On the ring, Zhuo Xing and Ruan Lin stood facing each other. The students from the two classes, much like in the arena, stood on opposite sides. The ordinary class students behind Ruan Lin clenched their fists and looked excited. It was their first time watching a duel between Practitioners.
"I really don’t understand why Zhuo Xing dares to challenge Ruan Lin. Doesn’t he know Ruan Lin has already been promoted to Practitioner?"
"I don’t know where he got the courage."
"That 'Shrouding the Heavens method'—I really don’t know how Ye Kai managed to fool them into believing in it."
"Well, Ruan Lin can shatter their illusions, so they’ll stop acting high and mighty."
Ruan Lin’s current classmates made plenty of sarcastic remarks. In their eyes, Zhuo Xing, a non-Practitioner, challenging Ruan Lin, a Practitioner, was nothing short of foolishness. Sure enough, they thought anyone staying in Ye Kai’s class to practice the "Shrouding the Heavens Method" must be an idiot.
On the other side, Zhuo Xing’s classmates were much calmer, and some even advised Zhuo Xing to go easy on Ruan Lin to avoid embarrassing him too much. Outsiders didn’t know, but as Zhuo Xing’s classmates, they were well aware that Zhuo Xing was much stronger than Ruan Lin at this point.
The "Shrouding the Heavens Method" had not only helped Zhuo Xing become a Practitioner a week ago but had also made him stronger than an average Practitioner. A Practitioner like Ruan Lin, who had been promoted through drug use, was no match for him. These abilities couldn’t be achieved by practicing the 'Vitality Method.'
In the ring, Ruan Lin sneered at what he saw as a group of ignorant fools who didn’t know their limits.
He raised his head and said, "Should I give you ten moves first?"
Zhuo Xing curled his lips, "Enough with the act. I’ve been fed up with you for a long time. Just get on with it."
Zhuo Xing’s disdainful attitude annoyed Ruan Lin, who roared and charged at him, aiming a heavy punch at Zhuo Xing’s face. He was determined to knock Zhuo Xing out instantly and vent his grievances.
The students in the ordinary class gasped. The speed of a Practitioner was too fast for them to follow with the naked eye.
However, the students in Ye Kai’s class remained calm. The ordinary class students couldn’t see the movements clearly, but Ye Kai’s students could.
Zhuo Xing effortlessly sidestepped the punch.
Ruan Lin froze for a moment.
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*He dodged?*
Was it luck?
"I’ll see how long you can keep dodging!" Ruan Lin sneered and continued his attack.
With all his strength, energy, and blood surging, he launched himself at Zhuo Xing, moving as fast as he could.
But...
One punch, two punches, three punches...
Each time Ruan Lin threw a punch, Zhuo Xing dodged effortlessly just before the strike landed. After a series of rapid attacks, it was clear that Zhuo Xing was toying with him.
The ordinary class students looked at one another in confusion. The scene unfolding in the ring was nothing like what they had initially imagined. They had expected Ruan Lin to finish off Zhuo Xing quickly, but instead, Zhuo Xing was making a fool of him.
The gap between a Practitioner and a non-Practitioner was supposed to be immense, especially since Zhuo Xing wasn’t particularly gifted. He was just someone who stayed in Ye Kai’s class practicing the "Shrouding the Heavens Method."
"Could he have learned some kind of Martial Skill to dodge?" someone speculated.
In the vitality cultivation system, cultivation techniques, aptitude, and resources determined the speed of advancement, but realm didn’t always equate to combat strength. The reason for this was Martial Skills.
Martial Skills allowed Practitioners to maximize their power, and high-quality Martial Skills could even enable someone to fight above their level.
Upon hearing this, the ordinary class students nodded in agreement. This explanation made sense—Zhuo Xing must have practiced some Martial Skill to last so long under Ruan Lin’s relentless attack.
"Zhuo Xing! Are you a coward? All you do is dodge!" Ruan Lin shouted, breathless from his failed assaults.
A Practitioner using the Qi method weakens as the battle drags on. Ruan Lin, whose strength was artificially enhanced through drugs, had a weak foundation, and now his stamina was depleted. If Zhuo Xing continued dodging, Ruan Lin’s strength would run out, and he would truly lose. So, Ruan Lin resorted to taunting him, hoping to provoke a reaction.
Zhuo Xing, still composed and unfazed, sneered, "Fine, I’ll just stand here and let you land a punch."
The ordinary class students erupted in disbelief.
"How arrogant!"
"If he keeps dodging, he might have a chance. Now he’s just asking for it."
"Maybe the 'Shrouding the Heavens Method' messed up his brain."
Still, the once-loud voices were much quieter now. Just with his dodging skills, none of them stood a chance against Zhuo Xing.
Ruan Lin, however, saw the taunt as a victory. His morale surged, and he felt that triumph was near.
He took a deep breath, bent his knees, and shot forward with a punch.
This time, he didn’t hold back, though he avoided Zhuo Xing’s vital areas to ensure he wouldn’t accidentally kill him with one blow.
As Ruan Lin’s punch approached, Zhuo Xing stood still, not dodging. Ruan Lin felt certain he had won, but then saw Zhuo Xing calmly throw a punch of his own, as if he intended to meet Ruan Lin’s blow head-on.
*Arrogant!*
*I used to be his classmate, so I didn’t want to go too far...*
*But now he’s being so arrogant!*
*Don’t blame me for being ruthless!*
Seeing Zhuo Xing’s audacity to challenge him head-on, Ruan Lin felt insulted and added even more force to his punch.
Finally.
When the two fists collided, a dull "bang" echoed through the air, sending a shiver through the spectators.
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock as they watched Ruan Lin fly backward, landing heavily at the edge of the ring, while Zhuo Xing stood still, unmoved like a mountain.
The duel was over. The once-noisy arena fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Ruan Lin lay on the ground, his eyes blank. His right hand throbbed with pain, but he barely noticed it.
*I... actually lost!*
*I lost... to a fool who practices the "Shrouding the Heavens Method!"*