Chapter 70: Lacking Combat Experience? Instinctual Lethal Moves

Is this really something you can say?

So bold to say that right up on stage?

But strangely enough, Liam's very down-to-earth way of speaking actually improved the students' perception of him. Every year during the opening ceremony, the freshman chief would stand there, reading from a prepared speech, speaking in a pompous, preachy manner, despite their young age. The students had long grown tired of it. Now, here was someone who came right up and asked for his payment; it was a refreshing change.

Cain, however, clearly didn't share this sentiment.

"Let's not discuss that three million just yet, but surely the three hundred thousand…" Liam began, but before he could finish, a spry old man dashed up to him, snatching the microphone from his hand.

"Heh heh, Liam here is always so humorous, always likes to joke around," Cain said, holding the mic. He saw Liam about to say something and quickly whispered in his ear, "Sophia told me you have a card. That card is yours, and I'll transfer the money to it!"

"This is the opening ceremony! Just go along with it, will you?"

The two exchanged glances for a while before Liam finally agreed. Cain knew better than to let Liam make any more speeches. He could tell Liam didn't play by the rules and was a bit difficult to handle.

Cain then quickly moved on to the last part of the ceremony:

"Alright, with that, today's freshman ceremony comes to a close. I hope all of you will hone your abilities and strive to contribute to the peace of our world."

"Next, it's time for the challenge segment. Is there anyone who would like to spar with our freshman chief? Of course, if the freshman chief feels the gap is too wide, he has the right to refuse."

These sparring matches typically didn't have much practical value, serving more as a kind of exhibition match. But they were all young people, and no one wanted to lose face, so these matches usually took place every year. Cain, however, knew from his time around Liam that he absolutely wouldn't care about things like this! If Liam refused, he genuinely wouldn't care about face or anything else.

So Cain quickly leaned over and whispered in Liam's ear, "Give me some face, buddy. I'll add more money to your transfer later—an extra hundred thousand."

Clearly, Cain was quite laid-back and informal, calling Liam "buddy" despite their fifty-year age difference.

Liam didn't give a clear response, but he chose to stay in the ring instead of walking off. However, this time, the atmosphere was noticeably different from previous years. Normally, at this point, the senior students on either side of the stands would start hooting, mocking, and provoking. Many wanted to give the freshman chief a "reality check."

But today, it was different.

The stands were eerily quiet, with no one saying a word. The silence was almost awkward.

Of course, no one would dare to step forward!

At the start, Liam had flown in, leaving everyone with their jaws hanging. His Fifth Realm strength made everyone wary of going up against him.

While Eastern Academy did have some Fifth-Realm students, these were the exceptionally talented upperclassmen who were close to graduation. They were often already contracted with major superhuman organizations and had heavy responsibilities.

So, for a moment, the scene became quite awkward. Liam stood alone in the large ring, and no one stepped forward to challenge him. Finally, after four or five minutes, a male student jumped down from the stands.

Dressed in a long green robe, he had a handsome appearance. He walked over to Liam and clasped his hands in a formal salute, saying:

"Hello, junior. To reach the Fifth Realm at such a young age truly puts the rest of us to shame. It makes me feel like I've wasted my life."

"My name is Lin Ruoyan. I'm currently at the peak of the Fourth Realm, but I've been unable to break through to the Fifth."

"However, from observing your flight pattern earlier, you seem to have just entered the Fifth Realm. Since I've undergone extensive training here at the academy and have mastered quite a few martial skills, while you've just enrolled and likely lack combat experience, we should be evenly matched. So, allow me to challenge our freshman chief."

Lin Ruoyan came across as well-mannered and courteous, but his words made Sophia, sitting in the audience, twitch her lips.

Lacking combat experience?

For most students, this assumption might hold, but for Liam? There was no telling how many had died at his hands. Just two days ago, the divine servants at his feet were piled up in heaps. But clearly, Lin Ruoyan was unaware of these details.

"Very well, let's begin. I'll serve as your referee," Cain announced, relieved that someone had finally stepped up to keep the situation from dragging out awkwardly. "Don't worry, I can stop the fight if things get dangerous."

Traditionally, senior students would teach the freshman chief a lesson. This year, it looked like things were reversed.

Both contestants stepped back a few paces. Lin Ruoyan's body was enveloped in a blue energy armor, and a simple bronze longsword appeared in his hand.

"This is my sequence weapon, B-107, the Ancient Bronze Sword. You've just enrolled, so you might not know what sequence weapons are. In this respect, I might have an advantage," Lin Ruoyan said with a smile, looking a bit embarrassed.

"No problem. Come on," Liam replied.

"Alright… here I come!"

"Falling Leaves Sword!" Lin Ruoyan shouted. Without further words, he moved with his sword, creating a beautiful sword flower as he rushed toward Liam. He seemed to be using a particular sword technique, his movements in the air as light as a falling leaf. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Liam.

Liam stood still, not moving at all, almost as if he were a statue. But in his eyes, there was a different gleam than usual—cold and rational.

The bronze sword hummed as it thrust toward Liam's abdomen, appearing to end the sparring match right there.

But in the next moment, a burst of pale light erupted. Frost engulfed the ring, and an energy chain shot out from Liam's hand, wrapping around Lin Ruoyan's waist and pulling him in.

Liam completely ignored the sword aiming for his abdomen, instead conjuring a blade in his hand and thrusting it toward Lin Ruoyan's throat.

Liam had already entered battle mode. He had forgotten that this was just a sparring match. The adrenaline in his veins brought him back to two days ago, to that meat grinder of a battlefield. He had never learned any martial arts; he had only learned one thing from that battle:

—Trading injury for life, a worthwhile exchange!

His moves were instinctively lethal, aimed to kill.