chao walked out from the crowd and strode onto the sparring platform.

"It's my turn!" Seeing him step out, Liu Yang smiled faintly and, without waiting for Zhang Xuan's instruction, also walked in.