Words spoken will not bring understanding

"Zhi Ge's first-year student, Lin Xi," Lin Xi replied, then turned to the previously domineering student from Thunder Academy, asking, "How far can a badger with such a large wound in its leg run before you?" 

Wanyan Muye understood the seemingly abrupt question posed by Lin Xi, yet his expression remained unchanged as he calmly responded, "If it has been starving for long enough, it can still run quite far despite lacking strength." 

Lin Xi regarded him and said, "If I were starving for an extended period, I wouldn't allow my food to escape far from me." 

Wanyan Muye smirked, "Perhaps that is a testament to your exceptional talent, Lin." 

Lin Xi shot him a glance, replying, "Your words are quite shameless. Are all students from Thunder Academy this brazen?" 

Wanyan Muye remained unperturbed, responding coolly, "Regardless of shamelessness, in the end, strength speaks for itself." 

"That is nothing short of blatant shamelessness," Lin Xi remarked, eyeing Wanyan Muye. "Do you wish to engage me in combat?" 

Wanyan Muye chuckled derisively, "You may be the strongest among them, but Le Jiangping is not the mightiest among us." 

"While I am uncertain of your true intentions, we are merely here to attend our training class," Lin Xi shook his head. "What benefit would it bring me to fight you? If I were to defeat you, would there not still be others from Thunder Academy seeking trouble with us? Our energy should be devoted to foraging for food, not wasted on pointless brawls." 

Wanyan Muye frowned, fixing his gaze on Lin Xi. "It seems you lack any sense of honor." 

Lin Xi looked at him, somewhat exasperated, and replied, "What you call shameless coercion is nothing more than a farce. Just as you believe I am the strongest here, that is merely your assumption. I assure you, if you were to challenge me openly at Qingluan Academy, you would undoubtedly be beaten to a pulp." 

"You make a valid point," Wanyan Muye admitted, his tone once again turning domineering. "However, you seem increasingly inclined to engage me in combat. You seek an advantage, do you not? Should you best me, that badger will be yours, along with any remaining food we possess. Moreover, I can guarantee that no other students from Thunder Academy will trouble you thereafter." 

Lin Xi regarded Wanyan Muye, saying, "I am more curious about your purpose in coming to the Tengtianshan Mountains." 

Wanyan Muye shook his head. "That is classified information." 

"Very well," Lin Xi mused for a moment before gesturing for him to proceed, picking up a slightly shorter broken spear with his left hand. 

Wanyan Muye appeared somewhat surprised. "So readily?" 

Lin Xi nodded. "The food you carry is simply irresistible to me." 

"Excellent!" 

Wanyan Muye laughed heartily, no longer speaking further. With a flick of his sleeve, he drew a large wooden sword from his waist and, without any unnecessary movements, charged forward, delivering a powerful downward strike toward Lin Xi. 

With a resounding "bang," the wooden sword cleaved through the air, producing a faint explosive sound. 

Qin Xiyue, who had been astonished by Lin Xi's strength and filled with a sense of shame, suddenly changed color. 

The sheer force behind Wanyan Muye's strike, which compressed the air with such intensity, indicated that his prowess far exceeded that of a mid-tier soul warrior! 

In Lin Xi's eyes, the thick wooden slab was not merely a sword but a mountain descending rapidly upon him. 

With no avenue for evasion, Lin Xi could only twist his body and swing his weapon. 

"Crack!" 

A ferocious force collided with the sturdy wooden spear in his hand and the heavy wooden slab, producing a sound akin to splintering wood. The overwhelming power sent his entire right arm reeling, as if it were a broken sword. 

Yet, as his body tilted slightly, Lin Xi's left hand wielded the shorter spear, slicing toward Wanyan Muye's face. 

Wanyan Muye remained composed, merely bending slightly to avoid the strike effortlessly, while simultaneously stepping forward to deliver another blow. 

The heavy wooden slab clashed with Lin Xi's spear once more, causing Lin Xi to lean significantly, seemingly losing his balance. However, his footing remained astonishingly stable, allowing him to leap forward just in time to evade Wanyan Muye's treacherous kick aimed from below. 

Wanyan Muye's kick reached the height of Lin Xi's chest, yet he did not pause for a moment, his leg remaining rigid as it struck the ground with the force of an axe. 

This technique, known as the high splitting kick in martial arts, was intended to strike the head or shoulder after a high kick. However, as he slammed his foot into the ground, his body soared upward like a seesaw, simultaneously swinging his sword to attack. 

Everything unfolded with remarkable clarity; it appeared slow, yet the speed was astonishing. Lin Xi's foot had barely touched the ground when Wanyan Muye was already upon him, delivering a horizontally sweeping and overwhelmingly powerful strike aimed at Lin Xi's midsection. 

Lin Xi had no time to evade; he twisted his body, crossing his two spears to block the blow. 

With a resounding crash, Lin Xi's entire body jolted as Wanyan Muye surged into his centerline, his shoulder crashing into Lin Xi like a bear against a tree, sending Lin Xi hurtling through the air. 

"Ah!" 

Jiang Xiaoyi and Qin Xiyue gasped in unison, while Wanyan Muye swung his wooden sword once more. 

Though Lin Xi found himself airborne, his sense of balance remained intact, and his right hand wielded the spear with precision, intercepting the advancing wooden sword. 

"Very well." 

Wanyan Muye offered genuine praise, yet his strike transformed into a lifting motion, pivoting his wrist. 

With a powerful thrust, it was as if he had hooked a large fish, flipping Lin Xi's body in mid-air. 

Lin Xi found himself facing away from Wanyan Muye, and with a swift kick, Wanyan Muye struck Lin Xi's left shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground. 

Jiang Xiaoyi and Qin Xiyue turned pale as they witnessed the unfolding scene. 

Lin Xi's combat prowess had exceeded everyone's expectations, yet his opponent's strength was overwhelmingly formidable, far surpassing Lin Xi's own. With the initial strike alone, Wanyan Muye had secured the advantage, and his subsequent attacks were executed with reckless abandon, leaving Lin Xi with no chance to retaliate. 

"Your skills are commendable, but your cultivation is somewhat lacking," Wanyan Muye declared, sheathing his wooden sword with an air of dominance. "You are no match for me." 

Lin Xi offered no response. 

"Have you fainted?" Wanyan Muye inquired, surprised by the prolonged silence. 

"Lin Xi, are you alright?" Meng Bai rushed toward Lin Xi in a panic, eager to assist him. 

"Do not touch me, it hurts," Lin Xi suddenly exclaimed. 

Wanyan Muye and the other students from Thunder Academy exchanged knowing smirks, unable to suppress their laughter, pondering how utterly devoid of honor Lin Xi seemed. 

"Wanyan Muye, I've reconsidered, and I believe there may still be a chance to defeat you," Lin Xi's voice rang out once more, causing Gao Yanan, who had approached the group, to pause in astonishment. 

"Oh?" Wanyan Muye raised an eyebrow, then grinned arrogantly, "Do tell." 

Yet, the amusement faded as Lin Xi added, "You wouldn't understand even if I explained." 

"Never mind, though I am reluctant to repeat myself, I also do not wish to hear anything further that might upset my friends." Lin Xi then uttered a phrase that left everyone bewildered: "Return." 

In an instant, as familiar scenery shifted around him, Lin Xi found himself back at the previous moment. 

At this time, Liu Ziyu and Le Jiangping had yet to engage, so Lin Xi waited, anticipating Liu Ziyu's defeat. He then patted Qin Xiyue's shoulder, shot an arrow, and reiterated some previously spoken words… until Wanyan Muye unsheathed the large wooden sword from his waist. 

"Crack!" 

"Crack!" 

In stark contrast to their previous encounter, Lin Xi showed no signs of change at the outset. Amidst the two dull explosions, he found himself forced to leap back. 

Wanyan Muye's right leg struck the ground like a great axe once more, propelling him into the air as he swung his sword down, closing the distance with Lin Xi and delivering a fierce collision that sent Lin Xi hurtling through the air again. 

"Ah!" 

Jiang Xiaoyi and Qin Xiyue, unaware that this had already transpired, gasped in unison. 

Simultaneously, Wanyan Muye's wooden sword transformed into a lifting motion, flipping Lin Xi's body in mid-air. 

Then, Wanyan Muye's foot aimed sharply at Lin Xi's left shoulder blade. 

His movements remained clear and terrifying, each action impeccable. As Lin Xi appeared on the verge of being sent flying once more, Gao Yanan could not help but exclaim in surprise as Lin Xi's right-hand spear thrust powerfully from beneath his left armpit, striking accurately at Wanyan Muye's foot. 

No words could adequately describe the impact of Lin Xi's strike at that moment. 

The expressions of the Thunder Academy students, who had previously worn confident smiles, instantly froze in shock. 

Lin Xi's attack seemed to possess an uncanny awareness, as if he had foreseen Wanyan Muye's next move. 

In that instant, it felt as though Wanyan Muye had willingly collided with the spear in Lin Xi's hand! 

Wanyan Muye had no time to react or evade. 

"Thud!" 

The wooden spear struck his foot with a resounding thud, eliciting a cry of pain from his lips as he arched his body in mid-air. 

His foot instinctively recoiled, refusing to touch the ground, and he stumbled, collapsing onto the earth. 

Meanwhile, Lin Xi, having been sent flying, managed to brace himself with one hand and stood firmly. 

The once vibrant expanse of wild grass fell silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing and the wind rustling through the dry blades. 

Standing amidst the knee-deep grass, Lin Xi's right arm trembled uncontrollably, his palm split open and stained with blood. 

The spear in his hand, resembling a sword, had fractured, revealing jagged wooden splinters that barely held together. 

Though he appeared somewhat battered, the stark contrast of the pale faces of the previously arrogant Thunder Academy students made him seem remarkably imposing.