29. Top Ten High Schools Competition pt 5

Hearing their names being called, Zhang Shi and Long Tian jumped on stage and started exchanging taunts:

- Hmph, another weakling from #1 High. I'm going to break you into pieces to teach that girl a lesson to never oppose me. This time my school will make sure she won't be able to interfere and save you.

- I don't need my sister's help to beat you. You made a wrong move in trying to harm my sworn brother!

Outside the stage, after exiting the toilet Long Yin raised an eyebrow, as she found her path blocked by a Nascent Soul Stage One Teacher from #2 High and a bunch of their top students she previously beat. The teacher stood back, letting her students approach while saying:

- Little girl, this is what you get for opposing us. You better obediently let them beat you or I'll have to punish you for harming my students.

- That's right. This is what you get for opposing Senior Zhang Shi! Don't worry, we won't completely cripple you, that wouldn't pass the evidence check.

Inside the spectator room Tang San was once again blocked by Headmaster of #2 High:

-Tagn San, ah Tang San. It would be such a pity if your student on stage was crippled, wouldn't it? It would be even more of a pity if your star student was found harassing my students and got "punished" by their teacher.

- You! What did you do?! The President won't stand for this!

-Hmph, once all is said and done he will have no choice but to accept me taking over the #1 spot, or face backlash from the scandal.

- Madman, you're a madman. You won't get away with this!

President Cheng Bo, who was coincidentally coming out from the male toilet saw Long Yin's predicament and decided to observe while talking to himself:

-Oh? It seems I've been really negligent if this is how schools compete. Top ten educational institutions? More like top ten schemers. I wonder how this student will deal with it. I'll intervene if it gets serious.

Long Yin stared at the tacher... stared... stared... then shrugged and unleashed full power of her cultivation. She dodged incoming attack from a student then kicked him into another student, then quickly dealt with others, finally leaving only her and the teacher.

- Hmph, looks like you really are a prodigy. Even better, I might get a pay rise if I deal with you.

The teacher then attacked with her full power. Long Yin smirked. She could feel it wasn't a killing blow and the teacher had to use fists instead of her preferred weapon. She met the fist with her own Star Shattering Fist. She barely lost the exchange, getting pushed back a bit. The teacher roared crazily, before launchong another attack:

- You! How are you so strong! Is it a secret art? If you tell me you can still get out unscratched!

Cheng Bo nodded, pleased with the sight. Truly an exceptional genius. To match a teacher with that strength she had to dual cultivate body and qi, he didn't doubt Long Yin was a top genius within at least ten nearby solar systems.

- Which makes what you did even more unforgivable. Just you wait #2 High, I'll make an example for the next millennium out of you.

Long Yin dodged and weaved between the teacher's attacks, using precise counters to slowly restrict her mobility. Finally her chance came, as she suddenly matched an attack, side stepped the other fist, then countered with a fist to the face of her own. As the fist connected, the teacher screamed in fury, then took out a weapon. Just as Long Yin was overcome with intense sense of crisis Cheng Bo appeared, immediately cutting the teacher's hand with a wave of his hand, knocking her out afterwards. After ensuring the teacher won't bleed out and tying her up to endure she won't be able to escape he nodded to Long Yin:

- Good work, young one. I'll take over from here, don't worry, no one from your side will come to harm.

He then took off in the direction of spectating room.

While Long Yin was busy, Long Tian wasn't idle either. Using Year of the Ox he was barely able to last against Zhang Shi. Because it was evening Zhang Shi's Solar Fist couldn't achieve full power due to lack of sunlight. Finally, annoyed that he is struggling to defeat someone who should be much weaker than him Zhang Shi decided to reveal part of his trump cards:

- Hah, did you really think your parlor tricks will allow you to match me? You forgot about our school's speciality! Berserk Art!

Instantly his muscles bulged and he grew slightly, his eyes turning red, yet he still kept his reason.

- Die, insect! Have a taste of my power!

Shouted Zhang Shi, as he threw a powerful punch towards Long Tian. Meanwhile, Long Tian's eyes glinted. If he wasn't imagining it... then Zhang Shi's speed decreased after activating the Berserk Art. Which meant...

- Hah, you think you can beat me just because you know some secret art?! Star Lord Art: Year of the Monkey!

The vague silhouette behind Long Tian's back immediately transformed from Ox into Monkey. As his speed and overall agility increased, Long Tian easily leaned out of Zhang Shi's punch trajectory, counterattacking with a punch of his own. The difference between strength was still too big though, as his punch was just shrugged off. Their deadlock continued for another minute, as neither could seriously harm the other.

As they fought each other Long Tian suddenly felt the bottleneck to Stage Nine of Core Formation loosen. Determined not to lose, he decided to break through on the spot. As he dodge between attack he furiously circulated gis Qi, smashing against the barrier if the bottleneck. Finally he felt a *pop* inside his body as he broke through. He didn't have time to rejoice though, as he exposed himself during his breakthrough, and wasn't able to dodge one of Zhang Shi's attacks. With a sickening crunch his left hand which he used to block got dislocated from his shoulder, as he felt his bones cracking.

While Long Tian was having the hardest fight of his life, inside the Headmasters's spectating room the conflict grew serious, as Tang San and Zhao Chi started fighting seriously whilst at the same time carefully monitoring the situation in the arena. Seeing Long Tian take a hit Tang San grew even more desperate, while Zhao Chi shouted:

- Zhang Shi, use "it"!

Everyone grew confused what Zhao Chi was referring to, when on stage Zhang Shi suddenly stopped, then took out a pill bottle and swallowed one pill.