"Teacher Li! I object!" It was Wang Yunze who had stood up. His Life Energy Level was previously the second-highest in class at 9.7, and after a winter break of arduous training, it had risen to 9.8.
"Shi Yi and I are both at 9.8. Why was he chosen over me? Xu Wuyi's Life Energy Level was only 8.6 during the last mock exam. On what grounds did he get in?"
Wang Yunze's accusation caused a stir, but quite a few people supported his view.
Xu Wuyi had been utterly unremarkable before, and his Life Energy Level was far too low. 'Could he really have improved by a full level in just one winter break?'
Li Hong looked at him, her gaze as calm as still water. "Wang Yunze, sit down. The selection criteria are comprehensive; they aren't based on Life Energy Level alone. I've seen your hard work, but the accelerated class has limited spots. This was a joint decision made by the school and the Martial Arts department."
"If you still have questions, you can take it up with a Martial Arts Teacher after class."
Wang Yunze's chest heaved, clearly unable to accept the decision. But faced with his homeroom teacher's authority, he finally sat back down, seething.
"Xu Wuyi, Shi Yi, you two head to Training Hall One and report in. Teacher Wang is waiting for you." Li Hong said no more, gesturing for the two of them to leave.
Xu Wuyi and Shi Yi rose to their feet. Under the complex gazes of the entire class, they left the classroom one after the other.
Out in the hallway, Shi Yi couldn't help but pump his fist in excitement. He turned to Xu Wuyi and said, "Xu Wuyi, I never expected you to improve so much over the winter break."
"Now that we're in the accelerated class, we'll have plenty of chances to spar and learn from each other!"
"Of course. Anytime," Xu Wuyi said with a nod.
...
As the two arrived at Training Hall One, a voice called out from behind them.
"Stop right there!"
Wang Yunze had caught up, blocking their path. He stared primarily at Xu Wuyi. "Xu Wuyi! I don't accept this! Why you? Is it just because you beat Han Mengmeng in the last combat class? She was just careless! If you've got any real skill, fight me!"
Shi Yi frowned and was about to speak.
"What's going on here?" a steady voice interjected.
Wang Wenhai was standing not far away, having appeared at some point without them noticing. He was watching the three of them.
"Teacher Wang!" Wang Yunze exclaimed as if he'd found his champion. "I object to the selection for the accelerated class! Shi Yi and I are both 9.8, but Xu Wuyi, he..."
Wang Wenhai raised a hand, cutting him off. His gaze swept over Xu Wuyi and Shi Yi before finally settling on Wang Yunze. "You're not convinced?"
"That's right!" Wang Yunze said, jutting out his chin defiantly.
"Talk is cheap," Wang Wenhai said flatly. "If you're not convinced, then let your fists do the talking. Come with me."
With that, he turned and headed into the hall.
Wang Yunze froze for a second, then immediately followed. Xu Wuyi and Shi Yi exchanged a glance and silently followed as well.
Training Hall One was the school's best-equipped and largest training facility, normally open only to elite Martial Arts students and teachers.
At that moment, more than twenty students were already standing in the open space at the center of the hall.
They stood with straight postures and sharp gazes, clearly the elites of their respective classes.
Among them, Zeng Bonan, Hu Haobo, Liu Jing, and other top students from Class One were present.
When Wang Wenhai walked in with Xu Wuyi and the other two, all eyes turned to them.
Zeng Bonan stood at the front of the group. His gaze swept past Wang Yunze and Shi Yi before finally landing on Xu Wuyi. A slight smile touched his lips as he nodded. "Xu Wuyi, you really came."
This scene caused many of the other students to look surprised.
Zeng Bonan was the top Martial Arts student in Class One. He had a somewhat reserved personality, and it was rare to see him initiate a greeting, especially with a student from a regular class.
Hu Haobo stood a short distance away with his arms crossed. His cold, stern gaze sized up Xu Wuyi, and his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
Xu Wuyi nodded back. This wasn't the time for small talk.
Wang Wenhai paid no mind to the students' interactions. He walked to the center of the training area, scanned the group, and his voice boomed, "Everyone is here. Before the official training for the accelerated class begins, we need to resolve a small issue."
He pointed to Wang Yunze and Xu Wuyi. "Wang Yunze has an objection to Xu Wuyi's selection for the accelerated class. Among Martial Artists, objections are settled with fists. You two, step forward."
The crowd automatically parted, clearing the central area.
Wang Yunze took a deep breath and strode into the center of the ring, his eyes blazing as he stared at Xu Wuyi, his fighting spirit soaring.
'I refuse to believe I could lose to a nobody like Xu Wuyi who just popped up out of nowhere.' He was confident in his high Life Energy Level and had trained relentlessly in his Martial Techniques.
Xu Wuyi's expression was calm as he walked out slowly and came to a stop opposite his challenger.
"The rules are simple. This is a spar, so stop once a decisive blow is landed. No intentional strikes to vital points," Wang Wenhai reiterated the rules of engagement. "Begin."
All eyes were fixed on the center of the arena.
With a low shout, Wang Yunze activated his 9.8 Life Energy Level. As his Qi and Blood began to circulate, he assumed the Starting Form of the D-level Martial Technique he specialized in, the Heart-Piercing Leg. His aura was sharp and imposing.
'I'll defeat Xu Wuyi in one fell swoop and prove myself,' he resolved.
However, Xu Wuyi simply stood there casually, adopting a defensive stance from the Basic Body Refining Technique. His aura was tranquil, like an unshakable mountain, revealing no openings.
'Just for show!' Wang Yunze scoffed inwardly.
He hesitated no longer. Pushing off with his feet, he charged forward and launched a swift side kick straight at Xu Wuyi's midsection. The whistling wind from his leg was a testament to his arduous training over the winter break.
Facing this fierce attack, Xu Wuyi didn't move his feet. He simply lowered his center of gravity slightly as his left arm rose as if in anticipation. The muscles in his forearm tensed instantly, perfectly blocking his opponent's shin.
BANG!
A muffled thud resounded.
Wang Yunze felt as if his leg had struck a solid iron pillar. A shockwave traveled back up his shin, making it go numb and instantly shattering his offensive.
'His strength and defense are far beyond what I expected!' he thought in alarm.
His reaction was quick, however. Using the force of the rebound, he spun his body and sent his other leg whipping around in a horizontal sweep aimed at Xu Wuyi's head!
This sudden change in attack was incredibly fast, drawing a few low gasps from the crowd.
Xu Wuyi's expression remained calm.
The instant Wang Yunze changed his attack, Xu Wuyi moved.
His movements didn't look fast, yet they were perfectly timed.
He leaned his upper body back, narrowly avoiding the vicious sweep kick. At the same time, his right fist, which had been poised and waiting, shot out like a tiger bursting from its cage—launching second, but landing first!
It was still the most basic power-generating technique from the Basic Body Refining Technique, but empowered by the Minor Success Realm, the punch was as fast as lightning and as heavy as a landslide!
Wang Yunze's sweep kick had just grazed the tip of Xu Wuyi's nose. His momentum was spent, and he had no time to generate new force. All he could do was watch helplessly as the fist magnified before his eyes.
FWOOSH!
Xu Wuyi's fist stopped dead, inches from the tip of Wang Yunze's nose. The wind from the punch was strong enough to stir his hair.
The entire hall fell silent.
Wang Yunze froze on the spot, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.
He knew that if Xu Wuyi hadn't pulled his punch, it would have been enough to break his nose and instantly render him combat-ineffective.
Xu Wuyi slowly retracted his fist and took a step back, his expression as calm as ever. "I was fortunate."
Wang Yunze's face paled, and in the end, all his arrogance and indignation dissolved into dejection.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Head bowed, he silently walked back to the edge of the crowd.