Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Qiao Zhiyao’s Performance

The audience fell silent for a moment, then burst into gasps of astonishment.

"One finger, one palm... It’s over just like that?"

"She didn’t even use a Martial Technique, did she? That was purely an application of a Basic Cultivation Technique!"

"Is this the power of the Qiao Family...?"

Xu Wuyi watched Qiao Zhiyao on the stage and nodded slightly.

He could tell that the finger strike Qiao Zhiyao had just used contained the pure Qi and Blood refined from the first few forms of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*. Although she hadn’t condensed her Heart Fire yet, it already possessed certain scorching properties.

Combined with her exquisite control over her Qi and Blood, she could crush opponents at her level or even slightly higher, let alone ordinary Martial Artists.

The following matches became Qiao Zhiyao’s personal showcase.

In the second round against the North Courtyard, it took her fifteen seconds to defeat their ace.

In the third round against the West Courtyard, their number one representative was a Genius with a Life Energy Level of 20.1. He lasted half a minute against Qiao Zhiyao before a clever blast of Qi Force knocked him off the stage.

Three wins in three matches, all of them near-crushing victories.

Without a doubt, the East Courtyard took first place in the first-year elite team competition.

When the electronic tone signaling the end of the final match sounded, the audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

Qiao Zhiyao stood in the center of the stage, a bright smile on her face, waving toward the East Courtyard’s spectator section.

"Impressive," Shen Wei praised sincerely. "She’s much stronger than we were last year."

Zhou Mingxuan also nodded. "We certainly didn’t have such a dominant performance back then."

Xu Wuyi said nothing, just quietly watched the young woman on the stage.

He could sense Qiao Zhiyao’s gaze sweeping across the spectator stands, as if searching for someone.

After the competition, Xu Wuyi was about to log out of the Battle Network when his communicator rang.

It was a message from Qiao Zhiyao: "Senior, where are you? I saw you."

Xu Wuyi replied with his location.

A few minutes later, Qiao Zhiyao’s figure appeared in the back rows of the spectator area.

She had changed out of her training uniform and was wearing a simple set of casual clothes, her ponytail swaying gently with each step.

"Senior!" she greeted with a smile, then nodded to Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan. She didn’t know them and wasn’t sure how to address them.

"Congratulations," Xu Wuyi said. "You fought beautifully."

Qiao Zhiyao, however, pouted slightly. "There’s nothing to congratulate me for. My opponents were too weak."

She said this matter-of-factly, without a hint of arrogance, as if merely stating a fact.

Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan glanced at each other, both seeing the helplessness in the other’s eyes.

’Only someone of Qiao Zhiyao’s caliber could say something like that so naturally.’

"Have you reached the Entry Level of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Not yet. I’ve just reached the Melting Furnace Boiling Blood stage," Qiao Zhiyao replied. "Teacher Han told me to polish it for another month before trying to break through to the Entry Level."

Xu Wuyi nodded.

’Of course, this progress can’t compare to mine back then. But with the Qiao Family’s resources and Teacher Han Mo’s personal guidance, she’s bound to improve even more.’

"Oh, right," Qiao Zhiyao suddenly remembered something. "The second-year competition is next week, right? You’d better do your best, Senior."

Shen Wei couldn’t help but interject, "Junior Sister Qiao, do you think Xu Wuyi needs to ’do his best’? Everyone outside is saying the second-year competition is a foregone conclusion."

"That’s exactly why he has to do his best," Qiao Zhiyao said with a blink. "He can’t let everyone down."

She looked at Xu Wuyi, a certain expectation in her eyes. "Senior, don’t win too easily, okay? That would be so boring."

Xu Wuyi smiled. "A competition isn’t a performance. Winning is all that matters."

"Then there’s no suspense," Qiao Zhiyao said with a shrug.

She had classes with Xu Wuyi every week, so her understanding of his strength was far greater than anyone else’s at the school. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

If last year, people like Zhao Qingwei and Qin Rui could still rely on resources to catch up, Xu Wuyi’s current strength was now beyond their imagination.

This was not a gap that could be closed in a short time with talent or resources; it was a comprehensive lead in every aspect.

The group chatted for a few more minutes before Qiao Zhiyao excused herself, saying she had to go see Teacher Han Mo to report on the day’s matches.

After she left, Zhou Mingxuan let out a long sigh.

"That junior sister... her presence is really intense," he lamented. "I even feel a little pressure just talking to her."

"She’s from the Qiao Family’s Direct Lineage. It’s normal," Shen Wei said calmly.

His own family was quite powerful in Dongjiang Province, but it was for this very reason that he understood even better what caliber of family the Dongjiang Qiao Family was.

Xu Wuyi didn’t join the conversation. His gaze fell upon the empty stage, but his mind was on other things.

’Qiao Zhiyao is right. There really isn’t much suspense in the second-year competition.’

’But that doesn’t mean I’ll be careless.’

’On the path of Martial Arts, every step must be a steady one.’

In the following days, the discussions about the competition on campus grew more and more intense.

The first-year competition had concluded, and all eyes were now focused on the second-year elite competition.

The participant lists for each courtyard were also announced one after another.

West Courtyard: Tana (Level 30.8), Ding Haichuan (Level 30.7), Qin Rui (Level 30.6)

North Courtyard: Zhao Qingwei (Level 30.6), Luo Liang (Level 30.3), Zhang Qi (Level 30.1)

South Courtyard: Li Hao (Level 30.4), Chen Fan (Level 29.6), Sun Xiaoyu (Level 29.5)

East Courtyard: Xu Wuyi (Level 33.0), Shen Wei (Level 29.8), Zhou Mingxuan (Level 29.7)

As soon as the lists were released, the forums exploded.

"Xu Wuyi is Level 33?! How is anyone supposed to fight that?"

"Those few from the West and North Courtyards have also broken through to the Martial Artist realm, but they’re all just past Level 30..."

"A gap of nearly three levels... that’s a difference talent can no longer make up for."

"Looks like the East Courtyard is taking first place in the team competition this year."

There were some dissenting voices as well:

"Level isn’t everything. I heard Qin Rui has already reached the Entry Level with his *Golden Radiance Sword*."

"Zhao Qingwei’s Sword Intention is really powerful too."

"Li Hao has improved at lightning speed these past six months. He might have a hidden ace."

But these voices were quickly drowned out by the mainstream opinion.

The vast majority believed that Xu Wuyi would take first place in the individual competition without a doubt, and that the East Courtyard had a high probability of achieving a good result in the team competition by leveraging his strength.

「January twelfth, Wednesday afternoon.」

In a familiar conference room within the East Courtyard’s Battle Network Teaching Building, Vice Dean Shi Jing sat at the head of the table. Standing before him were Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan.

"The list has been posted, and there is no challenge round." Shi Jing’s voice was as steady as ever. "The three of you will represent the East Courtyard in the competition. Any questions?"

"No, sir," the three replied in unison.

Shi Jing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three of them before finally landing on Xu Wuyi.

"Xu Wuyi, the outside world currently believes you will win easily," he said slowly. "What are your thoughts on that?"

Xu Wuyi replied calmly, "The matches haven’t been fought yet. Anything can happen. I will treat every match seriously."

A flash of approval appeared in Shi Jing’s eyes.

"Very good," he said. "On the path of Martial Arts, arrogance and impatience are the greatest taboos. You must give your all, regardless of whether your opponent is strong or weak."

He then turned to Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan. "As for you two, if you run into any of those Martial Artists, there’s not much of a fight to be had. Your main opponents will be the two from the South Courtyard."

"Understood," Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan nodded at the same time.

They both understood that with an absolute powerhouse like Xu Wuyi on their team, the strategy for the team competition would have to be adjusted.

They didn’t need to struggle against opponents they clearly couldn’t beat. Instead, their job was to do the "preparatory" work.

"The competition is the day after tomorrow, in the morning," Shi Jing said finally. "Prepare well."