214: One move

The annual Inner Academy selection competition officially kicked off.

On the square, the crowd was bustling, students from various departments gathered here, rubbing their fists, their eyes burning with fighting intent.

Those who could stand here were all the best among their classes, with a minimum strength of Peak Dou Master, and there was no lack of Dou Ling Level geniuses.

Some busybodies even listed the top fifty participants for this year's selection competition.

The top twenty on the ranking list were all geniuses who had long been famous in the Outer Academy. Their strength had been recognized by countless people, and some even rumored that some of them already had the qualifications to challenge the inner academy strong ranking list!

However, as everyone's gaze scanned further down, it paused slightly on one name, then revealed a strange expression.

Fiftieth place, Jiang Donghua, Alchemy Department, strength unknown!

"Jiang Donghua? That guy from the Alchemy Department?"

Someone frowned.

"Why is he ranked fiftieth? I remember he hardly ever made a move, right?"

"Heh, Alchemist, he probably stacked his cultivation with elixirs. His combat skills must be terrible!"

Discussions arose, and many people's eyes flashed with disdain.

After all, in a place like the Outer Academy where strength was paramount, an Alchemist who rarely made a move being ranked in the top fifty already made many students from other departments feel unconvinced.

However, in a corner of the crowd, several students from the Alchemy Department exchanged glances, their mouths twitching slightly.

"Senior Brother Jiang is only fiftieth?"

One of them murmured in a low voice, his tone strange.

"These people really don't know how terrifying Senior Brother Jiang is!"

Another smiled bitterly.

They had personally witnessed Jiang Donghua casually cleaving a waterfall with a single saber strike in the back mountains!

The power of that strike, even those guys in the top ten of the fengyun ranking, might not be able to withstand it!

But Jiang Donghua was really too low-key; apart from a few people in the Alchemy Department, almost no one knew his true strength.

At this moment, Jiang Donghua himself was lazily leaning against an ancient tree at the edge of the square, playing with a pill in his hand, his gaze casually sweeping over the fengyun ranking, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Fiftieth? Heh, that saves me the trouble of hiding my strength."

He lightly tossed it, and the pill fell into his mouth. Then, he slowly straightened his body, his gaze directed towards the distant arena.

"Since everyone thinks Alchemists aren't good at fighting, then today I'll give you all an eye-opener."

Jiang Donghua leaned against the ancient tree, arms crossed, his gaze casually sweeping over the battles on the arena.

Two Outer Academy Students were fiercely clashing. One manipulated wood-attribute Dou Qi, vines intertwining and strangling like snakes, while the other controlled earth-attribute Dou Qi, stone walls rising from the ground, constantly blocking attacks.

"The wood-attribute one is going to win!"

A female student next to him whispered excitedly.

"Nonsense, the earth-attribute defense is stronger, he can definitely drag it out until the opponent's Dou Qi is exhausted!"

Another immediately retorted.

"But the wood-attribute is flexible! Look at the speed of those vines, the earth-attribute can't defend against them at all!"

Jiang Donghua listened to the chirping arguments beside him, his mouth twitching slightly.

A Great Dou Master Level battle, and they could discuss it with such enthusiasm?

In his eyes, the moves of the two on stage were full of flaws. If he were to act, one move would be enough to lay them down, but obviously, the Outer Academy Students watching around were still immersed in the excitement of this low-level match.

"Next match, Xuan Rank Class Three, Zhao Yan, versus yellow rank class one, Jiang Donghua!"

Suddenly, the elder's voice resounded across the square.

Jiang Donghua raised an eyebrow; it was finally his turn.

He slowly stood up, patted the non-existent dust from his robes, and walked towards the arena.

However, his movement caused the group of female students who had been arguing to freeze for a moment.

"Huh? Who is this person? Why is he suddenly walking towards the arena?"

"Wait, Jiang Donghua? The one ranked fiftieth on the fengyun ranking?"

"Ah? He is Jiang Donghua?!"

In an instant, all eyes around them converged, filled with surprise, suspicion, and even a hint of disdain.

"Tsk, from the Alchemy Department. He probably stacked his cultivation with pills, right?"

"Exactly! Fiftieth on the fengyun ranking? He probably got there through the back door!"

Jiang Donghua ignored them, still leisurely walking onto the arena.

Across from him, Zhao Yan was already standing, his eyes scanning him with disdain.

"From the Alchemy Department? Heh, I advise you to just surrender, lest you get injured later."

Jiang Donghua smiled slightly, not answering, merely raising his hand casually and making a "please" gesture.

Zhao Yan snorted coldly, his Dou Qi erupting, his Three Star Great Dou Master aura unleashed without reservation!

"Since you're seeking death, don't blame me for being heavy-handed!"

Before his words finished, he stomped his foot, his figure pouncing out like a fierce tiger, his fist wind whistling, directly striking towards Jiang Donghua's face!

However, Jiang Donghua didn't even lift an eyelid; he just lightly raised his hand, spread his five fingers, and casually grabbed.

"Bang!"

Zhao Yan's fist was firmly grasped by him, unable to advance another inch!

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Zhao Yan's pupils contracted sharply, looking at his fist in disbelief, that it was so easily caught by the opponent!

"You..."

He was about to pull back when he saw Jiang Donghua's lips curl slightly, and his five fingers gently squeezed.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone breaking rang out!

"Ah—!"

Zhao Yan screamed, his entire arm instantly limping down!

Jiang Donghua released his hand and spoke indifferently.

"Do you surrender?"

Zhao Yan's face was pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead. How could he still be stubborn?

"I, I surrender!"

The entire venue erupted in an uproar!

One move!

Just one move, and he crippled a Three Star Great Dou Master's arm?!

Was this still that Alchemist who stacked his cultivation with pills?!

Below the arena, the group of chattering female students all had their eyes wide open, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg.

"He, is he really from the Alchemy Department?!"

Jiang Donghua retracted his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Now, does anyone still think Alchemists aren't good at fighting?"

Jiang Donghua stood on the arena, his expression calm, as if he had just casually crushed an ant, rather than defeated a Three Star Great Dou Master.

The silence below the stage lasted only a moment, then erupted into a thunderous uproar!

"This, how is this possible?!"

"Crippling a Three Star Great Dou Master's arm in one move? This is at least Peak Great Dou Shi strength, right?!"

"No, that's not right! Even a Nine Star Great Dou Shi couldn't be this relaxed!"

Among the crowd, several stronger students' pupils contracted sharply, staring intently at Jiang Donghua, their hearts churning with turbulent waves.

They could feel that faint oppressive aura; it was definitely not something a Great Dou Master could possess!

"Dou Ling Level, he is definitely Dou Ling Level!"

Someone murmured in a low voice, their tone filled with disbelief.

And what was even more shocking was that Jiang Donghua not only possessed such terrifying strength, but he was also a Fourth-Grade Alchemist Master!

"Monster, this guy is definitely a monster!"

Someone couldn't help but curse in a low voice.

Alchemists were already rare, and to reach the Fourth-Grade Alchemist realm at such a young age was even rarer!

Not to mention, he actually possessed Dou Ling Level combat power!

This simply shattered everyone's understanding!

Weren't Alchemists all supposed to rely on pills to stack their cultivation, and be pitifully weak in actual combat?

How could this guy completely defy common sense?!

At the edge of the arena, several top-ranked geniuses on the fengyun ranking who had originally disdained Jiang Donghua now also had solemn expressions.

"Jiang Donghua, so he was hiding so deeply."

Ye Ming narrowed his eyes, a faint dark light flickering on his fingertips.

"Interesting, it seems this selection competition won't be too boring."

Jia Yixuan's lips curved slightly, his eyes burning with fighting intent.

On the other side, the group of chattering female students, however, now had eyes sparkling with golden light, their cheeks flushed, staring intently at Jiang Donghua, as if they had seen some rare treasure.

"Oh my god! Strong in power, and also a Master Alchemist! This is too perfect!"

"I actually thought people from the Alchemy Department were all weaklings before. I was wrong! Terribly wrong!"

"Senior Brother Jiang! Look over here!!"

Some bold female students even directly waved and shouted, not hiding their admiration in the slightest.

Jiang Donghua glanced at them, his mouth twitching slightly, feeling helpless.

The speed at which these people changed their expressions was faster than flipping a book.

He shook his head, too lazy to bother with the noisy voices, and turned to prepare to walk off the arena.