"Challenges and Glory: The Rise of Jiang Teng at Starry Sky Academy"

"Who would have thought that you, a useless person who only managed to get in through a recommendation, would dare to show up unexpectedly!" Xiong Meiqi coldly remarked upon seeing Huang Xiaolong's arrival.

Huang Xiaolong remained indifferent, his expression unchanged. "Why wouldn't I dare to come? I'm confident that I'll be among the top ten in the freshman test. Are you afraid of going back on your promise?"

A cold gleam flickered in Xiong Meiqi's eyes as he replied, "I, Xiong Meiqi, never go back on my word!"

Huang Xiaolong made his way into the crowd and, at that moment, Jiang Teng, the golden-haired youth, looked at him with disdain and contempt. Huang Xiaolong, however, remained unfazed.

Li Lu soon joined Huang Xiaolong's side, her face filled with concern. "Xiaolong, do you really think you'll make it into the top ten?"

Huang Xiaolong reassured her with a glance. "Don't worry."

After a while, Xiong Meiqi began explaining the format and rules of the freshman test. Since strength was best assessed through combat, the test would consist of a series of fights. The competition would be divided into five rounds, with the matches decided by a random draw. The winners of each round would advance to the next, until the top ten positions were determined.

The competition would take place in the square, which was surrounded by First Grade, Second Grade, and even Third Grade students who were passing by.

However, just as Xiong Meiqi finished explaining the rules, a voice suddenly interrupted, "Teacher Xiong, this is too troublesome. I suggest that I take on all the freshmen challengers. The one who lasts the longest against me will earn a higher position!"

Everyone was taken aback and turned to see that it was Jiang Teng who had spoken.

Jiang Teng's proposal immediately caused a commotion among the surrounding students.

"Is this the boy with the Super-level Martial Spirit, the Sacred Bright Tiger, Jiang Teng? He's so audacious! He actually thinks he can take on all the freshmen by himself!"

"He may be crazy, but he's capable!"

The students began discussing fervently.

Xiong Meiqi was surprised. Could Jiang Teng really take on all the challengers by himself?

There were about a hundred freshmen in total.

At that moment, two tall men stood in a corner of the square. One of them was Vice Dean Xiong Chu, and the other was a man with unusually large eyes and ears, making a lasting impression on anyone who saw him.

"Dean, this boy, Jiang Teng, is young and impetuous," Xiong Chu said to the man, Dean Sun Zhang. "Although he's strong, how can he handle all the freshmen?"

Sun Zhang, the Dean of Starry Sky Academy, remained unfazed. "It's not a problem. It's normal for a child to be young and impetuous. Besides, Jiang Teng has a Super-level Martial Spirit. Don't underestimate the ability of his Sacred Bright Tiger!"

Sun Zhang's words implied that Jiang Teng's strength was more than enough to handle all the freshmen challengers.

Xiong Chu was taken aback. He finally understood what Dean Sun Zhang meant.

"Now you know," Sun Zhang said with a smile.

While Xiong Meiqi hesitated about whether to let Jiang Teng take on all the challengers, he suddenly heard a voice in his ear—it was Xiong Chu, his father.

All eyes turned to Xiong Meiqi, waiting for his decision.

After a moment of consideration, Xiong Meiqi glanced at the crowd and nodded at Jiang Teng. "Fine."

"Fine!"

As soon as Xiong Meiqi's words fell, a buzz of excitement filled the air.

Xiong Meiqi had actually agreed to let Jiang Teng take on all the freshmen challengers by himself!

Xiong Meiqi stepped forward and waved his hands, creating a circle with a diameter of ten meters in the square. The competition would take place inside this circle, and anyone who stepped out of it would lose.

As soon as Jiang Teng leaped into the circle and landed, he stood there with his arms crossed, looking at the crowd with a proud expression. "Who dares to come first?!" he proclaimed arrogantly.

After Jiang Teng's words, there was a moment of silence.

"I'll go!" Suddenly, a plump figure leaped into the circle. When he landed, his entire body emitted a burst of light, summoning his Martial Spirit. It turned out to be a chubby Sand Tree Fern Beast Martial Spirit, with two soft antennas on its head, looking incredibly adorable.

Many freshmen laughed when they saw this, finding the Martial Spirit's appearance amusing.

Huang Xiaolong shook his head with a smile. The Martial Spirit was indeed comical, but a few days ago, he had seen its description in the library. He recognized it as a Level 10 top-grade Martial Spirit called Earth Dragon. Although it wasn't a true dragon, it possessed Dragon Clan bloodline and was considered a Lesser Dragon Clan.

The plump student summoned his Martial Spirit and quickly approached Jiang Teng with a punch. Although the power behind the punch wasn't weak, Huang Xiaolong could tell that the student had only reached Rank 3 Middle Stage.

However, despite being at Rank 3 Middle Stage, the plump student was no match for Jiang Teng, who raised his left hand and released Battle Qi, meeting the punch head-on.

"Bang!" With a small muffled sound, the plump student was struck by Jiang Teng's Battle Qi and stumbled backward. His plump body trembled, and he ended up at the edge of the circle.

Jiang Teng stood still, then raised his palm and swiped it in the air. The plump student was swept out of the circle.

A Level 10 top-grade Martial Spirit and a Rank 3 Middle Stage student had been defeated!

And it only took a mere three breaths!

The spectators were astounded.

Six more freshmen stepped forward, but they were all defeated by Jiang Teng. The longest anyone lasted was four breaths, while the quickest defeat happened in just one breath.

After defeating the seventh person, Jiang Teng's entire body started to emit a faint light, which sparkled continuously. It turned out that the previous battles had taken a toll on his energy.

"Is that Battle Qi restoration?" Some of the surrounding students exclaimed in shock as they witnessed this phenomenon.

Battle Qi restoration!

After breaking through to Rank 4, Jiang Teng's Sacred Bright Tiger had undergone a transformation, granting him the Life Source Spirit Skill of Battle Qi restoration. This Life Source Spirit Skill was incredibly abnormal!

In the distance, Xiong Chu was also surprised. Now he understood why Dean Sun Zhang had said that Jiang Teng could easily handle about a hundred freshmen challengers. After each victory, Jiang Teng could restore the Battle Qi he had lost, allowing him to easily defeat dozens more freshmen.

Xiong Chu's eyes sparkled.

Sun Zhang looked at Jiang Teng with satisfaction, saying with a smile, "Our academy has been established for over a hundred years, and in the Battle of Broken Blade Empire's Imperial City, there hasn't been a disciple who couldn't make it to the top hundred. With Jiang Teng, we now have hope. With our strong training, in twenty years, Jiang Teng will undoubtedly enter the top thirty in the Imperial City's Battle!"

Xiong Chu's smooth voice added with a smile, "If Jiang Teng can enter the top thirty in the Imperial City's Battle in twenty years, it will be a hundred years of glory for our Starry Sky Academy. At that time, our academy will receive great rewards from Broken Blade Empire's Broken Blade Great Emperor!"

Sun Zhang nodded, his smile unwavering.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiaolong stood among the freshmen, watching Jiang Teng, who had defeated seven opponents with ease, his spirit high. However, he didn't rush to make his move.

After Jiang Teng defeated seven opponents, Li Lu suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and entered the circle.

Jiang Teng sneered when he saw Li Lu coming forward. He knew that she had a good relationship with Huang Xiaolong, the waste who dared to come here with a letter of recommendation.

He looked at Huang Xiaolong in the distance, then turned his gaze to Li Lu. A cruel and fierce glint flashed in his eyes.