An arrow descends from the heavens.  

Tong Wei glanced at Lin Xi and remarked, "Regardless of how formidable our opponent may be, I am only aware that since Vice Dean Xia and Xiao Mingxuan have faith in you, your chances of victory are substantial." 

Curiosity piqued, Lin Xi inquired, "Who is Xiao Mingxuan?" 

Tong Wei replied, "You could consider him the chief strategist of our academy." 

"Then he must be an extraordinary individual," Lin Xi exclaimed in admiration, before turning to Tong Wei and saying, "Teacher, it seems you have forgotten to inform us of the nature of the competition." 

"We do not know yet," Tong Wei shook his head, looking at Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. "The specifics will be determined only after the Emperor arrives." 

Bian Linghan gasped in astonishment, "Teacher, are you implying that His Majesty himself will be present?" 

Tong Wei raised an eyebrow and nodded, "He is already en route to Qingluan Academy. This is essentially a contest between the academy and him; to ensure his defeat is convincing, we must wait for his arrival to establish the rules of the competition. However, it is certain that if he believes genuine combat is beneficial, the contest will closely resemble a true battlefield." 

After a brief pause, Tong Wei added, looking at Lin Xi and Bian Linghan, "For the same reason, all your records will be compiled to verify your status as the new students of this era, with no fabrications involved. During this period, neither academy is permitted to use elixirs or other means to artificially enhance your cultivation levels." 

Lin Xi furrowed his brow and said, "Does that mean we have no secrets left? Furthermore, even if the academy were to fabricate information… how would they know?" 

Tong Wei lowered his gaze and replied solemnly, "Do not forget that the majority of our instructors and professors share the same perspective as Xu Shengmo. They are well aware of your previous cultivation and training trajectories; it is impossible to deceive them. The only secrets that can be kept are those of a deeper nature. Naturally, Lei Ting Academy would not wish to expose its five most exceptional students to the enemy's scrutiny. Thus, although the Emperor will be present, only a select few will be privy to the details of this contest, and only the Emperor and a handful of others will know your records. Ultimately, what matters is the outcome." 

Lin Xi sighed, "Ultimately, it is because there are too many in the academy who share the same views as Xu Shengmo, which forces us to compromise with the Emperor... It is indeed challenging to alter the perceptions of others." 

"It fundamentally stems from the absence of someone like Dean Zhang at the academy," Tong Wei replied coldly. "Only a figure of his caliber can establish a belief that is irrefutable." 

Lin Xi nodded and calmly asked, "When will this competition, which has captivated the Emperor, take place?" 

"The Emperor is rather impatient; he wishes to avoid unnecessary complications and does not want to afford us too much time for preparation, so it will likely occur within ten days at most," Tong Wei answered, looking at Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. 

A gust of mountain wind swept through, stirring up a flurry of fallen leaves. 

Observing the swirling leaves, Lin Xi asked, "Does the teacher have any particular instructions for us?" 

Tong Wei remained silent, then said, "In fact, when you mentioned Helan Yuexi to the instructor during your return, an inquiry was already made. Based on various traces of his cultivation, including the shattered ice stones he left in his wake, we have concluded that he has at least reached the level of a Soul Master." 

Bian Linghan turned pale, while Lin Xi managed a wry smile and said, "It seems that his title as the top student of Lei Ting Academy is indeed well-deserved, not merely self-proclaimed." 

Tong Wei remarked, "You should be aware that the primary distinction between a Soul Master and a Soul Practitioner lies not only in raw power but also in the fact that a Soul Master possesses sufficient soul energy to manifest a protective layer over their body, akin to an additional layer of armor. Thus, if you were to exchange blows with him, you could very well be slain by his strike, while your attack might only leave a superficial wound." 

After a brief pause, Tong Wei fixed a stern gaze on Lin Xi and admonished, "Therefore, your desire to confront him with a bow and arrow is exceedingly foolish. Your rudimentary weapon would likely only draw a trickle of blood from him. Even with your current strength, capable of drawing nearly two hundred pounds, against a Soul Master, you would merely inflict a surface wound, unable to penetrate deeply enough to cause significant damage. Moreover, even the most basic armor would likely allow him to continue running, even if struck in the leg." 

Lin Xi's brow furrowed deeply. "Given that we have only ten days and cannot use elixirs to enhance our cultivation, does that not mean we are at a severe disadvantage against Helan Yuexi, with little hope of countering him?" 

"I have previously informed you that the reason for the Windwalkers' strength lies in their arrows being capable of inflicting harm on cultivators beyond their own level," Tong Wei said, narrowing his eyes. "Lin Xi, with your current archery skills and perception, you are ready to begin practicing 'Wind Trace' and 'Falling Moon.' You will lead the way, allowing Bian Linghan to observe and keep pace." 

"Whether you can contend with an opponent of Helan Yuexi's caliber using your own strength will depend on how much you can practice in these ten days." 

Lin Xi respectfully bowed to Tong Wei, seeking further enlightenment as he would in any other lesson. "Please, teacher, enlighten me." 

Tong Wei reciprocated the gesture and asked, "With your current mastery of the three-finger feather grip, if at the moment the arrow is released, your control causes the arrowhead to deviate by the width of a hair, how far off would you be from a target two hundred paces away?" 

Lin Xi pondered for a moment and replied, "It would likely be off by at least two feet." 

Tong Wei continued, "Thus, the difference between a skilled archer and an ordinary one is negligible within a distance of fifty paces; however, as the distance increases, the disparity becomes apparent. This is the simplest of truths... For us, even slight emotional fluctuations, the winds and humidity of the environment, positional awareness, and the distance to the target, along with the weight of the arrow and the opponent's movements, all critically influence our shot. The concept of 'Wind Trace' within our academy's teachings refers to the ability to master these subtle factors. By assessing these elements, one can make adjustments before releasing the arrow, ensuring accurate hits even at great distances." 

"As for 'Falling Moon'... at your current cultivation level, the most effective range for your arrows is two hundred paces. Beyond that distance, even with precision, the arrow lacks sufficient force. Even against formidable cultivators of greater than a Soul Master level, such as a National Scholar or even a Saint Master, the effective range of arrows, due to the limitations of the bow, is approximately six hundred paces. However, if you can master the technique of 'Falling Moon,' you may potentially achieve five hundred paces..." 

"Five hundred paces? How is that possible!" Bian Linghan interrupted Tong Wei incredulously, as the notion seemed absurd, akin to wielding a beam from a temple as a sword. 

"I have not finished," Tong Wei shot her a cold glance before continuing, "Not only is it possible to reach five hundred paces... but you could also shoot arrows with significantly greater power than what you possess now, sufficient to pierce through the body of a mid-tier Soul Master." 

Lin Xi, however, was not overly shocked and merely sought clarification. "Earlier, I heard you mention the concept of downward force. Are you suggesting that 'Falling Moon' refers to shooting downwards from a height? Utilizing our own cultivation power combined with the rapid descent?" 

"You are correct," Tong Wei replied, his tone as icy as ever. "The battleground for cultivators is typically set amidst the mountainous forests along the borders, where high peaks abound. Even within cities, tall towers and palaces are commonplace. Moreover, arrows descending from above, particularly from overhead or from behind, are the most difficult to detect. Since this contest aims to replicate a genuine battlefield, neither academy can provide specialized, formidable weapons; only standard-issue weapons from border troops will be permitted. However, with slight adjustments to the standard arrowheads, combined with archery techniques, one can minimize resistance and effectively harness the force of gravity, resulting in arrows that descend faster and strike harder." 

"Thus, in the mountainous forests of the border, a true master stands atop a high peak, shooting an arrow into the sky... and that arrow may well slay a formidable opponent," Tong Wei said, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. "However, the greater the distance, the greater the potential deviation, so only those who excel in mastering 'Wind Trace' and 'Falling Moon' can achieve such feats." 

In the past, even having witnessed Tong Wei's unparalleled precision in archery, Lin Xi would have deemed the notion of shooting an arrow from a mountaintop to slay a powerful adversary utterly implausible. Yet, as his understanding of cultivation and archery deepened, he increasingly recognized that what seemed impossible could indeed be possible... At this moment, he understood clearly that mastering 'Wind Trace' and 'Falling Moon' was about keenly perceiving the wind direction, humidity in the mountains, and selecting the optimal moment to shoot, akin to dropping a stone from a mountain to strike an opponent. 

However, while it sounded simple, the execution was immensely challenging. Lin Xi could not help but smile wryly and say, "Teacher, this ten-day timeframe... seems rather daunting." 

"For an individual, it is nearly impossible." 

Tong Wei's gaze fixed on Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. "But what is more terrifying than the assassination of a single Windwalker is the combined effort of two." 

Lin Xi rubbed his nose and replied, "That statement seems rather obvious, teacher." 

Tong Wei did not retort but appeared to have not heard Lin Xi's comment, continuing earnestly, "Fortunately, I have taken on two disciples, and both have shown promise. While it may be improbable for one person to accomplish this alone, if one strikes first and the other accurately assesses the deviation, it should be possible to land a precise hit." 

One person as the corrector, the other launching the true strike? 

Lin Xi grasped Tong Wei's underlying message, yet his brow furrowed as he said, "But if we truly hit... isn't there a significant risk of killing the opponent?" 

"The choice ultimately lies in your hands," Tong Wei scoffed, looking at Lin Xi. "As for me, if someone perceives me as a threat in this academy competition and wishes to eliminate me, while I have no desire to kill them... that would indeed be the epitome of Xu Shengmo's 'womanly kindness.'" 

Lin Xi pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your teaching is quite astute, teacher. Ultimately, whether we shoot or not is a matter for the opponent to decide; our current concern is merely whether we can shoot accurately."