Chapter 145 Top-Tier Showdown, Late-Night Meeting

[Looking at the undisguised intent to test you in her eyes.]

[You chuckled inwardly.]

["Here we go again."]

[You felt the aura of the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood that "Liu Qing" was deliberately revealing.]

[With a faint smile, you readily agreed.]

["It is my honor to receive guidance from Teacher Liu."]

[Carrying your saber, you followed her onto the central arena stage.]

[The gaze of everyone present was instantly drawn over.]

[The students stopped what they were doing and excitedly gathered around the stage.]

["Wow! The new teacher is going to have a sparring match with God Li!"]

["This is going to be good! I wonder if Teacher Liu can suppress God Li?"]

[Accompanied by a wave of clamor.]

[A scene that seemed ordinary but was actually bizarre unfolded on the arena stage of Longnan No. 1 High School.]

[Two Martial Artists who were actually both in the Soaring Realm were now acting in tacit understanding.]

[Together, they pretended to be Martial Artists at the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood.]

[Preparing to start a hearty battle.]

["Are you ready? I won't be holding back."]

[Cold Kite drew a training sword and performed a flourish.]

["Teacher, please grant me your guidance."]

[Holding the saber with both hands, you assumed a standard defensive posture.]

["Watch my sword!"]

[Cold Kite gave a soft shout, her figure moving like lightning as she thrust her sword.]

[The battle began.]

[To be honest, you performed this level of acting every day during your training with Old Wu.]

[So, suppressing your strength to the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood to fight "Liu Qing"...]

[...was as simple as eating or drinking for you.]

[But... for Cold Kite...]

[...it wasn't quite that simple.]

[The precise control of force, the subconscious reactions of muscles, and even trying to fit the identity of the 'Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood'...]

[...she even had to deliberately reduce the fluidity of the transitions between her sword Moves...]

[This was definitely a very profound study of performance!]

[Although Cold Kite was a battle-hardened Soaring Realm Martial Artist, she was used to channeling Heaven and Earth Origin Qi with every movement, used to suppressing others with raw power.]

[Her one-month crash course in acting...]

[...was full of holes in front of a veteran actor like you who had lived for a century.]

["Clang! Clang! Clang!"]

[As your saber and sword collided...]

[...what you displayed was the most standard strength an Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood Martial Artist who had mastered the Major Achievement of the Basic Saber Technique should have.]

[Neither rushed nor impatient, with a tight defense.]

[But the awkward part was that to fit the identity of "Liu Qing," Cold Kite was also using ordinary Basic Sword Techniques.]

[And in this state of extreme restraint, what she displayed on the surface to match Liu Qing's own strength...]

[...could at most be considered techniques approaching Major Achievement.]

[This led to a very comical situation.]

[Cold Kite was fighting extremely stifled.]

[She discovered with shock that, according to her own settings...]

[...it seemed that in terms of pure stats and exchange of Moves...]

[...the current state of "Liu Qing" could not beat you.]

[The idea of testing you that she had suddenly come up with was still based on her perspective as a Soaring Realm Martial Artist.]

[She forgot that right now...]

[...she was just an Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood martial arts gym instructor.]

["Damn... how are this kid's basics so solid?"]

[Cold Kite gritted her teeth.]

[The more she fought, the more she was surprised by the solidness of your foundation.]

[With every strike of your saber, she could deeply feel the effort and sweat hidden beneath these solid saber techniques.]

[This made Cold Kite involuntarily recall the years when she was still a Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artist.]

[Back then, even with her Family's resources tilted in her favor, she definitely didn't have saber techniques as solid as Li Ang's.]

["This kid is indeed a good seedling worth cultivating."]

[Just as Cold Kite was praising you in her heart...]

[...because of this one moment of Divided Soul...]

[...she failed to hold back. Her wrist flicked subconsciously, and out of muscle memory, she used a proficient sword Move.]

["Oh no! Too much force!"]

[As soon as the sword Move came out, Cold Kite's heart skipped a beat, and she cried out inwardly.]

[If this sword strike landed solidly, Li Ang might be injured.]

[However, at this critical juncture...]

[Your keen eyes captured the moment of her mistake with unerring precision.]

["The opportunity is here!"]

[You were delighted and didn't even try to block the sword strike.]

[Instead, very smoothly, following the pressure brought by her sword wind...]

[...your legs went weak, and your whole body naturally fell backward.]

["Aiya!"]

[You let out a cry of surprise and rolled twice on the floor with the momentum.]

[The battle saber flew out of your hand and hit the ground with a 'clang.']

[You sat on the ground, clutching your chest and panting heavily.]

[Then you looked up at Cold Kite with a gaze full of admiration.]

["Teacher Liu's swordplay... is too superb!"]

[You began to praise her loudly.]

["That sword strike just now seemed plain, but it actually cut off all my paths of retreat!"]

["I lost, and I'm fully convinced! Teacher Liu is truly a professional Martial Skill instructor!"]

[This operation of yours, taking the opportunity to lose the match...]

[...was as smooth as flowing water, without a trace of acting.]

["..."]

[Cold Kite froze on the spot holding her sword, the corners of her mouth twitching violently twice.]

[Looking at you sitting on the ground and sucking up to her, her mind was in a mess.]

["This kid..."]

[Cold Kite felt a bit embarrassed.]

[But in any case, this somewhat awkward guidance battle...]

[...finally ended in a dignified manner.]

["Good game."]

[Cold Kite put away her sword and coughed twice to hide her embarrassment.]

[Trying her best to maintain her teacher persona.]

["Your saber technique is good, but your actual combat experience still needs more tempering."]

[You also responded.]

["Indeed, I still need to practice."]

[Below the combat stage.]

[The students were all stunned.]

[In their eyes...]

[...the demonstration just now was a top-tier duel between well-matched opponents!]

[The flashes of saber and sword were so intense that they were inseparable.]

[In their view...]

[...if Assistant Instructor Li hadn't suffered a slight disadvantage in Realm, it wouldn't be certain who would win or lose.]

["Assistant Instructor Li is too strong!"]

["Teacher Liu is also amazing! That last sword strike was simply a finishing blow!"]

[Everyone was very happy.]

[Because this high-level duel not only proved the strength of the school's teaching staff...]

[...but also proved the value of the VIP courses they had signed up for.]

[After exchanging a few pleasantries with "Liu Qing," you walked off the stage.]

[Ending this unique Martial Skills class.]

...

[What followed was ordinary daily study and life.]

[Attending classes during the day, teaching students at night, and sparring with Old Wu.]

[Everything seemed so peaceful.]

[Until you finished tonight's teaching.]

[Late at night, you dragged your "tired" body back to the Teachers Apartment.]

[You took out your key, opened the apartment door, and entered the room.]

[In the living room where the lights were not on...]

[...with the help of the moonlight coming in through the window...]

[...you saw a familiar figure standing quietly by your desk.]