6 pm.

　　Fang Ping and the others had not yet seen Huang Jing when Bai Ruoxi hurried over.

　　The moment they reached the hotel, Bai Ruoxi had initiated a small meeting.

　　“The dean is already here, but he went to the governor’s house and will probably go to the arena with the governor.

　　“The dean didn’t say what will happen if you win or lose, but the outcome of the battle is in your own hands.

　　“Martial artists only fight to win!

　　“We’re giving you people a chance now to duel with others of the same ranks. In the future, when you go to the Catacombs, who’s going to give you a fair chance?

　　“So, everybody should appreciate competitions like these that are arranged like friendly matches.”

　　Everybody nodded their heads. Fang Ping nodded too, after which he asked, “Teacher, did you bring the medicinal pills the school gave?”

　　Bai Ruoxi dissolved into laughter. “No wonder Teacher Tang said…”

　　“Teacher, no offense to Teacher Tang, but his field of vision is really too narrow.

　　“Teacher, is Teacher Tang married?”

　　“Ah?”

　　“He can’t be unmarried, can he?” Fang Ping said with surprise. “If it were so, his bad temper is understandable.”

　　“Spouting nonsense!”

　　Bai Ruoxi laughed. “Teacher Tang’s daughter is almost ready to study in university…”

　　“He has a daughter?”

　　Shock showed on Fang Ping’s face. “He completely doesn’t seem like someone who has fatherly love…”

　　“Alright, cut the crap. If Teacher Tang finds out about it, don’t be surprised if he holds you liable.”

　　Bia Ruoxi laughed once again. Among the instructors, Bai Ruoxi’s personality was considerably warm and gentle. She would not get angry over a few jokes.

　　After joking around for a while, Bai Ruoxi got back to the main point. “I’ve brought the medicinal pills for you all. However, Fang Ping, I actually wanted to remind you not to rely on your physical abilities and overuse medicinal pills and elixirs.

　　“If you keep up this way, you’ll very easily become dependent on them and not be able to grasp the nuances of self-powered combat methods and becoming unable to have a deeper understanding.

　　“It’s not good for your Vitality usage and grooming of combat knowledge either.

　　“The day you don’t have any medicinal pills at all, how are you going to face dangers then?

　　“You should improve your self-powering ability and learn to use the smallest price to gain the best results in battle. This is what you should be learning.

　　“Your Vitality has been higher than the average person from the start. Under these circumstances, if you can’t defeat people who are the same rank as you, it means your strength is not as great as you imagine.

　　“Some martial artists can go one against ten martial artists of the same rank. How do they achieve this when they’re in a situation where their Vitality can’t be replenished quickly?

　　“All these are things you should consider.”

　　Fang Ping nodded earnestly. This made a lot of sense and was worth some deeper thought.

　　‘Still… If I don’t waste a little, the school won’t let me have it for cheap either.’

　　After urging everybody, knowing Chen Yunxi was about to go onstage, Bai Ruoxi smiled lightly and said, “Fight properly. Show your strength.”

　　“Yes, I’ll definitely perform well!”

　　Chen Yunxi nodded her head seriously, secretly feeling indignant. ‘If I don’t perform well, I may really become a logistic member.’

　　…

　　Fang Ping did not take advantage of the others with the medicinal pills the school gave.

　　They were given 1 Rank-2 Vitality Pill and 4 Rank-1 Vitality Pills.

　　His Wealth points increased by a certain amount, reaching 7 million. The past few days, he had honed to Peak Rank-2. He did not use too many.

　　“It’s enough to replenish 7000cal of Vitality already…”

　　Fang Ping did some mental calculations. 7 million Wealth points were enough to face a few rounds of the competition to spare, so he did not have to worry about him not having enough Vitality.

　　Most importantly, he would avoid using the pills in the arena if he could.

　　This kind of competition with a large audience was actually very troublesome, especially with powerhouses watching too. Fang Ping had to use medicinal pills to show that he relied on them to replenish his Vitality.

　　This usage of medicinal pills was mostly wasted.

　　No matter how rich he got, he was not this wasteful.

　　,,,

　　At 6.30 pm, everybody left the hotel, heading to Nanjiang Martial Arts University not too far away.

　　Nanjiang Martial Arts University.

　　Wang Jinyang and a few school instructors stood at the gates. Upon seeing Fang Ping and the others, Wang Jinyang inclined his head before smiling at Bai Ruoxi. “Teacher Bai, I didn’t think you’d be the one coming.”

　　“Our dean has come too. He should be arriving with Governor-General Zhang.”

　　Bai Ruoxi smiled, exchanging a few polite words and treating the few NMAU instructors standing at the side normally.

　　The instructors from NMAU currently seemed to be led by Wang Jinyang.

　　Among the NMAU instructors, Rank-3 was the starting step, Rank-4 were the mainstays, Rank-5 were extremely few, and Rank-6 were the school leaders.

　　Wang Jinyang’s strength, even among the instructors, was extraordinary.

　　Adding his status as the president of the Martial Arts Society, the societal status of the few instructors who had followed along was no match for Wang Jinyang’s.

　　Fang Ping felt his eyes sting. This was life!

　　He, on the other hand, got picked on by lions every day. When a day came when those lions would be like these instructors, bowing their heads in front of him, that would be a big deal in his life.

　　Wang Jinyang exchanged a few pleasantries with Bai Ruoxi and talked as he walked. “The 5 NMAU students this time around are leading in strength in NMAU.

　　“Fang Ping, you guys shouldn’t be careless.

　　“What I want to see is an evenly-matched battle, not devastation. What I’m talking about is NMAU devastating you guys.”

　　“That won’t happen.”

　　“I hope so.”

　　Wang Jinyang did not say too much and brought them straight to the Martial Arts Society.

　　NMAU was not as big as MCMAU. Their Martial Arts Society was not as luxurious as MCMAU’s either, which took up several hundred mu.

　　However, NMAU’s Martial Arts Society was not small either.

　　The tournament this time was not indoors. It was outdoors.

　　The grass plains in front of the Martial Arts Society’s building had a battle stage built there currently, but no seats were arranged surrounding it.

　　According to Wang Jinyang, when martial artists went onstage to battle, it was disgraceful for others to sit down to watch!

　　If they could not even stand to watch the battle, they should just not become martial artists.

　　Whoever complained could go to hell.

　　Therefore, when Fang Ping and the others arrived, they saw thousands of students standing on the plains, all crowded like ants in an imposing manner.

　　Seeing Fang Ping and the rest, a flurry of activity started among the NMAU students.

　　Quite a few people were pointing…

　　Before they could finish discussing, Wang Jinyang suddenly yelled, “Everybody shut up!

　　“MCMAU’s new students have challenged 5 of my NMAU’s junior-year and senior-year Peak Rank-2 martial artists today. It has been an unfair competition from the start!

　　“If NMAU loses this time, all martial artists’ credits exchange for medicinal pills and elixirs will increase by 5%!

　　“All aspiring martial artists who remain unable to enter the martial artist real by the time sophomore year comes to an end will be expelled!

　　“Nanjiang Martial Arts University is a martial arts university. It’s not a place for people to fool around!

　　“In past years, there were actually students who graduated NMAU as aspiring martial artists—this is NMAU’s shame, not a show of NMAU’s leniency!”

　　“…”

　　The crowd suddenly became noisier. Someone said angrily, “We’re not the ones going onstage. What does losing have to do with us…”

　　Just as he finished speaking, Wang Jinyang’s gaze suddenly swept toward him!

　　“You, come out of the line!”

　　Everybody looked at the student who had spoken just now.

　　The expression on that person’s face changed, and he only slowly walked out after a moment. He acted brave as he said, “President Wang, is what I said wrong?”

　　“You can leave NMAU already!”

　　“Leave… NMAU?”

　　“Yes. You’re expelled!”

　　Fang Ping and the others were all stunned. What was this situation?

　　The student who had just exited the line was also rooted in shock. Then he retorted angrily, “Wang Jinyang, what right do you have to expel me!”

　　Wang Jinyang did not answer, however. He swept a glance at everybody else and said coldly, “You are a member of NMAU, yet you don’t feel any sort of collective honor. You always act like everything is none of your business, have you no shame?

　　“If there are benefits that aren’t given to you, you complain that the school isn’t fair.

　　“Has anyone ever thought on what basis should you be given them?

　　“Because you got into NMAU?

　　“Because you people don’t think ahead or want to improve, thinking that the day will naturally come when you can become martial artists and bask in its glory?

　　“What is a martial artist!

　　“Being a martial artists isn’t a pass for you people to get special treatment! Martial artists are a group of brave warriors fighting at the edge of death!

　　“At NMAU, I don’t see any of this!”

　　As his words fell, the people bordering the outside suddenly scattered, and a few powerhouses with majestic auras stepped forward.

　　The one leading the group was a white-haired old man. The old man did not say anything, but a middle-aged muscular man on his right called out, “Wang Jinyang is right.

　　“What does losing have to do with you?

　　“Then if one day, the Sino Nation loses in war and many powerhouses have been felled, when you guys are enslaved, will you say something to that end too?

　　“It’s all the powerhouses’ fault. Why do we have to bear all of this!

　　“NMAU, or Nanjiang, doesn’t need martial artists like this!

　　“If you’re unsatisfied, you can go on stage. If you feel the people onstage can’t represent you, go up and have a battle yourself!”

　　All noise ceased because everybody had identified who the person speaking was.

　　Nanjiang’s governor—Zhang Dingnan!

　　Whether Zhang Dingnan had this name from the start or if he changed it later, nobody knew.

　　All everybody knew was that ever since Zhang Dingnan broke through the Grandmaster realm, he started interfering in various matters, including martial arts university matters, and held them to self-sacrificing standards.

　　Once these words left his mouth, it clearly implied that everyone had no choice but to take Wang Jinyang’s previous words seriously.

　　Even the NMAU vice-chancellor, the old man, did not say anything either.

　　The others did not speak. Wang Jinyang bowed slightly to the Grandmasters before looking at Fang Ping and the rest and saying, “We’ve made you watch something embarrassing.”

　　Bai Ruoxi smiled wryly. “It’s alright. Everything that happens at NMAU is also a deep inspiration to us.”

　　“Then let’s not waste any more time.”

　　Saying this, Wang Jinyang looked at a line of people standing below the battle stage. He shouted, “Today, you’re all representing NMAU and Nanjiang!

　　“You’re all Peak Rank-2 martial artists whereas all your opponents have only entered Rank-2 not long ago!

　　“If you win, it’s not worth celebrating.

　　“If you lose, that means NMAU’s teaching methods are wrong. The school isn’t a gentle village!

　　“If you lose today, I’ll suggest to the school to eliminate ninety percent of the students and gather their resources to groom a batch of elites who are daring and capable of battle!”

　　These words once again caused a wave of muttered discussions.

　　Wang Jinyang did not care about them, looking at Fang Ping and the others and saying, “It’s not a public competition. The order of battle is up to you. The winner stays behind and the loser exits the arena!

　　“Whoever is left on the stage is the winner!”

　　Fang Ping raised his eyebrows slightly. This was wildly arbitrary.

　　On the other side, the Grandmaster powerhouses did not say anything. They walked to the side of the battle stage and stood there to watch, no rostrum or seats prepared for them.

　　The competition arena was very simple and could not even compare to underground fights.

　　However, three Grandmaster powerhouses had been invited to watch a simple competition like this.

　　Wang Jinyang immediately took up the role of referee and once again opened his mouth. “As NMAU is the host, NMAU will present someone first!”

　　Beneath the battle stage, a few youngsters exchanged glances. Very quickly, a martial artist holding a long spear walked up to the battle stage.

　　“Nanjiang Martial Arts Unviersity, School of Weaponry, junior-year student Chen Pengfei! Of the accumulated mission points, I’m ranked third among NMAU’s Rank-2 students!”

　　Fang Ping revealed some doubt. Bai Ruoxi explained quietly, “NMAU doesn’t have many missions. The number of missions done also implies the number of times they’ve entered a fight and the strength of their combat abilities.

　　“When NMAU completes a mission, they’re given points. Ranked third among Rank-2 means he has gone on missions many times among the Rank-2 martial artists and has had plenty of experience dueling martial artists…”

　　Fang Ping nodded, showing his understanding.

　　NMAU’s martial artists clearly understood this better. Seeing Chen Pengfei be the first to go onstage, they felt satisfied that he could sufficiently represent NMAU’s Peak Rank-2 standard.

　　He glanced at Fu Changding and the others. Fu Changding was eager to try and said, “I’ll do it. I use a spear too…”

　　However, Fang Ping ignored him, looking at Zhao Lei as he said, “You go!”

　　“Me?”

　　“The first battle has to be fought beautifully. In the previous tournament, you blamed me for not giving you a chance.

　　“I’m giving you the opportunity now, Zhao Lei. If you lose, humiliating the people of MCMAU and humiliating me, next time, I’ll beat you every time I see you!”

　　Zhao Lei’s expression darkened, but he did not waste any words.

　　He walked straight ahead to the battle stage. The moment he got onstage, he loudly announced, “Magic City Martial Arts University, School of Weaponry freshman, Zhao Lei, Early-stage Rank-2!”

　　Those who had not completed the honing of three limbs were all Early-stage Rank-2.

　　The few MCMAU people, excluding Fang Ping, were all Early-stage Rank-2.

　　…

　　“Can he win?”

　　Fu Changding asked quietly. Fang Ping replied lightly, “It doesn’t matter. If he loses, there’s still me. You guys do as you see fit.”

　　“You…”

　　Their faces were not happy, but they did not say anything else. On the stage, the duel had started.

　　…

　　On the battle stage.

　　The moment the competition started, Chen Pengfei displayed the strength of a Rank-2 martial arts university elite!

　　He attacked with his long spear, a faint howl sounding!

　　Zhao Lei moved as if he was racing a rabbit. The tips of his toes stepped on the ground, as fast and fierce as a tiger, using a curved angle to get close to Chen Pengfei in a split-second.

　　Chen Pengfei’s response speed was extremely fast. Before his probing spear was fully extended, he swiftly retrieved it. The body of the spear trembled, and the middle of the long spear started to curve. In the next moment, the long spear seemed to have morphed into a long whip, wrapping around Zhao Lei’s neck with shocking curvature.

　　Fang Ping stared at it for a while, raising his eyebrows as he said, “It’s not easy to practice the spear to this extent.”

　　The spear, in many people’s opinions, was not a weapon suitable for close-combat. The body of the spear was too long. If they were forced into close proximity with the opponent, the weapon’s strength could not be shown.

　　However, Chen Pengfei completely disregarded this. As Zhao Lei moved closer, his spear moved as he wished, curving at his command. As such, it was by no means inferior to sabers or swords.

　　Fu Changding’s expression was a little serious. “I’ve said before that long spears are like dragons. Dragons can be big or small and be extended or curved. It’s amazing…”

　　As the two people were talking, Wang Jinyang walked over at some point, brows furrowed. “Flashy but not practical!

　　“Weapons are only meant to kill the enemy. So what if he trained it to the point of being able to curve it? Has its power increased? If a spear-wielder is afraid of being dragged into close-combat, then don’t give the opponent the chance to get close. Instead of having this ability to curve it, it’s better to increase the speed of the spear!

　　“Not to mention spear-wielders holds its advantage in its linearity!

　　“Since he can’t do it, he should’ve just trained with a short weapon!”

　　Fang Ping and the others had no rebuttals to these words as they did not seem wrong.

　　While Wang Jinyang watched the duel, he frowned and said, “There’s still some distance. Zhao Lei might not necessarily win.

　　“Fang Ping, you go on later!

　　“You have to incapacitate the last four people with speed and brutality. Only then can I reform NMAU to my liking!”

　　Fang Ping was bemused. ‘What is this situation here? You’re starting to command MCMAU team, this looks shady!’

　　Fu Changding and the others were also speechless. ‘What about us?’

　　Wang Jinyang coughed lightly and said, “There is experience to be gained from this, but I’m afraid that’s not what this battle is for—I’m hoping you all can help me push for change. Don’t worry. The medicinal pills I’ve promised will be accounted for.”

　　Fang Ping spoke after some thought. “The leaders of NMAU don’t have any objections?”

　　“The ones who do have all been sent on missions at other Catacombs!” Wang Jinyang said casually.

　　Fang Ping’s was left speechless. Motherf*cker, Old Wang here was becoming NMAU’s leader. Had NMAU sunk to that level?

　　Although he appalled, what he felt even more was envy.

　　‘When can I start calling the shots at MCMAU?’

　　“Okay, but frankly, I can’t promise anything…”

　　“Just do your best.”

　　As the two chatted, the situation onstage changed.

　　Chen Pengfei stabbed with his spear. Zhao Lei’s toes pushed off the ground, leaping into the air and avoiding this attack.

　　In the next moment, Chen Pengfei seemed to have sensed an opportunity. He did not pierce his spear at Zhao Lei, jabbing instead at the empty air next to him.

　　Fang Ping deduced something from this. Chen Pengfei had a lot of experience in actual combat. This attack was an anticipation move.

　　He anticipated the timing and position of Zhao Lei’s descent. Zhao Lei may not have the necessary counterattacking moves from that position.

　　It was hard for average martial artists to accurately get a handle of deductions and timings like this.

　　Chen Pengfei clearly was not one of them. When he jabbed with his sword, even Wang Jinyang nodded slightly.

　　However, in the next second, just as Zhao Lei was about to land and everyone was sweating buckets watching—falling in the usual way would lead to him getting pierced through by a spear—Zhao Lei suddenly moved!

　　Zhao Lei’s left foot stepped through the air. His body suddenly moved up, and his right foot stepped forward, stepping on Chen Pengfei’s spearhead!

　　Chen Pengfei had attacked with full force. His spearhead was bent with one stomp.

　　Zhao Lei used the momentum to fly forward. In the blink of an eye, he had once again closed in on Chen Pengfei.

　　Chen Pengfei had used a lot of strength in the beginning but not enough in the follow-up. At this moment, Zhao Lei had a pretty accurate grasp on timings too.

　　Just as Chen Pengfei stopped his movements, a fist struck Chen Pengfei’s chest!

　　Now waiting for Chen Pengfei to retaliate, Zhao Lei chuckled coldly and opened his fist, rapidly extending his hand, grabbing the wrist holding the spear!

　　Before the crowd could react, Zhao Lei’s legs kicked out…

　　A few seconds later, the two people separated. Zhao Lei’s face was slightly pale, legs trembling.

　　On the other hand, Chen Pengfei’s face was bright red. A mouthful of blood sprayed out from him suddenly, and his disappointment was evident as he said, “I lost.”

　　This was not a death match. Although battle stage competitions were fought with the determination of death matches, his sternum was currently broken, his inner organs were in shock, and he was exhausted. If he kept going, it would just be delaying the inevitable and worsening his injuries. There was no need to keep fighting until he was near death.

　　Below the stage, Fang Ping tutted. “Elevated stance. I had no idea the bastard was hiding this move. It couldn’t be that he wanted to use this against me, could it?”

　　He was extremely suspicious that Zhao Lei had not told everybody he had achieved the elevated stance because he wanted to use it against him.

　　Chen Pengfei’s prediction was mistaken. He also did not think Zhao Lei’s pole-standing was at the elevated stance and would be able to float in mid-air for a while, dodging his attack.

　　As a result, the originally evenly-matched state had changed.

　　Wang Jinyang did not care much. He looked at Fang Ping and said, “I’m going over first. You go up the next round.”

　　Zhao Lei’s Vitality had been greatly diminished. There was no point in him remaining onstage.

　　“Will do. I’m happy to comply with my employer’s suggestions.”

　　Fang Ping laughed, not minding that he had to go onstage early.