Is that all

"Is it one of you who will go first, or shall we all engage together?" The student from Thunder Academy, Le Pingjiang, with a stern visage and prominent cheekbones, bowed respectfully to Liu Ziyu and Bai Zihao. His demeanor was courteous, yet his tone was undeniably domineering. 

After bowing, Le Pingjiang did not afford Liu Ziyu and Bai Zihao a chance to respond; with a flick of his sleeve, he gestured for them to proceed. According to the etiquette of Yunqin, this gesture was a formal invitation to duel.

Qin Xiyue furrowed her delicate brows. Having overheard the conversation between Bai Zihao and the Thunder Academy students, she initially thought that Bai Zihao and his companions might indeed have some culpability. However, at this moment, the Thunder Academy students were excessively overbearing, leaving no room for negotiation, which ignited a flicker of anger within her.

After all, they were in the Tian Mountain Range. 

While it could not be claimed that the Tian Mountain Range was the private domain of Qingluan Academy, it was undeniably its territory, just as Thunder Academy resided in Thunder Sound Mountain. To act so ruthlessly within the Tian Mountain Range was akin to intruding upon their home.

"Who are these people, Bai Zihao? What do they want with such an aggressive demeanor?" 

At that moment, a loud, arrogant shout broke through the air, accompanied by the crunching of dried grass underfoot. Lin Xi, who had been deep in thought, was startled and turned to see Mu Shanzhi, a fellow student from the Zhi Ge faction, descending from a hillock—a person he had never quite seen eye to eye with.

"Ah, the chosen one weighing ninety jin, what a coincidence to find you here!" Mu Shanzhi laughed heartily upon spotting Lin Xi. After addressing him, he finally noticed the stunned gesture of Le Pingjiang, who was momentarily taken aback by his loud proclamation. Realizing the situation, he gazed incredulously at Le Pingjiang and his companions. "Who are you, and from where do you hail? How dare you challenge the students of Qingluan Academy here in the Tian Mountain Range?"

Bai Zihao, already acquainted with Mu Shanzhi, murmured, "They are from Thunder Academy."

"What? Thunder Academy?" Mu Shanzhi was momentarily taken aback. "How could that be? Thunder Academy students here?"

"Even if they are from Thunder Academy, they ought to behave themselves within our Tian Mountain Range. Such arrogance—do they seek a beating?" After a brief pause, Mu Shanzhi's voice rose once more, brimming with bravado.

Not only Mu Shanzhi, but even Qin Xiyue and Jiang Xiaoyi frowned, pondering how someone could be so oblivious to the circumstances. The other party had already issued a duel invitation; were they still afraid of a confrontation? How could someone with such a lack of intellect and judgment have gained entry into Qingluan Academy?

However, Bai Zihao and Liu Ziyu realized that while Mu Shanzhi was putting on a show of bravado, he was also discreetly signaling to them. They instantly understood his intention. Those who could enter Qingluan Academy were undoubtedly astute individuals. Mu Shanzhi's loud outbursts were clearly meant to attract the attention of more Qingluan Academy students, ensuring that even if Bai Zihao and the others were outmatched, reinforcements could arrive to save face.

With the involvement of students from both academies, this was no longer merely a matter of a single badger but one of the reputations at stake for both institutions.

"Is that all?" 

Le Pingjiang, his hand frozen mid-air, had lost his patience and coldly uttered those four words. With a swift motion, he leaped towards the badger suspended over the fire, as if soaring through the air.

...

Just as Mu Shanzhi, despite his arrogance, was clearly no fool, upon seeing Le Pingjiang spring into action, Bai Zihao's expression turned grave. He immediately nodded to Liu Ziyu and stepped forward to confront Le Pingjiang.

His combat prowess, along with that of the other two students from the Medicine Master faction, was significantly inferior to Liu Ziyu's, and given the overwhelming force displayed by their opponent, he surmised that if Liu Ziyu were to falter, none present would stand a chance against Le Pingjiang. Rather than allowing Liu Ziyu to face such a formidable opponent alone, he resolved to test the waters first, at least allowing Liu Ziyu to gauge their adversary's strength and tactics.

As Le Pingjiang approached with the agility of a cunning rabbit, Bai Zihao positioned himself before the fire, feeling a pang of nervousness as he coiled his body like a taut rope and unleashed a powerful punch toward Le Pingjiang.

A faint, inscrutable smirk appeared on Le Pingjiang's lips; he did not alter his momentum but instead struck out with a claw-like hand.

"Crack!"

The sound of flesh colliding with air reverberated simultaneously. Bai Zihao's fist met Le Pingjiang's palm, causing Le Pingjiang to stagger slightly, akin to a heavy weight dropping to the ground, while Bai Zihao was forced to retreat three steps.

A look of shock spread across Bai Zihao's face; his entire right arm felt numb, rendering it nearly immobile, and five deep claw marks marred the back of his fist, blood streaming forth.

At that moment, Le Pingjiang's entire body soared into the air without pause, arching like a bent shrimp. Yet, in an instant, he straightened, his hands still poised as claws, and lunged toward Bai Zihao's chest.

Bai Zihao, still regaining his footing, reacted correctly to the fierce assault, raising his numb right arm to cross over his left in a defensive posture.

"Thud!"

Bai Zihao's face paled as he was forced back, his back colliding with the already burning fire. He felt the heat but could not maintain his balance, stumbling backward until one foot landed in the flames, letting out an involuntary yelp as he leaped away in a panic.

Throughout this exchange, Le Pingjiang did not pursue; he merely stood still, a cold smile on his face.

Several gray strips of cloth hung from his hands, remnants of Bai Zihao's gray robe, while Bai Zihao's arms were bloodied and marked with gruesome scratches.

"Is that all?" the broad-headed leader of the Thunder Academy students coldly declared, further deepening Bai Zihao's humiliation as he extinguished the flames licking at his feet.

"You've arrived as well?" 

Lin Xi, startled by a commotion nearby, turned to find Hua Jiyue had rushed over, standing beside him.

"I overheard some of their conversation as I approached. These Thunder Academy students must have acted with intent; these clever students from the Medicine Master faction have unwittingly fallen into their trap," Hua Jiyue explained softly, nodding at Lin Xi.

Lin Xi was taken aback. "Intentional?"

"This Thunder Academy student's cultivation level far exceeds Bai Zihao's, and certainly mine as well," Hua Jiyue remarked, narrowing his eyes at Lin Xi. "Look at the wounds on that badger's leg... Even with my cultivation level, if I had injured that badger to such a degree, would it be able to escape a few steps? Would it allow itself to run into the presence of those from the Medicine Master faction?"

Upon glancing at the badger's skinned leg, where a gash resembling a sword wound marred its flesh, Lin Xi grasped Hua Jiyue's meaning.

"You are not my match; will you step forward? Or shall someone else take your place?"

At that moment, Le Pingjiang cast a glance at Bai Zihao, then turned his gaze to Liu Ziyu, speaking with chilling indifference and pride. 

"I am Liu Ziyu, a first-year student from the Medicine Master faction of Qingluan Academy." Feeling a chill in his heart, Liu Ziyu stepped forward, retrieving the wooden spear Bai Zihao had previously thrust into the ground, and gestured for Le Pingjiang to proceed.

He was acutely aware of Bai Zihao's cultivation and combat abilities, understanding that even he could not easily repel Bai Zihao with such finesse. From their earlier encounter, it was clear that Le Pingjiang had completely overwhelmed Bai Zihao with raw power. 

Liu Ziyu suspected that Le Pingjiang's soul power level likely surpassed his own, so he believed that using a weapon might increase his chances of victory, as they had previously fought with weapons in the trial canyon.

As Liu Ziyu approached with the spear in hand, Le Pingjiang seemed to discern his intentions, a mocking glint flashing in his eyes. He unsheathed the wooden blade hanging from his waist and waved it at Liu Ziyu, announcing in a solemn tone, "I am Le Pingjiang, a first-year student from Thunder Academy."

Liu Ziyu ceased speaking, merely nodding in acknowledgment. He then bent his knees slightly, his toes tapping the ground in quick succession, swiftly closing the distance between them. The sharp wooden spear lunged toward Le Pingjiang's throat at an unexpected angle.

In that moment, neither bore the protective black armor of Qingluan Academy; the spear's sharpness alone could pierce Le Pingjiang's flesh.

Yet, confronted by the swiftly approaching spearhead, Le Pingjiang remained utterly still, as if he possessed no intention to evade.

Liu Ziyu instinctively hesitated, and in that brief pause, "Hah!" Le Pingjiang, wielding his blade, exhaled forcefully and executed a horizontal slash.

With a resounding thud, Liu Ziyu's wooden spear was cleaved to the ground.

Le Pingjiang closed the distance, striking once more.

Liu Ziyu discarded the spear and retreated swiftly.

Le Pingjiang pressed forward relentlessly, swinging his blade.

"You are cheating!" Liu Ziyu shouted, his face contorted with anger.

"Thwack!"

The wooden blade struck Liu Ziyu's right arm, causing him to lean back before rolling away.

Le Pingjiang halted, a cold smile gracing his lips. "You simply lack the courage... Do you think that even if you were resolute, I could not evade your spear?"

"Roar!"

Liu Ziyu, his face ashen, lunged at Le Pingjiang like a frenzied tiger. "Crack!" The wooden blade landed precisely on his neck, leaving a gruesome gash across his pale skin. Liu Ziyu attempted to step forward once more, but it felt as though the blood in his brain had been instantaneously drained, and his body lost all strength, collapsing weakly before Le Pingjiang.

"Ha... ha..." He struggled to articulate words, but as his hands touched his neck, he found himself gasping for breath, unable to produce a sound.

The broad-headed leader of the Thunder Academy students cast a calm, indifferent glance at the kneeling Liu Ziyu and coolly uttered four words: "Is that all?"