Chapter 26: The Storm After Returning to the Academy (Part 2)

  "Stop messing around, Huo Fan," Yin Yue said.

  "What makes you treat her differently? She's only been here for a short while, just a newcomer. I've grown up with you since childhood!" Huo Shan was furious, his eyes almost spitting fire as he spoke, but his voice cracked at the end. I shuddered, really didn't expect that.

  "Am I refusing?" I whispered.

  "You dare, if you refuse, believe it or not, I'll bother you every day."

  "Ximeng, compared to her, what's there to be afraid of? Besides, even if you lose, it's still glorious. She's so much older than you." Xiao Pu said, pulling my arm, she really is one who fears the world will not be chaotic enough, how can I compare to her like this?

  "That's enough, Huo Yan, stop being so reckless. This is the Academy, even if your father were here, he wouldn't let you behave like this," Yin Yue said.

  "What's wrong, have you become timid? Are you always going to hide and wait for someone to help you? Coward!" The more Huishan spoke, the more agitated she became. I knew she was goading me, and I couldn't respond.

  "I won't compare with you."

  "You're a real embarrassment to the Langda family, humph." Huo Shan said, looking at me coldly.

  Ugh, I've had enough of her! I'm a human being, I won't let others lose face, nor will I let Grandpa Landa lose face. If I were to tolerate her words, I wouldn't be Xue Meng anymore. From young to old, I've always been so quiet, no one has ever spoken to me like that before. I thought that tolerating it would make it pass, even after coming here, as long as I focus on cultivating quietly, I can return home and leave this strange world behind. Originally, I was already very lonely, now being spoken to like this, I've really had enough! Qiu, come quickly and take me away!

  I raised my head, looked at Huo Shan and said: "Alright, I'll compete with you. If you lose, please don't bother me again in the future."

  "Hmph, you're underestimating me, aren't you? I'd lose? Ridiculous. As long as you compare with me, I won't bother you. I just want to let His Highness see who's worthy of him."

  "Go ahead, don't mind whether you win or lose, just treat it as a real battle." Yin Yue said with a faint smile.

  "Yes, come on, Xi Meng!" Xiao Pu also said with a smile.

  I nodded and walked towards the stage, passing by the wild ghost. He whispered a sentence: "Don't force it." I smiled and passed by.

  After I got on stage, I saw her not far away, her expression was very cold, as if I were her arch-nemesis. The number of students under the stage is increasing, possibly because of Yin Yue and Ye Gui's presence, or maybe it's because they want to watch the excitement of a freshman challenging an upperclassman. No matter how strong she is, I won't lose to her!

  A barrier was formed around the arena to prevent damage to the academy, and it would only disappear when one side withdrew their soul energy, so during the battle, no one else could enter except for the two combatants.

  It's started! Huo Shan released her soul energy, and a deep grey aura enveloped her. She seemed to be very powerful, having leveled up so quickly, already reaching the high-level of Ming Shi. The audience erupted in cheers, they were all Huo Shan's admirers, I suppose. I also released my soul energy, and a deep blue aura appeared. The cheering stopped abruptly, disbelieving that a newcomer could possibly reach the Warrior level. A flash of surprise flickered across Huo Shan's eyes.

  "I admit you have great talent, but it's useless. Go ahead, spread your wings and fly for ten thousand miles." Huo Shan let out a loud shout, and in his hand appeared a fan, instantly summoning dozens of cyan-colored light pillars.

  "Defense, Golden Brocade." The emergence of the Golden Brocade blocked the flames' attack. I took out a series of Bone Flutes one after another, "Wings of Wind, Extinguish." The surrounding smoke dispersed.

  "Hmph, it's just the beginning, water and fire are mutually soluble." The Huohe tribe is most skilled in flames, although this technique is a water element, I clearly feel that the outer layer of the water pillar is wrapped in a green flame, even with the protection of the golden thread clothes, I still have a feeling of being burned all over my body.

  Huǒ shàn is a member of the Huǒ Hè clan, she's a demon but has such high status here for a reason - fire. Her family's unique and powerful flame can melt anything when it reaches its peak. Even though Huǒ shàn's current level isn't high, compared to me her level is lower, so this flame puts a lot of pressure on me.

  I activated "Wings of Wind" again, but the flames didn't decrease in size at all. Now I can only switch to offense. "Meteor Umbrella, quickly." With a few flashes, I arrived beside Huo Shan, and before she could react, I had already started my close-range attack. This was just some basic self-defense techniques that I hadn't used here yet, because against an opponent with a large build, it wouldn't be effective at all - getting close would be equivalent to seeking death. However, Huo Shan wasn't tall and big, just slightly taller than me. Unprepared, she was thrown off her feet by my shoulder throw and fell to the ground. The flames on the stage disappeared.

  "How detestable, the flames are intertwining!" It seems she's really angry now. I feel a wave of hot air coming over me and can't catch my breath. Even with the defensive power of "Golden Thread Robe", this scorching heat is still hurting me. I pick up the Bone Flute - it won't work, but I have to try. This fire probably can only be stopped by a second-level water note. I force myself to circulate my soul energy, no matter how long I can hold on, and play "Water Shield". As soon as I blow out a few notes, I sit down.

  "Give up already." Huai Shan looked at me proudly.

  No, go away, Water Shield! A gust of cold air arrived, and the scorching feeling disappeared by half. An invisible shield rushed towards the fire fan, she was knocked to the ground, her body already soaked through. She glared at me angrily, as if wanting to swallow me whole.

  "That's enough, Huo Tian, you've already lost." It was Yin Yue's voice.

  "I'm not done yet, I can still fight!" Huo Hei shouted loudly as he stood up.

  "With Xi Meng's level breaking through your current one, you have already lost."

  "Is that so? I didn't say I'd let her off, since I accepted the challenge, I must go all out." Now Huo Shan couldn't care about that much, her only thought was to defeat me. She transformed into a crane, surrounded by flames, it seemed she was going to use her true form.

  "Halt, Flame Fan, Academy prohibits injury." Silver Moon's voice rang out once more.

  "Ximeng, you'd better give up quickly, give up." Xiao Pu hurriedly shouted from below.

  I don't want to, I can be defeated but will never admit defeat.

  "The flame fan is ready. This is my final blow. If you can break through it, then you win! Go, Fire Crane True Form, Melt!"

  Will I die? I don't have the strength to cast Water Shield again. Ah, I still have Purify, let me use that! It's the least soul-draining method. Yu, help me... *closes eyes*

  Only to see Huo Shan sitting on the ground, her soul power had completely disappeared, this blow had exhausted all her soul power. This attack was used twice by her, and now it's the second time. Even if a Mo Zong-level cultivator wanted to withstand it, they would definitely be severely injured, let alone someone one level lower than her... She actually felt afraid.

  The surrounding seal disappeared, and all the students stared at a ball of flames that was still burning. Everything in this power would... melt. The scene was quiet, and suddenly a figure rushed up, it was Ye Gui. Then came Yin Yue and Xiao Pu, three figures arrived on stage together. This flame will only be extinguished after it has burned out, even if it is the Huo He family's, it will only burn and not extinguish, this power is too overbearing. At this time, Huo Shan was also staring at the ball of flames.

  The wild ghost turned around, fiercely staring at the fire fan. Silver Moon pressed down on his hand and shook her head. At this time, the deputy dean arrived, having already received a report that there was a duel between students. After all, the safety of each student was his responsibility. He was accompanied by two directors and Nian. The two directors quickly stepped forward to put out the fire.

  "You've gone too far this time, Huo Fan. Are you trying to kill students in the Academy?" The old voice was full of authority, and this Vice-Dean was a high-ranking member of the Netherworld Sect.

  "No, uncle, I was wrong." It turned out that this deputy dean was also from Huo He Yi Zu.

  "Deputy Director, the fire cannot be extinguished." Two directors reported

  "Huo He, didn't your father tell you not to use this move recklessly? This fire can only be extinguished by itself. If something really happens, how am I supposed to explain it to Lang Da?" The deputy dean sighed.

  At that time, I felt like I was in a sea of flames. Although the pure sound kept purifying the power of the fire, at this speed, I would eventually be burned to death. After all, purification also requires soul power.

  "Relax, let me take control of your body. Your soul power is not enough," said Jiu Mei's voice. I did as he said, and soon I felt a surge of powerful energy that didn't belong to me. The Pure Sound began to spin rapidly again. With a "bang", the flames exploded, covered in white, and were finally extinguished.

  "Thank you, Jiu Mei." I felt like I was in control of my body again, it seemed like it was a success. I opened my eyes and was startled, why were there so many students and teachers surrounding me? Why were they all staring at me with surprise? I slowly got up and saw Yin Yue, Ye Gui, Xiao Pu and others, as well as Instructor Nian, and that Huo Shan was also there.

  "Who won?" I asked in a low voice.

  "You won." The one who answered me was a wild ghost, but somehow it felt like he just smiled?

  "I won, really?" I asked again with a smile. Before waiting for an answer, everything went black and I fell down, closing my eyes in that instant I saw many panicked faces, saw the stunned expression of Huo Fan, saw a pair of arms catching me, it was Ye Gui, his body wasn't as cold as I had imagined. Completely fainted.