Chapter 87: Playing Dirty

***Please give me more power stones to inspire me to write more!***

"Sir, who do you think will win between the two of them?" 

Below ground, over twenty instructors crowded around a single screen, their eyes fixed intently.

Before Yuan Gang could answer, another instructor spoke up, "It's obvious. Lin QiYe is still a newcomer as a divine agent. He can't win." 

"Not necessarily," another instructor countered. "To be honest, while Wang Mian's godly domain is ridiculously powerful, it relies heavily on his realm level. In the Zhan Realm, his abilities are limited. Plus, with Yi Yuan sealed, it's really fifty-fifty between them." 

"True," another chimed in. "If we swapped Wang Mian out for Athena's agent from the Phoenix Squad, Lin QiYe probably wouldn't last five moves. That one's like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus, and no amount of speed can close the gap in strength." 

"So what happens if Lin QiYe actually wins?" an instructor muttered, unable to stop himself. "Are we really going to let them end the training as the higher-ups suggested?" 

"...If that happens, the higher-ups will probably scramble our brains." 

Yuan Gang silently observed the battle on the screen and slowly spoke, "Let's watch a bit longer. It's too early to make any conclusions before there's a clear winner." 

...

"Giving it your all, huh?" 

Upon hearing Lin QiYe's words, a hint of appreciation flickered in Wang Mian's eyes as he nodded slightly. 

"Good." 

Clang—! 

The blades of both opponents collided, and once again, the Time God Domain was unleashed. 

Lin QiYe took a deep breath, pushing his mental state to its peak. If things went as expected, the outcome of their battle would soon be decided. 

Yi Yuan's blade hummed faintly as it sliced through the air. Instinctively, Lin QiYe raised his own blade to meet it. 

At that moment, Wang Mian's eyes, hidden beneath his mask, rippled with invisible waves. A powerful divine aura exploded from his gaze, rushing into Lin QiYe's mind with overwhelming force. 

Lin QiYe, who had used the divine might of the Seraphim to suppress countless others, had never before been on the receiving end of such divine pressure. In that instant, his pupils constricted as he felt the full brunt of Time God's divine might. 

In midair, the two locked eyes. 

A violent gust of wind erupted from their gazes, the raging divine might radiating out in waves, crushing everything in its path. 

"Woah, they just exchanged a glance, and the wind picked up!" BaiLi PoPo exclaimed in surprise. 

TianPing, eyes never leaving the screen, murmured, "Right now, it's the gods behind them clashing." 

The divine auras of the Seraphim and Time God collided fiercely for several seconds. Their eyes grew bloodshot as they weren't competing with their physical strength anymore but with the divine power within them. 

Boom—! 

With a soft sound, Wang Mian suddenly grunted and took a step back. 

At the same time, the Time God Domain around him shattered! 

Lin QiYe's eyes gleamed brightly as he stepped forward... 

Suddenly, he swung his blade! 

This time, Wang Mian didn't have time to block with his own weapon. 

The pale blue blade slashed across Wang Mian's mask, cutting the "Wang" character in two! 

Crack—! 

Wang Mian's mask shattered. 

Under the mask, a handsome and composed face appeared, looking at Lin QiYe with resignation. 

The onlookers jumped to their feet in shock, gasping! 

Even the instructors sitting before the screen were frozen, their hearts sinking with a thud. 

"Sorry..." 

Wang Mian gazed at Lin QiYe, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Immediately, the ripples in his eyes spread once more. 

Time God Domain—Activate! 

The shattered mask fragments quickly reversed course, flying back to Wang Mian's face. His previously bent body straightened, and the surrounding crowd returned to their seats, looking dazed. 

Lin QiYe's body uncontrollably shifted backward, the blade retracting to its original position. The cracks in the mask began to heal, and his body returned to the stance he had been in before swinging the blade. 

Lin QiYe's eyes widened in shock! 

Time had been reversed by three seconds. 

At that moment, their divine might had yet to be decided, Lin QiYe had not yet swung his blade, and Wang Mian's mask had not shattered. 

The crowd, which had just witnessed the scene, seemed to have forgotten what happened, still cheering for the two fighters. Only Lin QiYe... remembered what had just transpired. 

No, aside from Lin QiYe, the instructors who were glued to the screen were the only ones who knew what had just occurred. 

"He... he cut Wang Mian's mask off?!!" 

"Shit!" 

"Thankfully... thankfully Wang Mian reversed time, or we'd really be screwed!" 

"But... can Time Reversal even be used in the Zhan Realm?" 

"No... Wang Mian must've unsealed his realm. In that moment, he at least reached the Chuan Realm." 

"Does that mean we lost?!" 

"Cough, now that Lin QiYe didn't actually break Wang Mian's mask, we didn't lose." 

"But he unsealed his realm! That's playing dirty!" 

"Come on, don't be like that. It's not 'playing dirty.' If we let this training end now, will you really be happy?" 

"..."

The instructors were in an uproar. At that moment, Yuan Gang slowly stood up and glanced at the time. 

"It's already nine. The battle is over." 

"Sir, what about the result..." 

Yuan Gang glanced at him calmly and said, "Training must continue. This isn't about our face... it's for the future of these kids." 

"Understood..." 

...

On the ground. 

Lin QiYe looked down at the blade in his hand, then back at Wang Mian. After a long pause, he finally spoke. 

"You played dirty..." 

"Shh!!!" 

Wang Mian placed a finger to his lips and leaned in close to Lin QiYe, speaking softly into his ear: 

"Lin QiYe... I admit, I lost to you earlier, but... this new recruit training has to continue. Do you understand what I mean?" 

Lin QiYe's expression turned strange. 

"You want me to pretend I didn't win? Pretend nothing happened?" 

"Exactly." Wang Mian nodded, then added, "But don't worry, the instructors saw your performance. After the battle ends, you'll be recognized as the winner, and they'll give you... some compensation." 

Lin QiYe raised an eyebrow. 

"I'm a man of principle." 

"I think they can give you a fifty-thousand-dollar bonus without issue." 

"...My principles..." 

"They might even give you a protective artifact." 

"Cough, my..." 

"How about this, I owe you a favor." Wang Mian stared into Lin QiYe's eyes. "As the leader of the Masked Squad, I owe you a favor." 

"Deal!"