181: Deathmatch

Whether by passing the rigorous Civilization Assessment or by entering the Qinglan Academy with a letter of recommendation like Zhang Sheng, those newly admitted to the Qinglan Academy all receive a one-star qinglan token.

Zhang Sheng's Divine Sense swept over it, and the admission guidelines and strict academy rules were instantly etched into his mind.

The token's star ranks are strict; above one-star, there are two-star, three-star, and four-star qinglan tokens. The number of stars is a cold measure of status.

One-star Qinglan Guards are at the very bottom, and most of the dazzling Heaven-Grade resources in the Ten Thousand Treasures Hall within the academy can only be admired from afar.

Two-star, however, is completely different.

Heaven-Grade resources can be freely used, and one even qualifies to contend for the legendary god-connecting treasure medicine!

The only key to crossing this chasm is contribution points—the hard currency within the Qinglan Academy, fundamental for purchasing all Cultivation resources.

Accumulating over ten thousand contribution points allows a one-star to advance to two-star.

The source of contribution points is the Mission Hall.

Each completed mission imprints the cold contribution point number into the qinglan token.

Star advancement only depends on the accumulated total; consuming contribution points to buy resources does not change the star rank.

But the Qinglan Academy also has an iron rule: if one fails to reach two-star within three years of holding the token, they will be mercilessly expelled, most likely becoming an anonymous soldier in the Azure Mist army, or scattered to other low-level corners, never again enjoying today's glory.

Boom—!!!

A thunderous roar tore through the tranquility of the courtyard without warning, and the violent air currents even made the window frames hum!

"Zhang Sheng! Get out here, you bastard!"

An arrogant roar followed the shockwave, reverberating in the air.

Zhang Sheng frowned slightly, his Divine Sense spreading out like mercury.

Outside the main gate, an unfamiliar young man stood proudly, his aura surging. In the distance, on the eaves and corners of roofs, shadowy figures indicated that many spectators had already gathered.

Swish!

Zhang Sheng's figure blurred and elongated in place; the next instant, he appeared like a ghost outside the main gate, his robes fluttering without wind.

"You are Zhang Sheng?" The young man sized him up, undisguised contempt in his eyes.

"Your Spiritual Pressure is thin, your aura ordinary. With your meager abilities, you actually squeezed into the top ten thousand of the fledgling tiger ranking?"

"Did you perhaps pay a Divine Power Realm Cultivator to put on a big show with you?" He was of medium height, but with a round head and large ears. His arrogant expression, set against this appearance, seemed particularly comical and grating.

"Who are you?" Zhang Sheng's voice was cold, his gaze like a knife.

On the glazed tile ridge of a palace not far away, a young man sat casually, raising his voice with a laugh: "Xiao Xuantian, see? It seems no one takes your position in the top ten thousand of the ranking seriously!"

He paused, deliberately drawing out his words, "Oh, no, no, the ranking just updated. You're now number ten thousand and one!"

Xiao Xuantian's face darkened. Ignoring the other's mockery, he stared intently at Zhang Sheng:

"Zhang Sheng! This young master wants to have a martial duel with you! I want to see what makes you rank ahead of me!"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Zhang Sheng's eyes. He hadn't expected to encounter such an arrogant person right after entering the academy.

A cold smirk played on his lips as he clearly enunciated: "Idiot! Don't get in my way!"

Xiao Xuantian flew into a rage: "Zhang Sheng! Can you only talk big? If you have the guts, come with me to the martial arena and let our hands do the talking!"

He took a step forward, maliciously taunting:

"Scared? Fine! As long as you crawl under my legs and publicly admit defeat, saying you're inferior to Xiao Xuantian, then this matter is over! How about it?"

Suppressed snickers faintly echoed from the surroundings. The Qinglan Guards watching the show had playful looks in their eyes, waiting to see this newcomer become a laughingstock.

A slight doubt stirred in Zhang Sheng's heart.

Having entered the academy with Song Hao's letter of recommendation, he should have remained low-key and uneventful. This Xiao Xuantian's arrival was suspicious, and his provocation was clearly deliberate.

But... who cares if someone instigated him!

To be bullied and still swallow one's anger? There's no such logic!

Zhang Sheng suddenly smiled, his laugh not loud, but clearly spreading throughout the entire scene, carrying a bone-chilling coldness:

"Xiao Xuantian, a martial duel?" He slowly shook his head, enunciating each word, his voice reverberating: "Too boring.

If we're going to fight, then it will be a—deathmatch!"

The two words "deathmatch" were like ice water poured into boiling oil!

The surroundings instantly fell silent, followed by a chorus of gasps.

The eyes of all observers instantly changed, a mixture of amusement, surprise, and excitement. The air seemed to solidify for a moment.

Xiao Xuantian's pupils suddenly contracted! Deathmatch?! Is this kid crazy? Where does he get such confidence?

Could it be... he's truly hiding his true strength?

No! Impossible! A newcomer who just passed the Civilization Assessment, how many Transcendent Spells could he master?

He must be bluffing!

Just then, a graceful blue figure swept over like a startled swan.

She wore a light veil that outlined her breathtakingly full curves, and her foxy eyes naturally held affection, but at this moment they were filled with anxiety.

She landed beside Xiao Xuantian, her voice soft and pleading: "Brother Tian, your ranking is below his, why be impulsive? We are all brothers and sisters of Qinglan Academy, it's not good for anyone to get hurt..."

Though her voice was soft, it clearly reached everyone present.

Zhang Sheng's gaze swept over the woman, and he too felt a chill in his heart.

What a natural enchantress! Every frown and smile seemed to possess a soul-stirring power.

"Mei'er, don't worry!" Xiao Xuantian, spurred by the soft voice, seemed to be injected with chicken blood, full of heroic spirit.

"Brother will definitely beat this undeserving fellow today!" He abruptly pulled out a contract flowing with dark red runes from his storage ring.

"Deathmatch it is! Sign it, and I'll wait for you to die in the martial arena!" The contract exuded an ominous aura.

Unnoticed by anyone, when Mei'er's words "ranking is below his" left her lips, a faint red glow flashed in the depths of Xiao Xuantian's eyes, then vanished.

Zhang Sheng recognized this item—a Deathmatch Contract.

Without hesitation, he condensed his Mental Energy into a needle and pierced the contract, leaving his unique mental imprint.

The contract hummed, split into two, and, glowing with bloody light, flew into Zhang Sheng's and Xiao Xuantian's hands respectively.

Zhang Sheng's gaze had already thoroughly seen through his opponent.

A True Fetus Realm Cultivator? That's all.

Even when facing Lian Qiu, who was in the Divine Power Realm, he hadn't fully exerted his strength.

Today, he would use this foolish fellow who didn't know his place to establish his authority!

Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, and eliminate future troubles!

..."What?! That blockhead Xiao Xuantian got into a fight with the new kid? And it's a deathmatch? Does his brother Xiao Buyu know about this?!" Wen Tao suddenly stopped, his face full of surprise.

"Brother Tao! It's absolutely true, the Deathmatch Contract has already been signed! If you miss this big show, you'll regret it deeply!" Qian Che used his stout body to block Wen Tao's path, the fat on his face jiggling with excitement.

"Fatty! Are we still doing the Luoxia Prefecture's desolate beast hunting mission?" Wen Tao frowned.

"Oh my! How much time will it take for them to fight? If one really dies, that scene, tsk tsk tsk..." Qian Che's small eyes gleamed with gossip.

"Bamboo Pole, if you're not going, I'm going by myself!"

"...Alright, alright! Go, go! I really give up on you!"

Wen Tao helplessly rubbed his forehead. He and the fatty's Talents complemented each other; neither could be without the other, and dealing with desolate beasts would be much less efficient. Once this fatty got excited about watching a show, eight horses couldn't pull him back.

News of the deathmatch spread like wildfire, instantly igniting the entire Qinglan Academy.

The rules were simple and brutal: it ended when one party died, or if the victor showed mercy and granted a pardon.

When Zhang Sheng and Xiao Xuantian stepped into the martial arena, the surrounding stands were already packed with people, buzzing with noise.

Discussions, conjectures, and shouts of encouragement intertwined.

"Zhang Sheng? Never heard of this person before?"

"He just entered today! They say he got Song Hao's letter of recommendation!"

"Xiao Xuantian's fire Spell has almost reached the threshold of True Intent, this newcomer is probably in for trouble..."

"Not necessarily! The fledgling tiger ranking isn't fake; Zhang Sheng dared to accept a deathmatch, doesn't he have some reliance?"

...In the center of the martial arena, Xiao Xuantian held half of the blood contract, grinning ferociously at Zhang Sheng opposite him:

"Zhang Sheng, to be honest, I didn't intend to take your life!

You brought this upon yourself by signing this Deathmatch Contract! On the Yellow Springs road, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Hot air currents began to rise and distort around him.

At the edge of the arena, a solemn-faced Divine Power Realm middle-aged Cultivator spoke in a deep voice, his words cutting through the noise:

"The Deathmatch Contract has been established, you bear the consequences yourselves! I ask one last time, Zhang Sheng, Xiao Xuantian, do you wish to go back on your word?"

He had presided over countless duels, but deathmatches, involving life and death, were rarely chosen unless there was deep-seated hatred.

Seeing the two remain silent, their eyes showing no signs of retreat, the middle-aged Cultivator sighed inwardly:

"Since that is the case, present the contract!"

He took the two blood contracts and held them high.

Buzz—!

In an instant, a massive translucent rainbow light barrier shot up from the edge of the martial arena, emitting a low hum, instantly enveloping the core area of the ten-kilometer martial arena.

Runes flowed on the light wall, exuding an indestructible and majestic aura, isolating inside from outside.

The air within the arena instantly became viscous and deadly.