180: Dog-beating stick technique

"Referee, our Heixing Academy agrees to go on stage for a spar."

"Our Zehua Academy as well!"

"My Hanzhou Academy also issued a challenge. Count us in."

"Our academy finds Teacher Xie Ning's recent actions hard to agree with. Although we haven't challenged your academy yet, count us in as well."

"..."

For a moment, Demon Tamers from various academies competed to raise their hands. What surprised Xie Ning was that the Imperial Capital Yulong Cultivation Academy hadn't brought any Demon Tamers this time.

"It's over. He's incited public outrage now." Below the stage, Su Qin clicked his tongue as he watched people from various academies competing to raise their hands.

No matter how much confidence he had in Xie Ning, it was hard to believe someone could use Bronze Rank to face off against multiple Silver Ranks.

His words drew the attention of some students. They were currently worried or annoyed, but when they looked back and recognized Qin Tianyu next to Su Qin, they hurriedly asked:

"Hey, Qin Tianyu, what should we do? Will Xie Ning lose? What if he loses?"

"Yeah, you're the strongest in the academy right now. Why don't you go help him?"

Qin Tianyu shook his head. "If he loses, it won't matter if I go up."

"This..."

The students looked at each other, but they gleaned some information from Qin Tianyu's words.

Meanwhile, Yan Chengze returned to the stage.

"Students, after consulting with the heads of each academy, we have unanimously decided to allow the Demon Tamers from other academies to challenge Xie Ning of Lingnan Academy. However, considering the time and to avoid affecting the progress of the upcoming friendly matches, only one challenge will be held."

After Yan Chengze finished speaking, the Demon Tamers from various academies showed disappointed looks, while the people from Lingnan Academy breathed a sigh of relief.

But before they could finish their sigh, they heard Xie Ning say:

"One match is enough. Since everyone wants to teach me a lesson so badly, why don't you all come at once?"

Pfft!

"Cough, cough..."

Many people drinking water spat it out, drenching the heads of those in front of them. Some even coughed violently, showing how shocking Xie Ning's words were.

If Xie Ning's proposal to challenge the Demon Tamers of each academy was already considered foolish, then his current words were those of a complete madman.

A Bronze Advanced fighting seven or eight Demon Tamers who were at least Silver Rank! Either he was insane, or he was just grandstanding.

"He's crazy. He must be crazy."

"Xie Ning is... what on earth does he want to do?"

"I'm certain that even if I stuffed myself with brain-dead pills, I could never say something like that."

"Even if he really defeated a Silver Rank in a previous battle by crossing levels, there's no comparison between Silver Low and Intermediate, let alone fighting multiple opponents!"

Inside the waiting building.

Yan Ruyu watched everything unfold quietly, but someone else was anxious.

The Tomboy hurriedly said, "Teacher Yan, you should step in, or things will spiral out of control."

"Yeah, Xie Ning is too reckless. How is this even possible..." Ruan Qiong added.

Yan Ruyu looked at their worried faces and asked in return, "Is there a problem?"

"There's a huge problem. Teacher Yan, not everyone can challenge across levels like you." The Tomboy said, pointing out the window. "There are a full eight Silver Rank Demon Tamers out there, including several at the Silver Intermediate level. Some of their beasts have even reached Silver Level 6 or 7. How could he possibly win?"

Ruan Qiong nodded. "I also think Xie Ning's approach is too risky. I suggest ending it here, or at least fighting one-on-one. Fighting a group... there's simply no chance of winning."

"No, he will win. They're just a few mediocre Silver Ranks; they're nothing to him," Yan Ruyu replied nonchalantly.

The two looked at each other. The Tomboy wanted to keep trying to convince Yan Ruyu, but seeing Ruan Qiong shake her head, she could only give up.

They didn't understand why Yan Ruyu was so confident... At the edge of the challenge stage.

The people from various academies were whispering and exchanging opinions.

"Hey! Have you decided yet? Don't be so indecisive. If anyone is afraid of losing face, then get lost already."

On the challenge stage, only Xie Ning stood alone, a dagger in his left hand and a sword in his right, urging the people from the surrounding academies.

"Humph! Since you want to lose, don't blame us for being ruthless!" Chen Lian said, being the first to jump onto the stage.

Where there's one, there's another. Soon, eight people came up, both men and women, all at the Silver Rank.

Yan Chengze then gestured with his hand and shouted:

"Both sides, take your positions!"

"3... 2... 1..."

"Start!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the eight opponents summoned their beasts one after another.

Eight beasts ranging from Silver Level 1 to 6 appeared on the stage, varying in size and form—lions, tigers, jackals, wolves, birds, bees, and butterflies.

Perhaps thinking it wasn't worth the effort, each of them only summoned one beast.

Seven Silver Rank Auras merged together, bringing immense pressure to the students below the stage.

On the other hand, Xie Ning's expression didn't change at all as he faced these eight beasts.

Seeing Xie Ning motionless, Chen Lian thought he was terrified and laughed triumphantly. "Hehe, scared stiff, aren't you? We are all from the Advanced Class, and at the very least Silver Rank. How could a Bronze Rank like you challenge us? Soon, you'll pay the price for your wrong decision!"

Although the others didn't speak, judging from their expressions, none of them seemed particularly serious.

After Chen Lian finished laughing, Xie Ning finally said, "If these are all the beasts you have, then I'm disappointed."

Saying that, he raised his hand, and a Demon Taming Formation appeared on the ground. Little Mantis, clad in silver armor, flew out, circled once in the air, and landed steadily in front of Xie Ning.

Yes, after sleeping for two days, it had awakened. Not only that, its Rank had broken through, reaching the Peak of Bronze Level 10, nearly stepping into the Silver Rank.

The combined Aura of the eight Silver Rank beasts seemed to have no effect on it. It pointed at the beasts and looked at Xie Ning.

"That's right, those are the ones we're fighting."

As Xie Ning spoke, he saw Chen Lian take the lead, commanding his Silver Level 4 Earth Violent Bear to charge aggressively. Xie Ning patted Little Mantis on the shoulder and said, "Go."

Little Mantis nodded slightly and swung its arms, extending two sharp blades. It activated its Talent, and without any visible movement, a flash of light and shadow appeared, and Little Mantis was back in its original position.

The Earth Violent Bear ran another seven or eight meters, gradually slowing down before collapsing to the ground with a loud 'thud'.

A thin line of blood slowly appeared on its chest and back, then expanded as blood gushed out like cinnabar ink spilled on a carpet.

As its master, Chen Lian didn't have time to react before suffering the mental backlash from his beast's death. Clutching his head, he let out a miserable scream, startling the others who were already dazed.

[Ding! Rift Blade War Mantis successfully killed the Earth Violent Bear. Crossing 4 levels, obtained 5 evolution value points.]

A pleasant notification sound rang out, and Xie Ning smiled slightly.

But in the eyes of the remaining seven opponents, this smile was as terrifying as a demon's.

After a breath, the seven of them shouted in unison, "Attack together!"

Seven Yao Beasts, accompanied by various roars, charged toward Xie Ning's side.

"Little Mantis, kill them all." After saying that, Xie Ning put away his sword and dagger, cracked his knuckles, and walked toward the seven people.

Little Mantis nodded, flapped its wings, and flew out again. This time, the seven beasts treated it as a formidable foe and attacked first.

But to Little Mantis, these attacks were only moving at a turtle's pace.

It activated its sonic speed, and its figure vanished instantly. When it reappeared, a Purple-Eyed Demon Tiger had been sliced in half. The cut was smooth, without any jagged edges.

[Ding! Rift Blade War Mantis successfully killed the Purple-Eyed Demon Tiger. Crossing 2 levels, obtained 3 evolution value points.]

In just two seconds, another beast was killed.

After a successful strike, Little Mantis performed a light side somersault, dodging several incoming steel spears. At the end of its flip, it slapped the side of the Silver Level 1 Azure Steel Lion-Tiger. The beast shuddered. Seeing that one strike couldn't kill it instantly, Little Mantis slapped it several more times. By the fifth strike, the Azure Steel Lion-Tiger's cries came to an abrupt end.

Boom!

The Azure Steel Lion-Tiger, which had incredible defense and was unafraid of sword strikes, had its internal organs shattered by Little Mantis's Vibration Strike, dying on the spot.

[Ding! Rift Blade War Mantis successfully killed the Azure Steel Lion-Tiger. Crossing 1 level, obtained 2 evolution value points.]

In just ten seconds or so, three Silver Rank beasts had died, and the others were already panicking.

Some wanted to recall their beasts, while others wanted to jump off the challenge stage.

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Xie Ning's voice suddenly rang out; he was standing right beside the seven of them.

Amidst their astonishment, Xie Ning produced two one-meter-long wooden sticks from somewhere and grinned. "Have you ever heard of the Dog Beating Staff Technique?"

Crack!

The first strike landed on Chen Lian, who was trying to jump off the stage.

"You damn clown, jumping around like that. I still haven't settled the score with you from the Houtu Secret Realm last time!"

Crack!

Another strike hit a student from Zehua Academy:

"How dare you take advantage of others to cause trouble at Lingnan Academy! You really think there's no one left in Lingnan Academy, huh?"

Crack!

Another strike hit a student from some other academy:

"Acting all righteous, are you? Don't like the look of me? Take this! 'A-ta!'"

Crack, crack, crack... With wooden sticks in both hands, he swung left and right, making the seven of them jump up and down, fleeing in all directions while covering their heads.

Everyone below the stage and in the building—whether they were students and teachers from various academies or the thousands of students from Lingnan Academy—hadn't even recovered from the shock of Little Mantis's strength before they were stunned by Xie Ning's antics, falling into a state of petrification.

Even Yan Ruyu widened her eyes, her face full of astonishment.

Is this really my disciple?