183: no the same

On the arena stage.

Centered on Xiao Weiqing, scarlet flames suddenly erupted, spreading outward and engulfing an area within thirty meters.

Bathed in the flames, Xiao Weiqing was in his element. He took a step, and the entire Fire Domain quickly closed in on Luo Ziyuan.

“Damn it!”

Luo Ziyuan cursed under his breath. Could an Innate Skill be used like this?

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't fear Xiao Weiqing even in close combat.

But.

This was clearly cheating; what Technique Cultivator charges a Martial Cultivator using their own Innate Skill as a shield for close combat?

However, waiting for death was not Luo Ziyuan's style.

“Open!”

divine runes appeared on his long staff, and he violently smashed it toward the Fire Domain surrounding Xiao Weiqing.

After one strike.

Ripples spread across the top of the semi-circular Fire Domain, but it did not slow Xiao Weiqing's advance in the slightest.

“Impossible!”

Luo Ziyuan gasped.

Xiao Weiqing said coldly, “You know nothing about my Innate Skill!”

With the Flame Dome containing Qi Fire on the inside and the Fierce Flame Shield covered in Refined Fire on the outside, this space was Xiao Weiqing's domain.

Taking a few steps, the Fire Domain engulfed Luo Ziyuan. The scorching flames made it difficult for Luo Ziyuan to resist.

“Slash!”

Inside the Fire Domain, Xiao Weiqing swung his blade.

In the blink of an eye.

Several slashes struck Luo Ziyuan from all directions.

“Bang~ Bang~~ Bang~”

Luo Ziyuan was knocked away like a ball, flying out of the Fire Domain, falling to the ground, and tumbling continuously.

“He won!”

“Awesome!”

“Xiao Weiqing is still the most powerful.”

“How is he powerful? What happened? I just saw that sea of fire engulf Luo Ziyuan, and then Luo Ziyuan flew out like a dead dog. What exactly happened inside?”

“I don't know either, but it just feels powerful.”

The competitors' area of Luo Jiang Academy also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness, Xiao Weiqing stabilized the situation.”

“Truly awesome!”

“This guy quietly managed to utilize his Innate Skill to such an extent.”

“He hasn't won yet, it's not over,” Qin Tian said with a frown.

“What?”

Qin Tian said, “The referee hasn't announced the result.”

Everyone was startled; that seemed right.

Several seconds had passed, so why hadn't Xiao Weiqing been declared the winner.

On the arena stage.

Luo Ziyuan slowly stood up.

Xiao Weiqing's expression tightened. “Is this... Mental Energy?”

Across from him.

Luo Ziyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and an invisible force erupted from his body.

This was all too familiar to Xiao Weiqing: it was Mental Power.

“You are truly strong. Besides Zang Yu, you are the first person to make me look so wretched.”

As he spoke.

Luo Ziyuan's companion weapon left his hand, floating in front of him, pointing straight at Xiao Weiqing.

“Originally, this move wasn't prepared for you.”

Suddenly.

divine runes appeared on the long staff, but this time there were three, not two.

The three divine runes appeared and instantly vanished, taking the long staff with them.

“Soul Strike!!”

The next second.

A muffled thud came from the Fire Domain in the center of the arena.

“Dong!~~”

A long staff pressed against Xiao Weiqing's chest, pushing him out of the Fire Domain.

“What?”

Seeing Xiao Weiqing about to be knocked off the arena stage, the crowd couldn't help but gasp.

“What kind of method is that?”

“That guy is a Martial Cultivator, right? How did he do that?”

Luo Ziyuan leaped up, crossed the arena, grabbed the end of the staff, and exerted force with his arm.

“Fall.”

However.

“Clang!”

The retreating Xiao Weiqing firmly grabbed the long staff, planted his feet steadily, and stopped his backward momentum.

“What?”

Luo Ziyuan was shocked, unable to believe Xiao Weiqing still had the ability to resist.

Xiao Weiqing looked up. “A very good Innate Skill, but.”

“Your Mental Energy isn't strong enough!”

Rather than saying Luo Ziyuan's move was powerful, it was more accurate to call it bizarre—it was definitely a Spirit Cultivator's technique.

“You!”

Luo Ziyuan was astonished. This Rank 6 Spirit Cultivator Innate Skill was meant for Zang Yu; fighting Zang Yu made it very difficult to land a physical slash.

That was why he learned this Soul Strike; combined with his companion weapon, it was guaranteed to catch the opponent off guard. Yet, the first time he used it, it was blocked.

“Your Extraordinary Talent is excellent, and you possess a native companion weapon. It's a pity you chose the wrong path.”

“What?”

Xiao Weiqing did not reply.

“Seamless Slash!”

The thousand flame blade, wrapped in the power of Divine Fire, locked onto Luo Ziyuan and slashed out.

Luo Ziyuan reacted instantly, leaning aside to dodge preemptively.

But it was futile.

“Thud!”

Luo Ziyuan was struck by a familiar force; his mind buzzed, and for that instant, he felt disconnected from the world.

When he recovered his senses, he only heard the earth-shattering cheers and calls inside the stadium.

He had also fallen off the arena stage.

“Xiao Weiqing wins!”

The referee announced the result.

“He won.”

“Awesome!”

“Xiao Weiqing, well done! I love you!”

“I want to bear your children.”

“...”

Xiao Weiqing basked in the cheers of hundreds of thousands of people, clenched his fist toward the main viewing platform, and struck a victory pose.

“Teacher, I didn't disappoint you.”

On the main viewing platform.

Ning Xing smiled in satisfaction. “Truly my apprentice.”

“Just like me!”

Zhong Wen: “...”

In the front row.

The Principal of Great Xia Academy laughed heartily and chimed in:

“Xiao Weiqing is indeed excellent. Compared to you back then, Ning Xing, he is quite a bit stronger.”

Ning Xing laughed. “But he was trained by me.”

Zhong Wen, unable to bear listening any longer, chose to close his eyes and meditate, embracing the 'out of sight, out of mind' philosophy.

Minister Lu Youlin was not surprised to see Xiao Weiqing win; it was as if this was the natural outcome.

Tang Tianxun, sitting in the center, immediately relaxed his serious expression.

He spoke, “Divine Envoy, when will the Starry Fruit be delivered to Great Xia?”

The Azure Dragon Divine Envoy was expressionless, seemingly indifferent to Luo Ziyuan's defeat.

“Within half a month.”

After speaking, he turned around, took one step, and vanished from the spot.

The expressions of the powerful experts changed drastically.

In their perception, the Azure Dragon Divine Envoy had truly disappeared in that instant; it wasn't high-speed movement, as no trace was left in space.

Tang Tianxun narrowed his eyes, his heart also unsettled. “Have his injuries recovered?”

“That must be it. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare leave Azure Dragon Island.”

...Xiao Weiqing returned to the Luo Jiang Academy competitors' area amidst the cheers of the crowd.

“Come! Come! My hero, please take a seat quickly!”

Fei Xiaobao stood up, his face full of flattery, and even wiped down the seat for Xiao Weiqing.

“Go away!”

Xiao Weiqing laughed and cursed.

“Kid, partner with me, we'll pull off something big. The divine charm substance we get will be split six-four, you get six, I get four.” Second Girl jumped out, tempting Xiao Weiqing again.

Xiao Weiqing ignored Second Girl. He knew very well that while his strength might be unrivaled among his peers, it was nothing special outside.

“Xiao Weiqing, was Luo Ziyuan's final move a Mental Attack?”

Xue Cheng asked; he had just sensed intense Mental Power fluctuations.

“Yes, a very strong Innate Skill, but his Mental Energy Rank wasn't high enough, so he didn't unleash its full power.”

“Actually, Luo Ziyuan got his priorities backward. He is a Martial Cultivator and shouldn't spend energy learning things he isn't skilled at. I suppose it's because of Zang Yu,” Xiao Weiqing explained.

Qin Tian nodded in agreement. “That's right, a person's energy is limited. Cultivating Technique, Spirit, and Martial arts simultaneously is incredibly difficult.”

Even as Geniuses of the Eight Great Academies, they only tried their best to ensure they had no major weaknesses.

Like Qin Tian, as a Martial Cultivator, he could only ensure his Mental Energy Rank didn't fall too far behind and become a weakness. He still spent most of his Cultivation time focusing on his own Extraordinary Talent and Body Tempering.

Xue Cheng rubbed his chin and said, “I don't know about that. Isn't Xiao Weiqing an all-rounder?”

“His Flame True Body is invincible in close combat, stronger than Qin Tian. His Mental Energy Rank is ridiculously high—Luo Ziyuan's failed final strike is the best proof.”

“As for his Technique Cultivator Innate Skills, there's no need to even mention them.”

Hearing this, everyone looked toward Xiao Weiqing.

Perhaps because they had spent too long with Xiao Weiqing, they had overlooked how strong this guy had become—to the point where they had to look up to him.

Xiao Weiqing fell silent.

A few seconds later.

Only then did he utter a few words.

“We are different.”

Everyone: “...”