At the same time, the battle between Dongfang Qi and Xie Kuangfeng had reached a fever pitch.
Under the pull of gravity, every one of Xie Kuangfeng’s movements was incredibly difficult. Although the academy had a dedicated Gravity Room for tempering one’s constitution, it was on a completely different level compared to the gravity he was facing now.
"I didn’t expect you to have awakened a racial talent. It looks like I’ll have to go all out!"
Xie Kuangfeng pondered for a moment, then swung his Light Blade to force Dongfang Qi back a step. A demonic light flowed across his silver armor, and in the blink of an eye, it formed a pale blue energy shield. The Light Blade in his hand changed again, blooming with a light even more brilliant than before.
The next moment, gasps echoed throughout the arena. No one could have imagined that Xie Kuangfeng’s Light Blade wasn’t just Third Gear, but Fifth Gear.
What did a Fifth Gear Light Blade signify? In gaming terms, it was absolutely an epic-grade item.
One had to understand that among the modern school of Artifact Refiners, anyone who could create a Third Gear Light Blade could be called a master. Anyone who could make a Fourth Gear Light Blade would have bragging rights for life. As for a Fifth Gear Light Blade, it was an absolute treasure, the kind seen once in a century.
"Heavens! A Fifth Gear Light Blade! Am I seeing things?"
"Xie Kuangfeng was hiding his power so well... A Fifth Gear Light Blade, how much would that even cost?"
"Are you kidding, man? A Fifth Gear Light Blade isn’t something money can buy."
"Exactly. If this was at the Artifact Refiner Association, it would definitely be put in a museum."
"Jumping two gears like that, the Light Blade’s destructive power has at least doubled. I’m afraid Dongfang Qi is going to lose!"
Feng Hao was also dumbfounded. Having only recently started learning Artifact Refining, he was genuinely shocked by Xie Kuangfeng’s Fifth Gear Light Blade.
’Are you kidding me? I can’t even make a decent Tier-1 piece of equipment right now, and this guy is already wielding a Fifth Gear Light Blade.’
’It’s like you’ve gone through hell and back in a game to get a blue-rarity weapon, only to see someone else already holding a Divine Artifact.’
"Whoa... A Fifth Gear Light Blade. Even in the entire Celestial Cyan Country, there can’t be many of those, right?" Houhuiyao said, gulping hard.
Beside him, Man Tiaotiao and Xiyue Frost were also wide-eyed, staring at the arena in disbelief.
On the distant observation platform, Xuchang and the others all sucked in a sharp breath. To be honest, even with their power and experience, it was the first time any of them had seen a Fifth Gear Light Blade.
"Old Xu, what’s this kid’s background? A Fifth Gear Light Blade isn’t something an ordinary person can possess," Sun Yaowen asked in astonishment.
Xuchang shook his head with a wry smile. "You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
"Even you don’t know?" Sun Yaowen looked around in surprise. "Then whose disciple is he?"
According to academy rules, the top student on the main combat division’s Crystal Stele would be taken as a Direct Disciple by the dean. This was what Sun Yaowen couldn’t understand.
"Stop looking. Xie Kuangfeng hasn’t taken a master at all," Xuchang said irritably.
"Eh? Such a promising seedling and no one wants him? If you guys don’t want him, I’ll take him!" Sun Yaowen said, his eyes gleaming.
Xuchang gave him a cold look. "This boy specializes in modern armored combat. Neither of us is familiar with that style of fighting. It’s best not to lead a promising student astray."
"Who says I’m not familiar with armored combat?" Sun Yaowen said with a playful smile, his eyes twinkling. "Anyway, it’s settled. After the competition, transfer this kid to our Alchemy Department."
The moment he said this, everyone was stunned.
Dean Li of the Power Department was instantly enraged. "What the hell do you know about armored combat? If you want to poach him, just say so!"
"That’s not for you to decide. These things still depend on the student’s own wishes," Sun Yaowen said with a faint smile.
Xuchang, who was at the side, gave Sun Yaowen a strange, bewildered look. "Aren’t you an Alchemist? Since when do you know about armored combat?"
"Can’t an Alchemist know about fighting?" Sun Yaowen retorted. "I’m practically half-Celestial Cyan myself. I definitely know more about armored combat than you guys."
"Shameless! Since when are you half-Celestial Cyan?" Dean Li snapped.
"You don’t believe me? Here, let me show you my armor."
After speaking, Sun Yaowen suddenly stood up. Following a series of CLANKS and WHIRS, his entire body was encased in a suit of silver-gray armor.
Everyone present was struck speechless, staring at Sun Yaowen in disbelief.
Although Sun Yaowen had been in charge of the Alchemy Department for many years, they didn’t know much about him. They only knew that he had left the Alchemist Association due to a difference in philosophy and was then recruited into the academy by the previous head dean.
Just as the academy’s upper echelon was marveling at Sun Yaowen, the battle in the arena came to a close.
Although Dongfang Qi was powerful after activating his bloodline talent, he ultimately couldn’t withstand the terrifying destructive power of the Fifth Gear Light Blade and failed to defeat Xie Kuangfeng.
After the match ended, the entire audience was still reeling from the shock of the Fifth Gear Light Blade, so much so that the next few rounds of competition barely registered.
It wasn’t until a woman in white took the stage that the crowd finally woke from the stupor brought on by Xie Kuangfeng.
"Haha, Senior Sister Bai Yin is finally on! Looks like I’ve got something to do tonight!"
"Yeah, yeah, I’ve already prepared a huge roll of tissues. Just waiting to gaze upon the goddess’s beautiful form."
"A bunch of trash who only know how to fantasize. Is Senior Sister Bai Yin someone you pigs can profane?"
"Tch, who are you kidding? You say that like you could actually win Senior Sister Bai Yin’s affection."
"Exactly. We may fantasize, but at least we know our place."
...
Such a commotion naturally caught Feng Hao’s attention. He looked up in surprise and was instantly stunned by her beauty.
He saw Bai Yin standing gracefully on the battle stage. Her white robes fluttered gently. Her skin was like snow, her willow-leaf brows were like ink, and her delicate features were pieced together in perfect harmony. She looked like a Fairy who had walked straight out of a painting, her calm, placid eyes giving off an ethereal air.
For a moment, Feng Hao felt as if he had returned to the game *Mage*. In his mind, only a game NPC could possess such perfect looks and temperament.
Of course, while he was impressed, Feng Hao’s resistance to beautiful women was still pretty good, especially beauties who looked like game NPCs.
"So that’s Bai Yin? She’s not bad-looking. I wonder what her strength is like," Feng Hao said with a slight smirk.
Houhuiyao exclaimed, "Whoa, what do you mean ’not bad-looking’? She’s clearly as beautiful as a Fairy, okay?"
"What the hell do you know? Being too perfect isn’t a good thing. It creates an inexplicable sense of distance," Feng Hao teased.
"A hick is still a hick. Even your sense of beauty is different from everyone else’s," Man Tiaotiao took the chance to mock him.
"The adults are talking, so kids shouldn’t interrupt. Go play in the mud," Feng Hao said, annoyed.
"You!" Man Tiaotiao stomped her feet in anger. She couldn’t win against him in an argument, and she couldn’t beat him in a fight, so all she could do was curse Feng Hao endlessly in her heart.
After seeing Bai Yin, Xiyue Frost couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. "She really is beautiful."
"She’s just so-so," Feng Hao said with a dismissive pout.
"There really is something wrong with your sense of beauty," Xiyue Frost suddenly retorted.
"Erk." Feng Hao was speechless. He sighed to himself.
’It can’t be helped. These mortals will never understand my aesthetic. Only after being baptized by a virtual world teeming with Fairies can one realize just how precious a real, vibrant girl is.’
’Sometimes, life is just this lonely.’