Luo Qingxue looked at Xu Qiu with pride in her eyes and said, “Xu Qiu! I admit your talent is strong, and in school your grades were always above mine! But that was the past! From now on, I am the number one of No. 3 High School! Take a good look at my true strength!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she rushed toward Xu Qiu. She struck out with a palm filled with biting cold ice crystals. The frigid air swirled around her palm, faintly forming a spiral.
Seeing this, Mu Qingkong recognized the Martial Technique and said, “That’s an A-Grade ice-attribute Martial Technique, the Frost Spiral Palm!”
1st stage upper-tier cultivation, plus an A-Grade Martial Technique.
No matter how one looked at it, Xu Qiu seemed to have no chance of winning.
After dodging her palm strike, Xu Qiu was slightly surprised at Luo Qingxue’s progress and thought to himself, “No wonder she challenged me today. She’s grown stronger! And this cultivation, this Martial Technique… Tsk tsk, having money really makes things easier.”
He could naturally guess that Luo Qingxue’s rapid improvement was due to the Luo Family pouring resources into her. At the very least, an A-Grade Martial Technique was not something ordinary people could learn.
In some top Martial Arts halls, only the core direct disciples had a chance to learn Martial Techniques of this level. As for students, they could only dream about it. Being able to learn a D-Grade Martial Technique issued by the school was already considered good.
“Tsk tsk, Xu Qiu is definitely going to lose!”
“An A-Grade Martial Technique and 1st stage upper-tier cultivation… I can’t even imagine how Luo Qingxue could lose!”
“But if we’re being honest, Xu Qiu is only losing because of his background.”
“Exactly. If Xu Qiu also had a massive family like the Luo Family backing him, his cultivation would definitely be much stronger!”
“At the very least, he would have an A-Grade Martial Technique too.”
Facing Luo Qingxue’s relentless attacks, Xu Qiu dodged left and right. At the same time, he clenched his fists and unleashed the Blazing Fire Crushing Fist.
With a single punch, he collided head-on with Luo Qingxue’s palm.
Flames and frost burst outward.
Luo Qingxue smiled and said, “Your Blazing Fire Crushing Fist is only a D-Grade Martial Technique. How could it possibly compare to my Frost Spiral Palm?”
Xu Qiu smiled faintly and replied, “Is that so?”
As he spoke, power surged from his body.
His 1st stage upper-tier cultivation erupted. Immediately afterward, he unleashed the Blazing Fire Crushing Fist again and again. Each punch carried tyrannical flames, not inferior to Luo Qingxue’s frost in the slightest.
“What? He’s also reached 1st stage upper-tier cultivation?!”
“How can his Blazing Fire Crushing Fist compete with an A-Grade Martial Technique?”
Everyone was confused.
Mu Qingkong smiled slightly and explained, “It’s proficiency. Martial Techniques are divided by grade, but proficiency is just as crucial. Luo Qingxue’s Frost Spiral Palm is indeed powerful. An A-Grade Martial Technique is something few in Qingyun City can even learn. For her to grasp it in such a short time shows her extraordinary talent. However, her proficiency is only at a superficial level.
“But Xu Qiu’s Blazing Fire Crushing Fist has already reached… Perfection!”
Only then did everyone suddenly understand.
Looking back at the two geniuses battling on the field, flames and frost clashed continuously, creating a strange spectacle as if the training ground had become a world of ice and fire.
“They’re so strong. We’re not even on the same level as them!”
“We’re still meditating and absorbing spiritual energy, trying to break through to the 1st stage, and they’re already 1st stage upper-tier Martial Artists!”
“Tsk tsk, geniuses. Truly geniuses.”
Some were envious. Some were jealous.
On the field, Luo Qingxue was shocked to see Xu Qiu holding his ground. “He can actually match me at my current level?!”
She had relied on her family’s resources to reach this point.
But what about Xu Qiu?
He had no background at all.
Relying purely on talent, he had reached the same height as her.
A monster.
He was the true monster.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several exchanges of fists and palms, Luo Qingxue began to feel herself being suppressed. She was astonished. “Am I… going to lose?”
Not far away, Mu Qingkong noticed the situation and smiled. “It’s combat experience. Xu Qiu’s real combat experience surpasses Luo Qingxue’s. When cultivation and Martial Technique power are nearly equal, it comes down to combat experience. Clearly, Xu Qiu has the advantage.”
“So Xu Qiu is going to win?” the principal of No. 3 High School said with a chuckle.
Mu Qingkong shook his head. “No. His chances of winning are still slim.”
Upstairs, Xu Xiaoshuang watched Xu Qiu suppressing Luo Qingxue and excitedly waved her fists. “My brother is awesome! Go, big brother!”
“He has very little chance of winning,” a voice sounded in her mind.
Xu Xiaoshuang froze. “Why?”
“For a Martial Artist, Martial Techniques, cultivation, and combat experience are important. But the most important thing is… the Martial Soul.”
“My brother also has an SSS-Grade Martial Soul!”
“Indeed, he does. But his Martial Soul is support-oriented. In real combat, it doesn’t provide much advantage. That little girl’s Martial Soul, on the other hand, is an ice-attribute, high-offense type. Once she uses her Martial Soul, your brother will lose,” Empress Qiongxiao said calmly.
Xu Xiaoshuang still felt unconvinced. “My brother will definitely find a way!”
But rationally, she knew…
The Empress was right.
Still, no matter what, she would support her brother with all her heart.
Xu Qiu threw a punch, and Luo Qingxue’s guard opened wide. He struck her in the chest, forcing her to retreat several steps.
Xu Qiu rubbed his fist and muttered, “Nice elasticity…”
Luo Qingxue flushed red with anger and shouted, “Pervert!”
She let out a low cry. Frost energy erupted from her body. A streak of blue light flew out from within her and transformed into a magnificent phoenix in the air.
It was Luo Qingxue’s Martial Soul.
The SSS-Grade Frost Divine Phoenix!
“Go!” Luo Qingxue shouted coldly.
The Frost Divine Phoenix soared above Xu Qiu and opened its beak, releasing a stream of icy breath. Xu Qiu hurriedly dodged. The ground where he had been standing froze instantly.
He sucked in a breath of cold air and said, “If that hit me, wouldn’t I turn into an ice sculpture? Luo Qingxue, are you trying to murder me?”
“Relax. Even if I freeze you into an ice sculpture, the Luo Family can save you. What, do you need me to hold back?” Luo Qingxue replied with a smile.
Xu Qiu grinned. “That won’t be necessary!”
He charged forward.
Luo Qingxue controlled the Frost Divine Phoenix, launching continuous attacks at Xu Qiu. At the same time, she rushed in and used the Frost Spiral Palm.
This was two against one.
Xu Xiaoshuang fumed. “That’s not fair!”
“How is it unfair? The Martial Soul and the Martial Artist are one and the same,” Empress Qiongxiao said with a curl of her lips.
Watching Xu Qiu fall into a disadvantage, she felt rather pleased. Hmph. Let him talk about beating me up.
But suddenly, she sensed something. A trace of astonishment appeared in her eyes. “This aura… could it be that this brat…”
Xu Qiu, who had been at a disadvantage, suddenly rushed in front of Luo Qingxue. He clenched his five fingers into a fist and struck out. Violent flames erupted from his fist, forming a gigantic blazing fist in the air.
Luo Qingxue’s expression changed. She summoned the Frost Divine Phoenix in front of her to block.
But even an SSS-Grade Martial Soul was blasted away.
Looking at the blazing fist closing in, Luo Qingxue felt as if a ferocious fire beast was staring her down. Her body froze in place.
In the next second, the blazing fist dispersed with a boom.
Xu Qiu’s fist stopped just in front of her forehead. He extended a single finger and lightly flicked her smooth forehead.
“Do you admit defeat?” Xu Qiu grinned, revealing a row of bright white teeth.
At that moment, Luo Qingxue’s heart suddenly fluttered.
Her face turned red. She withdrew the Frost Divine Phoenix and said softly, “I lost.”