Crushing Defeat

Crushing Defeat...

Was Ye Wuque's triumph merely a stroke of luck? That victory had been nothing short of a landslide.

Ranked fourth among the ten prodigies, Qiu Mo had once stood toe-to-toe with Ye Wuque. However, since Ye Wuque had now condensed his third Astral Soul, he had left Qiu Mo far behind.

Ye Wuque retreated from the arena, making way for 1st Sword. A palpable pressure, charged with monstrous sword intent, enveloped him.

While Ye Wuque had employed sword techniques in his battle, he wasn't a pure sword cultivator. 1st Sword, on the other hand, exuded an aura that unmistakably marked him as a formidable, dedicated sword cultivator.

The attacks of sword cultivators were unrelenting, slicing through opposition with unmatched precision.

Next, Rain gracefully stepped into the arena. Clad in white and radiating an aura of youthful beauty at the age of about 20, she had garnered numerous admirers in the academy. However, no one had yet succeeded in winning the affections of this outstanding beauty.

"I'm ready for your guidance," 1st Sword bowed to Rain. Despite their provocative intentions, they maintained their manners, leaving no room for criticism.

"Of course," Rain replied with a gentle and graceful bow. It was difficult to imagine that such a stunning woman possessed such tremendous combat prowess.

1st Sword advanced slowly. In an instant, his Sword-type Astral Soul erupted with brilliance, a tri-colored sword shining dazzlingly in mid-air. It exuded such splendor that it seemed capable of blinding the entire crowd.

"3rd Astral Soul, All-are-Swords," the crowd murmured in astonishment. No wonder he led Snowcloud's Three Swords. His dedication to swordsmanship was truly extraordinary.

Rain, too, unveiled her Astral Soul, causing meteor showers to cascade from the sky.

"Her 3rd Astral Soul is from the 4th Heavenly Layer!" gasps filled the air as surprise washed over the crowd, particularly among those from the Emperor Star Academy. Their exclamations could hardly be contained.

"Senior Rain wields such immense power yet remains so modest."

"Senior Rain surpasses Qiu Mo by leaps and bounds. Qiu Mo's reputation was somewhat inflated." The audience murmured in hushed tones, and the sound reached Qiu Mo's ears, contorting his face into an expression of deep displeasure.

More intriguing was Rain's choice of a Meteor-type Astral Soul. Centered around her, showers of meteors descended, creating a wide area of effect.

Simultaneously, a pair of pure white, exquisite wings unfurled on Rain's back. At that moment, she resembled an angelic being descended from the heavens, far more captivating than when Ye Wuque had revealed his wings.

"How utterly enchanting!" A chorus of admiration erupted from a group of young girls in the audience.

Yet, amidst the admiration, concerns for Rain's well-being echoed through the crowd. Could her chosen Astral Souls generate the necessary power to prevail?

Stepping forward, 1st Sword unleashed the brilliance of his swordsmanship, slashing through everything in his path. The tri-colored sword emitted three distinct streams of colored sword lights as it surged toward Rain.

Rain's figure flickered continuously as a rain-made screen enveloped her. As the trio of sword lights descended upon her, she remained untouched within her aqueous sanctuary.

"Her footwork," Qin Wentian observed, noting the Astral Light emanating from Rain's legs. He had attended one of her lectures before, during which he had uncovered her unique cultivation concepts. It was only after her lecture that Qin Wentian had grasped the technique of imbuing his palm attacks with sword light through footwork.

Watching 1st Sword's relentless onslaught and Rain's apparent invulnerability, Qin Wentian couldn't shake the feeling that Rain would likely emerge victorious in this battle.

Indeed, 1st Sword's attacks grew increasingly frantic, akin to a relentless storm of wind and rain, pressing so fiercely upon Rain that she had scarcely room to breathe. But just as it seemed one of his attacks had finally struck Rain, he soon realized his error. The Rain he had struck dissolved into motes of Astral Light, revealing another figure within the original rain-made screen.

"Could this be a variant Illusion-type Astral Soul?" The crowd marveled, their disbelief palpable. In this match, 1st Sword had seized the initiative and dictated the pace throughout, yet his attacks never truly threatened Rain.

"I merely got lucky," Rain confessed, taking a few steps back with a polite tone that, like Ye Wuque's, harbored a hint of sarcasm.

Weren't these individuals quite arrogant? And yet, they all ended up losing in the end.

Wang Teng strode onto the arena, radiating a formidable aura. His adversary for this match was Lin Hua, the leader of the Greencloud Association.

Qin Wentian had a favorable impression of Lin Hua. In a previous encounter, Lin Hua's intervention had likely saved Qin Wentian from a grim fate. If he had killed Qin Wentian, the might of the Nine Mystical Palace would have made it impossible for the academy to shield him.

But as soon as Qin Wentian witnessed Wang Teng's attacks, he knew that Lin Hua would fall in this battle.

He wasn't alone in this assessment. The crowd watched with hearts quaking as Wang Teng displayed his combat prowess. He resembled a mighty, unrelenting beast, obliterating everything in his path. Eventually, Lin Hua had no means to counter Wang Teng's increasingly ferocious strikes and was defeated.

"This guy seems like a trump card prepared by Chu Tianjiao. If he enters the fray, he's sure to win," Qin Wentian remarked, eyeing Chu Tianjiao's seemingly carefree countenance. Chu Tianjiao exuded an air of confidence, as if victory were already assured. He hadn't come here today to leave in defeat.

The fourth battle pitted Wu Chong against Du Yidao, the leader of the Asura Faction.

In the past, Luo Qianqiu had been a member of the Asura Faction. However, aside from the Knight's Association, the academy judged students based on their achievements, ignoring their status and affiliation.

The Asura Faction prioritized intense training and the pursuit of strength at any cost. They would willingly throw themselves into peril to grow stronger. In this situation, they naturally aligned themselves with the Emperor Star Academy.

Wu Chong hailed from the prestigious Godly General Martial Palace and possessed three different Beast-type Astral Souls, significantly enhancing his attack power. Yet, Du Yidao was no slouch either. His strikes were ruthlessly effective, seemingly capable of taking a life with each blow. He fought with an utter disregard for his own safety, the embodiment of ruthlessness.

Yet, Wu Chong's battle fervor and ruthlessness matched Du Yidao's stride for stride.

The Godly General Martial Palace, nestled deep within the Dark Forest, bred individuals who had been groomed for military service since childhood. Ruthlessness was ingrained in their very character. The students considered the Dark Forest their training ground and engaged in near-death battles during their daily drills. Their cruelty in training was on par with, if not surpassing, that of the Asura Faction.

Observing the numerous wounds that marred both combatants' bodies as a result of their wild and unrelenting bout, several spectators couldn't help but silently admire them.

In the end, with a thunderous roar of anger, Wu Chong harnessed the erupting power of his Beast-type Astral Souls to overpower Du Yidao. He sent him flying off the arena, securing victory in the fourth battle.

With this triumph, the Royal Academy had now won three out of the five proposed battles, achieving a glorious feat. Henceforth, Royal Academy students would proudly declare their academy superior to the Emperor Star Academy.

This had been their secondary objective, besides resolving the matter of Xiao Lǜ and Qin Yao, in coming here. To challenge the Emperor Star Academy directly in a full-scale war would be impractical. Instead, they opted for this method, slowly chipping away at the aura of invincibility that the masses associated with the Emperor Star Academy.

Bringing the Emperor Star Academy down overnight was an impossible task.

"Do we really need to proceed with the final bout?" Chu Tianjiao directed his gaze towards the spectator stands as he inquired with an unsettling calmness.

For those from the Emperor Star Academy, his voice grated on their eardrums like a discordant note. Was it even necessary to continue this combat? They had already clinched victory in three out of five battles. From a certain standpoint, they were the clear victors.

"Of course, we shall continue," Old Gu replied, his countenance less than pleased. Xanxus, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Association, stepped onto the arena.

Xanxus had attained the 3rd level of the Yuanfu Realm, a level that meant most students had already left the academy to pursue higher cultivation. In the context of the academy, Xanxus stood as the pinnacle of strength.

For students even stronger than him, they had already departed Chu to seek greater challenges. This battle, strictly speaking, no longer bore any weight in terms of victory or defeat. It was a fight for the honor and glory of the Emperor Star Academy.

Stepping forward, Xiao Lan entered the fray. This enigmatic cultivator had never been seen in the Royal Academy before. He lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Xanxus. His stare sent shivers down the spines of those who witnessed it; it was sharper than the keenest of swords.

"You're not my match. Step down," Xiao Lan calmly declared, a frigid edge underlying his words, which provoked a glint of intense coldness in Xanxus's eyes.

As the leader of the Heavenly Demon Association, Xanxus held an extraordinary status and position within the academy. The Heavenly Demon Association had been the first association formed after the founding of the Emperor Star Academy and was considered a symbol of the institution itself.

However, now they found themselves subjected to humiliation at the hands of others. What's more, among the five cultivators Chu Tianjiao had brought with him today, the first four were polite despite their formidable martial prowess. Yet, the fifth member displayed a character that was in complete contrast to his predecessors: savage and arrogant. It seemed as though he was deliberately aiming to disgrace the Emperor Star Academy.

"We'll only know once we battle," Xanxus replied in an icy tone.

A sudden gust of wind swept through as Xiao Lan's figure transformed into a streak of light. Their eyes locked, and Xanxus felt himself drawn into a mysterious realm. He couldn't even raise a hand to defend himself.

In the Emperor Star Academy's direction, someone rose from their seat, astonishment etched on their face.

BOOM! A deafening explosion shattered the night's silence. Moments later, Xanxus's chest was gashed open, blood spurting uncontrollably.

"Get lost!" Xiao Lan struck out with a palm, sending Xanxus hurtling off the arena. Old Gu's figure flickered as he appeared behind Xanxus, catching him before he could crash to the ground. He asked, "Are you okay?"

"Teacher, I'm sorry. I've disappointed you," Xanxus said apologetically, looking at Old Gu.

As it turned out, Xanxus, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Association, was a student of Old Gu.

"A loss is just a loss, no big deal," Old Gu consoled Xanxus, but a sharp gleam flickered in his eyes. When Xiao Lan had struck, his attacks had contained a pressure that could affect one's consciousness. Such a person was truly terrifying. At the very least, there was no one like Xiao Lan within the Emperor Star Academy.

"So, this is the extent of the Emperor Star Academy," Xiao Lan stated coldly, malice dripping from his words. With this outcome, no one could dispute his assertion.

Four defeats in five battles.

Today, Chu Tianjiao had come well-prepared to provoke and challenge the academy. If not for Rain's victory, their losses would have been even more humiliating. But despite her triumph, their current situation was still incredibly embarrassing. Three leaders of the four strongest student associations and factions had actually been defeated.

Such a pitiable conclusion would undoubtedly tarnish the reputation of the Emperor Star Academy. Today, Chu Tianjiao had undoubtedly achieved his objective!