107: External forces are ultimately just external forces.

On the main stand.

Dong Liuwei let out a light "eh". "That lotus seems familiar; it should be the awakening weapon of the sophomore Spirit Cultivator Zhou Yan. It's a pair of lotuses, divided into a Sub-Lotus and a Mother Lotus."

"Zhou Weihua, this is a violation," Ning Xing said expressionlessly.

The teacher named Zhou Weihua trembled slightly upon hearing Ning Xing's words, a few drops of cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

But he still braced himself and replied:

"Principal Ning, this Sub-Lotus has already been detached from the Mother Lotus. The Sub-Lotus is no longer an awakening weapon, so it doesn't count as a violation."

"Playing word games with me?" Ning Xing's voice turned cold.

"I wouldn't dare."

"Hmph!"

Ning Xing's eyes were cold and filled with chill as he looked toward the arena.

On the arena.

Zhou Ming walked toward Xiao Weiqing. "Bring out whatever tricks you have left."

Xiao Weiqing wasn't in a hurry. "Zhou Ming, is this where your confidence comes from?"

"Hmph, your Innate Skill is already useless. You're just a toothless tiger."

"Spiritual Wisdom—you don't deserve to possess such an Innate Skill!"

With one step, he covered several meters.

Zhou Ming's figure dashed rapidly toward Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing drew Scarlet Dragon and took a defensive stance.

Seeing the distance between them closing, Zhou Ming, with a ruthless expression, threw out a palm strike.

"Blazing Palm!"

Pale blue exotic fire surged out, turning into a palm the size of a millstone that slapped toward Xiao Weiqing.

"Slash!"

Xiao Weiqing held the blade with both hands. Flames scattered from the blade's body as he extinguished the flaming palm with a single strike.

"You're far from it."

"Even with an exotic fire, it's not enough."

Xiao Weiqing already had the strength of the Second Realm, plus his Refined Fire, he didn't fear Zhou Ming at all in close combat.

Zhou Ming seemed prepared; he sidestepped, lunged forward to get close to Xiao Weiqing, and struck with another palm.

"Clang!"

The palm struck the parrying blade, producing a metallic collision sound.

Looking closely, Zhou Ming was wearing a pair of metal gloves, which further reinforced the power of his flames.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Weiqing gave a low shout, and the Scarlet Dragon in his hand swept out forcefully. Zhou Ming didn't dare to take it head-on and retreated repeatedly.

"Fire Owl!"

Refined Fire surged out wildly. He pushed out a palm, aimed straight at Zhou Ming's face.

"It's useless."

Zhou Ming sneered as the silver-white lotus appeared before him, blocking Xiao Weiqing's attack.

However, the speed was significantly slower than before.

The powerful impact hit Zhou Ming right in the face.

"Bang!"

Zhou Ming's feet left the ground, and he was sent flying over a dozen meters.

"How is this possible?"

Zhou Ming's face turned pale, his pupils constricted, unable to believe it.

He didn't understand why the Sub-Lotus hadn't absorbed the flames of Xiao Weiqing's Innate Skill in time.

"Why is your lotus useless now? Is it broken?"

Xiao Weiqing sneered inwardly and walked toward Zhou Ming with his blade.

The lotus's ability could absorb Spiritual Qi attacks and even strike back in the same manner, making it a very strong counter against Technique Cultivators.

But that didn't include Xiao Weiqing.

Refined Fire and Qi Fire were fundamentally different in nature.

In reality, Xiao Weiqing could have completely crushed him using his Dantian Qi Fire, but there was no need; he wanted to show Zhou Ming that external force is external force after all.

In the audience.

Qin Tian showed an "as expected" expression.

He was the first to discover another ability of Xiao Weiqing's Samadhi True Fire. He had been a bit dazed at the time, but also somewhat envious. The same Innate Skill could actually manifest different abilities, making it impossible to guard against in battle.

"Old Qin, is Zhou Ming about to lose?"

Xue Cheng asked with squinted eyes.

"Yeah. Even if his Spiritual Qi is restricted, Xiao Weiqing of the Second Realm can still easily defeat Zhou Ming. Although Zhou Ming's strength has grown rapidly recently, the Second Realm is the Second Realm."

Duan Shuyu said, "Old Qin, did you know the result all along? Is that why you didn't even think about competing for Spiritual Wisdom?"

Qin Tian nodded. "Right now, it's impossible for anyone to be Xiao Weiqing's opponent. Even those with Level 6 Extraordinary Talent on the Heavenly Ladder Rankings can't do it."

Duan Shuyu added, "Old Qin, what's the deal with Xiao Weiqing's Innate Skill? I always feel like something is different."

Xue Cheng was also very curious. "Yeah, tell us. After all, you've been hit by his Innate Skill before. What did it feel like?"

Qin Tian's face darkened. "Get lost!"

"Tch! If you won't say it, you won't say it. What's there to hide? It's not like it's something glorious anyway."

Qin Tian's knuckles turned white as he glared at Xue Cheng.

"Cough... cough... Watch the match, watch the match."

On the arena.

The battle between the two was nearing its end.

Zhou Ming hadn't expected at all that even after restricting Xiao Weiqing's Spiritual Qi, he still wouldn't be his match. This wasn't just a gap in Spiritual Qi; even in terms of physical strength, Xiao Weiqing wasn't weaker than him.

"Impossible!"

"I don't believe it!"

Zhou Ming roared, his charging speed increasing by another level.

Xiao Weiqing remained expressionless, deciding to end this boring fight.

"Fire Owl!"

This time, Xiao Weiqing went all out. His Spiritual Qi surged, and the pillar of fire was entwined with 200 strands of Refined Fire.

"Boom!"

It hit Zhou Ming in the blink of an eye.

"Ugh!"

Even with the lotus blocking and absorbing some of the Spiritual Qi, the terrifying energy of the Refined Fire poured onto Zhou Ming, resulting in a total crush that sent him flying.

Zhou Ming felt as if he had been struck by a mountain. He lost consciousness in mid-air and flew out of the arena.

The teacher in charge immediately flew into the air and caught Zhou Ming.

After checking, he found that Zhou Ming had only broken a few ribs and suffered some internal organ damage, but his life wasn't in danger, so he felt relieved.

"Xiao Weiqing wins!"

The teacher announced the match result.

The audience was a bit dazed.

"That's it?"

"I thought Zhou Ming had some trump cards."

"He just relied on that lotus."

The fight was a bit of an anticlimax, leaving the Trainees in the audience feeling unsatisfied.

"I actually thought Zhou Ming had a chance."

"What chance? It was cheating to begin with. It serves Zhou Ming right for losing."

"Exactly. Xiao Weiqing winning Spiritual Wisdom is what everyone wanted to see."

Most people were very unhappy with Zhou Ming's actions.

"Boring. Zhou Ming really couldn't see things clearly; he just got a beating for nothing." Xue Cheng shook his head, thinking Zhou Ming had asked for it.

They had all thought about competing for Spiritual Wisdom, but after Xiao Weiqing revealed his Dantian, they gave up immediately without a second thought.

They weren't Xiao Weiqing's match to begin with, and now that he had entered the Second Realm, there was no need to seek their own deaths.

Fei Xiaobao nodded. "Well said. But, putting the cheating aside, Zhou Ming's courage is commendable. That much is certain."

"..."

"It's over, everyone. I'm leaving first to get my Innate Skill from the Talent Tower. See you later." Duan Shuyu couldn't wait and walked toward the stadium exit.

Zhuang Yu muttered indignantly behind him, "Damn it, isn't he just like Zhou Ming? Cheating as well." He was still brooding over the previous fight.

"Where are you going, Fatty?"

Zhuang Yu saw Fei Xiaobao get up to leave and asked quickly.

Fei Xiaobao said, "To get my Level 3 Reinforcement."

Zhuang Yu: "..."

"I'm leaving too, to get Level 4 Reinforcement," Qin Tian said.

"Brother Tian, wait for me, I'm going too." Yin Tiantian caught up with Qin Tian.

Zhuang Yu was completely dumbfounded. Out of the circle of people sitting here, everyone had secured an Innate Skill except for him.

"Fuck!"

Zhuang Yu cursed.

Then he saw Wei Lan alone and asked, "Wei Lan, aren't you going?"

Wei Lan smiled. "I'm waiting for Brother Qing. We'll go together later."

Hearing this.

Zhuang Yu was stunned for a moment.

"Slap!"

Zhuang Yu suddenly slapped himself. He shouldn't have asked. He left in a huff.