5: Sorry! I won this battle.

The mountain-shaking cheers shook the nine heavens, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

However, the old man in Taoist robes had a calm expression as he smiled and said:

"No need for such formalities! This time, I have not come as the Dean to inspect you, but as a teacher to guide you in the cultivation of martial arts techniques. So, please feel at ease later on; there is no need to be too formal."

"Yes! Dean!"

The Disciples responded, the tension in their hearts easing slightly.

Seeing this, the old man also smiled and nodded, saying:

"Alright! No more unnecessary nonsense. My guidance this time will follow the old rules."

"The top ten in martial arts techniques from each of your classes will suppress their strength to the Early Stage of a Ninth Grade Martial Artist and fight a match against one another first."

"I will focus on guiding them based on their specific situations, and the other Disciples should listen carefully during this time."

"As for after the top ten have finished their matches, the other Disciples will pair up and choose their own opponents to fight. I will then provide a rough guide based on your shortcomings."

"Alright, let the first battle begin! Little Wang, you choose the participants."

"Yes!"

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a tall, imposing man nearly two meters tall with bulging muscles responded immediately from beside him. His sharp gaze then swept over the many Disciples.

After a moment, his gaze finally landed on a tall, handsome youth holding a greatsword:

"Wang Kai, in the last mid-year exam, your overall score was first in your class. You will be the first to fight this time, setting an example for the other Disciples and your Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."

"As for your opponent, choose one yourself!"

"Yes! Teacher!"

The handsome youth, Wang Kai, accepted the order. He scanned the class before looking at Lin Yi and smiling:

"Lin Yi, our martial arts technique Realms are similar, and we spar the most often. How about we have a battle this time?"

"I couldn't ask for more!"

Lin Yi's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he immediately stepped forward.

Seeing this, the many Disciples also retreated to the sides, forming a large circle in the center, surrounding Wang Kai and Lin Yi so they could fight to their hearts' content.

"Senior Brother Wang Kai, go for it!"

"Senior Brother Wang Kai, keep it up! You are the strongest!"

"Senior Brother Lin Yi, go for it!"

"Senior Brother Lin Yi, I believe in you! Defeat Wang Kai! Win one for us commoner Disciples!"

...On the battlefield, before the fight had even begun, the atmosphere around them began to heat up as supporters for both sides cheered for Lin Yi and Wang Kai.

Overall, however, the number of Wang Kai's supporters far exceeded Lin Yi's.

After all, Wang Kai was not only handsome and powerful—having already reached the Seventh Grade Peak Stage and the Minor Achievement of a Fifth-Grade Martial Art—but his Family background was also extraordinary.

The Wang Family he belonged to was one of the top major families in Guangling Prefecture City, with influence spread throughout Guangling and even significant impact in other prefectures.

Furthermore, although Wang Kai was a direct son of the Family and of noble status, he lacked the arrogance typical of common noble children. He was quite equal and polite to everyone, which naturally attracted more Disciples to support him.

As for Lin Yi, although he was also decent, he was far behind compared to Wang Kai.

Thus, under the enthusiastic support of the Disciples.

On the battlefield, Lin Yi and Wang Kai stood facing each other ten meters apart, one holding a saber and the other a greatsword.

After about ten breaths, Wang Kai suddenly seemed to find a flaw in Lin Yi's stance and struck first.

"Boom!"

A violent air explosion sounded as Wang Kai held the greatsword with both hands raised high, as if treating the heavy sword like a giant axe, delivering a heavy cleave toward Lin Yi.

The first Move of the Fifth-Grade Martial Art, Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique—One Sword Opens the Mountain!

"Good timing!"

A sharp light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. His right hand moved the long saber, drawing a circle in the void like a bright, clear moon, meeting the heavy, powerful sword head-on.

The second Move of the Sixth-Grade Martial Art, Bright Moon Saber Technique—Embracing the Moon in the Arms!

“Clang!”

A massive metallic clash rang out in the air as their saber and sword met, and a huge shockwave instantly surged around the two of them.

Afterward, Lin Yi's figure remained motionless, standing on the ground like an old pine tree.

On the other hand, Wang Kai, who had attacked with such momentum and power, was pushed back three steps by the recoil, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.

"Nice! Senior Brother Lin Yi is amazing!"

"Haha! Senior Brother Lin Yi, you're too incredible!"

...Seeing this scene, Lin Yi's supporters were instantly overjoyed, each of them cheering.

"Not bad! This little fellow named Lin Yi has made significant progress!"

On the other side, Vice Dean Li You smiled slightly and said:

"I remember when I came to the Martial Academy to give guidance a little over a month ago, although this little fellow's martial arts techniques were decent, they were still a bit behind that kid from the Wang Family, weren't they?"

"Now, in just over a month, he has completely closed the gap and is not at all inferior to the Wang Family kid. He even caught the opponent off guard and made him suffer a small loss. Not bad! Not bad!"

"The Dean is right!"

Teacher Wang also replied with a smile:

"Lin Yi truly has good talent and is very hardworking. It's just a pity that his Physical Body Aptitude is a bit poor."

"Poor Physical Body Aptitude?"

Hearing this, Li You's eyebrows twitched, and he then nodded, saying:

"That is indeed a bit of a pity."

...Ignoring Li You's thoughts, Wang Kai was first stunned to see himself pushed back on the field, but then he laughed:

"Lin Yi, impressive! I didn't expect that after not fighting for a while, your martial arts techniques would already be no less than mine."

"However, I was a bit careless with that Move just now. I'm going to get serious now, so watch out!"

"Don't worry, just give it your all!"

Lin Yi smiled, a burning Battle Intent rising in his eyes.

He was currently at a critical moment for a Breakthrough to the Perfection of the Bright Moon Saber Technique, and he just happened to be lacking an opponent to help him achieve it.

While the bronze mechanical man in the martial arts training room was very strong, its martial arts techniques were too poor to allow him to fight to his heart's content.

Wang Kai was different; his martial arts technique Realm was similar to his own, and his cultivation was currently suppressed to the same level. He was clearly an excellent opponent!

"Good! Lin Yi, then take another Move from me!"

Wang Kai nodded and swung the giant sword in his hand, another fierce and unstoppable sword Move slashing toward Lin Yi.

This sword was faster and more ferocious than the previous one!

Seeing this, Lin Yi did not dare to be careless and swung his saber again to parry.

Immediately... "Clang, clang, clang..."

A continuous series of metallic collisions rang out repeatedly in the school field.

The two of them moved with their blades, executing Moves that would leave an ordinary Seventh Grade Martial Artist in awe. Their battle kicked up dust and stones, drawing waves of cheers from the audience and leaving the academy Disciples and even the weaker teachers exhilarated.

"Incredible! Senior Brother Wang Kai and Senior Brother Lin Yi are truly amazing! Is this the strength of the top-ranked Disciples in martial arts techniques? It's terrifying!"

"Yes! Wang Kai and Lin Yi are just one step away from the Perfection level of a Sixth-Grade Martial Art. Even some weaker Sixth-Grade Martial Artists are only at this level, or even slightly inferior. The gap between these two and us is simply too large."

"So strong!"

...The academy Disciples exclaimed one after another.

However, on the school field, Dean Li, the old man in Taoist robes, frowned more and more as he watched.

It wasn't until the two had exchanged over a hundred Moves that Dean Li finally spoke:

"You two little fellows, your Moves are wrong!"

"Kid from the Wang Family, although the Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique you Cultivate is a martial art that focuses on power and ferocity."

"But as the saying goes, what is too rigid is easily broken. You focus too much on the power of the Moves and ignore the fluid changes between sword strikes; this is actually an inferior approach."

"If you continue like this, even if you are lucky enough to Cultivate this martial art to the Major Achievement stage, you can forget about reaching Perfection in this lifetime!"

"As for the little fellow named Lin Yi, your Bright Moon Saber Technique is well-practiced, but you focus too much on defense."

"Although this saber technique is naturally better at defense, its core Profound Truth is not just in defense, but in creating that fatal killing opportunity within the defense to finish the enemy in one blow!"

"When you realize this point, your Bright Moon Saber Technique will reach Perfection."

..."Ferocity? Changes in Moves within ferocity?"

"Defense? Creating killing opportunities within defense?"

Hearing Vice Dean Li's words, the expressions of Lin Yi and Wang Kai on the battlefield both changed simultaneously, feeling as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through their minds.

The next moment.

"Boom!"

The air exploded as the greatsword in Wang Kai's hand moved like a divine mountain axe opening a mountain, slashing toward Lin Yi with fury.

It was indeed the first Move of the Fifth-Grade Martial Art, Great Mountain Opening Sword Technique—One Sword Opens the Mountain.

However, compared to the previous strike, although this sword looked identical on the surface and was just as fierce, its internal Moves had already changed, seemingly carrying a hint of water-like 'softness.'

And the effect of this transformation was... "Clang!"

As their weapons met, Wang Kai's sword was easily blocked by Lin Yi just like before.

But unlike before, after slashing this sword, Wang Kai did not retreat to gather power again. Instead, his Move shifted, and he actually slashed out with another sword strike immediately.

“Clang!”

The weapons met again. Lin Yi's expression changed; this sudden sword strike left him a bit flustered. In the end, he had to exert all his strength to twist his body and barely managed to block it.

However, just as Lin Yi had exhausted his efforts to block that strike, Wang Kai's attack still did not stop. The greatsword in his hand continued to slash out like continuous flowing water.

Seeing this scene, everyone present except for Dean Li was instantly astonished:

"A Breakthrough! Wang Kai has made a Breakthrough!"

"Heavens! Senior Brother Wang Kai is so amazing!"

"A Fifth-Grade Martial Art! This is a Fifth-Grade Martial Art at the Major Achievement stage! It's enough to rival the Perfection level of a Sixth-Grade Martial Art. With this Breakthrough, Wang Kai is truly the undisputed number one among the 286th class of Disciples in our Guangling Martial Academy; no one can compete with him!"

"Lin Yi is definitely going to lose this time!"

"Yeah! Lin Yi is finished!"

...The Disciples exclaimed one after another, and the gaze of some toward Wang Kai was filled with even more awe and admiration.

Even Wang Kai, whose Heart-Nature was usually quite steady, was influenced by the heated atmosphere. Combined with the double joy of a martial arts Breakthrough and defeating his old rival, he couldn't help but laugh loudly at this moment:

"Haha! Lin Yi, give up! In this battle, I am the winner! It wasn't easy to beat you once, haha! This feels great!"

Wang Kai laughed as the greatsword in his hand continued to slash out Move after Move like a continuous stream of water, forcing Lin Yi to scramble to defend, seemingly on the verge of being unable to hold out any longer.

Seeing this, Wang Kai couldn't help but become even more excited, as if he saw victory right before his eyes.

But at that moment—

Lin Yi's saber light suddenly changed.

"Swish!"

On the battlefield, Lin Yi's long saber turned, and streaks of saber light seemed to transform into a rising, bright moon. Although it looked the same as before, its defensive power had surged.

Under this powerful defense, Wang Kai's sword was easily blocked by Lin Yi.

"What!"

Seeing this, Wang Kai's pupils constricted, and he cried out in surprise, momentarily dazed.

"Now is the time!"

A sharp light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes, and the long saber in his hand shifted.

In an instant, that originally bright and clear moon transformed into a terrifying saber light, whistling past Wang Kai's greatsword and grazing his sideburns.

"Whoosh!"

A strand of dark hair fell from beside Wang Kai's ear, floating in the air and slowly drifting toward the ground.

At this moment, the originally noisy school field instantly fell into a dead silence, with only a faint voice softly ringing out:

"Sorry! Wang Kai, in this battle, I am the winner."