Chapter 350: Chapter 346: Insisting on Courting Death (Part 1)

"That’s right, I’m scared," Tu Xiao’an said, addressing the crowd below.

Many in the crowd were stunned for a moment, then their faces filled with smug satisfaction. "See? The strongest freshman admitted he’s scared! He’s chickening out!"

The corner of Tu Xiao’an’s mouth curled into a slight smirk. His bewitching eyes swept over the crowd, and everyone who met his gaze felt their heart clench violently. An inexplicable fear of death crept into every one of their hearts.

’What terrifying eyes.’ They were completely devoid of emotion. In that instant, everyone felt as if they were being targeted by the most fearsome venomous snake in the world.

While they were still reeling from the aftershock, the slender figure on the stage rose into the air and began to levitate. Standing as if suspended between heaven and earth, he softly uttered, "I’m scared I’ll beat him to death."

Uh... Everyone’s eyes shot wide open, their faces a mask of utter confusion. ’This guy...???’

’He’s flying? The fact that he can levitate just like the god-tier seniors is a testament to his incredible power.’

It was common knowledge that no living being could fly before reaching Rank 3. However, human Martial Cultivators could use Cultivation Techniques to get around this. Many geniuses, despite not having reached Rank 3, could employ various methods to achieve flight.

But within the Ancient Academy, you could probably count the number of students who could truly levitate on your fingers and toes. All of them were top-tier geniuses.

As he levitated there, people couldn’t help but subconsciously believe his words.

When Ling Yanhang saw Tu Xiao’an levitating, his expression turned foul. Hearing his words, he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. What did that make him? It was contempt, pure, undisguised contempt.

No matter how you sliced it, he was still a student of the Genius Class—a senior to the freshmen!

Men fight for face, and Buddhas for a stick of incense. Ling Yanhang’s face twisted in fury. "Don’t you dare spout such arrogance! If you’ve got the guts, let’s fight again! I’d like to see just how you’re going to beat me to death!"

"Fine. I’ll give you your chance now. I hope you don’t regret it."

Tu Xiao’an hovered in the air, a full man’s height above Ling Yanhang, gazing down at him.

He had no beef with Ling Yanhang and hadn’t planned on hurting him; he was just going to let him concede. But unfortunately, the man didn’t know when to quit.

With a mere thought, the Flying Knife at Ling Yanhang’s throat shot back into his hand. He toyed with it, saying, "Ling Yanhang, you called my Flying Knife a hidden weapon. Fine. This time, I won’t use it."

"But this time, I won’t be holding back."

Tu Xiao’an remained high above, his chin tilted up slightly. A perpetual frost seemed to gather between his brows, and his gaze was a mixture of cold indifference and lofty disdain.

’A man without self-awareness is just courting death. I already revealed my ability to control Thunder. Even without my Flying Knife, how does he think he can beat me?’

’This guy has been blinded by his own ambition. All he can think about is not being eliminated, but he doesn’t even know his own limits. Does he really take me for one of those average freshmen from years past?’

With the Flying Knife gone from his throat, Ling Yanhang instantly relaxed. He was overjoyed. He had actually managed to win himself another chance.

"Junior, I was just careless before. This time, even if you use your Flying Knife, I won’t let you get your way. To be fair, when you lose, I’ll give you another chance, too." Ling Yanhang said this deliberately, not wanting to give anyone grounds for gossip.

’Give *me* a chance?’

Tu Xiao’an looked at him like he was an idiot. ’Has his brain short-circuited?’

Since his ability to control Thunder was already exposed, Tu Xiao’an decided not to hold back. With a thought, his body became wreathed in electric light. Silver serpents of lightning darted around him, the air filled with an incessant CRACKLE. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"You..." Seeing this, Ling Yanhang broke out in goosebumps.

’I forgot. This kid can control Thunder. He’s an Elemental Attribute Ability user! Those people are the most terrifying.’

"How about this? If you can withstand a single bolt of my lightning, I’ll admit defeat."

Tu Xiao’an watched the now-tense Ling Yanhang with an impassive expression.

"Don’t get too cocky. What’s one little bolt of your lightning? Bring it on!" Ling Yanhang was still confident in his physical resilience.

Just a moment ago, a few of the god-tier seniors had been struck by his lightning while in mid-air. Although they had fallen, they were completely unharmed.

That proved the lightning he released wasn’t actually that powerful.

After a few moments of thought, Ling Yanhang’s confidence returned. ’Trying to scare me?’

Elemental Attribute Abilities were terrifying, yes, but it all depended on the user’s Realm.

If a Rank One Martial Cultivator were to use Thunder, a Rank Two expert could just stand there and take the hit without suffering much damage.

"I’ll stand right here and won’t move an inch. I’ll take one bolt of your lightning. But if I withstand it, you’ll..."

Tu Xiao’an said, "I’ll concede immediately."

"Good! It’s a deal!" Ling Yanhang quickly agreed, as if afraid Tu Xiao’an would go back on his word.

Ling Yanhang truly had no idea how strong this "strongest freshman" was. At the very least, his earlier Flying Knife technique had left him completely helpless.

A bet like this was clearly the most advantageous for him.

’Withstand one bolt of your lightning? I’m a dignified Rank Two Sixth Stage Martial Cultivator. You think I can’t take a single bolt from you? What a joke.’

"Everyone, look! The strongest freshman is terrifying! His entire body is covered in arcs of electricity!"

Everyone below the stage was staring, dumbfounded. Tu Xiao’an now hovered in the air, his body wreathed in crackling electricity and darting silver serpents of lightning. He looked like a Celestial God who had descended to the mortal world, possessed by Lei Gong, the God of Thunder.

Suddenly, the Vice-Headmaster’s aged voice sounded in Tu Xiao’an’s mind.

’Snake Spirit, you must not take his life.’

Tu Xiao’an sent back a cold mental reply. ’Old man, he’s the one forcing my hand. If I go easy on him this time, I’ll feel like I’m doing him a disservice.’

The Vice-Headmaster’s voice replied, ’You two are on completely different levels. If you use your full power, he will die without a doubt. Don’t forget our agreement: you are not to kill anyone in the Ancient Academy, or I’ll have you thrown out.’

’Old man, are you threatening me? You think this Snake King gives a damn about your Ancient Academy? On the Martial Arts Arena, life and death are left to fate. Blades have no eyes. If he dies, he can only blame his own weakness. Have people never died during a duel at your Ancient Academy before?’

This was a world where the strong preyed on the weak, especially in the Martial Cultivation Realm. Even at the Ancient Academy, it was perfectly normal for students to lose their lives in duels every year.

However, Tu Xiao’an was a Snake Spirit. How could the Vice-Headmaster allow a student to die at the hands of a Snake Spirit?

But he also knew this couldn’t be blamed on the Snake Spirit. Ling Yanhang had brought this upon himself, and even he couldn’t stop it.

’Just consider it a favor to me. As long as you spare his life, you can do whatever else you want,’ the Vice-Headmaster’s aged voice replied, conceding a step.

’Twenty Spirit Stones, and I’ll spare his life.’

Tu Xiao’an’s temper wasn’t nearly as good as it used to be. He had once been unwilling to kill humans, but that was before he had devoured a human Martial Cultivator. Now, it was no longer a big deal. He had saved those who deserved saving, and he had killed those who deserved killing.

When someone insisted on rushing to their death like this, he almost felt embarrassed to refuse them.

Hearing the price of twenty Spirit Stones, the Vice-Headmaster was instantly fuming. ’That’s extortion!’

’Suit yourself. At worst, I’ll kill this guy and leave the Ancient Academy. You won’t be able to stop me. And if you really piss off this Snake King, believe it or not, I’ll turn your precious Ancient Academy into a Snake Cave.’

After he said that, there were several seconds of silence before the Vice-Headmaster replied, ’Ten. I’ll give you ten Spirit Stones.’

’Looks like this old man really does need something from me. He’s actually compromising?’

Tu Xiao’an was really just testing his limits. After all, the fact that the Vice-Headmaster knew he was a Snake Spirit and still allowed him to remain at the Ancient Academy was suspicious in itself.

’Final price, twelve.’

’Fine. I agree.’

Tu Xiao’an grinned at that. His extortion had actually worked.

Tu Xiao’an didn’t give a damn about trash like Ling Yanhang. Whether he killed him or not simply depended on his mood.

For the sake of twelve Spirit Stones, he might as well give the man the "permanent semi-paralysis" special.