In a forest.

Boom!

A blast of resonant power ripped a tree from its roots, leaving a gash of dark soil behind. The earthy smell of wet soil filled the air.

On a gentle slope, Lu Qing'er and Yin Yue watched tensely as two people tore at each other like wild beasts.

The dual resonance user, Li Luo, was the only one in the One Star Hall of the Astral Sage College who could stop him. And yet the two girls were watching him have his ass handed to him, and struggling with their own dismay.

Even so, Qin Zhulu was holding on through sheer stubbornness, as he always did.

Qin Zhulu's opponent was darting around him, shrouded in gray smoke. He had ugly, coarse features, a jutting lower jaw and a bulbous forehead. He carried a golden staff, which he swung with great skill.

His eyes were wild with exhilaration, bordering on madness.

"If I'm not wrong, that is the Sacred Summit Sage College's Sun Dasheng," Lu Qing'er said in a low tone.

Yin Yue stared at her, aghast. That was a familiar name indeed. He was one of the three top favorites.

"Just our luck," she said with a short, barking laugh. They had clashed soon after landing. Sun Dasheng had come at them, headstrong and lusting for battle—the exact same personality as Qin Zhulu himself. The two had met in an animal frenzy that needed no words to start the conflict.

What are you staring at?

I'm staring at you?

Wanna fight?

Wanna fight.

Fight.

On his part, Qin Zhulu didn't care if his opponent was in the top three or rank one in the whole world. He jumped at every invitation to fight.

They hadn't even bothered to exchange names or anything.

Lu Qing'er and Yin Yue sat aside warily, watching Sun Dasheng's own squadmates, who were matching them in terms of caution. It wasn't just one squad that they had either...

But they were happy for Sun Dasheng to finish up and then leave the girls to him as well.

It was pretty obvious that the two girls would be calling for backup, but they were not afraid.

That was understandable. With a powerhouse like Sun Dasheng in their ranks, they were pretty much invincible unless the Enlightened Sage College showed up.

"I hope Li Luo gets here quickly," Lu Qing'er said in a low voice. "With him around, that monkey will be a lot more tame."

Yin Yue was silent, but her worry was obvious in her eyes. Yes, Li Luo was strong, but this was one of the top three they were talking about.

Was he really strong enough to beat Sun Dasheng?

Some distance away, two Sacred Summit Sage College students had their own whispered discussion.

"Leader Lu, are we really not going to take those two out first?"

The small group turned to a lanky youth with a surly expression. "As if you don't know what the Boss wants. He always fights first, then thinks later. Still, that guy's putting up a pretty good fight. It's not just anyone who can get the Boss' interest."

"Better not jump in right now, or he's gonna scold us like last time."

The others nodded reluctantly. Their boss had a crazy temper that they were painfully aware of.

The world was a dull and colorless place, save for fighting.

Boom!

The two fighters clashed savagely again, heavy spear against golden staff. The metallic clashing rings built up pace in an increasing rhythm.

Neither would back down.

But it was the golden staff that had the advantage in this standoff, snapping out with punishing strikes that forced Qin Zhulu backwards step by step. The hands gripping the heavy spear began to bleed.

Qin Zhulu showed no fear at all. On the contrary, his eyes only got more and more wild, the golden tiger stripes on his skin glowing brighter.

Each time he attacked, he drew on the strength of the tiger that was his avatar.

He loved this battle—it sated a primal need within him that no one else had sated ever before. It was even more satisfying than fighting Li Luo. That kid was too wily to go up against him in a mad and reckless brute-strength fight.

Even though he already knew he wasn't the biggest, Qin Zhulu had privately always thought of himself as the baddest guy around. But now he realized that there was someone even crazier!

Whoo!

Eyes turning red, Qin Zhulu continued to thrust and parry with his spear, ignoring the blood that flowed liberally from his palms down the shaft of his spear. His resonant power was unleashed at full blast, unfettered and barely controlled. The tiger avatar hovered behind him.

"Tiger Demon!"

A maniacal laugh boomed from Qin Zhulu as he summoned his avatar into his spear, then he sent it cracking forth. The ground gave way under his front foot.

Sun Dasheng's laughter boomed out in response, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Not bad! Not bad! What an attack!"

He stepped forward too, creating a crater under his foot.

Slate-gray power boomed out in the figure of an ape that leaped to meet Qin Zhulu's Snarling Golden Demon Tiger resonance.

Upper eighth-grade, Stone Ape resonance!

“"Monkey King's Three Strikes: Strike That Moves Mountains!"

The stone ape swung out with the projection of a mountain at the tip of his staff.

Boom!

Tiger against monkey—the impact of the collision leveled the forest around them cleanly.

Qin Zhulu was part of the leveling—he was sent flying.

Kicking fallen trees off him, he got to his feet, swearing. His hands had never left his weapon, nor had the look of joy left his eyes. "Again!"

Sun Dasheng stared at Qin Zhulu's bleeding hands. "If we go again, you're not going to last."

He was lightly injured, but Qin Zhulu was much worse off.

"Your mouth only lasts." Qin Zhulu spat a mouthful of blood.

Sun Dasheng roared with laughter. "That made no sense, but I understood you, friend. Alright, I have to say, your fighting ability is respectable. You must be the strongest in the Astral Sage College's One Star Hall."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not."

"What?" Sun Dasheng was genuinely surprised. "There's someone stronger? No way." Although he was stronger than Qin Zhulu, the difference between them was not that drastic. If not for him being ahead in cultivation level, he would be having a tough time.

And now Qin Zhulu was saying that there was someone stronger at the Astral Sage College?

That person had to be his match!

But he hadn't heard of anyone that strong at the Astral Sage College...

Sun Dasheng shook his head to clear his thoughts. He hefted his staff. It was time to finish this guy off and get back to the mission.

Slate-gray power bloomed around him again.

Just as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, he sensed a new attack coming at him from a different direction, out of the forest.

Pivoting, he brought his golden staff up, blocking a sword slash made of energy.

Clang!

His jaw tightened slightly. In the attack, he could sense the strength of its user's resonant power. Truly, it was stronger than Qin Zhulu's. It had a curious knack for penetration, and he had almost been pierced through by it.

In the end, he dealt with it by using overwhelming strength.

Sun Dasheng turned towards the direction of the new attack and saw one person speeding over.

A few moments later, the newcomer landed in front of him.

"Hello there, friend. If it's a fight you want, how about I entertain you?" Li Luo said brightly, his eyes carefully studying the injured Qin Zhulu and his opponent.

Sun Dasheng's gaze lingered slightly on Li Luo's face as he frowned.

"You have a pretty face. But can you fight pretty well?"