240: Chapter 240 Undercurrents

Once this post was published...

It could be said to have caused a massive stir.

Instances of a Sparring Partner participating in the New Student Competition were actually quite rare.

Most Sparring Partners who came to the academy would lose all confidence in participating in the New Student Competition after sparring with Formal Students.

Even some capable Sparring Partners would choose not to participate if they lacked the confidence to break into the top ten.

The reason was simple: once they participated, they stood in direct opposition to the Formal Students.

To the Formal Students, competing on the same stage as a few low-status Sparring Partners was a source of shame in itself.

If they had absolute strength and could beat everyone into submission, it might be fine.

But without absolute strength, anyone who entered would more or less be collectively targeted by these Formal Students.

So, while the difficulty of the New Student Competition's stages might not be that high...

It became much harder once the Formal Students started targeting you.

As for Li Fan and Peng Song, because they had decent battle records, they hadn't caused too much resentment among the Formal Students yet.

However, that was only 'not too much.'

There were still plenty of people who resented them.

Many Formal Students were even forming cliques now, preparing to eliminate Li Fan and Peng Song first during the New Student Competition.

Yet, compared to the Formal Students, those who felt even stronger resentment were actually the Sparring Partners.

And it was the veteran Sparring Partners specifically!

"No way, these two guys are going to participate in the New Student Competition?"

"How overconfident! Do these two think they're all that just because they defeated two Formal Students with high Initial Student Numbers?!"

"They probably don't realize that those Initial Student Numbers were assigned by the academy months ago. Now that months have passed, everyone's strength has improved differently. Looking at Student numbers alone doesn't mean much anymore. It's quite possible the two they beat wouldn't even make the top twenty now!"

"It's honestly hilarious. Do they really think they can stand on the same stage as the scions of great families? They've been lagging behind since the womb. They're destined to become clowns at the New Student Competition!"

"I'm just waiting to see these two get beaten so hard by the Formal Students that they run home crying!"

The rhetoric from the veteran Sparring Partners was basically the same across the board.

They all doubted Peng Song and Li Fan, even feeling disdain and contempt for their decision to participate in the New Student Competition, believing the two were grossly overestimating themselves.

Many new Sparring Partners had originally been quite optimistic about Li Fan and Peng Song.

But after hearing the veteran Sparring Partners, they also gradually began to lose faith in the two.

As for these rumors and gossips...

Li Fan was still in Confinement Valley and was completely unaware.

Peng Song, however, knew about them, and these words successfully made him extremely furious.

However, he had great emotional control; he suppressed all his anger and began to practice even harder. He planned to use hard strength to respond to these words during the New Student Competition!

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The news that Li Fan and Peng Song intended to participate in the New Student Competition quickly reached the academy's higher-ups.

Since it had been a long time since a Sparring Partner participated in the New Student Competition...

And now it was happening again...

This caused many high-level officials, who usually paid no attention to Sparring Partners or even New Students, to turn their gaze toward them.

A genius like Huo Feng had appeared once before.

They were very curious.

Whether one of these two could also reach that height.

...

Formal Student Dormitory Area.

Inside Duan Ping's manor.

"Brother Li is actually going to participate in the New Student Competition?"

Duan Ping looked at the news and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

He had been exceptionally shocked when he previously learned that Li Fan had beaten Fang Tong again and was sent back to Confinement Valley.

How could someone be so reckless and dare to provoke him again?

But after thinking about it, it was highly likely that Fang Tong had initiated the encounter with Li Fan, so he quickly understood.

He didn't know Li Fan well, but he knew Fang Tong all too well.

Fang Tong valued face above all else; since Li Fan had made him lose face, he naturally wouldn't let Li Fan off.

So in the end, Li Fan being targeted by Fang Tong's grudge was still his fault.

If he hadn't invited Li Fan over that day, Li Fan certainly wouldn't have crossed paths with Fang Tong.

And if nothing unexpected happened...

If Li Fan participated in the New Student Competition, he would inevitably be targeted by Fang Tong, and even Fang Tong's elder brother would likely lend a hand.

Li Fan could beat Fang Tong.

But against his elder brother, he would basically have no chance of winning.

So, barring any surprises, Li Fan would likely be unable to stay in the top ten.

As for becoming a Formal Student, that was naturally even more impossible.

And all of this, in the final analysis, was because of him.

"Brother Li, once my great ambition is achieved, I will surely compensate you!"

Duan Ping spoke slowly, a flash of determination appearing on his usually frail face.

...

Without realizing it...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

With only two days left until the start of the New Student Competition.

Nowadays, the entire academy was basically discussing matters regarding the New Student Competition.

And as many New Students emerged from seclusion...

Many highly promising New Students one after another voiced their bold claims.

Which was to definitely take first place!

That's right.

For Li Fan and Peng Song, as long as they entered the top ten, it would be considered a victory.

But for many Students with high Initial Student Numbers, they had only one goal: first place!

As top-tier geniuses from various major powers, they all possessed the conviction to suppress all their peers.

They were actually dissatisfied with the so-called Initial Student Numbers.

Because that was merely the academy's assessment of them.

It did not represent their true strength.

Until they actually fought, they wouldn't consider themselves inferior to anyone!

...

Back to Li Fan's side.

In the middle of the steps between the second and third deep layers of Confinement Valley.

Li Fan was training against incredibly powerful gravity and spiritual erosion.

Compared to ten days ago...

Li Fan's overall aura...

Had clearly risen by another small level.

And if one looked at his Mental Energy...

Li Fan's improvement could be described as a qualitative leap.

In terms of Mental Energy intensity alone, he was nearly catching up to a Universe Level Divine Illusionist.

Of course.

It was only 'nearly.'

To truly catch up, he was still quite a bit off.

However, if Li Fan were given enough time in this Confinement Valley, it wouldn't take too long to catch up.

But such powerful Mental Energy didn't have much use for Li Fan in the short term.

Because he hadn't yet practiced how to use Mental Energy.

For now, it at most served as a form of spiritual defense.

In the future, Li Fan did indeed plan to practice Cultivation Methods in this area.

If he could master it...

He would have both long-range and close-combat capabilities; even without using Annihilation Eye, he would be a Well-Rounded Warrior.

Of course.

His primary focus still had to be on his physical body.

After all, Mental Energy was, in a sense, just an extremely weakened version of the Annihilation Eye; for him, it could only serve as a support skill at most.

Only when his physical body was invincible would he be truly invincible.