8: Chapter 8: The Sparring with Chen Ye – That Kid's Pretty Cool

The admissions teachers from the four prestigious universities came quickly and left just as fast.

After confirming the choices of Zhou Heng and Chen Ye, they offered a few words of encouragement to the other two A-rank geniuses.

Then, each transformed into a streak of light and departed; the time of big shots was indeed precious.

Only the school leaders, still buzzing with excitement, and the two freshly minted top martial arts university candidates remained in the meeting room.

The principal rubbed his hands, the smile never leaving his face. "Zhou Heng, Chen Ye, good! Excellent! You've truly brought honor to Jiangcheng No. 3 High School!"

He pulled out two documents. "These are government-approved scholarships to commend you for bringing glory to Jiangcheng! Zhou Heng, 50,000 Star Credits! Chen Ye, 150,000 Star Credits! The funds have been approved and should arrive in your personal accounts shortly!"

"Fifty thousand?!" Zhou Heng's eyes instantly lit up. Although he wasn't someone who had never seen the world, this was solid startup capital!

"The principal is mighty! The school is generous! If the school needs anything in the future, just give me a shout, and I'll definitely help if I can!" He thumped his chest, acting as if he would be the school's protector from now on.

The principal was amused by him. "Alright, stop being poor. Working hard at university is the best reward you can give us."

Chen Ye also bowed slightly. "Thank you, Principal."

Leaving the administration building, Zhou Heng looked at the huge figure that had just arrived on his terminal, feeling like he was walking on air.

Chen Ye kept his head down, his silver hair shimmering with a cold luster under the sunlight.

It complemented the faint Ice Prison aura around him; he really was unfairly handsome.

He looked at Zhou Heng, his eyes burning with an eager fighting spirit. "Zhou Heng, let's have a match."

"Hmm?" Zhou Heng raised an eyebrow. "You just got the money and now you want to beat up the benefactor? Ye Zi, you're turning your back on me pretty quickly."

"Cut the crap." Chen Ye turned and walked toward the school exit. "Go to the martial arts hall where I usually practice my blade. Let me see just how strong an S-rank really is."

"Tsk, someone's not convinced." Zhou Heng chuckled and followed. "Fine! It's the perfect time to test my new skill on you!"

Jiangcheng, Thunder Fighting Hall.

Chen Ye was clearly a regular here; he scanned his face and led Zhou Heng into a high-level training room.

The indoor temperature seemed to drop a few degrees upon Chen Ye's arrival.

He slowly drew the long blade from his waist. The blade was narrow and long, emitting a ghostly blue cold light, perfectly in sync with his awakened Ice Prison Monarch Divine Seal.

[Target: Chen Ye]

[Realm: 2-Star Spirit Awakening]

[Divine Seal Sequence: Ice Prison Monarch (A-rank)]

[Status: High fighting spirit, abundant yuan energy]

[Skill: Extreme Ice Slash (Active): Condenses Ice Prison power to launch a powerful slash, accompanied by a freezing effect.]

[Weakness Analysis: Realm is not yet stable following a recent breakthrough.]

Zhou Heng also dropped the joking manner and reached back to take down the long spear from his back.

The spear tip pointed diagonally at the ground, as blue-purple electric arcs began to crackle and pop.

"Begin?"

"Begin!"

Before the words had even faded, Chen Ye moved!

He took a step, and a sheet of frost instantly spread across the ground. An extreme chill rushed toward Zhou Heng, attempting to slow his speed!

Simultaneously, the blade light was like a bolt of silk, carrying a bone-chilling cold as it slashed straight down—Extreme Ice Slash!

"Good timing!" Zhou Heng laughed. Without dodging or evading, he sent out a thought!

[Thunder Flash!]

Swish!

His figure instantly blurred, turning into a distorted bolt of lightning, grazing past the blade's edge with extreme peril!

Only a few faintly jumping electric arcs remained where he had stood.

Chen Ye's strike hit empty air, and his pupils constricted. Such speed!

But his reaction was incredibly fast. Instead of retracting the blade, he swung it around, the cold blade light sweeping toward Zhou Heng's figure like a reversing waterfall!

The frost path continued to take effect, causing Zhou Heng's movements to feel slightly sluggish.

Zhou Heng, however, seemed to have anticipated this. The long spear came alive as the tip tapped the ground for leverage.

His body twisted at an incredible angle, avoiding the blade's edge while his spear lunged out like a dragon!

Wrapped in the violent Power of Annihilation Wind and Thunder, it pierced straight for Chen Ye's wrist!

Sizzle!

Lightning and ice shards exploded!

Chen Ye's wrist went numb, and his blade momentum stalled slightly.

Zhou Heng pressed his advantage, his long spear unfolding into the basic spear techniques of parrying, taking, thrusting, collapsing, dotting, piercing, picking, and parrying...

They came naturally to him, yet were dazzlingly fast. Every strike carried the roar of wind and thunder and terrifying piercing power!

What made it even more difficult for Chen Ye was that Zhou Heng's attack angles were incredibly tricky.

He always managed to drill in from the most awkward points of exertion and weakest defenses! It was as if everything about him was being seen through!

This was the terrifying aspect of the Omniscient Eye combined with Annihilation Wind and Thunder!

Extreme speed seized fleeting openings, and overbearing attack power instantly expanded the advantage!

Chen Ye pushed his Ice Prison power to the limit. His blade light was dense, and cold tides surged, occasionally using an Extreme Ice Slash to try and forcibly freeze Zhou Heng's movements.

But Zhou Heng's [Thunder Flash] had an extremely short cooldown, allowing him to pull away or rush in for an attack at the most critical moments.

Inside the training room, lightning raged and frost spread. The two figures crossed at high speed, the sound of clashing metal and energy explosions never-ending.

Ten minutes later.

Chen Ye leaned on his blade, panting slightly, with sweat appearing on his forehead.

The webbing between his thumb and forefinger was numb from the impact, and several places on his clothes were charred by electricity. Although he wasn't injured, he was clearly at a disadvantage.

Zhou Heng was also breathing hard, but his eyes were bright and his fighting spirit was burning.

He put away his long spear and smiled. "Ye Zi, not bad! That ice of yours is tough enough! Almost made my hands go numb from the cold."

Chen Ye straightened up and took a deep breath. His cold expression softened slightly, and his eyes held a sense of respect. "You are stronger. Speed, power, and..."

"Hehe, I'm just average, third in the world."

Zhou Heng walked over and hooked an arm around his shoulder. "Let's go, Tycoon Heng is taking you out to spend! Then I have to go home and take that little ancestor shopping."

After parting with Chen Ye, Zhou Heng returned home and pulled up Zhou Xiaoxuan, who was binge-watching a show.

"Let's go, Xiaoxuan, shopping!"

"Really? Brother, did you strike it rich?" Zhou Xiaoxuan jumped up instantly.

"You bet! Your brother is now a Star Credit Warrior!" Zhou Heng waved his terminal proudly.

Taking his sister along, Zhou Heng first bought his mom a silk scarf she had been eyeing for a long time but couldn't bring herself to buy.

He bought his dad a high-end smart thermos, and finally, he was dragged to the electronics section by an impatient Zhou Xiaoxuan.

Watching his sister beam with joy while clutching the latest model terminal, and looking at the gifts for his parents in his hands.

The sense of fulfillment in Zhou Heng's heart was stronger than ever before.