After that, nothing happened for the next day or two. Teacher Jiao told me to finish up the rest of my Shadow Steps learning, which was nearing completion. Once I did so, I was to see him and we would proceed from there.

For a martial arts academy, the students were left to their own devices to do a whole lot of self-learning. I was beginning to wonder what the point of joining a martial arts academy was, given that the only things the teachers and staff taught us were theoretical subjects that we could learn in any regular school.

What was the point of enrolling in a martial academy then?

The answer was the competitive environment.

"Hah!"

"Oraaaa!"

Instead of going on a run today, I had taken a detour to watch an official duel between two of my schoolmates. Feng Tian Yong was dueling against a student from Class 1-3, and they were viciously trading blows.

Boom!

Fires erupted from Feng Tian Yong's hands as he slashed at the other guy with his Flaming Phoenix Claws technique. The other guy countered with Soaring Eagle Talons, a light blue aura of predatory qi shrouding his hands. The clash between their attacks caused the colliding qi to detonate and both fighters staggered back.

The other guy, who was from the Soaring Eagle Sect, was a student named Fei Ying..if I remembered correctly. No, he had no relation with me, and the Chinese character for our family name was completely different. In any case, I heard of him. He was a highly competent Three Star Constitution practitioner, and for him to fight this long against a Four Star Constitution cultivator like Feng Tian Yong proved his ability.

"Heh..not bad."

Feng Tian Yong looked impressed. Grinning excitedly, he increased the intensity of his blazing yang qi, shrouding himself within a ravenous inferno.

"You're pretty good! There's no need for me to hold back!"

Fei Ying watched him silently, but I could see the perspiration dripping down his face. Nonetheless, he clamped down on his fears and bravely faced the human torch that Feng Tian Yong had become. A pair of azure wings materialized on his back and spread out, and I could almost see feathers made of qi fluttering to the ground.

"That's the..Soaring Eagle Double Wings technique!" one of the students from class 1-3 murmured.

"Fei Ying is really going all out, eh?"

"Do it! Beat that guy from class 4!"

While the students from class 1-3 roared their approval, the students from class 1-4 refused to back down.

"Feng Tian Yong!" I hollered. "Do your best!"

"Yeah!"

The girls joined me, screaming and cheering. Feng Tian Yong was one of the most handsome guys in class, and thus garnered a huge following from our female classmates.

"You can win!" Zhu Jiao shouted beside me.

Feng Tian Yong smiled as he glanced at us, then he turned back to smirk at his opponent.

"Wings, huh?" he asked. "I can do that too."

Blazing wings of fire burst out of his back, unfolding to unleash a rain of fiery feathers onto the ground. Even more massive and majestic than Fei Ying's, the flaming wings took on a golden tinge that enveloped the entire arena in a yellowish glow.

".."

Fei Ying watched his opponent cautiously, but he did not back down. Gritting his teeth, he hardened his resolve and sped forward. His wings flapped and he soared high in the vast space of the arena, which despite being an enclosed space was about twenty meters in height and fifty meters in length and breadth.

There clearly was enough space for both duelists to fly around.

Not wanting to be upstaged, Feng Tian Yong flapped his fiery wings as well, and took off. The two of them wheeled, jinked and cartwheeled in the air, using their heightened mobility and agility to dodge each other's attacks.

It was almost like watching a pair of fighter jet planes dueling in the skies.

"Amazing..even though Feng Tian Yong and Fei Ying are only middle school first year students, they've already reached such a level?!"

"Geniuses..both of them are geniuses!"

"The only one who can surpass them is Bai Ning Xue!"

Just so you know, this was most certainly not a normal duel between middle school first year students. It resembled the high-level battles between high school students. Most of our duels were a lot more low-key than this, which was exactly why this was one of the rare instances I actually bothered to watch a duel between my classmates.

There was an explosion as the two combatants collided in the air again, Feng Tian Yong's Flaming Phoenix Claws clashing against Fei Ying's Soaring Eagle Talons. Both of them plummeted toward the ground, exchanging vicious blows, striking and slashing at each other's faces, chests or arms. Flames pounded against a blue sheen, while sharp azure qi scratched against a blazing barrier. For a moment, it seemed neither duelist would give ground.

Boom!

Wrestling with each other, the duo slammed into the ground and vanished in a cloud of dust. Slight tremors shook across the arena, but the reinforced material – which was far more durable and sturdier than the one used in the training facilities – held. The spectators held their breaths as they waited for the cloud to dissipate.

It didn't take long for the cloud of dust to dissipate, and when it did, many of the spectators gasped. Both figures were lying on the ground.

"That's.."

"It's a..draw?"

"No..wait!"

Someone shouted when one of the figures rose unsteadily to his feet. Holding his fist up, diminished flames flickering weakly but surely, Feng Tian Yong yelled triumphantly.

"OOOOOH!"

"Awesome!"

"Amazing!"

The spectators broke into applause, having enjoyed that fight tremendously. As for me, I was both pleased for my friend as well as satisfied that I had learned something from this fight.

"Feng Tian Yong is super strong, isn't he?" Zhu Jiao commented, thoroughly impressed. "He's probably one of the best in our cohort."

"Yeah," I agreed, watching as Feng Tian Yong strode over to his fallen opponent. He offered Fei Ying a hand, and the latter took it, allowing Feng Tian Yong to pull him to his feet.

"You were amazing," Feng Tian Yong praised Fei Ying, patting him in the shoulder. "You really pushed me all the way."

"Heh. Thanks. But I still lost." Fei Ying shook his head. Feng Tian Yong beamed in response.

"You know I'll accept your challenge anytime. I would love to fight against you again."

"Of course." Fei Ying smiled back. "Next time the result might be different."

Feng Tian Yong laughed. "I look forward to that!"

"Let's go congratulate Tian Yong," I told Zhu Jiao, getting ready to descend to the backstage of the arena. The girls in our class were already heading in that direction, no doubt trying to appeal to him by offering him a towel or something.

"Oh? Where do you think you're going?"

I felt a chill run down my spine when I heard the familiar voice. Turning around, I caught sight of Qi Fu Ren showing up in the spectator box, his flunkies in tow.

"Hey, it's been a while." Forcing my discomfort away, I looked up at him and waved absentmindedly. "Hello."

Qi Fu Ren's lip curled and he glared at me. He seemed pretty annoyed by my sarcasm. Good. That was the point of my sarcasm.

"Why haven't you bowed down already?" he sneered. I stared at him, taken aback by the ridiculous words.

"Why should I bow down to you?"

Shrugging, I made to brush past him and head downstairs to where Feng Tian Yong and the others were, but Qi Fu Ren reached out and shoved me back.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I met his gaze evenly. "I don't believe that's any of your business?"

Qi Fu Ren placed a hand on my shoulders, and in a single motion, slammed my knees into the ground. I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to let out a cry of pain to the sadistic bully. As if he was disappointed, Qi Fu Ren exerted more force into his hand on my shoulder, grinding my knees painfully against the concrete.

"Kneel. Didn't you learn from your months in Wu Ling Academy? The correct way of greeting a superior and stronger person is to prostrate themselves. I'm already magnanimous in only letting you kneel instead of prostrating."

Bloody fucker..

"Hey, what are you doing?" Zhu Jiao growled as he hurried over to help me. He was the only one who did so. Even though most of the student spectators from all the different classes had remained behind in the box, the majority of them had gathered behind Qi Fu Ren and his underlings to spectate. They either stood by, doing absolutely nothing, or they enjoyed what they perceived as entertainment. "Get your hands off Fei Wu!"

"What's going on here?" Ban Zhang emerged. "Why are you all standing around, watching..? Hey! Qi Fu Ren! What do you think you're doing?"

Before he could get to our position, Hu Shuo and Ba Dao barred him. Craning my neck, I saw that it wasn't just Ban Zhang. A few other guys, and girls such as Qing Xin Xia and Xiang Xun Yi had quickly stepped forward, but the two cronies continued to block them.

"Stop it! Stop picking on Zhu Jiao and Fei Wu!"

"You guys should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"Heh." Qi Fu Ren relaxed his grip on my shoulder, and I quickly seized the chance to withdraw. Ignoring me. Qi Fu Ren turned to glare at the classmates who dared gathered in front of him. "None of you are a match for me."

"That's not the point! You shouldn't be bullying other people.."

Ban Zhang barely finished his sentence when Qi Fu Ren struck him. Lightning exploded and Ban Zhang was sent hurtling across the air, crashing onto the ground heavily in a heap. After carving a trail, he lay motionlessly on the floor, his body smoking.

Qi Fu Ren raised a lightning-wreathed fist. "Anyone else wants to interfere?"

Nobody said anything after that. Qing Xin Xia quickly hurried over to treat Ban Zhang with her healing techniques from the Green Dragon Sect. after a few moments, Ban Zhang began to stir, and I finally let out an exhalation of relief.

Meanwhile Qi Fu Ren turned gleefully toward me and despite being a distance away, he punched out.

At first I thought he was merely threatening me, but a lightning bolt rippled from his hand and slammed into me. I shrieked as electricity incinerated and shocked me, causing my body to jerk uncontrollably.

"Ha ha ha ha! Would you look at that?" Qi Fu Ren and his two flunkies guffawed at the sight. "Did you take dance lessons, Fei Wu? Those are some pretty good moves!"

I collapsed onto the ground wordlessly, fumes rising from my electrocuted body. I coughed, feeling numb all over. Gritting my teeth, I tried to crawl to my feet, only for Qi Fu Ren to approach and hit me.

However, before his blow could land, Zhu Jiao caught his fist. Lightning crackled and surged violently, but Zhu Jiao didn't seem the least affected. Instead, he shoved Qi Fu Ren away.

"Is it that fun picking on the weak?" he demanded.

"Eh?" Qi Fu Ren looked astonished that his lightning didn't seem to have any effect on Zhu Jiao, but he quickly wrote that off as an aberration. Regaining his malicious grin, he mocked Zhu Jiao derisively. "Of course! There's no greater joy than putting trash in their place..in the bin!"

Zhu Jiao met his scornful gaze evenly, his eyes steely and cold. "If you want to pick on Wu, you'll have to go through me first."

"Hah! That's what I wanted! I wanted to teach you a lesson as well! You're getting pretty uppity lately, aren't you?" Qi Fu Ren sneered as he glowered at Zhu Jiao. "And stop bluffing. None of the teachers are here today. Don't think you can rely on Teacher Jiao to save your sorry ass now, like he did the last time."

A cold smile spread over Zhu Jiao's handsome face. "Good. Then you won't be able to hide behind Teacher Jiao."

"What did you say?!" Qi Fu Ren roared. Zhu Jiao smirked.

"Oh, so you're deaf as well as stupid? I said that it's a pity you won't be able to hide behind Ning Xue today." He shrugged. "How pathetic of you to always hide behind adults. Are you planning to be a kid forever?"

Qi Fu Ren stared at him, astounded. Then he began chuckling, his laughter quaking with barely concealed rage.

"Good. Very good. I see that you've finally lost your mind. Being trash must have damaged you psychologically. I feel so sorry for you." he reached out to strike Zhu Jiao, but the latter caught his Lightning Fist without breaking a sweat. Qi Fu Ren's brow furrowed, but he retained his composure. "Since you're so confident, then you won't refuse my challenge, right?"

Zhu Jiao sighed and shook his head exaggeratedly. "You're not my match."

"What did he say?"

"Huh?!"

"Did..did I mishear what he said?"

A murmur rippled across the crowd of students as they closed in to watch, a few out of concern, but the majority for entertainment. The latter were staring at each other in amusement and disbelief, and like Qi Fu Ren, they clearly thought that Zhu Jiao had lost his mind.

"Classmate Zhu Jiao!" Xiang Xun Yi shouted in concern. "Don't force yourself! I'll go get Teacher Jiao! Hang in there!"

"There's no need to. Trust me."

When Zhu Jiao plainly stated that, more of our classmates were looking bewildered or burst out laughing.

"Really? That Zhu Jiao thinks he can beat Qi Fu Ren?"

"Hasn't Qi Fu Ren already reached the fourth level of Qi Gathering Stage? Zhu Jiao is only at the first level, right?"

"Yeah, that's correct."

"So where is he getting that confidence from?"

Everyone continued chattering to each other under their breaths, and several of the guys even began to make bets. In fact, the other Four Star Constitution guys had shown up, their interest in this match roused by Zhu Jiao's bravado.

Normally, they wouldn't even have bothered to watch, but they seemed to sense a change in the atmosphere today. I could see Li Chun Long, Feng Tian Yong and Wu Hei Gui. Even the aloof Du Lang had taken up a spot in the distance, to watch.

"Hey! Don't you think you're going too far?!"

It was Tang Qi Hong. She strode forward, only for Hu Shuo and Ba Dao to block her path. Irritated, she snapped at them.

"Get out of my way!"

"Tang Qi Hong..do you really want to fight with me?" Qi Fu Ren asked without even turning to look at her.

"Why not? Who's scared of whom? I'm also a Four Star Constitution practitioner, and I've also reached the fourth level of Qi Gathering Stage. You think I can't defeat you?"

Qi Fu Ren scoffed. "You're just a girl. If you're Bai Ning Xue, then perhaps you might stand a chance, but.."

Tang Qi Hong's eyes flashed dangerously. "Bai Ning Xue, Bai Ning Xue, Bai Ning Xue! Is that all you guys think about?! She's not always going to be number one forever!"

Oh, wow. A woman was really horrifying when scorned. Not to mention, the burning jealousy in her ruby eyes were giving her a fiery aura that scorched the ground around her. The rest of our classmates quickly moved away to give her a wide berth. Obviously no one wanted to be burned from standing right next to her.

"Classmate Tang Qi Hong, do you mind letting me fight him first?" Zhu Jiao was feigning politeness. "I'm afraid I won't get a chance to hit him if you burn him into ash. Besides.." he returned his attention to Qi Fu Ren. "Your opponent is me. Like I said, if you want to have a go at anybody, whether it's Fei Wu or Tang Qi Hong, you'll have to get past me first." His smile widened. "Provided you are able to even defeat me, of course."

"Hah!" Qi Fu Ren snorted. "Zhu Jiao, this has to be the worst joke I've ever heard. You think acting like an idiot will help you?"

"Oh, so you're know I'm actually smart. Too bad for you, you don't have to act like an idiot. You already are one."

Qi Fu Ren's face flushed. His fist crackled with lightning and he bellowed furiously, swinging at Zhu Jiao with a vicious hook.

"Stop talking nonsense! Die!"

"No one's going to die." Zhu Jiao merely parried Qi Fu Ren's punch and gripped the latter's fist tightly. Qi Fu Ren's eyes bulged in surprise. "Besides, the arena is just over there." Letting go of Qi Fu Ren, Zhu Jiao stepped back and gestured to the now vacated arena. "If we don't fight in an official match, we might both get into trouble. What do you say, let's go down there and settle our grudges in the arena?"

"Fine then.." Qi Fu Ren growled. "I'll make sure to humiliate you in front of everybody."

"We'll see about that. Less talking, more doing." Turning away, Zhu Jiao swung himself over the stairs and landed at the bottom of the building. He glanced up and gestured for Qi Fu Ren to follow. "What are you waiting for? Are you scared?"

"You..!"

But Qi Fu Ren obediently went down. Hu Shuo and Ba Dao exchanged confused glances, not knowing what to do, but under their leader's orders, they remained upstairs in the spectator box to watch the match.

With another match taking place, almost all the students remained. In fact, an influx of new students showed up, their interest piqued by the unlikely matchup. Apparently the news of Zhu Jiao's challenge had spread rampantly through social media and cellphone messages, and a lot of the first year students were intrigued by the story behind it.

The two persons in question were now standing in the middle of the arena. Qi Fu Ren cracked his knuckles, lightning crackling around his hands, while Zhu Jiao stretched himself in a relaxed manner. Once he was done with his warmup, he cocked his head and beckoned Qi Fu Ren over.

"Shall we begin then?"

"DIE!"

Without any hesitation, Qi Fu Ren lunged forward. Devastating electricity wreathed his fist, and he drew back his arm to deliver a punch brutal enough to pulverize solid concrete.

Unfazed, Zhu Jiao sidestepped Qi Fu Ren's fist. He placed a hand on Qu Fu Ren's outstretched arm, and in a single motion, flipped the much larger guy over his head. Qi Fu Ren's eyes widened as his world turned upside down, and the next thing he knew, he landed heavily on the ground. He grunted and stared up at the metallic ceiling, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

"Sleeping already? It's just the first move of the match, you know?"

Throwing those same words that Qi Fu Ren tossed at us all those weeks ago, Zhu Jiao chuckled before he stomped on Qi Fu Ren's gut.

"Ugh!"

Qi Fu Ren threw up a massive spurt of blood and clutched his stomach, unable to control his nausea. He rolled away, his body clad in lightning. With a growl, he wiped the blood away from his mouth and struck the ground.

"Have a taste of my newly acquired Thunder Break!"

I almost rolled my eyes at that cheesy line. Did people actually go around announcing that they were going to use a technique that they had just learned? Furthermore, was there even a need to inform us that he only just recently learned Thunder Break?

Zhu Jiao was right. Qi Fu Ren was an idiot through and through.

Unfortunately, even as a moron, Qi Fu Ren's skills were the real deal. All of us jumped away in reflex as lightning traveled up to the reinforced glass that separated the arena from the spectator box, detonating in a dazzling display that clawed and scrabbled ferociously at the transparent barrier.

However, none of the electricity hit Zhu Jiao. Almost as if he was dancing across the ground or waltzing atop the wind, he deftly evaded all of the electricity that blasted out of the reinforced floor, dodging most of them by the narrowest of margins or by a mere hair's breadth.

"Impossible!"

Qi Fu Ren couldn't believe his eyes. Snarling, he increased the amount of qi in his fist.

"Oh, wow. That's a really big attack."

Zhu Jiao observed Qi Fu Ren's Lightning Flash calmly, admitting that this time he wouldn't be able to block it without negative repercussions. He nodded respectfully, acknowledging his opponent's brute strength.

However..

"It's pointless if you can't hit me."

Zhu Jiao could see so many openings when Qi Fu Ren abandoned caution and went for a big move. Exploiting the gaps in his opponent's defense, Zhu Jiao whirled away from the devastating Lightning Flash, and then slammed his fist against Qi Fu Ren's unguarded chest.

For a moment, it seemed that nothing happened. Then a golden burst of qi blasted out of Zhu Jiao's fist and hurled Qi Fu Ren across the arena, sending him flying and slamming against a stainless steel wall. The surface actually cracked and shook wildly when Qi Fu Ren's large frame collided with it, several cobwebs spreading rapidly across the wall.

"Ugh..argh!"

Coughing out blood, Qi Fu Ren struggled to his feet, only to topple over helplessly. He looked up, his expression still mired in that of disbelief and denial. Clutching the grass, he gritted his teeth in agony and frustration as he lay on the ground.

"Qi Fu Ren lost?"

However, those without insider knowledge or the ones who were less genre savvy were dumbstruck at the totally predictable scene, fulfilling their roles as NPCs who served to praise the protagonist's strength and indicate how powerful he had grown.

"How is this possible?! Half a month ago, Zhu Jiao got beaten up by Qi Fu Ren and needed Teacher Jiao to save him. Did his talent get restored within these two weeks?"

"Oi, oi, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Even if his talent returned, using just two weeks to surpass Qi Fu Ren is way too exaggerated, isn't it?!"

Everyone was muttering and whispering to each other, still unable to comprehend what had just happened. As for me, I merely shook my head and sighed.

"Thanks, Zhu Jiao."

"No problem. I'm glad everything got resolved." Zhu Jiao flashed me a thumb's up, then he turned to look up at Hu Shuo and Ba Dao, who were totally at a loss now that their leader was incapacitated. I was surprised that he could see and hear us from down there, despite the heavily reinforced glass blocking any of the sounds the spectators made. "How about the two of you?"

"Uh.."

"Huh?"

"Do you want a go at me?" Zhu Jiao beckoned them downward, inviting them to jump down into the arena. The two of them exchanged a nervous look, then shook their heads.

"We've to look after the boss."

"Yeah! Boss! Are you all right?!"

The two flunkies raced down the stairs, past the backstage and into the arena to help the semiconscious Qi Fu Ren up, and then they quickly fled the scene before Qing Xin Xia could offer her assistance to heal him.

"Heh..interesting.."

"Not bad..I knew something was up when Zhu Jiao began acting so confidently."

"Seems like Zhu Jiao is someone to keep an eye on.."

In the shadows, four of the Four Star Constitution practitioners murmured to themselves and then melted away before anyone realized they were there. Li Chun Long, Feng Tian Yong, Wu Hei Gui and Du Lang.

As for the last remaining Four Star Constitution practitioner, Tang Qi Hong, she was gaping at the spectacle, her mouth still open.

"What..what just happened?"

She was shaking her head in disbelief.

"Someone, please tell me..is this a joke? Did Zhu Jiao really defeat Qi Fu Ren? That Qi Fu Ren? Seriously?"

"Yes, it really happened," Xiang Xun Yi told her. After a while, when the information finally sank in, Tang Qi Hong held her head and shrieked.

"Eh?! No way!!!!!"

Not far away, Tu Zi Yi was gazing at Zhu Jiao in wonder, suddenly feeling hope that she might be able to surpass the others despite only being Two Stars.

I knew better. Zhu Jiao was a Five Star Constitution practitioner to begin with. That was why he was so good. Without talent like his, there was no way I could catch up to him. I was resigned to being a mob character for the rest of my pathetic existence, existing just so he could save me, and later die for some sort of..

"Wu, are you all right?"

I realized that Zhu Jiao was still keeping an eye on me to ensure I was all right. While I was lost in thought, he had climbed back up to the spectator box to rejoin the rest of the class. I hastily nodded and waved my hands.

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry." I shook my head and focused on the present. If Zhu Jiao could miraculously encounter a master, then I probably could learn the Heaven and Earth Formula. That's it. No more excuses. No more moping around and whining. It was time to actually do something. And I will start by looking at all possible clues.

Turning around, my resolve hardened, I proceeded toward the courtyard where I conducted my daily runs. I had best kept up my training regimen. At least that was my intention, but I froze the moment I caught sight of someone.

It was Bai Ning Xue. At some point of time, she had arrived. Even without looking closely, I could tell at first glance that she was watching Zhu Jiao. Her sapphire eyes were riveted upon him, overflowing with affection, admiration and relief.

That wasn't all.

The ice princess of Class 1-4 was actually smiling for the first time ever.