When the crowd heard Xiang Ning’s words, every Qiling Academy student passionately stood up, desperately wishing they were standing in his place. 

“Wow, that was awesome! This is the pillar of Qiling Academy, unlike some people who only talk about theory and wouldn’t shut up!” 

“Yeah, Xiang Ning would never fear those Aurig students. I don’t care if they’re top ten in the world, they’d better respect us once they’re on our turf!” 

The special trainees were all red-faced, with Feng Yi leading the group, wishing they could disappear. However, if they left now, that would only prove that they were weak cowards; if they didn’t, they would still have to face the endless mockery. But who did they have to blame but themselves? They had picked the wrong side. 

Some people started privately blaming Feng Yi. She should have shut up if she wasn’t strong enough, why did she have to provoke Xiang Ning? Now everyone had been dragged into it. 

Coincidentally, the students were also livestreaming the event, which had found its way into the classrooms of the world’s major academies. 

The livestream had started before Xiang Ning’s arrival. This was Aurig’s international exchange students after all, other schools were interested in learning from them through the livestream. 

Who would have expected Qiling Academy to lose this badly? Or the Aurig students to act so arrogantly? The hot-blooded Qiling Academy students almost fought the Aurig students themselves. 

Anger had been simmering in the crowd long before Xiang Ning’s arrival. 

Even the Third School and Hanwu Academy students were uncomfortable watching the livestream, despite being arch-nemeses. There was a saying: when the rabbit dies, the fox mourns. Although in this era, the universal human enemy was the beasts, conflicts around the world never stopped. If another academy from Marsh City had come to demolish Qiling Academy, they would have happily egged them on, but it was frustrating to watch a group of foreign students acting so condescending here. Thus everyone was excited to see Xiang Ning in action. His bold challenges had always been memorable, and admittedly, he had become a celebrity among the younger generation. 

That was why business had been brisk at the hospitals of Marsh City, most of their patients were the same: students of Xiang Ning’s age who used to improve their cultivation using resources were now challenging people to fights for no reason. 

“Tsk, tsk. With Xiang Ning’s hot head, I’m sure he’ll hit first and ask questions later.” 

“I hope to be as good as him one day. But I’m still wondering how weak the rest of the special trainees are... they’re chickens!” 

“I have a friend from Qiling Academy who told me it’s the students that’re cowardly and too afraid to step up.” 

“Hmph, the students are useless. If it was me, I’d beat them up. I don’t care if I lose. How dare they disrespect us! Why should I kiss their boots? Bloody Westerners, too! I can’t take it anymore!” 

In an instant, the livestream chat exploded, either praising Xiang Ning’s boldness or calling the special trainees weak. 

Within the headmaster’s office, Qi Jiuming was delighted. “Xiang Ning didn’t disappoint me after all, he said it well!” 

Lei Zhongyuan chuckled. “Of course he didn’t. I’m never wrong when it comes to spotting talent!” 

“Right, right. However, I still think he shouldn’t be in research with his heart and talent. It’s such a waste!” 

“Hehehe, I already reported it to the higher-ups.” Lei Zhongyuan rubbed his bald head with a creepy sneer, completely different from his usual cool demeanor as an instructor and tier six master. 

......

In the arena, regardless of the sentiment online, Nathan was laughing like a madman. “Alright, power is king. Let’s see if you have any right to speak! Aiken, you go!” Nathan felt they were being challenged. Such lowly creatures. They must not understand who Aurig students were! They were treated as esteemed guests when they were at North Star City!

“Nathan, there’s no need to be angry. Such lowly creatures do not understand what ‘class’ is. No need to be angry over country bumpkins,” Natalia calmly said. There was no emotion in her voice, even her gaze at Xiang Ning was calm. 

Nathan began calming down but what Xiang Ning said next made him and the rest of his entourage explode. 

“Before we fight, I would like to say something: anyone below tier three doesn’t need to step forward.” Xiang Ning didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he said. He was now a tier three martial artist, so fighting a tier two martial artist would just be bullying. After his previous experience, he didn’t want to be called shameless or a bully. 

“You bastard!” the blond-haired, blue-eyed teenager named Aiken roared. He was thin and had the look of a typical Westerner, wielding two cold, glinting daggers as his weapons. Also known as the ‘Golden Praying Mantis’ by his fellow students, he was extraordinarily fast and could fight a tier three opponent. 

“I’m Aiken, a tier two, seven-star martial artist of the Aurig Academy, and I’m challenging you to a duel!” 

“Tsk, don’t blame me for your injuries then!” Xiang Ning had to nail down the conditions first, or they would come demanding compensation later. 

Fury Points +322

Fury Points +311

“Hahaha, Xiang Ning’s scared they’ll come knocking on his door later.” 

“That’s quite arrogant, but it’s just so therapeutic to hear him say it!” 

“But based on what Xiang Ning said, does it really mean he’s already a tier three martial artist?” 

“That’s impossible... though when he was at Hanwu Academy, he struck a tier three teacher, so maybe he’s as strong as one.” 

Aiken’s expression darkened. Before Xiang Ning could say anything else, Aiken had already charged at him at an astonishing speed. It was so quick the crowd couldn’t react. 

Xiang Ning stood in the same spot as if he, too, had no time to react. Nathan, who saw his reaction, coldly huffed, “He’s terrible, how dare he speak so boldly? I’ll have to talk to the people in North Star City if we go there again and ask them if all Chinese people are all bark and no bite!” 

He had just spoken when Aiken’s dagger, which was five centimeters away from Xiang Ning’s eye, suddenly stopped in mid-air. Xiang Ning held Aiken’s wrist with an iron grip. 

“You’re so slow! Are you kidding me?” Xiang Ning teasingly grinned, then his arm exploded with strength as he twisted it to the left. There was a crack and Aiken’s eyes widened in pain as his right arm slashed down at Xiang Ning. 

Xiang Ning thought it was unnecessary; why couldn’t Aiken just admit defeat? Why did he struggle? Did he think he could hurt Xiang Ning back like the main character in a drama? He didn’t even have to activate Keen Observation and had already completely destroyed Aiken. 

Before Aiken’s other dagger touched him, he kicked hard. Aiken’s thin frame was thrown back into the air, then slammed into the ground. He spat a mouthful of blood, one of his wrists bent at an eerie angle. 

“Yikes! That was violent!” 

“Feels good to see them lose!” 

Xiang Ning shrugged. “As I said, don’t blame me.” 

Fury Points +666