Chapter 59: The Challenge

Principal Wang and Mr. Zuo took a careful sip of the spiritual tea, closing their eyes to savor the soul-pleasing sensation as it flowed through their bodies.

Li Zhen, however, didn’t follow their example. He drained his cup of spiritual tea in a single gulp.

It wasn’t out of rudeness; rather, his body had detected the fragrance of the spiritual tea, triggering an instinctive desire that compelled him to finish it in one swallow.

As the spiritual tea entered his system, it transformed into spiritual energy and surged through his body. The Foundation Qi Refining Technique, Version 17, automatically activated, channeling all the spiritual energy into his dantian.

After a hundred breaths, the spiritual energy within Li Zhen’s body finally settled down. He looked up to see Principal Wang and Mr. Zuo smiling at him.

A sense of fullness emanated from his dantian. Li Zhen activated his identity bracelet, and his information appeared on his retinal display:

Name: Li Zhen (male)

Age: 12

** Realm:** Qi Refining Second Layer

Spiritual Roots: Wood 21.22, Water 20, Gold 20, Fire 20, Earth 16, Thunder 19

Spiritual Essence: 1

Spiritual Energy: 30

Physical Body: First Layer (34/100)

His spiritual energy had reached 30 points—a total that would have taken him dozens of days to achieve, but he had attained it with just one cup of spiritual tea.

If not for his deliberate suppression of the breakthrough impulse, he might have already ascended to the third level of Qi Refining by now.

It wasn’t that he lacked desire; rather, such a boundary-shattering leap was best preceded by the Simulator’s calculation of success probabilities—to minimize the risk of failure.

“Has your cultivation grown?” Principal Wang explained with a smile. “A single cup of this spirit tea can save Initial Qi stage cultivators a month or more of traditional training!”

“This tea won’t have the same effect in the future?” Li Zhen asked, observing the spiritual essence fading from the leaves in his cup.

“It won’t be quite as potent,” Principal Wang replied dismissively. “But even after the first sip, each cup will still equate to several days of training. It might not match the efficacy of high-quality spirit pills designed for cultivation, but it’s safer—it carries no risk of pill toxicity. Plus, it offers a gradual boost to mental clarity!”

In truth, despite his lofty position in Yunxi County, acquiring top-grade spirit tea remained a challenge for Principal Wang.

Never mind first-grade superior spirit tea—even obtaining lower-grade first-tier tea was exceedingly difficult due to the county’s limited quota.

The reason he had produced this rare first-grade superior spirit tea to treat Li Zhen was simple: He saw immense potential in the boy and was determined to nurture it at every opportunity.

Now, every bit of cultivation advancement Li Zhen achieved increased his chances of victory in the school’s challenge tournament.

“Mrs. Zuo informed me that your swordsmanship has reached a high level of mastery,” Principal Wang continued. “It’s truly unexpected to find a swordsmanship genius like you at Second High School! The school has decided to allow you to join the challenge tournament team and secure a spot!”

Li Zhen was taken aback. Just yesterday, he had learned about the school’s challenge tournament from Curator Zhang and was thinking of ways to earn a spot. He didn’t expect the school to have already prepared for him.

“Thank you very much, Principal Wang! I assure you, I’ll work diligently to bring honor to our school!” Li Zhen bowed respectfully.

“The school’s challenge tournament begins next March,” Principal Wang explained with a smile, without elaborating further. “The team consists of three official members and one alternate. With your addition, the roster is now complete!”

The reason for allowing Li Zhen to participate this year was to give him experience, thereby laying a solid foundation for future participation in the school’s challenge tournament.

“Official members of the school’s challenge team will receive assistance pills for cultivation, as well as medicinal pills for treatment and recovery,” Principal Wang added. “Additionally, you may choose a mid-grade magical device from the school’s armory for use during the tournament!”

In Li Zhen’s student identity information on his ID bracelet, a new role had been added: official participant in Second High School’s competition.

Under Mr. Zuo’s guidance, Li Zhen proceeded to the logistics department where he received ten mid-grade Qi Guidance Pills, two mid-grade Rejuvenation Pills, and a Xingrui D13 model longsword.

The Xingrui D13 model longsword bore a resemblance to the Xingrui E07 model, but its quality had been upgraded to mid-grade first rank.

Although ownership of the Xingrui D13 model longsword did not belong to Li Zhen, he would have access to use it throughout his time studying at Second High School.

Most crucially, Li Zhen now possessed a legitimate mid-grade first rank longsword magical device.

With the first rank mid-grade Xingrui D13 model longsword hanging at his waist, Li Zhen entered the Going Beyond Swordplay hall.

As he passed through the main hall, he noticed a significant increase in the number of cultivators present compared to the previous day. Upon seeing him enter, these cultivators paused their activities and turned their gaze towards Li Zhen.

“Li Zhen, dare you to duel with me?” Teng Si stepped forward, performing a sword salute with his own weapon.

Li Zhen glanced at him, then surveyed the other cultivators in the hall.

He was also aware that Teng Si had always looked down on him, deriding his freshman-year sponsorship by the Han family.

Teng Si’s own investment from the Han family came after he advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refinement during high school, becoming a cultivator in the middle stage of Qi Refinement.

Both Teng Si and Li Zhen had received invitations from Han Wenqin, but it was clear she held Li Zhen in higher regard, a fact that couldn’t help but stir jealousy in Teng Si.

Add to this the constant prodding of another cultivator, and it was no wonder Teng Si had stepped forward to challenge Li Zhen.

Why hadn’t any of the other cultivators present challenged Li Zhen? Simple—they feared inciting Han Wenqin, a direct descendant of the Han family.

Teng Si’s status was perfect for this situation. With his lack of social experience, he was far more susceptible to manipulation.

Li Zhen realized as much. Having been named heir to the Going Beyond Swordplay Pavilion, if he didn’t demonstrate some strength now, he’d face even greater troubles in the future.

“Xueshang Teng invites me to duel? Of course I accept!” Li Zhen replied with a smile.

At that moment, Han Wenqin arrived on the scene, taking in the standoff between Teng Si and Li Zhen.

After inquiring about the situation, a hint of displeasure crept across her face.

But Teng Si had issued the challenge, and Li Zhen had accepted; there was no turning back now.

Teng Si saw the dissatisfaction flicker across Han Wenqin’s eyes. Only then did he come to his senses, grasping the absurdity of challenging Li Zhen so recklessly.

He gritted his teeth. With matters having come to this point, he knew he must defeat Li Zhen swiftly to demonstrate his true value.

“Draw your sword!” he commanded Li Zhen.

Li Zhen slowly unsheathed his Xingrui D13-type longsword. Holding it before his chest, he performed a salutational bow. Teng Si mirrored the gesture.

Once both had bowed in respect, the duel officially began.

Wielding his superior cultivation, Teng Si channeled vast amounts of spiritual energy into his blade. He cared not for the rapid depletion of his spiritual reserves, focusing solely on amplifying his sword’s potency.

With a single sweep of his arm, the sword’s glow, bolstered by spiritual energy, illuminated a broad swath before him, bringing the entire area under his attack’s reach.

This was the advantage of a high cultivation base: using formidable spiritual energy to create wide-range attacks that could overwhelm lower-level cultivators, thereby minimizing the role of swordsmanship techniques.

Of course, against an opponent at an equal cultivation level, such an approach would merely provide the enemy with an opportunity to capitalize on his recklessness.

Facing off against someone at the second level of Qi Refining with his own fourth-level cultivation, Teng Si felt that any perceived gap in swordsmanship was inconsequential.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Li Zhen’s figure abruptly vanished from his field of vision. A suffocating pressure immediately struck Teng Si in the chest, sending him flying backward.

By the time he crashed to the ground, Teng Si remained utterly bewildered by what had transpired.

The audience of cultivators, however, saw the sequence of events with clarity. As soon as Teng Si launched his attack, Li Zhen ducked and slipped to Teng Si’s left. His longsword, as if guided by sentience, effortlessly pierced through Teng Si’s flurrying blade, its flat striking Teng Si squarely on the chest.

This single strike felled Teng Si, plunging the hall into an expectant silence.

No one had anticipated that the match between Li Zhen and Teng Si would conclude so swiftly, and with a victory for Li Zhen.

While some cultivators present grumbled about Li Zhen being named the top disciple, they all knew—regardless of his current strength—that the battle had demonstrated Li Zhen’s genius with the sword. His future achievements were indeed limitless.

None present would dare offend Li Zhen again. After all, who wants to antagonist a cultivator destined for greatness?

“Teng Si, are you alright?” Lou Zichen, being a close friend to Teng Si, stepped forward to assess his condition.

He swept his spiritual energy over Teng Si’s body, finding no physical injuries. Beneath Teng Si’s tightly closed eyelids, he could see the eyeballs still moving restlessly.

“I’ll take Teng Si to get checked out!” Realizing that Teng Si was too embarrassed to face the crowd, Lou Zichen lifted him up and announced.

Li Zhen was about to tell Lou Zichen that he hadn’t used much force in his attack; otherwise, with his mid-stage Body Tempering first level strength, he could have easily killed Teng Si with just the flat of his sword.

He shook his head, knowing Teng Si wasn’t on the same level as him.

Although Li Zhen’s Qi Refining cultivation was inferior to Teng Si’s, in reality, their strengths were comparable. The mid-stage of Body Tempering and Qi Refining were equivalent realms.

However, Li Zhen’s swordsmanship was far superior, especially in a close-range battle where his advantage was amplified many times over. It was only natural that he would dominate Teng Si.

This fight against Teng Si had given Li Zhen a clear understanding of the strength disparities between himself and his schoolmates.