Chapter VI: Great Zhou Institute Part III

"There's only two more months left until this year's newcomer exam, so work hard, try to unblock your fourth meridian channel, and aim for the top ten," Zhou Yuan advised.

"I spent a great deal of effort to secure a slot for you. As long as you are ranked amongst the top then, you will be able to receive personal guidance from the institute head and the other instructors. This will be extremely beneficial for you," he continued.

Su Youwei's tiny hand suddenly stiffened as she was tidying up the table. She lowered her head and did not dare to look at Zhou Yuan.

"What is it?" Zhou Yuan was rather puzzled when he sensed this change in her, but Yao Long already knew that she lost the slot.

Su Youwei's head was practically buried in her chest as she replied in a tiny voice, "I, I no longer have the participation token."

Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, his eyebrows tightly furrowed as he inquired, "What happened?"

His tone was not stern, but it caused Su Youwei's heart to beat a little faster.

Her pearly white teeth bit into her red lips, and she did not speak for a long time. Instead, a girl who was rather close to Su Youwei interjected from the side, "Who else but Xu Lin? A few days ago, he was spreading bad rumours about you in the institute, causing Youwei to argue with him and demand an apology.

That fellow said that he would apologize if Youwei beat him in a match, but if she lost, she would have to give him her entry token for the newcomer exam."

Zhou Yuan's brows were tightly furrowed. "That Xu Lin has only opened two meridian channels. He should not have been able to beat Youwei, right?"

The girl frowned and said, "Youwei only opened her third channel recently, while Xu Lin was also extremely shameless. He had the advantage of a Genesis weapon and eventually managed to beat Youwei by some fluke."

Zhou Yuan's expression was rather ugly. He stared at Su Youwei's lowered head and scolded, "Why did you not tell me earlier?"

Su Youwei's fair hands were clasped together as she softly said, "It's me who is useless. I don't want to cause more trouble for your highness."

Yao Long felt a little sorry when he saw this appearance of hers. The stubbornness of this cute girl would really give one a headache at times.

Therefore, his cold gaze shifted towards the smilingly watching Xu Lin inside the lecture hall.

"Setting a trap to bully a girl. Your methods are truly great, huh?" Yao Long sneered.

That fellow clearly had his eye on the newcomer exam entry token in Su Youwei's hands. Thus, he had intentionally goaded her into using it as a wager.

Xu Lin lazily replied, "I don't know what you are talking about, Yao Long. There are many people who saw me use my own strength to win. I will not return it even if you ask."

Yao Long coldly said, "Do you dare to wager it on another fight?"

Xu Lin said, "Not interested."

His previous victory had been mere luck. Moreover, Su Youwei had already opened her third meridian channel, and he would definitely not be her match.

Yao Long icily smiled as his eyes swept towards Xu Lin. "I don't intend for you to fight Youwei. I'm saying that you and I will fight!"

As he spoke, he fished out a glowing jade pendant and placed it on the study desk. "If you win, this Genesis Gathering Jade will be yours."

A series of gasps immediately erupted in the hall as numerous gazes looked at the jade pendant with longing. This Genesis Gathering Jade was very advantageous for cultivation. If worn long enough, it would be able to increase the rate of opening one's eight meridian channels. A rather pricey and precious item indeed.

"Yao Long!" Su Youwei was greatly alarmed.

It was not due to the Genesis Gathering Jade, but because Yao Long wanted to personally deal with Xu Lin.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand at Su Youwei to stop. Yao Long toyed with the jade pendant as he smiled at Xu Lin in a mocking manner.

"Do you have the courage to fight now?"

Xu Lin's eyes were burning with desire as he stared at the Genesis Gathering Jade and licked his lips. He then coldly chuckled at Yao Long and said, "Since brother Long insists on gifting this Genesis Gathering Jade to me, it will be rude to refuse."

"However, as the saying goes, fists and feet have no eyes. Please do not blame me if brother Yao gets injured."

Although Yao Long's actions baffled Xu Lin, he did not believe that a person like him, who had opened two meridian channels, even if Yao Long also opened his third meridian channel, would pose any threat to him.

Yao Long declined to comment and said, "I hope that you are as skilled as you say."

Xu Lin laughed loudly, believing that Yao Long was merely being sharp-tongued. With a swing of Xu Lin's sleeves, he walked out of the hall as laughter tinged with amusement and ridicule continued to resound from outside.

"Alright, I will wait for Brother Long at the practice grounds. I really want to see how brother Long will win back the newcomer exam participation token!"

"Why did you challenge him to fight?" asked Su Youwei, worried.

"I want Zhou Yuan to owe me one. Saving his girlfriend is enough for him to owe me, right?" said Yao Long with a teasing smile, knowing that even if he didn't interfere, Zhou Yuan would be the one to challenge Xu Lin.

"Why I am worried about you? You idiot!!" shouted Su Youwei with a red face.

"Stop teasing her, Yao Long," said Zhou Yuan as he rolled his eyes at their interaction.

...

Practice grounds of the Great Zhou Institute.

Many practice platforms stood in the area, and numerous youths atop them yelled out as they exchanged blows. Each punch and kick had the vigor and ferocity of a tiger, a rather imposing sight. Below the platforms were crowds of spectators who would burst into cheers from time to time.

There was no lack of young and pretty girls amongst the crowd, and their admiring gazes made the boys on the platforms fight with even more enthusiasm, hoping to show off their moves and thus bask in the limelight.

It was evident that this practice grounds was a rather popular location in the Great Zhou Institute. When Xu Lin lazily walked onto a platform, news of his fight with Yao Long had already been secretly spread by the former to the entire practice grounds.

"What? The new student Long Yao is going to fight with Xu Lin?!"

"How is that possible!"

"This match is going to be epic."

When the many students heard this news, cries of surprise immediately erupted.

For any Channel Opening stage practitioner, the opening of every meridian channel would raise the innate quality of one's body. Strength, speed, reflexes, etc. far surpassed those who had yet to open their channels. To put it bluntly, a Channel Opening stage practitioner was able to effortlessly defeat dozens of cultivators who had yet to open their channels.

Atop the stage, Xu Lin merely chuckled when he heard these voices. No matter what they said, after today, his vicious beating of Yao Long would definitely spread throughout the entire Great Zhou Institute. Such news would undoubtedly be a blow to Yao Long's pretty boy reputation, making him a laughing stock.

While these malicious thoughts swirled in Xu Lin's head, the crowd around the practice platform suddenly split apart. They watched as a thin youth, exuding an aura of royalty, slowly walked forward.

This thin youth had a handsome face and carried himself with a regal air. He looked just like a king ready to fight till death.

Naturally, this was Yao Long.

Under the many varied gazes, Yao Long headed straight for the practice platform where Xu Lin was.

"Yao Long," Su Youwei's little face was somewhat anxious as she followed closely behind him. It was clear that she still wanted Yao Long to give up on fighting Xu Lin.

Yao Long gently smiled at Su Youwei and said, "I can no longer back off at this point. Or else, I will be known as the pretty boy who ran away just before the battle."

Su Youwei's footsteps stopped as she tightly bit into her red lips. She knew that it would indeed be a huge blow to his recently acquired reputation.

Su Youwei lifted her pretty face and looked at Xu Lin, who was standing on the practice platform. At this very moment, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she seemed to become a little ferocious.

"Yao Long, it is my fault for not handling matters properly this time and causing trouble for you and your highness. In the future, I will no longer be careless nor merciful," said Su Youwei in a soft voice.

Truth be told, she had lost to Xu Lin previously mainly because she was lacking in ruthlessness. Otherwise, Xu Lin would not even have had the chance to use his Genesis weapon. This lesson allowed her to understand that if one does not give the snake a fatal blow, one will surely be bitten.

Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. He blinked at Su Youwei and said, "We are friends. It is only right for a friend to help settle another's problems. Am I right, Yao Long?"

"Yes, you're right. Just ask for help if you are in trouble!" Yao Long said with a smile on his handsome face. By the time his words faded, he had already stepped onto the practice platform.

Su Youwei smiled a little as she gazed at his back. A warm feeling flowed within her heart. Soon after, her eyes slightly lowered; she had already made a decision. If Xu Lin dared to hurt her friend, she would let the former know the meaning of a little girl's grudge and vengeance.

"Oh? Brother Yao actually dares to come. I had believed that you would secretly run away to the palace," Xu Lin mocked with a smile as he watched Yao Long, who had walked to the front.

Yao Long gently arranged his sleeves as he said, "Looks like you are very confident in yourself."

"I never imagined that even someone like Brother Yao would act so rashly for a pretty girl. This seems to be rather unwise," Xu Lin shrugged his shoulders. It was clear that he believed Yao Long's rash behavior was to gain Su Youwei's favor.

"Let's begin." Yao Long had no intentions of continuing this nonsensical banter. His legs slid away from each other and seemed to tightly root themselves to the ground like an old tree, before he beckoned to Xu Lin. "I'll allow you to attack."

Xu Lin's eyes gleamed with excitement as he responded, "Very well. Prepare yourself."

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Please read my original novel called The Nameless Monster by Yuan_T, I hope you like and support this novel that I wrote and that you can join forces make this novel of mine a world hit!

See you there,

The author, Heavens_Sovereign

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